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All his vessel thought about was Fushiguro Megumi.
Fushiguro this.
Fushiguro that.
I have to risk my life to keep Fushiguro safe! We have to save his sister! Oh no, the curse inside me is planning something, so I better spend every waking moment thinking about Fushiguro Megumi and how to keep him safe by any means necessary even if I have to kill myself again! Because I’m a self-sacrificing idiot!
Sukuna found the entire display disgusting. Second-hand embarrassment and repulsion were equally prevalent, the curse could hardly stand it.
Why was it even when the supposed threat to his ‘dear friend’s’ life resided within him, Yuji would not give Sukuna more than a cursory thought? Well, aside from when the slew of angst and guilt that clogged up the space between his vessel’s ears built up too much to be ignored.
The curse still couldn’t understand why the brat cared so much about the damage Sukuna had wrought in Shibuya—The whole affair had been exhilarating. Entertaining. A wonderful exercise to stretch his long unused techniques and show off the power at his fingertips. Power that could have been made far more useful if his vessel had been more agreeable in every aspect of his existence to match Sukuna’s, but oh well, what can one do?
At least his face was adorable, especially so when stricken with horror and dampened by tears threatening to break from those wide eyes of his.
Oddly enough, this was not the expression that Sukuna had held most dear to him. There was one he could only catch glimpses of amongst the reflections of mirrors and windows or within his vessel’s phone screen just before he clicked the device to life. A face denied to the curse, a beam of sunshine shared to the undeserving world almost always accompanied by a gleeful laugh that had wormed its way into Sukuna’s head.
Sukuna may never experience it so earnestly, but he’d be damned if anyone else were gifted what rightfully belonged to him.
Such frustration the curse held did not end there. This vexation ran deep, carving further and further into his infallible being. The constant barrage of thoughts and woes that all fixated on another—a pawn! To be second even when the hatred his vessel felt should have easily superseded such adoration—
But no matter.
There was a solution to steering his vessel’s gaze in the proper direction, even if a veil was needed to ease this shift in direction… The brat should consider it a gift. One minute act of benevolence that would ultimately benefit the curse far more than the many other iterations of this plan he’d crafted within the confines of his vessel’s imperfect prison.
One minute was all he required.
It had been a risk to take possession of Megumi. But the risk had been calculated and recalculated over and over to assure a favorable outcome in spite of how the pieces eventually fell into place. Frustrations aside, it was this boy and the technique he possessed that held the key to his true resurrection. To once again obtain the original form and that power imbued within it that the curse sorely missed… Now more than ever, Sukuna’s goal dangled between his fingers.
“Brat.”
His vessel continued to stare, mouth hung open, his lower lip quivering in an attempt to speak, but no words tumbled out. Not yet. Eyes flickered all across Megumi’s face— Sukuna’s face —trailing each new line now adorning it.
Anger was the first emotion to break through Yuji’s shock. Fingers balled into fists, now merely dull bludgeoning weapons without an ounce of cursed energy flowing through them. Aware of that, the brat struck at Sukuna’s face regardless, his hand caught easily by the curse without so much as a sweat.
The act had been predictable. As was the second strike to what should have been Sukuna’s diaphragm. The second attempt failed as well, but where the curse had expected Yuji to tear himself free and to try again as his hallmark stubbornness should have pushed him, the brat did no such thing.
Sukuna held both fists in the air, taunting the boy to try again only for his vessel to drop his head. His arms shook, and his breathing staggered, twisted in two directions in whether to face or flee the overwhelming force in front of him. Neither option aligned with the brat lowering his head. A weak whimper broke free, preceding his demand.
“Let him go.”
Weak.
Pathetic.
Pitifully boring.
All the venom that should have laced those words was absent, leaving what should have been a demand now a meager plea for the curse’s mercy. His vessel knew where they stood, that game that had been played before his eyes, the vast difference in power between them. He continued to live and breathe by Sukuna’s will and there was nothing that could be done to sway the events that had already been set in motion.
“You’ve had your fun with your little plans to fight against this grand scheme we’re all a part of. But you’ve been deceived and your goals thwarted. You’re nowhere close to achieving anything you set out to do.” Sukuna let go of Yuji’s hands, scoffing as they fell to the teenager’s side.
“Give him back. I'll give you whatever you want. But please, not Fushiguro—!”
Sukuna continued to speak as he intended despite the brat’s pleas. “Then it’s time you finally do as I say, and perhaps I’ll allow this body to live.”
Honestly, the curse couldn’t care what happened to him after all was said and done, but if it made his vessel cooperate, so be it. Besides, he never specified how long he’d allow Megumi to live once he regained his original form. If this body couldn’t handle the fallout of their separation, that was not his problem to solve.
