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In the land of gods and monsters, a sole beacon of light illuminates the darkness, shrouding the cruel and unyielding beasts in his brilliant shine. The bride of Ryomen Sukuna, Yuuji.
Only those within the King of Curse’s closest circle have ever been allowed to glance upon the young god’s beautiful face. The rest are teased of the visage behind a dainty white veil. Those who peek without permission lose their sight for their impudence. And yet, they are the first to adamantly claim that it was worth it.
Within the walls of the Malevolent shrine, worshipers of the King and his bride gather on the eve of the new dawn. The seasons will change, bringing a most welcomed brighter and warmer cover to their realm, and it is up to its inhabitants to please the only ones who can grant their survival.
Quite frankly, it’s a monumental task. However, it must be done.
One would assume appealing to the kinder half of the Ryoumen couple would yield the most benefit. Appeal to his kind and gracious heart, reap the benefits of his besotted husband.
Oh, how wrong one would be.
- - -
“Hmmm,” Yuuji extends the sound, a small fist tucked beneath his chin in a mimicry of his husband’s usual bored pose. If only he had the extra arms to complete it. Wouldn’t that be a sight? Rather than let his husband get distracted, Sukuna jostles his smaller mate on his lap. The movement brings him back to the moment. “That does seem an audacious request.”
The one-eyed curse (Yuuji thinks it might be a cat) stays quiet though the young godling can taste the poor thing’s anxiety on his tongue. Yuuji pretends to think a second longer, kicking out his legs so they dangle over Sukuna’s thigh. Ever the cautious one, Sukuna moves his lower arm to properly cradle Yuuji so there’s no risk that he might fall.
“Audacious indeed,” Sukuna rumbles. His opinion on the matter of the curse asking for more weapons from their shrine so that his small army might secure more land ‘in the King’s name of course’ is clear in his bored tone. As Sukuna remains quiet and their guests begin to sweat out the silence, Yuuji realizes this request will be entirely up to him. How fun!
“Let me meditate for a moment,” he responds, leaning back on Sukuna’s chest, eyes closed. The one-eyed curse cat swallows.
Yuuji can’t understand how his husband’s name has been revered for over a thousand years, and yet no one understands how to appeal to him. Why, Yuuji’s only one-hundred and fifty and without a doubt knows his cranky curse inside and out. And from how the lips of the maw on Sukuna’s belly are pursing in anticipation, Yuuji’s got one chance and one chance only to save this poor soul from a terrible fate.
“Oh!” Yuuji chirps, leaning forward with such excitement that Sukuna wraps an arm around his middle to keep him from tumbling off the stage. The squeeze is Sukuna’s silent warning to be mindful. “This land that you’re wanting our assistance in securing, does it bear fruit?”
The cat curse risks raising his head a tad higher.
“Acres and acres of orchards are ripe and ready for the taking, master.”
Exactly what he wanted to hear. Yuuji claps his hands in delight, making the long sleeves of his kimono billow and spread the still sakura petals on the stage. They blend beautifully with the color. Yuuji smiles and waves for his husband, their signal for Sukuna to lower his head within his beloved’s reach.
“I want the peaches!” He eagerly explains to his husband. And while Sukuna’s expression remains unchanged to the common eye, those who have witnessed the change within the King of Curses know that the servant at his feet will live another day solely because of his bride’s sweet tooth.
“And where are your manners, brat?” Sukuna rumbles, tone at the complete opposite end of his affectionate nuzzling against Yuuji’s hair.
“Oh yes of course how could I forget,” Yuuji giggles, reaching up to cup his husband’s face. His hands are so small in comparison and somehow they’ve managed to tame the most feared god in history. “Dear Husband, will you please help this man conquer a peach paradise for me?”
“Hm.”
“Hmm?”
Sukuna closes his top set of eyes, leaving the bottom set open and honest as they shine Yuuji’s sunny reflection.
“Would it make you happy?”
“Very much so.”
