Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Yuji lay sprawled out on the ground, unable to move, let alone turn his head. Affixed in one position due to his failing body, all he could do was stare at the intense beam of his ship's forward lights. Unmoving, unblinking, intent on blinding him despite his efforts to shut his failing eyelids. Such a powerful light offered no clarity. Even the cultivation of hope brought its own challenge as an imposing specter moved into view, obscured by the light. An amorphous blob that took shape the closer it came. Monstrous proportions stunned Yuji into holding a much-needed breath while doubled-traits left his eyes darting around, wondering what sort of environment would require a species to possess a second carnivorous mouth much larger than the one above it. Clawed limbs lunged toward him while strange sounds pounded against his ear in the most painful rhythm. 

Gravity shifted—No, the ground was no longer beneath him. Yuji had been grabbed. He could not feel with his body as he should, but the uneasy sensation of being at the mercy of another caused him to panic. Whatever manner of creature that had found him jettisoned away from the damaged hull of his ship had been favored by fortune. An easy meal had been bestowed by the celestial sea seemingly out of nowhere and where there was fortune for one, there existed misfortune for another.

Curse his unresponsive body! All of Yuji's nerves had failed to yield to his mind's command. Entering combat with the one carrying his body to its den, nest, or whatever term was most suitable for its residence was unlikely to end any differently where Yuji was now. And as his mind began to slow and his vision darkened with an unsettling blur overlaid on what little he could still manage, all there was left for Yuji to do was to spitefully hope that his species tasted terrible. Or better yet, may he be a poison to vanquish this one final foe. Anything to avoid dying on an alien world after the absolute blunder that brought him hurdling toward its surface.

One last thought flashed across Yuji's swirling mind before his world went dark. An apology was needed from his dear grandfather. All his efforts to spare Yuji's life had been for nothing. 

Hopefully, he won't be too irritated should their remnants ever entwine…

…But, to Yuji's surprise, his anticipated communion with his predecessor was not yet to be.

A sudden jolt snapped his eyes open. Yuji's head shot up from where he lay, the force of his movement causing him to tumble backward into an uncomfortably hard surface, barely cushioned by the soft material clumped underneath him. Said item, a light-absorbing cloth, had been draped over his body before. Yuji was about to reach for it, but he soon became fascinated by the material from which the floor was constructed, which bounced ever so slightly under his hands. Different panels offered different sounds. Some creaked, others groaned, and one threatened to snap altogether as the pressure Yuji put on it may have been a bit too much to handle. 

Faint traces of life still rested within every surface, flickering as the furthest stars did. Was this place built out of organic material? If so, then much of the assumed disrepair from what Yuji could make out in the darkness may be due to rot within the substance. He would have to move about, waving his hands as he did to use his natural glow as a pathetic lamp. The lack of any furniture or decor made it seem that this was a condemned sight. The energy in the air was strange, causing his skin to tense and flicker with unease, angered by this odd means of confirmation. 

Yuji grabbed his arms and squirmed in place, prepared to scream at whatever arbiter in charge of his afterlife had thought this scene to be funny, but then he stopped. His hands had made contact with several things, indicating that he still possessed a physical body. He was whole… For the most part. Inconsistent stings throughout Yuji's body, compared with sudden bouts of vertigo and loss of balance, kept Yuji aware that much was still wrong. But, life continued on; thus, Yuji remained alive and alert to experience the very world he'd crashed into however long ago. 

For example, this weird containment cube!

Faux excitement could only last so long, as Yuji quickly fell into concern.

How did… Why did he wake up here? Was the one who tore him from the crash site the same one responsible for abandoning him here?

Or was he being confined here?

The room Yuji was in did not look secure. There was nothing present that intuitively suggested some kind of lock or an advanced security system, but looks could be deceiving. The amount of light from the outside pouring in through cracks was enough of a temptation for Yuji to scoot closer. Surveying his surroundings was a must in unknown territory. He prepared to squat down to where the widest gap could be found, his blood racing with curiosity, only to stop the moment his ears began to twitch.

Yuji heard something. A consistent, growing sound, feet thumping against the ground, likely the approach of someone. Singular. Could it be the one who brought him here? Were they friend or foe?

Scarier thought, had he been found? Was everything sacrificed for his escape pointless?

Prepared to fight if it came to it, Yuji tripped over himself as he backed away from the direction of his unknown captor. He'd caught himself before falling completely and raised his hands. There was nothing nearby to work as a weapon, and while he knew he could always rely on that ability, a physical altercation generally went his way if he was determined enough. 

But just as his confidence had settled in, Yuji's thoughts veered wildly off course. Dread seeped in as he second-guessed his course of action. A foreboding mass of energy accompanied his approaching captor, leaving his fingers tingling and his antennae twitching. Would it be safer to play dead instead? At least pretend to be asleep, right? Coax a possible comment or two to learn just who he was dealing with? Yuji considered that option to be the smart play, but his instinct to throw caution to the wind left him itching for a confrontation— And now time was running out. What to do? What to do?

Why wasn't there anywhere to hide instead? This chamber held nothing within it besides that blanket—

At the last possible moment, Yuji shoved his instincts aside and dove onto the ground. His fingers snagged the edges of the blanket as he rolled, curling it over himself to cover his body completely. The thought in play was his genius plan of taking the perfect position to emerge from should his captor dare to make any hostile move. Yuji would spring into action and leap past, gunning for freedom and for wherever his ship ended up, praying he wasn't too far from it.

The doors to the containment cube slid open.

His captor took a step in and paused.

Then, another step, another pause.

The nerve-wracking silence was nearly impossible to endure. Too much absolute nothing made Yuji's body want to twitch about in protest. But he held his breath and kept his position until, without warning, Yuji suddenly lost the feeling of the ground beneath him. His captor had taken hold of the blanket and lifted him up into the air. An intentionally poor grip ensured that Yuji tumbled onto the floor, revealing him in his entirety, frozen in a crouching position with his hands prepared to strike.

What manner of being stood over him, glaring down with four intense eyes, was not any Reynoutrian that Yuji knew. Nor any species that Yuji was aware of, except for the vague recollection of the crash…

As no attempt of communication was made between them, unless his captor's— savior? —was using something beyond Yuji's capabilities. Yuji himself didn't know what to do beyond blink and flick his antennae, his focus in tune with understanding everything about the one in front of him before making any rash decisions. 

The height difference between them was the obvious factor. From Yuji's current position, it appeared that this unknown being doubled, if not tripled, his size, but that could be a trick from how intimidating his appearance was. A bipedal body shape offered some familiarity, especially when many of their features shared similar placements. Possessing double the amount of eyes, arms, and mouths… An additional digit on each hand and foot also left Yuji feeling lesser in comparison. All he could boast were his antennae, slender and curled at the end, which added an entire head of height to Yuji if one were to cheekily include them. Given what he observed and the likelihood that this individual was from the planet Yuji had crashed on, the immediate environment surrounding them must have been more dangerous as it was bountiful enough to support such impressive growth. 

All this staring was starting to make Yuji self-conscious. His eyes began to dart around, unable to fixate on one point for too long. Was he a bit too enamored? Maybe! Was it distracting? MAYBE! But… It was the prolonged silence and that stern, intense look that kept Yuji from speaking. Was he expected to initiate the conversation? Was all the pressure really being put on his shoulders? 

That wasn't fair at all!

Tempted to let out a frustrated hiss, Yuji opened his mouth to release the most least-awkward greeting he could, only to be cut off by his captor. Naturally, nothing comprehensible reached his ears. Why would it? If this species was not part of the larger galaxy confederation, then there would be no record of their language. Or any record that this species could speak at all.

"This sucks." Yuji chirped in his native tongue, his antennae drooping alongside his ears, causing their pointing ends to turn downward in disappointment. His reaction only earned him a grunt in return. More sounds followed, possibly mirroring Yuji's own struggle. 

Crying seemed like an excellent option right about now. Yuji would, however, avoid the show of weakness as much as possible. His captor, meanwhile, continued to speak, sounds flowing freely with little break, convinced that something might be discerned through if he went on long enough. If his captor weren't so aggressive and insistent. Worse, his captor hadn't done anything else beyond crossing the lower set of arms, offering nothing for Yuji to interpret.

