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When one thinks of Ryoumen Sukuna, especially in this day and time, they think only of his Savagery. Of the Tortures he inflicted beyond one's comprehension. The count truly left unknown of how many had met their bloody demise at his hands. Most who remember the Fallen One remember and remind others of his heinous acts of brutality. He cared nothing but for Power and Conquest.
Lost to time were the tales of his little companion , a Ward of the King Of Curses, a gamin who wasn’t frightened away by horrifying threats and outward appearances. The boy’s true name was known by very few, even in that Era, and the number who knows it now dwindles even more. This was the boy who told the King without fear of retribution that he was a “mean ugly goatheaded ass!” and perhaps that’s what made the man who’d have wiped the Earth of this speck so enamored that he hesitated for just a singular moment as he raised his hand to carve this unruly brat into a feast fit only for royalty such as himself.
Some circles remember the boy with the title of “Kingusuhato” , or King’s Heart, very few who remember the wily child that had conquered one so great as Sukuna without a hard fought battle to claim such a victory recall vague stories passed down mouth to mouth of the boy’s ability to turn the once King Of Curses into putty. Of times the pair would visit the village long distant relatives had lived all that time ago, Sukuna elegant in his White Kimono, sometimes with two arms readily seen, sometimes all four, at his side a boy who barely stood above the Curse’s knee. The child’s wardrobe varied each and every time his appearance in the villages were made, fabric just as fine and rich as his Keeper’s, but as any children his age would sometimes come to the villages missing certain garments. Most times he came, holding onto the lower left hand of his Protector, bouncing excitedly at the thought of being in the village with nothing more than yukata pants with an obi securing them around his thin little waist.
It was a spectacle that was remembered vividly, the manner in which the boy only known as Kingusuhato would capture the Sorcerer’s attention without fail or interruption, happily showing the Large Being the newest colorful Koi in the Village Center pond, raving on and on about the treat he was permitted to have last time they came to the village while subtly attempting to appease the front of Stubborn Defiance that met said raving into garnering him another treat.
Ryoumen Sukuna cared for no one, not a single soul, but this child. It was this boy known only by the name Kingusuhato who could bring out a side of the Beast all thought to have died with him when his humanity was Stolen and what was left to Reap was becoming a Cursed Spirit. This innocent child was the Heart and Soul of that Cursed Spirit and the cruel world they lived in knew as such.
For one to Conquer the King Of Curses they needed the only being able to Control him. At the very least, make him believe they had him, Sukuna has been known to bow to the boy unquestioningly.
…..
“What have we here, I wonder, a lamb that has walked to its own slaughter?”
The boy in question, not a lamb–thank you–, pauses in his silent exploration at the echoing snarl that calls out to him from the darkness of the Temple. Honey brown orbs look up to meet those of Glowing Crimson, surprise flits through the eyes that peer down at him, as though that he had the inkling of where to look and that direct eye contact would be made. “Yuuji! Hi!” A small hand appears from within the long sleeve of the boy’s jinbei top as he waves in greeting. “I was exploring and saw the pretty tapestries and came to look and they’re even prettier up close!”
“I see. You enter every Temple deep in the Mountains if you should see a tapestry that you fancy? What if one of these times you encounter a Beast, far too great for someone so very small such as yourself to defend against, and get eaten.”
The little one grins cheekily. “I’m not very tasty so I’m not worried!”
“Oh,” Sukuna had originally intended to play with the imp a bit, relishing in his screams, before killing him for daring to step foot into his Domain. Now, he was unusually intrigued. “I happen to find you appearing to be very appetizing, gamin.”
He expects many reactions when he steps into the light, gracing this boy with his physical presence as a parting gift, fear is expected, recognition too, he’s become rather well known of late.
“Nope, still not worried.” This boy is entertaining, he’ll give him that, cheeky and soft but hiding a secret bite like that of a tiger cub. “I’m all dirty, Beast, you’d better to give me a bath first so I taste better and the Matrons at the Houses I’ve stayed at liked to whisper to each other that it was another's turn to give ‘the hellion’ his bath so I won’t make washing me an easy thing to do, see, and after going through all that trouble to get me all clean so I taste yummier you might as well let me eat some food too so I’m a bit bigger because if you eat me after washing I’d still be really small and you’d be hungry again very soon.”
A soft chuckle interrupts anything else to be said, from a side hall of the Temple, a pale hand covering pale lips.
Sukuna hums with interest, admonishing his Servant with a single Look for such interruption, and turns his attention to the little thing before him. “Perhaps a washing would be best before I eat you, by your own admission to staying within those Houses at some point before now, I dare not test contracting anything by eating you before a washing to clean the filth unseen away.”
“No way! Washing is boring!” Yuuji chirps. “Gonna have to catch me first, old man!”
…..
“Uraume, guard and guide my little musuko with your life, tell him I shall never truly leave him.”
Yuuji was sitting on the top steps of the Shrine waiting for his beloved chichi to return home once more, the time for his nightly bath was fast approaching and the boy was beyond stubborn, no one outside of Sukuna could get the child into the bathing waters without obtaining new bruises and bite marks, heart ailing that chichi had been away for such a great length of time but slowly knitting itself together with the promise that the man would be returning just passed Sunset.
