Sukuna thinks of Roxanne when the brat is in control. Her willingness to enter a Pact of the Wheel with him, knowing what it entails confirms his suspicion about one of her abilities. It leads him to another question, however: if their souls must share Samsāra forever-linked, does that ability extend to him as well?

He will have to test it out, but the conditions necessary put him in a difficult situation. The Pact restricts him from bringing Roxanne harm, and in fact from what he remembers it will even compel him to protect her should he be alerted to her being put in danger. That rankled him a bit, which is why he'd given her the order to train harder. He does not want to protect her, and if she is too weak to keep her already foreshortened life, then it is no concern of his. Only if she dies, he will soon follow. The Pact does not specify how this happens, but he knows the timeline between her death and his will be a short one.

And then they will be reborn and he must find her again. How aggravating.

His mind drifts to the shikigami under her breasts, smiling almost fondly at the memory of having her. They have not been together since that searing night, and he finds himself aching with arousal to feel her again. He knows part of it is the compulsion of the Pact, but it is just as much his own desire as well. Roxanne is a magnificent lover, eager and yielding, but with just enough defiance in her that she challenges him in the best ways.

He remembers when she stood above him, and he hissed at her to never place herself above her husband. But then she laughed and straddled him, stirring his cock until it was rock hard, and taking him inside of her with a smirk. She'd ridden him hard, until her laughter became whimpering wails, and he relished watching her come apart like a piece of destroyed art, his hands spanning her ribcage, tracing the outspread wings of the seven-eyed raven beneath them.

"Don't seem to be complaining about me being above you, now."

He'd changed their positions after that, pinning her by her throat and fucking her until her breath whined in her chest, and her eyelids fluttered.

Roxanne fascinates him because hers is magic he's never encountered before. She is foolish to bind herself to him. She cannot harm him either, and will also be compelled to defend him. Not that he needs defending. He suspects she, like him, will fight to resist the divine compulsion they've agreed to be subjected to. And the more they fight, the tighter the cord becomes.

Aggravating.

He watches her dance with the Gojo heir, finds himself annoyed at the sight of her hips swaying seductively against his groin, the way his hands hold her waist with the familiarity of one who has tasted her in full. He hates to see–and hear–her with the blond sorcerer too. The brief time spent in her apartment filled him with murderous rage. He almost chanted "ENCHAIN" but Roxanne's wards hindered him, as did that damnable Pact.

Hearing her moaning another man's name while that same man fucked her had made him want to tear the brat's heart out all over again. And he's caught snatches of the brat's fluttering attraction to Roxanne. She is beautiful, but she sees him as a kid brother at best, something Sukuna hates for wearing this shell.

He smirks at the thought of revealing his true form to her. He hopes he sees fear in her eyes again. She's gotten too comfortable being insolent with him.

Sukuna sits back, watching through the brat's from across the courtyard as Roxanne leaves the campus. She's clad in a form-fitting black dress. It clings to her generous curves like a lover, accentuating the svelte curves and lines that mold her. Her hair is no longer in braids, but combed out to its fullness, a crown of black curls haloing her head. A golden collar-like necklace, gold rings, and a chain around her right thigh gleam like beacons against her dark brown skin, and her nails are painted glossy black. The autumn sunset paints the edges of her hair in bloodstained gold. Her immense cursed energy moves like she does in combat: lissome and fluid, like poetry. Its flow is as serpentine as she is, and he smirks knowingly. He cannot wait to fight her again in truth.

She is magnificent.

Sukuna resists the urge to take control of the brat. Only one minute. He should have negotiated for more, but a minute is all he needs to further his plans. And Roxanne is already his by divine right. Anyone who attempts to come between them will be met with the universe's uncaring hand. The Wheel of Life breaks hands that attempt to steer it. Even he, mighty as he is, must answer to it.

When Roxanne slips into the back of the car and drives away, Itadori retires to his room. Sukuna decides he will rest for now. There has been no word on the furtherance of his plans, and the true vessel he wants is only getting stronger.

His time will soon come.

October 30, 2018

One of the biggest problems Roxanne has had in Japan is finding proper haircare. It does not bother her: her circumstances allow her access to the products she needs as part of the additional stipend in her salary as a sorcerer. Amazon delivers, of course, but Roxanne misses being able to have a reliable hair stylist. Luckily, she's connected with a small community of Black and brown expatriates, who hold her in high regard as a sorcerer [she splattered some curses in their neighborhood]. One of them is her braider, Khadijah.

