Chapter Text
Clouds shrouded the city in a dark gray shadow. The afternoon was busy, with many of the citizens having just gotten off work. The streets and concrete sidewalks were loud and chaotic as people passed one another, becoming a sea of black and gray coats.
No one would notice them. He had made sure of it. His overall appearance blended in well with the rest of the busy city. His light gray hoodie shadowed his scarred face, and the already dark alley cut a sharp line over his body. He leaned back against the cold, concrete walls as his legs adjusted to his own weight.
His muscular arms were crossed tightly under his chest as he held the warm baby inside the soft, cream cloth, keeping him close. The bundle cooed and babbled softly, his small body twisting around. Yuuji moved one cut-up finger closer, watching as both the baby’s hands reached for their new toy.
And the third hand.
And the fourth.
+++
The apartment fan buzzed overhead as he sat on the dark, worn couch. Yuuji had both his feet propped on top of the dusty wooden coffee table as the TV set up in front of him cast blue light across his torn jeans. The news reporter spoke in a bored, monotone voice as he updated his viewers on the current state of the city, the predicted weather, etc.
He sighed, letting his head tilt against the back of the couch, his hood slipping off his face to reveal the large scar across his face and the smaller one down the right side of his mouth. He turned slightly as a soft noise came from the very end of the hallway.
The door leading into the single bedroom was slightly ajar, revealing the dark expanse of the room behind. The noise came back again, which Yuuji recognized as the rustling of sheets. A soft thump was next, which then led into the quiet steps of someone as they made their way to the door. There was a pause before the door creaked open, and dark red irises glowed against the dark shadows surrounding them.
Yuuji hummed, shifting his body to sit up. “Good morning, Sukuna.” A low groan came from the hallway as the figure stepped out into the dim yellow light. The kid was probably around eleven, given that they’d recently (tried to) celebrate his birthday. His skin was pale due to the beginning of the winter season. Yuuji couldn’t count how many times he had complained about it.
His hair was the same pale pink as Yuuji’s, with his undercut being black and shaved down to match. It stuck up haphazardly as he walked over to the couch, and his dark eyes drooped heavily from the drowsiness of just waking up. The young curse shifted on his feet as he headed straight to the cupboard to rifle through it.
Yuuji let out an exasperated breath, pushing himself off the couch to follow Sukuna into the kitchen. His thick hand tugged out a stool that scraped slightly against the wooden floorboards. He gestured to the metal seat as he rounded the kitchen island. “Go sit down, I’ll make you some bacon and eggs.” The ruffled boy scoffed, making an annoyed grumble as he shimmied past Yuuji and slumped down onto the stool. One of his elbows came up to rest against the marbled countertop as he put his cheek in his palm.
“I don’t even have to eat any of those, ya know. It doesn’t do anythin’.” Yuuji hummed as he leaned over to grab a pan from the cabinet under the stove. A sharp metallic noise rang out as the bottom rubbed against the steel bars of the stovetop.
“Yes, but you’re a...different kind of curse,” Yuuji explained, as he cut a piece of butter from the butter tray positioned beside him on the counter, before dropping the slice on the pan. He took the point of the butter knife, starting to drag it across the bumpy black surface. “You may not need human food like I do, per se, but you still get hungry. It’s better to have your stomach full.” Yuuji huffed, turning his back to the boy as he opened the fridge to retrieve the eggs.
And I can’t have you going around, eatin’ people. So, animal meat is the best I can do.
A silence fell as the sizzle and pop of eggs in the pan continued. Yuuji pushed them around with his spatula, keeping his back turned to the boy, who now sat quietly, his eyes staring down at the floor.
When the eggs and bacon finally finished cooking, Yuuji scraped them off onto a plate before sliding it to the pink-haired boy. He reached into the drawer to rummage out a fork, setting it atop the plate. He tilted his head in question.
Sukuna still hadn’t lifted his head from his hand. His eyes stayed glued to the floor, and a small frown pursed his lips. Yuuji had noticed this about him. He’d go quiet whenever it was brought up that he was a curse. Yuuji wasn’t used to seeing Sukuna so quiet. But he realised Sukuna was very different from the curse he first met when he had eaten that first finger. In the few years they’d had since Yuuji found him again, there were noticeable differences in the curse he thought he knew.
Yuuji sighed before rounding the corner, tugging out the stool beside Sukuna, and plopping down. His hand gently tugged out his phone from his back pocket. His thumb slid over the cracked screen as he entered his code, before instantly going to his gallery.
He scrolled and scrolled, head tilted into his free hand as his half-lidded eyes dragged over every photo. He paused at some with his friends when they were younger, and started clicking on ones involving a spiky, black-haired boy.
Sukuna glanced over and paused as he noticed the person on screen. He immediately straightened, his body turning sharply on the stool, causing his knees to bump into Yuuji’s. The boy's eyes were wide and curious, leaning slightly over Yuuji’s muscular arm to see the pictures of Fushiguro better.
“Is that Fushiguro?” Yuuji gave a small smile.
“Indeed.” He rubbed his chin. “I was thinking about going to visit him. He got stuck back in the hospital because of his back injury…” Yuuji trailed off, looking away as he tapped his chin slowly. Sukuna’s curious expression quickly morphed into one of annoyance as the silence continued.
He suddenly groaned, letting his forehead fall to the counter before, begrudgingly, mumbling.
“Can I go visit Fushiguro with you?” Yuuji grinned smugly as he fixed his eyes on Sukuna. The boy scoffed. “....please.” Yuuji forced out a thoughtful sigh.
“Hm…I suppose.” Yuuji pushed back in his chair and walked past the boy as he headed to the bathroom. “Finish your food and get dressed; we’ll leave in half an hour.”
Sukuna glared daggers as Yuuji finally disappeared behind the creaky bathroom door. The phone stayed lying on the cool countertop. He grumbled something about Yuuji being a brat before letting his attention slide back to the phone, tapping the dimming screen as the photo came back to full brightness.
His head tilted slightly as he looked it over. It was a photo of three kids, one obviously being Yuuji, with his spiked pink hair and annoyingly cheerful smile. On either side of him were a boy and a girl, both also in their teenage years. His two closest friends. The girl was shorter than both, and her grin was just as large as Yuuji’s. She had her arm slung over his tall shoulders and was leaning against him while her free hand gave a peace sign to the camera. If Sukuna could remember correctly, her name was Kugisaki. He didn’t know her well, since she was often out of town for shows.
The boy beside Yuuji was much more familiar to Sukuna. He was the older boy’s friend, Megumi Fushiguro. Sukuna had met him numerous times during the years Yuuji had been taking care of him. The boy was prone to getting hurt in about every fight and was sent multiple times to the hospital to visit a doctor Yuuji called Dr. Lieri.
Yuuji knows too many people, thought Sukuna as he studied the photo. The backdrop was set in front of what seemed to be a school, the buildings tall and made of dark, painted wood. The side behind Kugisaki was an expansive field, filled with groupings of thick, leafy trees and neatly cut grass.
Hmm..Yuuji said something about his old high school for sorcerers, right? He tilted his head. Probably one of his senseis is taking the picture-
Satoru Gojo.
Sukuna froze, his body going still as he stared down. The thought just came to him, slashing through his former thinking. Yuuji didn’t really talk about his days at the high school. He often avoided it or got this weirdly solemn look in his eyes.
The name just sounded so familiar, yet Sukuna could put no face or anything to the thought. He shrugged, setting down the phone and picking up the fork before starting to pick at his scrambled eggs.
Whatever.