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When Ryoumen Sukuna was born more than one thousand years ago a golden name was engraved on his wrist: Megumi.

As a boy he would trace the letters, first with his eyes then with his fingers. Whispering the name like a reverent prayer being repeated over and over again, the walls of his home bouncing the word where they would eternally echo throughout his mind. 

When Sukuna dreamt he imagined a life filled with love, laughs and kisses; yet it all faded when he awoke. His chest feeling warmth for a memory that doesn't exist, longing for a partner with the name that glows on his wrist. 

All he wanted was to experience the companionship that fate promised.

Yet it never occurred and it drove him mad. 

He is a smart sorcerer, analytical in all ways cursed techniques. A minute into a fight and he could decipher one's next move and if he looked closer he could understand the basics of their technique. Sukuna was respected yet feared by sorcerers and curses alike. 

But smart does not equal sane. Sukuna didn't care for baseless regulations other sorcerers had nor did his moral compass align with the others. He did not care for the safety of anyone who did not dedicate themselves to him, much less non sorcerers; they were worthless, powerless and pathetic. But he couldn't help but wonder if his soulmate was a non sorcerer, perhaps it would be better if they weren't. 

Why waste his breath on ungrateful beings while his own desires go unfulfilled? 

His craving for blood and power took over and any thoughts of love were forgotten well...not entirely. He took lovers, many of them, he killed them after a night at least or a week at most if they were somewhat pleasurable. Many thought he had an insatiable lust but deep down his mark thrummed in hopes that the next would be the one. 

They never were. 

One night as Sukuna recklessly slaughtered curses and humans without a care, a lithe figure appeared from the shadows, his long black hair and dark kimono swishing in the wind as he sliced the air with his katana. Sukuna barely dodged the blade scratching the nape of his neck, turning to face his opponent, red eyes locking with twin emeralds. His heart beating excitedly, from the adrenaline or the excessive heat radiating from his wrist he did not know, but nonetheless this sudden attack made him grin. 

The pale, like porcelain, face glared at him contorting the delicate features. Clear that the intention was to maim if not kill him. Sukuna couldn't help the chuckle that passed his lips. 

He ran forward, the figure gracefully escaping his range, his weapon held tightly between slender fingers. Sukuna flicked two fingers causing a tree behind the mysterious man to collapse as the assailant ducked into the shadows. 

Sukuna raised a brow interested in this new technique, he had heard of it yet has never witnessed it. He quickly turned but his collar was caught by a tantō skimming the edge of the bone as if the cursed energy he placed there didn't exist. A cursed tool, he concludes. When did he have time to switch his weapons, Sukuna wonders. This man intrigued him, a pity he had to kill him. 

"Tell me boy who are you?"

Pink lips twist into a snarl "as if I'd tell you! You disgust me, you call yourself a sorcerer yet disgrace all of us who wish to protect others. I'll kill you even if it brings me an eternity of agony!" The figure declares. 

Sukuna 'tsks' for some reason this man has an unadulterated hate towards him, his loyalty to the jujutsu world disgusts him and to think his potential is wasted on such foolish beliefs. 

His chest drips with his own blood, yet he doesn't heal it, hoping it distracts him from the tingling on his wrist. He continues to slash the air attempting to hit his evasive target, luckily hitting the others ankle. 

The sorcerer stumbles, dropping his weapon before it's engulfed by shadows. Sukuna watches in fascination, his eyes wander back to the boy's face. Green eyes once filled with determination hardened with pure fury, he claps his hands together, fingers intertwining as a wolf leaps from it's hidden confinement. Sharp claws swing in his direction, Sukuna dodges easily but a claw grazes the top of his nose. He turns his head to notice the figure watching, perhaps expecting this creature to defeat him. Sukuna won't let him have the pleasure and he slightly twitches his pointer finger slashing the wolf's chest open yet not before the wolf upwardly scratches the right side of his face. 

The shikigami disappears into the shadows, he doubts it's dead but out of commission for a while. Before he can turn around and ask if that's all the other can do, pink tongues wrap around his upper and lower arms. He looks at the green croaking toads with his still intact eye before looking at the man who is making a snake shadow; Sukuna frees an arm and burns the toad, it's squeals of pain making the man flinch. An interesting reaction. 

