Sometime between 794 - 1185, the Heian Era,

or in other words about one thousand years ago.

Returning is such a thing - just like free will.

I was running in the middle of the forest, had another kind of flight behind me, since I reappeared at some slope and practically rolled down this half mountain, now had unspeakable scratches on body and face and to make matters worse, I neither knew where I was nor, how to get away from here again.

»Damn you, stupid asshole!«, I shouted through the area. Then I heard something coming closer, horses? Startled, I backed away and watched as warriors passed me by. No one paid any attention to me, I frowned in confusion, tzz they could have at least stopped and told me where to go or taken me on those horses! I was still stumbling through this, fuck where the hell was I anyway?! I spun around on my own axis, looking up at the treetops, trying to figure out where the heck I was going. At some point, the sun had already moved lower, I landed on a road? If you could call it that at all. Rice fields were directly across from me, one field after another. »Shit man, what did he do to me? Where did I end up? Is this supposed to be my life after this? Rice paddies?! I love rice but not that much...«, I walked on and on until I heard voices again.

»Seriously, why are you here again today? You're not helping, not one bit! If you're not going to do your job, you could at least help me. Then I'll be done faster and you can spend time with me! You're already annoyed that I'm not paying attention to you«, I heard a voice that was identical to mine. Crazy.

»Nope. I'm a jujuzist and you're a rice farmer, I don't know how to do that«, that.... that was Sukuna?! Clearly. I continued walking down the street, someone with a huge woven basket on his back bent down. »Yes, yes just be too bad for this work, it's just our payment! You owe me one, red-eye! You better bring anything home!«, I stopped as if rooted to the spot. Someone was working in the field and Sukuna was lying in the treetops, lazing around and being a jujuzist! I'm going crazy right now, truly.
The boy in the field bent down again and then I heard his laugh, one that resembled mine. Then mud flew through the air and landed in the middle of Sukuna's face. He sat up with a jerk and wiped off the mud. He looked down angrily and slowly stood up, shit, this is going to go so wrong! Quite automatically I ran, wanted to save the boy in the rice field from him. With outstretched hands, I wanted to push him out of the runway but unlike what I thought, I flew through it, lost my balance and landed in the mud myself. In front of me Geta shoes, cautiously I looked up. Sukuna?! Two times?! While this information was still being processed, the laughter that was so much like mine snapped me out of my stupor. "How dare you!" screaming and laughing, the two landed in the rice paddy. The like-sounding one landed on his back and the jujuzist Sukuna on top of him.
»How much longer are you going to be?«, he sounded displeased, letting go of the younger one and then helping him up. The scenario was absurd, banal, just not right. »Again and again you ask the same question but call me a fool? So since I just started, you know exactly how much is left«, Sukuna sighed and then he disappeared, instead the basket that had landed in the dirt was now filled with rice. »Tzz, show-off«, the younger rolled his eyes and when the basket was full he shouldered it. »Thank you and see you in a minute«, Sukuna in the kimono followed the younger one with the basket while I stayed with the jujuzist. The latter glared after him until he was almost unrecognizable. »I wish...«, But he fell silent, put his head back and looked at the sky. I eyed him from top to bottom and walked once completely around him. »Enough staring?«, I jerked back and fell on my butt, he saw me?! But, I got through those two earlier...?  A hand landed on my head. »You haven't changed at all. However, you're a jujuzist, that surprises me«, confused about that, I stood up. »Sukuna, you're one yourself«, I patted the mud off my clothes. What the hell was going on! What the hell was going on! »What are we?«, I sighed softly. »I don't know, you ran into me, killed me again, I killed you, and then we ended up here. There was this glowing thing in front of me«, he spun once completely in a circle. »Then it's your soul's memories, which in turn means you have to remember«, I frowned, not understanding a word either way. »Uh-huh, and of what?«, I then quietly picked up. »About us, Yuuji. To you and me and what happened«, I faltered, this Sukuna was far too nice.... He called me by my name - grotesque. All of this, it made no sense. »Why would I... That...wait,no.... Thanks, I can't stand you, you're an asshole, you kill me, you kill others, you're not helpful and people die, my friends and everything thanks to you! So no, I don't want to know about it! I just want to get out of here! I'm fed up!«, I shouted around and he, he remained calm, listening to everything. My anger, my reproaches, my hatred - for him. »At first I thought you were more pleasant, but I find you really annoying. Why do you stay so calm?! Why don't you freak out!? What's wrong with you?! Start acting like the king of curses!«, I turned around and there he was. Sukuna, the king of curses, and across from him, Sukuna, the jujuzist. I between the two, my hand landed on my face, could it get any worse? This was my personal hell or what? Had I not been punished enough with my life in the meantime?! Did I have to suffer now also in my life after it and Sukuna endure AND that also still twice. »Oh man, either I'm going crazy right now or something else. Not enough that my life has gone down the drain. My own species wanted me dead sooner than I would have liked. No, you killed me again and now I'm stuck here somewhere. Honestly this is my personal hell! One of you was already enough for me! Shit again, now there are you also twice?! Thanks, I'll pass! I'm gone, yo. My life was determined enough, my death belongs to me alone! No matter if it's paradise, nirvana or hell, I won't spend the afterlife with you!«, I ran straight into the forest, should be fine with me, the main thing is to get away from them! Far far away.

