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The events in Shibuya had been grueling. It had been terrifying for everyone who was present during that time. Those who died were mourned, given offerings, and were remembered—those who survived found a way to cope with their regrets and sadness. The days were heavy, after knowing that she had yet to remember everything that happened during that night, but she took her time. They all did. They came to her in vivid details in her dreams, and often times she’d find herself awake at night; taking walks just to find some peace before she goes back to sleep again.
The rest of them had probably done the same. She’d often meet some of them in her nightly walks. They’d exchange small conversation, and then part ways again. Coping and healing would take time, Ieiri would tell them. She had been among the lucky few who had come out unscathed, but Ieiri told her she would have been grasping life’s ropes if she hadn’t been healed. And the question of who healed her still struck her every time she’d see the scar on her side. Ieiri wouldn’t tell her—a promise, she said.
Lost in her trance, she doesn’t realize someone had already stood beside her. She only turns around when she hears a sigh from the person—Itadori.
“Yuuji, you’re up early.” She says softly, acknowledging the strawberry haired boy.
“Couldn’t really sleep anymore.” Was all he said.
They stand in silence. This was something new for the two of them. Had this been before the happening in Shibuya, they would probably be off to talk about the latest episode of the series they both loved watching, or discussing theories for the manga they both read. But that incident made them grow up a little bit more—urged them to become scarred adults faster than expected.
The boy turns to face her, marveling at the sight of her natural beauty of brown hair and bright green eyes. The little freckles that crept across her cheeks reminded him of constellations he had yet to know more of. She notices him staring, so she faces him with a hum.
“Something on your mind?” She asks.
The boy wasn’t sure what he was feeling. He’d never seen her in that way. Never thought of her in that way. So he wondered, why was he suddenly feeling so attached to the girl now?
Ah. Right. That’s why.
Itadori remembers that he wasn’t the only one residing in his body. The curse who had taken him as a host was also there in the confines of this mortal body. Two souls sharing one body, how peculiar. He’s silent, shakes his head as he ponders, looking at the dojos in front of the main building. Mornings were quiet now—none of them knew what to say. Even Sukuna was quiet, which was a very odd occurrence. Often times, the curse never really knew when to shut up—kind of like Itadori.
He hears her shift, stretching her arms over her head, sighing after. Itadori turns to face her, wondering if he himself felt anything for the girl. There was something, but not as close to what the other soul in his body felt.
“Say, (y/n).” He says her name after a long time, and it rolls off his tongue with practiced ease. Like he had been saying it over and over again—but perhaps it wasn’t him.
“Yes?”
He paused for a moment, looking down at his feet, then back at her when he’s figured out what he was about to say.
“Would it be okay if I switched with Sukuna for the day?”
She raises an eyebrow at him, confused and curious.
“Why would you ask me that?” She asks, opening her mouth to say something—mention a name that hasn’t been mentioned for long—but she closes it again.
Right. Because he isn’t here.
“I just thought you’d be the best person to ask. Other than me, only you can sort of—control him. You know?” Itadori continues, and they hear a tut on his cheek.
Sure enough a mouth appears, and the eye under Itadori’s own eye opens in irritation.
“Leave me alone, brat. I’m trying to rest.”
She stares at the curse for a moment, not entirely sure why she had suddenly felt at ease instead of her usual alerted response whenever the King of Curses makes himself known. Maybe because it’s been a long time since she last saw or spoke to the curse? Still, she questions why Sukuna himself had to rest. The curse barely did anything in Shibuya, except for killing thousands of innocents—as far as she can remember. But she doesn’t say it out loud, knowing how it will make Itadori feel.
The boy looks at her, hesitant on what he has to say next, but she waits patiently for him to continue. Patience was something they’re all learning to have now.
“Why don’t you take Sukuna out on a date?”
The girl had almost lost all the air in her lungs when she fought back the bubbling laughter that came tickling her chest and throat. It started with little giggles, then turned into soft laughter, and soon she was laughing as if Itadori had just said the funniest thing—which in her opinion, he did.
Ah, I’m an idiot. What am I saying?
She clutches her stomach as she leaned against the railing for support. Her knees feeling like jelly from that sudden burst of laughter. She hadn’t felt this light for a long time. It was good to laugh about something for once, not forced laughter, but a genuine one. Her laughter soon died down, and she wiped the corners of her eyes as she sniffled—maybe from laughing too much?
“Why would you suggest that?” She asks Itadori, hoping he wasn’t really serious.
Because I remember his thoughts from that night. It’s clear as day.
“Oi, brat. Quit dragging me in your mess.” Sukuna pops out again, and this time, she agrees with him.
“Yeah, Yuuji. Stop joking around like that.” She pats his shoulder, about to leave when her friend speaks up again.