A snake rises from beneath him, engulfing his entire body except his head and freed arm, it's fangs piercing into each shoulder. A large bird in the distance catches his eye before it collides with him scratching his jaw with its talons, he realizes it's another one of the man's shikigami. With his freed arm he repeats his actions and cuts the bird, this time he aims to kill it, the bird's head falling behind it's winged body before that too falls from the sky. 

The young man falls to a knee, from the wound or the killed animal Sukuna doesn't know but the boy's moment of weakness causes the snake to release its grip on him before it too fades into the darkness. 

"You're powerful I give you that but what happens when I kill all of your pets in a single battle?" Sukuna questions. 

The man shakily stands, shifting his weight onto his unharmed leg. "I will kill you before that happens." 

Sukuna laughs "oh? Well allow me to give you some advice." The man is already summoning another animal, Sukuna braces himself for whatever it is. A large elephant announces its presence and unleashes a fury of water, Sukuna dodges before speaking again. "Number one: surprise your enemy, even if you must use a different shikigami to distract them." Sukuna lands behind the black haired figure. "Two: don't always rely on your animals to do all the work, while your opponent attempts to avoid them, use that as your chance to attack even if it's with your bare hands."

Sukuna raises his hand while the boy is processing his speed and location "and three: protect your most valuable assets" He flicks his fingers, aiming at the boy's arm. "Your pets are useless if you don't have the method to summon them."

The other grunts in pain, collapsing on his knees as he grasps his bleeding arm or lack thereof. He looks up, hatred and pain mixing in those jade pools "you don't deserve to be called a sorcerer, you-you filthy curse" he huffs, his chest heaving "we're not heroes but you, you have no right to be as powerful as you are let alone harm anyone with such power." He coughs. 

Sukuna chuckles "your foolish morals put you in this situation, you have no other to blame but yourself." The slow thumping on his wrist began to quicken, choosing to ignore it to speak with the beauty kneeling in front of him. He smirks "do you mind telling me who you are before I kill you? It would be a shame to have such a lovely face go without a name."

The other looks up and spits at his face, blood landing on Sukuna's cheek "you'll find out soon enough."

Sukuna chuckles "I'll be merciful and make it quick since you entertained me." Before the man could respond the sound of an object rolling and blood spurting echoed in the quiet stillness of the night, the quick beating on his wrist slows once more before it stops all together.

The excitement of his recent win was replaced with the stinging agony upon his wrist. His arm was pierced by a feeling of fire almost as if engulfed by flames. He looked to his shaking and twitching arm as the golden mark darkens into a pitch black. His eyes widen before the excruciating pain causes him to double over and vomit onto the dirt. 

He quickly turns to the decapitated figure and rushes to it, holding his wrist and reading his own name the hollow black of it taunting him. He grabs the boy's —Megumi's— head and attempts to use his reversed cursed technique, he can't remember the last person he had healed besides himself. He quietly pleads for it to work, his frantic heartbeat and panicked whispers being the only noise rushing through his ears. 

The body below him remains lifeless. "No. No, no, no!" He shouts, his scared expression shifting to anger. "Damn you Megumi! Damn you." He whispered into the night, no one near to hear him. The only one that mattered far from his grasp.

Ryoumen Sukuna was born a second time, that's all he knows. All he remembers. 

He holds all four arms in front of him and instantly notices the golden name standing out from his black markings. He immediately traces over it, he didn't know curses had souls much less the ability to love. 

The name is familiar yet he can't seem to recognize it. Had he known someone in his past life? Green eyes flash through his memory before it's quickly gone replaced by red. 

He quickly clenches his fist, he's a curse, curses cannot love. What stupid game was fate playing now? 

He admires his appearance in the waters reflection, he's dual faced yet it's vertical almost as if he was sliced in an upward motion, another pair of eyes expanding his field of vision and another set of arms that are much easier to maneuver then he initially expected. Then there are the markings. They're black, he'd never seen them before he doubts he had them in his last life, he wonders what led to them. 

He supposed it didn't matter. 