»He is and will always be a fool, it's the memories of his soul, he won't come out until he accepts...stay away from people who know you, memories see you. How was it with Yuuji?«, I looked at my human image. »Yuuji is Yuuji, no matter what life«, he, my then human self, clicked his tongue. »And you still can't get away from him? How many lives have we been through?«

»Together? After this one from now on? Never another one, it's been a thousand years and I reincarnated as the king of curses in him. I vegetated and he was killed over and over again according to Uraume«, I rolled my eyes. »Nice shit and all because I am the strongest. I should have stayed away«, I turned away from the me myself. »I should have, but even after the first encounter, that was no longer possible. Yuuji is too extraordinary for that«, without another word I followed my soul into the forest, it was time to move on.

»HEY!!!«, waving my arms, I stood somewhere trying to get the riders attention. »HELLO?! I NEED HELP!«, I kept shouting but no one responded, what!!! Sukuna saw me after all! Why didn't they now!!! So I kept running until something swallowed me and I woke up again. All around me was pure darkness. »Hello?!«, I was scared to death, what had happened now. »Hello, you sound like me«, my voice again. »There's a torch on the wall, if you can manage to light it...«, a fireball hit it and flames rose up the walls. »Sukuna!«, I mean in chains, shredded clothes and hurt to the extreme. Now the three of us all looked at each other. »You really did it! You're alive!«, my chained me burst into tears and slumped to the ground and my arms were stretched out by it. I whimpered, I couldn't watch this for a second longer and turned away. Sukuna, on the other hand, ran to that pile of misery. »Sukuna... you can't stay! You have to leave! Find me in another life but not in this one anymore«, all three of us heard the footsteps that were suddenly heard from outside. »Go! Now!«, Sukuna grabbed the head of me and pulled me up, suddenly kissing me, only to break my neck afterwards. When the door opened, he stood right in front of me pulled me into his arms and we fell back down. »Tell me, do you enjoy putting me around corners all the time?!«, I yelled as we emerged from the darkness again, furiously drumming against his chest, trying to somehow free myself from him. Damn, what was that about just now! »You really like killing me, can it be?! You fucking asshole«, he just glanced over his shoulder at me, but then faltered. »What do you think I should have done? Let you continue to suffer? I didn't kill you then only now in your memory, so that the soul forgets that pain, no longer breaks from it. I know what would have followed and believe me, your soul is better off without that memory«, I continued to stare at him angrily, that was it? Was that his apology?! »I hate you!«, indignantly I shouted it out directly, Sukuna's collar was now finally bursting.