"The sounds you make might sound nice, but they aren't helping." Whining wasn't helping either, but it felt better than doing nothing. Yuji covered his ears and shook his head, which seemed to stop his captor momentarily. Relief came quickly but left even quicker once Yuji was met with curled lips exposing sharpened teeth within the larger mouth much closer to his head.

Startled, Yuji scrambled back without much thought, only for his palm to slam into something sharp. A screech tore out of Yuji's throat. A piece of the floor had partially broken off from the rest, jutting out and waiting for an opportunity to draw Yuji's blood as gold pooled around the tiny wound. Now he really was about to cry—

To make matters worse, his captor crouched down to his level. A giant hand reached toward Yuji's injured one, leaving Yuji no choice but to kick and swipe at the intrusion until all four of his limbs were begrudgingly restrained. 

"Let me go! Release me—" Being pulled apart caused previous injuries to flair up, driving him to fight with greater ferocity until the uselessness of his struggle became apparent. Every twist and pull caused his muscles to ignite in flames. Something popped, another threatened to crack—With a position as compromised as his, what could Yuji do but dangle with each hand clasped firmly around his wrists and ankles like he were some prize on display? "Is this fun for you? Can't you see I'm in pain!?"

It would seem that patience ran thin in both parties. Yuji soon found himself back on the ground, his feet forced underneath his legs, his back turned toward his captor while a free hand went underneath Yuji's arm to pull out the splintered piece of the floor still in his palm. At this point, Yuji had closed eyes, unsure what to anticipate next. What he had not considered was that all his pain would still fade the moment his captor's fingers pressed upon his wound. 

"W-what are you doing?" Yuji stammered with one eye hesitantly open to witness a miracle without any perceivable device or medicine on display. Some form of energy had been poured into Yuji's body, and before he knew it, another hand had pressed against his back, offering the same non-physical balm to everything else that afflicted him. "Oh. This is… You're helping me?"

The ability to alter the bodies of others was an amazing feat. Yuji required no more than one hand to count the number of individuals he knew who possessed such a skill. Hesitantly, Yuji peered over his shoulder, about to sheepishly offer his thanks when he noticed the hand responsible for healing his palm was by his captor's mouth to be licked clean.

"You're tasting me!?"

No matter how much he flailed, Yuji couldn't get his wrists free. Even worse was the feeling of panic on his face, shifting his pale golden hue complexion to that of a red giant as the inner temperature of his core rose. The heat Yuji gave off did not deter his captor, as a hand caught Yuji's chin, bringing his face close to confront that tightening gaze. 

Thankfully, Yuji was not drawn further into either set of jaws. 

They could not go on like this. Any longer without proper communication and Yuji would have to resort to tactics they would not be able to return from. Desperate times called for desperate measures, and as such, Yuji took a deep breath and launched his face forward to connect his mouth with his captor's in an awkward embrace. Their lips connected with a jolt, sending a surge of energy rushing in all directions. This technique was not an ideal one, nor a respectable one given the potential backlash received without offering proper warning, but Yuji knew it was the only way to immediately absorb language information. Learning the nuances and variations of other members of his captor's species could come later. Hopefully, his actions won't be misconstrued as anything shameful…

"What are you doing!?" His captor lost his balance, shouting his bewildered sounds that now lit up Yuji's mind with purpose behind them. Celebration would have occurred if the pair hadn't fallen over with Yuji stuck straddling his captor's collarbone, hands waving about to keep his own balance.  

"Solving a problem— You're welcome!" Immediately, Yuji threw himself toward the ground, rolling off the human— Human. What a silly word —to stand on his own two feet. "I had to learn your language, and that was the easiest way. And these sounds are so weird. All this messing with your mouth shape and the tongue…"

By squishing and stretching his face manually, Yuji grew used to the means by which he could mimic the human's language. Much of what he thought turned into what he wished to say in the language he needed it to without much forethought, leaving him unable to reflect on it, akin to an automatic translator. The experience was almost uncomfortable but still necessary, and seeing how his captor was willing to give pause and hopefully consider the usefulness of this ability, a sense of progress manifested. 

"You have two mouths; can you speak out of both?" Yuji's thoughts blurted out before he could contain them. Fear receded in the wake of his curiosity's return. He's never been to another planet before, and encountering an unknown sentient species left him buzzing. "Our species have similar body structures…  Is one a speaking mouth, the other an eating one? How do your insides work? Where does it all connect?"

"No, that is not— Speak slower." The human ordered. "Do you not need to breathe?"

"Yes. Kind of. But not as often as you do… Maybe." Yuji tilted his head, antennae swishing back and forth while he observed his captor's chest. A very sturdy and captivating chest that consistently rose and fell in similar pulsations to Yuji's own body. 

"What are you doing?"

"Watching you breathe."

"Stop that at once."

"Understood!" Yuji offered an eager salute, not wishing to fan any further flames of contention. He would also take note that he and his captor's positions have reversed. The ever-enticing exit was now a few paces away. All it would take was one powerful burst of speed, and freedom would be his.

Yuji turned to his captor. Then, to the exit. Back to his captor—And Yuji sprinted toward the light, jumping into the air upon exiting, learning a bit too late that there was an immediate drop in elevation thanks to the platform the whole building was constructed on. A short platform. Hardly a concern, considering that Yuji's fall was not a hasty one, but it made the anticipation to land and the immediate shock of the soft flora beneath his feet all the more intense.

"Ah! It is brushing, no, it's—It tickles! Make it stop!" Yuji hopped from one foot to the other, eyes squinting as he adjusted his vision to discern the overwhelming shades of green spread along the ground and amongst the plants growing so high it was as if they yearned for what lay beyond their home. How many more things on this planet grew to such overwhelming sizes? Were they the reason the air smelled so sweet? And the sun… Oh, the beautiful star stationed amongst a blue sky—A blue sky! He could hardly believe it!— radiated warmth that could invigorate Yuji's body for the rest of his life. 

If there hadn't been an irritated giant standing over him, Yuji might have been fooled into believing this planet to be a peaceful one.

"You run, and then you do not run. Foolish."

"Where would I run off to?" Beyond the overbearing mountains along the horizon, there was no single landmark to direct Yuji's eye. Civilization ended beyond the clearing. It was not enough that Yuji had landed on an unknown planet with an unknown species in some unknown region, but Yuji had to have been found by an already isolated party. 

"You carry an energy within you that is not too unlike my own." His captor pointed at Yuji's chest, where the center of his being lay. "You do not feel like a cursed spirit, and your body is a physical one, but you are not human either." 

"A cursed spirit?" Was that another species on his planet? One without a physical body? How did that work? Yuji's confusion came from his limited understanding of what a ghost tethered to misfortune held. "What is that?"

"Do not play dull-witted games with me."

"I am not playing any games!" Now was , quite literally, the worst time to be playing one! "You must have witnessed the crash. You were there. I'm not from your home or your planet but from a place far off among the stars."

Yuji threw an exaggerated hand into the air, boldly sweeping across the sky to emphasize the grandiosity of his statement. A being from among the stars. An alien to the human world. Potentially the first ever to land on this isolated world should his captor's confusion be applied to the rest of his species. Which would mean that Yuji's arrival may also be the catalyst for a grand revelation said species may not be prepared for. Learning of the worlds beyond one's own planet on one's own merit versus the introduction of an outside force was a heated debate in many parts of the galaxy, with the former often being equated to a necessary rite of passage in order to expand into the stars. Yuji had just taken thousands, if not tens of thousands of years of philosophical debate and thrown it out an exhaust port. 

Perhaps landing in an isolated region was not so unlucky after all…

"You are from the stars?" His captor huffed while Yuji's antennae frantically twitched about as an attempt to take back every word spoken failed to even reach his lips. "And why has a star come down from the heavens to strike my domain?"

"It was an accident…" Yuji pressed his fingers together, his antennae mirroring the act as he continued to advance with his rash honesty. His voice went from loud proclamations to awkward, almost meek acknowledgment of the cascade of events that brought him here. "My ship received too much damage for the self-repair system to keep it working properly. The, uh, the navigation must have messed up the warp drive's functions, and whoops, I landed too close to your planet when exciting subspace… You know, the chances of encountering a planet when exiting a subspace without a destination are so astronomically small. I'm either the luckiest or unluckiest person in the whole galaxy."

The human's raised eyebrow did not offer the impression that Yuji's fun little fact was all that… impressive. Regardless, Yuji cleared his throat and carried on.

