✧ ── 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄 ── ✧
⟢ 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 :: Sukuna x fem!reader
⟢ 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄 :: dark romance ・ angst ・ supernatural ・ reincarnation AU ・ obsessive love ・ psychological tension
⟢ 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐒 ::
possessive behavior . toxic love . reincarnation . violence . bloodshed . emotional obsession . jealousy . manipulation . fate . loneliness . emotional dependency . eventual smut . corruption of love . “you belong to me” energy .
⟢ 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 ::
dark content ahead . toxic relationships . emotional abuse . cheating mentions . manipulation . obsessive behavior . blood & gore . violence . death . possessiveness . verbal degradation/name calling . unhealthy attachment . stalking behavior . panic/anxiety themes . explicit language . eventual smut. angst. mentions of depression.
Choso’s hand tightened around yours. His glossy eyes searched your face desperately, like if he looked hard enough, he’d somehow find the pieces of someone he’d lost centuries ago.
“Please,” he said, his voice cracking under the weight of emotions you couldn’t even begin to understand. “You deserve to know the truth.” Your lips parted. The questions were already forming.
Then suddenly— The world vanished. The abandoned building disappeared. The sound of the wind disappeared…Even Choso disappeared. A startled gasp escaped your lips as the familiar sensation twisted your stomach.
One blink. Two. Then your back hit the cold metal of the black SUV. You barely had time to register where you were before a large hand slammed against the vehicle beside your head.
Your heart immediately dropped. Oh shit, you were in trouble…Slowly, you lifted your gaze, way up. Sukuna stood directly in front of you.
Crimson eyes burned into yours with enough intensity to make your pulse stutter. His broad shoulders blocked out the evening lights behind him, his jaw tight, chest rising and falling with controlled breaths that looked suspiciously like he was trying not to lose his temper.
For once, he wasn’t smirking. For once, he wasn’t teasing, and for once, he looked genuinely furious. You opened your mouth, ready to defend yourself, to argue. Ready to tell him exactly where he could shove his attitude.
Before a single word could leave your lips, Sukuna’s hand came up. Large fingers wrapped around your cheeks. Just enough pressure to make your breath catch and remind you exactly who was standing in front of you.
His thumb pressed into one cheek while his fingers curled around the other, forcing you to look directly into those crimson eyes. “Don’t ever do that again.” The words came out low. Dangerously low.
For a second, neither of you moved. Then you immediately snatched your face away. “Don’t ever do what?” you shot back. “Look for answers that you’re refusing to give me?” A muscle jumped in Sukuna’s jaw. “I told you I’ll tell you everything brat.”
“Yeah?” You laughed bitterly. “That’s funny because you’ve been saying that for weeks and somehow I still don’t know a damn thing.” That one landed. You could see it in his face .
For the briefest moment, something flickered across his expression. Guilt. The realization irritated you even more. With a frustrated huff, you turned away from him entirely and climbed into the back seat of the SUV, immediately folding your arms and directing your attention out the window.
A few seconds later, the opposite door opened, Sukuna climbed in beside you. You expected another argument or lecture. Instead, his arm hooked around your shoulders. Before you could protest, he pulled you against his side.
Your head settled beneath his chin. The familiar scent of cedarwood, smoke, and something uniquely him surrounded you almost instantly. His other hand found your thigh. Large fingers spread across it while his thumb slowly brushed back and forth over your skin.
The movement was absentminded and comforting. The realization caught you completely off guard. Neither of you spoke for several moments. The city lights drifted past outside.
Then finally—Sukuna exhaled a lonnnggg breath. The kind someone released after surviving something they genuinely thought would break them. “You scared the shit out of me.”
Your eyes widened slightly. The confession sounded so strange coming from him. His hand tightened around yours. “You don’t get to disappear like that.” His voice was quieter now.
“You don’t get to turn your phone off. You don’t get to sneak away without telling anyone. You don’t get to walk into God knows what kind of danger and leave me wondering where the hell you are.”
For the first time since he’d dragged you away from Choso, you heard it. The fear underneath the anger. Slowly, your irritation began to fade. You lowered your gaze toward the hand resting on your thigh before placing your own over it.
His thumb immediately stilled beneath your touch. “I’m okay.” The words came out softer than you intended. Sukuna closed his eyes briefly. As if hearing that from you alone made something inside him finally settle. “I know.”
His thumb resumed its slow movement against your leg. “I just wanted answers,” you admitted quietly. The confession hung between you. Sukuna’s arm tightened around your shoulders, pulling you a little closer.
The rest of the drive passed in silence. The kind that settled between two people who were still upset with each other but couldn’t quite bring themselves to let go. By the time the SUV pulled beneath the glowing lights of the penthouse, Sukuna’s arm was still wrapped around you.
And for once—Neither of you seemed eager to move.
The moment the penthouse doors closed behind you, the tension that had been clinging to both of you throughout the entire drive seemed to settle into something quieter.
Sukuna’s hand found yours again. For once, he didn’t say anything sarcastic. He simply guided you through the massive penthouse in silence. You already knew where he was taking you…Not your room.
Strangely enough, you didn’t fight him on it. The day had been too long. Your emotions were too tangled. and if you were being honest with yourself, the last place you wanted to be tonight was alone.
Steam already curled through the bathroom by the time you entered. The scent of lavender and cedar lingered in the air, mixing with the warmth pouring from the oversized marble bath.
The silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt like standing in the eye of a storm. The kind of quiet that only came after everything had already been said. Heat immediately rose to your face beneath Sukuna’s gaze.
The weight of his eyes following every movement as you slowly untied the ribbon on your pink cute pink dress and let the fabric slip from your shoulders. The soft cotton pooled around your feet moments later, and for a second you found yourself suddenly very interested in literally anything except the man standing behind you.
Unfortunately, Sukuna made that impossible. A low hum rumbled from somewhere behind you, amusement dancing beneath the sound, and your stomach immediately betrayed you with a nervous flutter.
“Stop staring.” The words came out far less intimidating than intended. Sukuna’s laugh echoed softly through the steam-filled room. “Never.” Slowly, you stepped toward the bath.