As he promised.
When the Servant hears the deep voice of their Master in their head, startling them only minutely, as though to keep from disturbing Master’s Child and causing the boy any fright. Tilting their head, they can sense the connection between themself and Master fading, a concerning detail to be notating. ‘Master is all not well?’
For a moment they get nothing. Perhaps a message sent prematurely, many Sorcerers have tried and failed to kill Master, it would not be the first time he sent a Message like the one just moments before and still returned as he’d vowed he would. “They will come for him once they’ve Ended me. This stands as my last Command, Uraume, ensure he knows how deep my love for him ran.”
A killing blow has them doubling over only just, the Connection between Servant and Master snapped completely, and they find themselves standing with terror and mortification building in their chest as they stare down at the back of a head of cherry blossom hairs belonging to the adopted son of the King Of Curses who’d made his new chichi promise– vow –never to leave him like the others had.
Because the boy couldn’t know it, sitting there waiting for Chichi to return to begin the usual bath time rituals that filled the Shrine with equal measures of high pitched child’s laughter and deep rumbling chuckles of the Elder, that those rituals tonight would cease totally and completely. His chichi, voice deep and clear as he said his part to the vow given by the little one perched lightly upon his chest with too sorrowful honey eyes that he would first be struck down before thinking to leave his side, was not coming back for him. The promise had been broken.
It was an unspoken rule that no one outside of the King’s punishing ministrations could bring the boy he so cherished to tears, if it was not the boy hanging over the Curse’s knee as a large but gentle hand swatted over his pale backside as a lesson was taught, then whoever was responsible for the salty trails glistening over those chubby little cheeks would meet a fate crueler than death before being stamped out.
They supposed that this instance would be an allowance to this rule because there was no way the child would not melt down with the knowledge they must impart but pray they need not to.
…..
It was at the tender age of Six that Yuuji stopped aging , living under Uraume’s guidance and protection for Centuries, not a day passed that he didn't stop to ask them if it were possible for Chichi to somehow come back. The Late King’s loyal Servant didn’t speak on them, but suspected in thought that the sudden rift, the boy retaining the tender age of Six eternally, was due to the centuries worth of exposure to their Master’s Cursed Energy.
He doesn’t know what happened to him, Ura won’t say what those nasty Sorcerers did to chichi, only that it was far from pleasant and chichi would be very cross if he knew that Yuuji knew and Yuuji knew better than anyone that a Cross chichi meant a sore backside and he really didn’t want that. The boy would pester about it because he knows that Uraume can’t punish him like Sukuna had but unwavering faith had him assured that chichi would come back because chichi promised and he never breaks his promises, Uraume would surely tell chichi of his unruly behavior and chichi would be cross with him and the first time he sees chichi again he doesn’t want that reunion to be with chichi being cross with him because he wants hugs and snuggles when that day comes and nothing but.
Yuuji really misses chichi. More than anything . chichi who gave the best warmest and snuggliest hugs. chichi who let him ride around on his shoulders. chichi’s arms rocking him too and fro as he was put to sleep. Catching him up when he gets caught after a spot of mischief. chichi’s evil wiggly fingers and gentle teases as he squealed and squealed with laughter. chichi who threatened to eat him when he got a bit too chaotic, he’d shriek and deny the man’s claims as he’s scooped up, chichi tilting his head at his challenge as he forms a mouth on his belly that eats his tummy until he’s got tears in his eyes.
He tries to be a good boy, like Chichi would have wanted him to be, minding Uraume’s Rules and such. He goes to school, modern times can be confusing at times but he’s getting the hang of it, and works hard on his studies. The child wants all his Good Marks to be saved for when chichi returned, so he could show him, he knew the man would be so proud. Uraume seemed like they wanted to correct him when he said such things but thought better of it.
See, Yuuji’s not being overly optimistic, he sees himself as a realist in a sense. He’s not adamant of chichi’s return because of a childish whim and dream, he feels an Energy in the air, an Energy that was only ever there when chichi was too .
…..
“That is an incredibly strong magical object–” little fingers clutch the preserved finger tightly as it’s hugged to a chest heaving with heart wrenching sobs as the older boy tries to coax the other into giving him the finger. “And you need to give it to me. Now.”
“ No! No it’s mine!” Yuuji isn’t sure how he ended up here, in this position, on this bridge, in the middle of the night. Uraume must be worried sick about him. But here he is, in his pajamas, barefoot, and wailing because this finger belongs to– “Chiiiichiiiiii! You promised! What’d you do to chichi! Chiiiiiiicchhhiiiiiiiiiii!” Slowly, pale hands unravel, pulling away from a small heaving chest, tears glistening over chubby cheeks and splattering down over the finger he holds so carefully. “C–Chichi?” Uraume said that chichi had passed into his next life, that he loved him as great as the ocean is vast, Sukuna loved only one human and he loved him more than life itself. “Please c-come back, chichi. Please.” More tears drench young eyes. “Please chichi.”
