A/N at the end of the chapter
Tw: Blood and injury
CHAPTER 10
{POV: Suzue Kujou}
Suzue remained kneeling on the cold, unforgiving ground, her body trembling uncontrollably from the intense pain and sheer exhaustion that wracked her frame. A wave of self-pity surged through her, drowning her in a torrent of despair and helplessness.
"He's right… I am pathetic."
The bitter thought echoed in her mind, each word digging deeper into her already fragile confidence. She was there, being toyed with by Sukuna, utterly incapable of mounting any significant defense. The reality of her situation was like a crushing weight on her chest. But it wasn't just his monstrous power or the suffocating aura that seemed to drain the very life from her that left her paralyzed—it was something deeper, something more insidious.
Sukuna knew exactly how to dismantle her resolve, to pull apart the threads of her courage and unravel her determination. He seemed to see straight through her, to the vulnerabilities she kept hidden even from herself. Every mocking word, every condescending sneer, hit her where she was weakest, amplifying her doubts and fears until they seemed insurmountable.
Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks as the full weight of her weakness bore down on her. She was failing—failing herself, failing those who depended on her, failing Satoru. The thought of him, of his unwavering confidence in her, cut through her despair like a blade.
«I'm sorry...»
The image of Satoru appeared vividly in her mind. His confident smile, those calm, reassuring eyes that always seemed to say, "I believe in you." He had trusted her with the lives of those three students, convinced that she had the strength to protect them, to guide them in his absence. And now, here she was, crumbling under the weight of that responsibility. Disappointing him. Disappointing herself.
"Think you can survive those three crazy first-years on your own for a few days?" Satoru's voice echoed in her mind, filled with that calm certainty that always made her feel like she could conquer anything.
"Fuck. Of course, I can."
The thought ignited something within her, a small but fierce spark of defiance that refused to be snuffed out. It was a spark that had been there all along, buried under layers of fear and doubt, but now it flared to life, fueled by the memory of Satoru's unwavering faith in her.
Suzue took a deep, steadying breath, forcing herself to calm the frantic beating of her heart. The spark within her grew, a flame of determination that began to burn away the darkness threatening to consume her. She couldn't afford to wallow in self-pity any longer. She couldn't let fear and doubt control her actions. Too much was at stake.
«There's more at stake here than just your life, Suzue.»
Slowly, deliberately, Suzue began to stand, her body protesting with every movement, but she ignored the pain. She couldn't let Sukuna break her. She wouldn't let him reduce her to a quivering, helpless mess. Not when so much depended on her. Not when she still had the strength to fight back.
She concentrated her cursed energy into her hands, feeling the familiar heat growing, pulsing with power as it surged through her. Flames danced between her fingers, transforming into a fiery katana that crackled with wild, untamed energy. The blade glowed with an intense, searing light, and Suzue grasped it firmly, the warmth of the flames steadying her resolve.
Sukuna moved with a speed that Suzue could barely follow with her eyes, a blur of malevolent energy that seemed to be everywhere at once. She knew that trying to block him at a distance with a long weapon was a fool's errand. He was too fast, too unpredictable. A shorter weapon would allow her to defend herself more quickly when he inevitably closed the distance.
But there was something else—something more unsettling that gnawed at the edges of her consciousness. It was clear that Sukuna knew her cursed technique too well. He had avoided using cursed energy that could fuel her flames, exploiting a vulnerability she hadn't even realized existed. This wasn't just a random encounter with a powerful curse—it felt personal, as if Sukuna was toying with her on a level that went beyond mere combat. How did he know so much about her? Why did he keep calling her Kaede? These questions swirled in her mind, distracting her from the immediate danger she faced.
But she didn't have the luxury of time to ponder them. She needed to stay alive, to hold on long enough for Yuji to regain control of his body. That was her only real hope—she knew she couldn't defeat Sukuna in a straight fight, but she could buy time. And in this moment, time was the most precious commodity.
