The Binding Vow of Lazarus

Chapter 92

Satoru stepped outside with his head tipped back, hands in his pockets and eyes already revealed and glowing bright. He chuckled as his eyes met the other glowing eyes and he pointed at her across from him.

"Hey, let's be cool alright?" He said casually, "I think we both know how this is gonna go, so let's not waste everyone's time."

She was tall for a woman, her posture impossibly straight beneath the flowing weight of her ceremonial robes. Even draped in layers of silks, there was no mistaking the strength in her frame — the broad line of her shoulders, the lithe power in the way she moved. She carried herself like someone who had never lost a fight and never planned to.

But what struck him most was her face. She had his eyes — not just the six-eyes but the same slope and shape of his own. Her long white hair was tied back in intricate braids, and her expression was sharp and serious.

Moments later she was hovering against his limitless barrier, her leg still bent in motion.

They held there frozen for a moment, Satoru with that causal lopsided smirk and the woman still grasping the entirety of her situation — then she backed off.

"Who are you?" She asked, narrowing her icey eyes, her braids whipping around her shoulders as she skidded to a halt a few feet back.

Satoru glanced back through the temple doorway at Suguru. Suguru was gesturing something — moving his hands like uh… like ah— a mouth! A mouth and theeeeen… an X? With his arms? No? Talk… X?

He fully turned his head then nodded, giving Suguru a thumbs up.

He turned back to the woman and said, "I'm Satoru Gojo."

"Satoru you—" Suguru's voice was cut off, multiple pairs of hands of hands pulled him back inside the temple.

"Gojo?" The woman repeated, taking a few cautious steps forward, "I've never heard such a clan name."

"Ah, interesting," Satoru muttered, "Wonder who married in."

"Pardon?"

"Nothing," he shrugged, then smiled at her, "Let's not worry about names." He took a few steps towards her with his hands on his pockets. "Let's talk about what we both see is going on inside that temple."

"What has happened to Tamamo-no-mae," the woman asked, tipping her head back just a touch. Enough to make Satoru smirk.

Guess this shit is hereditary.

"From my end, we conducted a ritual to travel to this place," he explained, careful with his words, "The woman who's energy we used looks like she's merged with Tamamo sort of. What'd it look like for you out here?"

She tilted her head, considering for a moment. Then she said, "It's like a thunder storm turning itself inside out and becoming itself again before starting over."

For a moment Satoru seemed taken aback — then he smiled genuinely happily and nodded. "Yeah! Yeah that's exactly it!" Satoru said, "That's crazy that's exactly what I said!"

The woman blinked, then the realization was dawning on her as well. She smiled, a surprisingly accurate mirror of his own and cried out, "Someone else who sees!"

Within five minutes, you'd have thought they were siblings. They compared colors, textures, unbelievable ideas and shapes. Like two exasperated scientists who'd just met the only other person in existence that saw it like they did.

"Ahh, man, this is great," Satoru sighed after a laugh, "So, hey let me go introduce you to my friends alright? We can explain everything."

The rest of them stood outside — they'd come out around the third minute or so. Suguru and Nanami stepped forward, postured out around the others. Boe and Rin also were stanced for a quick reaction, watching the stranger carefully.