Archive of Our Own

Regal beings such as Gods and Deities existed. They weren't just something created out of thin air that a crazy man made up centuries ago. They had simply stopped showing themselves to humans after years of misconduct and lost faith in the people who gave their faith to them.

Just like humans, there were good Gods and bad Gods. Some hated humans and others loved them. They usually remained solitary, besides the various helpers that watched over the shrines and temples they lived in.

Sukuna was one of the many Gods of war, destruction, famine, and other various terrible things that could befall humanity. If people were to pray to him, it was usually in hopes that he wouldn't make any of these terrible things befall them or they were mad and lusted for blood.

But it was rare for Sukuna to get any visitors. He remained solitary most of his days, not even a divine helper who sought to aid him. No, they had all run off after the horrible conditions he put them in out of pure boredom.

Humans were of little interest to him. Divine beings bored him. Spirits were nothing but annoying pests. And fellow Gods were too far up their own asses to give him any entertainment.

There was not a single joy in his miserable life.

Once a shrine had been built for him, he had been trapped inside it, only able to explore a certain radius around the plain forest it was in the center of.

There was nothing to see and nothing to kill. His boredom would last for an eternity under the spell humans trapped him in.

Once he was free, he would destroy them. That was his only wish.

So many centuries lasted like this. Sukuna silently cursed humanity while humans evolved, prospered, and left him alone.

Then, one day, an unfathomable amount of centuries later, a small kid—about 5–appeared before Sukuna.

The walk up the steps to his shrine was long, so the kid looked exhausted, but not just because of that. He was bruised and bleeding in multiple areas and covered in dirt. The kid had clearly been in some kind of fight, and by the look of his knuckles, it wasn't one-sided.

Seeing the kid alone, Sukuna summarized that he had been fighting for himself and only himself. It seemed even throughout the many centuries he was gone from civilization, some things hadn't changed. Some people would always have to fight alone.

Sukuna watched the kid, not making a single move from where he usually sat at the front of his shrine. He was laid out lavishly, resting his elbow to the dirty wood with his hand propping his head up. The rest of his body was laying against the floor with a single knee bent upwards.

The kid didn't notice him, wouldn't unless he made himself known.

He looked to be in his own world, dragging his feet forward and then slouching down behind one of the podiums which his divine beasts used to sit on top of, guarding him. He back rested against it and the rest of his figure curled up into a ball, arms wrapping around his knees tightly.

Sukuna knew, without even looking, that the boy was crying.

It was a figure he had seen many times before. The picture of mourning.

Typically, at a time like this, was when some figure would come and reach out a helping hand to the boy, promising security and strength. But in reality, such things never happened and Sukuna was content on watching the kid cry into himself.

Wasn't it much more interesting to see what he would do without that help? All on his own, stranded, and only having himself to keep company. He would be just like Sukuna.

So Sukuna watched the boy closely and waited for what he would do next. It wasn't particularly curiosity for the boy, but the fact that he was the first sentient being he had seen in so long. Anything was enough to draw Sukuna's attention at this point, and he was patient enough to see what would occur without his intervention.

Would the boy give up?

With slow movements, the boy uncurled himself. Sukuna didn't see his face as he stood up but felt the air around him was different from when he arrived. It was sharper, in a way.

He waited in anticipation, knowing the boy had to turn around and face him once more before leaving.

And the boy did, slowly turning around and eyes meeting his—or at least the shrine from his perspective. His green eyes, a color meant to be soft and earthly, were hard and held a burning fire in them. They were void of tears and his face stone cold.

His eyes closed, which Sukuna hated, and he let out a long breath, action reminding him of a dragon. Once the action was finished, he opened his eyes.

"I'm strong. I will not lose."

Sukuna's eyes widened and the declaration. He was so resolute in his words. They didn't sound boastful or fake, but like a seasoned warrior who had years of training to back his claims.

With those final words, the kid turned around and left the shrine.

Sukuna was excited, heart racing out of control in a way it hadn't in so long. Even if he was to be disappointed, he wanted to see the kid again.