Khadijah is a plump woman in her early 30s, with fingers more dexterous than any jujutsu sorcerer she's ever seen. Khadijah doesn't talk much, and when Roxanne asks her one day why she's so reticent Khadijah shrugs and says she only opens her mouth when she has something worth saying.

Today, Khadijah has nothing to say, so Roxanne yaps enough for the both of them, relaxing under the tender scrubbing of Khadijah's strong fingers. There is nothing like letting someone else play in your hair to relax.

Her mind drifts to Sukuna. Oh, not again. Her eyes close, lulled into a semi-dream state.

Sukuna's hands on her waist, nails digging into her skin.

Sukuna's mouth on her throat, always leaving her wondering if he'll lose control and tear it out with his teeth. But he kisses and licks it instead, smirking as her moans vibrate beneath his mouth.

Sukuna's cock, plunging deep, forcing air from her lungs, her thighs pushed back, ankles in her ears. She can see his eyes, glowing crimson, that fearsome grin, tattooed tongue slithering out of his mouth. He doesn't care about her, she knows, but the intensity of his gaze almost makes her believe he is deadly serious about his Vow.

Her thighs squeeze together, her lips part as she fights a small noise.

"Whoops," Khadijah says, "got a little rough, there. My bad."

Roxanne's eyes flutter open. What?

"Oh, it's not–"

She swallows awkwardly, and is grateful when Khadijah continues their appointment in blessed silence. She makes sure not to doze off again.

Later, she steps out with a fresh style: cornrows that follow the curve of her skull, with a single charm hanging from the center, nestled just above her Third Eye. Each braid is thick, ending with three wooden beads engraved with charms.

Khadijah is a curse user, and her specialty is defensive magic.

It is perhaps one of the only philosophies that separate Roxanne from her Jujutsu High colleagues: she does not look down on curse users. By strict definition, curse users are sorcerers who use jujutsu for evil, but Roxanne has noticed over the years the Higher Ups have taken to branding anyone not allied with JJH and the Japanese government a curse user. The only reason Roxanne has not been penalized is because her ability to move within the curse user community has helped her bring in some of the worst in the jujutsu world.

But there are curse users who do not ally themselves with any faction, and merely use their abilities to help themselves or their communities. Khadijah specializes in defensive magic, and so has armed her neighborhood with protective charms, keeping even second grade curses at bay. Roxanne does not report her, and she suspects Gojo won't either. After all, anything to push back against the antiquated laws that governed their society.

Aside, Roxanne refuses to judge curse users just trying to live peaceful lives. She was not given such a choice, and no one was there to guide her in the attenuation of her abilities. Hell, it wasn't until she attended the school that she mastered domain expansion…with a barrier.

Roxanne puts on her sunglasses, pulling her black cardigan around her. It's early autumn, and the evening is a cool one. She pulls the big hood up, protecting her exposed scalp. Then she calls a cab, checking her texts.

There's some from Gojo, mostly emojis and him asking her what she's up to on her day off. She replies that she's just left a hair appointment, and he immediately asks for a picture. Roxanne snaps a quick selfie and sends it to Gojo.

G: You are so damn gorgeous. When will Nanamin let me have you? It's been forever. R: Satoru, I told you we're serious, now. He's back in the life, which means we can work and be together again. G: photo

Roxanne rolls her eyes. It's a selfie of him pouting, his big beautiful blue eyes looking like two big gems. He's shirtless, of course, and she can't help but smirk. She leaves him on read, and see what Nanami is up to. He's out with his protege, Takuma, having dinner. She smiles when he sends her a selfie, and she knows it's likely at Takuma's urging, from the way the younger man is grinning and posing just behind Nanami.

N: Do you want me to come over tonight? R: Please? I need you. N: Of course you do, kitten. Pancake mix in the pantry? R: No, but I can get some. N: Don't trouble yourself, kitten. I'll pick some up on the way after this dinner. You need anything?

Roxanne smirks and sends a saucy little text: You inside of me.

She knows Nanami is going to wait until after dinner to respond to that text. Or he'll show up and have her right there in the hallway.

Mine.

Yours.

Roxanne shudders.