“I just thought it’d cheer you up a bit.”
She raises an eyebrow. “You think being with a curse will cheer me up?”
Itadori looks at her, something lingering behind his eyes that the girl didn’t know. She couldn’t decipher things as easily as she did before. Itadori’s eyes had always been honest, and there was no ill intent from him or the curse at that moment. Still, what was he going on about?
“Sukuna’s never really been on a date.” Itadori jokes, and she snickers with him.
“Yeah, maybe the last date he’s been on was like… centuries ago.” She adds, this time Itadori laughs with her.
The curse tuts on his cheek, preferring to ignore the two. Then there was silence again. She smiles at the thought of her friend being very thoughtful even for a curse like Sukuna. She doesn’t think she would have done the same thing had she been in his place. But then again, Itadori had always been so compassionate and kind.
She takes his suggestion, thinking, ‘Oh, what could possibly go wrong with taking a curse out to the city?’. Well, for instance, casualties would be on the rise. In her current state, she’d have no fight against Sukuna. It’ll be easy for him to get rid of her. Ah, but what was life for her now but a mere experience anyway.
“I’ll think about it.” She says as she walks away, waving back at Itadori.
It wasn’t as if she still wanted to live after everything that happened. At least she can cross something out on her bucket list, right?
And think about it she did, indeed. Because there they were now, standing in the middle of the busy streets of Tokyo. She hadn’t really planned how their day was going to be, half expecting that Itadori must have made a little itinerary—but he didn’t. At first, she wanted to ask Sukuna where he wanted to go, but after realizing that he knew next to nothing about the new Tokyo, she kept her mouth shut.
They stood in awkward silence for a moment, just standing in the crowds of people going on about with their owns lives. Both really had no place in mind, just a nice little walk—they thought. Sukuna peers down at her, wondering what was inside her pretty mind again. A foreign feeling he never thought he’d feel again presented itself during that night in Shibuya—fear. Fear he’d lose her again. Fear that when he comes looking for her in their next lifetimes, he might never see her again. Fear he might have to live the rest of his cursed life without the one being that made him want to live.
She begins to walk, Sukuna walks alongside her, ignoring the stares people were giving him. He could easily swipe their heads off, but he won’t. He’ll give her a break from the hell she faced just months ago. Humans truly were judgmental hypocrites. He focuses his sight on her, and notices she’s just walking without paying attention to her surroundings. He quickly grabs her arm as she was about to cross the road again, pulling her flush against his chest as the cars sped by. Had he been a moment late, red would have painted him again.
She was pressed against his chest—protectively, almost. Sukuna’s hand was wrapped around her back, and the other behind her head.
“Fucking humans and their technology. Could’ve run you over.” The curse says, a scowl on his face as he remembers that red sports car.
Not realizing he still had her in his arms, he looks down. Still the most beautiful green eyes he’s ever seen. Still the same eyes he fell in love with. Still the same girl—almost. Had it not been for the sadness that lurked just behind those vibrant green, she’d still be the same girl Sukuna loved. She gently pushes against him, not fighting like she would before, and he lets her.
“You gotta be careful. If you die—“ He pauses, catching himself on what he was about to say.
“If I die, then that person who healed me will just have to try and do it again.” She laughed bitterly.
I would heal you again if it means you get to live another life with me.
Sukuna was surprised when he saw her smack her face with both her hands. What the hell was she doing? Then she turned to face him, red marks on both her cheeks as she gave him that smile she’d usually give Itadori.
“Well, let’s forget about that first and get this little date started.”
Even when she said that, he knows she’s not as happy as she wants to be.
The two trailed along the streets of Tokyo, still a lot of people hustling and bustling. She was familiar with the area, knowing where to go and what to get. Sukuna just watches her as she takes a load of food from different vendors, splurging whatever cash she had in her wallet. Money was a trivial thing for the curse. If he wanted something, he’ll simply get it—no need to pay.
He looks around, uninterested at the sight of the civilians going on about with their business. Men, women, children—it was so much different from his time. It was a golden age new to the curse, and he felt himself swell with pride at the thought that one day he will do what he had planned to. But for now, perhaps he can indulge himself in the simpler things.
Like being with her.
He looks at her as she carries the paper bags and plastics full of food, noting she was struggling but hadn’t really voiced out. Sukuna tuts as he takes the plastics from her, and she looks at him in surprise.
“You don’t have to carry all that yourself. Just keep buying and hand them over to me.” Sukuna says, and he catches the smallest smile forming on her lips.
She nods. The atmosphere changes, and suddenly, they weren’t feeling so heavy anymore. They enter a café; it was a simple one with minimalist styles. She greets the baristas good morning, and they greet her back. She’s a regular there—finding solace in the soft lo-fi music that played, and the chatting of people in the background made her feel less lonely.
