The next day
Today the day mostly went by the boys and Mayumi setting up things for the dogs. They talked and watched a few movies
Mayumi did give another therapy session the boys
They were really grateful. They really could see how much these sessions helped them. She was talking care of them like before and they couldn't be happier
But they did notice she was quieter than usual. She only gave them small answers and when they asked her something to explain to them, she said she would do tomorrow. When they asked if something was wrong or not, she said she wasn't feeling well
It was night time now
After dinner when the boys were about to go back to their rooms, they heard a very calming melody. Someone was singing a lullaby
They stood in the hallway with wide eyes for a moment before Geto felt a hand on his shoulder
He quickly looked back
It was Mishka
She raised an eyebrow at them
"What are you gentlemen's doing here in the hallway?"
They slightly blushed, gave her a timid smile before saying
"Sorry miss Mishka. We.... It's just someone was singing this lullaby.... The voice is really pretty"
She slowly smiled at them before shaking her head
"That's Mayumi. She's singing this to put panda to sleep. She sings this everyday to panda. She's been doing this since she met him"
Their eyes waiden in disbelief. This voice was so incredibly sweet.... It was her voice? It was still a bit hard to believe
She smiled
"It's quite surprising how everything my baby does you two find it pretty. Knowingly or unknowingly."
Mishka chuckled and the boys turned bright red
"Do what you want but don't try to take away my baby girl when she's so young. Wait for her to grow up a little."
With that she left them while giggling
The boys stood there for a moment, contemplating if they should go to panda's room or not
They stood there for a moment before Gojo grabbed Geto's hand and started to drag him to the room
"Fuck it! We'll see what happens"
They went to the room, slightly opened the door.
And there she was, all in her glory. She was in her cute pink night wear. Singing a calming melody. Her hand was stroking panda's head. Panda was already asleep but it looked like Mayumi was thinking something. Hence she was absentmindedly staring at the wall across her
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Close your eyes, no need to see
Rest your mind in peace
I will hold you so tight to me
And I hope that you'll dream
of your days, carefree
Oh my dear children, I love
you and I'll keep you safe
I'll hold you close so
you'll never know pain
Because my children, this
world can be cruel and so cold
But a flower can bloom with the thorns
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She sang and sang and the boys listened to her in awe. Nobody ever sang lullabies for them. This was the first time they were seeing someone singing a lullaby to make someone fall asleep. They only thought this happens in movies
After a moment, Mayumi ended the song.
They watched, how her face lit up with a gentle smile as she looked at her furry brother. Her eyes and always expression less face held so much love for the little panda, it was almost unreal to them. She kissed panda on the head
"Have the sweetest dreams, my dear little one"
She tenderly told a sleeping panda
Then she got up and was about to leave. When she opened the door, two idiots were standing there
She blinked a bit, then an irritated look came to her face
"What are you doing here? Did you"
She gave them a disappointed look
They were sweating bullets. It finally drowned to them that they had invaded her personal space by hearing her sing
"We are extremely sorry, Mayumi-chan. We didn't mean to invade your personal space, we just heard you sing... It was really pretty.... So we couldn't help and came to see.... We're sorry. It won't happen again.... "
Mayumi shook her head as she walked past them. They followed her, still apologizing
"You're forgiven.... But why were you so surprised? I was just putting panda to sleep"
Geto rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. Then answered her
"Well, we never saw someone singing to make someone fall asleep..... We only thought it happened in movies"
Mayumi looked at them in disbelief before asking
"What do you mean - nobody ever sang you two a lullaby to put you to sleep in your whole life?"
They just shook their heads no. Mayumi sighed, looking down she whispered under her breath
"What kinda mom did you have?"
They looked curious
"What did you say, Mayumi-chan? I didn't quite catch that "
Geto asked
"Nothing "
Mayumi shook her head. She made her way to her father's library.
"Why are you here at this time?"
Gojo asked
"I like to read something before I sleep. It's good and helps me to sleep better"
They just nodded
Geto helped Mayumi get the books she wanted. All of the books she chose weren't something a girl her age should read. But they knew that a while ago so it wasn't really a surprise
She then sat down on one of the benches and started to read a medical book. And she kept looking at a book about the Kamo clan's blood manipulation technique description book
"Do you always sing Panda to sleep?"
