KUU

you'd come over to study with sukuna. not because you could help each other, considering you were both in completely different majors, or for any less than vanilla reasons, like usual.

no. you were simply there because for some dumb reason, having you in his presence made it easier to concentrate.

he'd called it 'holding each other accountable' and somehow, by the grace of whatever divinity lived beyond what either of you could reach, you'd simply shrugged your shoulders and arrived at the frat house twenty minutes later.

hours upon hours of studying had passed. the sky went dark and stars began to wink across the night sky, and you and sukuna were finally taking a well-deserved break from textbooks and laptop screens to stare at the ceiling and talk.

well, you were talking.

he was more... watching. and half-listening, as you recounted your experience at some bakery you like this morning.

"and there were five blueberry muffins left and i was so excited," you say, "but then the dumb guy in front of me ordered them all! and i was so sad. i had to get chocolate chip and that was okay 'cuz the chocolate was all melty and stuff but kuna." you turn to him, eyes wide and twinkling as if to enunciate your point, "their blueberry muffins are so good. it was like missing an ex while you're with your rebound. y'know what i mean?"

"no."

you roll your eyes, "oh yeah, 'cuz you don't do relationships," your voice goes deep and mocking when it reaches those last three words, then you snicker softly under your breath, clearly proud of yourself.

he huffs, shoving your side lightly, "real funny, doll."

"thanks!" you gleam, before continuing, "have you tried their muffins? i swear i've put all my friends on. maybe that's why they run out so fast these days. oh my gosh, the bakery should compensate me for all the advertising i'm doing."

"good luck with that."

"so have you?"

"have i what?"

you groan, "tried their muffins! are you even listening?"

"no, baby. i haven't." he sighs, a sound somewhere between amusement and disbelief. you've been on this topic for at least ten minutes, and you're probably gonna rave on and on about them even more now that he's told you he hadn't tried them. should he have lied instead?

no.

no he shouldn't have.

because then he turns to you, and his eyes soften just a fraction, so subtle that you don't even notice it in the midst of your ramble. but sukuna does. and he doesn't quite know if he likes this feeling.

because he's always known it, but he's never truly let himself see it properly until now; you're really cute when you're talking about something that makes you happy. even if it's as something as mundane as blueberry muffins. your eyes get all bright, your words mindlessly tumble out at a hundred mp/h, and you talk more with your hands than you do with your mouth, flapping them around and gesturing at words that don't really need gestures, and it's just so pure it makes an unfamiliar warmth settle low in sukuna's stomach.

"you have to!" you insist, "they're so good. they warm them up for you and they're all soft and fluffy and the blueberries get all syrupy and there's these crunchy bits on top and—"

and suddenly his hand comes up to your face, and you falter, blinking rapidly because you think he's about to cup your face and kiss you. but instead, his index finger and thumb are pinching your bottom and top lip together so you can't speak.

you let out an offended 'mm!', eyebrows drawing together, and he chuckles. somehow, you're even more adorable when he teases you. sukuna releases your lips from his grasp, only to replace it with his own mouth, kissing you, arms finding your waist to pull your body into his, "just shut up about the muffins already, babe." he mutters, not unkindly, against your mouth.

"i was gonna talk about the focaccia next," you say as if the change in subject was dramatic enough to warrant another ten minute long word essay about pastries. if only you were this passionate about writing your thesis. you grumble at his words although you know there's no cruelty to them, but just as quickly, melt into his touch, letting him pull you on top of his body. your knees land on the mattress, on either side of his body, hands flat and palms braced against his hard chest. one hand travels up slowly to cup his face.

this kiss isn't like the others— all teeth and tongue and mouths crashing down against one another, none of that usual hair pulling from him, nails digging into his back from you or heavy panting breath as you wrestle with the confines of each others clothing, rough and passionate and full of desire.

no.

this is slow. sweet. tender.

it's almost... loving?

sukuna's eyes snap open and he recoils the moment the mere thought passes his mind, breaking contact.

what the fuck?

you blink rapidly, confused by the suddenness of his ministrations, head cocking to the side in a way so innocent it makes his heart want to claw its way through his damn ribcage to join yours.

then you grin. that easygoing, lighthearted, sweet smile he knows so well, and he swears he feels his insides cave for a second.

"what was that about?" you laugh, sitting up on his torso.

he scowls, hand coming up to his face as if to check his lips, although in reality it's a weak attempt at hiding the rosy hue rising to his cheeks "thought you bit me." he lies, mentally slapping himself.

"what?" your giggles intensify.

"nothing you haven't done before." he mutters, which isn't exactly far from the truth, but his frat brothers must think he's the tickle monster or something, because you double over, clutching your stomach cackling. "shut up, get off."

you do as you're told, still smiling and catching your breath as you plop back down beside him, head resting comfortably on his shoulder. your laughter finally dies down. and now you're looking up at him expectantly, all round eyes and slightly pouting lips, as if you have something you want to say but you're not sure if you're allowed to.

he sighs, covering his eyes with his other arm, "keep talking about your bread." he mutters.

you light up, and the words pour out like a broken floodgate now that you'd been given permission to yap his ear off, "their focaccia has pesto and sundried tomatoes, it's so yummy!"

your voice fills the empty space, but unlike before, he wasn't paying attention. he couldn't with the whirlwind that was his mind now.

what's wrong with him?

this arrangement was supposed to be easy. carefree. a pact between two horny college kids who wanted to get through their years without contracting stds or relationship bullshit or unnecessary commitments.

heavy on those last two parts.

because apart from the obvious —being that he most definitely couldn't trust the handfuls of sorority girls who practically threw themselves at him every frat party not to have him waking up the next morning with ugly purple lesions all over where the sun didn't shine, or the conundrum of other sexually transmitted diseases— sukuna had always known that he didn't want nor need romance or commitment.

he didn't care for it. it was far more trouble than it was worth. and if he could get all the parts out of a romantic relationship which were most beneficial to the likes of him, i.e. the physical aspects, without the need for the fluffy extras then what was the point?

or so he thought. he'd always wondered why seeing you get hit on by dumbass frat guys pissed him off so much at those same parties. so much to the point he'd taken the same route he did to solve the rest of his issues in life; intimidation. now, no one dared try anything with you.

he always thought he did it out of self preservation. no other guys touching you meant he was safe from the prior mentioned purple lesions. after all, that was the agreement. you only sleep with each other.

but now he wasn't so sure. the thought of another man's hands on you, your head on another man's shoulder, your mindless rambles about muffins and bread falling on another man's ears made a hot, angry rage brew inside of him that was unlike anything he'd ever felt before.

and for some reason, some crazed, nonsensical, undecipherable reason, now he was actually thinking about a future with you. a future with labels like 'girlfriend' and 'boyfriend' and with 'i love you's and calling your little get-togethers 'dates' and 'quality time' rather than 'hanging out' or 'hooking up' and...

for some crazed, nonsensical, undecipherable reason, ryomen sukuna wasn't revolted by the idea of it.

which made no sense at all. but none of it did.

he tried to expel the thoughts with a heavy exhale, but to no avail.

your string of words falls short when you hear it, head tilting up and eyes meeting his. "what's wrong?"

"nothing." he mutters.

"you sighed." you say, puffing out your chest and letting the air out in a much more dramatised fashion, "huuuh... like that." your grin returns as you roll over onto your tummy, elbows resting on his chest and chin resting in your palms as you look down at him under your lashes with curiosity, "what's wrong, drama queen?"

he peers at you under his arm which still lays over his eyes and smirks, huffing out a breathy chuckle and jabbing your side with his finger, making you squeal and jolt in his arms with a surprised laugh. "nothing. just thinking. you shut up."

"thinking 'bout what?" you ask, arms stretching out, head falls back down against his chest, cheek pressed into his t-shirt and you blink up at him expectantly, lashes fluttering.

"do you know how to stay still?"

"no." your lips curve.

"thinking 'bout how you're a pain in my ass, woman," he finally answers.

you grumble at him, "you're so mean, kuna," you pout, "thank the universe you're not my boyfriend."

ouch.

ouch?

why did that one hurt?

"oh, they have really good paninis too!" you beam, "we should go there next time we study together!"

[ a/n ] u could potentially take this as a prequel to this frat!kuna fic (tysm for the support on it cuties!) perhaps before him and reader become official i loooved writing it and it's become my most popular post so i wanted to write something else similar c: alsoooo my first time writing something more suggestive like this so i hope it isn't too bad hehe i tried my best!!

Sukuna narrowed his eyes on you. “Do you know my name, woman?” 

“They… c-call you… curse.” 

“What else?” Sukuna asked, raising an eyebrow at you. 

You gulped. “Dis…graced one. But, also… a king.” 

He tilted his head. “Nothing else?” 

You shook your head, meekly, trying to think of anything else but falling short. With the way he pushed, there was clearly something he wanted to hear. 

Sukuna was having his own dilemma. Did he tell you his name? The one that had been given to him after years of terrorizing? Or did he give you the one he barely remembered himself? This felt like his final chance at establishing his name. Himself. His identity. 

Who cares about all that?

“Ryomen Sukuna. That is what they call me.” 

He watched your expression as you processed it. “But… you do not… have two… faces?” 

Sukuna almost laughed. He patted his stomach. “I think they’re counting this one.” 

“Oh.” You nodded, remembering the mouth on his stomach. You looked at it, before looking up again. “Sukuna?” Sukuna tilted his head, narrowing his eyes on you. He didn’t know how much he liked you calling him by name so brazenly. But he would feel annoyed by you taking far too long to get out the words ‘Master Sukuna,’ when speaking to him. “Tongue?” 

Sukuna raised a brow, as you slowly began to stick it out. You wanted to get rid of something so interesting. Maybe, if Sukuna found someone else with such a technique, he’d kill you. But right now, he couldn’t do it. Who knew if you were just an anomaly. 

Sukuna raised his hand to tap one of his fingers against your tongue as he shook his head. “Looks appetizing. But… I want to use this tongue for something else.” Your eyes widened, almost comically so, to Sukuna. He shook his head. “I want you to hone this technique…” His fingers moved to brush against the side of your cheek. “And challenge me.” 

You shook your head, your heart sinking. “You… are strong.” 

“I know.” Sukuna’s mouth watered as his hand lowered to your neck, keeping it in between two of his fingers. “And so, I like to play with my prey.” Sukuna tapped his finger against the bob in your throat. “In the short time I keep you for, we will have more fun than you did in your cage, lamb.” 

You didn’t have a choice. You doubted Sukuna would kill you. He knew it was what you seeked. If you complied, you could go about your experience with Sukuna as painlessly as possible. The blood was starting to dry around your feet, reminding you of the path that you were about to walk down. 

“Y-yes, S-Sukuna.” 

Sukuna grinned. He could taste the blood welling from the cut you left on his stomach’s tongue – and he wanted more.

So, you followed him outside of the cellar. There was no reason to look back or linger. Nothing in there was something you wanted to keep, nor was there anything you needed. Luckily, for you, it was already night, and the village was only lit up by the flames that Sukuna had used to burn everything down. 

You took a deep breath as your feet finally touched the bare ground. Sukuna looked back at you, as you looked down at your toes and wiggled them in the dirt and ash. “How long have you been in there?” 

You looked up at him and shrugged. “Long.” 

Sukuna hummed, looking at you as you seemed to take in more of your surroundings – probably remembering where certain places in this village used to be, before Sukuna burned it down. As he let you reminisce, he thought of his next steps. You were greatly misshapen. Your clothes were practically rags and falling at the seams. Your skin was unclean, and your hair was far worse than that. 

“Follow me.” 

You had a bad concept of time. Your days or weeks or months or years in the cellar were a clear indicator of that. But as you walked by Sukuna’s side, you felt as though it was taking decades. With a lack of footwear, your feet are being poked by every rock you stepped on, making your grit your teeth to continue on. Worse than that, your lack of food or water was exhausting you. You didn’t dare to complain, though, terrified to remind Sukuna that you were a new thorn at his side, that he could easily get rid of with a swipe of his hand. 

It didn’t take long for your vision to blur, though. You called out his name with whatever strength you could muster, before everything went black. 

Sukuna caught you before you fell, using one hand to grip onto your head and keep you upwards. Sukuna scoffed, shaking his head, while he moved to carry you in one arm. “Can’t even last until sunrise,” he muttered under his breath. “Useless.” 

When you woke up, finally fully conscious, you took a few minutes to stare up at the darkness that you were met with. It was pitch black. Or, you couldn’t see anything. Maybe your eyes were still closed? Maybe this was death? Had you finally found peace?

“Do not close your eyes again,” Sukuna grumbled. A sudden burst of fire erupted from beside you, making you yelp and roll over, farther away from the final. You sat up to see Sukuna sitting in another corner, grinning at your fearful response. “You useless women do not just get up – instead, you open your eyes, acting as though you will stay conscious, before falling asleep and forgetting everything all over again.”

“Did I… fall?” You asked, trying to stay careful about your wording. 

“No,” Sukuna replied. “You lost consciousness.” He pointed to the fire in front of you. “I will go out to hunt when the sun has set. You will eat the meat I bring you.” 

Your dead master had whispered in fear to you, warning you that Sukuna ate humans, and that you were bound to be his next victim. You were praying that your old master was wrong about this – and if not that, you hoped he couldn’t find a human on his hunt. 

“W-wait. Sun… it’s up?” Before Sukuna could reply, you scrambled up and ran towards a corner you could see from where you sat in the corner. Once you turned it, your face fell in disappointment. The entrance was blocked by giant boulders. You turned your head to Sukuna, who hadn’t looked up during the whole ordeal. “Su-Sukuna?” 

Sukuna grunted. “What?” 

“Can… can I… see?” 

He tilted his head, looking over at you now. “What?” 

“The sun,” you finished, looking at him hopefully. 

He looked away. “Why would you ask me?” 

“The– the boulders–” 

“Move them.” 

You looked at him, mouth agape and then back at the boulders. The smallest ones were half your size and probably triple your weight. You were sure they would crush you. You went near the boulders, trying to find any cracks to get a peek of the sun, but it was all perfectly sealed shut. Almost like Sukuna placed every boulder purposefully. 

You looked back at him. He was looking at you with a keen stare, grinning. “So?” 

Frowning, you went back to sit near the fire, silent. 

Sukuna scowled. “Are you getting too comfortable? You answer when I speak, woman.” 

“So-sorry,” you muttered. “Other days… will come.” 

Sukuna left when it was pitch black outside. He told you to keep your guard up for sorcerers or animals that could come by. When you asked him what you were supposed to do if they did come, he shrugged and told you to figure it out. You should’ve known better than to ask advice from the man who was basically fattening you up to have a more satisfying kill. 

While he was gone, you stayed by the fire. You hadn’t felt this type of warmth in a while. It honestly made you quite sleepy. And to think, you would be eating cooked food. Meat. Hopefully, animal meat. You shut your eyes tightly to avoid thinking of that. Somehow, you had dozed off without noticing. It wasn’t until you heard the boulders being moved, that you flinched away. 

You got up, stalking forward carefully. 

But as you turned the corner, you bumped into Sukuna, who let out a disgruntled grunt. In his arms was a deer, blood pouring from its sliced neck. You had looked at its face already, and now you couldn’t look away at the far off look in its eyes. 

Sukuna walked past you, and towards the fire he had set up in the cave. 

You didn’t know if you wanted to move and watch Sukuna go about his butchering of the deer. It almost felt like you were going to get a show of what he would one day do to you. You didn’t think you could put up with the way that a well known monster like Sukuna might kill. 

“What’re you doing?” You heard Sukuna grunt. “Get over here, woman.” 

You hurried to obey his orders, walking over to the fire, where Sukuna sat cross legged, one of hands bloodied by the deer, while another held up fur. You looked at it as it lay on the ground, its legs cracked, and its fur entirely peeled off, in a careful fashion. At this point it looked more like just a sack of meat, as long as you didn’t focus on its head. 

Sukuna held out the deers’ fur to you. You reached out and took it from his hand, quickly wrapping the fur around your body. “Thank you,” you muttered. He didn’t say anything in response, but instead reached out for the deer, ripping the meat from it. He brought it up to his mouth, the blood coating his mouth. 

Honestly, Sukuna didn’t think raw meat tasted very good. 

But he liked the look on people’s faces, as they looked at him in horror. 

His eyes darted to you. You were still focused on the deer hide, running your hands through it. Sukuna clicked his tongue and ripped out more of the deer's meat, using one of his hands to hold fire over it. 

That was what piqued your interest. You looked at the fire from his hand as though you were a human discovering it for the first time. You licked your lips, your mouth watering from the smell of cooking food. Sukuna raised a brow at you. “Do you think this is for you?” He tilted his head at the dead deer. “Go get some for yourself.” 

Sukuna watched as you approached the deer, looking at it carefully. You reached out your hand hesitantly to touch its raw meat. “What do… I do?” You looked back at Sukuna, who had begun to chew his food. 

He shrugged. “Figure it out.” 

As he ate, he found entertainment in you, as you searched for a rock to help you cut out some meat from the deer. You weren’t able to get out as big of a chunk that Sukuna took out with just one hand plunged in the animal, but you were clearly going rabid for the food. Your pupils were practically blown out, your mouth watering openly. You didn’t even notice how animalistic you were being, wiping away your drool without a second thought.

You had some trouble figuring out how to cook the meat. You held the meat out with your hand, far too close to the fire, and hissed as it burned you momentarily. Sukuna had to hold back a chuckle, watching you flail around like an idiot. But you learned quickly. You still used your hands to hold the meat out to the fire, and you stayed at a farther distance that made it cook quite slowly. You waited too long for one side, accidentally charring it slightly. When you tried to cook another side, by holding the meat on its charred side, you yelped and almost dropped the meat entirely. 

Catching it, you looked over at Sukuna, who looked back at you with an amused expression. There was no hint of whether or not you were doing anything right. But you weren’t going to ask for help. Even if you did, you were aware you wouldn’t receive it. You continued to cook the meat, until your hunger felt like it entirely took over your body, making your hands shake. 

At this point, you didn’t care. You pulled the meat away from the fire and immediately moved to take a bite – it was hot. You tried blowing on the meat as it sat inside your mouth, looking utterly foolish to Sukuna. You couldn’t care about how you looked, however, as you basked in the taste of somewhat cooked meat. Sukuna could swear the look on your face was the same one he had when he was finally presented with a good fight. You would get to see it one day. 

Sukuna finally spoke, as you ate. “Remember this feeling.” 

As you chewed, you looked at him curiously. You didn’t know what he was talking about. 

“Your hunger becoming satisfied.” Sukuna narrowed his eyes on you. “What does it make you feel like?” 

You didn’t need a moment to think. “A God,” you muttered.  

Sukuna grinned, nodding, before taking his final bite of the meat he had cooked for himself. He was glad he had picked you up – you were proving to be more fun than he had thought. 

Once you had stuffed yourself, learning to be more careful and patient with cooking the meat and getting better tasting food with each try, you stood in front of Sukuna like an excited dog. “What’s next?” 

Sukuna grunted, using his hands to lay back on the cave walls. “What do you mean, what’s next?” He mocked. “You will sleep.” 

“Sleep?” You repeated it, as though you were disappointed. 

“I will sleep,” Sukuna said. “You can go hunt, if you’d like,” he suggested, with a grin. He was joking. The King of Curses was here, laid out before you, joking. The situation itself felt almost comedic. If only your life wasn’t on the line. 

“I cannot,” you replied, as if he didn’t already know that. “The boulders.” 

Sukuna had his eyes closed, his head rested back on two of his hands. “I do not like to repeat myself,” he said. He didn’t need to. You knew what he would say : Figure it out. 

“Okay,” you muttered. You decided to do as he suggested. Grabbing the deer hide, you used it to pull it over you as you rested against the wall of the cave that was opposite to Sukuna, staying as far as possible from him. You closed your eyes, the warmth of the fire and your fur, comforting you. 

To your surprise, Sukuna snored. 

It was one of the things that kept you from actually sleeping, despite these being the best conditions you could ever remember sleeping in. You sat up, throwing the fur off of your body and looking over at Sukuna. To test your limits, you got up, eyeing him as you moved towards the exit of the cave. From what you could see with the dim light, Sukuna had all of his eyes closed. 

His chest moved as he snored. His upper set of arms were crossed over his chest, and his lower set of arms were resting at his side. He slept while sitting up. You wondered if anyone had ever tried killing the man in his sleep – they probably had. Tried. 

You wouldn’t be stupid like them, however. 

You didn’t turn your back to him until he was entirely out of your view. You hurried over to the boulders covering the cave, feeling around for the ones at the top. Placing the tips of your fingers over one that you could reach, you shut your eyes and took a deep breath. 

“Crush.” 

The boulder came crumbling down, making you yelp and move back. Worried, you quickly moved to check back on Sukuna. To your surprise, he was still asleep. Your heart beat, ramming against your chest, puts you in a haste to make a decision. You just wanted to see the sun rise. It wasn’t like you were trying to run away. 

You would return. 

You climbed the lower boulders to leave out of the opening you had made. You almost paused and sat on the rocks, as you saw the sun begin to peek over the horizon. It was good that you weren’t seeing it all at once ; you didn’t know if you could handle something like that. The same feeling that you felt when you saw Sukuna cook the deer meat took over you as you saw the sun. It was like a trance. 

But you blinked, as you heard some noise. You climbed out of the cave opening entirely, looking out at the open space around you. There was water that stretched out and led to other mountainous areas. You looked up behind you, and saw the entire cave that you were in, your neck straining as you saw how high it went. You had no clue where Sukuna had taken you, but then again, you wouldn’t be able to recognize your own village if Sukuna had taken you back. 

The fresh smell of ocean water made you long to find some drinking water. The wind was blowing in your hair, against the rags you still wore as clothes. You closed your eyes, letting yourself stay in the moment. The sun was beginning to rise – as it got higher, you could feel its warmth inching from your toes to your shoulders, making you shiver. This was freedom. 

You ran over to the river that was closest to you, staying on the very edge of the rocks to look out for any fish you could find. Once you found a comfortable spot, you decided to just sit, seeing that the water was a bit too high for you to risk going in to find something. 

You closed your eyes again, taking in a deep breath. As you were about to let it go, a voice made you jump. 

“Is that a girl?!” 

You looked up at where the voice came from. Someone from the top of the mountain, looking down at you as you sat in the caves. They squinted, looking at you as if they couldn’t believe you were actually there. 

“Are you a girl?!” They yelled again. 

You didn’t know what to do. You got up carefully, ready to run back inside the cave that you had been safe inside before, but the person who had been yelling at you from the top of the mountain appeared in front of you. Your breath hitched. 

“What are you doing here?” He eyed your attire and the state of the rest of your appearance. You saw him do a double take when his eyes looked at your mouth– you wiped at it instinctively, as if that would erase the tattoo that sat there. “You’re a sorcerer?” 

You shook your head. 

“Then what is this?” He asked, pointing at his own mouth. “Are you cursed?” 

Maybe. That’s what everyone else has always told you. But the way Sukuna reacted to you, you realized you probably were a sorcerer. You shook your head again. 

“Then why don’t you speak?” He asked, raising his hand to your chin, gripping onto it. It wasn’t like when Sukuna touched you – the lightest touch from him and you felt paralyzed. This man was pressing down intentionally. “Do you not have your voice?” 

He tilted your head up further, making you whimper. “There.” The man smiled. “It does work.” 

You grit your teeth, feeling the pain from the pull he was forcing on your neck. Glaring up at him, you spat out your next words : “Let go.” 

The mans grip was gone. He looked as surprised as you were, when he actually did let go. He had no intention to listen to you, and you were surprised he did as you said. But it took less time for you to process ; you quickly moved to try and run around him, to get back to the cave. But the man gripped onto your arm and pushed you to the ground, pinning you down into the rocks.

You screamed out in pain, and the man let out a nervous laugh. “What type of technique do you have, huh?” He pressed into the back of your neck with his elbow. “Come on, sweetie, it’ll help you if you tell me.” 

Bringing your elbow up, you tried to elbow him in the side, but you couldn’t reach. The man laughed, grabbing your wrist and rotating your arm to give a clean snap to your bone. You let out a far louder scream than you thought could come out from your voice.  

As you let out more broken screams, hiccupping on your sobs, the man above you laughed. “There you go. You do have your voice. Now, use it.” 

“You–” You sucked in a deep breath. “You–” You won’t survive. You will die. All of those sounded like commands. You would kill him if you explained. 

“Come on,” the man taunted. “One arm wasn’t enough?” As he let go of your broken arm, and you felt his grip on your other one, you shook your head, crying into the ground. 

“No, no, no, please,” you cried out. “Stop it, stop it!” 

The man raised his hands up, as though some string was pulling him up in surrender. When his face was facing upward, and not the ground that he had been focused on when you were underneath him, he saw a flash of red from inside one of the caves. 

That was the last thing he saw before his head was sliced off. 

Sukuna kicked away the boulders covering the cage, his arms crossed as he walked out and toward your limp, pathetic body. “You weren’t alone for more than an hour. And you didn’t even go out very far. And yet, this happens.”  

You couldn’t answer, still stuck with the pain that overtook your body as you cried. Sukuna’s lip curled in distaste, but he sat down next to your sad state. He sighed before placing his hand over your broken arm. 

Your rushed, short breaths quickly evened out as the pain in your body subsided. When Sukuna had lifted his hand from your body, you used your arms to lift your body up. You saw the man who had attacked you, split apart from his body from the neck down. “I’m so–” You had wanted to apologize but your throat betrayed you, as you broke into a coughing fit. 

“Disgusting,” Sukuna muttered to himself, moving to get up. “We’re moving to another village today. If you collapse again, I’ll leave you.” 

You nodded, distracted as you looked down at the blood that had come from your mouth when you coughed. 

You had your deerskin wrapped around your body as you followed behind Sukuna. Many, many hours into your walk, you finally decided to try and speak again. “Su–Sukuna?” He didn’t give any hint that he had heard you. “Did you… know… I left?”

“You were only thumping around like a cow,” Sukuna grumbled. 

“Then…” Your brows furrowed. “Why… were you… late?” 

Sukuna turned his head and raised a brow at you. “Late?” 

“To… help,” you finished, looking him in his eyes, filled with disinterest. 

“Help?” Sukuna grinned. “You think that was help?” He stopped in his tracks, and used one hand to grip onto the back of your neck. “I gave you one chance to prove yourself. Your worth. But you’ve only proved yourself to be stupid. The next time a man tries to get a piece of you, I will watch as he has his way with you, and laugh. But,” he tightened his grip. “If I see that strength you are holding back, I will see if you are worthy of my help.” 

Sukuna scoffed and let go of you, walking ahead. You rubbed the back of your neck, following after him, and deciding to stay silent for the rest of the walk. 

When you arrived closer to tall, green mountains, which had felt like they were years away from you, while you went forward on your multi-day walk, you finally saw other people that weren’t Sukuna. You held onto your arm, more nervous to be around new people, rather than what they would describe to be a monster, beside you. 

“Su…ku…na?” You pointed ahead at the samurai who seemed to have noticed Sukuna, their hands gripping onto their tachi. Your voice didn’t come out as easily as it had a few days prior. 

“What?” Sukuna grumbled. 

“Samu…rai,” you said, pointing at them with more exaggeration. 

Sukuna frowned. “What? Do you think some measly samurai can kill me?” You shook your head. “Use your words.” 

“N-no,” you replied. 

Sukuna hummed. “We walk in and find an inn. You will find a way to get proper clothing. We won’t stay long.” 

You nodded, hugging the deerskin around you, close to your body. 

When you arrived at the front of the village, the samurai had already drawn their swords out. Before they could get words out, they all had clean cuts, severing the middle of their bodies. You watched in horror as their bodies fell to the ground, their blood pooling around the split pieces quickly. The power that Sukuna held… you had observed it before, but it was unbelievable that a singular man could have it all. 

He stepped forward, as if this village would just have to accept his presence with no complaint – if they wanted to keep him from burning it all down, that is what they would have to do.