With a fluid movement, she formed a fireball in her other hand, concentrating all her energy into it, feeling the power grow until it became almost too much to contain. She hurled it at the roof of the building, where the ball exploded in a blinding burst of light and heat, breaking through the structure and creating an opening.
Debris rained down on her, but they disintegrated on contact with the thin red glow surrounding her—a fire armor she had created to protect herself. The flames flickered around her, a shield against the chaos that threatened to crush her.
The light from the opening she had created poured into the room, illuminating the space in harsh, unforgiving clarity. The building shuddered from the force of the explosion, the walls groaning under the strain, but Suzue stood firm, her katana raised and ready.
Without wasting a moment, Suzue used the flames to propel herself upward, harnessing the heat and power of the fire to fly through the newly created opening. The flames enveloped her, lifting her with speed and precision as she leaped out of the building. The cool night air lashed her face as she rose above the ruins, looking down at the partially collapsed structure.
Her sharp eyes quickly found Sukuna, who made no attempt to conceal his presence—in fact, it seemed he reveled in making himself known. He stood a little distance from the entrance of the building, already engaged in combat with Megumi. The sight filled Suzue with concern. Megumi was holding his own, but just barely. He was skilled, but Sukuna's relentless assault was wearing him down.
Suzue scanned the area desperately, hoping to spot the medical team or any reinforcements, but there was nothing. The veil was gone, and the only people in sight were a few terrified assistants, cowering and hidden from view. It was as if the higher-ups had orchestrated this scenario, ensuring that the medical team arrived too late—if at all. They were willing to sacrifice Megumi, Nobara, and even Yuji to achieve their goal.
"Why can't they see that letting Sukuna roam free is a bigger threat than Yuji ever could be?" Suzue cursed inwardly, her frustration mounting. She couldn't waste any more time. She had to act, and she had to act now.
She propelled herself toward the ongoing battle between Sukuna and Megumi, using the flames to accelerate her descent. Megumi was clearly struggling, each of Sukuna's attacks landing with deadly precision. Every strike was a potential killing blow, and Megumi was doing all he could just to survive.
With a burst of flames, Suzue landed near them, catching Sukuna's attention. The King of Curses turned his gaze toward her, an amused smile curling on his lips as if he had been expecting her all along. Suzue didn't hesitate. She slammed her fiery katana into the ground, sending out a shockwave of flames that created a barrier between Sukuna and Megumi.
Sukuna stepped back, seemingly more entertained than threatened by her interference. Suzue quickly positioned herself between him and Megumi, her katana raised defensively, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel Sukuna's gaze on her, a mix of mockery and curiosity.
«Megumi... are you okay? Nobara?» Suzue asked, her voice strained as she kept her eyes locked on Sukuna. She couldn't afford to look away, not even for a second.
Megumi, still panting heavily from the intense battle, responded quickly. «Ijichi took Nobara away, I stayed behind to wait for the medical team but—»
«The medical team isn't coming-» Suzue cut him off, her frustration slipping through her composed exterior. «They want to leave us here to—» She caught herself before she could say more, realizing too late that she had revealed too much. Megumi's eyes widened, the implications sinking in.
This wasn't the time to worry him further. Suzue took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus. «I'm sorry. Megumi, use your shikigami or any other means, but you need to inform Tokyo Jujutsu High. Principal Yaga, or better yet, Shoko.»
Megumi hesitated, clearly torn between helping Suzue and following her instructions.
But Suzue was firm. «I'll handle this.»
She turned her attention back to Sukuna, meeting his gaze with a steely resolve. She had to be the one to face him. Megumi was too important—he needed to get out and alert someone, anyone, about the situation.
Sukuna, observing the exchange, seemed to pick up on the change in Suzue's demeanor. His smirk widened as if intrigued by her newfound determination. As Megumi nodded reluctantly and dashed away, Sukuna made no move to stop him. His focus remained entirely on Suzue.
«Ah… Finally, I'm starting to recognize you, Kaede.» Sukuna mused, his voice low and almost approving.