»You want me to hate myself?! Show remorse?! Be angry?! To make you feel better again?! Those damn three lives were enough for me! I couldn't be there, instead I was hanging on to this fucking corpse wax and I couldn't do anything! Nothing at all! You think I wanted this?! You really think I wanted them to take you away from me?! Do those things to you?! To make each new generation of jujuzists act like the previous one?! To take my soul over and over again?! Making you a rape victim until you finally come clean just because they wanted me, me and my strength?! Yes I hate myself for that. It took me a thousand lives to find you again! And what does fate do?! Let me reincarnate in you! YES YUUJI!!! FEEL GOD DAMN FINALLY BETTER!!!«, at which point Sukuna disappeared without a trace. I gulped, clenched my hands into fists and pushed away my tears. My personal hell was gradually tightening its noose. I thought hard, sat down on the ground and leaned against a tree. I closed my eyes and tried somehow to forget what had happened. But at some point I drifted off to sleep.

Still in the same wood I woke up, a pleasant smell in my nose slowly I opened my eye. It had become night, of course a time at which one did not want to be stuck in the forest. In front of me it crackled and I saw a fire, I had been covered with something thin. A white kimono, surprised I looked at this. It belonged to Sukuna, startled I freed myself from it and when I turned my eyes to the surroundings I did not find it. Did you freeze in your memories?! Memories... my memories, my life back then... so that was how it was. I jumped up and started walking, looking or not looking - I was aimless and yet I wasn't. Until at some point, I fell down a steep slope. »Fuck! That's what you get! Shit night!«, I fell on several protruding stones, pulled me here and there injuries. Hard to believe though I didn't really exist here and at some point at the bottom I stopped. Damn it. I had really hurt myself, so that also meant that I could also cool down. Fantastic I was in a bad situation, it couldn't have been worse. »I just want to go back and leave this shit behind! Leave Sukuna behind me! To be free! From him, from this! I want my fucking life back!«, I screamed around and suddenly woke up again, lying in the same position I had lost consciousness in, only without a hole in my chest. Sukuna had landed on top of me, I sighed in relief and pushed him off me as best I could. All that was left was to escape from this cursed innate sphere of the other. Sukuna, however, did not wake up, I don't know how much time passed, but he did not wake up. I slapped him but nothing happened, however, from the ray I did not get him away.... Don't tell me he's still in there?! He couldn't get out on his own? Or didn't he want to?! But if he was stuck there, I couldn't get out of here! I bit my lower lip, no, he doesn't need any help, he wouldn't accept it after all and would let me off ice-cold. He was the king of curses, he always found a solution, so I had to wait, he would get out of there again. But it did not happen, in the meantime I sat on his stupid throne of bones and looked at him further. Breathing had not stopped but something told me something was wrong. »Sukuna!«, I shook him again. »Sukuna, wake up! Wake up already!«, I didn't even notice how panicked I was getting. But the King of Curses remained in his stupor. What did I have to do! How did I get back?! How could I get Sukuna back?! Tears welled up in my eyes. »Just take me to where he's stuck now!«, I pierced my own chest without hesitation and fell on my soul until I landed where I hoped I had been before.

»Sukuna?!«, even as I was falling from the sky I was shouting for him. Did he hear me? Did he see me? »Shit, can I die if I fall from this high?!«, because I could hurt myself! Panic started to set in. »SUKUNA! SUKUNAAAA!«, I squinted my eyes and then bounced into something. »Pretty reckless«, it just growled, it was him and thank goodness it was the right one! Silently, I just blinked at him and with a huge charge of energy, he landed back on the ground. »I've been looking for you for a long time«, and that's when all the dams broke. »I... And then... domain... and you.... didn't wake up«, he raised an eyebrow and left my stammering just like that. »So you were awake, but were still in my sphere?«, after some time still walking through the forest, still carrying me, he then asked his question. Wordlessly, I answered in the affirmative. »Why didn't you just leave?«, confused, I furrowed my eyebrows. »It's your inner sphere, how am I supposed to dissolve it! You said it couldn't be done!«, he set me down on the ground with a sigh, another bonfire. »Well I was incapable so I did, you could have dissolved it and I would have been trapped in your memories forever«, he then explained to me. Astonished at this fact, which would have actually freed me from him, I marveled, but the very next moment words rumbled out of my mouth that I would never have said a few hours ago. »Why would I do that? I...«, but the rest remained unspoken, instead I muttered other things that would hopefully set us free. »I accept my past, my soul, and the bond with Sukuna«, it was little more than a whisper, only I could hear it; I thought. But Sukuna's senses were more than heightened, that's when we both ended up in his inner heart. I pushed away from my soul, its light changed, where once pure gold shone, now red mixed in and it took on the color of the most beautiful sunset in the world. The roots closed again and then the soul sank into the lake of blood.