A trembling woman, and her two children who hid behind her, directed Sukuna to an inn. Sukuna didn’t acknowledge her past that, walking ahead, but you quickly spoke up. “C-can I… go get–” 

“Yes,” Sukuna answered offhandedly, walking ahead. 

You stopped in your tracks and nodded, before hurrying back to find that woman who had directed Sukuna. She seemed less afraid of you – but still nervous, knowing you were associated with Sukuna. “I-I… I’m sorry,” you said, taking off the hide you had wrapped around you, revealing the rags that you wore underneath. “If I… trade… Can you… help… me?” 

“With what?” The woman asked, her hands around her youngest child protectively. You glanced down at them before looking back at the woman and gesturing to your own clothes. She seemed to take a couple moments to take in your disheveled appearance.

Before she commented, her son spoke up. “Why does she speak like that?”

His mother quickly moved to chastise him but you pointed to your throat. “Bad.” 

Her daughter, who was being gripped onto by the mother, reached into her pockets and pulled out a leather pouch, and held it out to you. You looked at her curiously. “It’s water,” she explained. 

You looked at her mother, silently asking for permission, and the woman couldn’t say no to a helpless looking girl. You took the leather water holder from the girl carefully, your hands shaking. You hovered it over your mouth carefully, intending to only take a sip. But when the water met your lips, you couldn’t help but guzzle down the rest of it. When you realized what you had done, you looked at the young girl, handing back the leather pouch. “I- I’m sorry.” 

The girl shook her head. “It’s okay.” 

The mother cleared her throat. “You are staying with… that…” She asked warily, glancing around, as if Sukuna would suddenly appear behind her. “In the inn I directed him to?” 

“Yes,” you nodded. 

“You should take some time to clean yourself,” she said. “I will come by and see what I can do for you.” You nodded, handing over the deer hide. The woman reached out for it carefully, bowing her head. “Is it… safe?” 

“I will, uh–” You looked back at where the inn was. Sukuna had probably entered already. “We do not have to speak in his presence.” The woman nodded, still looking quite terrified. Her children stayed close to her sides. You looked at them. “Your mother will be safe.” 

When you arrived at the inn, you startled the poor workers who looked on edge, trembling. “Did Sukuna… he is here?” 

Two of the workers glanced between each other, before one spoke. “Are you the woman he spoke of?” 

“Uh– perhaps,” you replied. “I am travelling. With him.” You glanced around the large entrance hall. “Do you know… where he is?” 

“The farthest room down,” they replied, pointing you in the direction. “L-let me w-walk you th-there–” 

“That is fine,” you replied, shaking your head. “I will go. Thank you.” You bowed your head slightly before hurrying over to the end of the hall, reaching the farthest room down. Of course, the workers would want Sukuna to be as far as possible. 

You slid open the door, finding Sukuna eating at a table in the room. He lifted his head up slightly to eye you, however, and you could feel his judgement as he looked at your clothes. “Where did your hide go?” 

“I traded,” you replied. “Someone will bring me clothes.” You looked to the side, and saw a pile of neatly folded yukata’s. Hurrying over, you unfolded one. “I will bathe, in the meantime.” 

Sukuna coughed. “I will join you.” 

Your neck practically snapped as you looked over at him. “Sorry?” 

Sukuna grinned, standing up. “Do not flatter yourself. I feel like bathing, so I will.” 

“Then I- I can wait,” you muttered, putting down the yukata in your hand. 

Sukuna raised a brow at you. “Then what will you do… in the meantime?” His tone changed at the end, mocking. 

“I will eat,” you replied, walking over to where he stood and plopping yourself down opposite to where he had been sitting before. You looked up at him, and only then remembered what a behemoth of a man he was. “What little you have leftover.” 

Sukuna scoffed. “Good thing you do not have to cook this.” When your eyes shot up to look at him, with a slightly offended, taken aback expression, Sukuna just laughed and walked away. “The onsens are divided by gender, anyway, brat.”

Right. 

Once Sukuna had left, you fall back on the tatami mat flooring, taking in its comfort. In this atmosphere, Sukuna seemed far more relaxed – maybe, even, slightly friendly. There were no outward threats to your lives, so that probably helped with his attitude. But you had to remind yourself constantly to not fall for the comfort that was being provided here – the water, the food, the tatami mats – they were temporary. You would not be staying here long. 

When the door slid open again, you quickly straightened up, your gaze focused on the door. You looked far too low, because the first thing your eyes saw was something your virgin eyes had never seen. You yelped, falling back on the tatami mat, covering your eyes. 

Sukuna laughed loudly, his voice booming through the room. “What? Have you never seen a dick?” You didn’t reply, moving your hands to cover your face entirely. That was not what you thought it looked like. Not at all. “Well, I guess it’s more than just one,” Sukuna snorted. This is what you meant. Sukuna was far too relaxed, for your liking. You think you would rather how he acted back in the cave. 

You stood up, keeping your gaze on the roof as you grabbed your yukata. “I am going to bathe!” You hurried out after your announcement, making Sukuna continue to chuckle to himself, as he watched you rush out. 

When you returned from your bath, you felt like a rejuvenated person. You had probably spent far too long there, and it was only when you remembered that the mother you had met earlier would be arriving soon, that you decided to leave. 

Your skin was the cleanest it had ever been. It felt like this was the first time you had seen your proper hair texture, cleaned and untangled. When you entered back into your room with Sukuna, you found him on his futon, his head resting on two of his hands, snoring without a care in the world. 

Looking back at your old ragged clothing, you grabbed them from the corner you threw them in and walked out of your room, back to the entrance. There, talking with the workers at the front, was the woman you met before. The workers glanced at you warily, first. But the woman was quick to nod her head at you, and hold out folded fabrics in her hand. 

“I do not have much, I apologize,” she said, pushing them towards you. “I need to leave the rest of my clothes for my daughter – but if you take good care of these, they will last you very long.” 

“Thank you,” you replied, taking them from her carefully. She nodded her head at you, her gaze careful, before turning back to the workers. You walked back towards the end of the hallway, stepping into your room. 

One of Sukuna’s eyes was open, as he still laid in the comfortable position you had found him in after taking a bath. “What is that?” 

“Clothing,” you replied, sitting down on the floor and laying the clothes out. It was similar to what your old clothes used to be, before the years wore them down. “Isn’t it pretty?” 

Sukuna was so taken aback, he snorted out a laugh. 

You didn’t need a reply. It had just slipped out as you looked at the clothes in awe. You would sleep in the clothes the inn provided overnight, but you were itching to wear what was laid out in front of you. Looking back at him, you asked, “When will we leave?” 

Both of his eyes were open now, as he stared up at the ceiling. He shrugged. “However long I feel like.” You shouldn’t have expected an exact child. Sukuna went forward, with no clear plan or goal, besides occasional destruction. You didn’t want to put him on edge and cause harm to this village – especially not when that woman and her children were of such help to you.

“Okay,” you muttered, before folding the clothes carefully. The room was silent as you finished up, before putting your gifted clothes in a neat corner. You looked around the room. They had provided two futons but Sukuna took up that space – and far more. 

Sighing, you decided to just sit in the place where you had folded the clothes and lie down. You were accustomed to sleeping uncomfortably – and compared to what you’ve dealt with your entire life, this was the peak of luxury. But Sukuna still scrutinized you. “What are you doing?” 

You hadn’t even gotten the chance to shut your eyes yet. You raised yourself by leaning your weight on your forearm. “Sleeping?”

“What, are you scared of a futon?” 

You’re sleeping on mine, you wanted to say. Instead, you put your head back down on the tatami flooring. “Who knows. It might come to life.” 

Sukuna snorted. “Are you serious?” 

“Very,” you replied, getting comfortable.

Sukuna sat up. “You are sleeping in the same room as me, and you’re fearful of a futon?”

“Yes,” you replied, closing your eyes. 

“What could it do to you?” 

You opened your eyes, holding back the urge to sigh. “I don’t know. I’ve never slept in one.” 

“Right,” Sukuna grinned, his teeth displayed as though they were bared. “I forgot about your cage.” 

You hummed. “All of this is practically paradise to me. But… we will leave. If I sleep in a futon now…” You closed your eyes. “Nevermind.” 

Sukuna scowled. “Don’t start a sentence just to not finish it, brat.” 

“Sorry,” you muttered, sitting up again. This time you sat properly, instead of just propping yourself up. “If I experience the privilege of sleeping in a futon now – I don’t know how I’d live without it, after. I was thinking about it in the baths.” 

Sukuna didn’t reply. After a moment, he slowly took a deep breath. “You don’t reek, anymore.” 

You frowned. “That’s not a nice way to put it.” 

“You still expect me to be nice?” 

“You seem to be in a good mood,” you replied. “Is it because I smell better?” 

“Perhaps,” Sukuna grunted. “When was the last time you bathed?” 

“I’m not sure,” you said, a far off expression on your face. “A long time ago.” 

“Geez,” Sukuna muttered. “Must’ve felt nice then.” 

“To shower?” Sukuna just hummed. You looked down at your hands. Your clean hands. “Yeah. It felt like… all those years… just… washed off of me? Like, I cleansed myself from that cage. From that village. From those people.” 

Sukuna watched your expression carefully. Your face twisted as you spoke of your village. “You feel no sadness? Wasn’t it your village?” 

You scoffed. “It was a village of people who treated their dogs better than they did me.” 

“And the children?” You looked up at him. He had his head propped against the wall, his head tilted towards you. He quirked his brow. “The children I killed. You feel no remorse for them? They weren’t complicit, were they? Even I almost missed your presence in that cellar.” 

“I– they– I…” You stuttered a bit more before deciding to take a moment to think of your reply. “I did not know them.”

“So they deserved to be killed?” Sukuna held back from smirking before adding on. “Brutally.” 

“I did not know them,” you repeated, your narrowed gaze focused on Sukuna. Your eyebrows were all furrowed, your lips tugged into a frown. You were firm, now. Sukuna felt a sensation up his spine at the tone of your voice – he had almost forgotten the power of it. 

“They were children,” Sukuna repeated slowly, his gaze piercing. 

You dug your finger into your chest, tears pricking at your eyes. “I was a child. And death would have been a far better fate than what they subjected me to.” 

Sukuna smiled. “You are glad.” 

“I am glad,” you nodded. “Death is merciful.” 

You stared down at your hands, fixated on them, as you sat in your words. Did your reluctance to empathize with everyone Sukuna had murdered, speak truth into their words? Were you a monster? 

Sukuna took you out of your thoughts. He placed his hand on top of your head, and it was only then that you had realized he had gotten up from his futons. “I’m hungry. I’m going to get food.” 

“O…kay?” That was abrupt. 

“Since you don’t smell anymore,” Sukuna said, as he stepped towards the sliding door. “You can rest on the futon.” 

“Huh?” 

“I don’t like repeating myself,” Sukuna said, before opening the sliding door. “Go to sleep.” 

He closed the door behind him, with no other word. You stared at the door for a few moments,shocked – before scrambling to the futons. 

You were awoken from your peaceful slumber by some rustling. Eyes opening slowly, it was difficult to focus in on anything while it was still dark. However, Sukuna’s frame was unmistakable. You felt around the futon – or multiple futons – that you slept in. He hadn’t decided to kick you out from then – instead, he was resting where you had been before. 

But Sukuna still seemed to be asleep. It wasn’t noise from him. 

Sukuna’s shadow would be terrifying for any other person – his four arms just seemed like two humongous arms. His upper body was just humongous on their own – when enlarged as a shadow, it looked as though he had the figure of a tiger. 

And yet, it wasn’t his shadow that scared you. 

It was far smaller – a child. 

You watched, quiet, as the shadow stalked forward, approaching Sukuna’s figure. It didn’t seem that the child had noticed you. They were too focused on Sukuna. You didn’t make a noise, as the small figure stepped up right next to Sukuna. You heard a small, stuttering, breath. Everything was quiet. 

And then the child raised their arms up, the unsheathing of their knife making you shiver. 

They hesitated, but then they plunged straight down. 

“Stop.” 

The child raised their head to look up at you, frozen. You crawled closer, coming to see the child closer. “You…” The knife was mere millimetres away from Sukuna’s skin. You doubted a simple stab through the heart would do anything to a man like Sukuna, though. “Why would you stop me?” The boy hissed. 

Now that you had a closer look, you recognized him. The son of the woman who had lent you her clothing. “Why are you doing this?” You whispered back, reaching over to place your hand above his. 

“To save you,” the boy whispered. “From this monster.” 

You shook your head. “You should leave.” 

“What?” 

“You do not need to save me,” you replied. “He saved me.” 

“He– this?” The boy asked, scrunching his eyebrows. “That can’t be true–”

“It is,” you interrupted, squeezing his hands and your shared grip on the knife handle, before pulling it up gently. “Now… this is still very dangerous for you.” You took a deep breath, before looking at him carefully. “Go. And do not come back.” 

A dazed look came across his face. The boy lost his grip on the knife, but you caught it. He stood up slowly, and stepped outside, sliding the door closed behind him. 

You moved away from Sukuna's body, letting out a sigh that quickly turned into a cough that wouldn’t stop racking over your body. 

“There’s a pitcher in the corner,” Sukuna grumbled.

You could barely croak out a thank you before rushing to all the corners in the room before you finally found it, bringing it to your lips, and quickly swallowing the water down. Once you had enough, you placed it down, wiping what had missed your mouth. It was only after your relief of drinking the water, that you realized who had just spoken. The only man in the room with you right now.

You turned around carefully. “Su… kuna?” 

“Surprised?” 

“Why…” You gaped at his large figure. “Why didn’t you kill him?” 

Sukuna sneered. “Who says I didn’t?” You could still see the glint in his eyes despite the dark. “Look outside, brat.” 

“No,” you muttered, scrambling up to slide the door open. “No, no, no, no–” 

There was nothing there. You turned back to look at Sukuna who had stood up, somehow with no loud noises to alarm you. You didn’t understand how a man like him was able to be so silent. He lifted his hand up and conjured up flames. Stepping forward, he brought his hand closer to your face. You took a step back, shaking. 

Sukuna’s grin didn’t falter from his lips. Once you realized he wasn’t going to burn your face – or once you were standing rooted to the ground hoping he wouldn’t – you stayed still. You looked up at him, confusion and anger evident. “What?” You finally had the courage to ask.

“Just wanted to see your expression in the light,” Sukuna replied, before clenching his hand into a fist and getting rid of the light. “Now, go back to sleep. We’re leaving tomorrow.” 

Your next trip with Sukuna was long. You were glad you didn’t run into the boy, and his family, grateful that they weren’t part of some of the faces that came out to watch as Sukuna left their village – no doubt something they would celebrate soon. 

The two of you walked much farther than you did the last time – or maybe, experiencing the luxuries that you had in the inn before, made you a little lazier. Sukuna didn’t stop until the two of you came across a river. He had wordlessly begun to strip, and that was your sign that this was finally a break. 

You had quickly fallen to the ground, resting your pulsating legs. You laid your head back, wondering how you’d ever get up now. 

“Are you not going to clean yourself, woman?” Sukuna asked, before he stepped into the river. 

You raised your head, looking at him with a raised eyebrow. “Look at that current – I’d be taken away before you ever got the chance to defeat me one day.” 

Sukuna snorted. “Hold onto me then.” 

“What?” 

“I do not like repeating myself.” Sukuna lowered himself into the river, letting out a groan that probably scared the fish so badly they began to swim against the current. He seemed so relaxed that you were afraid he had forgotten about his proposal from a mere second ago. 

You slowly took off your clothes, hoping to at least cup the water and pour it over yourself. Maybe, if the current was that strong, it would take you far away to a nice cave, where you could live out your life in peace. 

“What’s taking you so long?” Sukuna grumbled. 

“Sorry,” you quickly muttered, throwing away any notion of such a fantasy and quickly piling your clothes near where Sukuna left his. The breeze nipped at your body, making you shiver. “Is it cold?” 

“No,” Sukuna replied, holding one of his arms out. You reached out, getting a firm grip on it, before stepping into the river. Your feet didn’t reach the bottom, and they flailed around for a moment, before Sukuna lifted his arm up slightly. 

But not only was it deep, it was cold. “You lied,” you hissed, shivering as you gripped onto Sukuna. 

“Yes,” Sukuna said, a small smile on his face. “Are you mad?” 

“Yes,” you replied, trying to use his body warmth to feel better about how cold the water was. 

Sukuna sneered. “Why don’t you curse me then?” 

You didn’t reply, sighing and deciding to bathe in silence. For now, you were in debt to this man. Your neck was cramping, keeping it straight and away from the rest of Sukuna. You were also avoiding putting your entire body against his, only letting your hands touch him. To properly relax, you would need to rest it – but resting it against him was unthinkable. He might just cut your head off for that. 

Sukuna however, was perfectly relaxed, compared to you. His body was very warm, so it was probably easy for him to pay the cool water no mind. You looked at his head, tilted back with all of his eyes closed. When he was this way, Sukuna was actually quite good looking. It was hard to tell he had his four eyes, or his multiples of limbs, but even with those features Sukuna was handsome. 

“Quit staring at me.” 

You coughed. “Sorry.” 

Sukuna raised his head and looked down at you. The current was pushing against you, but you were using all of your willpower to not be pressed up on him. His glare on your body just fortified that strength. 

He stared for so long, that you had to speak up. “What?” You practically whined, wanting him to stop looking at you. 

Sukuna looked up at your face, and then licked his teeth. “I’m hungry.” 

“Sukuna.” You said his name with a warning tone – as if that could stop him from eating you. 

He scoffed. “Not you. You have no meat on your bones, there would be nothing for me to enjoy.” 

The benefits of being malnourished have finally revealed themselves to you. You let out a sigh, and shrugged. “There’s fish in this river.” 

Sukuna hummed. “Do you think fish can sustain me?” 

“You can feed me and then eat me later,” you replied. 

Sukuna snorted. “I take it that you are hungry.” 

“Very much so.” 

“Then you will hunt.” 

Sukuna didn’t starve you. It was actually quite surprising. 

You were a very bad hunter. And you were even worse at using your cursed technique. 

You had been hiding in the trees, ready to get a bunny. But then it had turned around and you had seen its cute little face, and you didn’t have the heart to kill it. You yelled, “Cut!” but you sliced much higher than what was initially intended and sliced down a tree. Sukuna had groaned behind you and walked away. A couple minutes later, he’d come back with a fresh kill. 

“How will you challenge me if you can’t kill a simple rabbit?!” He had yelled out in frustration as he threw the small animal towards you. 

“It was too small – it was probably a baby–” 

“You’re the baby,” Sukuna huffed, scowling. “What’s wrong with you? Aren’t you hungry?” 

“Yes, but–” 

“Then, kill!” 

“I need water–” 

“Stupid excuse. I’m not getting you water until blood comes out of your throat.” 

And so you tried and tried, again and again. You thought back to the deer that Sukuna had you figure out how to skin and cook. But then, he was still the one to do the killing. You tried everything you could, but it was like your own body was holding you back. 

“Cut.” And you would just leave scratches that would barely make the animals wince as they leaped away. 

“Stay still.” And it would listen. But in your moments of hesitance, it would break out of the trance. 

“Die.” And it would straight up rot. Nothing was left for you or Sukuna to eat. 

The two of you stood over the deer you had just told to die. Sukuna had a scowl over his face, and you were teary eyed and exhausted. As Sukuna berated you, his words fell on deaf ears. You were holding back a fit of coughs, keeping your head bowed. 

“Look at me when I speak to you,” Sukuna hissed. 

You raised your head, but that slight movement of your neck had you in a coughing fit. You lowered your head again, coughing into your hands. A tickle in your throat and then your coughs got worse, until you tasted something metallic and realized you were coughing up blood. 

Still coughing slightly, you raised your hands up to Sukuna, a silent plea. 

Sukuna grit his teeth and rolled his eyes, turning his back to you. “Kill a fucking mushroom for all I care! Then, you get your water.” 

So much for his word. 

It wasn’t until three days and two nights of trying, that you finally succeeded. You dragged the boar you had killed, all the way to the tree that Sukuna had been propped against for an entire day. You didn’t have the energy to pay attention to whatever attention he gave you for finally completing the task. It didn’t matter, because he didn’t give you much besides a flick of a wrist that started a fire. You still had to skin and cut. He didn’t give you a break. 

When you finally cooked the meat, you stayed patient, remembering the last time you burnt your food. The patience, the work, everything felt so worth it when you finally got to have a bite of food. You groaned at the taste, finally putting an amused smirk on Sukuna’s face. While you were chewing, Sukuna spoke up. “What did you say?” You raised your head, confused, still dazed from the high of eating. “How did you kill it?” 

“Freeze,” you replied, wiping at your mouth. “And then slice.” 

Sukuna nodded. “Good.” 

He hated to admit it, but he’d felt his entire body comply with your demand. You were improving. 

“Very good.” 

Sukuna finally realized he’d taught you well after a singular experience in a village that the two of you decided to rest in — one that Sukuna claimed he would destroy as they left, because of how terrible the servants were. They were scared and shaking a lot, impeding on the service. You’d learned to disassociate from all of them. They could be hiding a girl in the cellar as well, for all you knew. They could be terrible. 

As the servants brought trays of food into your room, their shaky hands almost completely dropping your drinks and the many plates that sat on your tray, you examined every bowl and dish. Sukuna saw the contemplative, almost confused, look on your face. 

You didn’t speak up until the servants had left. “Where is the meat?” 

Sukuna snorted immediately. 

You were confused. “What?” 

He held back a grin as he answered. “Japan is filled with humans who do not eat meat.” 

Your brows furrowed. “What?” 

“It is as crazy to them as me eating humans is crazy to you.” 

“That’s different—“ 

“How?” Sukuna tilted his head, grinning widely as he waited for your answer. 

“They’re humans!”

“And that’s what these vegetarians would tell you about their previous pigs and flies.” 

“But we need meat and food to sustain ourselves—“ 

“And I need humans.” 

You sucked in a deep breath before shaking your head. “Maybe switching to grass wouldn’t be so bad.” 

“Yeah?” Sukuna raised a brow at you. “While we’re out in the fields tomorrow, you can stick to eating grass while I hunt and bring back a delicious, big—“

“Oh, shut up.” You said it playfully, but your hands slapped over your mouth when you realized you had just told the great all might king of curses to shut his mouth. You were too scared to even look at him. 

But Sukuna just snorted, giving you the courage to look up at him. “You’re still terrified of me. That’s good.” 

You slowly lowered your hand and looked up at him. “Of course, I am. You made me starve the past few days.” 

“You made yourself starve – would you still blame me if I had spared you in your village, but left you to your own devices.” 

“No,” you muttered. “I’d be long dead.” 

Sukuna let out a sudden, loud belly-laugh. You looked at him, stunned, as he smiled widely. It was the purest joy you’d seen on his face. And it was the second time you’d ever seen him laugh – truly laugh. 

“Is that funny to you?” You asked, bitter. 

“Very,” he answered, blunt.

You didn’t have a very good sense of where in Japan your village was, or even in what direction you were travelling in with Sukuna. All you knew was that it had felt like a very long time, and you frequently found yourself questioning whether you were still even in Japan and not a neighbouring country. 

It had gotten colder and colder, and you weren’t sure if that fact was due to the place you were in or the time. With every animal you killed, you got better at creating its furs into a warm mantle that helped you brave the weather. You had even offered to make one for Sukuna, who simply laughed at you. He was doing that more often, around you. 

When it had finally snowed, Sukuna acted as though it was a hindrance. You held your mantle close to you, questioning him. “Is it dangerous?” 

Sukuna scoffed. “It is snow.” He looked back at you and raised a brow. “You have never seen snow?” 

“I… I think I have,” you said, looking around you as the snow began to slowly fall around you, much of it landing on your clothing. “A long time ago.” Your eyes sparkled as you tried to get a good look at every individual snowflake. 

A grin grew on Sukuna’s face. You looked like a child. 

He reached his hand out and grabbed your chin, jutting it out. You looked up at him, alarmed, but not sobbing in horror at the feeling of his touch. You had just the right amount of fear of him to not be annoying. 

“Stick your tongue out,” Sukuna demanded. His grin grew as your eyes widened further. In your time at other villages and inns, you had heard unfamiliar noises. When you had realized why you were hearing them, you looked as though someone had just ran their hand across your spine, and quickly decided to turn in early. Sukuna had laughed heartily, before interrupting the couple next door, since they were beginning to bother him as well. “Your mind gets more filthy everyday,” Sukuna huffed. “Do it. I command you.” 

You did as he said, sticking the tip of your tongue out as you looked up at him. 

“More.” 

You stuck it out a little further. Sukuna let out a frustrated huff and grabbed your tongue. Before he could pull it out, you stuck it out completely. “Good. Now…” 

His eyes focused on a snowflake that was falling, one that was about to land right on your tongue. You focused on that snowflake as well, eyes crossing as you watched it fall on your tongue. Once it had landed on your tongue, your eyebrows immediately scrunched. “I didn’t feel anything.” 

“It’s a droplet of water,” Sukuna scoffed. “Of course you didn’t.” 

You gasped. “It’s water?” 

“Did you think it was the tears of the Gods?” Sukuna asked, raising a brow at you. 

“Please,” you huffed, holding your hand out to feel the snow against your skin. “I wouldn’t believe in such a thing.” 

“What?” Sukuna asked. “God?” 

“Yes,” you nodded. No longer distracted by the snow, you looked over at him curiously. “Did you think I would? Why would I believe in such a thing after everything I have been put through?” 

“God isn’t just benevolent,” Sukuna replied, simply.

You winced. “I don’t know what that means.” 

He sighed. “Good. Whatever these mortals believe in isn’t inherently good – they know that. That’s why they must beg for its’ benevolence.” 

“So… I didn’t beg enough?” 

“That’s not what I’m saying,” Sukuna grunted, eyeing your expression. “That’s just what they think.” 

You hummed for a moment, eyeing the snow that was beginning to pile up at your feet. “Maybe they’re right.” 

Sukuna let out a sigh. “What, you think your God betrayed you?” 

“No.” You looked up at him. “You showed me be-bevolence.” 

Sukuna’s lips twitched. “Be-ne-volence.”

“Bene–benevelence.” 

He looked away from you, focusing on the journey ahead again. “You’ll get there.” 

When the snow turned into ice pellets, it was getting unbearable for you to bear the cold anymore. For Sukuna, it was simply annoying. He changed his direction to head towards caves, in which a pack of wolves sensed his presence and quickly ran out of. 

You quickly huddled up against a wall, holding your mantle close to you and absolutely freezing. Sukuna raised an eyebrow at you. “That is all you will do?” 

Your brows furrowed. “What?” 

Sukuna grinned. “You do not want to pray to your benevolent God?” 

You clicked your tongue, your body shivering uncontrollably. “I did not call you that.”

“Well, you said it wrong, but it sure sounded like benevolent.” 

“I did not call you a God,” you hissed, clutching onto your mantle. 

“Really?” Sukuna asked, an amused lilt in his voice. “You would not call me one, even if I offered you… fire?”

A burst of flames came from his hands and your body immediately weakened any resolve at the feeling of warmth. You whined, resting your head on your knees. “You are the opposite of benevolence. You are evil.” 

“Malevolence.” 

“Yes. That. You are that.” 

Sukuna grinned, holding out his arm. You hesitated for barely a moment before standing up and going closer to him. The heat from his hand immediately ceased your chattering.  

He eyed you as you closed your eyes and rested your head against the rocks behind you, careful to not get too close to the flame in his hand. But if he just reached out, he could bring the fire to your skin. He wouldn’t even need to extend his arm entirely. 

Just a little. And he’d burn you. 

But Sukuna did not move. 

You and Sukuna had stayed in that cave for a surprisingly long time. It was only when the months passed and the weather began to get warmer, that you started venturing out again. You hadn’t questioned his decision to stay in one place, because it had helped you from getting ill while travelling. But you still wondered what he was thinking.

It was always difficult to tell. Unless he was making fun of you. In those moments – of which there had been many – his emotion was clear as day. 

As it got warmer, the two of you came across a bamboo forest. You had gotten used to the snow after many days, but this was yet again, a new sight for you. As you took in your surroundings, still making sure to follow closely behind Sukuna, he stopped in his tracks. 

