Way of Life · Y/n story by @arlor4

The afternoon sun spilled through the campus gates like honey, catching on motes of dust that drifted lazily in the warm spring air. The sounds of the city filtered in from beyond the walls, muted and distant, as if the world outside had been asked to keep its voice down.

Yuji Itadori

—and then Megumi said the pufferfish was actually a cursed spirit, and I thought he was kidding, but he was totally serious—

Gojo Satoru

grinning behind his blindfold He has a very particular sense of humor. It's not his fault it's invisible.

Yuji Itadori

That's not even a joke, that's just a fact about Megumi.

Sukuna wasn't listening. He rarely bothered with the chatter of children playing at sorcery. The boy's voice was a constant, droning buzz in the back of his mind, as ignorable as the distant traffic.

Ryomen Sukuna

inside Yuji's mind, disinterested Tch.

Then he heard it.

Ryomen Sukuna

a voice like grave dirt settling ...No.

Yuji Itadori

blinking, a flicker of confusion crossing his face Huh? Did I hear something?

Gojo Satoru

tilting his head You look like you just swallowed a bug. Everything okay, Yuji?

Yuji Itadori

Yeah, I just—glances around, then freezes

Yuji's eyes landed on you.

Ryomen Sukuna

inside Yuji's mind, a whisper Oh...

He knew that laugh. He knew the way your head tilted slightly to the left. He knew how your fingers curled when you were amused. He knew the exact shade of your eyes when the light hit them at this angle, almost amber, almost brown, catching fire.

Ryomen Sukuna

memory surfacing like a blade through water ...You.

Yuji Itadori

frowning, feeling the sudden weight pressing against the back of his skull Uh... hey, sensei, do you know that person?

Gojo Satoru

glancing over, blindfold shifting Hm? Oh! That's the new transfer student. Started last week. Quiet kid, but everyone seems to like them already. Not really my type, though—too polite.

Sukuna's fingers clenched inside the cage of Yuji's soul. Not out of anger. Out of restraint.

Ryomen Sukuna

a slow, terrible smile spreading across his inner face Alive...

He kept watching as you said something to your friend and broke away, heading toward the main building. You passed close. Too close. The warm scent of you drifted through Yuji's senses—something clean, something ordinary, something that made the ancient curse's chest tighten with a feeling he had long believed dead.

Yuji Itadori

eyes tracking you despite himself They seem nice.

Gojo Satoru

blinking You've never even talked to them.

Yuji Itadori

I dunno, I just got that vibe.

Ryomen Sukuna

quietly, to himself You have no idea, boy.

You hadn't looked at Yuji. You hadn't looked at him. You were already walking away, back to your new life, unaware of the centuries-old horror staring after you from behind a stranger's eyes.

Ryomen Sukuna

the faintest trace of a laugh, dark and wondering Still haven't changed. Still no idea when you're being watched.

He watched you disappear through the doors of the building, and the world seemed to dim around him.

Ryomen Sukuna

softly I waited so long for a body strong enough. And fate gives me you instead.

He didn't know yet how he would reach you. Didn't know how he would bridge the gap between the cage he was in and the woman he'd lost. But one thing was certain.

Ryomen Sukuna

a promise like the edge of a blade I'm not letting you go again.