So, in a selfish act, he placed a charm on the boy, ensuring he would have to come back to the shrine once more in his lifetime.

With his passing whim satisfied, Sukuna waited.

Surprisingly, the boy came back to the shrine sooner than expected. When Sukuna put the charm on him, he expected him to come later in life when he was old, mature, and developed.

So, seeing the boy who was barely seven years old reach the top of the massive amount of stairs pissed Sukuna off. He wanted to see how life would break the boy down after years of struggle, not whatever he was after two years of pointless schooling.

He new he could never trust humans to do anything right.

Still, he didn't reveal himself to the boy. This time, it might've been out of spite more than curiosity. The kid was tired from walking up the steps, like last time, but held no markings on his figure.

Then, Sukuna deduced, the angered look on his face must be from a mental or verbal battle. They were much worse than any fist fight and could predict a persons future character.

The boy held the same fiery green eyes Sukuna had enjoyed looking at last time. He was happy to see them again, though wishing they had lost their boyish appearance. Still, the kid seemed far too mature for his age.

But then, in a childish fit of rage, the boy kicked the podium he had rested his back against during his last visit. It was sudden and harsh but held little power. Sukuna watched with a raised eyebrow as the boy repeatedly kicked the podium with a muffled scream.

He mumbled something akin to a string of swear words along with something about his father. Boys at his age were always mad at their parents for not letting them do the simplest things or eat some candy they wanted. Just petty things.

His face was beginning to look less like the cool anger he had before. Instead of the intent being hidden in his eyes, his whole body gave in to the rage coursing throughout him. It was a beautiful sight, though incomplete. There was still something holding the kid back from completely losing himself to his anger.

Sukuna wondered, idly, what it was. Perhaps a relational attachment or some type of moral ambiguity.

The boy stopped sharply once again, taking another long dragons breath as he had done before. It seemed to be his way of calming himself down after these little episodes of emotional distraught.

Sukuna waited for the words he had said before, wondering if he would say them again. Seconds passed and the kids fists tightened. Without a word, he left the shrine.

Sukuna was immensely disappointed. He knew better than to assume a human would cure his boredom and now he would never appear before him again.

It was all over and now, instead of wiping out all of humanity, he would kill the boy first. Slow and painful.

Time passed and Sukuna's anger, which was grown and snapped so quickly, dissipated. With enough time, rational thought took over and he lost interest in killing the boy. He still despised him and was disappointed with the outcome of their meeting, but felt no reason to kill him. Making such a promise would mean he cared enough about the human to go after him but Sukuna was sure another like him would appear and it would be the same cycle.

He was expecting something out of these humans and he knew better than to think it would happen. Humans had a pattern they never seized to follow and no human could simply break that.

Of course, that didn't mean they couldn't pick a different pattern to start following.

The boy had come back, in a shocking turn of events. At least, it was for Sukuna who could not predict such things, only destroy. The charm had been meant for only one last visit, so it seemed the boy came of his own free will.

Though as the years passed, he was no longer a boy. Still young, but not old enough to do things independently: thirteen. He had grown in height, though had yet to lose most of his childish features. It was an awkward stage of life were humans struggled in their bodies and Sukuna could see the kid's struggle clearly.

The flight up to his shrine was still tiring and this time the kid stopped at the last steps, turning and sitting down at the edge of the staircase with a heavy breath. He faced away from Sukuna and towards the wild forest he had just traversed through.

Sukuna wished to see his face.

Tired of watching him squabble around his in anger, Sukuna decided it was time to appear before him. He rested in his usual position, body simply appearing into the human eye.

"Human," Sukuna spoke, boy flinching hard as he heard him."Turn and face me."

The kid abided by the command, slowly turning around and looking upon the regal, deadly figure. The tattoos along his body screamed danger, though old kimono he was wearing intrigued him. But something about his voice was off. The boy just couldn't put a finger on it.

With hesitation, the boy stood up to fully face Sukuna. He was proud of the look he made cross the earthly eyes of the kid.