Sukuna looks down at the menu on her hand, and he looks at the unfamiliar drinks with curiosity. She notices him peering down at her, and she lifts the menu a bit higher for him to see.
“What do you want to drink?” She asks, looking slightly up at him.
“None of these are familiar.” Sukuna responds blankly, and she almost smacks herself for realizing that just now. “I’ll get what you’ll get.”
She smirks at him teasingly. “You sure you can handle my taste?”
Sukuna raises an eyebrow at her, and she shrugs. They both go to the counter and she orders 2—strawberry frappes—or whatever those were. Sukuna wasn’t sure.
“It’s a date, so at least pay for the meal. That’s what guys do.” He remembers what Itadori had told him the night before.
He feels for a wallet in his pocket, remembering Itadori placing it there. Just as she was about to pay, he takes out the cash and hands it (more like shoves it) to the cashier’s face. She looks at him in surprise, and so did the cashier. Sukuna doesn’t look at her, waiting for the man to take the wad of cash in his hand.
“Sukuna, you only need 2 bills.” She says beside him, and he looks at the money before following her instructions and handing it over to the cashier who shakily takes it from him.
They sit on the counter by the window, watching the passersby. She had her chin propped up on her hand, blowing a strand of stray hair from her face. She thought about where they would go next—maybe to the park? She’d been there with Itadori and the rest before…
Ah. Why am I always thinking about these things?
The curse notices the shift in the atmosphere again, the weight on her shoulders back, and the heaviness that lingered in the air. Her eyes were fixed forward, mind probably wracking its confines for answers it doesn’t have. His entire being wanted to take it away from her—this burden, this regret. Sukuna wasn’t sure why, all he knew that this look didn’t suit her at all. She stands when her name is called, smiling as she takes the drinks from the barista. She thanks them before walking towards Sukuna, the curse already looking at the drinks in her hand. It was so… pink.
“What?” She asks with an almost amused look, and he sighs.
“Where do you want to go next?” They both ask in unison.
(y/n) laughs softly, telling him that she knew a place. Sukuna follows her outside the café, drowning out the noises around him, focusing solely on the girl in front of him as she navigated through the busy streets until they reached a nice park. It was so green—Sukuna remembers this place clearly. It seemed like the place was kept as it was; the lake and the tree beside it. This was where he had first met her all those lifetimes ago.
“Ah crap. I forgot to bring a picnic blanket.” (y/n) says beside him, snapping him out from his thoughts.
He sets the plastics down on the grass, taking off the black jacket he was wearing, leaving him wearing the plain white tee under. He sets it on the ground, and she just stares at him—in disbelief, again. Was it really hard to believe that a curse like him would do that? He had manners too—well, only for her, it seemed.
“Sit on that. Don’t complain.”
She rolls her eyes at him, but follows him anyway. They were under the shade of the tree, the clear afternoon sky colored in hues of pale yellows and oranges. Sukuna watches her as she takes the food out of the plastic, opening them and placing them neatly on the newspaper she’d bought. Who knew what kind of germs lingered in the grass, she didn’t even want to think about it. Taking out her phone, she takes a picture of the food, having the curse scoff at the gesture.
“Jealous much? I’ll take a picture of you too. Don’t worry.” She teased, smirking as she glanced at the photos.
Sukuna settles with the silence that came, contented with just being in her presence. He notices that she’s lifted the phone in front of him, and as much as the curse hated to admit it—he didn’t know what to do.
“Smile, idiot.”
“Be in the photograph with me, then I will.”
The teasing look on her face disappeared, cheeks dusted with red. She bites her bottom lip as she sighs—Sukuna wasn’t sure why. She sits beside him, lifting the phone in front of them.
“You better smile.” She mumbles.
Sukuna doesn’t smile though, he smirks. But he watches her smile; bright and calming, still so much like spring. She complains about how Sukuna didn’t even smile or look at the camera, but doesn’t push for another photo much to the curse’s pleasure. They settled with eating, her mostly telling him what kind of food she got. Some of them were familiar to Sukuna, some not very familiar. He found himself liking the taste of the spicy rice cakes, so he took that for himself.
“Here. You should try dipping this in that.”
He does, and he finds out he likes those blood sausages too. Again, he takes it for himself. They don’t talk much, mostly just eating and drinking. Sukuna frowns at the sweet taste of the drink he got, complaining about how it was too sweet for him.
“Told you to get something else.” (y/n) says as she fishes something out from the paper bag beside her.
