Title: Redemption
Chapter 2: The World Keeps Spinning

A/N: Thank you for the reviews! Pairings aren't super firm. Kagome and Sukuna are going to have a unique bond. I think Kagome is a unique and malleable character. Objectively, it's kind of crazy how in the canon she goes through a lot and manages to maintain sanity and innocence. With this fanfic being trapped in a jewel is generally not healthy for anyone's sanity so will be exploring some ideas of things that might be missed and how perception could be skewed. The timeline is going to be ambiguous, I promise once they ahem get out of the jewel the writing will be a little more straight forward.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Jujutsu Kaisen to Gege Akutami. Only the fanfic idea belongs to me.

After their initial meeting she had swiftly turned around and walked away, his gaze was all-consuming and she found it alarming she didn't feel as frightened as she logically should.

Kagome had been prepared to relocate herself in the void but every time she chose a direction and began walking, she ended up face to face with the four-eyed jurei. Her only other option was to visit Naraku and considering how the last visit had gone she grudgingly had to acknowledge that Sukuna's presence was more tolerable than the hanyou's.

It helped that Sukuna couldn't cross over from his 'domain' as he had called it into the Shikon.

Finally giving up and accepting that she had a neighbor who had viewable access to her, she had plopped down into the blackness of the void floor(?) and decided to meet the jurei's gaze head on. But she found that what had previously been empty space behind the smirking curse wasn't quite so empty anymore.

In the darkness a mountain of bones, human bones and bull skulls with the horns protruding out, loomed a throne seemingly shaped out of them at the very top. An ominous giant skeletal ribcage, that reminded her faintly of Inu no Taisho's tomb, enclosed the macabre expanse and the ground on his side seemed to be flooded in blood.

A small part of her, despite feeling revolted, was glad for the change of scenery no matter how gruesome and jarring.

Her eyes had focused back on the four red eyes that had never left her and the malicious, toothy smile, the taste of his power made her think that whatever the realm behind him was, it suited him.

Oddly enough, when she had asked about what she was seeing he had answered patiently, albeit arrogantly, and had described it as his 'innate domain' a representation of his soul.

Although, wary of him and how at least one of his eyes seemed to be on her at all times, Kagome had quickly gotten used to his presence.

In spite of herself, she couldn't deny that it was nice not being so unbearably alone. Sukuna wasn't a great conversationalist but always appeared amused at whatever she said or did and it didn't take long for any hesitation she had around speaking to him to be forgotten.

It had also helped that he had resigned himself to sit upon his throne staring down at her instead of pressed up against the barrier. The space added a layer of security and softened his intense gaze.

Unfortunately, unlike when he had told her about his innate domain, he was not forthcoming with information when she asked him questions.

She had come to the realization that Ryomen Sukuna was not an ideal neighbor. He delighted in making her squirm and seemed intent on getting a rise out of her. She was beginning to suspect the twisted jurei viewed her as some live action form of entertainment.

While it had taken some nagging on her part, Sukuna had finally revealed that he was bound to a cursed object as well, his own finger(s).

Kagome had chosen not to linger on that little fun fact for too long, pretty sure her face sinking into disgust had caused a devious smirk to bloom on his face. She had come to the conclusion that the finger must be beside the Shikon no Tama. Why two powerful objects would be so close to each other was something she couldn't fathom but she couldn't exactly pop out of the jewel to check on the situation outside.

She tried to involve him, proposing her theory and attempting to broach the subject of possibly helping each other, she had a nagging feeling that he was the solution to their predicament.

Sukuna had pointedly ignored her.

Despite his disinterest they had fallen into a routine. Kagome would wander the void only to always end up back to where she started, she avoided Naraku's side like the plague, she would meditate and when she felt like trying her luck she would ask questions. Sukuna, of course, would cherry pick which questions he would respond to or answer. But he'd always watch her intently, waiting for the right reaction or question, she wasn't sure.

Time passed slowly, but Sukuna didn't mind. He had found a toy that was surprisingly intelligent and fiery. Her questions were thoughtful and prying, carefully articulated in a polite manner, likely an attempt to appeal to any empathy he might possess.