"Anyway, you found me and fixed me up… So, thank you." With hands pressed together in gratitude, Yuji rocked back and forth, a smile on his face. 

"I did not do it for your sake. Your 'vessel' nearly crashed on top of me." The desire to shout was obvious despite how much restraint was in his captor's voice. If someone had almost crashed their ship on Yuji while he was just going through the motions of his day, he would have been just as angry, if not more so. "I will not be bested by some muddled comet."

"This muddled comet has a name…" Yuji mumbled in his own tongue, failing to realize that his captor had moved out of his sight. Behind his back, the human reached for a weapon that had been left leaning against a nearby rock. Some sort of polearm with its end split into three sharp blades that would make his earlier splinter even more of a joke than it already was. 

Without warning, Yuji caught an intense glimmer of sunshine bouncing off the metallic end of his captor's weapon. Instinct urged him to spin out of the way, twirling into the air in the shape of a sizable arc to put distance between Yuji and potential follow-up attacks. Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain, as the time it took Yuji to reach the ground was used by his assailant to lunge forward at incredible speed. 

"W-Why are you attacking me!?" Yuji screeched after ducking his head, antennae moving independently of one another to avoid getting cut off. Why would this human heal him just to attack him? Were they not reaching some kind of understanding? Or was this a violent bonding ritual? 

The aggressive sincerity on display left Yuji doubtful that his last suggestion could be true. If he did not keep moving and his captor landed a hit, there was a very good chance that his life would end right here and now! It was not enough that Yuji had already fought for his life so recently, but to do so again was completely unfair!

Yuji sped up his own movements to match his assailant, not unused to combat, even if he was still far from being in his best shape. His dodging continued with a series of jumps, flips, and rolls, following the beat his assailant set with his strikes as best he could. The form-fitted pilot gear Yuji wore remained mostly in tack, weighing surprisingly little compared to the grander, weighted attire Yuji was more familiar with. Widened eyes acknowledged his skill, leading Yuji to smirk, even if it only lasted for mere moments as he considered just how long he could keep this up. As much as he wished to retaliate without any restraint, something in his core told him to reconsider. Should he strike back with too much force, he may very well end up alone in this unknown and dangerous land. That was if he were capable of dealing enough damage in the first place. His foe was physically overwhelming, and the attacks on display were nothing to take lightly. Should worst come to worst—

The malevolent aura surrounding his assailant clued Yuji into another form of attack. Energy pooled around the human at lightning speed, converting into a slashing-based attack beyond Yuji's own ability to see it. Instinct told him where to move, but even he could not avoid receiving a shallow wound across his shoulder. Were his eyes not fast enough, or did they lack the proper photoreceptors?

"You can sense my cursed technique?"

"Your what—!?" Yuji dove to his right, avoiding another barrage of attacks that tore through the giant tree behind him. These 'techniques' were being produced by the human's body. A power beyond immediate explanation, similar to the healing ability his captor had revealed earlier. Not only that, but the 'cursed' descriptive had been used again.

As they were no longer limited to the bounds of physical attacks, Yuji made the immediate choice to remove his self-restraint and respond in kind. His body's hue shifted yet again, now embodying that of a supermassive blue star. His height may not reflect that, but the power within him shifted to match the weight of the comparison. His whole being burned. Bright. The struggle to contain it all himself began, as inexperience quickly caught up to Yuji's capacity to call upon a power of his own despite being born with the innate honor to wield it. 

Just as his assailant raised his hand, Yuji raised both of his arms and threw his palms toward the ground, increasing the effects of this planet's gravity by an unknown multiplier. His plan relied solely on the impact of one grand move, hoping to sway the human from attacking again by way of fear or even common sense as gravity caused his captor to remain in place as his feet became buried in the now shattered surface of the earth. From standing to kneeling, Yuji let out an unearned taunt at the slightest feeling of victory.

"Hah! Take that!" Yuji let out a laugh as he would be on the defensive no longer. "My name is Yuji! Remember it… you, uh…" 

Oh dear, he never did get his captor's name…

"Ryomen Sukuna." The human spat while two arms kept his captor's straining body from slamming completely against the ground. The refusal to yield caused mild panic, but Yuji was quick to sweep such concerns away as he doubled his efforts to crush him. 

Not entirely.

Just… A little bit.

Ryomen Sukuna was capable of healing, after all.

"Well, Ryomen Sukuna, I think it is best for you to—" 

But before Yuji could continue any attempt at urging the human to surrender, a sudden flare of energy through his system threatened to incapacitate him entirely. He had not paid enough attention to how much energy he'd used. His effort had been hasty, his confidence unwarranted, and now the gravitational force he'd called upon had dissipated the moment his stance broke.

White noise filled Yuji's ears as he collapsed against the ground. In contrast, Ryomen Sukuna returned to his feet, body shaking, his breathing heavy, but otherwise still able to continue. Yuji had completely underestimated the situation. Worse still, the desire to continue their fight remained as the human marched toward him, weapon in hand, its pointed end now aimed directly between Yuji's swirling eyes. 

It was almost like they were back where they had started, but only this time, Yuji's pitiful state was entirely his own doing. He'd known better than to use such power so leisurely, but something about their fight had caused a swell of pride to disregard any warnings he'd previously told himself.

"Oops." 

Yuji would shrug if he could, completely fed up with today or however long it has been since the crash and everything that led up to that terrible garbage fire. His thoughts became jumbled with his brain overtaxed, and his body started to ache again, which was entirely uncalled for, but at least if he were to die on an alien world, he wouldn't end by some random fauna, but a being who may carry his memory, some remnant of where he ended up should anyone dare coming looking for him. 

Sadly, the likelihood of that was quite slim. The damage to his ship would have left him stranded and without life support if he hadn't crashed, and who would assume that? Even more heartbreaking was that falling here meant that Yuji couldn't repay all those who had fought so hard to ensure his escape… 

Even if he had fought smarter, the odds of winning against this human had never been in his favor, had they?

"Ryomen Sukuna," Yuji repeated the name again, content to have learned it. Humans were terrifying creatures both in looks and strength. "My stars, your name is so nice to say. In case anyone does come looking… Don't forget about me, alright?"  

Somehow, Yuji's comment caused his assailant to lower his weapon. The chances of receiving a killing blow were lowering. Not completely, as Yuji wasn't that lucky because he'd take any chance at the human experiencing second thoughts he could.

Too bad his mind had rolled over itself too many times. Yuji couldn't keep his eyes open for long, and when he did, all he could do was either stare into those piercing eyes or fawn over the soft pink color adorning the human's head. If he was going to die here, was it so wrong to ask for one final wish?

"Your head fluff is so pretty… Can I touch it?" Consisting of many individual strands, Yuji wished to know the texture as his own head structure was made up of petal-like adornments fanned in unpredictable directions unless tamed to suit a specific style. Frilly and layered, Yuji was so used to the way they glowed and flickered as his body did; the lack of shifting color atop the human's head was strangely mesmerizing. 

"I will remove your hand if you do." 

Ryomen Sukuna growled his threat, yet Yuji did not listen. He reached out with an impudent smile on his face, knowing full well that he could fulfill his desired wish from where he lay. Before he could even try, Yuji's body went limp, and his mind fell into slumber, leaving him once again at Ryomen Sukuna's mercy.

"Fool."

Chapter Text

Despite the universe's best efforts, Yuji remained alive and kicking. His captor—and possible human friend, although that might be pushing it—made sure of it, once again leaving Yuji confused and unable to predict just what went on in Ryomen Sukuna's head. The human did not seem outwardly concerned about whether Yuji remained around him or not after he recovered from his ill-advised attack. Yet, at the same time, he made an effort to acknowledge Yuji's presence and converse with him as he went about his own affairs while also showing interest in what Yuji planned to do next to rectify his position as a stranded outsider in this world. 

A full rotational cycle passed before Yuji was well enough to search the wreckage of his ship. Ryomen Sukuna led him to the crash site as smoke no longer bellowed from its remains to act as a beacon for Yuji to follow. 

"My ship!" Yuji wailed upon reaching the edge of the impact crater, hands flailing in the air as he slid toward the center where the main chunk of his central haul could be found. Flipping, dented, torn, and scarred, his ship was no longer the pristine and frankly blindly white color Yuji remembered. No glass window had been spared, shards scattered into millions of tiny pieces while electrical lines continued to spark and crackle about. "No, no, no—You poor thing. You've been… You've been ripped in half!?"