Nanami glances down at his watch as he bids Takuma farewell. He knows it's late, but he's promised to see her tonight, and he's admittedly missed her the last few days. He thinks about her smile, the curves of her ass, her breasts, that laugh she does when he says something unintentionally funny.

He wants her. Needs her.

The ride to her place is too long, but when he pulls up to her apartment, he feels her cursed energy. It's faint, likely dampened by wards, but she's here. He's got the bag of pancake mix with him, and he doesn't hesitate to ascend the steps and make it to her door. He punches in her lock code, letting himself in.

He hears the sound of a heavy thump, and hears the patter of four paws on the wooden floor. Ichi is waddling at a steady clip, meowing frantically. He charges headfirst into Nanami's legs as Nanami shuts the door behind him and removes his shoes.

"Shh," he whispers, but Ichi is loud and excited, happy to see Nanami again after what in his eyes has been too long.

"Kento?" Roxanne's sleepy voice spills into the hallway. He sees her standing there, wearing a shirt he realizes is one of his, and a satin leopard print bonnet on her head.

"Yeah, baby, it's me," he says, and he comes to her, folding her up in an embrace and kissing her all over her face. Roxanne holds him a while longer, realizing she's missed him more than she originally thought.

"I didn't mean to wake you," Nanami says, reaching up to stroke her cheek tenderly. "You can go back to bed, I'll join you in a minute." Roxanne nods, her dark eyes heavy-lidded and blurred with sleep. He leans in, pressing a tender kiss to her lips, and sends her back into the bedroom.

When Nanami joins her, Roxanne welcomes him with open arms, and he revels in rolling with her in her cool linen sheets, kissing her as if it's the last time he will ever get the chance. Their lives are so dangerous it very well can be.

Roxanne rouses from sleep enough to smooth her hands up his bare torso, marveling at his dedication to his body's fitness. A flush comes to Nanami's cheeks as her hands cup his face and she looks up at him. Constellations dance across her face, painting her dark eyes with celestial colors. Nanami is transfixed, his heart's compass pointing toward her.

Briefly, her eyes are painted an almost sinister glowing crimson, but the light passes and Nanami leans down to kiss her.

"Tell me what you want, beautiful," he murmurs and Roxanne sighs when she feels the iron-hewn muscle of his thigh between her legs. She wriggles her hips downward until he can feel the thick, wet heat of her on his skin. His cock is already hard, but now it feels like a strain. It takes all his discipline not to simply shove himself inside of her and fuck her until his balls are empty.

For some reason, he wants to take his time.

"Go slow," Roxanne whispers to him, and he smiles.

The first opening batch of kisses trail along her jawline, and Roxanne sighs, relaxing as Nanami's mouth charts a sacred path down her throat. He does not linger on her pulse, and she pushes the thought from her mind, not wanting Sukuna to ruin this moment.

Nanami's mouth traces her collar bone, adoring the warmth of her skin, his mouth trailing over the swell of one breast before brushing over her nipple. He smirks as Roxanne shivers and bites her lip on a small sound. Nanami's tongue darts out, circling the bud until it puckers and hardens. Her breath comes is little shuddering gasps.

He goes slow for her, torturously so, teasing her nipples until her back arches, kissing the warm lines of cursed energy imbued in her tattoo. He recalls the first time they had sex. They were freshly graduated, and Roxanne was to take a contract in Russia. They'd made love awkwardly at first, but once they found their rhythm it was as easy as breathing.

She sits up as Nanami nuzzles the svelte tones of her belly, marveling at the cursed energy imbued in the serpent tattooed around her waist. He swears he hears a ghost of a hiss when he does.

"You okay, babe?" She asks. "You seem…distracted."

Nanami smiles up at her, pressing a kiss to the bend between her hip and thigh, making her laugh. He wants to wake up to that smile forever. He doesn't care who's vying for her hand. He wants her , who is so like himself: no sorcerer lineage to speak of, but powerful in their own right. In their world, it is near impossible to find love matches, and many sorcerers settle for arranged matches, seeking to strengthen their bloodline's talents. It also doesn't help that there are so few sorcerers and far more curse users.

Nanami cannot believe his damnable luck, and yet he feels as if there is some vast unfathomable distance between them. When he looks at her, he feels as if the universe wants him to avert his gaze. When she kisses him, he cannot help but think some light between them has been dimmed or snuffed out.

But he loves her.