"W-Who are you?" the boy asked, looking weary."I thought nobody would be here."

Sukuna grinned madly, standing up along with the boy."I am always here, boy. This is my domain. Among heaven and earth, I spectate the destructions of humans and Gods alike." He took as step down from his shrine, causing the boy to tense."I am eternal and my will is indisputable."

With another step, he was off his shrine and the kid backed away from him in fear. In his hysteria, the boy had forgotten that he was at the edge of the stairs and fell backwards.

Without fault, Sukuna shifted towards the kid and wrapped an arm around the back of his waist, holding him from falling backwards. His eyes widened in glee, staring straight into the boys which were so close to him.

"I'm Ryomen Sukuna, a God of Calamity," he finished, pulling the boy up so that he was stable again.

"W-What the hell?!" the boy pushed away from him, this time being mindful of the steps and walking down a couple of them to put some distance between them. Sukuna remained where he was, staring down at the kid.

"What are you here for this time? Mourning? Uncontrollable anger? Or have you become soft and simply wish to look at the scenery?"

The God looked like he was looking down on the boy. His situation was nothing but a passing amusement to him.

"You..." The boy suspected the man, "Sukuna", had really witnessed him all the times he had come to the shrine. Was he really a God?

"'I'm strong. I will not lose'," Sukuna mimicked words he had said in the past."Is that what you say to hype yourself up?"

The boys eyes widened in horror, realizing he really had seen him. He stepped back further, thinking to escape the strange man.

"You may fear me, human," Sukuna spoke."But don't think you will escape me. I will see you soon, I'm sure."

Because with this sort of pattern, appearing or not appearing, the boy would still come back. It was human nature and that humanity of his would be his downfall.

Without a second thought, the boy ran away, down the steps of the shrine. He vowed to never come back or else something horrible would befall him.

Sukuna cackled the rest of the day, thunderstorms cracking in the sky.

The boy came back roughly one and a half years later. Sukuna knew he was coming, anticipated it.

Now 15, the kid was no longer a boy but a man. The remnants of his childish charm were long gone and he stood taller then he once was. His features were hard and cold, showing no emotion. Perhaps he was just doing so in front of Sukuna, not wanting him to see past his facades. Sukuna had seen plenty of poker faces in his life, the teens wasn't impressive.

His sharp green eyes were thin and worn and his body had grown taunt with muscle. Sukuna idly wondered what kind of work he was doing to gain such a figure. It was impressive for a boy his age, probably running in the family.

When he reached the top of the steps, his breath was not labored. He faced the shrine confidently, never hesitating as he stepped closer to the shrine, just far enough to be out of harms way.

But Sukuna was a God. The only way for the teen to be truly safe was if he was to leave his domain.

The teen looked around, probably for him, and then settled his eyes back to his shrine, and with hesitance, spoke.

"Are you here, Sukuna?"

His rougher, more masculine voice didn't surprise him, but the fact that he spoke his name made his eyes widen and body tingle. It had been a long time since he felt such a sensation.

Typically, he would only feel it when humans called him by his full name during prayer as a way to let him know someone was calling for his help. This, however, was different. It was the sort of feeling humans got when they started to develop feelings for another human.

Sukuna didn't know what to feel about it.

Out of instinct and desire, he appeared in front of the teen, sitting in his usual position along the floor of his shrine.

"As I suspected," Sukuna started."I see you have come back yet again, human."

The teen remained silent, eyes wide for some strange reason. He just stared at Sukuna for a long period. The God was long bored of the action.

"Did you intend to just look at me?" he asked, annoyed.

A small shake and twitch brought the teen back into reality."I'm Fushiguro Megumi. And you...are really a God, aren't you?"

Sukuna smirked."Do you have a request for me? I wont help you without an offering of some kind."

"No," the newly dubbed Megumi said sharply."I would never ask for anything from a God of Calamity."

"You know, we don't just reek havoc, Megumi," Sukuna replied, trying the name out on his tongue. It rolled off of it beautifully. He was glad the teen was so frank and excited at how he could twist their conversation.