“Yea, I heard him.” A new voice, gentle and understanding, the pinkette starts with a sniffle at the proximity to him physically, and lifts his head as he clutches chichi’s finger tightly to his chest once more to come face to face with a grown man, instead of the older boy, with white hair and a blindfold. “Hey lil guy, I’m Gojo Satoru, can you tell me who you are?” Yuuji likes this new man much more than the asshole older boy still standing some feet away because he doesn’t say anything about giving him chichi’s finger. He shakes his head though. Uraume and chichi always reminded him not to give his name to people he didn’t know through and through because names have power. “That’s alright, kiddo, understandable, you don’t know me, do you Kingusuhato ?”
With a new kind of startled wail, the boy jumps forward, into the white haired man’s arms, because he knew his Secret Name. Chichi was the one who named him that, named him ‘Kingusuhato’, as he was putting him to bed one night. He’d been feeling bad all day, unwell and ill, chichi had been rocking him gently in an attempt to ease him to sleep and the name ‘Kingusuhato’ had first been breathed into existence.
Saturo curls his arms around the distraught immortal boy gingerly, not bothering him to give the finger over, letting him clutch onto it as he sobbed his little heart out into his chest as he stood once more from his crouched position. “Okay then, let’s head back, we got what we came for.” The only sound for a solid length of time is the heartbroken wails of the child he’s holding careful and close. “What’re we waiting for, Fushiguro, let’s head on out.”
“With the cry baby?” The teen crosses his arms firmly. “We just need the finger. Take it from him and we can go.”
“Oh, no-no, my dear pupil, securing Sukuna’s finger is fine and dandy, but what we’ve secured along with it is much more noteworthy.” He guides the young child’s head to rest on his shoulder lightly when his sobs begin to taper off into soft hiccups of incoming slumber. “ Kingusuhato, do you know what that means?”
“It means….King’s Heart, correct?” The boy doesn’t seem to be following yet but gears are turning. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“They’re not so well known now, but the knowledge is easy to access if one were to know where to look, back before Sukuna was–” Gojo pointedly doesn’t say the word with the child napping lightly on his shoulder. “ Subdued permanently , it’s said he had taken in a Gamin who wandered into his Temple as his Ward, today it’d be called Adoption. The cutie here kept referring to Sukuna’s finger as chichi .” Gears turning faster now. “As one would expect from someone with as many enemies as Sukuna had, he ensured that the boy’s true identity remained Unknown, so he began to be referred to as Kingusuhato. King’s Heart. Sukuna allegedly doted on the tyke. Baby boy here was proof that the King Of Curses wasn’t without Compassion.”
“Sukuna had a child!”
“Oh yes, he had himself a kid, Adopted like I said, doted on him too. We have his finger, which is powerful no doubt, but with it we have something even more Powerful .” Gojo shifts the child ever so slightly to his hip when he’s sure the boy’s fast asleep. “The one who Tames the King Of Curses.” The man turns to peer at the sleeping child for a moment and can’t stop the coo that comes from such an adorable sight. “This little guy had him wrapped around his smallest littlest finger.” He notices the Finger slipping only slightly and plucks it from the grasp of two sleep loose little hands only to tuck it into the front pocket of the boy’s overalls. “Sukuna’s Return is not a Question anymore. It’s a Event that’s been long set into motion. I can’t imagine that our Departed King is going to be happy when he reawakens once more, save the bloodshed and massacre, and make sure he wakes with this little bundle within reach.”
…..
“chichi…..” Though very much passed the time the child had been put down for bed, tucked into his duvet secure and warm, Sukuna had known that something was plaguing the boy’s mind since the Rising of the Morning Sun. He’s not angry that the Little One is not fast asleep as he should be. “I had a bad dream.”
“Oh?” Gentle fingers curl under the boy’s arms, around the silk smooth yukata he wears, and little feet leave the cool stone floor of their Temple to find the safety they came seeking. “What dreams have you so frightened to come seeking me out instead of calling?” The Curse curls the boy in his Kimono, swaddling him as though he were nothing more than a babe, his night observing the stars in silence now with a new mission to attend to. “You’re shivering, Yuuji, like a blossom in the spring wind.”
The four year old cuddles into the man’s warm chest, huddling closer, still startled from such a fright that he’d been forced from his peaceful slumber. “chichi, I know you promised to never leave me alone, and I’m not saying you break your promises but…..but what if you go out and don’t come back after?”
“Well, Kingusuhato, know this, that I made such a vow with you under the promise that I would try my hardest to never once break it. But, if the unthinkable were to happen, I have arrangements in the event I am no longer present to care for you.” Sukuna rubs his thumb over the boy’s cheek tenderly. “And, know this, my chisana superaito, I will never truly leave you. If a time comes that we are to be apart not by our choice, I will return to your side again, it may take time, but I promise you I will return to you.” A rare soft smile flits over his features at the large yawn such a little person manages to give. “Let that assurance help you sleep with peace, my Little One, I will never truly be gone from your side.”