The sound of that name—Kaede—coming from Sukuna's lips once again made Suzue's blood boil. Why did he insist on calling her that? What did he know that she didn't? But she couldn't let herself get distracted by his games. She had to keep her wits about her.
She enveloped the nearest debris in flames; that way, Suzue could easily lift and move them at will as if they were feathers.
«You keep calling me Kaede. Why?» she demanded, her voice sharp with irritation as she tried to buy time.
Sukuna's smirk only grew wider, his eyes gleaming with amusement. «Does it matter?» he replied, his tone dripping with condescension.
Suzue didn't wait for an answer. With a swift motion, she lifted the fiery rocks she had enveloped in flames earlier and hurled them at Sukuna, one after another, hoping to overwhelm him with the sheer force of her attacks. The fiery projectiles shot toward him with deadly precision, but Sukuna deflected them effortlessly, each piece of debris exploding into fragments as it made contact with his defense.
«What makes you think I want to answer your questions?» Sukuna taunted, his voice calm as he batted away her attacks as if they were nothing more than minor annoyances.
Suzue's frustration mounted with each failed attempt to land a hit. The last piece of debris was sent hurtling back at her, and she had to throw herself to the side to avoid being crushed. Rolling to her feet, she quickly summoned another fireball and launched it at Sukuna. He dodged it with ease, his movements fluid and graceful as he danced around her attacks.
Her undertrained muscles were pulling and aching from the prolonged effort they were enduring. With a swift movement, she raised a hand and launched a fireball towards Sukuna. He dodged it effortlessly, but Suzue didn't stop. With her other hand, she conjured another fireball, immediately hurling it. The fireballs exploded near Sukuna, creating a ring of flames around him.
«Yuji, come on, I know you can take control back! Please... » Suzue's plea was almost desperate, but she couldn't bring herself to stop. She couldn't afford to attack Sukuna with everything she had, not when Yuji's life was on the line. Every strike had to be measured, every blow precise. She couldn't risk hurting the boy trapped within the monster.
Sukuna chuckled darkly. «Yuji, Yuji, Yuji... » he scoffed.
But Suzue didn't let his mockery deter her. She created a wall of fire between them, pushing it toward Sukuna. He prepared to deflect it as he had done before, but this time, Suzue was ready. She used the cover of the flames to close the distance between them, her hands enveloped in fire as she struck at him with all her might.
Each blow was aimed at keeping him on the defensive, forcing him to react rather than attack. But Sukuna was no ordinary opponent. He blocked most of her strikes with ease, his movements barely affected by the force of her attacks.
«Always worried about that brat.» Sukuna scoffed, then, with a swift motion, he lunged forward, charging a punch loaded with cursed energy straight at her face.
For a brief moment, Suzue's heart stopped. But then she realized—he had made a mistake. At the last second, she evoked her cursed technique, enveloping his arm in flames that began to devour his cursed energy. Sukuna's eyes narrowed in annoyance as he deflected the flames with a wave of his hand, but Suzue didn't give him a chance to recover. She launched another fireball at his chest, hoping to break through his defenses.
He blocked the attack with his arm, the flames wrapping around it but failing to penetrate his cursed energy. He stepped back, checking his arm, which was trembling slightly. Suzue watched him carefully, noticing the subtle signs that something was preventing him from... killing her outright.
«Ah, damn, I got confused…» Sukuna muttered, his voice filled with a strange mix of irritation and amusement. For a moment, it seemed like he was annoyed at himself for giving her an opening, but then his usual smug demeanor returned.
Suzue, meanwhile, was struggling to keep up. The battle had dragged on too long, and her cursed energy was running dangerously low. She was using every ounce of her strength just to stay on her feet, but the wounds on her shoulder and head, along with the various bruises Sukuna had inflicted, were taking their toll.
She could feel her body growing weaker, her vision starting to blur from the exhaustion. But she couldn't afford to stop. Not now. Not when she was so close. She just needed to hold on a little longer. Just a little longer...