He raided, killed and devoured any and all who stood between him and power. He became feared by sorcerers and respected by curses. The title of king of curses bestowed to him as he sat atop his throne of corpses. Many learned that they stood no chance against such power and devoted their existence to him, one whom he greatly appreciated with their cooking abilities and never ending loyalty was Uraume. They were also the only one who never attempted to poison him but that too was futile. 

As Sukuna lounged in the stream Uraume gently yet thoroughly bathed him, the soft cloth pausing as they reached the black line on his wrist. 

He opened his eyes annoyed that their ministrations stopped, he opened his mouth to scold "why did you stop?"

"Apologies master but may I ask, who this is?" 

Sukuna rolled his eyes and looked away from the curious eyes, "if I knew who it was don't you think they would be laying in my bed as we speak?"

Uraume looked down in embarrassment "I- did not think of that," they paused. "It is a lovely name, I wonder what she would look like?" Uraume thought aloud. 

The king of curses looked at her, his brow raised "what makes you assume it's a woman?" 

"Well the name is reserved for women though it is rare for men to have such a name."

"It doesn't matter, a bed warmer is a bed warmer." He shrugs before a sharp pain shot through his arm and Sukuna glanced at it, the golden name thrumming as if it knew the topic of their discussion. The pain felt familiar but he shook his head and looked at the other for answers yet Uraume continued to wash him as if their conversation never happened. 

The next day as Sukuna sat and ate Uraume entered bowing and announced another's presence. "Master Sukuna, he is here as you requested," the other nodded and dismissed them. 

Sukuna placed his empty bowl on the table and looked to the figure who kneeled at the door "Kenjaku" he called. 

The man with stitches on his forehead focused his gaze from the floor to the dual faced demon "yes my Lord, what have I done to have the great king of curses grace me with his presence?"

Ignoring the others praise Sukuna spoke "tell me about my markings, a century has passed and I still have yet to see as many curses with any that resemble my own."

The stitched man raised a brow "I have never seen any as intricate as your own my Lord but from the knowledge I have it is believed that markings gifted to curses are symbolic."

"Symbolic of what exactly?" Sukuna asked annoyed by the others' vagueness. 

"That's where it is debated despite all the speculation there is no evidence as to what has caused them, it's not like other curses care enough to conduct research about it."

Sukuna motioned for the other to sit across from him, the other did as instructed. 

"And what of this?" He pulled back his light kimono sleeve to show the golden name. 

The body manipulator looked fascinated, Sukuna did not hide the mark but rarely let others observe it up close. "I have never seen a curse with a soul mark. Even the bodies that I inhabit do not have bonds as strong as your own. They all become null or weak that the thrumming is faint even when their mate is near."

Sukuna scoffed "I did not think curses had souls or were capable of feeling anything less than hatred or pleasure when unleashing their sadistic fantasies."

Kenjaku grabbed the cup of sake handed to him and sipped. "You are correct about the souls, curses are embodiments of humans cursed energy, cursed energy is connected to the soul yet it is not the equivalent of a soul. Unlike curses, humans can live without cursed energy yet no one can live without a soul, the soul is not dependent on cursed energy as the other is. But a soul is not required for a living being to express emotions, curses are sentient even if you seem to forget they are."

"Watch your tone, fool," Sukuna scolded "I'm aware of how souls work but that doesn't explain how I have a mate out there in the world."

Kenjaku shrugged "you are an anomaly, sir, I could further conduct my research after I depart. But as of right now my hypothesis would lean towards the possibility that you were once human, which that too is a mystery in itself."

Sukuna looked down at the floor, humming in acknowledgement "yes perhaps."

"Did you have it in your past life?"

"I don't know."

"Do you remember your time as a human?"

"No."

The brain sighed before suggesting "pardon for overstepping my boundaries but if we find your destined lover perhaps I can get answers sooner. And if you wish we can execute them if they do not fit your standards-"

The king paused in his musings, his stomach dropped, his heart clenched and his wrist burned. The idea of hurting his soulmate soured his mood and he wished to get these faint pictures out of his head. His face hardened and his glare became pointed "harm my destined mate Kenjaku and I will leave a trail of your hosts to find you."

