"Ouch," Yuji hissed, jolting awake as a sharp pain shot through his leg.
Gojo's eyes snapped open immediately, instincts kicking in. "What—what's wrong? Is the baby coming?!" he blurted, voice still thick with sleep but already full of panic.
Yuji blinked at him, half amused. "No, no—my leg cramped," he said, giggling softly at his senpai's disheveled, alarmed face.
"Ohhh," Gojo exhaled in relief, then quickly slid down the bed to Yuji's side. Without another word, he started massaging Yuji's calf with both hands, his movements gentle but firm.
Even though it was only a leg cramp, his expression stayed deeply worried—eyebrows furrowed, lips pressed tight as if he was afraid Yuji might break from the slightest touch.
"You're really overreacting, senpai," Yuji teased, smiling through the pain.
Gojo didn't reply—he was too focused, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, "Can't take any chances."
His thumb worked small circles into the muscle, and he reached for the small bottle of oil on the nightstand, warming it in his palms before applying it carefully. The soft scent of herbs filled the air as he rubbed it into Yuji's skin.
"You've gotten good at this," Yuji murmured.
Gojo grinned faintly. "Of course I have. I'm basically a certified midwife-slash-masseur-slash-husband-extraordinaire now."
Yuji chuckled and reached down to ruffle his hair affectionately. "Dear senpai… you worry too much. I'll be fine."
Gojo glanced up, eyes softening at the sight of Yuji's tired but content face. "I know," he said quietly, "but I can't help it. You and our baby… you're everything I've got."
He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Yuji's knee before moving up to rest his head gently on Yuji's thigh.
Around them, the house was quiet—only the soft hum of the night outside the oasis walls and the rhythmic sound of Gojo's breathing.
After a moment, Gojo spoke again, voice low and almost shy. "You know… I already made a hammock for the baby. And a little blanket too. I even sewed stars on it."
Yuji's lips parted in surprise, eyes softening even more. "You… made that yourself?"
"Mm-hmm," Gojo mumbled, still resting his cheek against Yuji's leg. "Can't have our baby sleeping in something boring."
Yuji smiled, brushing a hand through Gojo's hair. "You're gonna be a great dad, you know that?"
Gojo peeked up at him with a lopsided grin. "Hehehe, of course I am. I'm great at everything."
Yuji laughed softly, warmth blooming in his chest. He leaned down and kissed Gojo's forehead. "You big sap."
"Guilty as charged," Gojo murmured, smiling into Yuji's skin.
+++
Yuji gently rocked the hammock that Gojo had built for their baby, smiling softly to himself. Gojo had set it up right in their bedroom—it was safer that way.
At first, Yuji had insisted on seeing it while it was still downstairs, freshly finished and smelling of new wood. But of course, Gojo had gone into full panic mode, absolutely forbidding him from using the stairs. Every time Yuji so much as mentioned going downstairs, Gojo would scoop him up without hesitation and carry him like a princess.
And when Yuji asked why they didn't just move their bed downstairs instead, Gojo had refused immediately—something about bugs, scorpions, and "definitely-not-safe-for-my-pregnant-wife" reasons. So now, the hammock lived upstairs with them, right beside their bed.
Yuji smiled again, his hand gently rubbing over his round belly as he sat down on the rocking chair Gojo had made too. He picked up the little baby shirt he'd been sewing and continued his careful stitching. There was already a small pile of tiny clothes neatly folded on the table, but Yuji still wanted to make more.
Between stitches, he glanced out toward the balcony. From there, he could see Gojo outside, busy milking the goats, his white hair gleaming under the morning light.
Yuji chuckled quietly—his powerful sorcerer of a senpai, now a clumsy but devoted farmer.
But then—
A sudden sharp pain twisted through his abdomen.
"Ouch…" yuji gasped, gripping his belly, his needle slipping from his fingers.
+++
Gojo's sharp hearing caught the soft "ouch" from upstairs instantly. His head snapped up, the goat's pail tumbling from his hands. In the next second, he vanished in a blur of light—Six Eyes already flaring as he reappeared beside Yuji.
"Yuji!" he called, voice trembling with urgency.
