Chapter Text
Yuji’s ability to move around his clan’s estate without the need to reach out his hands or call to others for navigation was because he spent his entire life on those grounds. His omega knew every floorboard. Every step. Every turn—There was nothing new or surprising that could shake him so long as he kept his other senses alert for subtle shifts in the estate’s day-to-day.
Sukuna’s shrine, however, was foreign to him.
Acting as if this wasn’t the case had been Yuji’s initial mindset, all too used to his self-confidence to let it slip through his fingers. Worse still, it had been easy for Sukuna to forget that his omega could not see when most tasks and daily rituals were no challenge to him. This combination of factors had led to the curse finding his omega either shuffling hesitantly from one room to the next or boldly marching forward with a hand out in preparation for collision until he got the layout of the shrine perfectly mapped within his mind. He did not ask for help nor express any displeasure beyond the mild curse that rang out when one too many stubbed toes or knocked foreheads had the omega hissing in pain, leading to Sukuna’s immediate solution to simply carry him everywhere to avoid the struggle altogether.
“No! Put me down!” Yuji screeched in Sukuna’s arms, flailing about like a toddler when the curse only wanted to assist him in going from the main hall to the garden.
“I won’t tolerate seeing you fumble about any longer!” Juggling the smaller body of his soon-to-be mate was a feat all on its own. Yuji had quite a bit of flexibility and hidden strength the curse had not been initially privy to, leading to an infuriating struggle.
“I can’t learn if I don’t do it my way! Your footsteps aren’t the same as mine!”
“Then what would you have me do?” Sukuna held out the defeated omega in front of him, his lower set of hands resting on his hips. “Because if I have to witness you risk falling off the engawa or into a pond when I’m not looking—”
“Maybe… Walk with me again? At least, until I get it right?” Yuji pressed his fingers together, his head drooped forward. “I know you’re busy but… I won’t stray far!”
“My business can wait.” The alpha curse sighed as he placed his omega back onto the ground. “Let’s go wherever you wish to start.”
A compromise was made from this. Once in the morning, once in the evening, Sukuna toured Yuji through the grounds of his shrine as they walked and talked, allowing his omega to go at whatever pace he pleased until he was comfortable with an area. It wasn’t as much of an intrusion on the curse’s schedule as one may initially believe, as few on this earth could force him into action. Fewer whom he’d willingly follow around, finding a smile returning to his face whenever Yuji drew close to grasp his hand and even dared to tug the alpha in whichever direction had caught his attention.
It was a welcome change of pace from the growing monotony of the years previous to this one.
Courting this omega provided Sukuna with a unique challenge.
Yuji was rather self-sufficient, leading to the omega eagerly skittering off to hunt down fowl he heard rummaging in the woods from what should have been his lazy perch near Sukuna’s side. He insisted on preparing most of his meals and assisting with the clean-up, leaving Uraume flustered when trying to argue between the alpha insisting they carry on with their duties like normal and the omega wishing to relieve them from the work expected of them.
When it came to gifting Yuji anything, the appearance of any items or clothing was only for the curse’s benefit. What mattered to Yuji was the tactile aspect. Soft and fluffy furs captured his interest more than finer silks to the point that Sukuna would find the omega brushing his hand against newly gifted pelts for his nest for long periods of time, as if he were in a trance. Polished gems were loved for their smooth and round shapes, whereas carved wooden figures and other trinkets created a fun game for Yuji to guess what manner of creature he was holding in his hands.
The most beloved gifts, despite being the easiest to give, were the curse’s own scented clothes. While Yuji had favored materials, Sukuna never wore anything uncomfortable to the skin to begin with, already making it so that anything the omega was either given or had stolen off the curse’s back—as his cloak was often taken without warning—was enough to please his omega.
“I did not think it was possible for me to run out of clothes, but somehow…” The curse circled his omega’s nest, assessing from which angle he should strike the pile of blankets in the center. “...all my robes save for one set have gone missing!”
Yet, when Sukuna lunged forward at the pile, the entire mass rolled out of the way. Yuji had anticipated his attack, though that would do little to stop the curse from grabbing the fabrics on top and tugging them free from the omega’s clutches.
“I wonder how that got there.” Yuji muttered from his nest, quickly deciding which pieces of clothing he’d fight with his life for while the alpha grabbed what he came for.
This song and dance between them happened every few days, yet Sukuna would not argue with having the omega’s scent latched onto him as a result.
His mate’s nest was becoming more annoying to find. Soon-to-be-mate. Sukuna had yet to make his claim official as the pair were waiting for Yuji’s first heat.
Until then, the omega brat appeared to be testing Sukuna’s patience in whichever way he could as a new game had arisen between them that the alpha had no choice but to participate in. Every time he departed from the shrine to either deal with unwanted intrusions upon his land or conduct business should someone dare request his appearance, Yuji would take it upon himself to upturn his nest and hide it somewhere else on the property.
Every.
Single.
Time.
“I do not know where he could have gone.” Uraume would be no help in locating it, as the beta learned since day one to not interfere with alpha-omega affairs no matter how much either party insisted.
“You are supposed to keep an eye on him in my absence.” The fact that the omega would hide his scent in the alpha’s gave Sukuna the most trouble. The curse would be remiss if he did not mention how much he enjoyed this little hunt when there were days all he wanted to was return home and curl around his omega without working for it.