The other visibly tensed. 

"Your job is to get answers not harm others, your intelligence is what makes you valuable, don't make me regret my decision in entrusting you to such a task. Now you are dismissed, you may take your leave."

That night Sukuna would lay down letting his thoughts wander before they subsequently returned to laughter and loving whispers that was soon overcome by the deep green and dark red that caused his heart to beat frantically. 

He opened his eyes and gasped as he sat there until sun rise 'did I have a soul mate as a human? If I did what happened to them?' He looked down at his own hands. 

Sukuna lazily glanced at the mob of sorcerers gathered to defeat him. His reign as king surpassed its fourth century, his power and influence had grown, his body indestructible and his reversed cursed technique able to regrow limbs and necessary organs. He could never truly die, he considered it a gift to his soulmate to never bear such pain from his death. 

His gaze passed green eyes before he immediately returned his eyes to the pair. His breath stuttered and his wrist tingled in a familiar way but how? He has never met that man, his arm has never experienced this before, so how was it so familiar? 

Uraume pulled him from his thoughts "master your wrist!" They pointed out. 

Sukuna glanced down and right before him the gold mark was glowing. His thoughts were racing as memories flashed before him, it didn't make sense how it did not glow before when they met centuries ago? Now that he remembered, the boy had kept his mark wrapped and Sukuna so lost in battle did not glance at his own. 

Uraume looked on in awe as the golden name reflected off their masters crimson eyes. Someone in that group of sorcerers was their masters soulmate, which meant they could not kill them. 

The battle itself was strenuous and their numbers dwindled, much was the fault of the sorcerers yet Sukuna was to blame for a curse getting too close to a black haired man. Uraume had taken notice —they began to understand their masters thoughts and intentions as the centuries went by— and had taken some of the workload to protect the shikigami summoner. They saw their master relax and put focus on killing the sorcerers, impaling two of them with his yari as he scorched another with his two weapon free hands. 

Sukuna held the lifeless corpse of a sorcerer with a poison technique. 

"How utterly pathetic" the king muttered.

"You do not wish to eat him, master? 

"No, dispose of his body. His poison reeks. I doubt it would combine well with his decomposing body."

Uraume bowed and took hold of the body but instead of leaving they simply looked on at their displeased king. 

"Speak your mind or do as you were told, I do not like you looking at me like some dumbfounded fool." He crossed his arms, never glancing back at the ice cursed user. 

"How are you immune to poisons? Regular poisons don't affect curses but after multiple battles with poison techniques you have been punctured many times and yet you have never fallen to their poison." They asked, stating their observations. 

There was silence as neither spoke until "...Poison is what killed me."

Uraume tensed as a chill went down their spine "were you bit? Was it a snake? A spider?" 

Sukuna shook his head "no, I was poisoned."

Uraume gasped "who would do such a thing?"

The dual faced king looked down at his hands "a coward," he responded gruffly. 

As they were cornered Sukuna looked around and locked eyes with the jade ones that haunt his dreams, his fingers had been chopped off and his body was beginning to be sealed in some odd wax that restricted his cursed techniques, he yelled at the thin figure. 

"You may not be able to kill me but you will never feel the pain I felt, Megumi!" The other sorcerers turned to look at the man, their shocked and confused expression matching his. Sukuna smirked "I will return Megumi, we will find each other that I will make sure of. I will no longer be the coward I once was. That is my binding vow to you, my blessing!" And with that his mouth was sealed leaving a promise behind as his wrist continued to glow. 

A hooded figure looked around before following a woman with stitches on her forehead into an alleyway that quickly changed into a beach scenery. 

"Come now Uraume no one will find us in this domain, you are safe" Kenjaku assured. "Now do you have as you promised?"

The other took off their hood and nodded, pulling out a finger wrapped in cloth. 

Kenjaku looked at them, his deep scowl shifting on the woman's face to a more pleased expression. "Wonderful as we await the king's return we shall plan for the future." 

"H-how will we resurrect the king? His body has been sealed away and is guarded by sorcerers, we do not have enough numbers to retrieve him!"