……
“So this is the boy who’s supposedly the Embodiment of Sukuna’s Heart?” Yuuji was currently pouting, he was not pleased, very much unhappy, having woken up tucked into an unfamiliar bed and his call out in fright was answered by the Silver Haired man who tricked him into keeping chichi’s finger so he could kidnap him, and Uraume was nowhere in sight. “Doesn’t look like much, does he? Thin and scrawny? Is he still holding Sukuna’s finger!”
“Sure is, Kingusuhato in the flesh!” Gojo exclaims, the boy pointedly doing his best to ignore them, though he remains firmly seated cross legged between his feet. Cutie’s not a happy bunny at the moment. “He doesn’t, does he, but I assure you the Power he has is Unimaginable and it’s a Power that’s got absolutely no Cursed Energy keeping it charged. It’s being utterly adorable and getting the fearsome Big Guy himself to fall for him.” He nudges the kiddo’s side with the toes of his left foot. The kid had done something with all his shoes, nevermind that though. Far from angry at the actions taken, he tickles the boy’s side with his toes, and grins when that adorable pout breaks into a fit of squealing laughter. “That’s his chichi’s finger he still has and he will bite if you try and take it from him.”
They decided, for the time being, that the Higher Ups didn’t need to be informed of the development. Also, that the boy has been stuck unaging where he is at Six Years Old for some time now, he was well cared for, groomed and well fed, meaning that someone or something has been Caring for him in his chichi’s absence. It was soon made very apparent that the child didn’t know the details of what had happened to take his chichi from him and, despite any sort of grudge Sukuna may have garnered because of his deplorable actions before Kingusuhato had entered the Portrait, little Yuuji didn’t need the intricate details.
Oh yes, Gojo got the squirt to give him his actual name, it was an endeavor for sure. Kid was utterly adorable and much too ticklish for his own good, once the Sorcerer discovered the sensitivity of that tummy alone there was no breath of hope for secret keeping. It was hard to imagine such a heartwarming, polite, adorable fluff being raised by Ryoumen Sukuna for years. You’d think that any child reared by his hand would be starkly one of two persons. Just like their dear old dad. Or a whimpering mess with a splintered mind from untold abuses.
Yuuji was well mannered, apologizing when he forgot to say niceties such as ‘Please’ and ‘Thank You’, he was quick to do as he was told without objection, when he was told ‘no’ he left it at that. From his own admission, chichi had given him a number of sound wacks to his bare bottom for being bad, which had to be an inside joke somewhere , Sukuna of all people giving his son–adopted or not–a spanking for misbehaving was a Physical Contradiction.
The cub had much to say about his beloved chichi, Gojo contemplated recording the soft side being revealed but refrained–for now–and only encouraged the child to share more. The more knowledge they had the smoother things could go.
Chichi gave the bestest hugs, nobody could beat chichi’s hugs, his were the best snuggliest hugs.
Chichi told the best stories, usually laying out under the stars, before bedtime.
Chichi played with him whenever he asked, be it in the middle of a meeting, anytime and any place, he just had to ask and chichi would set aside whatever was at hand to play whatever game had come to mind.
Chichi was the only one who could successfully do Bath Time the right way, Gojo had been especially interested in this knowledge, the brat had bitten his hand so hard it needed stitches . Yuuji wouldn’t go further into detail looking very much like the smug little stinker he was.
Chichi gave him all the snuggles and cuddles he wanted, just had to ask, and he’d lift him into his arms.
Yuuji told stories of the fun times they’d had. Of the time he stole all of Sukuna’s obis and hid them away under the ransom of more pastries. Learning how to swim in the moon pool within the Inner Temple’s atrium. Eventually, no matter how much he loved gushing about his chichi, it became too much, and the teacher was scooping him up into his arms as his soul crushed sobs got the best of him as he wailed for his much missed chichi to come back to him like he promised he would.
I’ll be good, chichi, be really good! Won’t talk, or hug, or snuggle, nothing! Just come back chichi!
Gojo’s not saying that Sukuna hadn’t needed to be brought down, but he was the one who had to console a shattered child that had been left behind not them, Sukuna had done unforgivable things too numerous to list off in one sitting before he seemingly turned a new leaf after Kingusuhato had stepped into his life to overlook, Yuuji was a sweet child who knew not of the Sukuna they did only that his chichi was taken from him and he dearly wanted him back.
Sukuna needed to pay for his crimes, Saturo stands by that Decree, but if they’d have seen the man they knew as Sukuna that the little one knew as chichi perhaps things would haven’t ended with Orphaning a child for Centuries who’d already lost his Family Once before.
Twice was cruel .
…..
“Master, I attempted to give Little Master his nightly wash, and I see now why you have come to be so fond of him. Kingusuhato is a wily spirit. I failed you in this mission.”
“Don’t fret yourself over it. My Little One does not go down for his washing easily, I enjoy the Game of Challenging Wills, he bites though.” Sukuna smiles slightly at the bandaged arm that they hold up for him to lay witness to. “Wash Time is a Ritual we share and have done so since his first night in these halls, I’ve never had nor will I ever have expectations for you to have it through by my return at day’s end, I dare even to say that the Fight the child puts up now is merely to continue on with the Ritual without change. You’re dismissed for the night. Do what you wish, just leave us be.”