To be accurate, it was more like only a third was missing, but Yuji's anguish wasn't trying to get caught up in technicalities. 

"That would be my doing."

Yuji spun around, his eyes burning with unwarranted betrayal while the human behind him showed not a single shred of remorse.

"You did what!?"

"Intended or not, you and your ship veered too close. I offset the trajectory with a simple swipe of my cursed technique, and both parts spiraled in separate directions." A mock demonstration by Ryomen Sukuna followed, consisting of the lazy swipe of two fingers in the air. His incorporeal blades sliced through a Reynoutrian ship, and this human treated it like nothing! "The piece containing your body landed closest to me."

"Am I supposed to thank you for that?"

"You already have."

Yuji was hurt. More than hurt. Unbelievably frustrated because Ryomen Sukuna was not wrong, and he couldn't easily take back his previous gratitude. All he could do was stutter and pout, failing to produce any words until he finally gave in and let the matter rest. 

"I fail to see how something this large and heavy can fly beyond any creature I know." Ryomen Sukuna paced around the ship's remains, taking the opportunity to observe it closely under proper lighting from the midday sun. "Are your abilities responsible for that?""

"No, actually. Just really powerful— Ugh. This is impossible to salvage as it is." Yuji pressed a hand on the haul and flicked his antennae about, integrating his mind to the ship's fractured computer to coax it to shrink. He let out a silent prayer that the required system remained intact, as it possessed no central control unit, opting for a woven mesh that all shared the burden of its operation. "The technology of this vessel generates enough energy to propel it upward against the natural force that ties everything to this planet's surface. My power can manipulate that force. But, as you can see, I'm not exactly an expert, even if releasing gravity's hold comes much easier than strengthening it as I attempted against you."

"That is because you are reversing the flow of energy within your body, shifting its properties. It is only natural that it is far more taxing."

"Huh." The explanation made sense. Yuji nodded, although that knowledge did little to fix his shortcomings. "Luckily for me, the material of this ship is self-repairing. As long as I gather enough of its remains and leave it undisturbed somewhere, it will restore its original shape however long it may take." 

If he hadn't been so privileged to have access to this recent scientific breakthrough, then he truly would have been stranded.

Yuji shook his head, pushing himself to keep looking ahead. Searching for the remains of his ship became his immediate goal, regardless of how frustrating and taxing his self-appointed task would be. At least the time required to see his ship back in working order would permit him additional time to rest. Physically, Yuji expected to be completely fine in a few rotational cycles. But his mind, his determination to press once he returned to intermixing with the stars… Only time will tell. Until then, Yuji chose to use the original place he'd woken up in as a base to store what he'd collected so far. Said building was an old place of worship. Once sacred ground blessed by a local deity that had been abandoned and left to deteriorate over time, which explained the strange sensation that crept over him every time he entered inside. Ryomen Sukuna held no claim over the area, simply using it as a temporary shelter among many due to his nomadic lifestyle.

"All this talk of gods and worship reminded me of stories passed along by spacefarers." Yuji had chuckled during his retelling of the longer tale, spurred about by his own confessed fear of revealing his origin to others of Ryomen Sukuna's species. "Apparently, some guy had landed on a blacklisted planet, and the locals thought he was an emissary from their creator deity. Can you imagine having to explain the truth, or worse, going along with their assumptions and taking on an unbelievable amount of pressure? I don't think I could do it."

The human had told him not to bother worrying, as he held no interest in socializing with others and that so long as Yuji kept his mouth shut, he could be considered a cursed spirit or some other enigmatic entity by most. 

"You may have fallen from the heavens, but very little time observing you is required to avoid mistaking you for a divine being."

"That's a relief— Wait. What is that supposed to mean!?"

Unsure of when Ryomen Sukuna planned to leave, Yuji considered himself a sort of guest benefiting from his prolonged presence. It was the human's knowledge that kept him from mistaking dangerous creatures for sociable allies, and when it came time to figure out what kind of food to sustain himself with, Yuji began with stomaching whatever Ryomen Sukuna procured for himself so long as his host was willing. But free hand-outs would only last so long. Yuji prepared for that by contemplating the many ways he could repay the human in kind.

A part of him wondered if he had been specifically drawn to Ryomen Sukuna. The planet's gravity had pulled him from the sky, but something else, something more meaningful than sheer coincidence, had orchestrated their meeting. Despite lacking evidence, Yuji was sure of it! Life was more fun that way, and Yuji could really use some fun right about now. 

Thus, when Ryomen Sukuna expressed interest in observing Yuji's powers again, Yuji had little reason to object. 

Admittedly, the request had come at an odd time. The pair had been crossing an enormous field covered in flowers that had yet to close despite the lack of sun in the sky. The consistent day and night cycle wasn't too difficult to get used to, as the predictability made it easy to maximize Yuji's search efforts. Ticklish grass grew much longer here, and while the nighttime scene drowned out the varied colors surrounding them, Yuji could still appreciate the plant life by way of touch and smell. An experience his human companion would not mimic, displaying discomfort from mild allergens present in the air. 

Unsurprised by the request and happy to demonstrate, Yuji slowly rose into the air to hover over the flower field. He took his time rising high, as not only did he risk feeling a bit queasy by the sudden weightless feeling, but he knew better than to rise so far that falling would be fatal. Ryomen Sukuna possessed an ability of his own. A cursed technique, as he called it. Powers that toed the lines of scientific understanding, thus turning the possible reality-shattering ramifications of watching Yuji sway about into an unnecessary worry. The human was not alone in manifesting them, as they were rare in his species, though far more varied than Yuji ever thought possible. 

What a strange place this world was. Magical and still very terrifying.

"Our homes do not share the same sky. Still, I think I can figure this out…" Yuji stretched out his hand as far as it could, longing for the memory he carried of the home he knew "If I get high enough and squint real hard… My home should be there! "  

A determined finger pointed toward the never-ending void of space, choosing a cluster of stars as his target. None of them were particularly familiar, and the chances of him being right were next to none, but the power of belief was a strong one.

Somewhere out there, his people were staring off into space and unknowingly looking at him. They may not share the same sky nor view the planets as they are now, and that was alright. The thought was enough to keep his tears at bay.

"Why do you not simply fly off and return to it?"

"Are you kidding me? I cannot survive for long up there. Life cannot exist without intervention beyond the world capable of sustaining it." The logistics alone… "Even if I could just fly away, I'm nowhere near as fast as my ship."

Yuji spun upside down in the air, his one leg crossed over the other. It must look strange as if he were hanging by an invisible hand around his ankle. Kicking about would break the illusion. He extended both his hands to channel his power further, not only to target himself but a wider radius to sweep the human beneath him off his feet while the flowers remained tethered by their roots. 

"My home world consists of two, actually. Two planets locked orbit around one another, sharing a moon between them. A marvelous wonder. Our earliest myth states that it's because our founding ruler drew our worlds close to avoid being separated while the universe was young." Yuji drew circles in the sky with his fingers, attempting to capture the concepts he presented as best as he could. There were times when he wondered just how much the human was keeping up with him. He would not dare break the silence to ask, as he did not wish to insinuate any insults, especially when his host surpassed him in other regards. "And all I can do is yearn for the same heights."

Overwhelmed by his prolonged venture into the sky, Yuji lowered himself in front of the human. His forehead risked bumping against the one in front of him. Imagining the potential awkward exchange that could come of it caused Yuji to giggle, which, in turn, broke his concentration. If Ryomen Sukuna had not extended his arms out to catch him, Yuji would have hit his head. 

Being caught had not frustrated Yuji nearly as much as how little he could boast about his powers during his display. Smaller bursts to permit bigger jumps or lighter steps were something Yuji could manifest on the regular, but bigger displays affecting an entire area were different. To if he were to dare go even grander… According to all expectations, Yuji should have possessed the power to cause the very moon above them to crash against the planet's surface. Instead, the only crash he seemed capable of was his own. 

"Do all of your people share the same ability?"

"No. It's rare but hereditary if you know where to look." Anti-Gravity System was the designation. Over the years, advancing technology managed to replicate pieces of the ability, but never could it match the scale or variability of legend. It was not enough to simply lessen or strengthen the preexisting gravitational pull of the largest celestial body, but adept users were said to be able to take any point of interest and temporarily bestow a greater gravitational force to move objects and people at will.