Yet, her stubborn eyes flashed with every smirk that slipped onto his face and unhelpful answer he imparted. The demure act she had firmly maintained showed cracks the longer she tried and he was interested in how long he could hide her true nature. So he played along, never too abrasive but not necessarily forthcoming.

Sukuna wanted to see her temper.

It had been fleeting, barely more than a moment, but he had been enraptured by the dark rage in those blue eyes when she had snapped at him. Her soul had hummed threateningly, reiki sparking beneath the surface and it had ended far too soon.

He wanted more.

But he was patient and her determination was entertaining, almost as much as her lingering despair.

Her hopelessness clung to her like a second skin and yet she attempted to keep it firmly at bay with sheer bravado. She moved around routinely, following an endless pattern that never provided any clues. He watched as she would sink in on herself in thought, how she would convince herself to not give up and he found it so...delectable.

Sukuna was sure any other ningen would have been long driven insane, shaking in a corner and his presence surely would have expedited such an exodus. But he saw how she would steal relieved glances at him, hear her soft sighs, as though reassuring herself he was still there.

He wondered if she even realized what she was doing or if it was all subconscious.

In truth, he wasn't even slightly concerned about his predicament. He knew exactly how he would return to the living world and as of yet, he didn't find it necessary to enlighten the curious miko.

Instead he examined her, making sure to imprint all her words and actions to memory.

She was the strongest miko he had ever encountered. The taste of her reiki stung. It was tantalizing and skittish. She seemed to have a good control over it but it seeped from her uncontrollably.

Too much purity to contain.

Sukuna wondered how such a ningen could exist. Strong yet weak. Vulnerable but determined.

She feared being alone more than she feared him, King of Curses. Frankly, he should be insulted but he wanted to see how long she could last. How encompassing the fiery spark in her eyes would grow and consume, before being extinguished.

So, he threw her breadcrumbs.

He fed her curiosity and desire for any type of companionship and watched as she greedily accepted whatever he offered.

After most of her questions had run out with the majority of them going unanswered. Kagome had simply tried to draw Sukuna into conversation, trying to fill the deafening silence with sound as well as attempting to learn more about him.

Her efforts usually ended in vain.

This led her to talking aloud. She had always been inclined to voice her thoughts as they came to her but this helped ground her. Helped her remember she still existed, that she hadn't yet fully faded.

The ever watchful jurei seemed more inclined to speak up when he heard her voice a wayward thought. However, this had brought upon the realization that Sukuna overshared.

Kagome had been sitting crosslegged on the ground, in a half-hearted attempt to meditate, but a lack of a specific sensation was bothering her. She had wandered the Shikon earlier. For how long? She had no idea, she had just kept walking in what felt like an endless circle expanding and retracting her aura only to feel nothing she wasn't already aware of.

She didn't really feel hunger. If anything she felt the phantom sensation of hunger or maybe it was the routine, the second nature of eating, knowing that food meant survival. But all the necessities a human needed to survive didn't apply within the Shikon. And she missed it, missed having warm meals with friends and family. Missed all the different flavors.

"I miss food...it's so weird how I don't feel hunger..." Kagome murmured to herself but of course her unwanted neighbor was paying attention.

"Funny how food misses food," Sukuna taunted slowly licking his lips as Kagome's eyes snapped onto him.

He was reclined in his sea of skulls his legs were crossed and a hand propping up his chin as he lazily surveilled her. Shadows covered his face but his red eyes shined through the darkness. Of course he had chosen reply to a mundane comment that hadn't even been directed at him.

A deep sigh was drawn from her lips as she focused on his words.

Cannibalism...could it even be called that? Pursing her lips she amended her thoughts.

Consumption of humans wasn't a new concept to her. She knew many youkai viewed ningen as livestock and consumed them regularly like Kouga's tribe, before he had them stop for her sake. So she wasn't too surprised that cursed spirits would eat people.

If anything his throne made up of a collection of bones was a clear indication of his preferred food source.

"I don't consider myself to be food," Kagome replied after a few moments.

"Prey parading as a predator never does," Sukuna agreed his teeth flashing.

He was curious about her reaction, he knew she was a peculiar miko but she didn't seem phased by his words. She wasn't getting angry and if she was disgusted she was hiding it well. He didn't really intend to eat her, after all he couldn't even touch her but he did want to see how descriptive he could get before she began to squirm.