The more doubt the human felt the more excitement Sukuna would have.

"You know, I've done some research on you," Megumi stated.

Sukuna's eyebrow raised. So the boy, after overcoming his trauma from the event, decided to research him? Curiosity? Was he the same as Sukuna?

"They call you the Double-Faced Specter. You watch over the destruction of the world and the people inside without care. So, I wonder why you are called Double-Faced." Megumi's eyes sharpened."Are these destructions you watch over...your own doing?"

Sukuna couldn't help but let out a short chuckle, the sound slowly expanding until he was openly laughing at the man in front of him.

The other was perturbed by his display, a bit of sweat dripping down his face. He wondered what the God would do next after he had so blatantly called him out. He hated people with excessive pride, so he couldn't help but get mad when he met Sukuna and learned about his past.

As Sukuna started to calm down, Megumi spoke frankly."I don't like needless acts that harm others. You may be a God, but I have no respect for you."

Sukuna let out a small huff."You have yet to live, human. These may be your ideals now, but they will surely change. Respect doesn't mean you have to like me. I can respect an enemies skill but that doesn't mean I wish not to kill him. You may come to hate me, Megumi, but your respect for me as a God will only grow."

"You say it like I will come back here."

"You will," Sukuna said with finality."You coming here today confirmed that you would be back. I know not the reason you are here, simply that you coming back is inevitable. Our cycle has already begun and there is little but death that can stop it."

"Death..." Megumi mumbled."I know you are talking about my death, but you also said I will come to hate you. Are you expecting me to kill you? Can a God die?"

"A God can die, but a human cannot kill me openly." Sukuna looked offended."You are special, Megumi. I wish not for your death or mine in the upcoming decades."

"But we will die."

"Yes, but it will take me many centuries until I perish."

"You're thinking quite high of yourself." Megumi's eyes hardened."I hate that."

Sukuna grinned widely, shivers wracking his body. Megumi wasn't perfection, but he was the most interesting being he had met in a long time. Even the hidden threats of a God didn't deter him.

Sukuna felt that he might be able to sate his curiosity for the next couple decades with Megumi. It would be an interesting turn of events and his heart was already beating out of control. His solitude might've really opened new doors to him.

"You're interesting, Fushiguro Megumi, but I am not one for idleness." Sukuna sat up from his laidback position, arms coming to rest on his legs."Nor am I completely unreasonable. You will tell me why you are here, one day, but for now, tell me of the modern world. I cannot leave this forest so I have seen little of the differences."

Megumi looked at him strangely but then gave in and began to tell him various things.

The whole time, Sukuna was never bored.

As expected, the boy came back many times since their initial meeting. Megumi didn't come everyday, of course, but usually came roughly every two weeks on a day he didn't have school.

In the beginning, Megumi told him about the modern world and also showed him devices he had never seen before. It was intriguing but more than that he wanted to learn about the beings still living. He had never found much interest in inanimate objects. He wanted soul.

So, Megumi told him about modern humans and himself. Sukuna could clearly see his caution when talking about himself, careful to not say too much. It only made the mysteries about him more intriguing.

As time passed, Sukuna noticed little about the changes in Megumi's physical appearance, since he saw him so often. His mind and ideals changed little but Sukuna could see small shifts. He didn't hate Sukuna, but he could feel his discontent with some of the comments or statements he made.

His respect for him? Oh, it made Sukuna cackle just thinking about how much Megumi had begun to respect him. It wasn't much, but it was more than the student thought he would.

Sukuna also enjoyed toying with him. Some days, when Megumi would walk up the stairs, he would appear next to him casually. The first few times were his best reactions. Other times, he wouldn't let himself appear before Megumi the whole meeting.

The other knew he was there and just sat down and began talking towards the shrine where Sukuna always sat. Sukuna liked to laugh silently to himself as he stood away from the shrine, making Megumi look like a fool for talking at nothing. During these instances, Megumi never commented on his lack of appearance or the shifting of the air as he felt something close to him.