"Cursed techniques vary in the same way, prone to manifesting in specific bloodlines. There are exceptions, myself included." The small pieces that Ryomen Sukuna shared about himself often accompanied requests for Yuji to return the offer in kind. "You do not seem like someone who would travel alone."

A recent tragedy flooded Yuji's eyes. The race for the ship, shouldering the wishes of those shouting for his survival as his home crumbled around them. Closing doors that moved too fast, yet not fast enough, granted the enemy time to catch up as Yuji prepared to take off. He did not exit the planet's atmosphere alone. Outnumbered and outgunned, desperate fingers pressed every button he could think of in preparation to warp away, only for something to go wrong at the very last second, sending him spiraling off course. Yuji had hung on tight to the control console, but what good had it done?

"You know, the eagerness of youth can't be held back." Yuji turned away, pretending that he was observing the ground before rolling out of the human's arms. Lying did not sit well with him. He was no good at it, as the sudden drop of energy in his voice couldn't be hidden no matter how he wished it.  Regardless, he made an effort to bounce back, refusing to burden Ryomen Sukuna with his troubles. "Space can be quite lonely… I'll be sure to gather a crew in the future."

He wasn't sure what the human had wished to learn from his question, but Yuji appreciated that Ryomen Sukuna wasn't pressing for more. 

"What about you? You're alone."

"Unwanted children remain that way." Ryomen Sukuna's response caused Yuji's throat to swell with immediate regret. That was an awful thing to say. Were humans really so callous that they would throw away their young? "I do not want to see pity in your eyes. I have grown strong as a result. And I will continue to do so until there are none to rival me."

"Uh, right. You and I both!" Yuji nodded, perhaps a bit too much with his eagerness to shift away from the solemn mood. Such conversations always sapped the colorful hues from his skin, making him a depressing sight. While he may not seek to reach the same intensity in his own pursuit of strength, there was no denying that Yuji had to work hard to face the trials that awaited him. "Recently, I had to accept that I couldn't stay at the level that I am at. Even while I live on borrowed time… I should be using this opportunity to get stronger for the sake of those who put their faith in me."

"That is where you are wrong. If you do not desire to get stronger for your own sake, you will fail."

For his own sake? 

The desire to do right by others was the mechanism behind every decision and every movement Yuji had ever made. A driving force that couldn't be quelled. Even now, it hummed in the back of his mind as a constant reminder. What greater motivation was there? Yet, where Yuji saw the human's motivation as flawed, Ryomen Sukuna would only argue the same in reverse. 

"Maybe we can agree to disagree on that." 

A low growl from Ryomen Sukuna's secondary mouth was not necessarily in disagreement with Yuji's offer.

"Returning our focus back to your power, when you stilled my movements, the surge of freedom that came with your technique's release offered a moment of exhilaration. My body moved faster than I had anticipated." Had it? The difference may have been too small for Yuji to notice, but if the strength-obsessed human believed it to be so, he would not argue. "Why?"

"Hm…" Yuji crossed his arms to think. He wasn't exactly sure how to answer since a normal being— relatively speaking —shouldn't have endured his attack nearly as well as the human did. "I could be that, well, there are those who seek worlds with stronger gravitational forces to train on. They do it to make their body stronger when they return home."

"Would that equate to prolonged exposure to your gravitational force, making my body stronger?"

"Theoretically. You can also heal yourself, which would offset the negative effects." Yuji knocked his head back and thought even harder. Turning his head side to side accomplished more than he thought it would, as suddenly, his antennae shot up straight into the air as certain dots connected within his mind. "I figured you out. You want to use me to further your training, and then I can work on strengthening my own powers as a result!" 

The human's reasoning for keeping Yuji around— and, more importantly, alive —made a lot more sense. Yuji was of use to him. And Yuji, in turn, liked being useful. Awareness of his position sorted out the problem of repayment for him. Honestly, he could not have asked for a better solution, which was why Yuji was so eager to grab Ryomen Sukuna's closest hand with two of his own. His body bounced around in excitement, breaking through previous fatigue in preparation for whenever their training was to begin. 

His partner, however, did not show nearly as much outward excitement. In fact, Ryomen Sukuna appeared determined to avoid it at any cost, grumbling his response. 

"So long as your growth furthers my own, then it is a coincidental boon."

Ah, alright. One's personal growth was all that mattered to the human, yeah?

"I will strive to become as strong as you! A student you can take pride in." 

Only after Yuji made his declaration did he realize that he'd been holding the human's hand for longer than was necessary. The lack of comment regarding it from the human, leaving only one staring eye for Yuji to finally take a hint, caused the wayward traveler to turn bright red. 

Placing some space between them would cool himself off. Yuji was confident in his assertion that he backed away a bit too quickly, causing him to fall and get sucked into the bed of flowers beneath him. Sukuna sought to quickly cover his face, shielding himself from the potential allergen plume while Yuji rolled further down the hill. Not too far, but just far enough that his own pride had practically cracked in two, leaving him stuck with a bright pink hue long after the initial red blush faded for the next several days. 

To make matters worse, every time the pink began to fade, Yuji's appearance briefly shared in the same shade of pink as the human's hair, causing the color to intensify and his affliction to remain longer than it had any right to.

It did not take long for Yuji to learn what Ryomen Sukuna required unrivaled strength for. 

Their initial days of relative peace ended as others crossed through the mountains to encroach on the boundaries of his companion's domain. Group numbers varied. As did the intent behind the challenges to best Ryomen Sukuna in combat in the hopes of ending the threat his very existence posed. 

Yuji did not initially understand the threat in question, as they'd been living a very isolated life until now. It was not that he was blind to the human's strength and abilities, only that Ryomen Sukuna had not made an effort to antagonize anyone beyond jabs toward Yuji during their training. Oddly enough, the other humans were quite unlike the first one Yuji met. Their features were more akin to Yuji in proportion and size, lacking the secondary traits that had become quite charming to observe. This standard variant, as Yuji noted in his head, was admittedly boring in comparison unless they possessed unique talent or cursed technique of their own. Yuji did not mean to dismiss them entirely. Finding a species so similar to his own was honestly unexpected, and he would have happily conversed with and befriended others if they did not appear hostile and unwilling to sway their mind elsewhere. 

Considering the nature of the challenges and the background Yuji would learn regarding previous events on this planet, Yuji did not deem it right to intervene. 

Yuji initially believed Ryomen Sukuna had simply been a victim of a larger group that isolated an outlier. It was not unheard of. But then there were others, non-humans who appeared with even more complex, almost incomprehensible forms— Those were cursed spirits. Their form is solely dependent on the environment they were born within, brought to life by the cursed energy leaked out by much of humanity, and shaped by their beliefs with abilities that may reflect said beliefs. Humans capable of harnessing their cursed energy do not contribute to their creation but their eradication in some strange balancing act. Why they appeared was not simple to discern. Nor did it matter. 

Every battle ended the same, many coming to a close mere seconds after both parties had taken their stance, and those were duels carried with more honor than others. One slash from Ryomen Sukuna's cursed technique, and the challenger fell. Sometimes, it would take two or three, but all bled out and died after an important internal component had been severed so easily. Their corpses made for a hearty meal as Ryomen Sukuna held no qualms feasting on his own species. Yuji could not say with certainty that this was the norm, though he doubted it and would prefer to avoid partaking in eating any sentient life, no matter how often it was offered to him. Cursed spirits, on the other hand, possessed no corpse, dissipating alongside their consciousness on the odd occasion that Ryomen Sukuna did not eviscerate them outright. 

The very scenario of an immediate victory occurred often enough that Ryomen Sukuna began pushing Yuji to fight on his behalf when Yuji was far more content being an observer to the spectacle, unsure how he'd be able to match the mind-numbing levels of power on display should his opponent match one of the two battles that forever changed how Yuji saw his human companion. 

The King of Curses was a title Yuji had heard spat vehemently from some men while others shrieked or refused to emote beyond their glare. Yuji did not know what to make of it. If Ryomen Sukuna was a ruler, then where was his kingdom? His subjects? The land he claimed was barren of sentient life as far as Yuji was aware. Yet, one battle made it clear that none of that mattered. 

Yuji stood on the precipice of a dusty plain covered in nothing as all life within had been cut and incinerated without question. His toes practically touched upon the border, an intentional choice as the effect of Ryomen Sukuna's Malevolent Shrine had been restrained just enough to keep Yuji out of its reach. 