"I don't think I would taste very good," Kagome said seriously in thought.

"Women and children taste the best."

"...is that so?"

"Much more tender and soft. The flesh falls away from the bone, more depth of flavor. I had a follower who cooked them best."

"Another jurei?"

"A ningen."

Kagome's eyes widened in slight disbelief and she pondered what kind of person willingly cooked their own kind.

Cognizant of her incredulity, Sukuna seized the moment to continue, his eyes hazing over in nostalgia.

"Uraume was my most devoted follower. They had a way of sautéing fingers and seasoning the flank that was unparalleled. They would make a divine stew out of the internal organs..."

Sukuna continued as Kagome visibly paled with each word as he described butchering his victims. Popping eyeballs from the socket, pulling tendons from bones, tenderizing sinewy muscle tissue.

Kagome finally blanched at the mention of the tedious task of ripping finger nails from the fingers as he didn't favor chewing on keratin. All the unpalatable information she had unwittingly received lingered unwanted in her mind. Knowing he ate people was one thing but knowing how he preferred eating them was not something she had ever wanted to learn.

Her only reprieve was Sukuna's voice trailing off as he had found enough satisfaction in her reaction to not continue with his gruesome descriptions. In retrospect she definitely regretted engaging in the grisly discussion...but did he really have to go into such graphic detail?

Nevertheless, she supposed even dark storm clouds had a silver lining. She didn't crave food quite as strongly as she had a moment ago.

Sukuna had been drumming his fingers against his knee, absently looking around the expanse of his domain when he felt her staring, or rather his lower left eye that had remained glued to her made eye contact with her gaze. He had to keep the smile from curling at the corner of his mouth and discreetly slid his other lower eye to look at her.

After their last conversation the miko had remained tight lipped. Careful not to unconsciously mumble her every thought.

However, Sukuna was eagerly looking forward to when she would make the mistake of revealing her thoughts. He would enjoy finding someway to use her innocuous comments in a twisted way.

Turning his head to fully acknowledge her he was bemused when she parted her lips slightly only to quickly close them, he could practically hear her teeth clacking together.

Offering an encouraging smile, Sukuna contemplated his options on how he would coax his toy into opening up and reveal what amusing thought she was stewing in. He was doing his best to be careful, he didn't want her to break sooner than he desired.

Kagome winced at the leering smirk that Sukuna had plastered on his face.

"Miko," Sukuna crooned and Kagome felt her muscles tense in apprehension. "You've been staring."

Kagome blinked at the obvious statement having expected something more than just an observation and the hesitation she felt dissipated.

"It's not like you don't stare at me," Kagome challenged, eyes flashing.

He had been so reticent when she had questioned him regarding escaping the Shikon yet so unabashedly willing to describe his dietary inclinations that she was decidedly not in the mood to humor whatever game he was playing.

Sukuna leaned back with a shrug, his smirk grew as he drank in her eyes.

"There's not much else to look at. I find your appearance to be...agreeable," Sukuna offered his voice dropping and his tongue flicking out to lick the corner of his lips.

Kagome blanched, her face paling, eyes narrowing.

She had to physically brace herself at the obvious reference to the previous discussion of his eating habits. It had definitely been something she had unfortunately thought about more often than she would admit but the vivd descriptions had stuck with her and at times when she would close her eyes she'd see it play out before her eyes.

"So you do want to eat me..."

The fire in her eyes diminished as she nibbled her lower lip, looking nervously up at him. The barrier being in place was reassurance he couldn't eat her but the fact he had been staring at her since he had appeared in the void with the intent to eat her left her unnerved.

Had Sukuna been any other jurei he would have been taken aback. He did almost laugh aloud and was left pondering how she had jumped to that conclusion. But he couldn't say he opposed her reaction.

"Don't tell me you can't handle a little...carnage."

"I've met youkai who eat ningen and befriended them," Kagome said quietly after a moment. "Carnage is nothing new to me. But you haven't taken an eye off of me since you appeared. I don't think it's unusual that I'd feel somewhat freaked out that you've been thinking about how to cook me."

Oh? A miko that consorted with youkai. How intriguing.