These were the only times Sukuna would touch Megumi. It wasn't like the other was unaware either. Sukuna's hands running through his hair could be felt perfectly, since he was only invisible, not untouchable.

Still, the other didn't comment as Sukuna gave into his silent whims. He knew Megumi probably saw his affection as a cowardly act, but he didn't yet want to believe he had feelings for a human. It would hurt his pride to realize that he was just like every other God, loving humanity.

So, for the moment, he would take the coward act. Megumi was already far lost so it felt like he was just waiting for Sukuna. Slow and steady, like dripping water.

Now years later, Megumi was reaching the end of his mandatory schooling and had far developed. Sukuna knew that the cowardly dog act was far done for.

"This is two times this week, Megumi," Sukuna commented as soon as he reached the top of the stairs."And before this, you have been coming consistently every week."

"You know about my future plans," Megumi stepped closer to the shrine, not sitting down this time."In one month from now, I'll be gone from this town. I thought you would like it if I came more often before I went."

"You act like this won't also benefit you," Sukuna huffed."And coming to see me so much may bore me. Are you prepared to face that, Fushiguro Megumi? Run as you may, I could kill you before you make it to the steps."

"Will you kill me?" Megumi asked."When we first talked, I thought that you surely would, but everyday I doubt it more and more. It would feel really shitty now, wouldn't it?"

"Hey..." Sukuna's nature darkened exponentially."Watch yourself, human."

"And let you look down on me?" Megumi grinned back, shoving a thumb downwards."No way in hell!"

Suddenly Sukuna was directly in front of him, wide eyes staring crazily down at him. He had a hand up, ready to crush Megumi into a million pieces.

"I am a God of Destruction. I don't create, only destroy. I seek out only what interests me and disguard everything else." His hand moved closer, almost brushing against Megumi."To me, you are nothing but a passing whim."

Megumi stared at him and then his hand. In a small whisper, he spoke."Coward."

Sukuna stiffened. He didn't know why he didn't just strike Megumi down right then. Perhaps this was because it was his first time experiencing love that he had become so wrapped up.

His hand was shaking and he forced it to stop, clenching his fist tightly. With a hard face, he slowly expanded his fist and reached for Megumi again. This time, he didn't hide and the other never stopped watching him. He placed his hand above Megumi's ear, running his fingers into his hair.

As soon as solid contact was made, his body uncoiled.

Megumi watched him and Sukuna knew why he came back to him after that day he revealed himself. They were one in the same, curiosity, interest, and desire bringing them together again and again.

It was inevitable, as most things were.

Sukuna moved his hand down, rubbing along Megumi's ear and then coming down to cup his cheek. They both shuddered.

Then, without a second thought, Sukuna kissed him. He created something and he didn't know what to do. No, he knew what he had to do but didn't know how to go about doing it.

Destruction was an inevitable as death, but love couldn't be tossed away.

For once, Sukuna was lost.

A month passed, to Sukuna, like a butterfly fluttering past someone in spring. He had lived so long that his warped sense of time ended up becoming his greatest enemy.

Sukuna had touched Megumi a few more times after that but nothing like the first time when they shared such a heated kiss. Sukuna would brush a hand through Megumi's hair or run it along his skin but that was it. The other never touched him, making every encounter feel one-sided.

Sukuna knew Megumi was just restraining himself. He probably thought his heart would become more broken if he recuperated Sukuna's feelings. Him leaving was inevitable and Sukuna staying was also inevitable.

The future was something Megumi looked at constantly, while Sukuna had lost all meaning for the word. There was no reason to dwell on something that would be infinite.

Still, he realized Megumi's time was finite. And that scared him.

When Megumi left, Sukuna didn't know when he would come back. He didn't know if he would come back.

A feeling began to bubble in his chest. It fluttered through his fingers and to his toes. It made him stand on edge, restless. He was nervous. He was doubting himself.

All humans sought out companionship. They sought out equals and Sukuna was a God. He was no equal and he never would be. Megumi would move on.

