Chapter Text
Chapter 15 – To find you again
The crash of the shrines doors echoed throughout the halls as they slammed against the walls. The sound of dripping followed by sloppy footprints caused the servants of the shrine to avoid whom they were coming off of. The darkness surrounded him as he made his way through the shrine, to the dining room, where he slide open the door with more force than necessary, causing the walls to shake. He made his way over to his seat as he dropped onto the cushion, his arms slamming on the table, causing a crack to appear where his fists collided with it.
“My lord,” Uraume spoke as Sukuna lifted his head to watch them slide the door close.
“She's gone!” he breathed out.
“How so my lord?”
Sukuna gritted his teeth together before answering, “We were ambushed, the rain the perfect cover for them. She fell, when I was free of the fight she was not down there,” he breathed, “I couldn't even sense her. Gone,” he breathed through his teeth.
Silence followed him as Uraume went about their duty to give him his food, placing it in front of him before stepping to side as they always did.
“you must eat first my lord, I understand that loosing her after just finding her is devastating but we will find her again,” they paused, “I'll scout the area myself, if someone is hiding her they wont expect me to go searching for her,”
Sukuna grunted in response before pulling his meal towards him, “She will return to me, whatever it takes,” he grabs his food with his hands, not bothering with the chopsticks that have been provided, anger seething through him as he shoves the food into his mouth. Blood slowly gliding down his chin.
Sukuna sighs as he swallows his food, “her family will be joining us in a few days,” he announced.
“How would you like me to prepare for their arrival?”
“Put them in other shrine, put everything they need to for beds and food there, you will not be providing for them, they must do that themselves,”
“And if they ask for their daughter,”
“You ignore them,” he finalises as he finishes up his food, “Have a bath prepared for me,”
Sukuna stands up as Uraume bows, leaving Uraume to their job as he makes his way to his office. Sliding the door shut to be in solitude. Making his way over to his desk, stopping himself from picking up the letter laying there as he inspects the blood coating his hands. Clenching his hand into a fist he gritted his teeth, taking in his appearance as he looks over himself.
Blood dripping off of him and soaking into his clothes, none of which is his, he killed everyone of them. Their screams echoing in his thoughts as he tries to relax, no one will stop him from getting you, again. You couldn't have gotten too far from where you fell, maybe he missed something as he scanned the area. He must have, you couldn't have vanished that quickly.
Thinking back to the event, the group that attacked did not wear any banners, however Sukuna knew better than to pin them as simply bandits, they came from a clan. They were too trained, they knew when to attack. Using the rain to their advantage. Whoever attacked him now has you and he knows it. There's only two clans that he knows of that would have an advantage at taking you.
Zenin.
And much to his annoyance,
Sora.
He slows down his breathing to calm his thoughts as he goes through everything in his mind. Zenin have a number of reason to hold you hostage, Sora? They have one. Freedom. If Sora had you it meant they could be free of their alliance which gives Sora the room to attack. Sukuna can't afford an attack with Zenin and Sora on him at once. Then there's Hoshi. Would they orchestrate this? They wouldn't be so stupid as to attack directly, they'd hire help. They already risked your life once they'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Sighing, he relaxes his body, emptying his thoughts, clearing his mind.
A knock at the door brought him back before a soft voice called out to him, “Your bath is ready my lord,”
“Enter,” he called out as he heard the door open and close, “You were close to her,” he pauses to turn around and look at 'Momo' such a silly name to give her as a smile tugged at Sukuna lips, “Did she suspect anything?”
“No my lord,” Momo shook her head, “Your plan for me to stay mute with her is working,” she tilts her head to the side, “But I do wonder why you want that,”
“She has a tendency to talk to herself without realising it, I was hoping she'd let something slip,” he paused as he crossed his arms over his chest, “I'm guessing no luck,”
“She started questioning her family and that's about all I got my lord,”
He nods,”Good,”
“May I ask where is she my lord,”
He tuts, “lost,” Momo gasped, “she will return here if it's the last thing I do,”
“Do you wish for me to send word to my clan to see if they can help?”