Gojo asked, he was about to ask Mayumi to do that to him too. He wanted to hear her sing for him too. And only for him, no one else
He was extremely jealous
"No, sometimes I also tell a story. Whatever he wants me to do. If he wants me to sing for him, I sing, if he wants me to read him a story, I read him a story. Why do you ask?"
They were, again, surprised
"You know, Mayumi-chan, you baby panda a lot. The way you always look after him, call him "your little one"... If I didn't know better, I would have thought he was your son"
Gojo said with a snort
Geto glared at him
Mayumi paused. Looking back at him, she smiled
"He doesn't have a mother. I am the closest thing he knows as a mother. I. The one who taught him to talk properly, I fed him, I taught him to read and write, I taught him emotions better..... I did everything a mother does.... didn't I ? Plus he's the only little brother I have, So it's only natural I would love him like that."
They were left speechless for a moment before they composed themselves again
"So you're gonna baby him even when he's older. He's already taller than you, Mayumi-chan"
"I would be honored if he let me.... "
They were about to lose their minds. This is why people say girls are too emotional. They thought to themselves
"Why tho? Wouldn't that be a bother?"
Mayumi slowly put down her book. A sad yet nostalgic smile came to her lips
"I guess you were right when you called me weak when we first met nii-chan. I am weak..... and selfish "
Gojo's eyes waiden
He Didn't think she still remembered that. It was almost a year ago. He himself forgot about it. He doesn't think like that at all now
"Mayumi-chan -
"I really don't want him to grow up.... I want him to be my baby for the rest of our lives.... Because I know when he will grow up, he will go to jujutsu sorcerer society.... Be a sorcerer like you, he will have to endanger his life to save others...... I know I should be proud but all I feel is fear for him.... "
Geto and Gojo froze when they saw a drop of tear fall from her gorgeous magenta eyes.
It felt like someone punched them in the gut. They had felt pain before, but never like how they were feeling now seeing Mayumi cry. It felt like time stopped as they watched her speak
"He isn't strong like you.... I don't want to think the worst.... But I can't help it.... And it terrifies me to think about it.... I don't think I can live without him... I can't live without my family, my mom, my dad and most my precious little brother.... I don't think I will be able to handle it if something bad happens to him. He's my baby.... How can I not be like this about him"
They watched how her shoulders lightly shook, her voice cracked
It all felt like a bad dream to them. It had to be. Because there was no way their Mayumi would cry. She was so strong. She is always strong for them, she tackled their mistake and trauma without an emotion.
yet now she was breaking down In front of them
This was also the first time, these two young boys felt their hearts break
By just seeing her cry
"I hate my father for putting him in this situation. Why create him with emotions when he didn't even have a choice on how to live his life.... Selfish. They all are just selfish and don't think about anything other than their success!"
Now her tears turned to angry crying
"I hate to think that he will leave me and go to your school.... Be in the dorms like you.... Who knows what he'll eat, how he will manage.... I don't want to know... I really don't want to know. And I feel more useless knowing I can't stop him.... It's all useless.... I am useless... So utterly useless"
She said
She looked up at Gojo and smiled again
And that did it. Gojo felt something break and a sharp pain in his heart seeing her swollen red teary eyes and red nose
"So you see.... I want to make sure we have all the time we can.... Make as many memories as we can. I want him to know that I love him. He's my baby panda.... "
She then looked away from him. Rearranging the books back
"Because there is nothing more painful than to see the ones you make memories with.... turn into memories"
Geto and Gojo's eyes waiden. They felt goosebumps on their whole body when Mayumi finished that line. Both of them felt chills down their spines
It was just a line, a few words yet it had much deeper meaning it them
"I am sorry for blabbering all of this to you two. You too can go to sleep now, I am going. Good night, have sweet dreams"
Mayumi said as she gave them a shaky smile and left the room to hers
She didn't know but she left them pondering her words. She just put them in a position they didn't think before
Now it was a lot clearer, why she wanted them to stick together and be in joined missions. Why she was so worried about them, everything made sense
It always did when she was involved
They were just fools to not trust her even after everything she did for them, knowing she never does something without a strong reason
Gojo his head face with his hand and Geto banged his head on the table
"We're dumb.... We're so fucking dumb!"
Gojo wispered, Geto only agreed, but didn't say anything