The marble was warm beneath your feet as you carefully lowered yourself into the water one step at a time. The heat immediately wrapped around your skin, easing some of the tension that had settled into your muscles over the last several days.
A quiet sigh escaped you. For the first time in what felt like forever, your shoulders relaxed. Behind you, the water shifted. You didn’t have to turn around to know Sukuna had followed.
The sound alone was enough. The bath was large enough to fit several people comfortably, yet somehow his presence immediately filled the entire space. Then a few moments later, powerful arms wrapped around your waist.
Your breath caught just slightly . Without a word, Sukuna gently pulled you backward until your back rested against his chest. The steady beat of his heart echoed faintly through the water while steam curled around both of you, softening the edges of the room until it felt like the rest of the world had disappeared.
For once, neither of you spoke. Sukuna’s chin settled lightly against the top of your head as one hand traced slow circles along your arm beneath the water.
And despite everything that had happened—You found yourself melting into his warmth anyway. The heat immediately eased the tension from your muscles. For the first time all day, your shoulders relaxed.
The city lights glittered beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. The water gently rippled around you. and for the first time since meeting him, your mind finally began to slow down. Then Sukuna’s voice broke the silence. “ you need to listen to me.” Something about his tone made you turn slightly.
“I am listening.” His gaze lowered as his eyes met yours. “Nobody is going to protect you the way I will.” You opened your mouth, but he continued before you could interrupt. “I know you don’t like hearing that.”
His crimson eyes staring deeply into yours now. “But everything I’m doing is because I’m trying to keep you safe.” The words hung between you. You wanted to argue. Part of you still felt frustrated. But another part of you remembered the look on his face outside the SUV.
The panic he tried so hard to hide. Slowly, your expression softened. “I’m trying to understand, Sukuna. But it's hard..” His jaw tightened. “I know..” a pause ”but you're gonna have to learn to trust me.”
For a moment, neither of you moved. Then he sighed. The kind that sounded unfamiliar coming from him. “I’ll try to be more gentle.” You lifted an eyebrow and slightly tilted your head in pure confusion because there was no way “gentle” was in his vocabulary at all. He was the least bit of gentle at all . The complete opposite to say the least..
“What?” A pause “You?” A small smile pulled at your lips. His eyes narrowed. You laughed. The first genuine laugh you’d managed all day. and somehow that seemed to satisfy him more than anything else.
Because the tension in his shoulders eased almost instantly. As if hearing you laugh made something inside him settle. For a while after that, the conversation drifted into easier territory. Nothing world-changing. Just two exhausted people trying to find their footing again. By the time the two of you finally made your way to bed, your eyelids felt impossibly heavy.
The second your head touched the pillow, exhaustion began pulling you under. You barely registered the way Sukuna shifted beside you. Barely noticed his arm settling around your waist. Barely heard him tell you goodnight.
The last thing you remembered was warmth. Then darkness. Sleep came quickly for you. Sukuna, however, remained awake. His gaze rested on your sleeping face as he watched the steady rise and fall of your breathing.
The way you unconsciously shifted closer to him even in your sleep. A century ago, he might have called it weakness. But now? now it felt dangerously close to peace. His hand brushed a strand of hair away from your face. A small gesture.
One nobody else would ever witness. The King of Curses had spent centuries surrounded by power, fear and bloodshed...and yet none of it compared to this. To the simple certainty that you were here.
For the first time in a very long time, Sukuna felt something unfamiliar settle inside his chest. Something quieter…and far more dangerous.
and as sleep finally began to pull at him too, only one thought remained. Nothing was going to take you away from him again.
The next morning arrived quietly.
Golden sunlight spilled across the massive bedroom, creeping slowly across the tangled sheets and warming the pillows beneath your cheek. For a few peaceful seconds, you remained half asleep, buried beneath the blankets and lingering traces of sleep, until the sound of raised voices drifting from somewhere beyond the bedroom door pulled you back to reality.
Your eyebrows furrowed..That was strange. Usually the penthouse was silent in the mornings.
Slowly, you pushed yourself upright and rubbed the sleep from your eyes. The spot beside you was already empty, the warmth Sukuna had left behind fading from the mattress, and for some reason that alone made a small knot of unease tighten inside your stomach.
The voices continued…you quietly recognized both of the voices…Gojo..and Sukuna..and neither of them sounded happy.
You immediately climbed out of bed. The moment you stepped into the main living area, the atmosphere hit you like a wall.. Gojo leaned against the counter with his hands shoved into his pockets, unusually quiet for once. Sukuna stood near the floor-to-ceiling windows, his jaw tight and his expression unreadable.
Nobody looked relaxed…Nobody looked normal and nobody looked at you the way they usually did. The knot in your stomach tightened. “Okay…” Your voice came out hoarse from sleep. “What happened?”
Nobody answered…Your heart dropped. “What happened?” This time your voice came out sharper. Gojo sighed heavily and straightened. “Y/N…” Something about the way he said your name made your blood run cold. “I think you should sit down.”
The knot inside your stomach immediately turned into dread. “Sit down for what?” Still nobody answered. Your gaze snapped toward Sukuna..He wasn’t looking at you. That scared you more than anything. “Sukuna?” Nothing. Just silence.
Then your phone buzzed. Once. Twice. Three times. The notifications came so quickly they began stacking on top of one another. Confused, you pulled the phone from your pocket and unlocked it.
Missed calls…Messages. More missed calls. News alerts. Dozens of them. Your pulse quickened. The first headline blurred two deceased victims found.. The second headline blurred. Then your eyes landed on a familiar name.
Jacob…The world stopped, you blinked. Read it again…Then again. Your brain refused to process the words staring back at you. The victims were identified as…Jacob…Heather.
No. Your hand immediately tightened around the phone. No. No, no, no. That wasn’t possible. That didn’t even make sense. A strange sound escaped your throat. Something between a laugh and a sob.
Behind you, Gojo took a step forward. “Y/N…” The words sounded distant. Like they were coming from underwater. You couldn’t hear anything. You couldn’t think. You couldn’t breathe.
Because Heather…And Jacob. Heather and Jacob. Gone. Suddenly the room became too small..Too hot. Too loud. You turned and ran. The bathroom door slammed behind you hard enough to shake the walls.