Uraume doesn’t give thanks outside a subservient bow that is a bit lower then the usual ones, judging from the deepness of the stain on the bandages on their arm the bites that were inflicted were deep and tore through a number of layers before withdrawn, shaking his head softly in amusement the King Of Curses steps through the Archway that signifies his own Personal Dwellings within the Temple that only those with his expressed permission may seek entrance.
“My Irote Kitten, did you sink your fangs into the Servant’s flesh simply because they said it was time to Wash?” Deep tones echo through the seemingly empty space as he calls out to the boy he knows is hiding within. “That wasn’t very polite, for they could have been simply following my direction in ensuring your Bath was completed, and you would have punished them for following their command as I had gave it.” At the end of the entry Hall, Sukuna stands at a pause, crossing his arms into the sleeves of his Kimono lightly. The front room of their Living Dwellings was too still to be normal. “I’ve reminded you that biting was an act I wasn’t going to tolerate from you for much longer, Yuuji, come out now and face the consequences as they are lest they be more severe if you continue to hide away from them.”
“No chichi! No smacks! Please!”
Oh, Sukuna knows why the boy continues to allow only him to succeed in what is Bath Time, it was a time they shared together that was theirs and only theirs, time when he was the Little One’s without interruption. No smacks to a little bottom were to happen that night. But, the spirited child could hide away without a trace unless he wanted to be found, and the thought of a smacked bottom drew him out like Moths to a flame.
Just as he said, he bends to catch the boy up midstep, little feet dashing across the Lounging Space as the thought of a smacked bottom is a heavy one that must be spoken upon immediately. “I’m sorry, chichi, I tried to tell Uraume that only you and I could do Bath Time, but they wouldn’t listen! I shouldn’t have bitten them, I know, I know you said you wouldn’t accept it anymore too, please just this once give me a second chance!”
Humming thoughtfully, the child secure in his grasp, safe and sound in his arms just where he belonged. The Sorcerer puts on the act of contemplating. “You know me better than anyone, my Little WhirlWind, my mercy doesn’t come without a price to be paid, not even for little street mice I just so happen to be so very enamored with.” Sukuna tilts his head slightly. “What do you have to offer me in exchange for my clemency?”
Yuuji sits back on his arms, but leans forward against his chest too, the air of exuberance leaving him. “I…I don’t got anything, chichi, all I got is stuff you gave me…..” The youth takes hold of a resigned notion that he has nothing to barter for avoiding a smacked bottom and sniffles only ever so slightly as he tries to remain strong despite it all going seemingly wrong. “I’ll be brave and take the smacks, chichi, because I don’t got nothing you’d want.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that, my Sandoroppu, there’s one thing you’ve got that may sway my decision regarding a young bottom gaining a few sharp smacks tonight. Can you think of what it may be?”
Bath Time was a Sacred Ritual that was theirs and no one else, that was the reason his Ward was so obstinate and inclined to attack if someone on the outside tried to step in, the times they were able to be together and act silly were becoming ever more Limited. Jujutsu Warriors were becoming an increasingly irritating issue. Most of their time to be silly and play had been lost or was presently dwindling away. Bath Time remained untouched and unchanged in that respect.
They stare into each other’s eyes for a long hushed moment before the child shakes his head. “Nope.” Yuuji sighs with much more sorrow than should be allowed. “I can’t, chichi, ‘cause I don’t have anything. I just….You’re gone so much now, chichi, and we don’t play like we did before but Bath Time was still the one Thing…..”
“Allow me to show you what I know you’ve got plenty of to barter with me for saving yourself from a smacked bottom.” Alright, perhaps his teasing had been given at the wrong moment, the boy wasn’t wrong in saying he was away for more extended lengths of time then he’d once been, Sukuna hadn’t considered the notion that his Little One would be feeling this heart sick when he’d started their Bath Time Ritual as it usually began. “It fed me well as a hungry beast when you appeared here for the very first night and seemingly thought to make this your home.”
Oh, how little Yuuji squeals with mirth when the Curse burrows into the side of his little palatable neck and begins an apt impression of devouring a rare delicacy of a snack, high pitched boyish child’s laughter echoes through their Living Quarters after the seemingly endless Squeal finds it’s end. Little hands brace against his chest, pushing against him with all their might, Bath Time was still time that they could be silly together and that fact remained unchanged.
“I think it’s time for a Wash, Little Mouse, what say you?” Cradling the boy in two of his arms, as he changes between forms with a step forward, in the intended direction of the Bath House, the child kicks his little legs as he makes precise work of slowly untying the obi around his small thin waist. “I’m rather famished for the taste of pampered Gamin, you know the only way to disguise the mouth watering scent of such a delectable treat is the aroma of the soaps we’ve got in our Bath House.” Sukuna smiles gently down at the boy he’s got cradled tender and secure, the way the childish shrieks of innocent laughter increase as he slowly peels away layers of the little yukata, a pause of anticipatory fits of uncontrollable giggles as the small child lays in his arms now in nothing but the fundoshi underneath it all. “I can find the time to spare to massively tickle this Mouse that’s found himself in such a precarious position until he comes to his senses about Bath Time.”