»If you're about to wake up, you should drink something. Maybe we were out of there faster, maybe not«, Sukuna made hand signals and then I woke up again in the shrine. I pulled the air into my lungs and stared towards the ceiling, I was back, back in the here and now; lucky me, it was about time. Slowly I sat up, in the meantime someone had put me on the futon again and covered me up - Uraume. I wonder how long I was gone. Carefully I got up and walked towards the sliding door, dazed and powerless I swayed back and forth. Everything untouched and then I rushed towards it. Two liters later, I breathed in and out, panting, and sat on the floor. It took a hell of a lot, slowly I pulled myself back up by the door. »Uraume? How long was I gone?«, Them appeared in front of me without hesitation and knelt down. »A whole week, Yuuji-san«, I nodded, drank again and disappeared back into the bedroom. Even after three days, I would be considered a traitor and everyone would be looking for me, because of him. I would have to face the consequences no matter how bad they might be? »Uraume, my jujutsu clothes, please. I have to go back«, it was better not to mention all this. Not to tell them that I had awakened, nothing at all. Nothing from here, nothing from all this. Sure was sure - my free will had already been taken by them but my return belonged to us.

Were curses really the cruel ones?

I don't think so, because humans always were.

I fell back into the courtyard of the academy and was already heading for the dormitory when I was stopped. »Yuuji Itadori!«, someone shouted angrily, the voice I didn't recognize. Then I was forced to the floor and my arms were pulled back painfully. »Yuuji Itadori, your disappearance, we consider as an escape attempt, the superiors have therefore decided to subject you to disciplinary proceedings«, that here torture stood for education, one rumored but now it was damned reality. My hands clenched. »I accept the punishment«, the chains that had appeared came off right after my statement. The one who had used his technique immediately put curse power suppressing handcuffs on me, Sukuna disappeared - into nowhere.

Was that really what they wanted? They asked me countless questions about Sukuna, but I pretended to be ignorant. Everything I had planned, I kept - whether for me or for him? I did not know. Forgetting should be a gift, and right now, at this moment, I wish I could. I wished I could erase all my knowledge, remember nothing, remember no one. It felt like I was just being left alive, I was being whipped, tied to tin chains and sometimes I had to stand for three days straight or I would dislocate my arms. With my head down, I hung here, thinking now of the memory where Sukuna had simply killed me - that would truly be redemption for me and I longed for it.
The handcuffs that had suppressed my cursing power were no longer on in my cell, it was at least as difficult to reach Sukuna here - but not impossible. When I could be sure in my dungeon that no one else was here, I groaned. My head dropped to the back of my neck and my tears found their way down the outer corners of my eyes, along my temples and into my hair. A soft whimper came over my now chapped lips, my legs trembling I could barely hold myself up. But I knew if these gave way, I would suffer far worse pain. The footsteps echoing from the other side of the dungeon door moved away. Relieved that today was finally over, I tried to see the ceiling of this prison through my tears. Like then - I was a pile of misery and I was again unable to do anything. Would he hear me? Whether he would let me? Whether he would allow me to escape from this reality and not feel pain for a brief moment? Several times I unintentionally rolled my eyes, fighting weakness, faintness, and fatigue. »Sukuna? Can you... my arms...«, with a dry throat and rough voice, I tried to formulate my question - almost choking on my larynx, due to the parched desert in my throat. »Suk-« I fainted, I thought at first but fell into the cool water and heard a hiss. »Fuck«, it rumbled menacingly near me and I drew my eyebrows together. He shouldn't be angry, I was here after all, here with him... why was he so angry again- a cool hand found a place on my forehead and I drifted away altogether. I slept, I could recover and prepare myself for the next day. Still in the domain of him I awoke again, I was exhausted but had gathered strength, tired I looked around. Black sheets of silk under me and countless pillows around me, this bed was, it even had blood-red silk curtains.... above all this fragrance - his smell only a thousand times stronger. I gathered up the blanket and finally sat up, I had been healed somewhat but not completely he took away most of the pain but still I felt uncomfortable in my skin. »You're awake, we don't have much time. The disciplinarian, he'll be here soon«, his voice I heard more than clearly here in the domain. »I had to wait until you were awake, otherwise your body would have slumped and your arms would have been damaged«, he didn't sound mocking, angry or irritated. None of that. My fingers dug even further into the layers of his bed. I was more than aware of how humiliated he must feel, he the king of curses, was chained and had to play the victim role. Even I got angry at the thought, I finally wanted to get out of there. »A-Alright, I'm ready«, I murmured softly, bracing myself for how my body would feel, how I would feel. But the truth felt so much worse. My body was in danger of shattering, of falling into thousands of pieces and never coming back together. I wanted to finally give in to this powerlessness, to finally welcome this recovering blackness and snuggle up to it only to finally find peace of mind. »Yuuji!«, as I opened my eyes I heard a familiar voice, it was Kento. A small jolt and relief spread, I was allowed to leave. I would finally be free again - by their standards. My face was streaked with tears and all I could see were the familiar colors of his suit. »You have definitely gone too far, ALL OF YOU! The dungeons haven't been used for centuries!«, a rumble, then keys opening the bars. »Yuuji, it's me, Nanami. I'll get you out of here«, I nodded, finally giving in to that emptiness and blackness.