You barely made it to the toilet before your stomach revolted. The next several minutes passed in a blur of tears, panic, and shaking hands.
A sob ripped itself from your chest. Then, desperately, you called your father. For once he answered on the first ring. “Y/N.” The moment you heard his voice, something inside you broke. “Dad…” Silence. Then— “I’m so sorry.”
That was it. That was all it took. Because your father already knew. Which meant it was real. You ended the call before he could say anything else.The phone slipped from your fingers as your knees hit the bathroom floor.
Then suddenly every memory came rushing back. Jacob teaching you how to drive. Jacob sneaking you food at midnight. Jacob making you laugh until your stomach hurt.
Heather dragging you into terrible decisions. Heather showing up uninvited. Heather being your best friend long before boys complicated everything.
The tears wouldn’t stop. Then suddenly another thought surfaced. You froze…Slowly reaching for your phone again. There was one person who always knew everything and it was the neighborhood drama queen. Zoe.
If there was drama, Zoe knew. If there was gossip, Zoe started it. If there was a secret, Zoe had already heard it three days ago. The call connected almost immediately. “Y/N? Oh my God, are you okay?”
You swallowed hard. “Why were they together?” Silence. The hesitation told you everything. Your grip tightened around the phone. “Zoe.” Another pause. Then—“I don’t think now is the time—”
“Why were they together?” The words came out louder and more desperate…And then Zoe finally answered. “They were seeing each other.”
The room went silent. The tears stopped. Even your breathing stopped. You stared at the bathroom wall, completely numb. Then your arm moved, the phone left your hand and slammed against the opposite wall hard enough to explode into pieces.
And somehow—Somehow—That hurt even worse than the news itself. The sound of shattering glass echoed through the penthouse.
Then silence..Heavy. The kind of silence that made everyone in the room freeze. Sukuna was already moving. The second the phone hit the wall, he took a step toward the bathroom.
“Don’t.” Gojo’s voice stopped him. Sukuna’s shoulders visibly stiffened. Slowly, he turned his head. Crimson eyes immediately meeting bright blue ones. Neither man spoke for several seconds. The tension between them was thick enough to choke on. Finally, Sukuna scoffed. “Don’t look at me like that.” Gojo’s eyebrow lifted. “Like what?”
“Like I’m the asshole she's cryin over.” That alone told him everything he needed to know. Gojo let out a dry laugh and folded his arms across his chest. “The fact that you know exactly what look I’m giving you is probably not helping your case.”
A muscle jumped in Sukuna’s jaw as the sound of quiet sobbing continued behind the bathroom door. Every single cry felt like a knife being dragged down his spine. He hated it. Hated hearing you cry.
Hated hearing you hurt…Hated knowing there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to stop it. and somehow that only made him angrier. Gojo watched the emotions flicker across Sukuna’s face. Then he sighed. “How exactly did you think this was going to play out?”
Sukuna’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, please.” Gojo rolled his eyes. “The second we discovered her cursed technique, I knew exactly what was going through that oversized head of yours.” Then another broken sob echoed from the other side of the door.
Sukuna immediately looked toward it. The movement was instinctive. and Gojo noticed. His expression softened slightly. Not because he felt sorry for Sukuna. Because he understood…And that somehow made the situation even worse. “You care about her alot don't you?.”
The statement wasn’t a question. Sukuna’s expression darkened. “Careful.”
“I’m serious.” Gojo pushed himself away from the counter. “You actually care.” The silence that followed felt endless. Then Sukuna laughed. A bitter humorless laugh. “Of course I care.”
His voice came out low. Like he was forcing every word through clenched teeth. “She’s everything.” The room went still. Because for once there was no arrogance. Just the truth. The raw and ugly truth.
Sukuna looked toward the bathroom door again. His chest tightened. Every second you spent crying felt wrong. Like something in the universe had shifted out of place. “She’ll never forgive me if she finds out.”
The words slipped out before he could stop them. Gojo’s eyes widened slightly. There it was…The real fear. Not the fighting. Not over losing control…But over losing you.
And for the first time all morning, Sukuna looked genuinely afraid. Gojo studied him quietly. Then asked the question neither of them wanted to hear. “What happens when she does?”
The room immediately became colder. Dangerously colder. Sukuna’s gaze slowly lifted. The kind of look that had made entire clans kneel.
For several moments he said nothing. Then—“I dare somebody to tell her.” The threat wasn’t loud. Because everybody in the room knew he meant it.
The bathroom fell silent again. Then another crash echoed from inside. Sukuna immediately took a step forward. Only for a familiar voice to stop him.
“My lord.” Uraume stood quietly near the doorway. Nobody had even noticed them arrive. Their head tilted slightly. Expression unreadable. “I do not believe your presence would comfort her right now.”
The words were respectful and carefully chosen. Which somehow made them hit harder. Sukuna stared as Uraume continued. “She is grieving.” Silence. “And grief does not always welcome company.”
For several seconds, nobody spoke. Then Sukuna looked away first. The realization settling heavily in his chest. Because for the first time since meeting you…He didn’t know what to do.
He couldn’t fight this. Couldn’t threaten it. Couldn’t kill it or make it disappear. All he could do was stand there and listen to the person he loved fall apart on the other side of a locked door.
After Gojo left, the penthouse became unbearably quiet. The kind of quiet that made every thought louder. Every memory sharper. Every ache impossible to ignore.
You couldn’t remember how long you stayed curled up on the bathroom floor…Minutes and hours passed on and blurred together. At some point, you managed to drag yourself back to your bedroom.
At some point, someone had cleaned up the shattered remains of your phone. At some point, the sun had disappeared behind the horizon. You didn’t remember any of it because nothing felt real anymore.
The room felt too large. The bed felt too empty. Even breathing felt exhausting. You stared blankly at the ceiling for what felt like hours, unable to stop the endless cycle of memories replaying inside your head.
Jacob smiling. Heather laughing. Jacob holding your hand. Heather stealing your clothes. The three of you piled into cars at two in the morning because somebody had a stupid idea.
Beach trips. Late-night drives. Sleepovers. Birthdays…Every memory felt like a knife. Because now there wouldn’t be any new ones. The realization hollowed you out from the inside. You thought the cheating should have made you angry.