“He’s still within the shrine, Sukuna-sama. That much I’m certain.”
“You’re on thin ice, Uraume.”
Sukuna stormed off after that, groaning as he began mapping out the best way to do a full sweep of the shrine with little backtracking required. In response, the beta would only hum as they continued their other duties.
“Thin ice is my specialty.”
It was during one particular night after the curse had returned from a brutal battle east of his shrine did he recall their little game. Too tired to indulge in it, the alpha lumbered to his quarters without so much as a passing glance in any direction, leaving him to be pounced on by a rather soured omega sometime after falling atop his bed.
Yuji said nothing, able to clearly smell the blood clinging to the alpha’s clothes while feeling for mild cuts etched across Sukuna’s skin. On these rare occasions, his omega would forsake his nest and take his place within Sukuna’s den, snuggling as close as he could to his alpha’s chest before waiting to see what Sukuna would do in response. A lethargic purr from the curse followed as he enclosed his arms around Yuji, taking note that they would both have to clean themselves off come morning once the willingness to do so reared its head.
For now, they would lay entwined, without either showing objection.
Sukuna officially claimed Yuji on the night of a new moon, shrouded in the pure shadows of night.
He’d found his omega panting in his nest, burning hot to the touch, ensuring that every breeze sweeping through the shrine sent a shiver through Yuji’s sensitive nerves. Moaning for Sukuna’s name, the omega was eager to present his neck and beg for the alpha to see their union be made official.
The sheer difference in size nor the monstrous fangs dripping saliva down Yuji’s back as Sukuna hovered over the aching omega had not scared him in the slightest. One wrong move, a single lapse in judgment, or the simple rejection of the alpha would lead to this omega’s untimely demise, yet Yuji had placed all his faith into the one caged over him. The one whose breath battered down an intoxicating haze. Whose presence only sent the omega crying for Sukuna’s own relief once a connection was made.
“A-Alpha… please!”
“Oh, Yuji…”
Sukuna would not deny himself any further. His tongue longed for the taste of his omega beyond what the skin alone could provide. His teeth sunk deep into Yuji’s skin as cursed energy quickly enveloped his mate to prevent any unneeded damage beyond the beautiful marks this bite would surely leave behind.
Despite knowing this assumption to be fundamentally false, Sukuna found it too easy to believe that his omega was delicate. Not in spirit, but in body. He was dressed in the garments of court ladies when they’d first met and such clothing would not change after becoming the curse’s mate. Sukuna wished to show off his omega’s beauty in every aspect possible, so long as Yuji tolerated the lengths to which the curse would go to have him appear leagues above those who came to worship at the curse’s feet.
Not only did Yuji’s appearance work toward his false narrative, but his boldness had always carried an air of softness around Sukuna that became addicting. His words, his touch—Everything about Yuji soothed Sukuna’s inner alpha into a lull that had immediately crumbled the moment they discovered Yuji had become pregnant with his pup.
Alert and overprotective were not enough to describe the shift in Sukuna’s demeanor, as his omega was quick to shout such things as “Overbearing. Suffocating. Needlessly worrisome for the strongest being there was!” While miscellaneous objects were thrown in his direction after he’d overstayed his welcome in his mate’s nest. And while none could be disagreed with, Sukuna would not stop in any of his behaviors until the day their child was brought into the world.
The only time his omega caught a break was when the curse needed to leave the shrine and Yuji was no longer in optimal condition for travel. Leaving his mate alone within his shrine was not ideal, but it would not be for long. The barrier outside and the assurances from both his omega and supportive beta were enough to keep Sukuna focused on his task of that day.
Yet, whatever confidence the curse had when departing from the shrine would wash away with the rumors that assassins were to be deployed to take out his mate and pup in his absence. His mortal mate whom he was hesitant to curse should the worst befall him. Whether such rumors were fabricated or not, the curse did not care. Sukuna rushed back home to find his barrier broken and his shrine’s entrance in ruins, both terrified and enraged, following in haste the scent of blood as he rushed to his mate’s nest only to find a shocking sight.
Yuji stood alone at the room’s center, with half a dozen beaten and bloodied bodies scattered about at his feet. His pink kosode had become stained by splattered marks of crimson, while his hakama may as well be drenched around his ankles.
None of it belonged to him.
"Welcome home, Sukuna-sama" Yuji spoke without the need of additional breath. Calm and unbothered, the omega keeps a bloodied hand over his swollen stomach to settle the little one still growing inside.
His mate never looked more beautiful.
The curse should not be surprised by this. Itadoris were warriors first and foremost, regardless of one's circumstances at birth, each member of their clan was expected to adapt and overcome. Yuji had carved his own way through his family’s harsh creed, and thus defending himself from an attack such as this was a mere child’s play.
Knowing this while understanding how Sukuna’s view of his mate had become skewed in their time together did not stop the curse from stumbling forward to pick up his omega and hold him tight. Yuji’s legs dangled in the air as Sukuna balanced him between his arms, thankful to find his omega willing to stifle his complaints of being carried this way when both halves of the pair were relieved to be together once again. It was not enough to press kisses upon his mate’s head nor scent him so vigorously in opposition to the assassins who dared bleed on his love. No, Sukuna would have to pry them apart to look upon his mate once more, grateful for the ability to feel his shifting weight in his arms.
“I’m glad to be home, Yuji.”