Sukuna, on the other hand, was still fresh as ever. The superficial burns on his body didn't seem to bother him at all, and the way he moved—fluid, controlled, and utterly confident—made it clear that he wasn't even close to reaching his limit. This was a game to him, a game that he was enjoying far too much.
And yet, despite everything, Suzue couldn't help but notice the way he looked at her—the way his eyes followed her every movement, the way his expression shifted from amusement to something more serious whenever she managed to land a hit. It was as if he was testing her, pushing her to see how far she could go, how much she could take before she broke.
«If you keep holding back like this, it's definitely not fun. Let me do you a favor!» he began, clearly irritated, without even glancing at her.
Before Suzue could react, with a sudden and violent gesture, Sukuna plunged his hand into his own chest - into Yuji's chest.
As he ripped the beating heart from Yuji's body, blood spurted in all directions, and Suzue was paralyzed with horror as she watched the scene. With a wicked grin, he threw the heart away, making it land with a wet, sickening thud on the ground.
Then he turned his attention back to Suzue, with a cruel and sadistic smile. Time seemed to stop. Suzue watched in horror as Sukuna, without a heartbeat, remained standing, blood dripping from the gaping wound in Yuji's chest.
«There you go, Kaede! Now there's no body left to save.» Suzue stiffened, her eyes widening at the horrific scene.
«What… What have you done…» Suzue stammered, her voice trembling as she tried to comprehend the atrocity before her.
Every fiber of her being wanted to scream, to refuse to accept that reality. But Sukuna's words were a direct blow to her soul. She was up against an ancient, malevolent being who wielded power far beyond her comprehension, and yet, she had to find a way to stop him. Not just to save herself, but to save Yuji—if that was even still possible.
Sukuna's casual mutilation of Yuji's body was a chilling display of his utter disregard for human life. The act was as much about psychological domination as it was about physical harm. By tearing out Yuji's heart and discarding it like trash, Sukuna had made it clear that he was in complete control, not just of the situation, but of Suzue's very hopes. He reveled in her horror, feeding off her despair, as if her suffering was a form of entertainment for him.
Suzue's initial shock gave way to a desperate, almost primal determination. She could barely process what had just happened—Yuji's heart lying discarded on the ground, his body a vessel of death animated by the will of Sukuna alone. The Zenin clan's binding vow no longer weighed on her, its compulsion nullified by Yuji's supposed death. But instead of relief, she felt a hollow emptiness, the weight of failure crushing her spirit.
The cold reality was that Yuji's heartless body, though still standing, was technically dead. The thought sent Suzue spiraling into a dark abyss of despair. How could she possibly bring him back? How could she save him when the very essence of his life had been ripped away?
Before she could fully formulate a plan, Sukuna struck, delivering a vicious backhanded slap that sent her sprawling to the ground. The impact was brutal, her body crumpling under the force of the blow. Blood poured from the fresh wound on her forehead, blurring her vision and adding to the dizzying pain that clouded her mind.
She tried to get up quickly, feeling the blood flow profusely from her forehead, directly above her eye, and down to her chin, blurring her vision.
Through her blurred vision, she saw Sukuna approaching, his expression one of cruel amusement. The King of Curses was enjoying this, savoring her desperation, her weakness. It was a twisted game to him, a sick form of entertainment.
It was then that she noticed something: Yuji's hand, which had previously been amputated by the special-grade curse, was now perfectly regenerated.
Clenching her fists, Suzue forced herself to focus, to think past the pain and fear. If Sukuna could regenerate Yuji's hand, surely he could regenerate his heart as well. The key lay in forcing Sukuna to do it—somehow.
«You're getting distracted, Kaede!» Sukuna's voice cut through her thoughts, sharp and mocking.
Suzue gritted her teeth, pushing past the pain and fear. She had to force Sukuna to regenerate Yuji's heart. It was the only way.