You thought finding out about the betrayal should have helped. But somehow it only made everything worse. Because now there were questions that would never be answered.
Arguments that would never happen..Conversations that would never be finished…Closure you would never get. And worst of all—You hated yourself for still loving them.
Even after everything…You still loved them. You still loved him. The tears came again. You rolled onto your side and pulled the blankets tighter around your body, wishing you could disappear beneath them.
Wishing you could sleep. Wishing you could wake up and discover this had all been some horrible misunderstanding. A nightmare. A prank…Anything.
Instead, reality remained exactly where you left it. For the first time since arriving in Japan, you didn’t care about the secrets. You didn’t care about the curse technique. You didn’t care about the academy. You didn’t care about Sukuna.
You didn’t care about answers. The only thing you cared about was the crushing weight sitting on your chest. The feeling that someone had reached inside you and ripped out a piece of your heart.
And no matter how hard you tried—You couldn’t stop bleeding. Outside your bedroom door, untouched trays of food continued to pile up. Flowers, books and comfort gifts arrived.
Servants came and went. You ignored every single one…Because grief had swallowed you whole. And you were beginning to wonder if it would ever give you back.
The first day passed quietly. Then the second. Then the third. The penthouse had never felt so empty. Every morning began the same…Every night ended the same…and every report somehow managed to be worse than the one before it.
Sukuna sat at the head of the dining table, one hand resting against his temple as another untouched breakfast grew cold in front of him.
A servant stood nearby waiting nervously. “Well?” The servant swallowed. “She hasn’t touched breakfast, my lord.” Sukuna closed his eyes. As if he were physically forcing himself not to throw the entire table through a wall. “She hasn't touched anything?”
The servant hesitated. “No, my lord.” Another long silence. “Did she sleep?” the servant lowered their head. “A few hours.”
“Did she at least open the curtains?” The servant visibly flinched. “No, my lord.” Sukuna stared at the table. The silence stretched. Then—“Leave.” The servant nearly sprinted out of the room.
The second the doors shut, Sukuna leaned back in his chair and ran a hand through his pink hair. For days he had tried everything. Anything he thought might help, but nothing worked.
The trays kept returning untouched. The flowers remained where the servants placed them. The gifts remained unopened. It was like trying to reach someone through a locked door that refused to budge.
The realization irritated him immediately. A low curse slipped beneath his breath. His crimson eyes drifted toward the hallway leading to your room. Behind those doors, you were still there. Still breathing and alive but yet somehow farther away than ever.
He hated it. Hated the silence. Hated the distance. Hated hearing reports instead of hearing your voice. Most of all—He hated seeing you hurt. A dangerous thought entered his mind…One he had been trying very hard not to entertain.
His jaw tightened immediately. “No.” The word left his mouth before he even realized he’d spoken. Because he already knew exactly who he was thinking about. Choso.
The very thought made irritation crawl up his spine. Of all people. Of all curses. Of all the annoyingly persistent fools wandering this planet—It had to be him.
Sukuna leaned back further in his chair and stared at the ceiling. For several moments, nothing moved. Then he laughed, a bitter sound… Because he knew. He knew exactly what would happen.
If Choso walked through that door, you’d probably talk to him. You’d might listen. You’d probably eat. You’d probably leave that room. And the fact that someone else could reach you when he couldn’t made something ugly twist inside his chest.
Jealousy, possessiveness and frustration all tangled together into something he didn’t particularly enjoy examining. His fingers tapped against the armrest. Until finally—The armrest cracked beneath his grip.
The room immediately fell silent. Sukuna stared at the splintered wood…Then let out a long breath. “Unbelievable.” Because for the first time in a very long time…The King of Curses found himself considering something he never thought he’d do.
Swallowing his pride. For you.
The basement levels of the penthouse were eerily quiet. Dim lighting cast long shadows across the polished stone floor, and the air felt noticeably colder than the rest of the building.
Choso stood near one of the support pillars with his hands shoved into his pockets unimpressed, Already regretting showing up. The second he saw Sukuna waiting for him, he sighed.
“Let me guess.” His voice echoed slightly through the room. “What did you do this time?” Sukuna’s eye twitched. Choso immediately took that as confirmation. “Thought so.”
For several moments neither man spoke. The silence stretched between them like a pulled wire. Then Sukuna finally exhaled slowly. “She’s not eating.” Choso’s expression changed immediately.
“She won’t leave her room.” The words sounded heavier the second time. “She won’t talk to anyone.” Choso looked away first. Toward the ceiling. Toward the floor. Anywhere but Sukuna.
Because unfortunately he already knew exactly who he was talking about. And unfortunately—He cared. Far more than he wanted to admit. “Then why are you telling me?”
Sukuna’s jaw tightened. Because that was the problem. He shouldn’t have been telling him. He shouldn’t have been standing here…He shouldn’t have been asking for help. Yet here he was.
“Because nothing I’m doing is helping.” The admission hung in the air. Coming from anyone else, it wouldn’t have meant much. But coming from Sukuna? It was practically a confession.
Choso stared, actually stared. Because he wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly. The King of Curses looked exhausted and almost desperate. And somehow that was more unsettling than angry Sukuna.
A bitter laugh escaped Choso. “Wow.” Sukuna narrowed his eyes. “Careful.”
“No.” Choso folded his arms. “You know what’s funny?” His expression hardened. “The fact that this is probably all your fault.” The temperature in the room immediately dropped dangerously.
Sukuna didn’t deny it. Which only made Choso more suspicious. Because Sukuna always argued…Always threatened. Instead, he remained silent. And that silence spoke louder than any explanation could have.
Choso sighed heavily. Then dragged a hand down his face. “I am not helping you.” The words came out firm. “I’m helping her.”
“Fine.” Sukuna’s answer came too quickly. “Call it whatever you want.” The response caught Choso off guard. For a moment neither man spoke. Then Sukuna looked away toward the hallway.
And for the first time, Choso saw it. Not possessiveness. Not obsession, but fear. The genuine kind. The kind that came from watching someone slip through your fingers while being powerless to stop it. “Just…” Sukuna’s voice lowered. Rougher this time. “Do whatever you have to do.”