You bumped into his back, hitting your face against his hard back. “Ow– sorry,” you quickly mumbled, rubbing your nose. 

“You need better reaction time,” Sukuna grumbled, looking around. You nodded, admitting that you did. Then, he said, “Let’s stay here.”

“What?” 

“I do not like–” 

“Sorry.” The words had slipped out of your mouth before you could think, since you were preparing to say them after he finished his sentence. You looked up at his with wide eyes, expecting him to slice you in half or something, but he didn’t acknowledge you. 

“Follow me. We will build.” 

You wanted to ask questions but you decided not to risk it, mentally reminding yourself to keep your mouth in check. “Okay.” 

You did not end up building. Sukuna didn’t want to do the heavy work, and said that you would do it. While your cursed technique was something that was useful to him, and your drive and skill to kill was entertaining, your physical skill was what he would expect from a woman – especially you. 

“I forgot how weak you were,” Sukuna spat out. 

You had nothing to say, unable to prove him wrong at that moment. Luckily for the two of you – and very unfortunately for another man – an ice hut was built up in the forest. It had taken you a few days to find it, but when you finally had, you had a large weight off of your shoulders – that weight literally was Sukuna, and his constant grumbling over how useless you were. 

The ice hut luckily already had some animals inside. “Can we eat?” You asked, excitedly looking over at Sukuna. 

He was hungry. But because he was still rather annoyed at you, he replied, “No.” 

You hadn’t groaned. No complaining. Instead, you just sighed and announced that you were going to be going on a walk. Sukuna allowed you, hoping that you’d do something entertaining for him while you were out. 

Instead, you returned far later than he had anticipated, but with no scratches or bruises, no story of interest like he had hoped. Sukuna huffed. “You are getting far more boring by the day.” 

“That’s what men tend to say when they spend too long with a woman,” you said, sitting down across from him on the ground. 

Sukuna raised a brow at you. “Are you comparing me to a man?” 

“I’m sure a small part of you is still similar to them,” you hummed, glancing up at him. 

He didn’t reply. He simply set up a fire, with no warning – you jumped back, yelping. But he had never burned you. At least, not yet. 

You grinned as you scooted back. “Looks like my reaction time is getting better.” 

“If awful is what you consider ‘getting better.’ Maybe.” 

Over the following weeks, you continued to leave on a walk and return far later than need be. Sukuna was beginning to get suspicious – he figured you had run into a man on your first walk, and had warned him of Sukuna’s presence. Perhaps, in your harbouring of this man, you had grown fond of him. That would explain why you were getting back to Sukuna, later with every passing night. 

Finally, sick of your practices, especially when you had returned home near sunrise, Sukuna had waited to hear your heartbeat calm before he followed in the direction of your scent. Sukuna scowled as a hut came into view, not far from where the two of you spent your days. He was right. You were spending time with a man.

Sukuna had not been destructive in a few months, but it came natural to him. As natural as closing your eyes while sneezing was for you. He had barely blinked, before using cleave to bring the entire hut. 

To his surprise, there were no human remnants. Maybe your lover was lucky. Sukuna had the urge to search for the man and kill him, but he couldn’t smell anything other than you. 

Your smell got stronger, all of a sudden, and Sukuna turned his head around to see you running forward to the hut. You looked devastated. 

Good. 

“What did you do?!” You screamed, stalling before him.

“You dare speak to me that way?” Sukuna sneered, his heart beating in excitement. Finally, some fun. 

You did not feel his joy, however. “What did you do?!” You screamed again, raising your hand to your head, and looking ahead at the hut, toppled to the ground. “Why?!” 

“Do you fear I’ve killed your lover – don’t worry,” Sukuna mocked. “He has escaped with his tail between his legs.” 

“My– my lover?” You asked, your eyes brimming with tears. “I–” You choked on the sob that threatened to rip your throat. Sukuna had realized that the last time he had seen you cry, was when you both had met. And that was not his fault. “I built that!” 

Sukuna was truly taken by surprise. “What?” 

“I! Built! That!” You yelled, your voice beginning to lose its steam. “For us… I… I was finished, finally–” You let out a scream of frustration, before glaring up at him through your tears. “Why would you do that?!” 

Sukuna was frozen. In genuine shock. But he made sure not to show that on his face. Instead he raised his brows at you. “You called that a hut? I could rebuild it in five minutes.” 

“But it took me nights of work,” you hissed, clutching onto the clothes near your chest. “It took me so long and you–” 

“I will build it again!” Sukuna huffed. 

“That’s not my problem,” you said, shaking your head in disbelief. “I worked on that – you ruined my work.” 

“It wasn’t very good,” Sukuna scoffed. 

“It–” You stopped yourself, sucking in a breath. “Okay. Fine. Build another one.” 

Sukuna raised a brow at you. “What? I thought you wanted to work on it again,” he mocked. 

“I do not.” You turned away, disinterested, and still seething with rage. “You can do whatever you want. I will sleep outside.” 

You were not speaking to Sukuna. Sukuna found it absolutely foolish. 

Every night, he would come and try and convince you to enter the hut, chiding you about how childish you were being. From just your expressions alone, it could not be clear to anyone that you had even registered his presence or his words. Sukuna would get very annoyed, reminding you that he could kill you before you would even realize you were dead. 

You would roll over on the ground, facing him but keeping your eyes closed. 

Sukuna expected more fun when you would eventually blow up on him. Not whatever this was. 

In his anger with you, he had accidentally broken the ice hut – now he was not only angry at you but also needing to cook his food right after kills. He had found pleasure in simply storing his meat in the winter and with the ice hut in the spring, but food would quickly rot out in the summer. 

The summer itself was proving to be very hot. Which also didn’t assist in Sukuna’s mood, since he already was very warm, all the time. 

Everything was annoying him. He couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t walk into the stupid hut that he had built for himself, because it made him think of you. He couldn’t go to fix the ice hut because you were there, and going back to being silent.

He needed something to not piss him off. 

Because of how warm he was, Sukuna instinctively followed the cold. He wasn’t very guarded as he sensed the presence of a cursed technique, but he was a little surprised by the ice that covered the area. 

Sukuna walked toward the cold child that looked like it was near death. 

“... this is?” 

The child’s head tilted up slightly, as if it could only just tell that Sukuna stood in front of him. “I don’t know,” the child spoke. “It’s always like this. When I wake up, everyone around me is cold. Father and mother both died like this because of me.” 

Sukuna eyed the child before making a split second decision. After all, this child might have been able to solve all three of his problems ; the heat, the destroyed ice box and you. 

Sukuna brought the child with him. 

You were more than surprised to return from the river you had found nearby, and return to a small child by the ice box with Sukuna. Sukuna watched your expression with a small smirk, as you clearly tried to overcome your shock by figuring out what Sukuna could bring a child for. 

You finally had to succumb. “What– who is this?” 

“A child,” Sukuna replied. “I figured it would appease you.” 

Immediately, your eyebrows furrowed. You were clearly mad, but not as angry as you were when you had discovered the broken hut. “Appease me? It?” You looked like you wanted to continue repeating parts of his sentence but you took a deep breath and gave the child a look – a kind look that Sukuna had not seen in a long time. Perhaps ever. 

“What is your name?”

The child looked up at Sukuna curiously. He gave a curt nod, and only after that confirmation did the child turn back to you with an answer. “Uraume.” 

“Uraume,” you repeated, as if testing the name on your lips. You smiled at the child. “Did I get that right?” 

Uraume nodded. 

“Have you eaten?” You asked, looking at the child's frail state. 

Uraume nodded again.

“You're quiet,” you smiled. “You’re like me.” 

Sukuna scoffed. “Only as of late.” 

You shot him a glare, which Uraume was surprised by. Despite being weak, they could sense that you were far weaker than Sukuna – who were you to challenge him? You brought your hand up to Uraume’s hand, squeezing it. “I’m going to talk to– uh, Master Sukuna, for a moment. Are you okay being alone?” 

Uraume nodded. 

You smiled, before getting up and walking off, far enough from the ice box to be out of earshot, but close enough for Sukuna to still have an eye on it. You did that on purpose.

“You thought bringing a child would make me talk to you?” 

“Isn’t that what angered women need?” Sukuna asked. “Something to take up their time so they do not waste their time on useless grudges?” 

“You are infuriating,” you said, in a far calmer voice than he had expected when you had brought him to talk. “You are infuriating, and you bring a child to make me more angry.” 

“You are angered by the child?” Sukuna asked. “Do you want me to toss it aside?” 

“No– not it,” you said, with gritted teeth. “H–her?” 

Sukuna smirked at your uncertainty. “Him.”

“Okay – yes, him. You cannot simply toss a child aside – that child has clearly been suffering, but you also cannot push some motherly role onto me! Just to make me talk to you, of all petty things!” 

Sukuna scoffed, rolling his eyes at you as he crossed his arms. “I did not do something so...” 

“Desperate?” You asked, with a small smirk. “Because that’s what this feels like to me.” 

“The summer heat has been unbearable!” Sukuna hissed. “I wished for something to cool me off – you have been of no help, getting me angered –” 

“So I’m your issue?” You puffed out your chest with far more bravery than you believed you had. “If I am the problem, why don’t you kill me? You’ve threatened it plenty of times and now you have a new toy to play with, to test – so why don’t you just do –” 

You didn’t know what you were expecting. 

But the last thing was a kiss. 

You honestly wondered if Sukuna had the same definition of a kiss as you did. As you felt his lips on yours, for a moment, you wondered if he held it to the same significance as you did, or whether that was how he began to eat live women. 

But for once, he is soft. And you know this wouldn’t be how he devours. This was different. 

You were the one pulled away from the foreign sensation with a gasp. 

“Sukuna?” 

You finally felt you could read his mind. 

He regretted that.

He straightened up and his expression was steely. “I have let you live in comfort for far too long, if you believe you can speak to me in such a manner,” Sukuna growled. “Act up again and I will cut your tongue and eat it right in front of you. And then you will be powerless, just as I found you.” 

He stepped away, back towards Uraume. 

You watched his frame as he left, bringing your hand up to your lips in shock. 

After a moment, you turned away from him and let the tears flow out of your eyes, feeling far more naive than you ever had. 

You had spent a few months with Uraume and Sukuna – still in this secluded bamboo forest. You didn’t speak to Sukuna as much as you had been before ; only when necessary or in front of Uraume. You could barely look at him without feeling… Well, you didn’t exactly know how you felt. Confused was the only way to put it. 

But what was worse, was knowing how he felt. Angry. At you or himself, you weren’t exactly sure. 

“I’m going on a hunt,” Sukuna grumbled, getting up from where he had been resting while Uraume sat next to him. Being around Uraume gave the opposite effect that Sukuna had, with his warm body. You always felt a little cold as well, so it didn’t exactly comfort you to be next to Uraume, but you would rather be with him than Sukuna. “I do not need the two of you slowing me down. Train, if you’d like. Or prepare a fire. Just be useful.”

You were grateful whenever he left, because you felt like you could finally relax, instead of making sure to watch your mouth around him. As you had gotten to know him and spent more time with him, you had also gotten more loose lipped. To suddenly revert to the way you used to be was difficult. 

You looked over at Uraume, who was often quiet but even more so when he was just with you. You didn’t know if you scared him, or if Sukuna scared him into not interacting with you. You nudged Uraume’s shoulder. “Do you have any questions, Uraume?” 

Uraume tilted his head up, with a furrowed brow. “What do you mean?” 

“I mean,” you shrugged, thinking. “I feel like I would be curious, if I was in your position. About Sukuna… maybe about me, too.” 

Uraume shrugged as well, mimicking you. “I do not want to ask… unnecessary questions, and cause strife.”

You tilted your head. “What do you mean?” 

Uraume looked off, in the direction that Sukuna had gone in, and then back at you. “You both argued when Sukuna brought me here… I believed that you did not… want me.” 

You gaped at him for a moment before shaking your head furiously. “No! Of course I wanted you here! Sukuna– Master Sukuna found me when I was in the same position as you were. If I had found you first, I would’ve made sure to take care of you as well. I’m sorry I made you think like that.” 

“No– it is not your fault, I assumed,” Uraume muttered. “I didn’t think women liked it when their husbands’ brought other women’s children. Or orphans.” 

You were sure you made a face as he spoke, because Uraume’s brows furrowed as he saw your expression. “He is… not your husband?” 

“God no,” you huffed. “He is… he would never be a husband. That is… I don’t think the word is in his vocabulary.” You eyed Uraume carefully. “Why? Does… do we seem that way?”

Uraume shook his head. “I figured because you were a female companion he travelled with… there was no other reasoning.” 

“Oh…” You shook your head. “No, it’s not like that… I’m sorry if you expected more from me. And him. To be more like parental figures, I mean… I think we’re both a bit too far from human to do those things.” 

Uraume nodded. “I am, too. Far from human.” 

You sighed, reaching your head up and putting your arm around Uraume’s shoulders. You hugged him close to your side. “That is good. Humans have done nothing but mistreat us. We should not wish to be like them.” 

“We are evil in their eyes,” Uraume muttered. “I am, at least.” 

“They would not know evil if I made them face their reflection,” you scowled. “In comparison, Sukuna is almost an angel.” 

Uraume giggled at that, his body slightly shivering. You felt a cold surge through your body as well but you held him closer. When he stopped giggling, Uraume sighed. “That was another reason I assumed you were…” He trailed off, knowing you were aware of what he was hinting at. “You don’t call him master in a very… natural way. Despite knowing him long.” 

You hummed. “I did not – could not – speak very much or very well when I met him. I guess the expectations to call him master were not as high – in fact, he made me stop saying it because I was taking too long to stutter out his name.” 

“What is your cursed technique?” Uraume asked.

“My voice – my speech,” you clarified, before sticking out your tongue and pointing to your cheeks. “That’s why these tattoos are here.” 

“And… Master Sukuna’s tattoos?” 

You frowned. “I don’t know. I figured–” 

It happened very quickly. 

Your mouth was covered first, and you saw Uraume try to scream – but his entire head was covered by a sack. You elbowed back at your attacker, trying to swing at them, but they put you in a headlock and choked you out. 

As you woke up, you heard the constant grumblings and complaints you had been hearing for a while now. “I tell you to be useful and you become a nuisance?” 

You blinked. Sukuna was taking off the bindings on your arms and legs, rough enough to take you out of your unconscious state. He could have simply sliced them with his cursed technique but he wanted to take out his annoyance on you. “Where’s Uraume?” 

You asked, looking around at the room you were in. It was a basement, just like the way you used to live in. A shiver went up your spine in the familiar environment. “Being useful, unlike you,” Sukuna snarled. 

“Are you making him kill the villagers?” You asked, your brows furrowing. 

“No.” Sukuna tried to stand up but his frame was far too huge for this puny basement. 

“Who took us? Why?” 

Sukuna sneered at you. “What do you think people like to sell? Weak, lonely girls.” 

You frowned, but didn’t say anything. 

“Get up. We are going to the village nearby for their springs.” 

You sighed, looking at the ground and following after him. 

When you had gotten to the top of the stairs, you suddenly felt very cold. When Sukuna opened the door to the house you were in, you realized a large block of ice covered it. You gasped, realizing what Uraume had done. “He froze the entire village?” 

“The people will starve and die slow deaths as they freeze,” Sukuna replied, coolly. 

He reached his hand out and sliced the ice in front of him, before raising his other hand to heat it. As you waited for him to melt the ice to exit, you shook your head. “It’s wrong to use him for this…” 

“What?” Sukuna said, his head turning to you. “Speak up.” 

“It’s wrong,” you repeated, looking him in his eyes, your chin raised in defiance. “He is a child. And he is not you. You shouldn’t make Uraume kill.” 

Sukuna sneered at you. “I thought you were not a motherly figure to the child.” 

“I am not – I am being sensible,” you replied. 

“You have never been sensible,” Sukuna scoffed. 

“I haven’t,” you muttered, crossing your arms. “Otherwise I would’ve tried escaping you, long ago.” 

Sukuna’s eyes narrowed in on you. “You should have. A true monster is too much for you.” 

“You should leave me here then,” you said, looking around. “I may as well die with the villagers here.” You let out a little laugh. “Isn’t it funny, how that works? I will die in the opposite way that my village died.” 

Sukuna scowled at your words. “If that is what you wish, you may. I have no use for you anymore.” 

You were taken aback by that. You raised an eyebrow at him. “Really?” 

“I do not like repeating myself.” 

You took a moment before replying with a soft voice. One that surprised Sukuna, after all the hostility he believed the two of you had felt for each other. “Okay.” 

Sukuna had been restless after your exit from his life. He figured it was boredom – extreme boredom. But after many, many battles, it was clear that nothing was satisfying him. He taught Uraume, who was a child and a quick learner. Uraume was someone he decided to keep on, because of how useful the boy was becoming to his life. 

His boring, uneventful life. 

He needed passion – he needed something. 

Sukuna just toppled everything and everyone over until he finally faced a fun challenge with the Fujiwara clan’s Sun, Moon and Stars Squad. 

But he had defeated them as well. And the adrenaline quickly dipped. After the successful feat, and truly becoming the most feared curse or man in Japan, Sukuna and Uraume walked around from village to village, reaping in the rewards of fear. 

As the two of them sat in the baths of an onsen, Uraume spoke up. “Master Sukuna. I have a question.” 

Sukuna raised a brow at him. “That’s rare. But…” He waved his head dismissively. “Go ahead.” 

Uraume hesitated for a moment, but knew how much Sukuna disliked the action and continued. “Your previous companion,” Uraume replied. “I’ve forgotten her name, but is it possible your unrest comes from her absence?” 

Sukuna scowled. “This is why you should never ask questions, Uraume. She could have been eaten by a tiger, or defiled by the Abe Clan. I do not care.” 

In the wake of Sukuna’s defeat against the Fujiwara clan’s most gifted sorcerers, Japan feared him. So, he was constantly being invited to places and revered as a God. Sukuna wasn’t exactly feeling satisfaction from such events, but he did get feasts along with it, which satisfied his consuming nature for a fleeting moment. 

A nobleman led the way for Sukuna, taking him to the emperors’ garden. “We have all of the emperor’s favourite concubines here.” 

“In the garden?” Sukuna asked, raising a brow. He figured the emperor would prefer to be more private. 

“These concubines are of very low status but have brilliant talents – our emperor was intrigued by many of them as he passed by their villages, and he wanted his visitors to feel the same… pleasure, you could say, that he did.” 

Sukuna smirked. The emperor was easily deterred. 

As they neared the garden, which was gated by a measly cloth, Sukuna could hear the voices of the seductresses. Their singing, their laughter, their whines. Of course, normal men would find it absolutely all-consuming. 

The nobleman moved the cloth out of the way for Sukuna to step into the garden. The garden itself was beautiful. It was cherry blossom season, so the pink was stark against the bright green grass. The women – of which, there were plentiful – were energetic, to say the least. Many of them were singing raunchy songs sung in beautiful tones. Some were cozying up with other noblemen, who seemed to be getting bonerkills from just Sukuna’s presence. Some were openly on top of their noblemen, who were so dazed out by sex that they probably did not know Sukuna had entered.

It was lively, to say the least. 

As Sukuna took it all in, the nobleman explained further of the emperor’s gifts. “He has three of his favourites ready for you – follow me, they are right here.” 

Sukuna did not like being ordered around, but he figured slicing this nobleman on the spot would ruin the mood, and did not do so. Sukuna followed the nobleman to two young girls – far too young for Sukuna’s tastes. He immediately scowled and noticed that the third was missing. “Where is the other one – these two do not suit my tastes.” 

“Uh– she may be running late, she is by far one of our busiest consorts – but these two remain unsullied by anyone but the emper–” 

“No.” Sukuna’s voice was gruff, but the nobleman jumped in fear. “Where is the other one?” 

As if on cue, the gardens’ cloth covering was pushed through. Sukuna eyed the woman who had just stepped in – she was hard to miss. He was sure that even the noblemen who were entranced by their concubines in the moment when Sukuna had arrived, were now gaping at you. 

You looked far more dressed up than Sukuna had ever seen you. Dressed in coloured layers that matched the blossoms in the garden, with your hair let loose, and heavy makeup it was almost impossible to recognize you. Thankfully, Sukuna was familiar with your smell, which, besides the smell of sex that overpowered the room, stood out most to him. 

To his pleasure, your eyes widened in recognition when you made eye contact with him. The nobleman that was helping Sukuna quickly grabbed you roughly by the arm and pulled you to seat yourself in between the two other young girls the emperor presented for him. 

“You are late,” the nobleman hissed at you. 

“The emperor interrupted me in the morning,” you hummed simply, dismissing the man. “Now, leave and do not bother me.” Sukuna smirked as the man seemed entranced right as you said that, before stepping away to bother the other concubines. 

“Did you decide who you’d like, Master Sukuna?” You asked cooly, reaching out for the teacup. “Or would you like all three?” 

Sukuna glared down at you. The girl to your right, terrified, whispered to you. “It’s Lord Sukuna – remember?” 

“He prefers Master,” you hummed, undeterred as you raised a brow at him. “Isn’t that right?” 

“You,” Sukuna said, unable to take his eyes off of you. 

You dismissed the girls. “Give space for Master Sukuna.” 

The girls scrambled away and Sukuna took the seat on your right. “You are alive,” he noted. 

“Are you not pleased?” You asked, narrowing your eyes on him. 

Sukuna shrugged. “I am surprised. How did you find your way here?”

“I joined a group of women who tried entrancing me with their voices,” you said, smiling at the memory. “One day when the emperor passed by… Well, with a technique like mine, it’s quite easy to manipulate weak men.” You eyed him. “I heard you destroyed the Fujiwara clan’s forces.” 

“I was bored,” Sukuna hummed, as you held out a cup of tea for him. He shook his head. 

You laughed, in such a high pitched, fake manner, that Sukuna almost laughed. “And that is why you have accepted an invitation to a brothel, then?” You tilted your head at him, some of your clothes tilting off to the side to reveal your shoulder. “I was surprised when the emperor told me about you.” 

“Not scared?” Sukuna asked. 

You smiled. “No.” You looked off at the other concubines and noblemen in the garden. “In truth, I find that I am bored as well. I have learned how to read and write in this castle but there is no place to use those skills as a concubine – unless it’s a little trick you use for the men. I do not very much enjoy singing the songs… and I find no pleasure in the men, like some of the women do.” 

Sukuna scoffed. “Not even the emperor?” 

“Please,” you scoffed, leaning in closer to Sukuna so that you could speak to him with a lower voice. “He doesn’t even know where to insert himself.” 

Sukuna covered his mouth with his hand, hiding an amused grin. 

“Can I tell you more?” 

“Go ahead.” 

Sukuna, for the next little while, found himself frequenting the emperor’s brothel far more often. He told Uraume – who had questioned these excursions – to enjoy his long break instead of talking. 

By the fourth day, when Sukuna had entered a little later than he usually had been, he saw you – hard at work. 

You smiled sweetly at the nobleman who you sat next to, placing a hand on his thigh. His eyes never left your exposed shoulders, and to Sukuna it almost looked like he was drooling. Sukuna watched as you leaned into the nobleman’s ear and whispered to him.

The nobleman quickly looked entranced. 

Sukuna smirked. You weren’t using your cursed technique in the way that Sukuna had ever intended for you to use it, but clearly you had built the skills needed for your environment. 

He turned away from you as you properly courted the nobleman, offering him the kisses and the whines that he had paid for. From what Sukuna gathered, you didn’t do much else unless it was with the emperor. 

It surprised him, honestly, that you had figured out how to weave yourself through this line of work in just a few years, after being so closed off for your entire life. Sukuna was surprised you didn’t constantly flinch away from the prying eyes or the invasive touches. 

You had become more strong willed. 

And you were yet again the most fun person of his life. 

So fun that Sukuna just had to put in a request for the emperor. 

“I want Y/N.” 

The emperor looked lost. 

Sukuna clarified. “Your concubine with the cursed speech.” 

The emperor's shoulders visibly slumped at Sukuna’s request, but he couldn’t deny the more powerful mans’ wishes. As a last minute gesture to keep her from Sukuna’s grasp entirely, the emperor suggested a night. 

One night in which Sukuna would get to try you out. 

“Really?” You asked, sitting on the edge of your grand bed after Sukuna explained your circumstances to you. “He throws me aside so easily?” 

Sukuna raised a brow at you. “What did you expect?” 

You sighed. “Not much. Especially in the face of you.” You put one leg over another, showing more skin. “What would you like to do to me, then, Master?” 

Those words still felt wrong on your tongue. 

And they also felt wrong to Sukuna’s ears, which was obvious from his displeased scowl. He stepped forward. “First, do not call me that.”

“Alright, Sukuna,” you nodded, looking up at him as he edged closer to your bed, towering over your frame. Despite his clear power over you, a small smirk was on your lips. “I am yours.” 

Sukuna wasn’t as… ravenous as you had expected. He had been careful, or perhaps just slow, as he had leaned down to kiss you. He had placed his hand on your waist, as if securing you. You didn’t speak or order as you typically did. 

Sukuna went against your expectations. 

His fingers were far thicker than you had ever noted. As they found themselves inside you, you felt something you hadn’t since your first encounter with a man – your heart beat quickened, your breaths were short, and you couldn’t help the gasps from your lips. 

His kisses were not light and feathery – they were as you expected of Sukuna Ryomen.  

Your fingers carded through his hair, tugging at it to try and get some type of reaction besides amusement and lust out of his eyes. He didn’t give you much besides a small groan and grin as he tilted his head back into your hands, before leaning back forwards to kiss you. 

You couldn’t help the gasp that came out your lips as he finally lowered his pants with one of his hands. Sukuna grinned at your reaction. “You had forgotten how it looked?” 

“No,” you muttered, unable to keep your eyes off of him. “It was… difficult to forget. I am just not… used to it.” 

“You will become used to it,” Sukuna replied easily, grabbing the shaft of his lower one. “And I assure you,” he smirked, leaning in closer. “I know where to insert myself.” 

Sukuna had left after he had cleaned himself up, which did not surprise you very much. You were always confused by Sukuna’s personality – some days he seemed very evil and others he just seemed tranquil. But, in your recent meetings with him you were even more confused. You wondered if Sukuna was capable of showing actual kindness. Out of the goodness of his heart. 

Thankfully, his departure reminded you that wasn’t the case. 

But when you had gone back to work in the morning, knowing it would be a generally empty room, Sukuna was there. 

Sukuna was satisfied by the brief flash of confusion on your face before you plastered on a smile, knowing that the other men and women in the room had their eyes on you. You approached Sukuna and bowed your head. “Master Sukuna.” 

“Sit.” 

You complied, sitting across from him. He did not speak, even as you looked at him curiously, so you decided to say something first. “Why are you here?” 

Sukuna did not give away his feelings through his expression. “I am bored.” 

You grinned. “Clearly…” You sighed. “Has defeating great sorcerers failed to bring you… joy?” 

“It did bring me joy,” Sukuna replied, simply. “But it does not satisfy my current cravings.” 

“Did our, uh,” you tilted your head at him, eyeing him curiously. “Night together, perhaps, satisfy those cravings?” Sukuna looked at you with a bored expression. You looked away. “Well, I figured your presence here now meant that…” 

“I am here now, because I have done many frivolous human activities, but not yet have I…” He narrowed his eyes on your neck. “Courted.” 

“You– you want to court me?” You cursed yourself for stammering, and you cursed yourself another time for asking such a stupid question. 

“I may tire of it,” Sukuna waved you off. It was only three nights and two mornings, but it was like Sukuna to get bored of something so quickly. “But for now, I have decided to do it.” He sighed, as if doing you a favour. “Any other questions?” 

You didn’t want to be as bothersome as he made you feel, but you were curious. 

“Why me?” Sukuna quirked a brow at you. You felt the need to explain yourself. “Maybe it has been too long since we have seen each other but… I figured you are not simple enough to be enchanted by the dress up doll work the emperor has the girls and women of the brothel go through, so… why me?” 