Summoning every last ounce of cursed energy she had, Suzue channeled it into her fiery katana. The blade glowed with an intense, almost blinding light, the flames flickering and crackling with raw power. She launched herself at Sukuna, the katana aimed straight for his chest. But Sukuna, with an almost contemptuous ease, caught the blade with one hand, the flames licking at his skin but failing to penetrate his cursed energy. The sheer force of his grip extinguished the flames, leaving the katana dull and powerless in her hands.
«Sukuna… Regenerate Yuji's heart.» Suzue's voice was barely more than a whisper, but it carried a weight of desperation and resolve. She wasn't asking—she was commanding, as if sheer force of will could compel the King of Curses to obey.
Sukuna paused, his expression one of mild surprise, followed by a twisted grin of amusement.«How about no?» he hissed, his voice dripping with mockery as he casually tossed her aside.
Suzue crashed into a nearby wall, the impact sending a fresh wave of pain through her already battered body. Her breath came in ragged gasps, each one a struggle as she tried to push herself up again.
«Regenerate Yuji's heart.» she repeated, her voice hoarse but firm. Blood trickled from her lips, her vision swimming with the effort it took to stay conscious. But she met Sukuna's gaze with a defiance that refused to be extinguished.
Sukuna stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable, a mix of curiosity and disdain. For a moment, it seemed as if he might actually consider her demand. But then, with a dismissive scoff, he shook his head.
«No.» he repeated, this time more firmly, his voice carrying an edge of finality.
As he approached her again, Suzue noticed it again. She had seen it during their fight, and it was still there. A slight tremor was running through Sukuna's hands.
Suzue swallowed, her mind racing frantically to connect the dots. Why didn't he kill her? Why did he keep tormenting her in every conceivable way without ever delivering a fatal blow?
Why...
"Why with that special-grade curse, he saved my life twice?"
It couldn't be a coincidence. She thought back to the words Kaede had spoken in her vision.
"He won't hurt me. He doesn't want to and he can't."
Her mind was swirling in a vortex of thoughts she tried to grasp, then, a crazy idea crossed her mind.
She decided to go all in, even if it meant risking her life. As Sukuna prepared for the next attack, moving towards her at inhuman speed, Suzue took a deep breath. She could see every muscle in his body tensed to strike, his fist ready to deliver a devastating blow straight to her face.
In that moment of tension, Suzue did something unthinkable: she lowered her guard, letting the fiery katana dissipate in a hiss of flames that extinguished in the air.
She refused to defend herself, her body relaxed in a vulnerable position. She felt her heart pounding hard in her chest, but strangely, she felt calm and sure of her decision. There wasn't a moment of hesitation in her movements.
She had faith in her intuition.
Sukuna lunged at her, the fury in his red eyes palpable. His fist drew closer rapidly, and Suzue could feel the wind created by his speed. Time seemed to slow down, every second stretching into eternity as she watched the fist draw nearer and nearer. At the last moment, Sukuna stopped.
His fist halted just inches from Suzue's face, cursed energy crackling around his hand but not hitting her. The eyes of the King of Curses burned with anger as he stared at her, understanding Suzue's trick.
«What the fuck are you doing?» Sukuna growled, his voice low and menacing, every word a barely contained snarl. He couldn't believe the madness of the woman before him, standing there with a grin on her bloodied lips, taunting him, daring him to do it.
«I knew it.» she replied with a smug grin starting to form on her lips, keeping her gaze fixed on him. «You've had plenty of opportunities, but you never did.»
Sukuna's anger seemed to grow, his red eyes burning with frustration. Suzue, her lucidity fading due to the blood loss, finally felt like she had the upper hand for once. And she did something unusual for her: she provoked. After all, she had learned from Satoru, the best in this art, how to provoke.
«You don't want to kill me…No. You can't kill me, can you?»
She had made a desperate gamble, and it had paid off. The look in Sukuna's eyes, that flash of frustration and anger, confirmed her suspicion. There was a binding vow in place, something that prevented him from killing her outright.
