Chapter Text
Ryoumen Sukuna has been a lot of things in his lifetime.
A sorcerer. A curse. A warrior. A king. He’s been feared and respected and loathed and adored, and even when he came face to face with death for the last time on the battlefield, he knew his legacy would live on for centuries to come.
However, the one thing he’d never been in his lifetime was a cat.
Which is precisely what he is right now. A very wet, very angry, and very confused cat.
When he passed on the smoldering battlefield, welcoming death with open arms, he had expected a few things. Perhaps he’d find himself in the afterlife – no doubt forced to wander throughout hell for an eternity, given how many sins he’s committed during his time alive. Or maybe he’d be reincarnated after a few hundred years, granted the chance to live a new life as a new being.
It seems like the second possibility has come true – unfortunately, Sukuna had never once considered living his new life as a cat.
Cue the anger and confusion. The wetness comes from the sky, as he somehow managed to regain consciousness when there’s a whole-ass thunderstorm going on.
He wonders if this is payback for all the crimes he’s committed in his past life – made to wander Earth as a lowly animal, something even worse than a human.
Fuck me, he thinks, and if the situation wasn’t so ridiculous he’d laugh. Unfortunately, he is a cat, which means even laughing is out of the question. The best he can manage is a strangled sounding meow. How fucking humiliating.
His fur sticks to his body in disgusting, wet clumps. His paws feel unnaturally sensitive against the ragged bitumen. His tail whips back and forth, agitated, as he tries to figure out what to do.
The storm has turned the sky dark, though perhaps due to his new feline abilities, he can still see fairly well. The street signs nearby are printed in tell-tale kanji, which means he’s reincarnated as a Japanese cat.
He supposes he should be grateful for that. For some inexplicable reason, Sukuna still maintains his memories of his past life. Though he’d been powerful and had lived long, he’d only ever resided in Japan. He’d really be screwed if he reincarnated in, who knows, fucking Russia or something. At least he knows the languages and customs here.
Speaking of which… How long has it been? Sukuna glances around as he quickly huddles underneath a wooden bench, trying to escape from the horrible feeling of rain. Nothing about the street he’s in gives him any clues about the time period. In fact, everything looks pretty much the same as when he’d passed. It could have only been a year since his death, or even months.
But then again, humans are terribly slow and stupid. Sukuna wouldn’t put it past them to grind to a halt in their evolution, no matter how many years passed. He lets out a sigh of annoyance. Maybe some human will pass by and he’ll manage to glean some information from them.
A motion at the edge of his vision catches his attention. Ah, good timing. It seems like there’s a human heading his way now.
Sukuna’s ears stand straight at attention as he watches the human draw closer and closer. It’s a man, he can tell. A man holding an umbrella over his head, muttering curses underneath his breath as he speed-walks through the rain. He’s wearing a windbreaker and scuffed sneakers and has a head of pink hair that looks oddly familiar–
Wait.
Wait.
You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.
Out of everyone he could run into in this new reincarnated life, he runs into him.
His former vessel and the brat himself, Itadori Yuuji.
Because the man on the street is obviously him. The pink hair, the scar on his lip, the missing finger… He’s older now, body taller and shoulders broader, but his identity is unmistakable.
Sukuna wonders if maybe he is in hell. How else could he find himself trapped in the body of a cat, with the boy who killed him in his past walking towards him? The sheer humiliation of it all makes his blood burn.
Still, his first instinct is to attack. Cats, however, do not possess cursed energy, much less the cursed techniques that once belonged to the King of Curses. Thus, all Sukuna can do is step out into the street and hiss fiercely at Yuuji, back arched and claws outstretched.
The boy slows to a stop.
Come on, Sukuna taunts, pointedly ignoring the unintelligible low yowls that he was actually making. Fight me, brat! I’ll make you pay for what you did to me.
Instead of launching an attack his way, however, Yuuji simply frowns.
“What’s wrong, kitty?”
Sukuna’s brain short-circuits.
Kitty?
Kitty?!
Did this fucking brat just call me kitty?!!!