Sukuna folded one pair of his arms. “You answered your own question,” he hummed. “I wanted to see how you’ve changed – you were fascinating back then. Fun. But then you became stagnant and boring. A nuisance.” He eyed your mouth and cheeks, which had makeup covering your cursed markings. “But now you have changed. And I believe you will interest me again.” 

“And when you tire of me?” You asked quickly. “Will you finally kill me?” 

“Finally?” Sukuna repeated, a small smile on his face. “Is that something you wish for? To die?” 

You looked away. “Life has become… unsatisfactory, I guess, for me as well. I wouldn’t have minded dying, at all, before I met you. And then, despite the… hardships, I was constantly learning with you. I had– had feelings.” Sukuna watched your expression as you began to smile – as if reminiscing over your time with him, as if it was some sort of happy thing. “I had felt happy and sad and tired and angry – very angry – but I had felt satisfied. I was finally living, after so long of being a dog in a cage and then… now…” You looked over at the short lived sakura blossoms that were already beginning to wilt. “I cannot feel anything.” 

You looked back at him. “Until last night, that is.” 

Sukuna smirked. “What I understand from your long ramblings is that… you have become much like me.”

You chuckled. “Yes. You could say that.” 

On your third night with Sukuna, he stayed in bed with you after he was satisfied with the number of pleasurable encounters the two of you had for that night. Sukuna engulfed the entire bed, and you were forced to practically lay on top of him. You felt rigid. Anything that you may do absentmindedly with any other man was not possible with Sukuna. You feared death in his presence. It was exhilirating. 

“We will leave when we wake up,” Sukuna said, his hands coming up to your back and rubbing it. Despite your eventful previous hours through the night, you still felt arousal pool in your belly. “And you will meet Uraume again.” 

“Is he well?” You muttered, closing your eyes. 

“He is fine,” Sukuna replied. “Very useful.” 

You thought about a reply for a moment, before remembering that the entertainment you provided to Sukuna was unpredictability. “You enjoy people most when they are useful to you, right?” 

Sukuna hummed, not bothering to give a proper response, his hands still rubbing your back. 

“So, how am I of use to you?” 

His hand paused, right at your lower back. You felt nervous, your heart quickened its pace. You wanted to look up and see his expression. 

“Your technique,” Sukuna replied, eventually. “It is what made you interesting – it is still what makes you interesting.” 

You moved to sit up slightly, so you could get a view of his face. “You wanted to fight me for my technique before… but I think my survival skills have weakened now. What still makes me interesting?” 

“You have still used your technique for your survival,” Sukuna grinned. “I have seen you order around men, so they give you hefty rewards and are utterly entranced by you.” 

“But they are normal,” you replied. “They are not like us. And either way, my technique didn’t work on you back then, so it wouldn’t now.” 

“Try it, then.” 

“Huh?” 

Sukuna’s grin grew. “Command me.” 

A serious expression overcame your face as you focused. You knew this wouldn’t work, but you had to try. 

“Kiss me.” 

His expression changed. 

The grin dropped into a slight frown, but his eyes were concentrated. It was as though he couldn’t look at anything but your lips. Sukuna lifted two of his hands up to your face to pull them towards his. 

The sudden feeling of a tongue inserted between your folds and wriggling, made you yelp and clutch onto his hands, as Sukuna laughed loudly. “Ah– Sukuna!” You whined, as the tongue continued pushing against your insides until it found the spot that made your vision blur. “Sukuna!” 

Sukuna’s laughter had subsided into chuckles as you came down from your orgasm, and you looked at him in shock. “What’s– since when did you act so well?” 

Sukuna smirked. “You truly thought you could control me?” 

You felt heat reach your cheeks, and you looked away, embarrassed. “You made me think that.” 

He lifted a hand to grab your chin and tilt your head back in his direction. 

“You are as naive as ever.” 

Before you could reply, he brought your lips to his and kissed you slowly. 

You did not bother pulling away, using it as a distraction to not dwell on old memories. 

Your reunion with Uraume went just about how you expected it. He had brief memories of you, and your appearance, but he mostly only remembered your last conversation with him before the two of you were kidnapped together. You were surprised by the control he had over his technique now – maybe, if you had spent as much time with Sukuna as Uraume now had, you would be just as powerful. 

Uraume typically did not get in your way. 

Sukuna – when bored – would often begin to get touchy with you. You wouldn’t reciprocate entirely until you were certain Uraume was gone, which he was always quick to do. You continued to try and use your technique on him, because of how much he was egging you on to do so, but it never worked. 

You didn’t even get that tickly feeling in your throat that you often had to deal with whenever using your technique. You felt as though your body refused to even try around Sukuna. But you didn’t linger on those thoughts for long, often distracted by Sukuna’s cocks. 

Your travels with Sukuna and Uraume were not as extensive as they had been when you had begun travelling with Uraume. Sukuna was always being appeased now – whether it was with offerings or a large estate just for him. The emperor and everyone in the country feared even just the mention of his name. 

There were attacks – plenty of them. But Sukuna did not even need to thwart them off. 

Uraume was quick to act most of the time. 

And whenever you were alone, your cursed technique worked just fine on the sorcerers who were trying to kill the woman that Sukuna was ‘attached’ to. 

You didn’t know if you would call it attachment. You doubted that Sukuna felt many nuanced feelings besides his animalistic drives. And you didn’t mind that – you did not search for love either. 

But things had begun to change when you saw signs. 

You had ignored them for the most part. You felt Sukuna and Uraume’s prying eyes on you as you couldn’t hold back from vomiting at impromptu moments. The smell of meat – whether it was human or cow – became unbearable to you. 

Sukuna was basically trying to force it down your throat after days of sickness. 

Uraume needed to be the one to quickly move you around so you did not throw up on the very meat that Sukuna was trying to make you eat. Uraume simply began to make meals that were very catered towards what you needed, along with the meals he made for Sukuna. 

“Your state is not manageable out here – we will find a village.” 

To your dismay, Sukuna had decided to take over the nearest home in the village that looked large enough to be able to occupy him, Uraume and you. You knew Sukuna killed whoever was residing in that home without a second thought, but you could not linger on that, with greater worries on your mind. 

“Get some type of herb,” Sukuna said, discussing with Uraume, who was helping clean you up after another vomiting fit. 

“No,” you muttered, shaking your head. “I do not want it.” 

Sukuna immediately scowled at you. “No? You want to continue in this state until your intestines come out as well?” 

“No,” you groaned, as Uraume moved to use a cloth against your shoulders. “I will go to the doctor myself and see what is… wrong with me.” 

“I can accompany you,” Uraume quickly replied.

“No,” you said, as firmly as you could. “You can rest. I can still walk, you know?” 

The doctor was much more candid with you than they would have been in the presence of Sukuna. 

“You bear the monster's child.” 

The doctor seemed as horrified as you were. 

He gave you plenty of herbs and remedies – all with one intended job. You were surprised he didn’t recommend just throwing yourself into a well. 

You walked back to the home that Sukuna had taken over in the village – the entire area was quickly evacuated after Sukuna had arrived, and you knew some of the villagers were crowding up in other people’s homes. 

When you entered the home, you were immediately met with Uraume’s pestering. “What did the doctor say?” 

“He gave me herbs,” you muttered, walking ahead to the bedroom. 

“Have you taken them yet?” 

“I will.” 

“Did he say when you should?” 

“Whenever I want.” 

You laid down on your bed, folding your hands over your stomach as you looked up at the ceiling. “So you should take them now – Master Sukuna expects you to get well soon. He has gone out hunting and is expecting to bring back plenty of meat.” 

“I do not want it.” 

“He will be angered. He is making an effort–” 

You scoffed. “Sukuna does not make efforts for other people.” 

Uraume was silent, glancing at the door, as though Sukuna would come storming in while he was midsentence. Finally, he cleared his throat and made his argument. 

“He makes an effort for you.” 

That was the last thing you wanted to hear. Turning around in your bed, you grumbled. “He does not. I am going to rest while he feasts – tell him the doctor told me to do it if he insists on waking me.” 

Uraume sighed. “Yes.”

You wondered why you thought such a thing was something you could hide from Sukuna. 

You were still wide awake as Sukuna finally returned. You heard a thump and assumed it was Sukuna dropping the cows and pigs he had brought. Then, Sukuna’s voice boomed. “Where is she?” 

The hairs on your body stood up. 

He knew. 

You should have known that the doctor wouldn’t keep his mouth shut. 

Sukuna stormed into the room in which you were resting. Your back was turned to him but you kept your eyes squeezed shut and your body as still as possible. Sukuna took slow steps towards your figure. “You want to hide this from me?” 

You felt his knees brush against your back as he sat down. 

“Until when do you plan to do that? Until that monster comes out of you and rips your body apart?” 

You grit your teeth. “Do not call my child a monster.” 

“So you are awake?” Sukuna growled. “Face me, you coward.” 

You sat up and turned around, not realizing how close the two of you were. You tried scooting back, instinctively, but Sukuna’s hand caught your ankle. Your hands darted from his hand on you, to his face. You took in a deep breath, slow. “Do not call my child a monster.” 

“That maggot is my child as well,” Sukuna hissed. “Do you think I do not know what my child would be?” 

“No,” you replied, firmly. “And unless you know whether the child is a boy or a girl, I do not want to hear it.” 

Sukuna let out a laugh, rolling his eyes at you. “You are having delusions because of the maggot already!” His face then hardened into a serious expression. “What did the doctor give you? How much time will it take to kill it?” 

You whispered out his name, shaking your head. “I am not killing the child.” 

“You are not listening to me,” Sukuna growled, his grip on your ankle tightening. He leaned forward, his face much closer to yours. “That monster will suck on your soul from the inside – it will take out your will to live, it will kill you slowly and brutally.” 

“It has not,” you replied, easily. 

“You do not want to be a monsters mother.” 

“A monsters’ mother is also a monster, no?” You hummed. “Who am I to judge my child because they are like me.”

“You are not the monster between the two of us,” Sukuna grumbled.

“Okay – so if the child is like you, I made the choice to continue my life down a path that followed you. And I love you, so why would I love my child any less?” 

Sukuna felt a crippling, agonizing pain in his chest. 

For the first time in his life, he doubled over. 

You gasped as his head rested in your lap, with no warning. 

“U-Uraume?! Something’s wrong!”

Uraume rushed in, panicked. “What happened?” 

“I- I do- don’t kn-know!” 

The pain had subsided by the time Uraume had entered but Sukuna kept his head resting in your lap, because he did not want to face it. He knew what had caused his pain, and he could not admit it to you or Uraume. 

I love you. 

Your cursed technique. 

It was finally strong enough to touch Sukuna. 

You slept that night, running your fingers through Sukuna’s hair as his arms gripped onto you tightly. He was coming to accept the thought of it – a baby. A child. Accepting it did not mean liking it, but he knew better than to force one of the herbs down your throat. He had thought about having Uraume sneak in an herb in your food, but he went against asking, as he saw you begin to pay more attention to your belly. 

He also had to admit, it was hard to look away from it.

From clear evidence of a child. His child. 

Because of the village’s growing animosity towards Sukuna, and now you, Uraume and Sukuna agreed that the best decision was to go to an estate that the emperor had gifted Sukuna, not too far away from the village you were in. 

Sukuna did not let you walk, despite your insistence. He kept you warm, despite the air becoming chilly with the colder months. You had become a bit more sharp at certain occasions, due to constant discomfort, but Sukuna was far more rude than you could ever imagine being, and took your fits with stride. 

“If I can handle you in this state,” Sukuna commented, using one of his hands to grip onto the wrist of the hand that had just tried slapping him. “A baby would be no problem.”

You tried hitting him with your other hand, and he grabbed that one as well before carrying you off to the kitchen for some food that you wouldn’t throw up. Once you seemed to get over your vomiting fits, Sukuna had figured he would be pleased, but your cravings had been odd.

As he ate his meal that Uraume prepared, you were still lounging around, thinking about what you wanted to eat, even though Uraume had asked you hours ago. 

He was midbite when you had a sudden epiphany, and you made your way to him. “Your food! It smells delicious.” 

Sukuna scowled at you. “It’s human meat.” 

“So?” 

“So?” Sukuna mocked you. “You were throwing up at the smell of it a few months ago and now you want to consume it?” 

“Yes,” you nodded. “Is that difficult to understand?” 

“No.” Sukuna raised a hand to the bridge of his nose, rubbing it. “But, no, you may not eat it.” 

“Why not?” 

“It’s human meat.” 

“So?” 

“You are not eating it.” 

You sighed, rolling your eyes. “I’m not getting anywhere with you – where is Uraume, I want him to prepare me some.” 

“Some human meat?” 

“I want it!” You said finally, stomping your feet to the ground. 

Sukuna froze for a moment, before sighing. “Fine.” He waved you off. “Go ask Uraume.” 

Sukuna did not want to know whether or not you had eaten whatever Uraume had given you. All he knew was that Uraume had tried tricking you with another type of meat, which you were quick to turn away. 

Besides your fits and symptoms that Uraume had noted were normal for pregnant women, according to his research, things were peaceful. 

And Sukuna, a man who always wanted life to be eventful, wondered why he felt so content with that. 

“I’m going out for a hunt,” Sukuna grunted, patting your ankles, as you grumbled in your bed. 

“For what? We have plenty of food,” you said, your eyes still closed, as you shuffled around. 

“Not at the rate you’re eating,” Sukuna said, patting your head as he stood up. 

“It’s not me,” you denied, placing your hand over your protruding belly. “It’s Sai.” 

Sukuna huffed, rolling his eyes but not bothering to fight you over the naming of his offspring. He had gotten into many arguments with you over the past couple of months, over your attachment to the child, which had resulted in him begrudgingly calling the child that – a child. 

His child. 

He still didn’t like the name, though. 

“Call on Uraume if you need anything,” he said, on his way to step out of the room. 

You waved him off. “I can manage myself just fine. Have a good hunt.” 

Sukuna grumbled, giving you a wave with one his hands, before setting off. You closed your eyes, falling back into the comfortable sleep you had with Sukuna. 

The dream you had was odd, nothing like the recent ones you’d been having through your pregnancy, like the ones about bathing in a current with Sukuna and the ones where you cuddled with a cat and spoke quietly to Uraume while Sukuna rocked the baby with one of his large arms. It was vivid, like your recent nightmares about labour, but it was different. 

You were speaking to a boy with strawberry blond hair, while standing next to your son. You didn’t exactly know why you knew the white haired boy was your son, since you hadn’t even gotten a look of his face, but you knew. The boy with strawberry blond hair was kind, smiling brightly, but he had something about him that you couldn’t exactly place.

Until a mouth spoke from his cheek. It was only a split second, because the boy was quick to respond by slapping his own face, but you felt your heart stop. 

And then a scream ripped through you, and you woke up, not only finding yourself screaming but to find that the scream was being quieted by a hand pressed to your mouth. The man who hovered over you had his knee pressed against your stomach, and sneered at the tears pricking at your eyes. 

You tried to thrash, you tried to get words out of your throat, but you couldn’t move and more importantly, you couldn’t speak. 

“The Disgraced One could only bear a monster.” At the sight of a knife being raised in his other hand, your eyes widened and you shook your head desperately, trying to yell. He couldn’t do this to you. “That is no child.” 

Your screams were lost behind his hand as he used his other to plunge the knife. 

Sukuna immediately smelled it. He could sense the shift in your scent.  

He moved, he was quick, he knew he was, everyone in Japan and past the borders were well aware of his speed and his strength and his smarts, so he wondered who was so stupid that they thought they could touch what belonged to the King of Curses. 

The second he stepped inside the estate, he called out your name. 

And he heard no reply. 

He moved to the room he had been in a mere hour earlier, only to find it in shambles. The smell of blood was most pungent in this room – and he never thought he’d use that word to describe what he usually found a delightful liquid to consume. Your entire bed was drenched in it, and what was more confusing was the cursed energy emitting from the squished skin and bones of a body that was on it.

Sukuna had assumed that you had killed your attacker. But where were you? 

Sukuna’s eyes caught onto small tracks of blood and quickly followed after it, his voice still booming through the estate, calling out your name. 

The blood led him to the bathroom. He slid the door open, almost entirely breaking the room down with the force he used, and he finally found you. You sat by the basin, using a cloth to wipe yourself of the blood on you. 

His eyes darted around for any sign of danger, before he closed the door behind him and approached you. “What happened?” 

You shook your head, keeping your eyes downcast to the floor, avoiding even looking at him. You continued to clean yourself, and Sukuna wasn’t sure if he was imagining it or not, but his four eyes made it fairly clear that you scrubbed yourself harder. So, you heard him. 

“What happened?” He repeated himself, his voice more firm, seething at the sight of you. “Who did this to you?” You were still wordless, bringing your knees forward to tuck your chin in. “Raise your head,” Sukuna growled, feeling his blood boil. 

You didn’t even flinch. 

Sukuna lowered himself on one knee, squatting to be closer to your eye level. You still didn’t look at him – instead, you closed your eyes. ““What is the reason for your tongue if you do not use it?” 

You opened your eyes and stared right at him, without saying a word. Sukuna was taken aback – it seemed as if there was no light to your eyes. He raised a hand to tap the side of your face, but you finally spoke. “No.” 

Sukuna took a moment to process your words, as his hands froze beside your face. He raised a brow at you. “No?” 

You shook your head, looking down again, as if ashamed for speaking. Sukuna slowly lowered his hand. 

Sukuna narrowed his eyes on you. “I won’t repeat myself. What happened?” 

You sucked in a shaky breath, and scratched at your throat with your fingernails. “Crush,” you croaked, your voice hoarse and high pitched. “I-I… s-sa..id … th..at.” 

Sukuna frowned at the state of your voice and your words. “And that’s why that maggot is in that state?” You prepared yourself to open your mouth and reply, but Sukuna quickly placed his hand over your throat. “Nod or shake your head.” 

You nodded. 

Sukuna looked down at the cloth you had thrown aside. “Is that yours?” 

Your brows furrowed. “Cl-clo…th?” 

“No, the blood, the blood on the cloth,” Sukuna said, his voice gruff and impatient. 

You shook your head. “H–he… bl-blood… spr…ay.” 

“When you crushed him?” Sukuna clarified. You nodded again. Sukuna rubbed his throat above your Adam's apple gently. “Where is Uraume? You need medicine for your voice. And you wouldn’t have needed that if he had been here in the first place – he shouldn’t be off gallivanting when I don’t allow him to do so.”

You stayed quiet as Sukuna ranted to himself, your eyelids fluttering from exhaustion. As your head began to droop forward, you spoke up. “Su…ku…–?”

“Yeah?” Sukuna asked, bringing up the hand at your throat to your eyelids, keeping them open. 

“Slee… py.” 

Sukuna grunted. “No. You’re getting checked out first.” 

You grumbled, pulling away from him and standing up. “N-no, ‘eep.” You stepped forward, to move past him, but Sukuna quickly used one of his arms to stop you. You groaned. “‘Ku–Kuna!”

“Woman,” Sukuna grunted back, grabbing a cloth. “Put on clothes, you will fall ill.”

“Wh–who c…care…s?” You replied, with clear defiance that fell short with your voice. 

Sukuna repeated your words, mocking. “Does using your ability affect your brain, brat? What will we do if my child falls ill?” 

You looked down, presumably to look at your stomach or to caress it, as you had lovingly become accustomed to doing. You looked down, and that was the end of it all.

Sukuna saw it too. The drip of blood down your leg. He watched as it dripped down until it hit the floor. And then he looked up at you, to eye your expression. 

Your face contorted, befitting the scream of horror you let out.

Sukuna quickly wrapped the cloth in his hand over you to hide the blood from your sight, and yelled over your screams. “Hey! Look at me!” 

You shook your head repeatedly. Sukuna grabbed your chin forcefully and lifted it up, making you look in his eyes. He didn’t know what he had expected. He didn’t know why he thought that one look at his horrifying face would help fix things. 

It did the exact opposite. 

Sukuna could see the shift in your expression, and the exact moment that you finally looked at him the way that everyone else did. 

“I should’ve known better than to bear a monsters’ child.” 

Sukuna’s mouth twitched. “Since when did you view me as a monster?” 

“Since the day I’ve met you,” you hissed. “You are a murdering, cold blooded, monster! You kill men, women and children with no mercy! You expect God to gift you a child? You are the most undeserving of that, you curse!” 

Sukuna sneered at you. “Now you can speak, mute?” 

Your hands pushed at his chest, to no avail. Your eyes lit up with a fury he had never seen in you before. “You are an evil, sadistic monster, and you will always be that way, Sukuna! I want you to die, die, die, die a lonely monster with no one around to love you!” 

Sukuna’s grabbed your hand and shoved it off of his chest. 

You screeched louder than he’d ever heard your voice – your meek little voice that you used to be so scared of letting out, the one that could barely get a word out just moments ago, now boomed with sound that rattled the entire estate, a sound only rivalled by thunder from the wrath of the Gods. 

“DIE!” 

Sukuna watched as the light faded from your eyes, and he caught you just in time as you fell forward. He didn’t bother looking at your face. He knew it, you were gone. He kept your body in one hand, before dragging his feet to the place where Uraume butchered humans for him. The walk felt longer than usual. 

Once he saw the knife, he grabbed it with his upper right arm and plunged it into his gut. He sliced his abdomen horizontally, before pulling it out and then plunging it in his gut again, this time to cut vertically. 

Sukuna pulled the knife out again and threw it off to the side, making a clanging noise as it hit the wall. He dragged himself to the front of the estate, where the emperor’s beautiful garden was beginning to bloom. Sukuna’s blood poured from his abdomen, staining the floors and the grass as he walked past it. 

Sukuna placed your body by the largest sakura tree in the garden, careful. 

He reached his hand out and produced fire. 

Sukuna did not like being reminiscent, but he remembered that look on your face when you had first seen his fire, like a human discovering it for the first time. Now, he looked at the fire reflecting in your lifeless eyes and frowned… you looked like a fish. 

He reached his a hand out to close your eyes, feeling disgusted at the thought of just touching you. 

Then, he moved his hand producing fire, bringing it forward to your body. 

Sukuna felt his vision blur as he burned you, while he still bled out. But he made sure to keep going until even your bones were turned into ash. 

Once he was done, Sukuna extinguished his fire and sat back against your ashes. He closed his eyes, feeling the last bits of his blood drain from his body. 

Sukuna seemed genuinely unconcerned by any pressure, certain that he could study the night before and pass, seeing no merit in fretting the way that you currently were. Meanwhile, you’d reached the point where you were certain you’d already run out of time, and were ultimately doomed to failure. 

Even though you’d diligently kept up with your studies during your time in Kyushu, you were certain that it hadn’t been enough. Missing out on smaller seminars and workshops by studying remotely was practically a death sentence in your area of study. 

Might as well just give up now because you were fucked. 

“I’m going to have to re-do the year anyway, why am I trying so hard to fail?” 

Sukuna frowned, pausing his game and moving to linger next to the bed you were currently laying on. You were propped up on your elbows, lip quivering as you continued to look at your notes, afraid that if you glanced at Sukuna you’d instantly burst into tears. 

He had that effect on you. If you were ever feeling low his comforting presence would always bring out the waterworks - sometimes it was annoying how ineffective you were at holding yourself together whenever he’d show you the smallest shred of concern. 

“You’re like the smartest person I know,” Sukuna said softly, his form casting a shadow over you. “I don’t think you could fail if you tried.” 

“You called me stupid the other day.” You could practically hear him roll his eyes. 

“Yeah, because for someone so smart, you can be really dumb.” The bed creaked beneath his weight as he took a seat beside you, warmth radiating off his body. “Always coming up with silly ideas like how you’re gonna fail, when we both know that’s not happening.” 

“It might-” you started, turning to finally look at him. Just as you’d expected, the sight of his concerned expression had you choking on your words, eyes instantly growing watery. 

“Come here, baby.” He whispered, wrapping his arms around you and tugging you into his chest. You let the warmth of his hoodie encase you, tears finally spilling over once you were secure within his embrace.

“I’m gonna fail- I can’t- I’m just too far behind.” 

“Baby, you’ve been studying for weeks now. When was the last time you took a break outside of grabbing a few hours of sleep?” He had a point, and it wasn’t like you could dismiss that with a lie when you’d literally been studying in his room - he could see plain as day that you’d barely been taking breaks. 

If he knew how little sleep you’d been getting while he was off away in dreamland, he’d probably be even more frustrated with you. 

“I don’t have time,” you mumbled into his hoodie.

“You’ve studied more than literally anyone I know. You have time.” Gently peeling you away from the safety of his hoodie, a hand came to rest below your chin, tilting your face up to make you look at him properly. “We’re gonna go get some fresh air.” 

“It’s like 11pm already,” you mumbled. 

“So? Doesn’t look like you were planning on sleeping any time soon anyway.” He stood up and tossed a coat in your direction. “Put that on, I don’t want you catching a cold.” 

Knowing that he was probably right, and that it was pointless to oppose him whenever he set his mind to looking after you, you pulled the jacket on as asked. You found that your tears were already drying by the time you were appropriately togged up for the weather, giggling as Sukuna pushed a beanie onto your head.

“Perfect. Aren’t you just adorable?” He cooed, before flicking you softly in the forehead and ushering you out of his room. 

The house was silent as the two of you headed out into the night. Choso was probably staying over at Yuki’s place, and Sukuna had mentioned that Toji had been seeing someone lately and was likely spending the night with her. It was a little strange to not hear the ambient noise of one of the two other boys milling around - you’d become accustomed to their presence over the last few weeks. 

Not quite sure what Sukuna had in mind in terms of a destination, you let yourself be led along beside him, basking in the warmth of his hand tangled with yours. Even if his presence still had your heart pounding, you’d gotten to the point where being with him felt easy and comfortable, no longer anxious about what he might think of you. 

Because you knew that he loved you. 

He’d proved it over and over again. 

You’d shown him all of your worst sides - he’d seen you at your most stressed, most anxious, most grief stricken - and he’d still stuck with you, rewarding you with that gentle affection that was reserved exclusively for his precious girlfriend. 

“I think you’d like the game I’m playing right now,” he said, filling the comfortable silence as you wandered together, enjoying the night air. “Once exams are done you should play it. I’d find it funny to watch which choices you’d pick.” 

You had to admit that your interest had been piqued by the game he was currently fixated on, but you’d been too focussed on your revision to really pay attention. “You’ll make fun of me though,” you said with a pout, recalling how hard he’d laughed when the two of you had played PEAK together.

A smile lit up his face, clearly recalling the same memory. “There’s no actual gameplay in this one, it's all just pointing and clicking. I really think you’d love it.” Sukuna went on to explain the outline of Disco Elysium and its overall appeal, only faltering when the two of you passed a 7/11. 

The warmth pouring out through the automatic doors was inviting, and you felt your stomach growl. It was hard to recall the last time you’d actually eaten anything of substance. Both you and Sukuna had been so invested in your own tasks that the day had largely gone by without either of you noticing. 

“We should probably grab something to eat, huh?” He suggested, giving your hand a squeeze. “You’re probably just grumpy because you’re hungry.” 

“I’m not grumpy.” 

You were, but there was no way you were going to admit to it when he had a big shit-eating grin on his face. 

“Sure, baby. But let's give some food a go anyway.”

The two of you wandered into the inviting warmth, milling around until you picked something you wanted. You decided on tuna onigiri, while Sukuna grabbed himself a piece of fried chicken from the warm food section at the counter. He paid for both of you, despite your protests, clutching your hand as he led you back outside and over to a bench in the little park across the road. 

The place was deserted. No one with any sense wanted to be out this late in weather this cold, and you found yourself pulling your jacket closer around you, grateful for your gloves as you pulled your hands from your pocket to unwrap your onigiri. 

“Do you remember the first time we met?” Sukuna asked, his breath visible in the cold air. 

“Of course.” You didn’t think you’d ever forget that evening in the bakery - the way that your heart had raced at the sight of him was etched in your mind forever. Well, that and just how grateful you’d been for his presence on one of the scariest nights of your life. He’d truly been your knight in shining armour that day. 

“I think about it whenever I get fried chicken from a convenience store,” he said with a fond smile. 