The words sounded wrong coming from him. Like they physically hurt to say. “If she’ll listen to you…” His jaw tightened. “…then make her listen.” Silence. Then Choso nodded once. Not for Sukuna. Never for Sukuna. For you…And only you.
A few minutes later, he stood outside your bedroom door. The hallway was quiet. The food tray outside had barely been touched. The flowers had begun to wilt. The sight alone made something painful twist inside his chest.
Slowly, he knocked…No answer. He knocked again…Still nothing. Then finally—“Go away.” Your voice sounded hoarse and broken. Barely recognizable. Choso closed his eyes briefly. “You need to eat.”
The silence that followed was immediate. Then—“I said go away.” The response came sharper this time. As if speaking alone exhausted you.
He reached for the handle, and opened the door. The room was dark. The curtains remained shut. The air felt stale, and there you were.
Curled beneath a mountain of blankets near the edge of the bed. You looked smaller somehow. Like grief had hollowed you out from the inside. The sight nearly broke him.
Immediately, your head snapped toward him. Anger flashed across your face. “What part of go away was confusing?” Choso ignored the question. Stepping further into the room. You looked ready to throw something at him.
Honestly? He would’ve let you. “Seriously.” You sat up. Eyes red from the endless crying you've been doing the past days. “I’m not in the mood.”
“I know.” That answer caught you off guard. Because there was no argument. No attempt to fix anything…Just understanding. Choso pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down like he intended to stay for a long time.
And somehow—That made the room feel a little less empty. The room was silent. Not a peaceful silent but the kind of silence that settled after days of crying. After days of staring at the same wall. After days of wishing the world would stop spinning long enough for your heart to catch up.
A fresh tray of food appeared on the nightstand beside your bed. You finally looked over at Choso who had sat in the chair across from you. Your eye twitched. “Do you not understand English?” Nothing.
The man didn’t even blink. You threw your hands up. “Seriously?” Still nothing. The room remained quiet. Then Choso reached over, grabbed a tissue box that had fallen onto the floor, and set it back on the nightstand.
The simple gesture irritated you immediately. “Fine.” You folded your arms. “Hope you enjoy the show.” His eyebrow lifted slightly. “The show?”
You gestured around the room. At the blankets. The tissues. The dark circles beneath your eyes. The absolute disaster your room had become. “Me.”
The word came out bitter and broken. “I haven’t showered.” You pointed toward the floor. “I haven’t eaten.” Toward the untouched food trays. “I look horrible.” Your voice cracked. “And honestly? I don’t care.” Silence. You laughed, the sound held absolutely no humor.
“Congratulations.” You motioned toward yourself. “This is rock bottom.” For several moments Choso said nothing. His gaze remained on you, and somehow that annoyed you even more.
Because everybody else kept looking at you with pity or concern. But Choso didn’t. He looked sad. Like seeing you hurt physically hurt him too. And for some reason—That made your chest ache.
Finally, he quietly spoke. “You know…” His voice was low and gentle. The complete opposite of Sukuna’s. “I think you’re allowed to be angry.” You frowned. “What?”
“Everybody keeps telling you to be strong.” His gaze lowered briefly. “Everybody keeps telling you it’ll get better.” His fingers tightened slightly against the armrest. “Everybody keeps acting like you’re supposed to know how to survive this.”
The room fell silent. Because he wasn’t wrong at all. Not a single person had actually asked how you were doing. They just kept trying to make you feel better. Like grief was something that could be solved like a broken appliance. Your eyes immediately began stinging again.
You hated when they did that. You hated crying. You hated feeling weak. Hated all of it. “You don’t understand.” The words barely left your mouth. Choso’s expression softened ,more than before..and somehow that made everything worse.
Because he looked at you like he did understand. Like he understood far more than he should. “I know.” The answer came so quietly you almost missed it. You laughed bitterly. “No.” Your throat tightened. “You don’t.”
Choso stared at you for several moments. Then looked toward the window. Toward the gray sky beyond it, and for the briefest moment—His expression broke. Just a little. The kind of expression people made when remembering something they wished they could forget. “I spent a very long time wishing I could’ve said goodbye.”
Your breath caught. The room suddenly felt smaller, because of the way he said it…The way his voice cracked ever so slightly…It didn’t sound hypothetical. It sounded real…painfully real. Like he’d lived it. Like he’d barely survived it.
And for the first time since he’d entered the room…you didn’t tell him to leave. The silence that followed wasn’t comfortable. But it wasn’t lonely either, and after days of drowning by yourself…That felt dangerously close to relief.
Meanwhile Sukuna was summoned to a meeting to discuss the latest events..The said meeting had been going nowhere for the last thirty minutes. Papers sat untouched across the conference table. Reports remained unread. Strategies remained undiscussed.
Because despite the official purpose of the meeting, everybody in the room knew exactly what the real topic was.
More specifically—What Sukuna had done. The King of Curses sat at the far end of the table with his head resting lazily against one fist. His other hand drummed impatiently against the polished wood, crimson eyes half-lidded as if the entire conversation bored him to death.
“What exactly did you expect me to do?” His voice cut through the room. The tapping of his fingers never stopped. “Sit there and watch?” Nobody immediately answered. Sukuna scoffed. “That’s what I thought.”
Across the table, Nanami adjusted his tie and exhaled slowly through his nose. The look on his face suggested he was already regretting attending. “There were other options.” Sukuna’s eyebrow lifted. “Oh really now?”
“There are always other options.” Nanami folded his hands together neatly on top of the table. “You could have simply removed him from her life.” A pause. “You could have relocated him.” Another pause. “You could have threatened him.”
Sukuna barked out a laugh. The sound held absolutely no humor. “Threatened him?” The room temperature noticeably dropped. “You think I was going to threaten a pathetic excuse for a man who was sleeping with her best friend?” Silence. Nanami pinched the bridge of his nose. Immediately regretting speaking.
Across the room, Gojo suddenly straightened. His eyes practically lit up with amusement. “Oh, now we’re getting somewhere.” Nanami sighed. “Please don’t.”
“I absolutely am.” Gojo leaned forward in his chair. The grin spreading across his face instantly made everybody nervous. “Screw the guy.” Nanami closed his eyes, already exhausted.