Cold black tea, Sukuna didn’t particularly hate it, but it was better than the sweet drink. He takes it with a thanks, drinking and looking around. He sits in silence, listening to the distant talking of other people who had also gone on their little dates. Sukuna remembers how it felt when he first met her, sitting by the lake. He turns to face her, studying her features, feeling his heart swell at the feeling of being this close to her—alone—not with her friends. Not a bystander. He really was beside her.
He sees the distant look in her green eyes again, the fight they had were still there, but not quite bright as before. Though he healed her wounds and saved her that night, he still felt like she wasn’t wholly his. She wasn’t his, and he wasn’t enough for her. He laughs to himself bitterly.
“Sukuna.” She calls him, and he turns his attention to her.
“What is it?”
Green meets red—and Sukuna’s chest leaped at the thought that he was the only person she was looking at right now. Even for that short moment, Sukuna felt that it was just the two of them.
“Why did you chase after me?”
Her question left him speechless. He wasn’t sure why—no, he knew why, but he didn’t know how to say it to her. Would she laugh at him? Would she tell him to fuck off like she did all those times when he’d spoken to her before? Would she spit on his face if he tried to hold her? Would she stab her heart just to get away from him again?
It was the bitter truth after all, but he wouldn’t lie to her. He’d never lie to her. He’d lie if he’d gain something from it, but he knew nothing good would result with him lying to her. He wasn’t even sure if anything good would result from telling her the truth. But it’s been centuries since he’s been chasing her—and god forbid if he loses her this time, he might not find her ever again. Fate was a monster who treated Sukuna with so much spite. It took away those he wanted most, and he couldn’t lose her again this time.
She patiently waits for him to answer, knowing that perhaps he had his own reasons for chasing after her. Maybe he’d wanted to use her in one of his silly rituals—or maybe he’ll use her body as a host for someone he adored in the past—
“Because I love you.”
Silence.
That’s all he receives. Sukuna doesn’t ask for more. He doesn’t push her to say the words to him. He doesn’t tell her to accept it. He doesn’t force her like he did before. She’ll come to it on her own terms, and if she doesn’t, then he’ll accept it. The curse heard from her that love is never forced, and it’s something he had a very hard time accepting, truthfully, even until now.
Still, he wanted to see how she looked, so he turned to face her. Hugging her legs close to her chest, chin propped up on her knees, and a sad smile on her face.
“Out of all the people who’d say that to me, I can’t believe it would be a curse.”
Sukuna wasn’t sure if he should be hurt, but he doesn’t react to it. Instead, he looks forward.
“This was where I first met you.” He says and she looks at him in curiosity. “You were seated there by the lake.”
Her eyes looked at the area where he had pointed.
“What was I like back then?”
Sukuna chuckles fondly at the thought of her. Well, it wasn’t exactly a good experience for her, and the curse had been anything but gentle when he first met her. Still, he found her fighting spirit commendable.
“Feisty. You spat on my face.” He recalls, and she gapes at him. He nods, explaining why, but leaving out the gory details.
She listens to him speak about the many times he’s met her. Sukuna finds himself smiling slightly at the thoughts of all those lives spent coming after her, how it had made him feel accomplished whenever he found her. She studies the way longing lingered in his features. She looks at the markings on his face, at the back of his neck, on his arms, and on his wrists. (y/n) feels something odd inside her, but doesn’t comment on it.
“I never knew curses could love.” She said.
Sukuna says, looking at her directly. She feels smaller under his piercing gaze.
“But that’s why I chased after you, (l/n) (y/n).”
She feels another blush creeping on her cheeks, this time she doesn’t look away.
“And that’s why I’ll keep chasing after you, until I finish all my plans. Then, and only then, will I stop.” Sukuna finishes, feeling himself feel lighter after telling her everything he’d been keeping.
(y/n) doesn’t meet his eyes anymore, looking at the lake and sighing again. Some sort of resolve built inside her, something that solidified after months of wanting to end her suffering—it seemed she was given a meaning to live again. By a curse, nonetheless.
The wind blew past them, and the sun slowly descends from the distance, darker shades of orange and yellow were painted in the sky. A golden sunset. Silence seemed to be a constant for the two of them now, but neither of them complained. Sukuna feels her sit closer beside him, head laid on his shoulder as she closed her eyes. He wraps his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him, and silently placing a kiss on her head. They both understood what this meant.
A silent promise was made.
“Sukuna.”
“Hm?”
The breeze whistled, trees swayed with them—a happy little dance, if you will—the crystal clear waters that served as witness to the first time they met—and now, the last. Her voice was soft, gentle as she found herself relaxing in his arms. Her response to his confession was a quiet one only he could hear.
“Sukuna. Promise you’ll find me in the next?”
“Always, (l/n) (y/n). Always.”