Yuuji laughs harder than he’s laughed in days and days, kicking and squirming, his yukata hanging open over chichi’s arms. Tickle Beast fingers wiggling and spidering over his tummy, clawing and scratching at his armpits, squeezing and pinching his thighs, poking and scratching his little ribs. This was why he fought against anyone else who tried to take Bath Time away from him and chichi. These moments.
Chichi lets up on his tummy, too many fingers for him to count spidering all over and around, as he steps down into the warm steaming spring water in their Bath House. Residual giggles from leftover tingles fade into gentle silence, honey gold eyes looking up sleepily to soft shimmering amber as soap is massaged through his rosy tinted hair, messaging into his scalp lightly, until a deep gentle chuckle echoes in the otherwise quiet Room when he nearly falls over from leaning into the massaging fingers just a bit too much.
He takes his Bath then, accepting the washing, yawning as he cuddles into Chichi's bare chest once the scrubbing has concluded. Bath Time was still the one thing that was Unerringly theirs and Yuuji would try hard as he might to keep it that way.
…..
Yuuji finds the new world he wakes to everyday to be fascinating in new ways every moment, but he also finds it hard to enjoy the new wonders without chichi there to explore and enjoy the new things with him, and that alone makes it near impossible to find much to smile about for longer than a few minutes.
He’d had Uraume when chichi had stepped into his next life, the man’s loyal Servant caring for the Ward he claimed as his Son in all but blood that had wormed his little self into the cold once dead Heart and brought forth a warmth most thought was impossible to remain, Uraume was not chichi but they were close in second. But now Yuuji was surrounded by new people, most looked upon him with distaste and scowls that oftentimes brought him to tears running for the comfort Saturo provided that was second best compared to the comfort chichi gave but was the best he could get at the moment.
He missed chichi more than ever nowadays.
Sometimes it’s like he can hear his voice, soothing his distress in the winds, telling him to be patient just a while longer.
…..
He waits for Uraume to open the door to chichi’s chambers because he’s small and can’t reach the door handles just yet, usually Sukuna left the doors cracked in the event his young Ward woke before him and came to seek sleepy morning cuddles, the man must have been beyond exhausted the night before however as to forget to merely crack the chamber doors instead of closing them completely.
Uraume smiles down at him as they open the doors silently, bidding him a wordless morning greeting, allowing him to trot within Master’s chambers before closing the doors once more to leave them both in peace.
Yuuji rubs at his eyes with his small little fists, yukata sleeves falling back over his tiny hands as his arms drop to his sides once again, and simply takes a moment to observe the slumbering being within the large bed snoring away softly unperturbed. He knows that Sukuna would have awakened immediately, though asleep he was still very aware of what was going on around him, if he perceived a threat.
Stepping forward, bare feet brushing over soft carpets and such, the boy reaches the side of the Curse’s bed in a matter of moments. Little fingers curl into the many blankets and just a bit of the elder’s yukata sleeve, and takes the task of pulling himself up to join chichi in bed for sleepy morning cuddles, whining when he finds he’s not quite strong enough to pull himself up onto chichi’s bed though he gets himself up off the floor enough that his bare feet scrabbles against the edge of the feather filled mattress.
A soft tired chuckle alerts him to his accidently waking the Master in the bed he was so desperately trying to climb up into. An inked arm, human in appearance, slithers out from within the blankets. “Sorry for waking you, chichi.” Fingers curl around his left thigh, still hanging onto the side of the bed and blankets like a leach, and pull him up to where he most desired to be. “Wasn’t trying to.”
“No fretting, my Little One.” Chichi sighs deeply as he settles in close, snuggling into his arms, content now that he was exactly where he desired most to be. “Too early for fretting. I think today shall be a day we laze about, Cub, sleep in for as long as we desire, and spend the rest of it together.”
Yuuji feels a thrill fill him at that notion.
They spend much of the morning in chichi’s bed, even after they’ve woken for the day at long last, a soft side to the man who leaves carnage in his wake reserved for this little one seated on his belly, little chubby legs resting down along his sides. For the first hour not a word is uttered between them, boy and Curse, no words are needed between the pair. Sukuna’s long since learned to know what the boy’s thinking without needing to hear them spoken out, much of the same could be said for the boy known to be seen hanging off the King Of Curses any time they’re seen in the public eye.
Many an endearing giggle fit fills the cool atmosphere sporadically as fingers poke and flutter into the youth’s tummy, until the boy is curling up adorably, and small fingers catch those coming in for another round at that chubby tummy. “Chichi, you always say that if you have to go away for a very long time to a place I can’t go with you, that you always say you’ll come back but how do I know?”
“How would you know that I’ve returned to you?” Sukuna brushes a finger down the boy’s little nose, smiling softly at the way that little face scrunches up at the feeling, stroking his cheek with a knuckle. “What do I do every morning I come to wake you for the day instead of you coming to wake me?”
…..
The decision to officially go through with Awakening the King Of Curses once again was a decision that was not made lightly, the discussion had been one that lasted months upon months, all the while his unaging Ward beginning to simply exist within the School under Gojo Satoru’s supervision.