Gojo pointed directly at Sukuna. “I want details.” Sukuna narrowed his eyes. “Details?”
“Exactly.” Gojo’s grin widened. “What did the girl do that pissed you off so badly you skipped twenty-seven reasonable solutions and jumped straight to murder?” Several people immediately looked away.
Nobody wanted to be present for this conversation. Sukuna stared. Gojo stared back. The tension lasted all of three seconds. Then Sukuna finally rolled his eyes. “The bastard was sleeping with her.” The room went quiet. “Her best friend.” Quieter. “And lying to her face while he did it.”
Complete silence. Then—Gojo slowly began clapping. The sound echoed through the conference room sarcastically and entirely Gojo. “Wonderful.” Clap. “Excellent work.” Clap. “Truly.” Clap. “That’s definitely how you keep Y/N in your life.” A vein visibly appeared on Sukuna’s forehead.
Nanami immediately looked concerned. Gojo looked delighted. “At this rate, she’s going to leave you sooner than I thought.” The room froze. Because that one landed, hard.
Sukuna slowly stood from his chair. The smile immediately disappeared from Gojo’s face. “Oh.” Gojo pointed. “See? That’s the look.” Sukuna started walking slowly. “Say that again.”
“She’s definitely leaving you.” Sukuna took another step. Gojo grinned. “Then again, if she does—” He pointed at himself. “She can always run straight into my arms.” Several people inhaled sharply.
Nanami immediately stood. “Enough.” His voice cut through the room like a blade. Before Sukuna could reach Gojo, Nanami stepped directly between them. The movement was surprisingly bold…Or incredibly stupid. Nobody was quite sure which.
Nanami adjusted his tie. As if two of the strongest people alive weren’t seconds away from destroying the conference room. “We’ve already handled the damage control.” The statement immediately pulled the conversation back on track. “The authorities have their explanation.”
He glanced down at the report. “The public believes a serial offender is responsible.” Sukuna dropped back into his chair. Clearly losing interest again. Nanami’s expression softened slightly. “Managing the public narrative won’t be difficult.” His gaze shifted, directly toward Sukuna.
“But repairing a grieving woman’s heart…” The room fell quiet. “…is considerably more complicated.” That one landed too. Far harder than Gojo’s joke had. Sukuna looked away. His hand dragged through his pink hair, the motion was tired. A rare sight.
Because immediately—He saw it again. Your face. The tears. The broken expression. The sound of your voice through the bathroom door. The untouched meals. The closed curtains. The empty look in your eyes.
For the first time since the meeting began, Sukuna’s confidence cracked. A long sigh escaped him. One hand covered his eyes. And for once—The King of Curses looked completely lost. “I know.” The room fell silent. Because somehow those two words were more unsettling than all of his threats combined…
For a while, neither of you spoke.
The room remained quiet except for the distant sound of rain tapping softly against the windows. At some point, Choso had managed to convince you to take a few bites of food. Not much. Barely enough to count. But it was something.
The first real thing you’d eaten in days. The tray sat forgotten between you now. Your knees were pulled tightly against your chest as you stared blankly toward the floor. Lost, somewhere far away.
Choso watched you carefully. Not in the suffocating way Sukuna did. Not like he was trying to read your mind..Just making sure you were still there. Still holding on.
Your voice finally broke the silence. “Why hasn’t he come in here?” Choso blinked. You didn’t need to say his name. Both of you knew exactly who you meant. “He checks on you.” You laughed bitterly. “Through his servants.”
A pause. “Flowers.” Another pause. “Food trays.” You swallowed hard. “But not him.” The realization sat heavily in your chest. Because it didn’t make sense. Not for Sukuna at least. Not for someone who usually inserted himself into every part of your life.
Choso was quiet…Dangerously quiet. Your eyes slowly lifted, meeting his. And suddenly—Something about his expression made your stomach tighten. “What?” He looked away first toward the window, toward the rain.
Anywhere but you. That alone was enough to make your pulse quicken. Because Choso had never looked away from you since you met him. The room suddenly felt colder. “Choso.” Nothing. “Why won’t he come in here?”
Your voice was sharper this time..More demanding..More desperate. Because suddenly your mind was connecting dots you hadn’t wanted to connect before.
The silence stretched..Then stretched longer. Your heart began pounding painfully hard. Because there was only one reason somebody avoided looking you in the eye. Guilt. The thought hit so suddenly it made you dizzy.
Your fingers tightened around the blanket. Immediately, your mind drifted backward. To the reports and articles. To the photographs of the horrific crime scene. The details you’d spent hours obsessively reading.
The violence and the brutality, the blood…So much blood. Your breathing became uneven. The room blurred. Because suddenly—You weren’t thinking about Jacob anymore. You were thinking about Sukuna. The look in his eyes when he was angry.
The way entire rooms went silent when he entered. The way people obeyed him without question. Then your mind jumped again, to Choso. To that abandoned building. To Sukuna arriving. To the way Choso had immediately dropped to his knees…Like gravity itself had forced him down. Like something terrifying had entered the room.
You remembered the look on Choso’s face. Fear. Your stomach dropped. Then another memory surfaced.. One you’d been trying not to think about. Sukuna’s hand that was about to lift and end it all right then and there..The ease with which he’d nearly killed him.
The only reason he stopped—Was because you’d begged him to. Your chest tightened painfully. Suddenly—For one horrifying second—Your imagination betrayed you. You saw Jacob instead. Saw Sukuna’s hand around Jacob’s throat. Saw crimson eyes…Saw blood.
Your entire body started shaking immediately. “Y/N?” Choso sat forward. Concern flooding his expression. “Hey.” You didn’t hear him. Your thoughts were moving too fast. Your pulse was roaring in your ears.
Because for the first time—The possibility existed. A possibility you’d been refusing to acknowledge.What if—No. No. No. You swallowed hard. Forcing the thought down. Forcing yourself to breathe. Forcing yourself to think.
Because making accusations without proof would be stupid, and right now you were running entirely on emotion. You slowly lifted your gaze. Meeting Choso’s worried expression. And even though you knew he could tell something had changed—You lied. “I’m okay.”