“Hmmm,” he nods, “Keep it quiet for now. I can't have the clans know that she is missing,”
“Understood my lord,” she bows before leaving.
Left to himself Sukuna sighed as he closed his eyes, making a mental note to come back to his office after his bath to read the letter.
Upon entering his bathing area he strips himself of his blood soaked clothes and tosses them to the side. Stepping into the bath as heat of the water claims his skin as he sits down in the water, the liquid hitting his chest, he rest his lower arms on his thighs as he submerges them in the water. His upper arms resting upon the ledge as he relaxes into a state of calm.
He watches the water around slowly turn to red as the blood that littered his body slowly dissolves into the clear liquid. His eyes follow the path of red as it swirls around him, fading the further it got from him. The only movement of the water is created with the raise and fall of his chest, creating small ripples on the surface.
Growing bored of watching the stream of red his closes his eyes and allows his body to sink further into the water, disrupting the flow of colour. He reopens his eyes to watch the flow of red merge into one as it follows a path to the center before fading to nothing.
Sukuna allows himself to drift to thoughts of you, where ever you are you must be scared. Sukuna knows his time is limited, he has to get you before the worse thing that could happen happens. He hummed to himself as he gives his body the rest it needs in the warmth of the water.
“You will return to me, mark my words. Even if I have to flatten the world to find you, I will find you,” he growls as he swings his arm across the water, watching it splash not only back against the water but also upon the ground outside the bath area.
He sighs before he set out to rid himself of the leftover blood. Washing himself free of his enemies before he steps out of the bath and redresses in a loose kimono that was waiting for him. Returning back to his office to read that letter before heading to bed for the night. He tutted at the letter as he read it. It was from Sora, giving as much detail to the Zenin clan as they could. Their abilities and who holds them. Their locations with a map circling them.
Sukuna eyed up the map before setting it down, grabbing his own map to compare the two. Sora had circled an area not too far away from where he had lost you. An area that should have been nothing but forests. He smirked to himself as he may have found a starting point in his search for you. For now however he needed to rest, for within the coming days, if everything had gone to plan, the Hoshi clan will arrive and he needs to be here to welcome them.
Sukuna stood upon the top of the steps leading up to his shrine as he watched the Hoshi clan, what was left of it, appear before him. He watches as your 'father and brother' starts walking towards him, making their ascent upon the stairs.
“My lord,” Hoshi speaks as he slightly bows his head, his son mimicking his action.
“Hoshi,” he speaks through gritted teeth.
“May I ask where my daughter is?” he questions as he looks around for any sign of you.
“She is resting,”
“Resting?” he speaks in confusion as he looks at his son before returning his gaze back to Sukuna, “She's an early raiser, always has been,”
“We got caught in a downpour upon returning home, she is resting,” Sukuna crosses his arms to affirm that he is no longer speaking on the subject.
“Then may I see her?”
“No,” blunt and to the point.
“I see, well I appreciate you looking after her,” Sukuna hums in response.
Hoshi looks at his son again before Shouji speaks up, “we appreciate you taking us in in this trying time. Is there anything you wish of us to do for you while we stay here?”
“No, you are to remain in you area and keep that maintained. I don't wish to see to you in my main shrine. If my wife wishes to see you she will go seek you out, you are not to seek her out,”
“Understood my lord,” they both bowed.
“Uraume will show you to your quarters. Try not to disturbed me too much, I have a lot of planning to do for this war,”
Before they could respond Sukuna had already made it back inside his shrine and on his way back to his office. A light patter of feet could be heard following him as he looked over his shoulder, noting Momo. He stopped so she could catch up.
“Apologises my lord,” she breathed as she stopped before him to bow her head slightly, “A letter has arrived from Sora, the sender noting it is important you see it immediately,” she held out the letter for Sukuna to take.
“They've been busy with these letters lately haven't they?”
“Yes my lord,”
“You're dismissed,” he waves his hands before he continues to make his way to his office, “make sure no one disturbs me today,”
“Of course my lord,” he hears Momo speak before her footfalls fade to silence.