As Sukuna's fist hovered inches from her face, crackling with cursed energy but held back, Suzue felt the pieces of the puzzle click into place. This was why he had saved her twice during the battle with the special-grade curse, why he hadn't finished her off despite countless opportunities. He was bound by something that kept his hand from delivering the final blow.
Sukuna's frustration was palpable, a dangerous storm brewing just beneath the surface. His red eyes, normally filled with a cold, sadistic amusement, were now ablaze with a fury that threatened to consume everything in its path. Suzue's realization had struck a nerve, and she could see the struggle in him—the desire to tear her apart battling against the restraint imposed by the binding vow.
Suzue's smirk widened, the pain in her body momentarily forgotten in the thrill of this small victory. She had forced the King of Curses into a corner, revealing a chink in his otherwise impenetrable armor. The realization that she had the power to frustrate him, to push him into a position where he couldn't simply destroy her, was intoxicating.
Sukuna's eyes narrowed, the air between them crackling with tension. Suzue could feel the pressure building, the weight of his gaze like a physical force pressing down on her, but she refused to back down. Not now. Not when she finally understood the rules of the game they were playing. His silence was deafening. He stood there, his hand still trembling slightly, the cursed energy swirling around him in angry waves. For a moment, it seemed as though he might lash out, might attempt to crush her defiance with sheer force. But he didn't. He couldn't.
There was a malicious satisfaction in knowing that the King of Curses couldn't simply eliminate her.
«I thought you didn't use cursed energy or cursed techniques against me because you were afraid of fueling my cursed technique.» Suzue continued, her words coming out in a rush now, driven by the adrenaline coursing through her veins. «But really, as if the King of Curses is afraid of a little fire. No, the reason was something else: it's a binding vow, isn't it?»
The truth hung between them, heavy and undeniable. Suzue could see the struggle in Sukuna's eyes, the way his jaw clenched as he fought against the constraints of the vow. It was as if his very essence rebelled against the idea of being bound, of being unable to act on his every whim.
«Your cursed energy, your body, rebels every time you hit me. I've experienced that feeling myself, of challenging a binding vow—»
Suzue's voice faltered slightly, the reality of her own situation creeping back in. She was injured, exhausted, and running on fumes, but her mind was clear, sharper than it had been all day. She had figured out the key to her survival, and she wasn't going to let go of it.
Sukuna's frustration reached a boiling point. He glared at her, his teeth bared in a snarl, his hands clenching into fists so tight that the knuckles turned white. The tremor in his hands was more pronounced now, a visible sign of the internal battle he was waging.
«You perceptive little bitch…» Sukuna hissed, each word dripping with venom. His voice was low and dangerous, the kind of voice that promised pain and retribution. Suzue could feel the anger radiating off him in waves, a dark, suffocating aura that made the air around them thick and oppressive.
But she didn't flinch. She had come too far to back down now.
«What's the matter, Sukuna?» Suzue taunted, her voice shaking but still carrying that edge of defiance. «Afraid of a little vow?»
The words had barely left her lips when Sukuna moved with the speed and brutality of a predator. Before Suzue could react, his foot slammed into her head, smashing it against the wall with bone-crushing force. Pain exploded through her skull, white-hot and blinding, and for a moment, the world around her blurred into a haze of agony.
Sukuna increased the pressure with his foot, a cruel grin of amusement stretching across his face as he watched her struggle. «It doesn't change the fact that I can still hurt you a lot.» he sneered, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure.
Suzue fought to stay conscious, her vision swimming as the pain coursed through her body like a tidal wave. But even in that moment of sheer torment, she could see it—the almost imperceptible tremor in his hand, the way his body resisted the urge to kill her outright.
Summoning every ounce of her strength, Suzue forced herself to speak, her voice trembling but firm. «It… really hurts huh?» she whispered, her words laced with sarcasm and provocation. «Knowing that… I am right. You can make me suffer, break my bones, spill my blood... but you can't kill m—»
Before she could finish, Sukuna's rage exploded. With a brutal movement, he raised his foot and slammed it down on her head again, smashing Suzue even more violently against the wall. The impact tore a groan of pain from her, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of a scream. She bit down on her lip, tasting blood as she held back the cry of agony that threatened to escape.