How did one summon a building with the specific gesture of one's hands? Was it an illusion? A mental effect? This type of ability, Yuji would later learn, was not specific to Ryomen Sukuna, but the sheer amount of complete and utter annihilation to all those within aside from the summoner had caused Yuji to collapse onto his knees and wonder what would happen if humanity made it to the stars. Ryomen Sukuna stood atop them, but even he sought out and welcomed challengers to attempt to claim his throne.

Why?

Because Ryomen Sukuna would be bored otherwise.

Yuji wondered how much truth there was to that. The need for survival in a world so harsh and unpredictable would foster such power. To that end, Ryomen Sukuna had become a being most feared. A calamity responsible for an unknown number of tragedies. He embodied an ecological niche no different than a natural disaster overturning the environment. Ryomen Sukuna relished in the act of fighting, his passion burning with every new discovery and development that permitted him to push the boundaries further. The human, the King of Curses, did not act out of malice but simply because he could. 

"Do you now understand just whose feet you landed in front of?" Ryomen Sukuna had managed to return to Yuji's side while the latter remained burdened with processing his surroundings. He did not appear offended at Yuji's quiet, near-frozen reaction. Expecting it, the human simply waited for an answer.

Awe could not entirely describe the way Yuji felt. He understood the ramifications of such power and the consequences of wielding it without restraint. Many fought and died, and these were willing participants who now sought out Ryomen Sukuna on reputation alone. Reputation that had to be fostered over time through events beyond Yuji's knowledge. None who appeared before him were surprised by the being that awaited their challenge. As much as someone like this should have sickened Yuji's heart, two things remained present in his mind. 

The first was that the power Ryomen Sukuna displayed was even more tantalizing than before. The second was that, despite his previous conclusions, Yuji had become an exception to his destructive desires. Either personal pursuit outweighed natural tendencies for general destruction, or there was more to it. Ryomen Sukuna's choice to remain semi-nomadic even now, offering chances for Yuji to check on his ship while still traveling with him to follow animals or seek out new arenas to train within, made it seem as though he was slowly retreating from the world. Not everything Yuji knew about the human came together easily, and neither did his judgment. 

"You did not tell me that you are a King." That was all Yuji could say at first. He would not have acted so brazenly when they first met if he had known. 

"That title that one spat? It is one spoken in gest, hardly genuine." Ryomen Sukuna scoffed, showing little interest or care in regard to the very title that weighed so heavily on Yuji's mind. "The King of Curses is a figure others use to deflect their own failings toward. I hold no political power nor desire it. There are no armies of Cursed Spirits at my beck and call. I alone am enough to make any noble can and all their sorcerers tremble."

"A one-man army is still an army." 

A King of concepts was still a King.  

This was the being he'd sworn to match in strength. Was it even possible? Ryomen Sukuna struck too fast, too precisely. Even without his cursed techniques, his physical body was an absurd powerhouse that could not be bested by a single combatant. He could not understand why someone of that much power would not use said power to conquer and establish proper dominion over the land. The planet. Yuji could be told at this very moment that the human beside him was this planet's God-King, and he'd easily believe it. No one in Yuji's immediate bloodline had been able to demonstrate the powers of legend, but this human… Yuji could picture him slicing a planet in half should he desire it.

Maybe that was taking it a bit too far? Maybe not. 

Yet Yuji's heart pounded, and he did not know why.

"You are not frightened, are you?"

"Frightened? Who, me?" Yuji let out a laugh, breaking through his shock to gain some semblance of control over himself. He could not tell if the human's question was a tease or if it were out of concern. The former was more likely, given the tone… "The least you could have done was warn me. What if I had taken a step forward or fell by accident?"

"Do you think I would be so inept as to allow you to be targeted by Malevolent Shrine?"

"I don't know. You've never mentioned all this before." Yuji spread his arms wide and spun around on his heels, his voice echoing across the newly formed chasm. "This planet is insane!"

"So it is."

With nothing to salvage from the day's encounter, there was nothing more to do beyond staring at the morbid wonder Ryomen Sukuna left behind in his wake. Yuji's eyes couldn't help but return to it, causing him to occasionally fall behind even after they began climbing up the ridge to their current camp. The act didn't go unnoticed by his host. As Yuji didn't want to insinuate an air of negativity surrounding the event, he quickly rushed to keep pace with Ryomen Sukuna before breaking the silence that had temporarily befallen them. 

"... When are you teaching me to do something like that?" 

Yuji's question had caught Ryomen Sukuna off guard, leading to what may have almost been a stumble in the human's step if his host were not so good at saving face. 

"If it is even possible… We can start tomorrow."

The stars reflected in Yuji's eyes lit up brighter than ever, thanks to the beaming glow of gold originating from his core. As intimidating as such power was to wield, if he were to possess an aura even half as imposing as the human's, many of his problems would be solved. 

Chapter Text

As much as Yuji wished to state he had improved as time passed, an ever-persistent weight on his shoulders grew to match any progress he could boast. While a product of his mind, Yuji could feel the strain it caused in his movements. His muscles would remain taut, and his head heavy. Mistakes continued to interrupt the rhythm of his technique or combat session with Ryomen Sukuna, leading to embarrassment and even anger born out of his frustration. 

Yuji always knew why this was the case. Honestly, he had spent too long pretending not to notice the guilt festering in his mind. New experiences made it easy for Yuji's distractible mind to bounce from one topic to the next. The human planet spared no expense in captivating landscapes and shifting seasons varying between extremes. Yuji would not have survived without the many-layered clothes he'd been gifted. And speaking of gifts, salvageable trinkets, and weapons to take from those seeking to challenge the King of Curses became the means by which Yuji would begin learning combat maneuvers and other physical feats, walking through previous exchanges of blows he observed during the fight. He'd originally thought this was for Ryomen Sukuna's benefit to analyze the fight from a different angle, but the constant orders to fix his stance and revisit older exercises caused Yuji to reconsider. Not every weapon had an equivalent Yuji could draw from, and humans appeared to lack the rapid-fire projectile weapons prevalent across starfaring civilizations. No complaints there. Either Yuji would gain a surprise edge, or he'd find a way to abuse his gravity manipulation to stop ranged attacks from ever reaching him should he manage to hone his skills well enough. The lack of miracles or sudden revelations to unlock his full potential continued to get on his nerves, but the progress acknowledged by his unexpected teacher was enough to get by. 

Receiving any praise from Ryomen Sukuna caused Yuji to fluster in ways he had never before. No tutor managed to set every fiber of his being alight. At first, it was confusing, then irritating, and now Yuji couldn't get enough of it. 

Those conflicting feelings made his next decision all the more difficult. Responsibilities hovered overhead. The cries of others echoed in his ears. His home had been turned upside down and inside out, lost in a conflict that continued so long as he remained stranded on an unknown world in a region so far removed that he couldn't find any mention of the solar system in his records the moment he managed to get his ship's computer back online. All that remained was locating his navigation key, responsible for allowing his ship to jump into subspace safely while exiting exactly where intended. 

Yuji's ship could not simply fabricate one on its own with the pieces he'd already found. None carried enough data, and Yuji did not possess the materials, knowledge, or even the basic tools to create a replacement. With his communications online and several weak signals able to be intercepted, Yuji debated forgoing his local search to seek aid out among the stars. Problems with the suggestion arose immediately, ranging from getting caught violating galactic regulations, summoning the wrong kind of aid that would take advantage of Yuji or the planet itself, and the natural threat Ryomen Sukuna posed should he desire to take another ship out of the sky regardless of who it may be. While the latter was not likely so long as Yuji gave ample warning, the possibility was still there. 

None of these issues would have to be dealt with, however, as an expected message picked up by Yuji's ship left him sitting back in his pilot seat, head rolled over the back of it while his eyes looked upward with no particular point of interest as he evaluated his efforts up until now under a rather harsh lens. 

O… …r-r-r… P…in… …c …w-w-wh…er…e… ar-r-r-re… y…o… …?