Sukuna's sharp smile was all teeth, shiny white teeth that reminded her more of a shark than a ningen.

"Don't worry miko," Sukuna rasped. "I don't plan on devouring you...yet. And when I do you will thoroughly enjoy it."

Pleased with himself, Sukuna settled back into his throne. His eyes remained locked on the miko as she flushed a lively shade of pink, confusion clear on her face. Her mouth opened and closed wordlessly before she finally turned her back to him, settling onto the ground of the void.

So innocent.

Shutting her eyes Kagome huffed as numerous blood red eyes appeared in her mind. Even with her eyes closed she couldn't escape his oppressive gaze. She attempted to fall into a pseudo-sleep as she pushed away any thoughts of discerning what he meant.

How could she ever enjoy being eaten?

Unfortunately, sleep never came within the Shikon no Tama.

While she felt spiritually, mentally and physically exhausted, she could never fall asleep. It felt odd being unable to dream, unable to escape from the empty reality she was subject to.

When Sukuna had caught her staring she had been wondering if he ever dreamed, he didn't seem to sleep at least from what she could see.

But she was curious.

What would a jurei dream about?

Rolling to her other side she opened her eyes and unsurprisingly met the red gaze of his lower eyes. A devious smirk curled at his lips and she quickly shuffled back to face away from him.

On second thought, she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

Kagome wasn't sure what had really caused it but during her routine of wandering off through the void to look for any signs of changes to the interior of the Shikon, as well as to take a short reprieve of Sukuna's gaze her feet had taken her in the direction of the reiki barrier.

Her attention had been so focused on the new neighbor she had gained that she had really only thought of Naraku in passing. The last encounter she had with him felt dulled by the all consuming presence of the jurei she had grudgingly gotten used to.

So as she stood in front of the barrier that hummed with her power she only hesitated for a moment before stepping through the veil.

Her regret was instantaneous.

Naraku stood nude and facing the barrier, as though expecting her arrival. His body was a grotesque amalgamation of all that youkai that formed him. Writhing and twisting bodies formed beneath his torso in a horrific scene that cocooned outward and around him with fleshy colored walls forming to the void floor and stretching upwards in obscene motions.

Kagome faintly thought that while Sukuna's domain was strikingly macabre, Naraku's bizarre form was disgusting and ghastly with nothing redeeming.

Her darkening blue eyes met Naraku's red eyes fearlessly. Strange. His eyes seemed more muted than she remembered, closer to the color of dried blood than to the vibrant crimson of Sukuna's four.

"My miko," Naraku crooned. His stolen face was admittedly handsome as he offered a saccharine smile. "I knew you couldn't resist temptation. Have you finally decided to join me in the throes of pleasure?"

Kagome maintained her composure, an eyebrow twitching only slightly.

"Naraku," Kagome breathed out already inching backwards. "Have you noticed anything different recently...er not so recently within the Shikon?"

"Why dearest, of course I noticed," Naraku drawled out tendrils of miasma slowly drifting outwards from his body.

Despite the unease that curled in the back of her mind Kagome waited with clenched fists for him to answer.

"You've finally succumbed to your loneliness and have come to seek me out," Naraku said gleefully and octopus like tentacles that dripped with miasma shot out from him faster than her eyes could follow.

Kagome rushed back to the barrier which was only steps behind her but grit her teeth as she felt a tentacle wrap itself around her right wrist and left ankle. The texture was like sandpaper and the feeling of her flesh ripping as the tentacles scraped at her caused her eyes to water.

Reiki poured out from her in response and she breathed a sigh of relief as the tentacles were purified. Blackening as Naraku hurriedly retracted them.

Knowing Naraku would be less likely to attack her reiki was firmly coiled around her, enclosing her in purification, Kagome turned to face the hanyou and ensured her back was firmly against the barrier.

"I may be lonely but I'll never be that desperate," Kagome hissed eyes burning as she squinted at the hanyou who still maintained his glee.

It was clear that Naraku was not aware of their neighbor and she hoped to keep it that way but the ever present grin on his face was odd. Typically, after she had to exert herself and purify some part of him he would retreat but now his form seemed to grow...