He spits viciously and launches himself towards Yuuji, ready to sink his claws deep into the boy’s flesh. He may be a cat, but he still has his pride. Damn whatever form he’s in, he’ll never let anyone get away with disrespecting him like this –
“Ah!” One hand scoops him up from underneath his abdomen. Sukuna blinks, and then he’s hoisted in the air, looking deep into Yuuji’s concerned eyes. “It’s okay,” the brat coos, voice soft, like he’s speaking to an infant. “I won’t hurt you. My, the weather’s terrible today, isn’t it? No wonder you’re in such a bad mood.”
He’s maneuvered underneath Yuuji’s arm before he even has a chance to struggle, tucked snuggly against the brat’s jacket. “Let’s go,” Yuuji says. He sets off on a brisk trot, shoes splashing against the puddles on the sidewalk. “I’ll get you somewhere safe and dry, and maybe we can look for your owner– ow! ”
A wave of satisfaction washes over Sukuna as he sinks his teeth into Yuuji’s hand. The taste of blood blossoms on his tongue, tangy and sharp. How dare the brat just pick him up ? Like he’s an animal ? Talking to him like a child– pah! This will teach him. Now the brat will finally let him go and they can have a proper battle.
But Yuuji simply keeps on walking. His frown has deepened, but other than that, he makes no reaction.
“Don’t do that,” Yuuji chides. He hasn’t made a move to set Sukuna down or strike him. “I’m sturdy, but that still hurts, y’know?”
Are you kidding me? Sukuna bites down harder, just because he’s stubborn. Yuuji makes a face, but once again, makes no move to retaliate.
“Sheesh,” the boy grumbles. “You sure are feral, huh? Maybe you don’t have an owner after all…”
No way. No fucking way. It hits Sukuna like a tidal wave that he might actually just have been kidnapped by the most insufferable human being on this planet. There’s no telling what the hell Yuuji’s going to do when they get back to – presumably – his place, and Sukuna would rather not stick around to find out.
He’s already been trapped with the brat once before, and that was more than enough for him, thank you very much.
Since it appears that biting was useless, Sukuna tries another strategy. He kicks out his legs against Yuuji’s arm and chest, the brat still annoyingly remaining unmoved. He hisses, yowls, and scratches against anything he touches, but nothing seems to work. If anything, all his moving makes Yuuji tighten his grip around his belly even more .
Fuck, fuck, curse this stupid boy! Sukuna feels like his head is about to explode. Any normal human would have let go of him by now – but this idiot is set on bringing Sukuna home, it seems.
He miserably wishes cats had more lethality. It seems like his bites and scratches are nothing more than inconveniences to Yuuji.
God, how far he’s fallen…
“We’re nearly there,” Yuuji quips, and Sukuna lets out a dejected meow. Great. Just great. Now he’s going to be stuck at Yuuji’s place for god knows how long, having to tolerate the brat’s constant presence once more. At least in the past he could slice off Yuuji’s head. Presently, the most damage he can inflict barely makes Yuuji bat an eye.
If only there was another way he could fight, could make the brat’s life a living hell once again…
Hm.
Sukuna narrows his eyes. Perhaps there is a way. Perhaps there is a method for him to get his revenge against Yuuji for killing him – he just doesn’t know it right now. After all, he has no idea how much Yuuji has changed since he was alive. He also doesn’t have a full grasp over his cat form yet. Maybe, with enough time, he can still find ways to wreak havoc and cause chaos like he once did.
The more he thinks about it, the more appealing the possibility becomes. It would be fun to play with the brat’s feelings. Humans like animals, don’t they? He’ll act docile and sweet and harmless, and get Yuuji to trust him – and then, when the brat expects it the least, he’ll strike.
Exactly how he’ll do so can be worked out later. He’s sure he’ll figure it out.
He’s the King of Curses, after all. He’s never been one to back down from a challenge – even if the current challenge is suddenly scratching behind his ears…?
On instinct, Sukuna hisses. “Oh!” Yuuji pauses his movements. It’s then Sukuna realizes that the brat is standing at the door of an apartment building, key in hand. He’s placed the umbrella away and is holding Sukuna with both hands now, tucking him snuggly against his chest. “Do you want me to stop? I thought cats liked that…”
Fool. If Sukuna still had human expressions, he’d be sneering now. Do you think I’d enjoy such a basic thing? I’m the King of Curses. I will not be swayed by this–
Scratch, scratch. Yuuji’s fingers glide gently over his sensitive ears, stroking lightly against the fur. His hand is warm and soft. It’s… kind of nice. Sukuna’s body relaxes, and a strange, low noise escapes from his throat before he can stop it.