»Their have definitely gone too far Satoru. Look at him!«, I was standing here in the hospital room with Kento and Shoko, again it was Yuuji lying in front of us with his eyes closed different from then though was that he wasn't dead. I gripped the bed at the foot, my knuckles protruded white and I cursed them, all of them, all the jujuzists. A new era had begun with me the six-eyed man and yet nothing changed here but that was exactly my plan. Unlike the academy, the great clans had not forgotten, I was alone and the only one of my clan but we too remembered - reawakened again and again at least the techniques that had prevailed then. »Kento brought him to me half an hour ago, we have only one problem.... Since he's been in bed, no one can touch him. I think Sukuna is preventing it«, sighing, I released my grip and walked to the side of the bed only to lean down and listen to his breathing. »He is still alive, but he was trapped there for SIXTEEN DAYS, he needs everything possible otherwise he will die sooner or later. His body needs to be replenished with fluids and extra electrolytes and vitamins. Otherwise he will just die on us«, that probably made the king of curses react. Only one pair of eyes opened, the bottom one, the blood red, the wrong one silently looked towards each other. »Shoko, since you are the one who would be the least danger to Yuuji, I'm sure you can touch him. After all, I don't want the little guy to die in any case, so give it a try and go about your business. As soon as Yuuji wakes up, and God only knows when that will be, call me. Not Yaga, not one of the chiefs, me, I have some things to discuss with him. So far we still don't know why he disappeared and where he was. I'll come back tonight to see how he's doing«, I raised my body again and then left the room, careful to make sure that the Curse King had hopefully understood everything. Angrily, I made my way to the principal, we had a serious talk to have about who exactly was in charge here and that students definitely didn't deserve this. No matter whether Jujuzist or vessel! I heard the door open and close a second time, Kento followed me.

Yuuji did not wake up. Days passed, weeks passed until the first month passed. We were allowed to see him but not touch him. We also didn't get to see Satoru for weeks, the only instruction from him was, »Both of you train, get stronger, and most importantly, go find the rest of the fingers. I'll get back to you«, so that was it now? Were we teacherless and no longer a team? I came here every day, Megumi came for exactly five days, then he snorted and mumbled something about how he was only bringing disaster on everyone, and so I was the last one, the last one to come. Nobara Kugisaki. »I know I'm always calling you names, Yuuji. But you have to come back, here.... something is going on and I don't understand it. I'm the last one, the last one to visit you. Kento is rarely here, we've been given the task of searching for the rest of Sukuna's fingers, so far without success. I haven't seen Satoru for weeks, he tried to contact me but nothing so far. Megumi came at first, but now he's staying away as well. Why? I thought we were a team. It feels like you're slipping away from me and I can't do anything about it. I wish I could have some advice from you...«, I fell silent, finally snorting and frowning. »Me a advice from you, the soft pear«, with tears in my eyes I started laughing.