For a moment, the two remained locked in a standoff, the silence between them heavy with tension and hatred. Sukuna's foot pressed down on Suzue's head with relentless force, but there was a hesitation in his eyes, a flicker of something that held him back. His red eyes, usually so cold and calculating, betrayed a hint of uncertainty, as if the realization of his limitations was dawning on him.
Finally, with an exasperated sigh, Sukuna eased the pressure with his foot and stepped back slightly, his expression a mix of frustration and calculation. «Enough of this game.» he said, his voice tinged with irritation. «You want me to regenerate this brat's heart and give him back control, right? Fine. But it won't be free.»
Suzue gritted her teeth, her body trembling with pain and exhaustion, but she forced herself to focus on his words. «What do you want from me?» she asked, her voice barely more than a hoarse whisper.
Sukuna stared at her, his eyes burning with an unsettling intensity. For a moment, he didn't speak, simply watching her with a gaze that felt like it could strip away every layer of her being. Then, slowly, a wicked smile spread across his face. «A favor for a favor. To be collected in due time.»
The request left Suzue reeling. A favor to the King of Curses? The very idea was terrifying, the implications of such a pact unfathomable. But what choice did she have? Yuji's life hung in the balance, and if she refused, there would be no coming back from this. She had to accept, no matter how dangerous the terms might be.
«A… binding vow?» Suzue's voice was steady, but her heart pounded furiously in her chest as she tried to weigh the consequences. A pact with Sukuna was a deal with the devil himself, but she couldn't let Yuji die—not like this. «What kind of favor?» she asked, trying to keep her voice from trembling.
Sukuna's grin widened, a mischievous gleam in his eyes as he leaned in closer. «Not really in the mood to answer your questions, I might just change my mind and—»
«I have conditions.» Suzue interrupted, her voice firm and resolute. The thought of making a pact with Sukuna was horrifying, but she couldn't see any other way out. «This favor can't involve harming anyone or committing massacres.» she finally said, each word measured and deliberate.
Sukuna raised an eyebrow, clearly irritated by her audacity to make demands, but there was a hint of amusement in his expression as well. «Are you in a position to make demands?»
For a long moment, Sukuna simply stared at her, the air between them thick with tension. Suzue felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, one wrong move away from plummeting into the abyss. But then, with a slow, almost reluctant nod, Sukuna conceded. «Fine. I accept your conditions. I won't ask you to harm anyone or commit massacres.» he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. But Suzue knew better than to trust his words entirely. There was always a catch with someone like Sukuna.
Suzue nodded slowly, feeling a strange but familiar sensation wash over her. It was like a weight had been lifted, but at the same time, a new, heavier burden settled on her shoulders. She had made a pact with the devil, and now, she had to live with the consequences.
«Regenerate Yuji's heart» she demanded, her voice steady as she locked eyes with Sukuna. There was no going back now. She had to see this through.
Sukuna didn't respond verbally, but the air around him seemed to shift. Cursed energy began to flow around his chest—Yuji's chest—gathering at the site where the heart had been ripped out. Slowly, methodically, the flesh began to knit itself back together restoring what had been lost.
Suzue's body, which had been taut with tension, began to loosen, the realization that this nightmare might finally be coming to an end settling in. Yet, even as she relaxed, there was a gnawing sensation in the back of her mind, an unsettling awareness that this wasn't truly over. She needed answers—answers that could explain the strange connection between her, Sukuna, and the name "Kaede" that he had spoken with such familiarity.
As the tattoos on Yuji's face began to fade, signaling the transfer of control back to the boy, Suzue found herself speaking almost without thinking, her words slipping out with a mix of curiosity and urgency. «...Who was Kaede?» she asked, her voice trembling slightly, not just from exhaustion but from the desperate need to understand.
She watched as Sukuna's mouth moved, his response brief and dismissive: «Doesn't matter anymore.»