Yuuji chuckles. “Ah, so you do like it after all,” he murmurs fondly, and Sukuna almost agrees before he realizes with a jolt that he’s just purred .
Him. The King of Curses. Feared across the jujutsu world for centuries. Purring.
No no no no no!
Absolutely not!
Fuck acting sweet and docile. Fuck getting Yuuji to trust him. He’ll die before he lets Yuuji coddle and caress him like some brainless, gutless creature. Argh, he can’t believe he actually let himself get carried away by something as simple as petting .
He hisses, baring teeth. Yuuji just furrows his brow.
“I really don’t understand you,” he complains, as he pushes open the door. “I thought you– why are you biting me?!”
Because you’re a brat, Sukuna thinks, chomping down hard on Yuuji’s finger. And I hate you.
The door to the apartment building slams close behind them. Sukuna pays it no mind, eyes narrowed as he glares up at Yuuji’s face.
I’ll make you pay, brat, he thinks. You’ve just sealed your fate by bringing me here. I won’t play nice. I’ll–
“Hey.”
Out of nowhere, he’s pried off of Yuuji’s arms. The sensation of being lifted and moved in the air is disorienting, to say the least – he doesn’t even have time to react until he finds himself being held by the scruff of his neck by another set of hands, limbs dangling uselessly in the air.
He glances up. A pair of purple-rimmed eyes looks disapprovingly at him.
“Brother,” says Choso. “Where did you get this from?”
Oh, the gods must really hate him.
Now he has to deal with living with not one idiot, but two ?
“Ah, I found him on the street,” Yuuji says, sounding oddly sheepish. “He was just getting soaked in the rain and, ah, you know, I felt bad leaving him there…”
“Given how much your hand is bleeding, I don’t think you should feel bad,” Choso responds, matter of fact. He frowns at Sukuna. “This cat is obviously defective. I do not think you should keep him.”
Sukuna hisses. Choso’s frown deepens.
“Oh, come on,” Yuuji says. “It’s not defective . It’s probably a stray – it must have lived a hard life until now.”
Don’t pity me, brat! He spits aggressively when Yuuji raises a hand towards him, no doubt trying to pet him again. Choso maneuvers him away, still holding him by his neck.
“Any creature that would attack you is defective by default. And even if it were not, I don’t believe bringing it to our home would be a good idea.” Choso turns towards the exit. “I will put it back outside–”
“Noooo!” Yuuji clings onto Choso’s arm, stopping him in his tracks. “Don’t be like that. He’s a bit feral now, but I’m sure he’ll come around with a little bit of love.”
Hah! If Sukuna could laugh, he would. Humans and their stupid concept of love. In his past life, he’d perished without needing or understanding love, and he would do the same in this life, too. Love is empty and worthless. It’s an idle dream – just like Yuuji’s one of getting him to eventually ‘come around’.
Choso pauses. He still doesn’t look convinced. “Yuuji–” he begins, but then the brat’s expression… changes.
His expression grows soft. His eyes grow wide. He pouts, like a puppy, and when he speaks his voice is in a higher octave.
“Please, onii-chan?~”
Sukuna gags.
Yuck. How utterly revolting.
But Choso, that dim-witted cursed womb, seems to fall right into the brat’s trap. His cheeks flush pink, and he averts his gaze from his brother, staring awkwardly at the ground.
“Ah… I mean, I guess we can let him stay for a while,” he finally concedes, and Yuuji beams from ear to ear.
“Thank you, onii-chan!” He leans in and presses a quick kiss to Choso’s cheek. Sukuna rolls his eyes. Imagine being so weak that you’re swayed by three simple words…
Still, he supposes this means his plan’s back in action. Though living with two people is an unexpected turn of events, that doesn’t mean he still can’t make Yuuji’s life utterly miserable. He’ll teach the brat about the uselessness of love, and make him regret ever picking him up on that damn street.
Just you wait, Itadori Yuuji, he thinks.
Just. You. Wait.