Making it to his office he slides the door shut before making his way over to his desk, where the map is still out on display. He looks it over before redirecting his attention to the letter he has been given. Opening it he reads;
My lord,
It has come to our attention that something has gone wrong in our planning. Upon revisiting the locations of the Zenin clan we noted that your wife has joined them. If it is not your wife then please ignore this letter, but the similarities are too close to simply ignore. Going on the assumption that it is your wife, we have made contact with her, she seemed to be completely out of it. No memory at all of who she is. You'll be displeased to note the Zenin are working her, treating her as a low member of their clan. She seems stable in herself, a serious injury has been noted but she does seem to be healing from it. We'll continue to keep an eye on her unless you state otherwise, attached with this letter if her location.
Sora
Sukuna flipped over the letter to see the map, the same location that Sukuna had taken note of that wasn't far from where they had been separated. Steadying his anger he set to work on planning out the best route of attack to get you back. Losing more memories of who you are and what you mean to him puts a stop to his plans to take down Hoshi. He wanted your to be aware of everything. Have the memories there to understand why he was doing it. Understand why he had encouraged them to spilt and take refuge under his roof.
All of his careful planning gone to waste. He sighs in defeat as he falls back into his chair and closes his eyes, thinking. With you not knowing who you are, how would you react to him now? Would you be more scared due to not knowing who the king of curses was. How would you react to him saving you? Would you accept it due to lost memories? After all why would anyone go to save you if they didn't know you? To many possibilities ran through his mind as he shifted his thoughts to ways in getting you back.
Does he simply turn up and demand you back or does he start a war with the village to find you? Starting the war sooner seemed like the better option in his opinion. He'd get to have fun and further grow in his strength but he'd also need to be careful. If the Zenin clan knew who you are they'd use that against him. He knows that the Zenin will not hesitate to kill anyone to get their way.
For that reason he sighs and subjects himself to a more careful approach. He doesn't want to scare you more than you probably already were, having no memories. Thinking it through he'd need to make sure that you were there before he made a move otherwise the Zenin would click onto his plan.
Sighing he opened his eyes, focusing on the letter in front of him before deciding on his plan of action.
“Uraume,” he bellowed in hopes Uraume would hear him.
It didn't' take long before a knock was at the door before it slid open, revealing the person that Sukuna wanted to talk to.
“My lord,” they bowed as they closed the door behind them.
“I need you to check a location for me,” he pauses as he shifts his attention to the letter as he slides it across the table for Uraume to read.
Silence settled over the room as Uraume read through the letter, placing it back on the table before speaking up, “You wish for me to check to see if this is truly her?”
Sukuna nods and his grunts in response, “I need to know I'm not attacking something or nothing. Being such a remote location I doubt that the Zenin care much for it's safety but if it came under attack they would suspect something,”
“Understood my lord, would you like me to leave soon?”
“Sooner the better,” he pauses, “I want her by my side again as quick as possible. If it turns out it is not her, snoop around and gather intel,”
“Of course my lord,” they bowed, “I'll leave right away,”
Sukuna hums in acknowledgment as Uraume turns to leave the room leaving Sukuna alone to his thoughts again.
Sukuna needed to think through the current events, the Hoshi clan under his roof, missing wife, a possible betrayal, and a war with the Zenin.
Getting you back is his top priority and he wont do much else until he knows you're safe back under his care. If you truly do not have your memories he needed to tip toe around how he'd get rid of the Hoshi clan. If he can take them out while they are in close proximity, it'll work in his benefit. If you do have your memories then he'd need to convince you that getting rid of them is the best course of action.
Sukuna sighs as he relaxes into his chair, “You were just getting your memories back as well,” he rubs his hands down his face in frustration.
Regardless of what happens, first he needs to get you back. Second, wipe out the Hoshi clan. Third, he'd need to talk to Sora to make sure he isn't getting an unwanted attack there before going after the Zenin. The war with Zenin is going to a challenge, they have some decent techniques on their side and if Sukuna isn't careful he could easily be overwhelmed. He smiles to himself knowing that in the near future a good fight is coming. It's been a while since his last good battle, one that pushed him to his limits.