»Your soul, it's wavering«, I froze, that was Sukuna. I couldn't move, although no power was present in the room, it didn't crush me, I was afraid. »You stay silent? Don't rest?«, I swallowed, trembled and then raised my head. »Interesting, your soul is of the same ilk«, and with that, the king's eyes closed again. Yuuji still sleeping and me staring at his face. What was that about and what did he mean by that?

The door opened behind me and Shoko greeted me as usual. »And anything new with you two?«, she continued walking to her desk, still standing with her back to me as my gaze fell on Yuuji's face again. The lower eye on my side open again. »New? No, not really, I still can't touch him. He still hasn't woken up and me? I'm the only one still here feeling useless«, with that, the eye closed again and I was now staring at Shoko's back - good-for-nothing, failure.
»Kugisaki, we all feel useless in Yuuji's case and don't know what to do. Didn't Satoru give you guys a task? You should pursue this one to find distraction«, Doubtingly, I looked at her - too weakly.
»Find Sukuna's fingers? What if they're all special curses? I'd rather die than get one, I'm too weak without my team«, she clicked her tongue, coming to a stop next to me and a hand landed on my shoulder. »You're not weak Nobara, since when do you think like that? This is out of character for you. Very well I'll examine Yuuji for a moment and then I guess I'll tell Yaga the same thing I've been saying for the past few weeks«, with that she began her measurements on Yuuji, Shoko could touch him but she was also the only one who could, envy. I watched her quietly as she did this, she wrote everything down and today she did something new. She sat him up, with his back hunched and bent forward he now sat in front of me. »Grab some gloves and grab his legs, I want to look at his back finally-«, but before I could comply with her request, Yuuji's body reacted in his own way, burying Shoko underneath it and sheerly crushing her. She hissed and could barely breathe, I was unable to lift him but surprisingly didn't get electrocuted. »Okay okay, let Shoko go! We're not looking at your back!«, I then suddenly yelled around and I was finally able to lift him. Relieved at that, I pressed him to my chest, Shoko got off the bed and then I put him down. »Okay so...this.... I didn't expect that. But you brought up Yuuji...that means he's responding but not waking up?«, I breathed heavily and just tucked him back in. How was I supposed to know? I panicked, she was the doctor with curse powers, wasn't it her job to answer me such question? »I-I don't know, I panicked and.... and...«, I couldn't explain it, nothing I could explain, I was the stupid one here. Everyone else seemed to understand - except me, as so often. Shoko stroked my head and ran to the door. »He and Megumi are just your friends. You know him, I'll leave you two alone again«, I nodded in a daze and now pulled my legs up onto the chair, clutching them with my arms. »Yuuji, wake up soon«, I whispered softly and closed my eyes for a few minutes.