Eventually arrangements were agreed upon, and bound to the gills with Talismans, Ryoumen Sukuna breathed Life for the first time in Centuries. Of all the things the Elders and most others had suspected to hear from him with his first spoken words, Gojo had his own suspicions, they expected threats and such, his suspicions were made true upon.
“I feel his Soul Energy. It’s always been so pure.” Their King Of Curses is a tamed Spirit. “Where is my Child ?”
…..
“Uraume, when is chichi going to come back?”
They smile softly at their Charge. “Soon, Young Master, not quite yet, but very soon.”
…..
Yuuji doesn’t want to get up that day, preferring to stay in bed then meet the day and everyone in it head on, this six year old just doesn’t have it in him. So he stays hidden under his duvet, the sun long since risen for the day, finding it more and more difficult to find joy with every passing day that chichi isn’t there to share it with him.
He almost snaps at the one who enters, his door opens, to leave him be but thinks better on it. His behavior had started taking such a turn that Gojo had said if he didn’t start behaving that he’d inform chichi first thing and that just caused him to turn away from the man he thought was a friend who’d tell on him and make his first meeting with chichi contain a smacked bottom.
The pinkette thinks that he’s still very much allowed to pout and sulk. He’s still six years old!
Yuuji huffs softly in petulance when his bed shifts as another joins him, little hand coming up to cover his face when his duvet it pulled down only just, really had he been paying attention he’d have noticed the familiar presence he knows like he knows himself. But he wasn’t. The six year old squeals a laugh at the bite to the side of his little neck. “ Still just as tasteful as you’d been at my very first bite.”
“Chichi!?” And just like that, Centuries waiting, the Spark of life that had peaked even Sukuna’s interest and eventual change returns as the boy rolls over in his bed. Meeting ruby eyes, little honey orbs soaking in the familiar features, hair so alike his own it was almost uncanny, Obsidian Ink Markings that only one being he’s ever known has worn. “Chichi!”
Sukuna catches the distressed, overwhelmed child as he flies up, tears bursting from his soft brown eyes, holding the child close and secure. “Everything’s alright, Kingusuhato, you’re alright.”
He ignores the Sorcerer leaning against the doorframe, respect for him merely for taking care of his Ward in his stead, the priority to soothe his distressed Little One overpowers anything else he might feel. Turning with the child in his arms, long Kimono sleeves brushing over the simple blue duvet, the Fully Incarnated Curse rises from the edge of the bed with his beloved little one cradled tenderly in his arms.
Though they have an audience to what should be a private affair, the shift in attention to order the Sorcerer away is not a shift he can afford, so the King focuses on the matter that needs his immediate attention.
It’s a sight to witness someone with such a History that Sukuna’s carries be so….gentle. Rocking the wailing child in his arms oh so softly, whispers of tender soothing words slowly break through the heartbroken cries, really if Satoru wasn’t here to witness such a thing with his own eyes. Nearly unbelievable. Ever so slowly the cries taper off into soft sniffles from the child who’s waited far too long for his beloved parent to return as promised.
“There we go, much better, I promised I would one day return.” Little arms lift from the bundle of Kimono sleeves and the Sorcerer adjusts the boy’s position as was requested of him. “I do sincerely apologize that you’ve had to wait for far longer than I’d ever have wanted you to. You’d lost far too much already, I didn’t have the strength to tell you that I was soon to be leaving you too, all I could think to do was to continuously assure you I would come back to you.” Adorable little Yuuji curls his arms around the Fallen One’s neck, chubby cheeks patchy and red from his tears, resting his head on the shoulder he’s waited all this time for. “I never meant to make you wait for me for as long as you did.” Sukuna rubs a hand over his boy’s back soothingly. Someone no one expected to actually be. Kingusuhato truly lived up to his Title. Returning the Heart most of History thought the King Of Curses had long since carved out. “Uraume was quite beside themselves when I saw them, you know better than to wander off, my kaze no superaito.” Given the circumstances he keeps his scolding light. “You’re truly still quite the artist, our Loyal Servant was adamant to show me as many as they could, I’d go so far as to say your drawings have gotten more exquisite.”
“Chichi….” All it takes is a soft small little call from the boy to have such a Powerful and Dangerous Curse at attention. “Staying?”
“Oh yes. Not even Fate will be strong enough to take me from your side again.” Yuuji collects himself, sniffles just a bit more, leaning into the touch when the edge of a white Kimono sleeve rubs at his nose in the most paternal gesture Gojo can imagine. “Care to show me around this grand place, I haven’t seen much of it, my only concern was returning to you just as I had promised.”
“Uhuh!” And just like that, the little Spark of Light that changed even someone as Ryoumen Sukuna is back, a smile brighter than the sun reawakens. “There’s so much to show you, chichi! A super big swimming pool that ‘Turo lets me swim in but only when he can watch ‘cause he says I’m still little to swim on my own! Yummy new foods! A big library full of big and little books! I wanna show you everything!”
“And I want to see everything.” The Jujutsu Sorcerer leaning against the doorframe straightens as the Curse turns with the boy who’d restored Humanity long thought vanished. “But do keep in mind we still must pause around midday for a rest, as we usually do, lest you become cranky and lose your temper.”
