The Binding Vow of Lazarus

Chapter 101

Tamamo looked up at him, turning up her nose with a conceited sniff. Satoru inhaled with an exasperated hiss, standing up and brushing a hand through his hair before turning back to the others to catch up on their conversation.

"Satoru, I think we'd all have to agree with Nanami," Suguru said to him as he stepped back in their little semi-circle. "Having her share your body is too much of a risk."

"She'd be safest there," he added with a shrug.

"Yes, I know you have lots of concerns about this," Rin said carefully, "But we have to think about what may happen to us as well. I'm sorry to phrase it that way, but I'm not sure how else to put it."

"No need, I get it," Satoru said with a little shrug.

"I wouldn't mind doing it, if it's just a matter of a willing body?" Boe said, "I mean, it's not a big deal. She can hang with me until we find something better."

Nanami shook his head, "Again, we don't know what will happen if we put her into a sorcerer's body. With a curses' body, both Gojo and Mitsuru said their energies were clashing. That is too dangerous to attempt in our current situation. This is an unnecessary risk when we can keep her there."

Satoru shrugged, "Nah, it'll be fine. My cursed energy would just overpower her. It would work the same as how she trapped Tamamo before. She can't overpower me, so she'd just be resting inside unless I let her out."

"I understand, but what if it doesn't," Suguru said, "We have no idea what will actually happen, Satoru."

"So then what are you suggesting we do?" Satoru sighed, glaring at him, "Because if it's keep her in there, that is not happening."

Boe scoffed and said, "Why are you being so fucking selfish about this, man? Can't you just let this shit go this one time?"

Satoru turned, his eyes narrowed and sharp. "Tamamo-no-mae is beyond what any of you can survive without me. Suguru didn't even defeat her the first time, he captured her after fooling her and he was more experienced when he did it. I am not leaving Sarah's soul in there where I'm constantly needed to watch her — not when we have a solution that works."

Suguru grimaced. "I suppose that is true," he murmured, "I had assumed Tamamo would just work with us, but she has no true loyalty to us. If wouldn't take long for her to just disappear."

"Sarah's vow, it was resolved when she called her back to perform the ritual," Nanami said, then looked at Satoru, "But we're also taking a risk by removing her as Tamamo-no-mae may attack us as soon as we free her. If you are incapacitated at that crucial moment, we could die."

"We'll just have to trust Sarah then," Satoru said with a shrug, "She's a pretty good fighter, but we know she's good at keeping people alive. I know you three are strong enough to handle it for at least a few seconds while she figures out my body, right?"

The others shared a glance as Satoru straightened his coat, zipping it up with a hum as if the matter was settled already. Suguru took a step closer to him, reaching out his hand to pat his shoulder only to find himself stopped inches away. Suguru's brows knit together.

"Satoru, it's alright," Suguru said quietly.

Satoru was bristling with energy. "Yeah, it's gonna be."

"You're confident then?" Suguru asked simply, reaching closer to Satoru as the space between them relaxed. His hand settled on Satoru's shoulder and Suguru's shoulders finally relaxed.

Satoru said nothing, his eyes hidden but not what he was trying not to say.

"It's alright, we'll do it," Suguru said, glancing back at the others.