Sukuna wouldn't let him go. Sukuna didn't want him to go. Megumi was too interesting. He had never felt such joy before in a long time.

But with all joy, anxiety followed.

Megumi arrived on his final day in his hometown. He kept his face stoic as he approached Sukuna's shrine. The God was there, as usual, waiting for him with a smile on his face.

The atmosphere was different and Megumi felt something off and threatening about it. Sukuna himself seemed to be acting differently. It was like he was seeing through Megumi. Was it because he was finally leaving? Was Sukuna mad to see him go?

He wasn't starting the conversation, as he usually did, so Megumi was even more perturbed. If Sukuna started to get violent, what would he do? What could he do?

"Sukuna," Megumi spoke, trying to get his attention."Are you okay?"

He had come very far, asking a God if he was okay.

"Today's the day, huh..." the God spoke in a wistful manner. Megumi could tell his age and wisdom as he spoke. He wondered, again, how he had become worthy of such a man.

"Yes," Megumi said back resolutely. He had been preparing his heart for the past month.

Sukuna stood up, stepping down from his shrine and towards Megumi."Are you sad, Megumi?" He started circling him."Depressed we can't see each other anymore? Angry at our circumstances?" He stopped, facing the side of Megumi. His hand came out, grasping his neck"Or perhaps you're happy you don't have to deal with me anymore?"

"Are you doubting me being here?" Megumi asked.

Sukuna's hand on his neck tightened."You give me reason to doubt, Megumi." He stepped closer, breathing in Megumi's heat."Everything we've done here has been completely one-sided. If you hate me, then tell me. And if you love me, all the more reason."

"I...I'm..." Megumi choked on his words, sour look on his face.

"Cruel as usual." Sukuna dropped his hand, looking away.

Megumi looked over at him, watching as he walked toward the edge of the staircase. He looked out over the forest and the city that rested just at the edge of it. There was no particular look on his face, clean indifference.

Megumi came up behind him, watching the city just like the God did. He felt like some kind of king or ruler like this. He wondered if Sukuna got the same elated feeling as he was looking out. There was still so many mysteries to him that Megumi wished to unravel, but he had to be cautious. Sukuna was still a God of Calamity.

"It's been so long since I've been in the human world," Sukuna finally spoke."The changes you told me about must give it an interesting flair."

"Yes, I guess you would think so," Megumi mumbled off."But why don't you just go down and see for yourself? Must you always stay at your shrine?"

Sukuna cackled."You humans set up these shrines for us in goodwill, not realizing they are the very things that trap us. They are the reasons we Gods do not answer your prayers. It's because we cannot answer them."

"Then what about the other shrines built under your name?" Megumi asked.

"I only reside in the first shrine that was built for me. The others are completely empty. They hold no value whatsoever." Sukuna's head then turned towards Megumi, looking almost inhumane."Hey, Megumi, set me free."

Megumi could only blink at him, trying to understand what he was asking."Free you...? How?"

Sukuna took a step towards him, arm coming to wrap around his neck."Burn my shrine down," he whispered, leaning down towards him. His lips brushed against the others neck."It will crumble easily. Burn it down and set me free. That way we can be together forever."

Megumi's eyes widened and he sharply cut away from Sukuna."Burn down your shrine?! Do you really want to be with me that much?"

The words were heartfelt, but when he looked at Sukuna, he saw nothing. He looked completely devoid of emotion yet so full of malice and violence. Megumi was reminded of who he really was: a God of Calamity. Sukuna didn't mean to be with him, he was going to destroy him.

"C'mon, Megumi, burn it down," Sukuna grinned, reaching out for him."We'll be together forever..."

"I..."

Sukuna paused, waiting. Megumi did not.

With a heavy heart, he ran away. Sukuna watched him the whole time, stunned.

"I'm strong. I will not lose."

"I'm sorry."

Sukuna was sad. Sukuna was angry and had nothing to do about it. So, with a heavy heart, he screamed.