For now there is nothing he can do but wait until Uraume comes back with word, hopefully with the word of your location.
A couple of days had passed before Uraume returned back to the shrine. Sukuna resided in the dining room with Momo serving him as Uraume walked into the room.
“You best have good news for me,” Sukuna speaks before returning to his food. Biting into the meat a little too hard, annoyed that he has, in his eyes, wasted his time sitting around.
“I do my lord,”
This causes Sukuna to pause in his chewing as he looked at Uraume, swallowing his food as he places his chopsticks down, giving Uraume his full attention.
“I have confirmed that it is indeed her my lord,” he pauses, “She seems to be doing well. As per the letter it would seem that she did suffer from injuries but is healing well. She is being made to work,”
Sukuna growls, hating that you're being put to work.
“My lord, I understand that you're upset but we need to think of the positives,” they pause as Sukuna settles their gaze on them, “She's safe,”
“for now,”
“How soon are you going to go get her?”
“early tomorrow morning,”
“Of course my lord,” he bow they head, “Should I prepare a bath for you?”
“Yes,”
“Of course my lord,” they bow again before leaving the room.
Sukuna goes to pick up his chopsticks again to continue his meal. He pauses before taking a bite, looking over to his right where Momo has been standing in silence.
“I want you to make sure her room is ready for her return,”
“Of course my lord,” they bowed.
“you may leave,” Momo nodded before leaving the room. Silence taking over again.
Sukuna finished his meal in silence as he went over his plan for tomorrow.
Up early, cause a riot to gain the attention of everyone in the village, make them panic enough that no one will be hiding. This should hopefully bring you out of hiding so he can grab you and take you back home. Not caring what state he leaves the village in.
Sukuna knows that he will need to act fast after he brings you home. The Hoshi clan have settled in a little too well for his liking and he cant wait to get rid of them permanently. He wont have much time to enjoy your return as he would need to make his move on the Zenin. He's going to be busy very soon. He smiled to himself as he let out a low chuckle.
“This is going to be fun,”
Before the sun even attempted to make it's appearance the following morning, Sukuna was up and out. Making his way to the location marked on the map. Fire in his eyes as he marched towards the village. Not caring if he was hidden or not. His main and only goal was bring you back home.
Sukuna could make out the edge of the village as he walked up a used path. The grass destroyed through the footfall as he followed it to the entrance of the village. Stopping just shy of the entrance he took note of his surroundings. Buildings are stacked close together, farm land off the his left. That would be his target first, destroy their food source so even if there are survivors they'd have nothing left. Nodding to himself he made his way over to it, preparing himself to set fire to the corps. A barn off to the side caught his attention, he'd need to set that on fire too.
He walked to the center of the field, his lower hands clasping together as his second mouth starting chanting, his upper hands came together as they pressed flat against each other. When Sukuna was satisfied with the chat he pulled pulled back his right arm, his hand sliding off his left palm as fire danced to life, causing a line of connection between the hands. Pulling his arm back to be in line with his ear he formed the arrow out of the line and aimed at the barn. Smirking, he released. The chanting helping the arrow explode on impact as he moved to return to the village. Continuing on with his plan. The barn and surrounding fields soon went up in flames as the heat bounced off of his back.
His grin only grew as the flames continued to spread and the first sound of screams echoed through the morning. it didn't' take long for chaos to ensue as Sukuna starting slashing at the people running out of the buildings. Paying more attention then he used to to make sure he didn't' harm you in any way.
It didn't' take too much longer for some of the villagers to turn on him and attempt an attack. The fire slowly following behind him as he threw off any one who tried to stop him. Slicing them in two as he continued his way through the village, dreading deeper in hopes he'll catch a glance of you.
Growing bored of how slowly people were piling out of their houses he decided to set a house on fire. Watching as the flames spread higher, the wooden walls collapsing around him as thick smoke started to linger in the air.
“What do you want yo monster?” he heard a scream from behind him as he looked over his shoulder to find a young women holding herself as her skin started to peel from her face.