Yuji was clutching his belly, his breathing uneven, pain flashing across his face. "S-senpai… it hurts…"
Gojo's heart plummeted. His hands hovered helplessly for a moment before he scooped Yuji up in his arms, bridal-style, blood already staining his clothes. "Shit—okay, okay, it's happening—it's happening right now—"
He laid Yuji gently on their bed, trying to keep his voice steady. "Breathe, yuji, breathe. I've got you." His mind was a storm, heart racing faster than his words. He'd prepared everything—the warm water, clean sheets, towels, herbs, everything—but now that it was real, he could barely think straight.
Gojo ran around the room at lightning speed, grabbing supplies, spreading cloths, wiping Yuji's forehead. His hands trembled as he checked, eyes flicking down with his Six Eyes to make sure everything was progressing normally—
And then he froze.
No.
His stomach twisted violently as realization hit him like a punch.
Breech.
The baby was upside down.
For a moment, Gojo couldn't breathe. "Shit… no, no, no…" he whispered under his breath, his hands shaking as he steadied himself on the bedside. How could he miss this? He'd been scanning Yuji every day—he should've known.
Yuji groaned, tears welling in his eyes. "S-senpai, what's wrong?"
Gojo forced a smile through the panic. "Nothing, anata. Just… keep breathing, okay? You're doing amazing."
Inside, his heart was breaking. He wanted to scream. He wanted to punch himself.
But he couldn't let Yuji see that.
He took a deep breath, wiping Yuji's sweat-streaked face with trembling fingers. "You're gonna be fine. I promise. Just listen to my voice, okay?"
Yuji nodded weakly, gripping his hand so tight it hurt.
Gojo swallowed hard, forcing his panic deep down, and positioned himself, whispering to himself, You can do this. You have to do this. For them.
And as the next wave of pain hit Yuji, Gojo steadied his trembling hands and guided him through it, his voice gentle, his heart breaking, and his fear buried under a layer of desperate love.
A faint whimper escaped Yuji's lips—barely conscious, barely breathing. "Hurts… it hurts, senpai…"
"I know, sweetheart. I know. Just a little more. You can yell at me later, okay?" Gojo's voice broke into a shaky laugh, desperate and aching.
Yuji's breathing grew heavier—each gasp shorter, weaker. Gojo noticed it immediately, panic clawing at his chest.
"Hey, hey, stay with me, yuji," he said quickly, brushing Yuji's damp hair back. "Breathe for me, Yuji. Just like that, okay? You're doing so good—"
But Yuji's eyelids fluttered. His lips parted, a shaky breath escaping him before his body slumped slightly to the side.
"Yuji?"
Gojo's voice cracked.
"Yuji!"
No response.
For a split second, everything stopped. The sound of his own pulse roared in his ears. He caught Yuji before he could fall, shaking him gently. "No, no, no, no—dear, open your eyes. Please."
Yuji's skin felt too cold against his palms.
Gojo bit back a sob, his hands trembling violently as he activated his Six Eyes again, scanning—heart still beating, but faint. Exhaustion. Blood loss. Too much pain.
He pressed his forehead against Yuji's, voice trembling. "You idiot… you just had to overdo it again, huh?" he whispered hoarsely, trying to smile through the fear.
Then his expression hardened.
No. He wasn't going to lose him. Not now. Not ever.
"Alright, sweetheart. You rest a bit, yeah? Senpai's got it from here."
Gojo straightened, wiping the blood off his hands, heart hammering as he moved with mechanical focus. Every movement sharp, deliberate. He wrapped Yuji's body carefully with blankets to keep him warm, kept checking his pulse while repositioning him for safety.
Then, with trembling precision, Gojo guided the delivery himself—his cursed energy pulsing faintly around his hands to reduce Yuji's pain and keep him stable, doing everything he could to turn the baby safely.
Minutes felt like hours. His breath was shallow, his hands slick with sweat and blood.
"Come on… come on…" he muttered desperately, eyes flicking between Yuji's face and the baby.
And then—finally—a faint cry.
Gojo froze. The sound pierced the air like light through a storm.
His throat tightened as he lifted the small, wriggling bundle with shaking hands, tears spilling freely down his face.
"Heh…" he laughed breathlessly, voice cracking. "You really gave us a scare, little one…"
Then his gaze turned to Yuji—still unconscious, still pale. Gojo's smile faded, replaced by a look of raw fear and tenderness.
"Hey," he whispered, moving to sit beside him, pressing the baby gently against Yuji's chest. "Wake up, dear. Your kid's here… you did it."
But Yuji didn't stir.
Gojo leaned down, resting his forehead against Yuji's again, his voice breaking into a soft, trembling plea.