"Kukukuku," Naraku chucked sadistically, licking his lips in anticipation."You've taken such a long time to visit me that I had plenty of time to work on creating a new poison, I'm sure you'll thoroughly enjoy it."

Eyes widening as she felt her limbs seize up and heat flood her body, Kagome stared in horror as more tentacles raced towards her. Willing her body to move she threw her head back and relief flooded her as her body fell backwards through the barrier. Before passing through she met furious red orbs with a victorious grin.

Landing heavily on her back Kagome let out a sigh of relief but testing her fingers and toes was fruitless. She was paralyzed, at least until her reiki was able to function properly. Considering her limited options Kagome sighed, she'd just have to wait until it she could move.

"Nani?!"

A dark blush bloomed across her pale skin and Kagome's pupils dilated as she felt heat pooling to her stomach and muscles she had never had the chance to even use before tightening.

Naraku really had some screws loose, had he really created poison that was an aphrodisiac and tranquilizer? Did he essentially roofie her?

Fucking Pervert!

There was another presence within the Shikon. Sukuna had felt it ever since he had regained consciousness. He could feel the presence of youki and he had the faint notion he could find the source if he truly desired.

But he had been content to enjoy observing his miko, that was until she had stumbled back far later than the time she normally did and was far more flustered than she normally appeared. Her gait was stilted and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, she had pointedly ignored his gaze.

Her repeated muttering of perverted psychotic hanyou made it clear that she had an encounter with someone other than himself. It irritated him to no end.

She should only be focused on him, not a lowly hanyou.

Simmering in his annoyance he was pleased when the miko decided to share what had happened with him without provocation. Maintaining his normal indifferent face he inwardly raged at the hanyou's attempt to claim his possession.

Adding to his ire, as if floodgates had been opened, Kagome began tell him more stories of Naraku before they had both been sealed with the jewel.

Sukuna had found the stories of the hanyou to be irritating, the cowardly creature seemed to have monopolized not only her thoughts but also her past. The fear and awe of the hanyou's destruction he had wreaked during his time was ridiculous, laughable even.

He would have to make her understand that no hanyou was more powerful than himself, the King of Curses.

Her most recent passing comment on the hanyou's growing obsession with her had stirred something dark within him.

Sukuna did not share his possessions.

And he didn't tolerate anyone coveting what he had deemed was his. So he had decided to see what restrictions he had in his current state and how far he could interact with the Shikon.

He waited patiently for time to pass until the miko had stopped talking and thinking about the hanyou.

While the miko had wandered off into her routine of checking for any weak points of the Shikon, Sukuna had slipped from his throne and walked through the wet expanse of his domain towards the youki.

It took a short time before he stood sneering before the hanyou. A spider.

His appearance rivaled some of the more sickening forms of jurei and may have illicited a fearful reaction for anyone else but Sukuna was the King of Curses.

The hanyou hadn't even noticed his arrival too focused on staring at what he assumed with the internal barrier the miko had rambled about. Even with the outer barrier of the Shikon between them Sukuna could see the sickening desire etched on the pallid face.

His power poured through the Shikon and wrapped around Naraku like a snake, constricting his movements, completely intent on suffocating him. Youki flared as the hanyou finally noticed him.

But the hanyou's youki while not inconsequential was nowhere near as strong as Sukuna's juryoku. His cursed energy dragged the hanyou until Naraku was slammed into the barrier, face to face with his captor.

"She is mine," Sukuna said patronizingly as though he were explaining a simple concept to a child, his four eyes were narrowed into slits.

Naraku had been momentarily stunned by the unexpected assault but quickly regained his composure.

"Kukukukuku...did she send you to me? Is this a new game of my miko's?" Naraku engaged ignoring the curses' words. "She always enjoys playing hard to get but now she's trying to incite my jealousy. How cute!"

Naraku continued to prattle on about all the perverse things he would have to do to punish the miko, never noticing the ever darkening form that stood before him.

Sukuna was livid.

At his purest form he was prideful and he was aware of it. He was an arrogant being and rightfully so. Not only had he bested the strongest jujutsu sorcerers but he had become the most powerful being of his time. And yet he was being mocked by a half-crazed, feeble half-breed. It was disgusting. Demoralizing.

And the barrier kept him from true retaliation.