But his voice betrayed him, just for a moment. Suzue caught it—a fleeting emotion, something close to nostalgia, or perhaps regret. It was gone almost as soon as it appeared, leaving behind only more questions and the heavy silence that followed. For that brief moment, the ancient, malevolent king seemed almost… human. But just as quickly as the thought crossed her mind, it vanished, buried under the realization that Yuji was collapsing to the ground, the weight of Sukuna's influence having left him drained and helpless.
Panic surged through Suzue as she dragged herself towards Yuji, her own pain forgotten in the rush of adrenaline and fear. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing louder than the last as she closed the distance between them. When she reached him, she froze in horror. The heart was there, beating steadily in his chest, but the wound itself was still gaping, blood pouring out in relentless waves.
The sight nearly made her collapse. Sukuna had fulfilled his part of the deal to the letter, but nothing more. He had regenerated the heart, but left Yuji in a critical state, teetering on the edge of death. The cruelty of it was like a knife twisting in her gut, and Suzue felt a surge of rage and helplessness unlike anything she had ever known. It was as if Sukuna had left her with a twisted reminder of who held the real power in this bargain.
"Sukuna, you fucking bastard, son of a bitch," Suzue cursed mentally, her thoughts laced with fury and desperation. She could almost hear his mocking laughter, echoing in the recesses of her mind, taunting her as she fought to save Yuji's life with trembling hands.
Frantically, Suzue tore at her own clothing, ripping a piece of fabric to use as a makeshift bandage. She pressed it against the wound with all the strength she had left, trying to stem the flow of blood, her hands shaking uncontrollably. The warmth of Yuji's blood seeped through the fabric, hot and sticky, a constant reminder of how close he was to slipping away. His breathing was shallow, irregular, each breath a struggle that sent a fresh wave of fear crashing over her.
As she worked, tears began to blur her vision, spilling down her cheeks. The adrenaline that had fueled her for so long was fading, leaving behind the raw, painful reality of the situation. She had fought so hard, made impossible choices, and now she was faced with the very real possibility that it might not be enough.
"Someone, please get here soon…" Suzue's thoughts were a desperate plea, her mind reaching out into the emptiness around her. The world seemed to close in on her, the edges of her vision darkening as exhaustion threatened to claim her. But she couldn't stop. She couldn't let go. Not when Yuji's life was hanging by a thread.
The blood continued to flow, staining her hands, the ground, everything it touched. Suzue's world narrowed to that single point, to the rising and falling of Yuji's chest, each breath a tenuous connection to life. The silence was deafening, the absence of any help or hope almost unbearable. But deep down, Suzue knew that even if someone came, it might be too late. Sukuna had left them with nothing but the cruelest of chances, a bitter reminder that in the world of curses, nothing was ever fair.
And in that moment, as her strength finally gave out, Suzue felt her consciousness begin to slip away, her world dissolving into a blur of pain, fear, and the faint, flickering hope that somehow, Yuji would survive.
A/N
Sorry for the longer chapter than usual, but I didn't want to split this crucial part of the story!
And sorry Sukuna, I gave my Suzue some serious plot armor, but she deserves it since you're such a jerk.
Facts:
So. SO.
Do you remember when I mentioned that "challenging" a binding vow leads to that state of agony that Suzue experienced? Well, the signs were always there. Praise Sukuna!
So why doesn't he suffer as much? Because he's still Sukuna, the king of binding vows. He knows exactly how far he can push and when he needs to stop to avoid severe repercussions.
Staying on this theme, when Sukuna rips out Yuji's heart, Yuji is technically already dead, and this dissolves the binding vow between Suzue and the Zenin. Good on one hand, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, she has to immediately enter into another binding vow with Sukuna. This time, our Suzue at least has the mental presence to set some conditions.
I have no idea if a binding vow as "vague" as a future favor exchange could exist in the canon series, but I'm clinging to the fact that Gege didn't explain anything about it—thank you and you're welcome ️
And with these brief bits of information, I'll leave you ❤️