I only remembered that someone came for me and then I was gone. But I didn't wake up in Sukuna's domain either, at least not at first. Eventually, though, he pulled me out of the bloody water. »Took me a while to find you«, what that probably meant but I didn't ask any questions, again he carried me and then I landed back on the cool varnishes. »Sleep, the other will follow later«, he whispered softly and then I do not remember. Until the time Sukuna woke me up. »The girly brat, she wants to see you. Talk to her«, he was irritated, almost angry. »If I'm annoying you so much, then throw me out. You don't want me here, that's fine. I don't have to be here. Shoko will give me the day off, for now at least«, Dejected, since I had nowhere to go, probably no one understood me at the moment, I got out of bed, ready to be master of my body again. »Don't talk nonsense, you are the same fool as ever. Your friend, she's worried, I hate this interpersonal stuff, so rule that. Like people are going to believe anything I say. You can always come back here and you know it«, I felt visibly uncomfortable, rubbing my arms and then nodding weakly when I next opened my eyes, I felt half a ton heavier. »Kugisaki?«, brittlely the name came to my lips, vowels I swallowed making the name unrecognizable but she still responded.
»Yuuji?!«, All at once the half-ton became the whole, my body pressed further into the mattress beneath me and breathing became difficult. »You're awake again! Yuuji, you're finally back!«, I heard her cry for the first time, the first time ever anything other than anger, provocation, and her outbursts. »Nobara, how long...«, she broke away again and smiled towards me. «A month and three days«, I grumbled softly, trying to move my body - to control stiff, leaden limbs. »Shoko she was already here, wait I-«, she jumped up but I held her back. »No, let... please don't go away. I don't want to see anyone. The fingers, did you find any?«, she looked down at me in surprise. »We had the order from Gojo, yes. But found? Unfortunately none, I rarely go off on my own, it's usually special curses. Megumi, on the other hand... he comes back more dead than alive, probably enjoys being that way. He's freaking out or in the process of doing so.... The two of them haven't shown up after the first five days. Kento comes by as often as he can, I come every day«, so that was it, slowly my hand sank. »You don't ask the questions for nothing. You'll disappear again, somewhere. To Sukuna or somewhere else am I right?«, the question came out of her mouth so quietly but due to the long sleep, I felt like I understood her crystal clear. »Yes«, I whispered and didn't even manage to look her in the eyes, the humiliation ate through my body like a virus, only seconds faster. She, on the other hand, stroked my hair, asking only one question, »And when do you really want to come again?«, but I didn't know the answer to that, because did I even want to? That's when the mattress sank in next to me and we were at eye level. Nobara grabbed my face and pulled it towards her. Looked at me like I was disappearing, like sand running through her fingers. »What is it? You can tell me anything, everything here is breaking into a single shambles and everyone is only fighting for themselves currently. It's... it, everyone is questioning everything. So do you need anything? Do you want me to do something for you? Then I will do it Yuuji, no matter how crazy your request is. I won't ask any questions and I'll do you the favor. You need allies, especially now, after your disappearance, after your disciplinary proceedings«, as she released her forehead from mine again, her doe-brown eyes looked at me piercingly. »Can you get Shoko to treat me in my room? I don't want to be here anymore and...«, she waited silently, not knowing if I could really ask her the next thing. »Can you remove something on my back?«, I gripped harder into that thin bedspread until Nobara quietly answered in the affirmative. I looked around, then discovered the handcuffs as well, lucky because Sukuna didn't know about this thing. I was still branded before I had the shackles, which suppressed my cursing power to begin with and thus him, removed. »The wrist cuffs, put them on me«, Kugisaki's gaze switched from there to me but she did, as soon as I had them on I also felt Sukuna disappear. »On my back, cut it out. It doesn't matter what it looks like, how deep the scar is. Just remove it please, Nobara«, she hummed softly and I took off my shirt. »I need a knife... something that cuts...«, she muttered softly to herself. »I don't care what you do it with. Just do it, please. And if you have to use one of your nails, remove it from my body«, she finally understood the need behind it and sighed. »Alright then...« she walked to the nightstand and smashed the glass vase. »I just brought you the flowers yesterday, so be it«, she waited for it and I turned my back to her. Again, no sound escaped her. Unspoken, she now understood what had happened to me - didn't you Nobara? Without warning she cut, had I not been in pain anyway, I might have screamed but as it was now.... I was hardly aware of my body and felt only this one thing - a poisonous mixture of pain and complete numbness. It took a while but eventually the shard fell to the floor. »I'm done, I'm still bandaging it for you«, I nodded then countless stuff landed on my back, liquid ran down and then she bandaged everything including my shoulder. »Well, that request is done. Do you need anything else?«, she untied the wrist cuffs again and I nodded slightly. »I need a paper and a pen«, she got that for me as well, I divided the sheet in half and started writing. When I was done, I explained myself only briefly. »This is the PIN to my bank account. Can you manage to get me everything on it? I hope the sketch is sufficient«, she accepted the paper, her eyes flitting over it and then she confirmed it to me. »My purse should be in the room. Feel free to give yourself something, I'll pay for you. ...And Nobara, only Shoko and you are allowed to visit me, I will write this wish on a piece of paper here and leave it. Shoko will find it and think I was awake for a moment, no one should know about this conversation, promise me«, we looked at each other silently for a few minutes but again she nodded. »Alright, I promised you... then I'll go work on Shoko and hope everything will work out. Once the new bed is in place, you'll be in there. Promise, I'll keep quiet«, I nodded slightly, put this OP shirt back on, wrote on the second piece of paper, my wish and sank back on the bed. »Tell Sukuna I want to at least be able to touch you. Otherwise, I'll kick his butt. Sleep well«, she slowly became the old again, I smiled and closed my eyes, then I was back in the Inner Domain of the King of Curses.