You tilted your head in question, not particularly connecting the dots. “Why?”

“Because the Family Mart chicken is what put everything in motion that day. If I hadn’t gone to the convenience store that evening I would’ve been on the train home by the time those guys stopped you in that alleyway. But because I’d gone to buy chicken, I was in the right place at the right time and then…” He gestured between the two of you, clearly trying to think of the right words. “And then all of this happened.” 

You giggled. “So you’re saying that our whole relationship is thanks to famichiki?” 

“At least somewhat.” He laughed. As he finished off his food, he wrapped an arm around you, pulling you close to his side. The way that his body always seemed to stay warm no matter the circumstances was impressive, and you found yourself huddling close against him to try and heat yourself up. “I feel like your dad had something to do with it too.” 

You hummed in agreement. There was no denying that your father had been playing cupid for a while. From the very first time that you and Sukuna had met, your father had been urging you forward with the concept of a relationship, keen for you to find happiness with someone who he perceived as being right for you. 

And his judgement really couldn’t have been better. 

His work in puppeteering your union really felt like some lovely final gift that he’d provided you, making sure that you were finally happy and safe before he left you behind. 

Although, your dad definitely didn’t do all the work. 

“I think your effort also had a lot to do with it,” you pointed out. 

Considering that you’d literally run from Sukuna the first time he’d tried kissing you, you had to praise the man’s patience and tenacity. Most guys would’ve given up on a girl for far less than that. You didn’t consider yourself to be low maintenance and you’d leant on him a lot over the last few months. 

And yet here he was, as loving as ever. 

He shrugged. “You make me wanna try, so it didn’t really feel like effort.” Your heart skipped at the casual nature of his comment, a deep flush washing over your cheeks. 

“Corny,” you mumbled, hiding your face in his shoulder to stop him from seeing how much you were blushing. He knew anyway, laughter rippling through him as he reached for your face, fingers brushing your lips gently as he tilted your chin up towards him. 

“Only for you.” 

Leaning down, his lips brushed yours tenderly. While he’d kissed you thousands of times, it somehow still always felt like the first - a moment of pure joy and excitement, the giddy feeling of being a girl with a crush who actually likes her back. 

You still couldn’t believe that he was yours, that he wanted a future with you. 

It felt silly to be stressing over exams that you’d most likely pass when you had the best thing that had ever happened to you sitting at your side. Through all the bad, you really needed to start appreciating what was good. 

And Sukuna was very good. 

Breaking the kiss, he peered down at you with those deep crimson eyes, the irises lit up in the yellow light of the streetlamp overhead. He looked beautiful, just as he always did. 

“Feeling a bit better, baby?” He asked, and you offered him a hum of affirmation. 

He’d been right - you really did need a break. You’d been so locked in on reading your notes that you’d almost forgotten that there was a whole world outside of your exams next week. 

And no matter what happened, the Earth wasn’t going to stop spinning. 

Somehow that came as a comfort. 

“Good. Now, when we get home we’re going to bed, and I’m going to stay up to make sure you actually get some sleep,” Sukuna said sternly. 

“Aw, we’re going straight to sleep?” You shot him a suggestive look, a sweet pout on your lips. It seemed to completely disarm his serious demeanour and he shook his head in disbelief, a grin playing on his lips.

“Okay, we can make out a little first.”

“Oh thank god.” You giggled, leaning your head on his shoulder, your heart feeling at ease. 

Tomorrow you could get back to studying, and maybe you’d wake up the next morning feeling just as stressed out as ever. But that evening, snuggled up against the man that you loved, it really felt like everything was going to work out just fine. 

—

Your exams came and went, giving way to a few very stressful weeks in which you flip-flopped between pretending you didn’t care about the result, and hyperventilating over the idea of having to re-do the year if you’d failed. 

At some point Sukuna stopped trying to convince you that you’d passed, because despite all the logical arguments surrounding the fact that you’d worked hard, and had extenuating circumstances leading to more leniency on your grading anyway, everything always fell upon deaf ears. 

So instead, he focussed all of his effort on distracting you, which was something he’d always been excellent at, proceeding in all the usual ways by making you watch various movies, taking you out to nice cafes, and spending hours tangled up together in his sheets. His efforts at distraction were also how you found yourself completely absorbed in Disco Elysium, spending days trying to solve the game’s mystery, all while Sukuna sat at your side, offering cryptic hints and advice. 

You could understand how he’d been so preoccupied by the game when he should’ve been studying, and it did an excellent job of taking your mind off things for hours at a time. 

Not that there was any point to all your worrying anyway, because when your final grade was shared at the start of march, just as the weather started to warm, you discovered that you’d passed with flying colours - just like Sukuna had said you would. 

You really were dumb sometimes.  

That gave way to plenty of celebration with your friends, followed by a few peaceful weeks leading up to graduation, in which you and Sukuna were free to relax together with no cloud hanging above your head. 

At least, beyond the vague concern regarding what the hell you were supposed to do now that school had finished. 

Sukuna was already mid-way through the interviewing process for a graduate scheme appropriate for people with engineering degrees. You were almost envious of how certain he seemed to be about his future, moving along with it mechanically like he’d always had a clear plan in mind. 

Meanwhile, you had no idea what you were meant to do. 

You weren’t sure you were interested in some grad scheme, especially not when all the literature related schemes seemed to dump you straight into some corporate marketing job that would no doubt suck your soul after the first year. You weren’t built for dealing with frustrating stakeholders and circling back - you just couldn’t imagine yourself feeling happy in an office setting. 

But that left you adrift, because with a degree like yours, what other direction were you supposed to go?

After a year that had constantly put you under pressure and left you more stressed than you’d ever been, you really wanted to enjoy some time without the weight of big decisions looming in the distance, but this wasn’t one you could escape. 

Even with all of Sukuna’s assurances that he could look after you for a while to give you a break, you knew that you didn’t want to be so dependent on him in that way. 

You’d have to reach a conclusion soon. 

But you tried to put your concerns aside as best as you could as graduation approached midway through March. Sukuna and all your friends seemed so happy and carefree, everyone’s spirits high in the temperate spring weather as they celebrated their final days as students. 

You weren’t going to be the one to drag the vibes down just because you couldn’t figure out what you wanted out of life. It wasn’t like all your friends knew what they were going to do - they were simply living in the now and seeing where life took them. 

After years at university you were owed a moment of peace before entering a new cycle of fretting, and that’s what you promised yourself that graduation was going to be.

The afternoon that you finally received your degree was lovely and warm, not unlike the day that you’d first met Sukuna nearly a year prior. You were wearing a green dress beneath your robes, more ecstatic than you could’ve imagined as you walked across the stage, receiving a handshake and your diploma, which felt so precious in your hands. 

You hadn’t really expected to be there. 

The last year, perhaps even the last few years, had felt like you were constantly trekking up a mountain with no summit, fighting just to take a single step. To some extent, you’d wondered if you’d ever come out of the other side after all the suffering that had been tossed your way. 

But there you were - a graduate. 

Despite it all, you’d made your way through. 

When you’d imagined this moment in the years gone by, you’d imagined it to be a little different. You’d expected to look out into the crowd and see both your parents, eyes shiny with pride, infinitely happy with the accomplishments of their little girl. It hurt to look towards your mom and see a stranger sitting to the left of her, in the position where your father should’ve been. 

He would’ve been so proud of you. 

Perhaps bitter disappointment should’ve hung in your chest, and maybe under different circumstances a desperate feeling of grief might’ve overwhelmed you as you exited the stage. But as your eyes swept to the right of your mother, those sad feelings were drowned beneath the brightness of Sukuna’s smile.

He was there and he was alive. 

The void that your father’s death left in your heart would never dissipate, the grief was something you’d carry with you for as long as you lived, but your heart would grow bigger around it. 

There was still so much love for you to experience in your life, and even in your worst year, you found the best thing you ever could’ve imagined. 

And you’d hold on to that happiness as fiercely as you knew your father had wanted you to. 

“Congratulations sweetie!” Your mother exclaimed once you’d found her at the end of the ceremony, wrapping you up in a tight embrace. Sukuna was standing nearby, letting you have your family moment. The engineering graduation had already taken place the day before, so you were certain that his social battery was running low where sappy family matters were concerned. 

There had been a surprisingly lovely heart to heart between him and Wasuke after he’d crossed the stage, and you could only assume that he wasn’t looking for a round two of that display. 

“Oh you look so lovely, let me take a picture!” She fumbled about with her phone camera for a few moments while you waited awkwardly for her to figure it out. In the end, Sukuna had to step in and show her what to do, treating your mother with that same gentleness that he reserved for very few people. “Perfect! Get in the picture Sukuna, you should have one together.” 

Sukuna’s cheeks were flushed a soft shade of pink as he approached you, wrapping an arm tightly around your shoulders and pulling you close. Your mother told you to smile for the picture, but she really didn’t need to - you were certain that you were already beaming. 

Satisfied with her photo, your mother moved her attention to her phone, scrolling through the snaps she’d taken. Meanwhile, Sukuna took the opportunity to focus on you, drawing you into a more full hug. Your face was buried into his chest, breathing in the scent that had grown so familiar to you over the last few months. 

“I’m so proud of you.” He whispered into your hair.

“Couldn’t have done it without you,” you replied. You were certain that he was going to wave that statement off, go ahead and say that it was all down to you, but that simply wasn’t the truth of the matter. Without Sukuna you would’ve fallen apart - be it from the incidents with Hiromi or from the loss of your father. 

He’d held you together at a time when you were right at the edge of falling apart, and you owed more to him than he’d ever understand. 

“You’ll never have to do anything without me.” Your heart fluttered at his response, peering up at him and pushing yourself up on your tiptoes to meet him in a fleeting kiss. You were eager for more passion, to have him kiss you with the ferocity that he usually would, but you’d save that for a moment when your mother wasn’t watching you. 

“So, still up to go out for steaks?” Your mother asked, offering the two of you a smile. “My treat. I understand if you want to go and hang out with your friends though! I won’t be offended.” 

While a handful of your friends had graduated with Sukuna yesterday, most had walked the stage at the same time as you, which meant that they were also somewhere within the mess of people currently milling around on the university lawn. You imagined that most of them were probably engaged with their parents for the time being, just like you were. 

The plan was to all meet up later anyway. Satoru and Suguru had just moved into a new apartment together and wanted to use graduation as an excuse to have everyone over, but until 8pm at least, you had no plans keeping you from grabbing steak with your mother. 

You knew which place she wanted to go to - you hadn’t been there in years, not since your parents had gotten divorced. It had been your father’s favourite when you were young, a steakhouse strongly entwined with dozens of memories from your childhood. 

The perfect place to go as a celebration for stepping into real adulthood. 

“Yeah, I want to go!” You hesitated for a moment, playing with your next words in your head, wondering if it was right to voice them out loud when you were still uncertain of them. “We should stop by the bakery on the way, since it's nearby.” 

Both your mother and Sukuna regarded you with surprise. It was a place that you’d avoided like the plague since your father’s death, visiting only a handful of times when your aunt had been doing a preliminary cleanout of the place. Since then the building had stood silent, waiting for you to make a decision on what to do with it. 

“If…you’d like to.” Your mother was careful in her wording, clearly not sure what to make of it. Sukuna’s fingers interlaced with yours, giving your hand a soft squeeze in a silent show of support. 

He’d caught onto your intentions quicker than your mother had. 

“I just- I’ve been thinking about it. Thinking about what to do with it. But I don’t think I’ll really know until I go there. Today seems like as good a day as any.” 

Smiling, your mom offered you a nod. “If that’s what you’d like. I’ll go and pull the car around, you kids wait here.” 

Your mother scurried off through the crowd, and Sukuna gave you a tug on the hand, calling for your attention. You stared up at him through your lashes. “Sounds like you’ve maybe made a decision already?” He asked. 

“Maybe.” You responded shyly, playing with his fingers. “I just want to be sure.” 

—

Six months later you were standing in the centre of the bakery, staring up in dismay at the picture you’d hung up behind the counter. It was completely lopsided and, now you’d taken a step back, you could see that it wasn’t in the central position that you’d believed it to be when standing up close. 

The gap of wall to the right of the image was far larger than the gap on the left, leaving the framed image noticeably asymmetrical, which meant you were going to have to start again and put yet another nail in the wall. 

Perhaps you should’ve waited for Sukuna to get home from work like he’d suggested - hanging pictures really was a two person job, and for this one in particular it was important that you got the placement right.

It was a painting made by your father when you were young - a watercolour image depicting the outside of the very bakery that you were currently standing in. You’d found it when you and Sukuna had finally gotten around to clearing out the apartment above, recalling a fond memory of sitting across the road at your father’s side, painting away on your own little canvas while he rendered the masterpiece before you. 

The image captured a moment in time, and you could hardly believe that it had been left to gather dust in some storage cupboard upstairs. Now that he was gone, you wanted to display it as a way of honoring his memory, and where better to put it than within the bakery itself? 

Now that you were on the path to reopening the place with your own changes, it felt nice to have something displaying how it had looked before the bakery had fallen into your hands - almost like the soul that your father had curated was still there and shining on, even if he wasn’t there to tend to it himself. 

Letting out a sigh, you walked back over to the picture and took it down, using the back of your hammer to pry the nail out from the wall. Just as you were grabbing the measuring tape to give a third attempt at aligning the image properly, the bell jingled above the door and you peered over your shoulder to see your boyfriend. 

He looked as handsome as ever, with his pink hair a little tousled, his t-shirt sticking to him slightly thanks to the humidity which had stuck around into September. His red eyes were glimmering with interest as he observed the scene, and you were glad he hadn’t walked in two minutes earlier to witness how terrible a job you’d done of hanging the painting. 

He definitely would’ve made fun of you. 

“Hey, baby.” 

“Hey,” you said, throwing the measuring tape down and making a beeline for him, throwing your arms around his neck and pushing up onto your tiptoes to kiss him. “Good day?” 

“Pretty busy - glad it's the weekend.” he said with a sigh, his fingers instantly finding solace in your hair. He’d started his graduate scheme back in May, and while the money was good, the job was relatively demanding. 

Relaxing into his hug, you placed a couple of gentle kisses on his neck, amused at the way that he was leaning some of his bodyweight on you in exhaustion. “I can cancel with Yuki and Choso tomorrow if you want? Satoru and Suguru will be there to help anyway so I don’t think they really need us.” 

Sukuna scoffed. “No, it's fine. Satoru’s useless at moving boxes, he gets too distracted by things. I’ll have more energy tomorrow, I just need a good night’s sleep.” 

“If you’re sure?” 

“Always so worried about me,” he said, peering down at you with a smug smile. “So cute.” 

“Well, I also don’t want to move boxes so I suppose I have an ulterior motive.” You confessed with a giggle. Considering that you’d been spending all of your time clearing out and renovating a space you weren’t keen to spend your weekends doing more of the same. But you did adore Yuki, and if Sukuna was still up for it, you’d still be going. 

At least you could all hang out and have some pizza afterwards - that had been Choso’s promise to you in exchange for helping them move. 

“How cunning.” He laughed, kissing you on the forehead before moving his attention to the bookshelves lining the left wall. “Oh, you got more books?” Detangling himself from you, he walked over to get a closer look, scanning the additions to your collection. 

The bookshelves were one of the many features that you’d added to the bakery over the last few months. Rather than being a grab and go bakery, you were eager to rebrand it into more of a reading cafe, integrating your passion for literature into the space and giving patrons an opportunity to settle down with a book or magazine as they whiled away the hours with a coffee and pastry.

As such, you’d bought plenty of bookcases and magazine racks, and had spent the last few weeks filling them up as best you could. 

You’d mostly done that with the help of your aunt, moving collections of yours and your father’s books down from the apartment upstairs, as well as scouring various second hand stores to buy books as cheaply as possible. 

That project had been coming along well. 

You’d also used much of your inheritance to replace some of the furniture in the bakery - the tables and chairs which had been scattered haphazardly in the space before weren’t the most comfortable or aesthetically appealing items, so you purchased some nicer furnishings which matched the vibe you were going for. 

Despite the additions, the base that your father had created was still present, and you left the counter and wallpaper just as they’d always been. You didn’t want everything to disappear, you still wanted that familiarity of a place that you’d known your whole life. For that reason you were keeping the name too. 

You were just going to market it a bit differently once you were ready to open. 

“Oh, you put Ship of Theseus down here?” He asked, scanning along the spines of the newly added books. 

“Yeah, I can put it back upstairs if you want though? I just figured since we’ve both already read it we might as well leave it for someone else to take a look at.” 

“Yeah, it's fine. It just feels nostalgic. I think I was reading that the first time I met you.” 

You smiled at the memory, recalling how you’d been nervously shuffling about behind the counter as Sukuna had taken a seat and brought out a book which you certainly weren’t expecting a guy like him to read. 

God, you’d been so scared of him that day he’d first walked into the bakery. 

Now here he was, comfortably milling about in your shared space, inspecting the tiny additions that you’d made to the bakery that afternoon. Later that evening the two of you would go up to your shared apartment and cook dinner together, before watching some trashy TV, making out, and falling asleep in each other’s arms. 

The idea that you’d be here when you’d first met him a year and a half ago was unthinkable. 

“Want help with the picture?” He asked, gesturing towards the counter. 

“Please,” You said with a nod, stepping back and letting Sukuna get to work with the measuring tape, using the level to see how the picture would look on the wall and marking out the edges on the wallpaper with a pencil. He went about it in a far more surgical manner than you did. 

It really was better to leave it to him. 

Hammering a nail confidently into the wall, he turned to you for a moment. “Stand in the middle of the room for me, baby. You can let me know when it looks straight.” He lifted the framed painting onto the wall, adjusting it under your careful instruction until you were certain it looked right. 

Coming over to join you and review the placement himself, he wrapped an arm around your shoulders, gazing up at the painting hanging so nicely above the counter. 

“Happy?” 

You hummed, staring at it a little longer. The image always summoned a strange feeling in you - sorrow wasn’t quite the right word, for it was a warmer emotion than that - perhaps longing felt closer. It was nice to know that your father’s hands had crafted what hung in front of you, but it made you feel desperately sad all the same. 

“You don’t think my dad would be mad at all the changes, do you?” You asked, sweeping a hand in the direction of the bookshelves. 

It was a worry that had tugged at the edge of your mind for a while, one of the many fears that had held you back when making the decision as to whether you even wanted to keep the bakery. You knew you’d have to make changes, knew you’d turn it into a place for you, but it was hard wrestling with the idea that it would be a desecration of his memory. 

Perhaps you should’ve kept it pristine, just like in the painting. 

Your worries fled at the sound of Sukuna’s deep laugh, chuckling for a few moments before pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “Baby, you could tear this place down and I don’t think he’d be mad at you. All he ever wanted was for you to be happy.” 

Letting out a huff of breath, you conceded to that without argument, because who could ever deny your father’s desires on that front?

“Yeah. I guess you’re right,” You whispered, leaning closer into Sukuna’s arm, basking in his familiar warmth.

And as you stared up at the painting, in the bakery that was all yours, with the man that you loved at your side, you could finally see for the first time that you were doing exactly what your father had always wanted.

You were happy. 

a/n: after almost a full year of writing this fic we're finally at the end. I started writing this at one of the hardest times in my life and it did so much to help me heal, it'll always hold a special place in my heart even if writing it grew difficult for me towards the end when I'd moved on from the feelings that made me write this in the first place.

I've had so many lovely messages throughout writing this fic, and I've been so moved by how many people going through grief have mentioned finding comfort in this story. I'm glad that it can provide happiness to others in the way that it did for me when writing it.

I'll probably do some one shots about these two in the future, but for now all of my focus will be on my other ongoing fic crazy in love, and a couple of other sukuna projects that I'm working on in the background.

thank you so much for reading and sticking with me throughout this journey, I appreciate all of you <3

taglist: @call-me-nyxx @mad-katsuki @ilovesmolkittycats @cupidxml @solarlovesxyz @serenadesvt @fushiguroooozzz @surgikull @yuujispinkhair @himezoro @etsuniiru @lkukaknka @svnarxnn @chaos-4baby @rinofcike @eepydeepysleepy @linaaeatsfamilies @tisuruxx @grimm3r @minasuniverse @hanaegoaway @beereadzzz @00frenchfries00 @sukubusss @7haze @himbosexual @yatsuyu @thejujvtsupost @shewhoscreamssilently @kalulakunundrum @xxkay15xx @madison777x @thoreeo @saltypuffin1040 @t4ters @sugarysc @sussiesushi @silviscosplay @inthedarkshadows000 @slipperypudding @p1nkfl0wers @philiasoul @emochosoluvr @tweetybomb @ynishalee @camsdrzd @jupitereleven @anguuubb @dawnsoblivion @christinezz33 

For the past handful of years, you’ve been working at a large marketing company for the CEO as a personal assistant. The job is what it is and the pay makes up for any sort of… eccentricities from your boss. Despite this, it can’t change the fact that you’re struggling to pay rent and need to move back in with your parents.

You were coping before but your roommate… the guy you were… it’s complicated. Anyways he moved out and now things are just too expensive for you at the moment. It doesn’t help that anywhere else close to work is in the same range for rent, stupid fancy company in a stupid nice area. It’s frustrating because you’re attached to this job but it’s not feasible anymore.

So, as much as you’re unwilling to part from your current position, something has to give and you’ve chosen to resign. Steeling your resolve, you walk into Gojo’s empty office and gently place your two weeks’ notice on his desk. Lingering for a short moment, remembering your first day here and how intimidated you were by him.

It was never your plan to stay here so long in the first place but it’s nearly been five years now, maybe it is time to move on to something different. Think positive, you just have to think positive and things will be good. You’ll get a new job and you’ll make new friends and your boss will be kind and maybe not as weird.

Exiting the room, you sit back at your desk that’s located outside Gojo’s office. It’s hard to focus when you’ve got so much on your mind but sometimes you think that he wouldn’t get anything done if you weren’t around.

You’d gotten a text earlier about how he had an early meeting but you know he doesn’t, he’s probably just left the office to go get himself some sweets. He won’t be back for a while either because he’s going to sit in a park or somewhere quiet and eat the evidence before he gets back to the office.

Why he even bothers to lie to you at this point is beyond you but you’ll ignore it because sometimes you want to be alone for an hour too. Unlike him though, you simply don’t have the luxury of doing that on company time.

When he does get back to the office he stops by your desk and smiles at you like he wasn’t just shirking his responsibilities for the better half of the day. He waits very impatiently for you to acknowledge him, and you continue typing at your computer like he’s not there.

Gojo eventually speaks up, “Saying good morning to your boss is the polite thing to do, by the way.”

You hold up a hand while you finish up your email and send it off, only then do you look up and raise a brow at him, “Morning? Gojo… it’s nearly midday and you’re only just now coming into the office.”

“I told you I had a meeting,” he pouts because he knows he’s caught. “And how many times have I told you to call me Satoru?”

“If you had a meeting it’d go through me because no one trusts you to show up to the ones you agree to.” You look back down at your computer and continue working, ignoring the second thing he said.

Sighing dramatically at you, “You’re so mean to me.”

Not even looking up at him when you retort, “If I were nicer to you would your job get done?” He doesn’t answer and you add, “That’s what I thought.”

“I’ll get all my work done so quick you’ll be embarrassed about doubting me.”

“Uh huh,” as he walks off you call after him, “you’ve got chocolate on your tie.”

Gojo pauses, looks down to his tie and then uses his finger to try and swipe it off, “No, I don’t.” He scuttles away into his office.

It’s then that you’re remembering the letter you’d put on his desk and you decide it’s time for your break. Sneaking away, you hide a few floors down in the employee break room. Your hands cradling a cup of tea that was hot but has now gone cold in the time you’ve been holding onto it. You’re staring blankly at it, not knowing how you’re going to face Gojo when he’s read your resignation.

He’s a bit of a drama queen and you’re not sure… you don’t even want to leave so having him fuss over it might make you feel worse. Oh, but what if he doesn’t care. What if he doesn’t say anything and he doesn’t feel like you’re all that important to him. That might be worse. You’re in a hell of your own making.

You’re brought from your spiralling thoughts by a hand on your shoulder, jumping at the touch and looking up to see Nanami. His face is as stoic as ever but his eyes are laced with a mild concern for you.

You talk before he can ask, “I’m fine, just daydreaming.”

A sound of acknowledgement comes from him, not believing you but pacified enough to move on and make himself a cup of coffee. Not facing you when he says, “Gojo’s looking for you.”

Frowning, “What? How do you know?”

He sits down across from you and plainly states, “Because I walked past him and he asked where you were.”

A small grumble leaves you, it’s just not possible to avoid him for the whole day and even if you could, you couldn’t do it for two full weeks.

“What’s going on?”

Your tea is too cold to drink now and you push it away, “Do you really want to know or are you just being polite?”

He takes a sip of his coffee like he’s giving himself time to think about his answer, “…I want to know.”

“I have to resign,” is all you say.

Nanami nods, “Well, that explains the frantic look on his face.”

Scoffing at him because that sounds ridiculous, “I left the letter on his desk and then hid.”

“You can’t hide forever.”

“I can try,” you smile, “he’s always showing up late and sneaking out anyways, I’ll probably be able to avoid him.”

The look on his face conveys severe doubt but he doesn’t comment on your words, “Why are you leaving?”

“None of your business.”

“You’re the only reason why communicating with Gojo is bearable, you leaving is going to be a nightmare for so many people.”

Your eyes roll at the sentiment, “Well, gee, I’ll miss you too.” A silence falls over the two of you and you explain, “I gotta move home for financial reasons.” It’s not everything but you don’t feel like spilling your guts to him right now.

“Ask for a raise,” he shrugs, “you deserve it.”

“It’d have to be one hell of a raise,” you fold your arms on the table and lay your head on them.

His tone comes out monotonous, “There there.”

Mumbling against your arms in reply, “You’re such a comfort, Nanami.”

“I know.”

The clicking of heels alerts you to someone else in the room but you don’t bother lifting your head to look. Not that you need to, the voice letting you know it’s Shoko, “Gojo’s looking for you.”

“I’m aware,” you sigh.

She sits down next to you, “If you’re hiding from him, this was a poor choice because I’m pretty sure he’s on his way here.”

“Have I got time to run?”

There’s a hand on your head, a tight lipped, “No,” coming from above you.

Ah, you’re caught. Sitting up, you smile at Gojo like you’ve not been hiding from him, “Gojo, is there something you need me for?”

He doesn’t bother trying to get you somewhere private, “Why are you resigning?”

Shoko asks, “You’re resigning?”

Sighing out a tired, “Yes,” before getting to your feet and walking out the room.

Immediately, Gojo is hot on your tail, “Why? Why are you resigning?” He keeps pestering you despite the fact you’re not answering, “Is it something I did? Have I been a bad boss? Do you want me to show up on time more?” A pause, “Is it because I never bring you back any sweets? I’m sorry! I just get so excited to eat them…”

Your foot taps impatiently as you wait for the elevator, arms folded and feeling frustrated by him. “It’s nothing to do with you…” he’s generally a good boss, a bit odd but he’s a good person and you’re quite attached to him, “though, you should be showing up on time.”

“Are you really not going to tell me why you’re leaving me?”

“I think my letter covered it.” The elevator dings and his presence is felt looming over you as he follows you in.

“Your letter didn’t cover shit,” he grumbles, “it was all that polite corporate speak.”

“It’s not a big deal, Gojo.” Your eyes meet his properly for the first time and he looks so genuinely hurt, it’s making this harder for you. “It’s nothing you did, nothing the company did. No one did anything, it’s just time to move on.”

“I literally cannot survive without you.” He blinks, “My company is going to go bankrupt without you and then Suguru’s will be number one, is that what you want?”

“If Geto’s company is ever number one it’s because he shows up on time and doesn’t ignore calls from clients.”

He scowls. “They should be calling you anyways, the old bastards only call me because they enjoy pissing me off.”

“Poor, poor, rich boy,” you say, looking away from him.

Gojo’s brows pinch up. “There’s nothing I can do to make you stay?”

“Nope.”