The words sounded weak and unconvincing. But Choso didn’t push. Instead, he simply nodded. As if he understood exactly why you weren’t ready to say the thought out loud. and honestly?..That terrified you even more.
Several moments later, Choso finally stood. The room felt different now. Like something invisible had settled between the walls. Neither of you mentioned it. Neither of you acknowledged it. But both of you felt it.
At the doorway, Choso paused. His hand resting lightly against the frame. Then he looked back toward you. One final time. “I’ll come back tomorrow.”
You didn’t answer. But for the first time—You didn’t tell him to leave either. Then he stepped into the hallway. The door clicked shut behind him, and immediately found Sukuna waiting.
Leaning against the opposite wall, arms folded. Expression unreadable. For a moment neither man spoke. Then Choso walked forward, stopping beside him. The silence stretched. Sukuna’s eyes never left the bedroom door.
Never left the room you were inside…Never left you. Finally—“Well?” The question came out quieter than expected, almost hopeful.
Choso looked at him…Really looked at him. Then sighed.. The kind that came from carrying too much. “She’s all yours.” The words should have reassured him. Instead—They hit something painful inside his chest.
Because the way Choso said it sounded less like victory…and more like responsibility. The bedroom door slowly opened. Sukuna stepped inside, and immediately stopped.
His heart sank. You sat curled near the window. Wrapped in an oversized shirt that slipped off one shoulder. Your curls were tangled. Your face was pale. Your eyes were swollen from days of crying. The dark circles beneath them looked almost painful.
And somehow—You looked smaller. Like grief had physically taken pieces of you. Sukuna stared…Completely crushed. Because for the first time since all of this started—He realized just how much damage had been done.
Sukuna approached slowly, carefully. As if sudden movements might send you running.
The room remained quiet except for the soft patter of rain against the windows. You never looked at him. Never acknowledged him. You simply continued staring outside, wrapped in that oversized shirt that hung loosely from your frame.
The sight alone made something twist painfully inside his chest. For several moments, he simply stood there, watching. Then, cautiously, he reached toward your shoulder. The second his fingers brushed against the fabric—You moved away. Not dramatically but just enough.
Just enough to make his hand stop in midair.
The room went silent. Sukuna clicked his tongue frustratedly. “Now is not the time for that.” His voice came out rougher than intended. You still didn’t look at him. His jaw tightened. “Look at you.” Another step. “You’ve barely eaten. You—”
“Stop.” The word cut through the room instantly. Sukuna froze. For the first time since entering the room, you turned around, and looked at him. Really looked at him. Your heart immediately started pounding. Because now that you were searching for it—You saw it.
The guilt…Tiny. Barely there. Hidden beneath all that confidence and arrogance. But it was there. And suddenly Choso’s silence made sense…Your stomach dropped.
Sukuna immediately noticed the change in your expression. The realization. The fear. The suspicion. And for the first time in days—He looked worried. “Y/N—”
“Did you do it?” Silence. The room felt impossibly small. Sukuna didn’t answer. Your eyes immediately filled with tears. “Did you kill him?” Still nothing. Your voice cracked. “Did you kill Jacob?”
Sukuna closed his eyes for half a second. Because he knew. The moment had finally arrived…The moment he’d been dreading. The moment he’d been trying to postpone. And the worst part of it all? He couldn’t lie to you.
Not about this..Not when you were looking at him like that. Slowly—He nodded. “Yes.” The world shattered. You were moving before you even realized it. Your hand struck his face.
Your fists slammed against his chest as tears poured down your cheeks. “I hate you!” Another hit. “I hate you!” Another. “You don’t get to decide that!” Your voice broke completely. “You don’t get to decide who lives and who dies!” The blows became weaker.
Less controlled…More desperate. Because no matter how hard you hit him—It changed nothing. Jacob was still gone. Heather was still gone. Nothing was coming back…Eventually your arms gave out.
The fight left your body as you collapsed against him. Sobbing and completely broken. Sukuna stood there in silence. Taking every hit. Every insult. Every ounce of your grief. Because he knew he deserved it.
Your fingers gripped the front of his shirt tightly. “Why?” The question came out barely above a whisper. “Why?” For the first time since entering the room—Sukuna looked angry. Not at you, but at the memory.
“He wasn’t going to stop.” His voice lowered dangerously. “He was using you.” You shook your head immediately. “No.”
“He was.” The words cracked like thunder. Sukuna’s hands clenched. “He wasn’t planning a future with you.” His jaw tightened. “He wasn’t fixing things.” Another pause. “He was selling them.” You froze. Sukuna watched the confusion spread across your face.
The disbelief…The horror. The denial, and still—He continued. “Your father owed people.” The room spun. “He made promises.” Your breathing became uneven. “Promises involving you...” Your stomach dropped. “He wasn’t protecting you.”
The words came out quieter this time…Almost bitter. “He was preparing to hand you over.” The tears stopped. Not because you believed him. Because you couldn’t process it. You stared, shaking your head. “No.”
Sukuna’s expression softened. Only slightly. “You think I’d care about him sleeping around with other women ?” A bitter laugh escaped him. “People have cheated for centuries.” His eyes locked onto yours. “I killed him because he became a threat to you.”
The room fell silent. Your mind screamed at you not to believe him…Not to trust him. Not to listen. Yet part of you remembered every strange thing that had happened. Every warning. Every secret. Every missing piece.
And somehow—That scared you more than anything. Because what if he was telling the truth? Sukuna gently reached toward you. This time—You didn’t pull away. His hand cupped the side of your face carefully. Like you might break.
And for the first time since you’d met him—He looked exhausted. “Be angry with me.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “Hate me if you need to.” His thumb brushed away a tear. “But don’t think for one second that I would ever let something happen to you.”
The room fell quiet..Neither of you moved. Neither of you looked away. And somehow—That made everything hurt even more.
For a moment, you simply stared at the hand he was offering. Every emotion seemed to exist inside you at once. Slowly, you placed your hand in his.
Immediately, his fingers closed around yours. The familiar feeling sent an unexpected sense of comfort through your chest. Neither of you spoke as he guided you through the penthouse.