Yuji opened his mouth, as if to object, only to clench his jaw at the position he was in.
The act would be as close to an agreement as Sukuna would receive. Non-committal and full of seething anger that betrayed the look of defeat still plastered on his vessel’s face. There was no longer a way to tell what thoughts were reeling through Yuji’s skull, how many curses were made against his name, nor what juvenile acts of defiance he had begun to consider whenever an opportunity would present itself.
Sukuna caught himself almost missing the barrage of thoughts his vessel produced, but the chance to parlay with him in their absence may prove to be interesting.
A glance around the city from their vantage point proved the world to be quiet underneath. That imposter had long since fled and that so-called Angel lay unconscious on the ground. She would have her role to play in due time, but for now, there was no need to linger on these rooftops much longer.
“Time to go, brat.”
“But, what about—”
“Forget about them.”
Sukuna brushed his hair back, finding some strands more rebellious than others. He let the minor annoyance go, however, eager to return to street level and begin the search for Uraume. With the condition of restricted player movement lifted, it did not matter which colony they were in. Nothing would stand between the curse and what fate he’d meticulously aligned.
The brat, however, thought he was being subtle in his effort to delay the inevitable. If Yuji or Megumi did not return to the group, if Tsumiki did not exit the culling games as planned, then the rest of their merry band of misfits would surely take notice. Perhaps check out the area and discover the awful truth that awaited them.
While the curse would not let his vessel out of his sight, that did not mean he would slow his step because Yuji would not hasten his.
“You remember Shibuya, brat.” Sukuna craned his neck back. His patience, while immense enough to get the curse this far, was bound to reach an end. “If I see even a hint of those sorcerers or that death painting I will dispose of them without hesitation.”
That was enough to spur him into catching up. The scowl on his vessel’s face was heavenly, bringing a toothy grin to Sukuna’s as the curse grabbed his hand to steer him in whichever direction he saw fit.
This time, his vessel tried to wriggle free.
Sukuna clamped down harder, his anger growing.
Yuji then pulled, only for the curse to drag him close and squeeze the brat’s hand so hard the sound of cracking bones could be heard. A warning not to try that again.
“I’ll never comprehend you.” The curse yanked Yuji’s hand outward, forcing him to stumble forward so that he may whisper into his ear. “You should be grateful to finally get what you longed for.”
“Grateful? Why would I be—I-i don’t understand.”
What use was there in feigning ignorance?
“Oh, you certainly do. I’ve been inside of you for months, brat, there are no secrets between us.”
Sukuna grabbed his vessel’s waist, sinking his fingers into the fabric of his clothes to anchor the teenager in place. Every flinch prompted the curse to dig in further, his claws piercing the skin underneath to force compliance.
“You hold him like this without fear of rejection. Feel the touch of his skin against your own…” He pressed the back of his vessel’s hand against his cheek, granting the brat permission to touch the soft skin and delicate features he had often gotten lost in when staring at his classmate. The brat was warm where the surrounding world was cold and bitter, making the prospect of separation all the more difficult to fathom.
Unfortunately, his vessel did not show proper appreciation, freezing up only when the connection was made.
“Stop.”
“Hm? That word has no meaning coming from you.” Sukuna removed his hand from Yuji’s waist to lift his vessel’s chin, balancing it on the very tip of his finger.
“W-weren’t you in a hurry—”
“You’ve fantasized about this. Never once did you falter in your dreams, so why hesitate now?”
“Sukuna—”
“This body wants this. He’s wanted this since the day you met. How cruel of him to never tell a single soul.” His gentle touch devolved into a clasp around his vessel’s jaw. Their forehead pressed into each other, two pairs of deep red eyes locked onto the frantically shaking set of gold. Yuji’s breath was over his mouth and his dear vessel had to do was follow one simple command. “Embrace your dear Megumi, brat, before I ensure it never will never happen again.”
Hesitant, but ultimately unwilling to witness any more harm to be done through his decisions, his vessel pressed his lips for what he intended to be a small and painless kiss. But Sukuna wouldn’t let him go so quickly. Not when he could easily keep the brat in place and sip the air from his lungs. Part his lips with his tongue and indulge in the sweet taste of his mouth intermixing with the salt dripping down from his eyes.
This act of love was not for him, but Sukuna did not care. This kiss had been his vessel’s first for his memories held none prior. A kiss for Sukuna to claim, his only regret that it had been through the use of this pawn and not his original form. But he had been patient for so long, for so many things.
Sukuna could afford to give into impulsivity just this once.