“Right, naptime is a must, I don’t wanna have my bottom smacked and that always happens if I miss naptime.” He rubs his cheek over the smooth Marked cheek of his caretaker. “I don’t like it when I get smacked.”
“I don’t care for it either but it’s a burden we must bear unless we ensure we keep to our much needed midday nap.” Sukuna bounces the boy lightly. “So, we need not fear a little bottom gaining a few smacks, because our midday rest is already scheduled into your day giving me the grand tour.”
…..
There’s something about watching someone with a history as infamous as Ryoumen Sukuna being so domestic that’s enough to cause some to stop and stare in complete mystified fixation. No matter which form he takes, though he seemingly takes to his God-Like form more than the other, as it appears his beloved little favored one likes that one best out of the two.
Four arms give better hugs and cuddles and snuggles then just two.
It was a valid argument that the six year old had.
Gojo had made the claim that the King Of Curses had been known to dote on the boy, honestly Fushiguro hadn’t believed him, so when he saw the boy throwing the biggest temper tantrum he’s sure the world has ever seen when told ‘No’ to one of his demands the young Sorcerer prepared himself for a brutal slaying.
“My, my, what a surprise we have here.” The six year old, in classic tantrum style, kicks at the hand that reaches for him. Red in the face and screaming in childlike rage, tears rolling down chubby little inflamed cheeks, truly Sukuna is going to snap at any moment and break this child. “I do believe I’d warned you this might happen if we missed our much needed midday rest.” No matter how hard he tries, mini Itadori is no match for the two large hands that reach for him this time, catching him by the ankles of those kicking feet. “Up you get, Kingusuhato.” He watches, completely stunned, as Sukuna cradles the sniffling boy in two of his four arms with as much tenderness as a new mother cat would carry her kitten. “Let’s go get caught up on that midday rest we missed, what say you?”
Oh gods, Fushiguro hates admitting when Sensei is right, it goes to his head.
But, there it is, right before his eyes. The Curse completely captivated by the sniffling boy cradled so tenderly in his arms, cleaning away tantrum residue with a handkerchief with his second left hand, he turns away from his unnoticed audience as he rubs at the child’s tummy lightly with his second right hand. This boy, sniffling and dozing off in the King’s arms as he was, truly was the most Powerful Being in the Jujutsu world.
“Next time, when I say it’s time to stop adventuring for midday rest, and you argue with me on the matter.” Yuuji smacks his lips sleepily, cuddling closer into chichi’s massive chest, but he’s hearing every word being spoken down to him. They both know as such. “That little bottom’s in for a sound smacking, understand?” He doesn’t accept a simple nod, Sukuna knows the boy knows this, and a meek little ‘Uhuh chichi’ is acceptable. “Very good.”
Bath Time arises as it usually does, no one’s brave enough to try and gather the child up for Washing, he can and does Bite. Yuuji is still just as pleasantly stubborn when it comes to Wash Time as he had been the last time they’d been together, he never stood a chance against Chichi when it came to washing when they’d first been together and it would be foolish to think he’d stand one now, Sukuna was very well versed in the rituals that bath time contained.
“No chichi! I don’t wanna take my bath yet, because it always means its bedtime after I take my bath, and I’m not sleepy yet!” Yuuji protests for the life of him as he’s being rocked in his beloved parental unit’s upper set of arms. “The sun hasn’t even gone down yet, Chichi, so I shouldn’t have to start going down for sleep yet!”
“I never said you’d be going to bed right after your bath, it is coming up on our time where we settle down for the night, it’s also meant to storm for the next few days and those storms are said to be rolling in as the afternoon turns to evening.” Entering a private bath house, Gojo had been annoyingly persistent in wanting to see how one got the infamous little Tiger with a teething problem to take his bath without walking away needing stitches for their efforts, but such things were private affairs and they’d remain as such. “And if things are as I remember them to be, you weren’t ever very fond of storms, especially the rather loud ones.”
The cub hums thoughtfully, patting the Curse’s arm as he ponders this, and nods up at his Caretaker. “I don’t like thunderstorms, you’re right, they’re scary.” He cries out dramatically as he flops against the arm keeping him secure in place. “I hate it when you’re right because you’re always right!” Yuuji hears the hum of amusement deep in the chest he’s cradled against. “So what’re we gonna do then after bath if not going right to bed?”
“Well I supposed, with the telling turn of the winds, we can get through our nightly bath. Our meal should be ready when we’re through.” Sukuna lifts the child when he makes it clear he would like a gentle nuzzle of affection. “We can enjoy our hot meal, as I said I know you detest storms of any nature, so I imagined we could settle down and share stories to the melody of the thunder.” The boy, satisfied with his nuzzle of affection, the Curse hikes him up to perch on a single arm. “We should be tucked into our blankets just as the first flash of lightning streaks across the sky.”
“I love you, Chichi.” Yuuji curls his arms around the man’s neck. “I missed you a whole bunch.”
Sukuna nuzzles the boy in a tender kind of fashion. “You know how I adore you, my Child, the waiting to return to your side was the most agonizing thing I’ve ever lived through.”