…er… …ar… … …ar-r-r-e… y…you… …ji…? P… ea…s… …c–c-c…com…me… h… …m… 

W… …we-e… …n…e… …y… …u-u-U- U-U—

The same pleading clicks repeated over and over again until the signal cut out, replaced by the empty, ever-present background radiation of space. Yuji had to slam his hand on the console to shut the noise off before he caught himself heaving through his next breath. He was grateful that Ryomen Sukuna hadn't followed him on board his ship as he often did to poke around and get an understanding of the technology disparity between them. The act of forcing himself to remain whole to explain himself to the human would have caused him to fall apart more than he already was. Too much time had passed since his departure. As much as Yuji's life had stilled into a relatively peaceful and repetitive loop, the same could not be said for those back home. And without any means to learn what transpired in his absence, as no clear audio or visual signals could reach him, Yuji was at the destructive whims of his imagination to fill in the gaps.

"I'm off," Yuji announced upon exiting his ship with a small bag of supplies in hand. "I cannot put off my search any longer. I must find that missing piece, and it is shameful to even consider resting until it is found." 

He did not expect his human companion to jump at the chance to go with him. They'd already exhausted the expected area to find the broken pieces of Yuji's ship, which meant he'd have to travel farther and cover a wider distance, praying no one else had entered the area and swiped technology under whatever pretense explained its origin. 

"What brought this on?" Ryomen Sukuna was not far. He sat underneath a nearby tree, alert in stance but initially calm in mind as he'd spent the morning meditating. A feat Yuji found difficulty in replicating despite numerous tries.

"I… I've come to realize just how much time has passed. As valuable as our experiences have been, I once told you that there are people relying on me, and so far, I've done nothing but let them down." The closed fist Yuji made behind his back was not as hidden as he wished it to be. His antennae drooped and twitched about as he spoke, his voice increasing in speed as he forced the crux of the issue out. "I need to wrap up my time here and move on."

Yuji could not remain on this planet forever. They both were aware of this, and they knew better than to pretend otherwise. However, the sudden change in Yuji's mindset, as well as the abrupt disruption of their training, could not easily be ignored. 

"Important titles often come with lofty expectations. I do not know what manner of station you hold, but unless your species differs greatly in this regard, then it is unlikely that a ship belonging to some commoner would be attacked." The human opened one accusatory eye of the lower set. Yuji's breath hitched in that instant. What could he do to convince the human otherwise?

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

To that end, Yuji shrugged. Instead of dealing with the rush of panic constricting his chest, he put up a weak but cheeky smile and accepted that he'd been caught.

"When did you figure it out?"

"It was not difficult. You share the same gravity manipulation technique as the founding ruler from your story. As powerful abilities are passed down through specific bloodlines in this world, I thought your situation was likely to be the same case, limited to your family only. Your response only proves that I am right, as you are not putting up a fight to deny it."

"I don't see the point. I really hate lying, and keeping track of all the details is a pain." 

Even the simplest lies were difficult when Yuji's mind would go blank when conjuring up a previous answer. At least Ryomen Sukuna didn't appear all that upset by the confirmation of his suspicion. A bit too relaxed for Yuji's liking, but it could be worse.

"Ironically, King of Curses, my title is…" Yuji took a deep breath to regain his confidence as well as a level of authority and poise he'd only rarely spoken with before. "I am Reynoutria's Starborne Prince, born on a ship traversing between our sister worlds. Prophecy stated I was to reunite our broken halves whole, but all I've accomplished so far is fleeing at the behest of my father and his father before enemy forces besieged the capital."

Prophecy.  

It was hardly anything of the sort. Wishful thinking within those reading the stars, warping the future by spreading it far and wide. Yuji lived all his life not knowing it was a lie and only learned the truth recently, moments before his departure. Yet, to his people, that glimmer of hope was no less real than anything else.

Even now, they still believe the story to be true. And in turbulent, uncertain times like these, Yuji felt it best that he ensured it remained that way, not just for their sakes but perhaps his own as well.

"Nobility." Sukuna sneered, breaking from his stance. The meditation had not cleared his mind enough to break free from past grudges even he was capable of holding. 

"So now that you've confirmed it, you have a problem with me?" Offended from being lumped into a group Yuji knew nothing about nor needed to, seeing as he was not a denizen of this planet, Yuji's temper grew to match the human's furrowed brows.

"Have you forgotten your vow to me? You speak of pursuing strength, demanding my tutelage, and yet you abandon it on a whim for what? To soothe the guilt eating away at you?"

Ryomen Sukuna stood up to threaten Yuji with his full height. Height Yuji had gotten used to, though natural caution urged him to step back in retreat to put a safe distance between them. He would deny his instincts, however, directed instead by his conviction. It was not only the human he had to convince to go through with his choice, and even if they could never reconcile past this, Yuji's heart trusted that Ryomen Sukuna would not do him harm. 

"Time isn't something I can stretch on forever." Improvements to the duration he could call upon his powers, the speed of his movements, and the ability to read his opponent's moves beyond the feeling in his gut were all things that had to be honed by expert hands. Slow and steady. Too slow. There is not enough risk for no immediate reward. "I've been childish, delaying what needs to be done… I can't ignore my duty. I just can't."

Regret in his word choice immediately hit as Yuji did not miss the irony in advocating for what appeared to be impatience over certainty in skill. Not only did he lose strength in his stance, but he also supported the human's next words.

"If you leave as you are now, you will perish."

"And how do you know that?" Yuji snapped, grasping to maintain his earlier position. "You know nothing of the world beyond this planet. You don't know my plans nor what paths lay before me. And unlike you, I won't be fighting to take back my home or my people alone."

As Yuji was, he was still not close to matching the strength Ryomen Sukuna proved to wield time and time again. He may never be that close. Yet, with enough allies, the right support, and a solid plan, Yuji believed that he could be. But just as the assertion went through Yuji's mind, Ryomen Sukuna challenged it as if he were capable of hearing it. 

"And where are your allies?"

"My allies are the friends I'll make along the way."

"You are a fool."

"And you're… You're mean! " It was an awful comeback. Dreadful. And nothing Yuji added made it all that better. "You're spiteful and —and bitter!"

"Neither your pitiful words nor your current abilities will save you from this suicidal mission."

Pitiful. 

Yuji would like to show him 'pitiful!'

"Then I guess I'll have to rely on my cute face then." Yuji spitefully pointed to himself, his cheek puffed up as he stood on the tips of his toes to get as aggressively close to Ryomen Sukuna's face as possible. Which was not very close, given their height difference. This, in turn, caused his companion to react by grabbing Yuji's face to push him away while the human's other hand cupped his own forehead. Eye contact was being avoided at all costs. "See how you recoil before me? My victory is assured!"

"No, it would be absurd!"

Their physical back and forth went on for a bit too long, with the pair pushing against one another as Yuji called upon his technique to gain some leverage over the human's brute strength. He could feel his heels digging into the dirt and his body struggling to remain standing, but Yuji refused to take a knee and yield. He'd rather click and hiss until their clash ended in a frustrated draw. Both growled as they regained enough space to breathe, aware that further escalation would result in something far more destructive.

The pause that followed gave Yuji room to think. He contemplated another tactic to convince Ryomen Sukuna of his plan. To make the human understand its necessity. To accept and permit Yuji to be on his way. Ryomen Sukuna's blessing or even his support weren't required, but if certainly could be gained that the human wouldn't get in his way, the stars forbid sabotaging his effort, then that would be enough. Even if going their separate ways on that note felt rather empty…

Before Yuji could try again, Ryomen Sukuna cut him off by speaking first.

"You are serious."

It wasn't a question, but it came close to one. Acknowledgment, then. Ryomen Sukuna did not deny Yuji's insistence. 

"I am serious. I have to be."

"You will die as you are." 

After repeating the same pessimistic sentiment, the mouth on Sukuna's stomach opened, tongue stuck out into the air, offering enough room for the human's fingers to slip underneath and reveal an object with a very familiar shine to it. Said object was then thrown at Yuji with little flair. A bit taken aback by the act, Yuji reacted a bit too slowly to catch it, forced to juggle it and the slimy feeling until he got a good enough grip. Only then did he realize what it was: the final piece of his search. Not lost all this time, but hidden. 

"But if that is what you wish, who am I to stop you? The foolish cannot be reasoned with."

Yuji stared at the navigation key, wiping it clean with his thumb as if it would change the nature of the object to reveal something else underneath. He had thought the reveal to be a joke, as the rare moments of humor from the human did not always land. Yet, this was no joke. 