Pushing as much of his juryoku through the barrier Sukuna made sure Naraku was pressed painfully against the barrier, flailing uselessly.

"I don't share, half-breed, touch my possession once more and you will suffer the consequences."

Sukuna's threat hung heavily in the air and he slowly retracted his juryoku. Naraku fell heavily against the barrier and glared heatedly at the jurei, hatred evident in his eyes.

"She'll never be yours, she has only ever loved a pathetic inu," Naraku spat out.

Eyes dark as he regarded the hanyou, a ghost of a smile pulled at his lips. "I don't need her love...but I could take it easily, without resorting to drugs."

Chuckling darkly Sukuna left the hanyou behind as he began his walk back to his throne. He had no intention letting the hanyou live despite his previous words. He would rip the half-breed apart the second he had the chance.

As far as the one the miko 'loved' Sukuna was unconcerned. He was certain should he truly want the miko's heart, all he would have to do is grasp it.

Kagome was panicking.

She had returned from her walk only to realize Sukuna was gone. She couldn't feel his presence, his distinct juryoku, at all. The weight of his gaze was missing and she felt her heart clench as she peered hopelessly through the barrier at the empty domain.

Her breaths were coming out quicker and her head shifted frantically as though willing the juryoku to appear within her line of sight.

She was alone again.

Sukuna gazed downs at the form curled up against the barrier and any remaining displeasure he had abruptly faded.

He had chosen an exquisite toy.

His miko looked hopelessly lost, despair gripped her and her gaze was blind.

"Miko," Sukuna demanded, crouching down so his head would be level with her own. "Look at me."

Slowly, Kagome's head turned but her gaze remained unseeing.

"I said look at me," Sukuna hissed red eyes piercing the calm blues.

Hope and life slowly seeped back into the blue, darkening them with awareness as Kagome blinked away the fog. Her eyes focused on the red eyes she had gown accustomed to and she greedily drank them in.

Sukuna was pleased and his grin only widened as the miko didn't recoil from him and instead leaned closer to the barrier.

"Where did you go?" Kagome asked stil gazing into his eyes as though hypnotized.

"I went to warn a pesky bug," Sukuna answered. "Did you think I wouldn't come back?"

Kagome pulled her eyes away from Sukuna and sighed heavily, her senses were coming back to her and embarrassment was beginning to gnaw at her. She must look absolutely pitiful to be falling apart when the jurei she couldn't even consider a friend decides to take a walk.

"I-I just didn't sense you presence," Kagome mumbled as she turned away and got to her feet shakily. " I guess I just haven't felt alone that often anymore."

Walking a few paces away Kagome froze midstep before whirling back around to face the now standing jurei her face astonished and the previous despair gone. "Wait a second. You- you could talked to Naraku?"

Smirking sadistically Sukuna simply turned on his heel and gracefully took an inhuman leap to reach his throne.

Realizing Sukuna had essentially ended the conversation Kagome sat back and began to meditate but would open an eye every so often to ensure the jurei hadn't left. Each time a delicate sigh would escape her.

Settling back against his throne so the shadows swallowed him, he regarded the miko with feverish eyes.

Yes, if he wanted the miko's heart, he could take it.

Easily.

"So, how will you escape?"

Sukuna didn't shift from his position perched on his throne. His elbow rested heavily on a cow skull and his hand cradled his chin as though in thought. But a brow slowly rose towards his hair line, considering the words or rather one word in particular she had used.

Escape.

He, personally, didn't feel like a prisoner, after all he was quite comfortable in his innate domain, a place he found more at home in than anywhere else. However, a change of scenery would be nice.

And being able to finally touch his miko would be nice...His fingers twitched at the thought.

Said miko stood almost pressed against the barrier. Much closer than she usually ever got and her stormy eyes surged with tumultuous emotion her reiki seemed to spark in response to them making Sukuna wanted to possess and subdue that power all at once.

"I simply need to wait until I am incarnated," Sukuna spoke as though it was inevitable. "I'll take over my vessel's body and when I regain all my fingers. i'll be able to create my original body."

Kagome acknowledged his words, she felt bad for whoever would end up as his vessel.

"What about the person who becomes your vessel, what will happen to them?"