“Then the peaches you will have. Rise.” Sukuna wields the command with his spear and begins his list of orders for the cursed cat’s army to follow. Uraume obediently scribes their master’s every word at Sukuna’s side while Yuuji wiggles in Sukuna’s lap when it’s decided that crates of peaches will be brought before the couple within a few weeks. Right when Yuuji swears he’s about to start drooling at the prospect of a fruit festival…the curse just has to open his mouth and ruin it.
“My lord, a few weeks? It will take a single week to amass the soldiers needed let alone battle and–”
“Silence.”
A fierce wind blows through the temple hall extinguishing multiple candles that Sukuna soon reignites with a flick of his fingers. He says nothing as he prepares to brace the stage for one of Yuuji’s tantrums. He doesn’t blame the brat, ascending to godhood does a number on the mental and physical.
“This request was brought before me and you speak out of turn to my husband for what reason?”
The cursed cat–along with every other being in their temple–lowers their head to the ground to avoid Yuuji’s wrath. While the young god is renowned for his cheerful and sunny disposition, his infamous flash of a temper can burn just as hot.
“Please forgive my disrespect.”
“Ah, ah, ah” Yuuji interrupts cheerfully. “Another word and you’ll have one less arm to get my peaches with.”
The room remains silent apart from Sukuna’s boisterous laughter. When Yuuji feels a pinch to his bottom he about blows Uraume off the stage with another strong wind.
“And they sing of your influence on me,” Sukuna hums, overly amused by his husband. “You are a god, are you not?”
“Of course I am,” Yuuji pouts.
“Then command. They are lesser. They will follow.”
Sukuna lowers Yuuji in his lap just enough to glare overhead at anyone who would dare speak up against his bride. The word no, any refusal, should be banned from their vocabularies. Meanwhile, Yuuji brings his sleeve to his mouth to clear his throat and return to his softer demeanor. He has a reputation to keep.
“You say it will take time to amass your army?”
“Yes, master.”
“How much time?”
The curse cat stays quiet for a touch too long, leading Sukuna to bump the end of his trident on the stage. First warning. The next will not be so lenient.
“O-one week, master.”
“Then I will give you six days to amass this army. After that you have six more to fight with my blessing and secure my fruit. Afterwards you will build a new temple for my husband and I.”
Sukuna hums proudly while sighs of relief can be heard around them. ‘
“Yes, yes! With Ryomen’s bride’s blessing we will complete your will.”
“Wonderful,” Yuuji chirps once again. All ill will forgotten and rays of sunlight return to the temple. “Be sure to ride you fastest horses, okay?”
“Y-yes. Please excuse me.”
Sukuna and Yuuji wave the curse cat away, and before the next worshipper can come forward Yuuji calls for a break. Uraume and the other monks will care for their guests with songs and merriment while Yuuji can enjoy a moment alone with his husband. The paper doors close, leaving Sukuna to gather Yuuji in his lower arms and hold him close.
“Tired?” Yuuji asks, cuddling up with Sukuna.
“I’m not that old to need rest, brat.”
Yuuji laughs softly, warming against Sukuna’s chest and listening to the steady heartbeat beneath the muscle. With Yuuji’s improved mood, their entire domain glows alight with his aura. A fresh rain of pink petals wash over them, fluttering through their open wall and coating their gardens as well. Sukuna takes it as a sign that their bond is continuing to grow stronger every day.
Soon, he’ll be able to give the whole world to Yuuji and nothing will stand in their way. They’ll rule over everyone beneath them, two halves of a perfect whole.
“Well I’m still young and adjusting to this new body,” Yuuji softly counters, eyes already heavy under the comforting weight of being close to his husband. “So I demand that you rest with me.”
Sukuna rolls all four of his eyes, adjusting his arms to properly cradle Yuuji with a gentleness only reserved for the Cursed King’s Bride. He holds Yuuji as more petals fall, a moment of stillness just for them, sheltered under their shrine until the world needs them once again.