Sukuna experienced his first heartbreak. He had fallen for a human, like every other God, as suffered the vital consequences of his choice.

He felt like his heart had been ripped out and ever since then, he was a shell of regal God he once was. He had sat in the same spot Megumi had left him, crumbled on the floor, for six months. Time had never passed so slowly in heartache.

When he gained enough spirit, he finally moved back to his shrine. No longer his glorious, prideful former self, he laid on his back and stared up at the worn wood of his shrine. He rested like the dead, thinking constantly of Megumi.

His back was all he saw, running away from him endlessly down the steps of his shrine. Sukuna couldn't even picture his earthly green eyes he loved and used to see everywhere he looked. He couldn't even dream of another time, Megumi saying yes and the two of them being together.

Illusions and fantasies were all Sukuna used to think of, creating silent plots to destroy the world once he was free from his shrine. Now his creativity had run dry. The only thought besides Megumi's back he could conjure up was of him trapping Megumi, just like he was trapped.

He couldn't even feel enough hatred to want to kill him. Pathetic, really, as he was a God of Calamity. He just loved Megumi too much. He couldn't stop loving him.

He loathed humanity.

And so, without him realizing, a year passed.

And Sukuna didn't realize, but after a year, Megumi was back, if only temporarily. But he went to go see Sukuna in the time he had. He had too.

Sukuna couldn't believe his eyes when he saw him. He had honestly thought he was an illusion, so he never moved from his lying position, just watching the other walk up to his shrine with dull eyes.

"Sukuna?" Megumi tried, looking around for him. Of course, he didn't appear."I know you're here somewhere, so just listen to me."

He waited for a response but received none.

"The year I was away from you, I was miserable. I thought it would be okay and I would get distracted so I wouldn't have to think about you, but I couldn't stop. I was going insane and becoming depressed. But I..." Megumi gulped audibly."I can't trust you not to kill anyone once you're free, Sukuna.

"You're a God of Calamity. It's in your nature to create destruction and all that would be on my hands. You could end the world if you wanted, and I couldn't do anything about it. No matter what happened between us, my nature just can't let me trust you.

"So, I did some research. Even if you don't want it, I'll make it so you can't destroy the world, Sukuna. As long as I'm alive, you will not be able to hurt anyone."

He reached a hand out, placing a talisman on the wooden pillars holding up his shrine. Nine in total. And then, with slow movements, he started pouring gasoline on the wood of the shrine, careful so it wouldn't spread and create a wildfire.

He made a trail out towards the pillars at the front of the staircase so that he would be safe from the flames. With shaky hands, a match was pulled out and lit.

Megumi gulped."I love you, Sukuna." And then he dropped the match and the gas was instantly ignited.

It spread towards the shrine, alighting it and burning it bit by bit.

Everything felt hazy to Sukuna. The bright flames were so surreal and Megumi's words kept echoing in his head.

He loved him. He loved him. He loved him.

Quickly, Sukuna shot up and made his way out of the crumbling shrine which had been his source of hatred for so long. He could finally see again. Illusions and fantasies were no longer a thing of the past, and Megumi was before him once again.

Real.

Sukuna laughed like a mad man, cackling wildly as he watched the flames engulf his previous dwelling.

Megumi then noticed him, standing in the middle of area surrounding the front of his shrine, maniacally laughing with his arms spread wide. He feared, at that moment, that he had done the wrong thing. Maybe he was too late.

"Finally, I'm free!" he yelled."Finally!"

Megumi just watched him, not daring to say a word. No, he was completely paralyzed in fear.

Then, sharply, Sukuna turned around and his wide, crazed eyes met his. He began to walk towards him and Megumi couldn't move.

"Oh, foolish human!" Sukuna laughed some more."You fell right into my trap! Without realizing it, you have become tied to me!"

Megumi flinched as Sukuna's hand moved towards him, caressing his face."Be prepared to entertain me, because we shall be with each other for eternity!"

He leaned in, kissing Megumi harshly. His hand gripped at his hair and he ripped them away just as quickly.

"I love you, Megumi!"