Past the main living area. Past the private elevators. Past doors you’d never bothered opening before. Eventually, he stopped in front of a staircase.
Your eyebrows furrowed. “I’ve never seen this.” Sukuna immediately laughed. The sound echoed through the stairwell. “You sound so scared for a woman who wondered into a abandoned building all by herself" You pointed at him. “That was research.” You hated how pleased he looked with himself.
The argument continued all the way up the stairs. And for the first time in what felt like forever—The weight crushing your chest felt lighter. When you finally reached the top, Sukuna pushed open the final door. The cool night air immediately greeted you.
Your breath caught. The rooftop stretched endlessly around you. Above, the sky looked impossibly clear. Thousands of stars scattered across the darkness like diamonds.
The city lights glittered below. The ocean shimmered in the distance. And for a moment—You forgot everything. The grief. The anger. The heartbreak. All of it. Because the view was breathtaking.
Slowly, you stepped forward, speechless. Sukuna remained quiet beside you. Watching your reaction. Watching the wonder slowly replace the sadness in your eyes. “I used to come here all the time.”
Your gaze shifted toward him. The softness in his voice immediately surprised you. “When?” A strange smile appeared. “Before any of this existed.” You looked back out at the horizon. Trying to imagine it. Trying to imagine him centuries ago.
Standing beneath the same stars. Alone. Your chest tightened. “You really are old.” The offended look Sukuna gave you made you laugh. and then the expression on his face immediately softened. Because he hadn’t heard that sound in days.
Slowly, he stepped beside you. Close enough that your shoulders brushed. Neither of you moved away. For several minutes, you simply stood there. Looking upward. The stars stretched endlessly above you. Infinite and unchanging.
The same stars Jacob had seen. The same stars Heather had seen. The same stars watching over everyone you’d ever loved. The thought hurt. But for the first time—It didn’t destroy you.
A gentle breeze swept across the rooftop. You closed your eyes. Taking a slow breath. And for the first time in days—You felt like you could breathe again. Sukuna looked down at you.
The moonlight painted silver across your skin. Your hair danced softly in the wind. Your eyes reflected entire galaxies. And in that moment—You looked alive again.. Enough to make something inside him unclench.
Slowly, his arm settled around your shoulders. Pulling you closer. Not possessively this time, just gentle. A quiet reminder that you weren’t standing alone.
And beneath a sky full of stars older than both of your tragedies—You allowed yourself to rest. Not because the pain was gone. Not because everything was fixed.
But because for the first time since the world fell apart—Tomorrow didn’t feel quite so impossible.
The stars eventually faded. The city lights dimmed. And somehow, after everything that had happened, sleep finally found you. Enough to pull you beneath the surface for a few hours, then you woke up. The room was dark. Silent.
For several moments, you simply stared at the ceiling. Listening, thinking…Remembering. Sukuna’s confession replayed inside your head like a broken record. Over…and over and over again. Yes. One word. One answer. One truth that had completely changed everything.
Your chest tightened. Slowly, you sat up. The mattress shifted beneath you…Beside you, Sukuna remained asleep. At least he appeared to be. Moonlight spilled across his face, softening features that usually looked so intimidating. For once he looked peaceful. Vulnerable, even.
The sight made your heart ache. Because that was the problem. You loved him. You hated that you loved him. But you did. You loved the way he looked at you. The way he protected you. The way he cared for you when you fell apart.
You loved the quiet moments. The soft moments. The moments nobody else ever got to see. But you also couldn’t stop hearing his voice. Yes. The answer echoed again. You needed air. You needed space.
You needed something that wasn’t this room…Wasn’t these walls. Wasn’t this constant battle between your heart and your head. Carefully, you slipped from the bed and stepped onto the balcony.
The cool night air immediately greeted you. You closed your eyes. Taking a slow breath. Trying to think. Trying to decide what came next.
Across the property stretched acres of wooded land beyond the estate walls. If you could get down there…If you could reach the road…Maybe you could clear your head. Maybe you could think. Maybe you could finally hear your own thoughts for once.
Your fingers tightened against the balcony railing. Then suddenly—Movement. Your breath caught. Someone stood below, looking up.
The moment your eyes met, he immediately raised a finger to his lips. Shh. Your heart nearly jumped into your throat. Before you could react—Choso leapt. One second he was standing on the ground. The next he landed silently on the balcony.
Not a single sound or a single creak. Nothing. You stared. He stared back. Then immediately covered your mouth with his hand and repeated the gesture. One finger against his lips. Shh.
The sight should have been ridiculous. Instead, it made warmth bloom unexpectedly across your cheeks. Because somehow…somehow—He already knew. He knew how bad you were hurting. He knew you couldn’t sleep. He knew exactly what you needed.
Without saying a word, Choso’s gaze drifted toward the packed bag sitting beside the balcony door..Then back to you. One eyebrow lifted. Your face immediately burned. “I wasn’t—”
His expression said otherwise. You sighed…Defeated. Because honestly? Maybe you had been. He quietly picked up the bag. Then extended his hand toward you.
Your eyes fell to his hand. Then drifted back toward the bedroom. Toward Sukuna. Toward the man still sleeping inside. Your chest tightened painfully.
How would he react? How angry would he be? How hurt would he be? The thought alone almost made you stay…Almost. But not quite.
Because if you stayed right now—You knew what would happen. You’d bury everything. He’d ignore every question. And eventually you’d lose yourself trying to hold everything together.
You couldn’t do that…Not anymore. Quietly, you slipped back into the bedroom and found a piece of paper and a pen.
And after several long moments, you wrote:
I need time.
I need space to think.
Please don’t come after me.
I’ll come back when I’m ready.
I promise.
— Y/N
You placed the note carefully on your pillow. Then stood there for a second longer. Looking at him. Memorizing him. The rise and fall of his chest. The soft pink strands falling across his forehead.
The man you loved…and the man who broke your heart. Then you turned away back toward the balcony…Back toward Choso. Your hand slipped into his. Immediately, his fingers closed around yours. He felt steady, warm and safe.
You didn’t know where he was taking you. You didn’t know what happened next. You didn’t know if this was the right choice.
But for the first time in weeks—You were making a choice for yourself.
That felt like exactly what needed to happen.
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