The question displeased Sukuna and he leveled her with a glare. His pet's concern for a vessel was expected but wholly unwanted. He wanted her focus to be solely on him, to laud him for his power, he would be incarnated due to his own strength.

"What happens to the foolish ningen who deigns to eat one of my fingers to gain power should be of no concern."

Kagome sighed heavily at his words and closed her eyes. She rested her forehead against the solid barrier and relaxed into it. She could think of a plethora of reasons both good and bad that would cause someone to eat his finger. Sure someone could do such a thing because they were power hungry but she knew the world wasn't always so black and white.

And there was always a chance that the finger could be eaten by someone in a desperate situation.

Her thoughts drifted to her kistune, Shippo. He had stolen Shikon shards from her in order to take revenge on his father's killers. Being so young and hurt, he hadn't realized the danger the shards possessed.

Her heart ached and she harshly wiped at her closed eyes to try and cast away tears that hadn't shed. Kagome focused back on Sukuna's words.

The King of Curses had started to idly to drum his fingers against a skull, recognizing the miko was gathering her thoughts. His upper eyes seemed to look upward as if examining the structure of his bone enclosure but his lower eyes had never strayed from her.

Offering a complacent smile Kagome wondered how she would feel towards a vessel if she were in the same situation as Sukuna. Would she feel awful knowing that her freedom was at the price of theirs? Or would she feel pity? Maybe gratitude?

"Well...weird as you are," Kagome ignored the scoff. "I will miss you."

And she really mean it, with how confident Sukuna was that he would be incarnated she wasn't looking forward to being alone again. Maybe she would even be lonely enough to spend time with Naraku. What an unpleasant thought.

Sukuna's upper eyes had immediately snapped over to stare at Kagome upon her words reaching his ears.

He could hear the truth behind them and while his initial inclination was to mock her for such a weak sentiment he refrained. It had been clear after observing the miko that the only things she feared was being alone, stuck with just her thoughts, a hell of her own making.

Exhaling heavily he rolled his eyes as the miko tilted her head back away from the barrier, her wide, blue eyes boring into him.

"Foolish, miko," Sukuna said and his eyes narrowed before he slowly rose from his throne and gracefully leaped, in a move that defied gravity and landed before Kagome.

"When I am incarnated I will free you...after all, I take care of my toys," Sukuna's voiced dropped an octave, he stared down his nose at her.

Kagome didn't think she should feel as elated by his words as she did. She knew she should be offended and refute his words. But as she gazed up into his piercing red eyes her resolve wavered and she felt as if she were hypnotized.

She could feel the hope that had slowly been dimming reignite and she knew it was reflected in her eyes. It couldn't be helped. She hoped for the first time in what was likely centuries and she embraced it. She desperately hoped, hoped that the jurei who she had found companionship in would not abandon her to a desolate fate.

Sukuna drank in the innocent hope that poured from her eyes.

He could see it clear as day, the way she opened herself, let down her guard. Her posture had relaxed, her forced smile had loosened becoming something more natural, not quite a smile or a frown but an honest expression. And he found himself craving more, for her to continue to look upon him with such hope, such devotion, forever.

Internally, Sukuna was laughing.

His toy was easy to please, easy to reassure and it was clear she was beginning to trust him. He wanted to make it so she had to rely on him and him alone. She would be free of the Shikon but she would never be free of him. And he could sense it, he could feel time shifting on the outside. He could feel the seals that contained his power weakening.

Soon, very soon.

And knowingly, he uttered his next words with care.

"I would never leave you behind...Kagome," Sukuna said with a saccharine smile, so unlike his normal malice filled smile.

Kagome felt as if her breath had been taken away, Sukuna never used her name...in fact the last time she had heard her name was when she had introduced herself. She knew Sukuna was not a benevolent jurei, she knew he had an ulterior motive, she knew he desired her...to what end she was unsure of. And in spite of everything, she returned his smile with a brilliant one of her own. Unwilling to deny any type of kindness, even if it ended up being false.

"Thank you, Sukuna."

So easy.

A/N: The timeline of events while within the jewel is meant to be somewhat ambiguous. Let me know what you guys thing. Please review! I'll be updating Just A Little Crazy soon as well.