Kenjaku laughed "oh silly Uraume you must trust me, I will find a way to bring him back. His body cannot be destroyed meaning his fingers will remain as well which gives me the opportunity to test different solutions. If we cannot return him to his body perhaps a host will suffice."

Uraume gasped "I will not let you use the master's body for your experiments!" They angrily declared. 

The brain turned around, clearly amused "yes, yes, I do not know if he can hear you but perhaps you should notify him of the recent sorcerer news. Now if you mind this body is becoming frail I need a new one perhaps I will strike a deal with that Kamo..." The voice drifted as the female walked away. 

They looked down at the finger before sighing "I'm sorry my Lord I could not do anything to stop it but... The shadow user is dead from what I've heard he died in a battle against another sorcerer, the wielder of the six eyes if I'm correct. Neither came out as the winner, I'm impressed your soulmate is strong; they defeated a six eyes wielder who had the limitless as well. Of course I expect nothing less from your mate but maybe he's a bit reckless for running into a battle he knows he will die fighting." Uraume gasped, realizing what they said and to whom "ah my apologies master I did not mean to say such a thing forgive me!" They bowed repeatedly to the wrapped finger. 

That foolish boy had consumed the finger, he was free! 

The moon shone on his face and the cool air hit his skin, oh how refreshing it felt. Even if he was in some insolent brats body. 

And to his surprise the boy fought back, before he lost full control a voice called to him but he was thrown into his subconscious domain left to watch from within. 

Voices went on around him and before he knew it he was thrust out once again, facing a six eyes user...with the limitless. Filled with unbridled rage he launches forward leaping into the air to attack. 

The man dodged all of his punches and kicks, he was fast, Sukuna took note. Stupid sorcerers always a pain. 

Going forward for another physical attack, still too weak for his technique, and that's how he found himself face to face with the man he could never forget. The man that fate will never let him forget about. 

Megumi. 

Green eyes framed by ebony hair and contrasted by alabaster skin stared into his own, fear and concern filling them, he was squeezing the bag against his chest as he watched the duel. The boy was much younger than his previous incarnations, he noticed, but his beauty hadn't changed. 

He felt his wrist tingle before being thrust into the fight with the other man, a fight he did not win for the brat had regained control. 

It couldn't be him, he thought. He would have to see if the boy had the same technique as before, he had to face him once again. 

With another finger in his possession he left the building where the sliced cursed womb stood. He was looking for Megumi who had run. Why did he run? 

He walked outside where he sensed his theorized soulmate. Soulmate, he glanced at his wrist, the black markings covering the boy's soul mark and replacing it with Sukuna's own. The gold continued to glow brighter as he approached Megumi. Fushiguro Megumi that is. In this lifetime he had learned the others last name, perhaps that was a step up from what he had done previously. 

Megumi looked on, worried for the brats well being, how tragic, perhaps he should test him and possibly strike a deal with his host, he needed to speak to Megumi outside of a battle without the brat intervening, he needed to know why destiny led them to each other. He ripped the boy's heart out without looking away from his beautiful soulmate, if anything he would heal the boy if it all went sour, he wasn't going to let his chance to face Megumi slip once again. But no one else had to know that. 

"It's just like last time... Except now the roles are reversed." Megumi said it was almost melancholic, it caught Sukuna by surprise, there was no way he meant... No. 

Megumi took his stance causing Sukuna to refocus on their battle, his grin widening as he dodged the bird and the boy's punches. Perhaps Megumi remembered their first fight, Sukuna remembered vividly the advice he had given the other. Even the snake and bird combo remained the same it is quite nostalgic in a sense, and he finally got to defeat that snake he didn't get a chance to before. 

Sukuna had to admit perhaps he was going a bit overboard but this time his goal wasn't to kill his opponent, he wouldn't make that mistake twice but the thought of seeing what his mate could do was exhilarating. It was amusing how they had fought more than they have kissed, maybe this time they finally can.

"Bewitch me! Fushiguro Megumi!" The truth alongside his intent to never kill the brat was that Megumi already had. 

The brat made it harder than it needed to be, Sukuna was going to get what he wanted either way he simply would've preferred no noise but the boy was as lousy as he was dull. 