»You have an injury on your back, why?«, I crawled back into his bed - I didn't want a discussion, not with him - not now. »Because Nobara had to remove something, that's why«, was all I gave him in response. In here, we had reached a status quo by now. We accepted each other, didn't argue, didn't fight. Existed only together in his domain. Only now I noticed that the bed here was also renewed. Sukuna continued to remain on his throne, having only watched my walk to his bed until I disappeared from his sight again. »That's what I heard. So does that mean you'll be staying here for now?«, again I sighed. »Sukuna, if you want me to leave, just say so«, but he didn't reply to that anymore and finally left me alone. Actually, I was expecting an outburst on his part of ways I should remember who is above whom here.... blah blah blah. Rolling my eyes I turned to the other side only to look into red eyes, startled I sat up and backed away. »Interesting thought you just had there. I'm just going to skip over that because apparently you remember exactly how things work around here, brat. What's your plan now? Stay in here forever, get fed my fingers and then get executed while you're stuck in here with me?«, well what was I looking for, what did I want and what was the plan? »I don't know«, I therefore mumbled softly and then turned away from him. »I don't want to see anyone from out there right now. Is that selfish? Then... so be it, I'll be selfish«, they all kept looking for the fingers after all, whether I did it myself or others did the mission for them. It was I who would be executed. Along with Sukuna, so be it, I was just selfish for once. »Sukuna... are you able to keep everything and everyone out of my room except people I really want there?«, it remained silent for a long time to my whispered question but eventually, after what felt like an eternity - an hour and yet more - he answered in the affirmative. »Nobara... she needs to get stronger. Out there... it's all breaking«, he sighed softly but gave me no real answer. I heard fabric rustling and the position next to me changing. »And how are you going to pay for it?«, annoyed my eyes formed into slits. »Alright, does the payment have to be heavy like a pact or is something else enough for you?«, I turned my face back to him and waited. »If I make her stronger, I'm guaranteed to want a finger every time she comes back from her mission«, aha, if I was still at the beginning, I would just agree, but thanks to my memories of my past lives, I was now significantly smarter. »What happens to her if she comes back without success?«, one of his hands landed on his chin, then a grin spread on his lips. «Her? Nothing will happen to her. Her failure will be on you«, I snorted. »Then I'll make the pact with you«, without asking, I agreed, as if I still cared currently whether I lived or died - time didn't stop, time doesn't forget, time doesn't forgive. The main thing was that he left Nobara alone, when I agreed, I felt the next chain that bound me to him and thus the second pact was concluded without questioning the consequences that would apply to me. With it the conversation was likewise terminated for me and I turned again away from Sukuna - he remained.

»This crappy instruction manual! No one can see through it! Yuuji you are me so what owe!«, I despaired slowly but, after two damn hours finally stood this huge four-poster bed, which Yuuji, however, had such a taste... that was so funny. Until I had found this part, it also took an eternity, four days! The other stuff I had at least already like written down. The old bed was out and the new bed was in place, satisfied I nodded then I started to clean his room. The refrigerator I also checked, disposed of everything that was no longer edible and put my stuff in there, to die I no longer leave his side, in the end I miss it when he wakes up again. I did not take this risk, there was no one here who could question my actions. His laundry I washed through and on his adjacent balcony I hung up then his load, with me in the room I proceeded in the same way and everything necessary landed then with Yuuji. »Done. For this, another day went on it, sorry Yuuji, but it's better that way. Tomorrow morning I'll pick you up, everything is settled and Shoko has given me exact instructions where she needs space«, proud of myself, I then stepped into the shower and went to sleep afterwards. I was awake half the night with excitement, because Yuuji would finally be here again.