Giving her his attention he simple spoke your name, her eyes widen in shock, confirming all that Sukuna needed to know. Zenin knew they had you. He swiped his hand through the air as a slash landed on her, her head falling to the ground. More screams filled the air as more and more people awoke and ran out of their homes in means to run from the attack. It mattered not to Sukuna if they or not, a series of his slashes took them out.
Walking deeper into the village, more activity was seen. People were putting up blockages made of the fallen buildings to stop him, someone was shouting orders for everyone to run in a direction and flee. Sukuna didn't care for them, easily charging through the blockages to gain more access to the deeper parts of the village.
Fire kissed along the edges of his vision as he turned to look around him. The fire had spread much faster now. The buildings being engulfed in flames as he watched anyone who came out of the buildings being set of fire. He had to act quick to make sure you didn't find yourself on fire.
Using the chaos around him to his advantage he roared out your name at the top of his lungs.
Sukuna ears picked up a hushed conversation of a couple trying to hide, “Isn't that the new girl we picked up?”
“The one staying with the twins?”
“I'm sure that's the one,”
He smiled to himself, you knew your name at least. Sukuna lunched himself at the couple before they could even see him coming. His hands wrapped around their throats as he held them in the air. They squirmed in his grip as they gasped for air.
“Where is she?” Sukuna spoke all to calmly for the situation he caused.
“Follow the path and turn right, she's in the block of houses there,” one of them cried, “please let us go,”
Sukuna smirked as he launched them into the fire, laughing at their screams as he threw in the other person to join them. The fire burning through their skin as they try to run out of the fire before coming to a halt.
“Soon my dear. Soon you'll be back with me,”
he turned to make his way down the path mentioned, slicing anyone and everyone who got in his way.
Sukuna's eyes dart along the piles of bodies littered on the ground as he scanned the area for you. That's when he saw a small figure struggling to stand, that had to be you, he recognised the kimono you were wearing. He gifted that to you, he smiled as he roared out your name again. Noting that you went stiff with the recognition of your name. His smile faltered a bit as he then watched you run and turn a corner, out of his sight. Sukuna knew he had to trend carefully, he doesn't know how much you remember. Regardless, he wasn't going to let you get away from him so he ran after you in pursuit.
He easily caught up to you as he ran through the debris he had caused. The fire lighting up his path as he ran through the blood that soaked the ground. He slashed at any obstacles that got in his way as he zeroed in on you. Sukuna noted the treeline you were aiming for as he extended an arm out to grab onto the back your kimono. Pulling you back towards him as you landed heavy on your back. Sukuna sliding on the blood soaked ground to stop himself as he spun around to see you had already made it back to your feet and ran in another direction. Away from him. You were scared, must likely confused with your memory loss but he needed to bring you home. Sukuna laughs as the persistence of you. You never did give up when he thinks about it. He admires that about you.
Sukuna watches as you round a corner, him coming up on you fast as he continues his pursuit. Stopping at the only entrance to the area that you have unknowing trapped yourself in. A dead end. He could see your face for the first time since arriving. You were scared as he watched you fall to your knees further dirtying your kimono. Sukuna takes a steps towards you as he watches the tears free fall from your eyes. He sighs slightly as he stretched out his arms just in case you attempt to make a run for it again. He can't lose you, not when you're right in right of him. Memory or not. You're his.
Sukuna chuckles as he starts to walk towards, arms still outstretched. He took note for the first time since he started his pursuit of you the state that he was in. covered in blood, no wonder why you ran. No wonder why you were sacred. Your still on your knees as he makes his way towards you.
Sukuna eventually stopped in front of you, crouching down to be level with you as his arms came to hover around you. He noted your sharp intake of breaths. You're hurt. Hopefully he didn't' cause that injury in the attack. None the less, he'll heal you. Sukuna brought his upper hands to cup your face. The warmth of your skin seeping through his own as he wiped away your tears, not wanting to see them.
Neither Sukuna or you moved as he cradled your face in his hands. Sukuna felt movement on his lips as he stuck his tongue out to lick his lips. Blood. He could taste it on his tongue as he smiled, noting that you held your breath.
“Where do you think you're going my dear?”