"Roxy," Nanami says her name softly, shapes it with love. Roxanne's smile softens, and she reaches down to cup his face in her warm hand. He turns his head, reluctant to look away, but presses a kiss to her palm.

"What is it, Kento?" She asks with hushed expectancy. Nanami meets her gaze again.

"I love you," he says, "More than words can say. I could fill a whole library with all that I love about you, and still think of more. You're one of the most vibrant people in my life and…"

Nanami gathers his courage. He's tangled with special grade curses, he can do this.

"Marry me."

Roxanne's eyes go wide, lips parting but no words escape. She wants to respond, but something makes her tongue dry and thick in her mouth, and words slip from her mind like minnows in disturbed water. She feels something around her heart—her very soul —constrict.

The Vow.

God, how could she have been so stupid? The Vow forbids her to pledge herself to another now that her soul is bound to Sukuna. She can't even speak affirmation, and when she tries, the Vow tightens the cord. She knows that in the end, this will be a favorable decision but she hadn't counted on who would be hurt in the process.

"I'm sorry," Nanami says, sitting up. "I shouldn't have sprung that on you like that. Let's—"

Roxanne places a finger to his lips, smiles when his cheeks flush in embarrassment.

"We can discuss this later," she says, choosing her words with care. The Vow does not forbid her from talking about it, only saying "yes" to the proposal. "I lo–I love you, Kento."

Nanami holds her gaze and Roxanne feels guilt eat away at her. The Pact of the Wheel forces devotion through divine energy, and she has doomed herself and Sukuna to only wanting one another. Until she can find a way to exorcize him, and thus purify him and free him from Samsāra, they will reincarnate in every lifetime.

And if he finds a way to kill her…

Roxanne touches her hand to her chest, remembering her reasons for taking this risk. She also remembers the sigils Sukuna marked on her thigh. She has no idea if he'd merely been teasing or if he really had marked her as his.

"I've ruined the mood," Nanami says, sighing in disappointment. Roxanne frowns.

"No, babe, it's my fault," she says, inwardly guilty at how much truer her words are. "I got inside my own head and your proposal caught me off guard."

Nanami settles next to her, feeling again like the flustered 17 year old who'd kissed her in the school library.

"I know," he says. "It just slipped out. I know you've been getting offers from other families."

Roxanne frowns. "Then you also know I've been turning them down. I am not some breeding mare for the jujutsu world. And I know how some of those families feel about foreigners. My powers are the only thing about me they value."

Nanami says nothing, but he feels chastened.

"I didn't mean to imply that's how I see you, Roxanne. You know I don't see you that way." He tells her. She sighs, nodding.

"I know," she says, "that's why I love you. That's why I'm here with you and not out there whoring myself out in the name of strengthening a bloodline. I've no interest in being seen as nothing but breeding stock."

"Is that why you broke things off with Gojo?"

Roxanne turns to face him. "So that's what this is about?" Nanami meets her gaze. She sighs, putting up her hands.

"Kento, Gojo and I haven't been a thing in almost two years," she tells him. "And if you must know: that's part of the reason I broke things off. His family expects everything from him, and that includes choosing a partner that benefits the family, not just Gojo himself. I…I don't think I'm ready for all that. And he knows it's a tall order, so we broke it off. And for the record, you and I were broken up at the time."

"I'm aware," Nanami says stonily. "I don't want this to turn into a huge fight, Roxy. I just…I just want you. I've always wanted you. I came back to this life because I knew it was the only way I'd get to see you again."

"Kento…"

"I shouldn't have proposed," he says bitterly. "Not like that, anyway. You deserve more than a heat-of-the-moment proposal between the sheets. There should be flowers…and maybe a fountain…"

Roxanne laughs. "Well, if you plan on being theatrical about it, then sunflowers are my jam."

Nanami smiles, remembering the sunflower tattoo on her hip. Yeah, he knows just the place to do this right. He leans in, kissing the corner of her mouth.

"Let's get some sleep," Nanami says, "and then I'm feeding you my cock and pancakes in the morning."

"Oh, a real balanced breakfast," Roxanne teases and then laughs as Nanami wraps his strong arms around her, pulling her into him, her curves molding to his body. Roxanne ignores the tightness in her chest and wills herself to go boneless in his embrace. He peppers the shell of her ear with kisses, then the nape of her neck. It doesn't take long for sleep to catch them both, and Roxanne is thankful when her dreams are blissfully silent.