The pair of you walk off the elevator together and he’s still closer than necessary, like you’re going to disappear at any minute. “I’ve got two weeks to change your mind,” he singsongs.

It’s been a few days since that awkward conversation with Gojo and he’s been in the office every day… on time. You thought maybe the first day was just a fluke but then he kept showing up and staying. His behaviour is unpredictable at the best of times but this is the first time in the five years that you’ve been here that he’s shown up on time for multiple consecutive days.  

Whatever, you’ve just been ignoring him and continuing your work. At least you would be but he’s not giving you anything to do. Suddenly, he’s interested in doing everything himself and actually staying on top of things. If this is his way of getting you to stay… it’s not working. Not only do you have nothing to do but you’re worried that he’s fucking things up.

A few hours since you’ve been in office and you’re officially bored, staring blankly at your quiet inbox. This isn’t going to work for you, you get up and walk into Gojo’s office. He’s tapping away at his keyboard and you’re a little surprised by the focus on his face.

Pursing your lips as you stand in front of his desk, feeling conflicted on whether or not you should disturb him when he’s like this. There’s papers spread out on the surface beside him, his usually clean desk now messy.

“Gojo, I’m still your assistant until the end of next week,” your voice is gentler than how you feel, taking pity on him.

He doesn’t look to you, eyes firmly on the screen. “Not if I can convince you to stay.”

“I don’t know how many times I have to say this,” you take a step closer, “but my resignation has nothing to do with you, so there is nothing you can do to change my mind.”

His eyes meet yours then, he looks tired.

Continuing to add, “All you’ve done is make me redundant, stop stealing my work and do your own.”

“I won’t hire anyone else.”

“The board will make you.” Tilting your head at him, trying to add some levity, “And there’s no way you’re not messing things up.”

He points at you, “Hey! I’ve been very diligent.”

“Which you won’t be able to keep doing long-term.” Reaching up, you tap the tip of his finger with your own.

That has him deflating, falling back into his chair and humming at you, “Okay, have all your stupid and tedious work back.”

“I will.” You glare at him as you lean over to pick up the papers off his desk.

Shuffling through them, you can see they’re a bunch of companies reaching out and trying to set up meetings or sending through complaints. Things you usually handle before he sees because it’s not worth his time.

“So much of that stuff shouldn’t be coming to me.” He’s leaned in closer, annoyance clear on his expression. “It shouldn’t even be going to you; they should be communicating through the team they’re dealing with.”

“Yes, well, a lot of companies overestimate their importance to you.” Picking through the stack quickly, you pull out the papers that are solely for him and put them down on his desk.

His brow raises to you, “Now, where did they get that idea?”

“Who knows?” You smile politely.

His people person skills are severely lacking, especially when it comes to dealing with formalities. You may or may not be making up for it.

“I’ll get back to you about these.” Hand shaking the papers, “Do not even try sneaking off, I’ll need you here while I sort through this mess you’ve no doubt made.”

“I told you I’ve been diligent.”

“And I have absolutely no reason to doubt that.” Turning to leave before stopping. “You should keep coming in on time and staying the whole day, it’s nice.”

Gojo’s groan is heard as you walk back out his office.

After you took back your workload, Gojo decided to try and make you stay through other means. It’s almost as flattering as it is distracting. The very next day and he’s taken to pulling a chair in front of your desk and sitting with you. His arm holding up his head, chin resting in his palm. It’s got you on edge, he’s just watching you. Eyes tracking your every movement, silent like he’s maybe trying to think of something to say.

“Is there something you need, sir?” Phrasing it in a certain way in hopes of reminding him he’s your boss with his own work to worry about.

“Nope.” The singular word popped back at you.

Looking to your screen, you pull up his calendar, “So… you’re all prepped for the meeting later today at three?”

It’s silent and it prompts you to look at him again. The reply you’d been expecting comes only when your eyes meet. “I’m so prepared,” his smile is easy-going and you don’t feel the same.

“Are you sure? Because you’ve just been sitting here doing nothing.”

“Don’t worry about what I’m up to.”

“All I do is worry,” you glare at him, “it’s like my whole job.”

Obviously able to tell you’re growing a bit exasperated now and switching to flattery, “And you’re very good at it.”

“I could be better at it if you’d be a more willing participant in your own company.”

“Bleh,” he pulls his head back and waves his hand at you, the expression on his face disgusted.

You ignore the fact that you don’t find him as annoying as you probably should and change the topic, “Well, while you’re here doing anything but your job, I have some applications you can look through.”

“Applications?” He looks at you curiously and takes the papers you’re handing him.

There isn’t an answer from you as he reads them, his face scrunching up more and becoming annoyed as he realises what it is he’s looking at.

“Resumes?” Gojo’s voice has lost its chirpiness, coming a bit strained, “I didn’t know we were hiring.”

“I know you won’t do it yourself, so I put up an advert yesterday,” you point at the resumes he’s holding, “those are the best applicants.”

“I don’t want anyone else.”

“I can’t stay, Gojo. It’s out of my control.”

It’s his turn to glare, it’s the first time he’s been this angry with you. You still won’t tell him why you’re leaving because you’re embarrassed and also, you’re becoming a little concerned that he’d actually give you an insane raise. You can do without that guilt.

“Fine.” He eventually says.

A breath you didn’t realise you’d been holding leaves you, “Thank you.”

He starts going through the pile, “This isn’t an entry level job,” he flicks away that applicant. “No references,” another chucked. “Wouldn’t be able to put up with me,” that one is crumpled. “This one’s messy,” gone. “This person has put under hobbies ‘organising’,” he squints like he’s weirded out before deciding, “trying too hard,” ultimately it’s chucked too. The rest of the pile discarded in much of the same manner.

You’ve watched him in disbelief, blinking at him, “They all had better resumes than I did.”

“I didn’t want an assistant before you and I won’t want one after,” he shrugs.

Fingers rubbing into your temples, “How did I even get hired when you’re this picky.”

“You’ve raised my standards,” he praises you, “and your resume was so ugly looking that I wanted to see who sent it in.”

You gape at him, shocked, “That’s why I got the interview!?”

“And you got the job because you put up with me during,” his tone has softened again, “you adjust to your surroundings well and it impressed me, even if your resume didn’t.” He thinks for a moment, “Well, your resume actually did impress me but only because it was awful—”

“—Stop,” holding a hand up, “I can’t believe you hired me because you hated my application that much.”

“Don’t leave me,” leaning in on your desk, “I don’t think I’ll ever see a resume that ugly ever again.”

Grumbling and falling back into your chair, you cross your arms. “I knew I shouldn’t have worked here.”

He grins and stands to his feet. “Don’t show me anymore applicants, they’ll immediately get thrown away.”

“Gojo—” You call after him.

“—Bye bye now.” He’d cut you off, done with this conversation and the direction it was headed.

It’s Monday again and you’re concerned about what Gojo’s going to pull this week. Last week he’d obviously stolen all your work rendering you redundant and stared at you disconcertingly for nearly an hour before revealing he’d hired you because of your shit application. He also brought you back various treats every time he left the office, not to mention the insane amounts of praise he kept sneaking into conversation.

It's not something entirely new from him but he’s taken to doing it far more often lately and you hate how much you don’t hate it. His compliments making you a little flustered every time, you weren’t aware how much you liked being reaffirmed until he started doing it so obviously and frequently.

Apparently, he must’ve caught on to you not hating it because he’s not stopped. The grin on his face self-satisfied every time he does it, pleased by your reactions. You don’t know if your heart is going to make it through this week but it’s your last, so you don’t have much of a choice either way.

In the lobby, you run into Shoko. Greeting her with a small smile, “Good morning.”

“Morning, quitter,” she smiles back.

“Ouch,” you hiss jokingly.

Her head tilts at you, “Ah, you lasted five years, it’s impressive really.”

“I’m not resigning because of him,” you roll your eyes.

The rumours in the office have been abundant to say the least, everyone blaming your leaving on Gojo. You correct people every time but they either don’t believe you or are too excited about gossip to let themselves really hear you.

“You’d be the first,” sucking on her teeth as she recounts, “I think there was… five? six? Before you. They all quit because they couldn’t put up with him.” She pauses. “Though, he didn’t hire them personally.”

“Didn’t you hear? He only hired me because he hated my resume.”

“Good luck finding another job with it then.”

You chuckle at that. “I’ll miss you, Shoko.”

“Yeah, whatever,” she brushes you off, “if you really were gonna miss me, you wouldn’t be quitting.”

“For someone who’s so unamused by Gojo, you sure sound like him sometimes.”

She side eyes you, “Take that back.”

“Nope!” You laugh as you walk away.

At your desk, the first thing you do is pull up Gojo’s calendar. Double checking that you’re remembering the itinerary for today properly. He’s got a meeting just before midday with a large company, you’ve been trying to secure a meet with them for months and they finally caved. Taking them on as a client would be a huge win for the company and it’d bring Gojo joy because he knows Geto has been trying to secure a deal with them too.

Competition isn’t something you invest a whole lot of your time in personally but you can’t help but feel happy when Gojo ‘wins’. This week is going to be gruelling; it’s getting harder to ignore how much you enjoy your job. You thought it wasn’t going to be such a big deal. It’s a job, you do it and if you need to, you find another.

Everyone here will be part of what you miss though, you won’t get to work alongside Gojo anymore… Pushing down those feelings of affection, you start your day how you often do and check your inbox. Seeing the first emails coming through as soon as business hours are official always amuses you as much as it pisses you off.

The sound of a soft tap on your desk startles you, it’s just Gojo but you’re still not quite used to his early (on time) arrivals. He’d set a coffee down for you, expression bright as he smiles at you.

You reach for the drink, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he singsongs. “Feel like staying?”

“Because you bought me a cup of coffee?”

“Among other things.”

You’re thinking of how to answer him when he yawns and stretches his shoulders back. He seems tireder than usual, “You been sleeping okay?”

He takes the opportunity to whine, “No, my favourite employee is leaving me.”

“That must be agony for you.”

“It is,” eyes sparkling, “it’s awful, I wish she would just see reason.”

Instead of replying to that, you remind, “Don’t forget your meeting at eleven.”

Dropping the pleading look, he replies, “How could I forget? Stingy bastards took forever just to agree to meet.”

“Try to have a better attitude when you talk with them.”

“You know what would make my attitude better?” Grin on his face showing that he’s clearly plotting something.

“Dare I ask?”

“You basically did.” He points at you and then himself, “You come with me.”

A range of emotions go through you at that but it’s mostly reluctance, “Do I have to?”

“I’m your boss… so, yes?” Not waiting for your reply. “Be ready by ten-thirty.”

It’s going to be a long week indeed.

By the time ten-thirty rolls around, you’re in the garage of the building with Gojo. He’s guiding you towards his car and you’re confused, “Where’s Ijichi?”

“I don’t know,” his answer is dismissive.

“Should we wait?” you frown and look at your phone, “…I don’t want you to be late.”

Clicking on the keys, the car beeps as it unlocks, “We’re not gonna be late.” He moves around to the driver’s side and opens it, stopping before getting in when he sees you’re not moving. “Get in.”

Incredulous look on you face, “Can you even drive?”

“That’s so insulting, I’m a fantastic driver.”

You’re sceptical but get in the car anyways, not willing to be late because you were squabbling with your boss.

“Why am I coming with you?”

He hums, “Because I have a surprise for after.”

“Couldn’t you have just picked me up after the meeting?”

“No. If I have to go then you do too.”

Grumbling back at him, “You’ve never made me come before.”

“If I leave you in the office you might run away before Friday,” his tone carries a playful lilt.

“You’re so dramatic.”

By the way, he is decidedly not a fantastic driver.

The surprise he was talking about was lunch, he’s taken you out for lunch. You’re overwhelmed and feel underdressed, it’s a nice place that you definitely cannot afford.

Just as he’s about to walk inside, you grab his sleeve and pull him back, “Gojo, I can’t afford lunch here.”

He snickers at you, “You thought I’d force you to a meeting with me and then take you out to lunch and make you pay?”

You say nothing.

“Seriously? What do you take me for?” A hand rests over his heart like you’ve wounded him.

Frowning at him, “I’m… I’m also a little underdressed.” Wearing business casual doesn’t feel appropriate for here.

“You look great,” he compliments, “you always look great.”

It feels like your skin grows hotter just from that simple compliment. You can’t linger on it for too long though. From just off to the side of Gojo, you spot Geto and you know this lunch is going to be on the rocks. “Please remain calm and remember that you just got new clients and how nice that feels.”

About to ask what the hell you’re going on about when Geto makes himself known, hand on Gojo’s shoulder. “What a coincidence, Satoru.” He smiles politely, nodding his head at you in acknowledgement.

You’ve always been neutral towards Geto, if you had to describe him in a word, you’d say he’s gracious. But you’re not stupid, you can tell he enjoys pressing peoples buttons. If you didn’t know any better you’d think it was merely an accident but you do know better and you can tell he does it because he gets a kick out of it. He’s similar to Gojo in that way.

“Suguru,” Gojo gives a tight smile. “What are you doing on this side of town?”

Oh, he’s already annoyed by his presence.

“This and that,” answer kept vague deliberately. “You guys about to have lunch?”

“Yes.” You answer respectfully, not forgetting your manners.

At the same time, Gojo lies, “No.”

“Perfect,” Geto ignores Gojo’s lie, “I’ll join you.”

From what you know, Gojo and Geto used to be close friends working at the same company before Gojo moved up. Geto left after that and started his own company. Usually, Gojo isn’t so annoyed by him but he’s been a little extra touchy about things ever since you put in your resignation.

“That sounds great,” you reply before Gojo can. Geto walks in ahead of you both and you tug on Gojo to get him to lean down. “It’s just lunch, we’ll both survive.”

“I’m not so sure,” he mumbles back.

It’s awkward, incredibly so. Geto knows that Gojo got the client they’ve both been angling at and it’s all grins with hidden meanings and sly jabs. It’s hard to enjoy the food when you’re stuck observing this disaster of clashing egos.

After a lull in the conversation, Geto suddenly says, “I heard you’re quitting.”

You’re taken aback, you didn’t realise that company gossip would travel so far, “Yes… I am resigning.” Putting emphasis on the last word because you don’t appreciate the attachments to quitting.

Gojo’s tense, you can tell.

Geto pushes past your slight attitude. “May I ask why?”

“You may ask,” you smile politely, taking a page out of his book.

He doesn’t even blink, “Well, if you’re looking for a new job I’d be happy to take you off Satoru’s hands.”

Gojo scoffs at that, “She’s still my employee, you know?”

“From what I hear, not for much longer.”

You hate that you even semi consider Geto’s offer, he’s unfortunately closer to your parents’ home so you could live there and travel to his company. It’d upset Gojo though and you don’t know if you have it in you, even if it is just business.

Stopping their bickering with a simple refusal. “I’m fine, thank you for the offer.”

“It doesn’t expire,” Geto pushes, “if you change your mind, you’ve got a job with me.”

“I want to remind you I’m a personal assistant, Geto, not some highly sought-after marketing whizz.” You can’t understand the push for you, other than he knows it’ll piss off Gojo and you don’t play those games.

Clearly, not one to be shaken so easily, “Oh, I wouldn’t sell yourself so short.”

“Alright, I’m done being all civil now,” Gojo stands up abruptly, “We’re leaving and you can pay the bill for pissing me off, Suguru.”

“Gojo,” you scold him lightly but he’s not budging, “I’m very sorry, Geto,” standing up as well, “lunch was nice.”

Gojo grumbles, “Don’t apologise for me, I’m not sorry.”

Geto ignores Gojo and replies to your last statement, “We’ll have to do it again sometime.”

“Over my dead body,” Gojo points at him.

And then you’re being tugged out of the restaurant, following after an uncharacteristically angry Gojo. It’s not like he’s especially polite and he’s always had little jabs with Geto but it always seemed more like a friendly rivalry to you. To have this kind of reaction isn’t usual and you don’t really know how to approach talking to him now.

It’s not until you’re back in the car that he’s huffing, “Can you believe that? He tried stealing you out from behind my back… in front of me!”

“It’s just business, don’t let it get to you.” You mean it as a comfort but his eyebrow twitches.

He starts the car and mutters, “Not to me.”

Today is your last day. It’s been a busy week so Gojo didn’t bother you as much, anytime you spoke it concerned work. Well, that’s not completely true, he was still trying to get you to stay and begged a little but otherwise.

You don’t feel ready to leave, you know all you’d have to do is say you want to stay and Gojo would welcome you with open arms but you can’t make it work… not right now. It’s already been hard on you physically with all the moving preparations and now it’s hard on you emotionally. You don’t think people usually feel this much regret about resigning, shouldn’t you be all relieved or something.

After work, you and your empty apartment have a date with lots of alcohol. Drinking before you move may not be a great idea but you thought living with a guy would be a good idea and look how that turned out. Fuck him. This situation is so draining and unfair and you wish you could go back and change things but you’re stuck with the cards you’re dealt.

It’s quitting time soon, the hour hand on the wall across from you slowly inching towards six. Your riveting clock watching is interrupted by Gojo standing in front of it, “Could you go down to the employee floor and give this to Nanami?”

He hands you over a file and you take it without complaint, what’s another few extra minutes on your last day. “Okay, I’ll be right back.”

You’re restless, caught between wanting to get out of here and not wanting your last day to end. The elevator dings and opens to the employee floor, when you step out you’re confused by how dark it is. It’s borderline scary, you’ve seen enough scary movies to know that you don’t stay on an empty and ominous dark floor.

About to turn around and head back for the elevator when the lights flick on and people jump out at you. You don’t have a physical reaction aside from a slight jump, only staring blankly and screaming on the inside. Taking in your surroundings you realise it’s a bunch of familiar faces standing underneath a shoddily painted banner that reads ‘we’ll miss you’ with a very small ‘quitter’ written under that. It’s like it was added last minute in pen and you have a feeling Shoko did it.

Gojo runs up from behind you, “Holy fuck, we have so many stairs,” he looks to your face and then at everyone else, “did she scream?”

Nanami answers him, “No, she’s just been staring like that the whole time.”

Gojo moves to stand in front of you, asking, “You okay? Did we get you too good?”

Everyone starts murmuring and you’re very suddenly overwhelmed by all the emotions you’ve been stuffing down all week. Tears slipping from your waterline and trailing down your cheeks before you can stop them.

“Woah, what’s wrong?” he’s fussing over you, “Hey, I’m sorry, we just wanted to send you off properly.”

You use the back of your hands to wipe at your face, “Sorry, I need a moment.” Pushing the file Gojo had given you towards him before running off to hide in the bathroom.

Taking deep breaths, you try to calm down but it’s hard when you’re also dying of embarrassment. It was really nice of them; you weren’t expecting anything so to have so many people set up a going away party was really sweet but it’s just another reminder of your shitty situation and your reluctance to leave.

A soft tap on the door alerts you to someone’s presence, “Can I come in?” Gojo calls.

“No,” you call back.

It’s quiet and then he says, “I’m gonna come in anyways.” True to his word, he enters the bathroom but he doesn’t say anything more.

Unprompted you apologise, “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I didn’t mean to cry,” sniffling, “I’m embarrassed.”

“Don’t worry about that,” he walks in closer to you, placing a hand on top of your head. “If you’re so upset you could always stay.”

You laugh a little bitterly at that. “I’m fine now, I’ll come out and we can celebrate.”

“I can send everyone home if you’re not feeling up to it.”

“No, I want to say goodbye to everyone,” you look up to him, “thank you for doing this.”

“Of course,” he tucks his hands into his pockets, expression a little shy, “I couldn’t not give my favourite employee a send-off.” His upper body moves in a little like he’s going to share a secret, “I wanted to do something bigger but Shoko told me not to.”

A smile is on your lips at that, it’s so like him to want to go big. You owe Shoko for that advice, if he’d done something grand you’d be even more embarrassed than you already are. “Let’s go back.”

It’s not rowdy, it’s an office party so it’s mostly mingling and eating some snacks but it’s nice and it beats the hell out of getting drunk alone in an empty apartment. Nanami is the only one you’d given a reason as to why you’re leaving and he’d kept it to himself so you get a bunch of questions but you field them all pretty easily.

Your eyes keep finding their way back to Gojo before you feel a pang of guilt or sadness and you look away. Things slowly die down as more and more people head home and before it becomes too obvious, you slip away back upstairs to your desk.

Gojo’s office is left slightly open and you walk inside; it’s dark. The only light entering the room is coming from the surrounding building lights. You move to stand in front of the large window and look out to appreciate the view. You’re going to miss this part of the city.

“You’re not planning on robbing me on your last day are you?” Gojo asks from the door.

Getting over the shock of him suddenly appearing, you joke, “Are you kidding? I’ve been robbing you blind since my first day here.”

He crosses the room to stand beside you, “Only cause I let you.”

“What a gentleman.”

“I’m gonna say it one more time,” he looks to you, “stay.”

You don’t know how to answer him so you just lean in and hug him.

His arms wrap around you, “This isn’t very professional of you.”

“Cause you’re so professional,” you murmur back, “also you’re not my boss anymore.”

The both of you don’t say anything, just holding each other. Probably far too intimate for a working relationship but… you really needed this. It’s nice, he’s big and warm and he holds you gently. It’s giving you a lot of comfort and at the same time it’s making you want to cry again.

“I’ll miss you, Gojo.”

“I think you’ll be the first to.”

“Not true.” As much grief as everyone gives him, they’d still miss him.

He laughs a little and lowers himself so his lips are by your ear, “I’ll miss you, too.”

A shiver goes down your spine at his voice and you pull back to look at him. His face is close to yours and your eyes linger on his lips. Doing your very best to look into his eyes, you say, “Don’t ruin the company just because I’m gone.”

“I wouldn’t want to ruin all your hard work,” he grins.

You roll your eyes and move to untangle from him. He doesn’t let you. “What are you—”

Gojo’s closed the gap between the two of you with a kiss, a large hand cradling the side of your face. His thumb strokes high on your cheekbone as his lips implore yours. It doesn’t take you long at all to react, hands grabbing onto his jacket and kissing him back.

It’s overwhelming, his kiss all consuming. Almost like he’s been waiting for the perfect opportunity to kiss you like this. Lips insistent on yours, his body coming closer with a single step forward. His hand on your face tilts you up, thumb trailing to the hinge in your jaw and pressing.

You’re opening your mouth to him more and he sighs happily, licking to deepen the kiss as much as he can. It’s dizzying, mind slowly slipping of focus the longer he holds you. Your body shudders against your will because it’s never felt this good to be kissed before.

Pushing back on him, afraid you’re about to lose your mind and all he’s done is kiss you. Gojo pulls back with a suck of your tongue and your legs nearly falter, small whine leaving you. He’s stopped but he’s not moving back, hand still on the side of your face, the other having moved down to rest on your hip.

“You want me to stop here?” He asks, thumb pulling on your lower lip teasingly.

“This isn’t really—”

“Appropriate?” He asks, closer than he was before, lips almost touching yours, “Like you said… I’m not your boss anymore.”

Fuck it.

You’re the one to close the gap this time, kissing him again. It’s messier than before, an even more heated exchange and you’re realising he was being gentle with you a moment ago. Mood suddenly changed as it feels like he’s aiming to devour you whole.

He spins you so your back is against the cold glass of the window, his lower body pressing close to you. Able to feel his erection, it’s scandalous and making you tingle. You wrap your arms around his neck and he moves his hands down lower, sliding to your lower back. His fingers twitch against you like he’s holding back from touching you more.

Lips parting again so he can trail his kisses lower, burying his face into the side of your neck. Teeth nip at your flesh and you gasp, “Gojo!”

His smile reaches his eyes, “Something to remember me by,” he laves over the mark with his tongue.

Your heart twinges when you realise that your close relationship with him is ending and suddenly you’re asking, “Leave another?”

Gojo laughs a little breathlessly at that, “Hah, don’t have to tell me twice.”

He leaves another mark at your request, and then another lower down before trailing back up, his nose brushing against your neck until his lips meet yours. Words coming mumbled as he keeps kissing you, “You smell so fucking good.”

“Just shut up…” you grumble back, “and kiss me more.”

You know he wants to make another smartass comment but your shoving your tongue in his mouth to keep him quiet, he seems to be right where he wants to be though. Hands growing bolder as he grabs your ass and tugs you closer, grinding his erection against you.

Breaths coming heavy as you comment, “Pervert.”

“If I were a pervert…” he hums happily, “I’d do something more like this.” One of his hands is off your ass and slipping into the front of your pants, fingers swiping through your folds over your underwear.

A gasp leaves you, fingers digging into his shoulders as your knees grow weak. He’s prodding at your hole through your panties, almost penetrating if it weren’t for the material of them. It’s cruel, your arousal seeping into your underwear providing a slick glide for him to slide up to your clit.

“My,” he comments as if he’s shocked, “aren’t you a little too wet over a few kisses?”

“You can’t talk,” you pout, skin warming.

His eyes are bright with mischief. “Don’t be embarrassed,” finger carefully circling your clit and keeping you on edge, “it’s cute.” Sliding back to your dripping hole, “Though…” teasing you there too and then trailing back to your clit again, “you being embarrassed is cute too.”

“Are you– hff– gonna tease me the whole time?” You blink up at him.

“Probably.”

Hips rocking slightly, needy for him to touch you more, “Aren’t you being unreasonable?”

“I don’t think so.” He’s purposefully avoiding giving you what you’re seeking.

Your head falls to rest against him, hands gripping his shirt. Pleasure that feels just a little too distant running through you, making you weak and frustrated. Legs shaky to stand on with how antsy you’re getting. You should’ve guessed that he’d be a tease by how he acts regularly.

On the brink of asking him to touch you properly when he slips his hand under your panties, fingers immediately sliding inside your weeping cunt. You’re left gasping out a pathetic moan as he borderline whines. Clinging to him desperately as he angles his digits to hit the sweetest spots inside you. Slow in his pursuit, like he’s learning what gets the best reactions from you.

Gojo’s control is slipping, the tight grip you have on his fingers making it hard to think. Not to mention just how hot and wet you are, he’s not sure how he’s going to last fucking you when you feel this divine around his fingers alone.

Moans tumble from your lips and you struggle to stifle them back down, trying to rock your hips against his hand for anything more he’ll give you. It’s messy, dripping down into the palm of his hand, no doubt ruining your panties in the process. The sound of him finger fucking you obscene and too loud. Your skin is hot and you’re embarrassed from just how horny you’ve gotten, whimpering as he crooks his digits up and hits something sweet.

“Fuck– come over here,” Gojo pulls his fingers from you and tugs you over to his desk. He lifts you to sit on top of it effortlessly, hands tugging your pants and underwear off in one go. Movements rushed, impatience clear.

He’s sitting back into his desk chair and rolling forward a bit, hands resting atop your thighs. You ask him, “What are you doing?”

The answer comes incredibly blunt, “I’m gonna make out with your pretty pussy while you sit on my desk.” All smiles as he pushes your thighs apart, “I’m gonna think about this view every time I sit here from now on.”

Tongue boldly licking through your folds and making you squeal, your hand threads through his hair for something to hold onto. Quickly discovering just how good at this he really is, sliding his tongue inside your cunt and slurping at you lewdly.

Gojo eats you like a man starved, fingers digging into your plush skin as he holds you open. Your juices drip down his chin and onto his desk and all he can think about is how good you taste and how cute you are when you twitch around his tongue and how he’s probably going to get hard just thinking about this later.

Of course, he’s also going to be playing the whines and moans you’re letting out on repeat in his head later too. Finding everything about you completely endearing, even more so in your dishevelled and aroused state. To have you melting under his touch is almost too much for his poor heart to take.

Your lungs seize in your chest at how good it feels, his nose grinding into your clit with how close he’s pressed his face into you. If you had any higher brain function in this current moment, you’d be concerned if he could even breathe.

It’s getting harder and harder to sit still, desperate to move your hips in response to his stimulation. You’re falling back onto your elbows, hoping to leverage yourself better to rut against his face but he’s stronger than you anticipated. As if in punishment for your impatience, he pulls his tongue from you and trails it up to your clit. Licking it gently before wrapping his lips around it and sucking.