The binding vow was in place but what good was it when the foolish six eyes user prohibited them from leaving. He hadn't seen Megumi in so long and the need to speak to him only grew, festering in his chest as his wrist ached. 

Now that Sukuna knew the right path to take so many obstacles were thrown at him. But Sukuna always got what he wanted, whether through offerings or by force. 

"Yes good." He praised. 

His precious Megumi using his technique in a new way by creating a domain had pleasantly surprised Sukuna, too bad the boy could barely handle such a feat before collapsing with a tired huff. A part of him wished he had finished the damned curse before but the other half was happy to use this opportunity to see the other grow and become as powerful as he knew the other could be. 

Sukuna sat sensing Megumi's heart beat becoming even, the boy had minor wounds, nothing for the king of curses to fret over. The other grasped his finger firmly, if Sukuna was a bit more lovestruck he would think it was almost intimate. 

Sukuna sat and simply took in the quiet and warmth enveloped by the others' heat. He had been away from the other for too long. Too long. 

"Uraume?!" Sukuna was shocked, his timid minion looked different, or had he simply not seen the other for a while? 

"Kenjaku has been preparing for you, master, we both have. It has taken quite some time but all efforts made by us have been working in our favor. It's only a matter of time- master Sukuna?"

What was this feeling? His wrist was sending sharp pains, almost unbearable as if they were needles reaching past his skin and into his sou- oh. Oh. This pain was not like the day the other died but it's just as bad. Megumi was hurt possibly on the brink of death and he will not let anything kill Megumi not while he had the ability to stop it. 

The pain he felt that day haunted him, a constant ghost lingering on his mind and heart. He would do anything, anything to never feel that pain again. 

Departing from the other he rushed to where he sensed Megumi's cursed energy, he glanced at his wrist where the golden glow flickered. His breath stuttered and sped off without further hesitation. 

Upon appearing by the others' side he dropped the disgusting human who thought himself capable of taking on Megumi. 'A state of suspended death!' He looked to the blond man on the floor, realizing he did good by saving the other. 

Sukuna placed his arm on Megumi's chest and used his reversed cursed energy to heal him. Now that he willingly entered the ritual despite being an outsider he will have to defeat it or else Megumi will die and no matter how powerful he was he cannot reverse Megumi's death if the ritual is followed through. 

The king of curses silenced the ignorant trash —Kenjaku has grown desperate with who he allies himself with, hasn't he?— before beginning his fight with this ultimate shikigami. 

This being was capable, if Megumi had summoned this during their previous battles surely Sukuna would've never stood a chance but after successfully defeating the ugly beast he turned his attentions to Megumi. 

That annoying boy falling silent to his blade, only leaving the silent thud of the others heart. 

"Y-yuji?" A groggy voice asked. 

Sukuna looked down, a smile playing at his lips as he cleaned the blood off the others chin and lifted him into his arms. 

"No, not this time."

"Sukuna? What are you-"

"Have you always been this reckless and suicidal? I never would have guessed, you seem so level headed but as soon as you're in a battle all logic is thrown out the window." He huffs a laugh despite his scolding. 

Megumi looks at him before leaning his head on Sukuna's chest "you'll protect me this time, right?" He muttered into the torn school uniform, Sukuna almost didn't hear. 

He stopped in his tracks looking into the hazy and clouded jade eyes. "Yes." He whispered. 

The body under him relaxed as Megumi fell asleep. Sukuna never loosened his grip as he continued to walk, he observed the other closer, the hair was the same in color black almost absorbing all light, but it was short where his previous lives had longer locks. His face was sharper now unlike the soft features adorned in his past, yet his lashes remained long resting on his cheeks and his lips remained pink and supple and tempting... 

Sukuna leaned down placing a chaste kiss on the sleeping man's lips. He had spent millennia waiting for this very moment, three lifetimes to simply taste the others lips. To hold him firmly to his body and care for no other. 

Megumi's name on his wrist glowed as if celebrating, the tickling sensation felt...nice.

"We have much to talk about Fushiguro Megumi but for now rest. We have the rest of eternity to love each other."