The feelings that run through you are immense and head spinning, feet kicking at the shock of it. Your elbows shake and give out, back bowing up in response. Hand reaching back for his head, tugging on his hair which only has him moaning against you. The vibrations have your hole twitching. Ever observant, Gojo stuffs two of his fingers inside you. Hitting all those perfect little spots he’d found earlier. Apparently having learnt a lot about your body in a short time.

“Gojo– hng– you gotta stop– hff– I’m gonna—”

His eyes look up to you, glinting mischievously. He knows exactly what he’s doing. Mouth off you long enough to say, “I’m not gonna stop.”

Almost as soon as his lips are back around your clit are you cumming; twitching and writhing through the high flooding your senses. All sensitive and whingey as he keeps fucking you with his digits. You can’t hear anything but the blood rushing in your head, feeling as though you’re floating.

That is, until Gojo pushes you dangerously close to overstimulation. His mouth off your clit, only to stuff his tongue back inside your cunt along with his fingers. Stretching you open as he eats you in a completely debauched manner.

“Too much– hnn– Gojo.” You push back on his forehead and he relents. “Perv.”

“Sorry sorry.” He grins, looking a little less than sorry about it.

He keeps your thighs open, admiring the way fresh slick drips from you entrance. He really wants to lean in and tongue your hole some more but he’ll refrain, diverting his focus to kiss your inner thighs. Sucking hickeys into your skin as much as he can, starting on the left before moving to the right. Getting a little too into it and biting your thigh a couple times, you twitch and whine at it and he doesn’t miss the way your pussy clenches around nothing in response.

Gojo gets to his feet and leans over top of you, pecking your cheek before kissing you deep and slow. It’s not hurried, taking his time to explore your mouth carefully. You don’t even realise he’d been unbuttoning your shirt at the same time until he’s moving away and opening it. 

Hands quick to grope your tits over your bra, “Hmm… this is pretty,” he comments, fingers slipping under the strap and pulling back just to let it snap! back against your skin.

“Gojo!” you chastise, voice coming a little breathless.

He doesn’t even bother to take your bra off properly, just pushing it up and over your tits so he can gain direct access to your nipples. Head ducking back down to leave more marks on your soft skin, licking over your nipple to see what kind of reaction you’ll have. He’s not disappointed when you moan and tug at his hair.

Moving to rest his forehead against the valley between your breasts, he hums out, “You’re so perfect, from head to toe.”

“Don’t think flattery will get me to stay,” you joke, feeling bashful and trying to change his focus.

“How about a really good dick down?”

“Aren’t you a little too self-assured?”

Gojo stands up, shucking off his jacket and then beginning to unbutton his own shirt, “Ask me that again after we fuck.” He shrugs it off his shoulders and lets it fall to the ground.

You knew he was well built but seeing him shirtless is making you realise just how well built he is. All broad shoulders and toned abs, it’s a little hard to stay focused when you’re this horny and he’s that hot shirtless. Happy trail leading out of his pants to his belly button making your mouth water and you’re suddenly remembering that it’s rude to stare when you look back into his eyes.

Though obviously, Gojo takes it as a compliment. Large grin on his face at your blatant ogling. “Like what you see?” He asks.

“I didn’t say anything,” you turn away from him.

“You didn’t have to,” he laughs, “the hearts in your eyes said enough.”

“Oh, shut up.”

He starts unbuckling his belt, “Your pouting will only turn me on more.”

Sitting up as you tease, “You’ve got some weird kinks, huh?”

“Not at all, it’s just that I could get off to anything about you,” he replies smoothly.

You really shouldn’t find that as flattering as you do. “Not appropriate for the workplace, Gojo.”

“Getting tongue fucked on the CEO’s desk isn’t exactly appropriate either but here you are.” He reaches into his pants and pulls his cock out, hissing, “Plus, as you pointed out earlier, I’m not your boss anymore.”

There would definitely be some remark you’d make to that but your focus is kind of caught up on how big his dick is. You knew from it digging into you earlier that he was… well-endowed but to see it now is a little scary.

You point at it accusatorily, “There’s no way I’m taking that.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he laughs. “Don’t stress so much, it’ll fit.”

You quirk an eyebrow at him as if to ask, ‘you sure?’

“The foreplay wasn’t just for fun,” Gojo purrs, “though I definitely did have fun playing with your pussy—.”

Your hand slaps over his mouth, “Do you need to be so vulgar?”

He nods wordlessly from behind your hand, eyes bright with his enjoyment of this interaction.

You take too long to remove your palm and he’s licking it, your reaction immediate as you pull back with a grimace. “Ew, what the hell?”

“Ew? My tongue was literally in your mouth not five minutes ago,” his eyes roll at you.

“This and that are different things.”

“Uh huh,” brushing you off, “Open your legs more, I’m gonna blow my load before I even get inside you at this rate.”

Your legs cross at that, “Say pretty please.”

Gojo leans down and rests his hands on the desk either side of you, eyes level with yours, “Pretty please open your legs for me, sweetheart?”

There’s a bit of a begged tinge to his voice that makes you cave immediately, parting your legs again. He grabs your hips and pulls you closer to the edge of the desk, humming happily,  “Thank you.”

The head of his cock is dragged from your clit to your opening and back again, sliding himself through your folds a few times just to make you desperate. Ignoring the fact that you’re already desperate, needy for him to fill you to the brim.

“Stop being a tease.”

“I thought you were worried about it fitting?” He asks.

Your retort is fast, “I thought you were going to give me a good dick down?”

“I believe I said a really good dick down,” notching the head at your pussy hole, “but I’ll forgive you this time.” He doesn’t push in immediately, instead leaving a chaste peck on your lips before he murmurs against them, “Deep breath.”

About to tell him he’s ridiculous and something about his ego being heavy to carry around when your lungs are struggling, the initial slide of his cock entering you making all air knock from you. Nails clawing at his forearms either side of you, not even able to make a noise as he splits you open.

Stopping not even half-way to give you a second to breathe, “I told you to take a deep breath.”

“Hnn– I– hng—” You can’t even reply yet, stopping your attempts to fill your lungs with air.

Gojo’s head dips as he looks at where you’re both connected, “Fuuuck—” he tilts his head back to look up at the ceiling, “I’m gonna cum too early if you don’t relax.”

He’d already held off on cumming just from touching you a couple times, finally being inside you is driving him crazy. Not even at the half-way point and his dick is twitching like crazy, your cunt sucking him in greedily and clenched so tight around him. You’re still panting and struggling to wrap your head around the stretch of him and as cute as it is, it’s also a massive fucking turn on that’s making his life harder.

You’re falling forward into him, head resting on his chest, hands clinging to him desperately. Managing out through moans, “Why– hff– why is your dick so huge?”

Breathless laugh leaving him, “You’re being really cute.”

“Shut up.”

“Getting cuter.”

He wraps his arms around you, lips pressed to your ear. With the movement his cock slides just that bit more inside you. The sound of his soft, needy whine is ringing in your head and making you twitch. Practically creaming around him already, it’s embarrassingly early to be this much of a mess but he’s worked you up so much and you can’t help but fall deeper into the pleasure.

Desire is overflowing from you and you have no idea what to do with it, holding onto him tighter as a result. Turning to the side, you kiss him wherever you can, it doesn’t take long at all for him to dip and kiss you back hard. Getting lost in his lips, wishing you could somehow pull him even closer.

While distracted, Gojo takes the opportunity to fuck the rest of the way into your tight pussy. Your mouth is dropping open with a whine, feeling the tip of his dick against your cervix has you trembling. You can’t tell if you’re imagining it but you’d swear you can feel the thump thump! of the veins on his cock throbbing against your walls.

He lowers you down onto the desk but the movement has him shifting inside you and you’re whining again, back arching against the wooden surface. You wrap your legs around his waist, feeling the need to cling to him even more.

Gojo’s head tucks into the crook of your neck, his words coming out mumbled, “Ooh, you’re gonna have me dreaming about this.”

“You– hng– you have to move.” You can’t take any more of this slow pace, your pussy begging you—and him—to be fucked.

His face comes into view, expression struggling to stay cool, “You need to keep your legs open nice and wide for me then.”

Pout making its way onto your face immediately because you really want to keep him this close but you also really want to do what he says. “This better be worth the embarrassment.”

“It will be.”

He’s pulling away from you at the same time that you’re parting your legs, hoping you’ll get away with resting your inner thighs against his hips. Clearly, that’s not satisfactory enough for Gojo because he’s grabbing behind your knees and pulling your legs further apart. Manhandling you lewdly into a position that exposes you to his greedy eyes.

Sighed moan leaving him, “You’ve got such a pretty cunt.”

“You’ve– ah– got such a dirty mouth.” A laugh moves through his chest at your retort and you don’t understand why you’re feeling butterflies over it.

“I’m gonna move now, sweetheart.”

“Please.”

The heavy drag of his cock pulling back gives you a visceral reaction, fingers digging into his desk, looking for something to hold onto. Every inch of him rubbing up against something delicious with each one of his movements, no matter how small. Tuned into every sensation you’re experiencing and feeling so sensitive with it. You’re feeling everything, pussy creaming around him at it, clearly in love with his dick.

On the other hand, Gojo’s losing his fucking mind about as much as you are—if not more. His cock throbbing, pulsing inside your hot cunt. Even though he’s going insane over how sweet your pussy is, he’s still pausing when he’s pulled out. Watching how your hole twitches and convulses around the head of his dick. Fresh slick dribbling from you and sliding down his shaft, he’s not sure he’s ever going to be normal again.

Slamming his hips to yours in one movement and as soon as he starts, he can’t stop. Repeatedly fucking into you over and over, his eyes glazing over as whimpers spill from him. You’re not doing any better, whining and grabbing onto whatever’s closest, obviously needing something to keep you grounded.

He’s bullying your womb with his tip and you’re so close to cumming, only a few more thrusts and you’re finishing around him. Surprised by your own high, hips meeting his to ride it out. Teeth digging into your lower lip as your eyes roll, too involved in yourself and the pleasure to be embarrassed.

“God– hah– you’re already?– fuck!” Gojo can’t believe it, his heart hammering in his chest at how you cum. Your pussy sucking him in divinely, begging him to keep stuffing you full.

In your fucked out bliss, you slip up, “Satoru– hmf—”

It’s the first time you’ve used his given name and his brain short circuits, everything inside him excited and he can’t help himself. Whining pathetically as he cums, not a hint of shame from him. Caught up in how pretty his name sounded coming from your lips, a little slurred in your messy state.

Not able to stop his thrusts either, your mixed cum drooling down the sides of his cock as he keeps fucking you. Keeping you both on cloud nine to the point of overstimulation. The pair of you buzzing and lost in each other. Everything is hot and messy and feels so fucking good.

His brain is stuck in a loop of your pitiful voice calling for him. “You’re unbelievable– hnn– you should stay– hah– don’t leave.”

“I can’t– ngh—”

“Breaking my heart,” he sulks, hips slowing to a steady rut.

You can feel tingling all the way down to your toes. “That’d– hff– be more believable if you weren’t balls deep inside me.”

He finally stops, pelvis flush to you. Looking down his nose as he replies,  “I’m multidimensional.” Sliding his hands from your legs to your waist, “And still horny.”

His dick slips from you and then he’s using his hold on you to flip you over so you’re face down on the desk. Taking a second to admire the way his seed drips from you before plugging it with his fat dick again. Shiver going down his spine, gaze trailing up your body. Disappointed by the lack of skin showing, you’re still wearing the unbuttoned shirt he neglected to properly remove in his impatience.

Touch gentle as he slides the sleeves down your arms, initially going to take it off but changing his mind at the last second. Instead, wrapping your wrists in it haphazardly and turning it into a makeshift restraint.

When you realise what he’s done, you struggle a little against it and then huff. Forehead resting against the wood, cunt overstuffed, and now restrained in your arm movements. You feel a little helpless and it makes your insides flutter.

Gojo checks in, “You good, sweetie?”

“Pervert,” you mutter in response.

“What was that?” Fingers unclasping your bra, sliding his hand over where it’d been fastened.

“I’m good,” you reply.

He pats your ass, smiling to himself, “Then this pervert’s gonna fuck you again.”

Pace instantly brutal, angling his hips so his dick drills into your weakest point. Already having figured out your body far better than you ever have, driving you to the brink of crying from how overwhelmingly good it feels.

You have nothing to hold onto, hands trapped behind you and forced to stay there. It’s got you squirmy, unable to ground yourself with anything and it’s manifesting as you wriggling and your toes curling. Panting and writhing below Gojo, digging your nails into the cotton of your shirt as a pitiful replacement for something sturdy.

Gojo groans, hands holding you still, his fingers digging into your plush skin. “Stay still, pretty.”

“Can’t– ngh– can’t help it.” Your eyes wet from unshed tears.

He moves one of his hands up to the back of your neck, putting just enough pressure there to stop your wriggling. Immobile under him now, taking what he’s giving you. Your pussy shaking around him, consumed by him and his presence. Trusting him wholly in this moment to do what will bring you both the most pleasure, a kind of trust you’ve not given to anyone before.

There’s a creamy ring around the base of his cock from your mixed cum, a sight that makes him even more aroused. Everything you do, everything about fucking you, is only working him up even more. Thinking he’s gotten as horny as he can possibly get only for you to whine, or call his name, or twitch, or pulse around him. Causing him to fall deeper and deeper into his own insanity, borderline unhinged from how you’re making him feel.

Everything feels so much more heightened now that you can’t take it out on the furniture, brain zeroing in on exactly where his tip is hitting or the sounds he’s making for you. The soft whines and moans from him are causing your brain to fry, tingling all over and smiling a little dumbly at how he sighs your name.

It feels so good, too good, it’s almost a little scary just how good it feels. Like you’re going to fall apart at any second and you have no idea of knowing when, kept on edge and waiting for the final thrust that will do you in.

Gojo can’t believe what’s in front of him, able to feel you so vividly but still feeling like he’s dreaming because it’s just too good to be true. But you are here below him, your pussy is crying around him and begging for more. It’s real and it’s heavenly and he’s greedy for more.

“You’re so pretty,” he sighs, “so pretty– hff– and smart and your cunt sucks me in so fucking nicely.”

Managing to pant back at him, “Don’t talk.” Your pussy betrays you though, jumping at his praise.

“Why not?” Soft laugh leaving him, “Feels like you like it.” He hums softly, hand tickling down your spine, “It’s– hah– like how you got flustered by me complimenting your work.”

You’d almost forgotten that, all his words of affirmation and the kindness he’d spilled in an attempt to get you to not resign. It didn’t work but it definitely did make you feel all fuzzy inside. “I don’t know what you’re– ah!– talking about.”

“I think someone has a thing for praise,” he giggles. “That’s okay, I can give you all the praise in the world.”

“I don’t,” you deny poorly. It’s hard to sound convincing when you’re full of his cock.

“It’s okay, sweetie,” you can hear the smile on his face, “you’re doing– haa– such a good job, pussy taking me so well. Being real nice to me too, all wet and needy.”

It’s fucked up how easily he reads you, it shouldn’t be allowed. “Stop– hm– I’m gonna cum if you keep—”

“—Gonna cum because you like being told what a hot cunt you have and how great it is to fuck.”

He’s so annoying, so persistent, so stubborn, and so good at getting you off. You’re cumming around him as he gives you his nasty version of a compliment, moans loud and embarrassing. It’s the hardest you’ve ever cum and it’s knocked the wind from your lungs. A mess of shivers and whines as you ride it out. His cock prolonging your high because he’s not stopped fucking you.

Gojo’s head tips back, eyes watching how you’re squeezing around him, “Fuck– fuck– oh my god– hah– that’s it, cum around me juuust like that.”

It feels fantastic, your bliss washing over you. It won’t stop feeling good, brain all mushy and thoughtless as you barely register his words. You can feel his cock throbbing inside you, holding his own orgasm off through sheer willpower alone. “Satoru… you– hng– you gotta cum, please?”

“That’s not fair,” he whines.

You’re not playing fair. He’s trying his absolute hardest to prolong this moment, wanting it to never end and here you are asking him so very nicely to cum. He couldn’t possibly deny you, not when you’re so placid and sucking him in so lovingly. Pussy practically begging him for another one of his heavy loads.

Voice calling to him again, “Please, I want it.” And you do, you want to hear how his moans get even more pathetic as he finally lets himself go.

Not even all the way through your sentence does he fold for you, hands slamming down onto the desk as his hips jut forward, filling you to the brim with his achy dick. His pelvis keeps you so close to the edge of the desk, the wood digging into you.

Your hole flutters around him at his pretty moans and he feels every second of it, his sensitive cock reacting to it. “You feel sooo fucking good– ngh– I can’t take it, you’re killing me, sweetheart.”

He’s panting from above you, trying to catch his breath as his body shakes from aftershocks. The both of you twitchy messes, all heavy breaths and soft jerks. Your body is all limp on the desk, brain fuzzy and not thinking much of anything aside from how delightful everything feels.

In his hazy state, he manages to remember that you’re still restrained. Struggling a little to untangle the mess he made of your shirt and freeing your hands. Your arms fall to your sides, all lazy and fucked out.

Gojo slips from you and sits back onto his desk chair, taking you with him. Your head flops back onto his chest as you whine in protest but you’re too weak to stand. “Your cum is gonna get all over this chair.”

The laugh that he lets out vibrates against you, “It’s fine, I’m sure the owner won’t mind.” His big hands come around to your front, pulling your bra off properly before cupping your tits in them.

“The owner is a weird pervert.”

He’s playing with you, groping your tits how he pleases, “Oh, you’ve met him? Should I be jealous?”

You continue going along with his bit, “No, he’s some lazy guy who never shows up on time and always sneaks out to blow off work, I’d never have sex with him.”

“Wow, lucky I’m not him,” he tilts your head to the side and kisses you deep. Humming softly against you as he licks at your tongue. When he pulls back he asks, “So, was it a really good dick down or what?”

Your eyes grow wide and your skin heats up, “I refuse to answer that.”

“Because then you’d have to stay,” he grins back, arms moving to wrap around you.

There’s a quiet that goes over the both of you, “I can’t.”

He tucks his head into your neck, asking, “Are you finally going to tell me why?”

“If I told you why you’d want to help and I’m handling it on my own.” There’s a lot you can’t manage to tell him and needing to move is only the tip of the iceberg.

As much as he wants to argue back or push more information from you, he accepts your words, “There will always be a place here for you, I was serious about not hiring anyone else.”

These are your last moments with him, him being kind to you after giving you the best sex of your life and you can’t even be completely honest with him. Instead of mourning the moment before it’s over though, you let yourself be here. Held by him and warm.

𝒂ﾉ𝒏. thank you sm for reading !!! i'm sorry it took me so long to finish it 🥲 my writing speed fluctuates rapidly, i am who i ammmm. ngl i got most of this done ages ago and got stuck on the smut. ANYWAYS,, i have ideas for a second part with a little bit of angst and dramaaa but only if people want it smile ◡̈

also if it seems unrealistic to what working in marketing is like #sorry i've never worked corporate. i'm studying psych and worked as a lifeguard so i've got NO CLUE 😛

You’d been the one to discover him - you and one other party-goer. The vision of him, his guts strewn about the place, ribs pulled out one by one, was something that would never leave your mind. Even now, four years later, you’d still occasionally see the image when you closed your eyes. 

An unshifting feeling of guilt had followed you ever since that night, deep sorrow for the acts that you’d committed. You could never quite forgive yourself for the fact that, instead of being at his side throughout that party, you’d been holed up in the bathroom, letting another man fuck you over the sink. 

If you’d been faithful, maybe he’d still be alive. 

There’d been plenty of effort on your part to bury that thought via various different methods. You’d gone off to university, where you’d partied, gotten insanely drunk and fucked your fair share of guys in an attempt to drown your sorrows through hedonism. When that only seemed to make things worse, you’d isolated yourself from your peers, turned to support groups and therapy, hoping that you could let the whole thing go. 

And to be fair to the tenacity of your therapist, while your guilt hadn’t disappeared, it had shrivelled up considerably in that time. 

Enough that your heart no longer palpitated whenever you were back in your hometown - a blessing, considering that it looked like you’d be staying there for the foreseeable future. 

You’d tried to get a job out in the city, but with the dire state of the employment market, you found yourself coming up empty handed. You couldn’t afford to stay in the little apartment that you’d rented out throughout university, leaving you no choice but to return to your childhood home. 

There, at least you could be employed and earn a little bit of money for your future. Your father owned a construction business, and with various expansion efforts taking place on the outskirts of town, his company had been growing in size significantly. It meant that he was keen to have someone manage the more admin heavy tasks that he was struggling to keep up with. 

While it wasn’t your calling, it sounded like fairly easy work and it would keep your dad happy. Besides, there was a part of you that was excited to move back to your hometown. Most of the people you’d known from school were still around, either in a similar situation to you, or having never attempted to leave in the first place. 

Considering that you’d never really clicked with anyone at university, bar one guy that you were currently engaged in some sort of situationship with, you were excited to be back with people that you’d known for years. 

Perhaps that would dispel some of the loneliness you’d been feeling. After years of guilt and isolation, it was time to start moving on. 

“Everything going okay, sweetie? Need anything?” Your dad popped his head around the door of the trailer that served as his office. You’d been rapping your fingers on the wooden desk, staring blankly at the computer before you, waiting patiently for excel to start up. The machine looked like it had been made in the 80s, and it certainly operated like it. 

“I’ll be all good once this thing cooperates.” You responded with a smile. 

“Be nice to it and it’ll be nice to you!” He chuckled, as if the ancient technology was sentient in any manner. You nodded along all the same, knowing that he was being genuine. He wasn’t the most tech literate man, and honestly believed that these things could smell your fear. 

A ridiculous, but endearing quality of his. 

“I showed you how to make an accident report, right?” He continued, expression turning a little more serious. “One of my guys has hurt his hand. Nothing serious but we gotta write it up - think you can handle that, sweetie?” 

You shrugged. How hard could it really be? All you had to do was open up a word template and fill out the questions accordingly before filing it away - any seven year old with two IT lessons under their belt could figure it out. 

“Sure. What was the accident?” 

“I’ll just send him in to explain, he should really be off the clock for today anyway.” Your father gave you a thankful smile before heading back out the door. It swung shut with a heavy creak, and you fidgeted with a pen for a few moments, staring at the digital clock on the desk as you waited for the worker to arrive. 

You hoped that they were a quick talker - it was already 4pm, and you were meant to clock out at 5. Ideally you didn’t want to be here any later than absolutely necessary. 

The door creaked open once more, and you barely raised your head. You didn’t have much interest in your father’s employees, most of them were on the older side, and had been working for your dad since you were a little girl. There was a limited amount of good work in town, and your dad offered one of the few places where a man could find steady employment. 

Naively, you’d assumed that it would be one of those men entering the office. A pleasant old guy who had worked here long enough to remember you coming along for ‘bring your daughter to work’ days. 

Nothing could’ve prepared you for the deep, familiar voice that sent tingles crawling up your spine. 

“Well, well. Isn’t this a nice surprise.” 

You blinked a couple of times as you looked up, voice failing you at the sight of the man towering over your desk. He’d grown even taller since the last time you’d seen him, if that was even possible. His pink hair was a little longer, still pushed back from his forehead as it always was. More tattoos had appeared on his tanned skin, the ones lining his face just as striking as ever. 

The soft, involuntary gasp that fell from your lips was a little embarrassing, especially considering the way that his grin widened at the sound, sharp canines on display. His red eyes were alight with that same intensity that had always burned within them, that alluring gaze that always felt like it was stripping you down to nothing. 

“Should’ve told me you were back in town,” he said, eyes dragging slowly up your figure, as if assessing all manner of ways you’d changed in the years since he’d last seen you. 

“I- I’ve only just got back, a few days ago.” 

It wasn’t a lie, you really only had been there a couple of days. That wasn’t exactly the reason that you hadn’t reached out though. You’d been avoiding him ever since the murder four years ago, guilt curling in your stomach at the mere thought of him. He’d been the one with you in the bathroom at that party, hands gripping your hips, buried to the hilt inside you. 

While your poor boyfriend bled out in the garage below, Sukuna had been whispering filthy things in your ear, holding you like you belonged to him. 

It was a mistake that you could never take back - a moment of lust, of frustration with your boyfriend, clouding your judgement into a single, awful decision.

“You working here now?” He asked with a tilt of his head, pulling out the chair opposite the desk and sitting down. His tongue swiped across his lip for a moment, the silver of his piercing glinting in the golden light streaming through the window. 

You could still recall the feeling of that little metal ball against your pussy, sobbing softly as he teased it against your clit, fingers digging hard into your thighs, holding you still for him. You hated to admit that for every night you’d spent picturing your ex-boyfriend’s lifeless body, there was a night spent replaying that evening with Sukuna. 

How pathetic. 

“Something like that, yeah.” Your tone was cautious, not sure what to make of all this. You hadn’t expected Sukuna to be working for your dad, had almost expected him to have gotten out of town by now. Despite appearances, he was a smart guy - it wasn’t like some construction job in a dead end town was all he was capable of. 

“Guess we’ll be seeing a lot of each other then.” 

The statement hung heavy in the air, his eyes fixed on yours. It felt like a test, to see if you’d squirm beneath his statement that almost certainly held double meaning. This was how he’d spoken to you back in high school, greeting you with teasing lines that would never fail to make your heart race, to further your attraction for him. 

He knew exactly what he was doing. 

Even now, your cheeks reddened ever so slightly, gaze dropping down to the desk in an attempt to escape the intensity of his eye contact. 

“I guess so.” 

You fell silent, not sure how to continue. It felt awkward, almost scary to be in his proximity again. There was still so much tension between the two of you, things left unsaid after that evening together. You’d slipped from his grip, lost in a sea of guilt, unwilling to face that night. The few times that Sukuna had reached out via text, you’d ghosted him.

He was a reminder of your sin, one that you wanted to wash away, no matter how much you ached for a repeat of how it felt to have his body pressed against yours. 

It seemed like he was finding your reaction amusing, elation drawn across his handsome face. With the silence stretching on, he leant forward, planting his elbows on the desk. Your skin prickled as he drew closer, almost able to feel the warmth of his breath as he spoke. “So, aren’t you meant to be writing an injury report for me or something, sweetheart?” 

Your mouth opened and then closed again, unsure as to whether you should object to the nickname. One one hand you were currently in some sort of relationship, even if it was a little fraught, and therefore shouldn’t abide by men calling you sweet names. On the other hand, you couldn’t deny the way that it built pressure in your gut, to hear the word drawled out in his deep voice. 

“Oh, uh- yeah, one sec.” 

You scrambled to pull up the report, goosebumps rising on your skin at the acute awareness of how closely he was watching you, a soft little smile curving his lips. The air in the room felt too close, charged by his presence. Trying your best to ignore it, you focussed on the document, filling in the parts that you already knew - the basic things like his name and date of birth. 

It was only then that you turned back to him, heart stuttering at the sight of his smug expression. “What- what’s the nature of your injury?” You asked, after clearing your throat, reading the question word for word off the document. 

Slowly, he turned his hand over, revealing his palm to you. You flinched back in surprise at the sight of a deep cut ravaging his tanned skin, blood still trickling from the open wound. He didn’t seem bothered by it, more amused by your shocked reaction. 

“Fuck. my dad said it was nothing, that’s deep!” 

Sukuna pursed his lips before shrugging. “There’s been worse. Some old dude’s arm got chopped off two weeks ago.” 

“Still, we need to clean that up.” You urged, the tense atmosphere lightening a little now that you’d broken the initial barrier of awkwardness. Report forgotten for the moment, you rummaged around in the desk drawers until you found what you were looking for, pulling out a first aid kit. 

He sat still, watching you eagerly as you looked through the kit, pulling out cleansing wipes and a roll of bandages. You didn’t hesitate to reach for his hand, his fingers warm beneath yours while you held him still. You made quick work of wiping up the blood, before wrapping a bandage firmly around his damaged palm. 

You’d have to lecture your father later about taking better care of his employees. If you hadn’t been there what would’ve happened to Sukuna? Would he have just gone back to work as normal? 

What happened to the guy who lost his arm?

“How did this even happen?” You asked, exasperated. 

“Aw, you worried about me?” His palm was still outstretched on the table, even though you’d long since retracted your own hand. 

“I’m worried about everyone working here if this kind of thing is normal.” 

His grin didn’t waver, telling you that in his mind, it was the former. Regardless, he offered you the answer you’d been seeking. “Just some glass buried in the dirt, I didn’t see it before I was sticking my hand in there.” 

Your gaze flicked back down to his hand, brow a little furrowed. You weren’t sure why he’d be doing that in the first place, and his hands were miraculously clean for someone who had been digging around in the mud, but you figured it was best not to pick him up on it. It wasn’t like you really understood the processes surrounding what went on around the worksite. 

“You should be more careful.” 

“When I’ve got a nice little angel in here ready to patch me up when things go wrong? Nah, I think I’ll be more reckless.” He sported a boyish grin, one that you were all too familiar with. It had been reflected in the mirror the last time you’d seen him, when he’d been all up in your guts. 

You rolled your eyes, trying to hide the way his smile made your heart pound. It was wrong - you didn't deserve anything with Sukuna - that was your atonement for the cheating, for the betrayal of your boyfriend all those years ago. 

Moving back to the computer, you typed out a quick description of the wound, followed by Sukuna’s short explanation of how it had happened. You then detailed the first aid that had been administered, before sending the document over to the printer to create two copies. Sukuna stayed silent through all of it, crimson eyes just watching as you headed over to collect the freshly printed reports. 

You could feel the way that his eyes lingered on your ass as you walked, making little effort to hide his continuing desire for you. It was as though you hadn’t been gone for four years, like Sukuna had been keeping you in the front of his mind this whole time. 

It was embarrassing how giddy the idea made you feel. 

“Toji’s having a party at his place tonight, you should come,” Sukuna said. 

Biting down on your lip, you hesitated. Partying had stopped being your scene a long time ago - after your first year at university you’d mostly just stayed holed up in your room. Parties came with too many reminders of what had happened to Ryu all those years ago, and you found that it was easier to avoid them altogether. 

Besides, you weren’t sure that hanging around with Sukuna was the best course of action for you. Your history considered.

Sensing your hesitation, he continued. “It would be nice to catch up under better circumstances. Y’know, when I’m not bleeding out and all.” He held up his hand with a charming smile, and you couldn’t help but giggle. 

“I think you’ll be fine,” you said. “I’m a great doctor.” 

“You are.” He agreed. “I think a really great doctor would come and check up on their patient later, to make sure the wound hasn’t reopened.” 

It was a smooth line, that had always been the way that he operated. You were well aware of what he was doing - wise to the gentle, enticing, flirting that was so characteristically him. But it would be wrong to give in, even if you wanted to. Anything between you and Sukuna would always be marred by that fateful night.

Besides, you had your situationship to consider - even if Kashimo wasn’t technically your boyfriend, he still deserved some level of respect. 

The rejection, the lie about being busy, had been sitting on the tip of your tongue when the creaky door to the trailer opened. Your dad stepped in with a kind smile, glancing between the two of you. “Everything all good in here?” 

“Y-yep!” You stuttered over your words, cursing yourself. You hadn’t wanted your dad to sense any tension between the two of you, but the way that you fumbled as you handed Sukuna his copy of the accident report had your dad frowning. 

You weren’t generally a flustered girl, usually very calm and collected. The flush that decorated your cheeks paired with Sukuna’s amused gaze clearly had some cogs turning in his head. 

“Oh, do you guys know each other? You must be around the same age.” 

“We went to school together,” Sukuna said, easily. “It’s nice to see each other actually, we haven't had the chance in the last few years.” 

You nodded along, hoping that Sukuna wouldn’t divulge any further information than that. Your dad certainly didn’t need to know the intimacy with which you’d known each other. In fact, you were rather confident that your dad would hate the idea of you bringing home a guy like Sukuna. He’d always been eager for you to find a nice man with a good job. 

“I was just inviting her along to a party actually. Loads of people she knew from school will be around, I bet they’d love to see her.” 

Sukuna smirked at you as he spoke, like he’d picked up on your hesitation and had known exactly how to counter your uncertainty. To an outsider it all looked so innocent, just an old friend looking to encourage you to reconnect. To your father, there would be no hidden intentions behind the invite, no history to consider. 

“Oh isn’t that nice!” Your father exclaimed with a bright smile, taking Sukuna’s bait easily. “You should definitely go, sweetie.” 

He’d been worried about your apparent isolation throughout most of your university years, and didn’t want you moping around in your room now that you were back in town. To him, this probably sounded like the perfect opportunity to reconnect. 

And you supposed it probably was. 

You just needed to make sure that you didn’t do something you’d regret. 

—

Toji lived in a nice house in the suburbs. 

It didn’t really surprise you since his family had always been wealthy. They ran some sort of agriculture related business and had made millions from it. All of the Zenin kids went on to work there, no need to worry about university or getting their foot in the door somewhere - Naobito would take care of them all. 

It had been Naobito’s house that Ryu’s murder had taken place in all those years ago, during a party that Naoya had been throwing. Apparently they’d sold up after that, moving into a new place across town. Naobito had been very publicly enraged about how the murder had damaged the value of their old house - a place that, for all intents and purposes, had previously been a lovely place to live. 

Toji’s house was smaller than either of the Zenin mansions were, but still larger than most houses in town. The sound of music was blaring from within, a handful of people hanging around on the lawn, smoking and chatting. You didn’t recognise any of them, but Toji was a few years older than you, so you wouldn’t be surprised if they were classmates from his own school year. 

Taking a deep breath, you made your way up the fancy driveway and through the front door, trying not to think too much about the last time you’d attended a party just like this one. It wasn’t like the same thing would happen again, it was narcissistic to believe that the murder had anything to do with you in the first place. 

Even if your guilt wanted you to believe it. 

Inside, you discovered a scene that wasn’t too unlike the parties you’d attended in high school - although, there was a lot less hiding where drinking alcohol was concerned. Some terrible skater anthems were blasting, seemingly courtesy of Toji’s buddy Choso, who had a DJ rig set up in one corner. Everyone was dancing and mingling, and you felt a mild panic wash through your body at the overwhelming number of people. 

Especially because most faces seemed unfamiliar to you. 

The fear dissipated at the sound of a familiar voice, a gleeful shriek of your name followed by the weight of being tackled into a bearhug. “I can’t believe you’re actually back!” Your senses were overwhelmed by the smell of some rosy smelling perfume and the light blonde hair of your attacker falling in the way of your eyes. 

Yuki felt like she was squeezing the life out of you, making up for years of limited contact with a single hug that had you gasping by the time she finally released you. “Hey,” you said with a smile, eyeing her up. She looked gorgeous in a halterneck burgundy dress, her hair flowing freely around her shoulders. 

She’d been one of your best friends in high school. The two of you had always been joined at the hip, along with Shoko, who was currently catching up to Yuki, trying not to spill her drink as she hurried over to you. “Hey girl!!” She was much more careful with the hug that followed, only wrapping one arm around you, aware that her plastic cup was too full to take the risk of hugging you properly. 

“Didn’t think we’d be seeing you until Saturday!” Yuki said with a smile. 

She and Shoko were the two people that you’d actively told about your return to town. While you’d drifted apart over the last four years, all off at your respective universities, you’d still called them every now and then to catch up, keeping each other updated with important life matters with regular texts. 

Yuki had moved back to town permanently after university. She’d landed one of those cushy corporate jobs that lets you work from home four days a week, in which your main job is responding to emails for an obscene amount of money. She could certainly afford to live in the city, but she and Choso had been dating for about a year now, and he had no interest in leaving town. 

Shoko was still going through medical school, attending a university a mere ten miles from your little town. Her mother had been sick when she was first going through the application process, and had therefore opted to select a school nearby. It meant that she could live at home, be with her mom, and save a load of money in the process. 

It would be nice to have your little group back together, and you’d all planned to go and get your nails done together on Saturday, treat yourselves to a nice girl’s day out. You were certainly long overdue one - there was so much that you needed to bring them up to speed on. 

“Yeah, I thought you weren’t big on parties these days?” Shoko enquired. 

“I’m not, but I figured it would be nice to pop along and see some familiar faces.” 

You really hoped they didn’t ask you who had actually invited you to the party. They both knew what had happened with Sukuna four years ago. They were part of an elite, private group that was aware of the truth. That group consisted only of the two of them, and your therapist. And, you supposed, anyone Sukuna might have told. 

In their eyes Sukuna was bad news - they believed he’d manipulated you into sleeping with him and cheating on Ryu when you were in an emotionally volatile state. They weren’t technically wrong, but it didn’t account for how badly you’d also wanted Sukuna, how little he’d actually had to try to get you bent over in that bathroom. 

You’d fantasized about Sukuna long before that night.

Either way, like true friends, they never accepted that any of the blame lay with you, and piled everything on Sukuna - and partially on Ryu for the part that he played in the situation, since he’d cheated on you first. Although blaming the latter was harder to justify considering the depressing end that he’d met. 

It was easiest to just blame Sukuna. And for that reason, they’d been on Sukuna watch for a long time, ensuring that the two of you wouldn’t cross paths, warning you not to respond to him when you’d tell them about texts he’d sent to your phone. 

They’d definitely be angry if they knew you’d come here because of him. 

“Let me get you a drink,” Shoko said, “I’m pretty good at cocktails, you used to like mojitos right? I can make you one.” 

“Oh, it’s fine, I can-” 

“No, no, you guys head out to the garden, I’ll do it!” 

Shoko scuttled off in the direction of the kitchen, leaving her drink in your hands while she went to make you a fresh one. You stared after her, a little perplexed by her insistence since you weren’t sure she’d ever gone to get a drink for you at a party before. For one panicked moment you wondered if the two of them thought you needed babysitting for your first home town party in years. 

Yuki caught your confusion before your theories could evolve any further. “Utahime is in the kitchen, Shoko is down bad for her. She’s just looking for an excuse to go back in there.” 

“Oh right!” You giggled softly. Shoko generally kept things like crushes close to her chest, and was likely doing everything she could to deny having any feelings towards your former classmate, but Yuki had always been far too astute to have such secrets kept from her. 

“Anyway, most of the people we know are out in the garden.” Yuki grabbed your hand and pulled you through the crowd of bodies in the direction of the patio doors at the back of the house. “No idea who most of the people at this party are though! I think they work for Toji or something.” 

Making your way outside, you were greeted with a beautifully manicured garden, set up with a lovely firepit in the middle, surrounded by an array of benches, crates and camping chairs for people to sit on. You couldn’t picture Toji labouring away outside, so you could only imagine that he had a gardener to keep things in such pristine shape. 

Yuki led you over to the firepit, waving at various people that you’d known from school, parading you around like a trophy. You supposed that your presence was a novelty, since you’d been absent from any such gathering for a long time. 

As she brought you around to the far side of the pit, you caught the eye of Sukuna, sitting in between Toji and Gojo. His gaze locked onto you immediately, a small smirk playing on his lips as he gave you a nod, raising his beer ever so slightly in greeting. Yuki gave you no window to respond, her grip on your hand firm as she ushered you past the man. 

She didn’t want you to acknowledge his presence. 

Even as Gojo stopped you with a bright smile, gushing over how long it had been, Yuki inserted herself in front of Sukuna, effectively shutting down any chance at conversation, giving you a few minutes to fill in Gojo on the last few years of your life before interrupting and dragging you away, claiming that she “deserved more of your time than any stupid boy.” 

The two of you eventually found a seat on a crate a little further around the circle to where Sukuna was situated, next to Mei and Manami, who both seemed thrilled to see you. They hadn’t been your closest friends by any stretch of the imagination, but they’d both been in lots of your classes, and had shown plenty of support when Ryu died. 

As such, you found yourself getting caught up in conversation with them for a while, attention only waning when Yuki started gossiping to Mei about some guy that they worked with, your mind starting to tune out the conversation, eyes drifting in the direction that you knew they shouldn’t. 

Sukuna was already staring at you when you looked over at him, red eyes lighting up in amusement at your lack of resistance to his presence. Unnerved by being caught, you were quick to glance away, reminding yourself that your current kind of boyfriend, kind of friends-with-benefits, probably wouldn’t approve of you looking at or thinking about Sukuna in the way that you did. 

You’d made the mistake with Ryu, you wouldn’t make it with Kashimo.

In a bid to avoid Sukuna’s gaze, your eyes drifted over to his left, where Toji was spread out on a camping chair, lounging in it like it was a throne. He’d always been the type of person that commanded a heavy atmosphere, confident in himself despite all his failings. He and Sukuna had much in common on that front, though you’d always found Sukuna much more palatable. 

There was an intelligence to Sukuna that you couldn’t really see in Toji. You were certain that he was street smart, but his conversations tended to hold little weight. If you weren’t interested in discussing gambling or sex, he wasn’t interested in you. 

Sitting pretty on his lap was Takako Uro, twirling her vibrant pink hair and slapping his shoulder as she giggled at some joke. The sound might as well have been nails dragging down a chalkboard as far as you were concerned, for she was decidedly not your favourite person. 

She and her best friend, Yorozu, hadn’t been all that nice to you during high school, deciding for some reason that you were a decent target of ridicule. You were aware that jealousy had a big part to play in that, since Yorozu had always been down bad for Sukuna, who would never care to spare her a glance but seemed to have all the time in the world for you. 

It led to plenty of instances of bullying - spreading rumors about you, leaving nasty notes in your locker, hiding your normal clothes after gym. For the most part you ignored it, rose above it even. You had good friends, and you knew that Uro and Yorozu would never take it too far for fear of how Yuki would deal with them if you were to tell your friend about their actions. 

That didn’t stop Yorozu from sleeping from Ryu though, bragging about how he’d had her over the desk in an empty classroom, while you were still dating him. She’d said it loud enough for you to hear, turning to grin at you as she smashed your first relationship to pieces. Revenge for garnering interest from a man who wanted nothing to do with her.

That incident was why you’d been so angry at Ryu that night that he’d died, why you’d been so pliable to Sukuna’s advances in a manner that you wouldn’t usually be. 

You supposed that in a way, you got the better of Yorozu in the end. She might’ve fucked your boyfriend, but all it did was drive you into the arms of the true object of her affection. Not very clever of her really. 

“Ugh, gross,” Yuki said, wrinkling her nose as she followed your gaze, just in time to catch Toji sticking his tongue down Uro’s throat. “Thought she’d be less insufferable without her other half but somehow she’s worse now.” 

Your brows furrowed in confusion and you glanced up at her. “Without her other half?” 

“Yorozu.” 

You shot her a blank look that told her you understood who she’d meant, but lacked the context to understand Yorozu’s absence. 

“Oh you don’t know?” Yuki asked, a little surprised, as if you were missing out on common knowledge. “She skipped town after high school. Ran away in the middle of the night, just left some dumb note for her parents about how she was gonna go be a star. No one’s heard from her since.” 

“Oh.”

You weren’t sure what else to say, mainly because you were trying to stop a massive grin from creeping across your face.

“Uro was devastated, all this crying and screaming about how Yorozu wouldn’t just ditch her like that. Doesn’t seem all that surprising to me though,” she said with a shrug. “Yorozu’s always been a bitch.” 

You laughed softly, trying not to look too overjoyed that you wouldn’t have to worry about running into her ever again. It was a little spiteful, but a big part of you hoped that she never managed to become a star. In your mind she’d ended up in some nasty crack den somewhere before she even made it halfway to Hollywood. 

Although, considering how panicky most people in the town had been following Ryu’s death, you were surprised that a simple note had been a valid enough explanation. “Did her parents not search for her?” 

“Nah, Uro kicked up a whole fuss reporting her as a missing person and the police got involved, but Yorozu’s parents basically shot it all down. Apparently, she’d spouted off about this plan non-stop, so they told Uro to just let it go. Police didn’t find any signs of foul play.” 

You hummed, eyes flicking back over to Sukuna for a moment, breath knocked from your lungs at the intensity with which his red eyes were fixed on you, crimson irises glowing in the light of the fire. You wondered if he was relieved that Yorozu was gone - she’d always stuck to him like glue no matter how hard he pushed her away. 

The ugly thought jumped into your mind that you’d actually be happy if Yorozu had met the same fate as Ryu. She wasn’t the worst person to be wiped from the world. Not that you’d ever say such a thing aloud. 

Considering some of the things Sukuna had said to her, you wouldn’t be surprised if he felt the same. 

“Anyway, good riddance. Things have been nicer without her around,” Yuki said easily, taking a long sip of her drink. 

“Yeah.” Your response was absent-minded, thoughts already drifting back to Sukuna - transfixed by the way that his thighs were spread so easily on the bench that he occupied, tattooed biceps on display in that blank tank that clung to him so perfectly. You should really stop staring, stop inviting any opportunity for interaction, but your body had always been a traitor when it came to him. 

You’d hoped that your friends would draw your attention back to them. Shoko and Utahime had joined you, sitting together on their own bench and giggling away at something that Mei had said. Surrounded by people, it was harder to get caught up in that magnetic pull that Sukuna seemed to command over you. 

And yet, as there was a call to play Spin the Bottle inside, one that your friends all jumped at, you found yourself declining. You had a boyfriend - that was the excuse that you gave, claiming that he wouldn’t like you kissing some other guy, and you’d rather stay out here in the fresh air anyway. 

They’d tried to convince you for a few minutes before conceding, leaving you sitting on the crate, drink in hand, left practically alone. Almost everyone that had been sitting around the fire had gone inside, leaving only a handful of people dotted around. Most of them were strangers to you. 

Except for one. 

He wasted no time sidling up to you, taking a seat next to you on your little crate without so much as asking if it was okay. 

“Looking kinda lonely over here.” His voice was deep, sending a shiver down your spine. His hand came to rest on the crate behind you, no doubt under the guise of maintaining balance, but you could feel the slight brush of his skin against your back. 

You shrugged as nonchalantly as you could, pretending your heart wasn’t racing. “I’m doing just fine.” 

“Yeah? It's funny, the way you were looking at me made it seem like you wanted me to come over.” 

You opened your mouth to bite back, to say that you wanted no such thing, but it would be a lie. You did want him to come over, you wanted him next to you, craved his attention. Even though you knew you shouldn’t, knew that anything with him would be built on bloodied foundations, it didn’t stop the desire. 

If you were more religious, you might’ve considered Sukuna to be the devil himself - a manifestation of all your deepest temptations, built solely from sin. As such, you really shouldn’t keep giving into him. 

And you were trying your best, really. 

“You look good.” The compliment was easy, straightforward. It shouldn’t have made you flush as deeply as you did. 

For a second, you almost forgot yourself, the response of so do you lingering on the tip of your tongue, only for you to force it back down your throat. 

Instead, you did the responsible thing. “I- uh- have a boyfriend.” 

The glimmer in his eyes dulled a little, smile faltering for such a miniscule second that you weren’t even sure it had happened at all. “A boyfriend?” 

Boyfriend wasn’t really the right word, not from your side of things at least, but you were certain that if you referred to Kashimo as a situationship, Sukuna would disregard it as a whole. As far as he was concerned, if there was no actual relationship then you were fair game. In the case of Ryu, even that hadn’t stopped his advances. 

Though he’d at least been more subtle, more careful, waiting for the perfect moment. 

“Yeah, a boyfriend,” the words felt foreign in your mouth, too heavy, your heart unmoving for Kashimo in the way that it should be. Half of you even considered calling the whole thing quits and crawling onto Sukuna’s lap there and then. 

But that wouldn’t be fair - not when Kashimo had been there for you unwaveringly. He was a good guy, the type of guy who’d take you out on cute little dates, supported you when your anxiety popped up from time to time, understood your trauma from Ryu’s death. He’d been patient around stuff like sex, taking things slow, always listening to whatever you wanted. 

He was a good guy. 

You knew that he wanted to be your boyfriend. You were the one standing in the way of any serious commitment. That had been the case with any man you’d met in the last four years, and you’d convinced yourself that it was a trauma response, that you were afraid of what had happened to Ryu happening to any other boyfriend you had. 

In the depth of your soul you knew that wasn’t really the case. 

The reality was, you compared every man that you met to Sukuna, and always found that they came up short. They didn’t ignite that fiery lust within your chest, didn’t fuck you like he did, didn’t make you feel giddy like he did. 

“You sound enthralled by him.” Sukuna said, sarcasm heavy in his tone. 

“I- it's steady.” The defence was pathetic and you both knew it. 

It was steady, it was nice, safe. He was the type of guy who had a good job, who you could bring home to meet your parents without fear of what they might think. 

Even if Sukuna did work for your dad, if you were to bring him home, you were certain your parents would hate it. They didn’t want you with someone like him, someone tough and volatile, someone who pushed you to cheat on your boyfriend.

They wanted you to be with someone like Kashimo. He was the exact type of guy that you should’ve wanted for yourself. 

And yet there you were, right at Sukuna’s side, not quite shutting him down despite having plenty of reasons to. 

“Sounds like he isn’t keeping you interested. I’m sure you wouldn’t run into that problem if you were with me,” Sukuna purred, a confident grin stretching across his handsome face.

Your eyes widened at how straightforward he was with his words, willing to lay out his intentions on the line. It was as though he’d spent a great deal of time considering what he’d missed out on all those years ago, and didn’t want to lose it again. 

And you had to fight the impulse to nod your head and agree, because you were certain that you wouldn’t run into that problem if you were with him. But unfortunately that wasn’t all that dictated a relationship. And what kept you from Sukuna wasn’t really Kashimo - you were just using your current situationship as a convenient excuse. 

“No.” You said with a shake of the head, turning him down despite the way your heart was hammering in your chest. “We killed someone, Sukuna. We don’t get to be together.” 

He rolled his eyes, clearly displeased by your dramatic wording. “We didn’t kill anyone. Ryu would’ve died whether we were fucking in that bathroom or not. Trust me.” 

It was probably true, you’d always known in your heart that it was probably true. Your therapist had made it abundantly clear to you that you should not be held responsible for his death. You’d already punished yourself plenty, that was what she’d said, at some point you had to forgive yourself. 

And yet it felt impossible to fully push that feeling off your chest. 

“I betrayed his trust. I don’t get to ride off into the sunset with the man I was cheating with while he’s laying six feet underground. That’s my punishment.” 

Sukuna was staring at you like you were stupid, red eyes narrowed in disappointment. “Punishment from who? At this point you’re just punishing yourself, and me.” The hand he had positioned behind you moved, wrapping around your waist carefully. It was a test, to see if you’d push him away. 

You didn’t. 

“He was a piece of shit, he cheated on you, baby. Gonna live in regret because of a guy like that? Not sure why you were even dating him. You could’ve been with me the whole time.” 

You nibbled on your lip, unhappy to hear such words coming from his mouth, trying to break down your walls. He said it like it had ever been that simple. You hadn’t understood the depth of Sukuna’s feelings before you’d gotten together with Ryu, and had assumed that all he’d really wanted was to play with you like he played with other girls. 

What Ryu had shown you was something real, tangible. He’d been straight forward in his affection, asked you to be his girlfriend without any doubt surrounding where you stood with him. It wasn’t the confusion that you felt with Sukuna, never quite sure if you were the object of his affection or his prey. 

“Maybe you should’ve learned how to use your words back then.” 

He grinned at you. “I really think that would’ve taken away some of the fun.” 

You rolled your eyes in disbelief. You certainly didn’t consider what had gone down between the two of you fun. You’d spent plenty of high school wondering, fantasising about Sukuna, wondering if his flirting was something legitimate. It had stressed you out to the point where your heart would go into overdrive whenever you’d see him, never quite sure where you stood. 

When Ryu had asked you out, after experiencing nothing but vague flirting from Sukuna, you’d figured you’d take the opportunity. Everyone else you knew had done stuff with guys and you didn’t want to be left behind, didn’t want to be played with by a guy who wasn’t really interested. 

Even having sex in the bathroom of that party wasn’t really fun, no matter how good it had felt. It was too corrupted by feelings of guilt for you to look back upon it fondly. Because even with your continuing lust for Sukuna, the emotion was never simple, always caught up with this big ball of insecurity and shame. 

He was staring at you, pressing on when you offered no response, not even a hint of a smile at his comment. “I’m using my words now,” he said with a sigh. “I missed you, I want you. Is that straightforward enough for you?” 

He leaned in closer to you, breath warm against your face. His arm tightened around your waist, and you could feel heat building between your thighs, memories of the feeling of his big hands gripping your hips all those years ago flooding your mind. 

“We can go inside and I can show you just how much I missed you, make you forget about all of that Ryu shit - help you remember that before that fucker died, you were thinking about breaking up with him and dating me.” 

That was true. You’d told him that the first time you’d fucked. Your fingers had been white with how tightly you were gripping the sink, breaths coming out in ragged gasps as you whined Sukuna’s name. Between thrusts you’d mumbled about how good he made you feel, how much bigger he was than Ryu, how you wished he was your boyfriend instead. 

Of course, with the discovery that followed, your priorities had changed - you’d grown too disgusted with yourself to follow through on any of that, keeping yourself as far away from Sukuna as you could to stop yourself from facing how awful you were. 

You still felt awful. But it was harder to shut him down when he was right next to you, his scent heavy in your nostrils. It was unfair how good he always smelt, how familiar. It had the power to draw you closer to him, eager to be wrapped in his scent. 

He must’ve felt you lean into him ever so slightly, because he took it as permission, free hand moving to your chin and tilting it up ever so slightly. Your skin tingled under his fingers, eyes widening as you met his gaze. 

“Such a pretty girl.” 

He leaned in, and for a moment you let him, his lips grazing yours before you found the sense to push him away. You weren’t sure if it was your ongoing guilt from the situation with Ryu or if it was out of loyalty to Kashimo, but you knew that doing anything with Sukuna wasn’t right. 

Not right now. 

“I have a boyfriend.” You reminded him finally, shuffling away from his arm. His face fell at being thwarted by that line for the second time that night. 

“Its not like that stopped you before.” 

Your mouth opened in shock, staring at him in disbelief. Even if he was right, the audacity to state that so plainly made you feel sick. How could he not feel bad about what had transpired? Could he not see how guilt-ridden you were over that one mistake? 

“That was the worst thing I’ve ever done,” you said, bitterly. “If I could go back and undo it, I would.”

You didn’t divulge the fact that you might’ve done some other things differently too - might’ve chosen Sukuna over your boyfriend in the first place, broken up with the guy when you first felt things getting stale. You’d strung him along because you were too scared to hurt his feelings, fucked Sukuna because you’d wanted him for months and couldn’t ignore you impulses any longer. 

It wasn’t surprising that Ryu had fucked Yorozu when you’d been so distant with him ahead of the incident, your mind too fixed on someone else. 

Because you were awful. 

Every choice you’d chosen had been the wrong one, and you weren’t going to let history repeat itself. Any chance for love with Sukuna had been thoroughly fucked up by the events of that fateful night, it would always be corrupted by it. 

If you chose him, you’d be living with your sin, affirming it to be correct. That just wasn’t possible. 

“Yeah?” He asked with a purr, seemingly unphased. “Because you’re looking at me like you’d crumble and let me fuck you in the bathroom again if I so much as touched you.” 

Your mouth opened to reject his words, to tell him that he was dead wrong. But that flutter of butterflies made itself known in your stomach and you knew that you were about thirty seconds of convincing away from folding. 

It was pathetic, you were so pathetic. 

You needed to leave. 

“Fuck you,” you just about managed to hiss, the weight of your words completely lost. You both knew there was no spite behind it, both knew that he was right. He hadn’t gotten what he’d wanted in high school, hadn’t had the chance to pull you into his grip. 

He wasn’t the type of man to fail twice. 

It was just a matter of time. 

a/n: hope you enjoyed this first chapter! this one is very much a set up for the juicy stuff that's coming, I can't wait to share the next few chapters with you all because sukuna is both needy and unhinged (and you'll be getting his pov next chapter!)

thank you for the support, comments and reblogs are appreciated as always! <3

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