"You've had it all this time, and… You hid it from me?" His voice struggled through the words, but it was not out of anger. Yuji, admittedly, would have made excuses to delay his departure whether he had salvaged all the parts of his ship or not. This planet had been a safe haven, and his host had been an instrumental guide and teacher. Replacing gratitude with anger gained nothing. Instead, shock was the main culprit, as was relief, seeing as any uncertainty regarding the fate of his ship had been resolved. As for the reason behind Ryomen Sukuna's actions, Yuji was left to conclude that on his own. "You didn't want me to leave, huh?"

"I cannot make use of your powers if you leave."

"Of course. That is the reason." A laugh rose up Yuji's throat, unable to take Ryomen Sukuna's staunch reasoning at face value. But if that was the argument the human wished to emphasize, then maybe there was a way for the two of them to benefit from the next leg of Yuji's journey. After all, nobody had said that Yuji must depart from this planet as he'd arrived.  

Hesitation fell to the wayside as Yuji approached Ryomen Sukuna with a hand stretched out, half intended as an offering for his hand, while the other half was far more willing to grab hold of what he could and begin pulling with all his weight if the human permitted him close enough. 

"Come with me. You may be unwelcome amongst your people and the bane of their tales, but to mine, you will be welcomed and honored as a hero if you help me in my quest. I have nothing to offer now, but if I were to reclaim my family's throne—"

" Pass. " Once again, Yuji was cut off. This time, more abruptly, the human began to walk away, refusing to look at Yuji any longer. "I am no savior and certainly no hero."

"You saved me, didn't you?" Yuji gave chase. Ryomen Sukuna's paces were larger, but Yuji's were faster, prepared to keep pace as long as he was able. "You're a hero to me!"

"You are a selfish creature to ask so much and not even realize it."

Frustration caused Yuji's body to flare up with heat. He knew what he asked for, but just moments ago, the human asserted Yuji's certain death should he have acted alone! Why say such things as if he cared and then dismiss any opportunity to act on it? Humans made no sense!

"And you're no better?" Yuji called out. "You exist solely for your pride in your strength and your stomach. You conquer great foes to reach for new heights without any connection to keep you tethered to his place. You're a King of concepts that rules over no one! What do you have to lose unless you lie to yourself!?"

Despite his goading, Ryomen Sukuna did not stop.

"I highly doubt any of your species has been beyond your planet's atmosphere, let alone to another star system. You would be the first! Isn't that enticing enough on its own?" Yuji wondered if yet another accomplishment for the human to lord over those of his species would be an enticing incentive. "At the very least, we could go to your moon and back as a sort of test run—"

" You are testing my patience. " Ryomen Sukuna raised his hand to form a familiar mudra. It was a more immediate threat than the last. All it took was one swipe through the air, less than that, and Yuji may cease where he stood. 

"Fine, don't help me!" With the stomp of his foot, Yuji grabbed the sides of his head and groaned as loud as he could and without remorse. He could not understand why he'd been driven to tears as flakes of starlight broke off into the air beneath his eyes. Emotions were awful. Sick of them and this conversation, he just wanted to be done with it. "I will figure it all out myself. I'll… I'll unlock my hidden potential, beat my foes, and then swing back around this end of the universe to gloat!"

Maybe he was selfish, but Yuji really couldn't fathom giving up. He'd grown attached to his companion. Maybe training with him was really only for mutual benefit and nothing more, but that did not invalidate its role as a means of becoming closer, gaining some place of belonging, a chance for normalcy that Yuji was going to lose all over again. 

Driven to desperate measures, Yuji began to attack the very foundations of the human's pride.

"And unlike myself, you'll never reach your full potential here! Trapped with a ceiling your species won't be capable of breaking for at least another millennium, far beyond your lifespan! You'll be nothing but a memory by then." He clutched his side while pointing and laughing, only to pause when he noticed that Ryomen Sukuna's ears perked up at his words.

Was this working? Should he continue? 

Against better judgment, which had been absent for quite a while now, Yuji did just that. 

"But, you know what? I get it. Not everyone can handle space. The challenges of negotiating with other species and the violent fallout should peace talks end. Battles between ships and on planets alike with ever-evolving abilities and weaponry involving types of combat you've never dealt with. Even flying on a ship might be too much for a planet-bound human. And I understand it all completely."

"Are you insinuating that I am inadequate?" Now, that caused Ryomen Sukuna to stop in his tracks and peer over his shoulder. Yuji ignored that the human was grunting through his clenched teeth as he'd become too swept up in the high of his unfettered rant. 

"I'm doing one better. I'm telling it directly to your face." Yuji bowed his head in a mocking apology. Not for his response but to accompany what came next. "It was selfish of me to ask for your companionship. Instead of putting the life of someone whose company I've grown attached to, I'll happily seek out superior warriors from the hundreds, if not thousands, of other species like the Galanthish strength and Sieboldese knowledge. Assisting Reynoutrian royalty is worth the political favor."

"Is it now?"

He was hooked! Ryomen Sukuna was hooked! All Yuji had to do now was reel him in, nice and gentle!

"My home solar system is rich in minerals most of the galaxy considers rare, precious, and necessary to facilitate many of their divergent technologies," Yuji spoke with pride to rival any merchant. He posed and hummed appropriately, antennae dancing about in the air as he played out a victory dance in his head. "The insurgents who overthrew my father are opposed to mutually beneficial trade. Positive relations would crumble. And not to mention that Crown Prince with no spouse or even a betrothed would be quite easy to leverage—"

And that was where Yuji fumbled oh-so-spectacularly. 

In an instant, Ryomen Sukuna had returned to face him. Yuji's shoulders were taken hostage on either side, causing his words to halt as his body recovered from the shock. A third hand from the lower set came from below to grab Yuji's chin and force their eyes to meet. In any other iteration of this development, Yuji would be unlikely to complain. But the curled back lip and revealed fangs as the human snarled at him left Yuji to question if he had taken things a step too far. 

"You would dare trade your body and its station in your desperation?"

"Why not? If it means saving my people, there is no sacrifice I wouldn't make!" Conviction took over as Yuji spoke from his very core without thinking. To further prove that his mind had left him, alongside his previously missing judgment, Yuji then cocked his head back a bit further and eyed the human with a sense of self-satisfaction that had no place on his face. "Why? Are you interested?"

"That depends on whether you would permit an inadequate human to share your throne." 

Ryomen Sukuna answered far too fast for Yuji to process the previous exchange. His mind stuttered over the same line while the blush on his face burst into a cataclysmic supernova across his entire body. Mentally kicking himself for merely suggesting that he and the human were to forge intimate relations, even in a solely political sense, had jumped several very important steps in searching for, assessing, and then subsequently courting a mate. And for the human to react without any means of hesitation or second thought even when the stomach mouth appeared to bite its own tongue, in the same manner, Yuji's own mouth could not form a single proper shape—Any respectable demeanor Yuji had fallen apart as his body figuratively melted and could no longer support himself entirely on his own. 

"I… I wouldn't be opposed…" Yuji squeaked out in his native tongue before shaking his head and flailing free from Ryomen Sukuna's hands. He would not go far, as his legs buckled under the weight of his embarrassment. Landing on his knees did not cause any pain unless the hit to Yuji's pride was to count. In an attempt to rectify the situation, the poor prince slapped his cheeks with his open palms to focus, forcing a jolt through his spine to straighten his back when confronting the human still standing over him. "All I know is that I don't want to say goodbye. Not now. And maybe never. I am selfish like that! I also have to leave , and I can't force you to come with me. So, Ryomen Sukuna, would you just get on the damn ship? Please?"

That last please had come out quiet, muffled by the two hands now covering Yuji's face as he wouldn't dare look at whatever expression was beating down on him. 

"You are really twisting my arms… persistent brat." The ground beneath Yuji's feet disappeared, not by his own ability, but by Ryomen Sukuna lifting him into his arms. "I will bring you back to your ship so that the repairs can be completed. If you happen to take off while I am on board, then there is little that can be done to change my fate once a certain height has been reached, correct?"

Always with the roundabout excuses. 

Yuji could not help but roll his eyes. 

"I expect you to keep your word this time. Both your previous promise and this one." Following Ryomen Sukuna's demand, the mouth on his stomach took a turn to whisper in Yuji's ear as it was far closer. "Your hand is mine to take, no one else. Offer it again to any other, and you will have no allies to speak of."

With Ryomen Sukuna around, Yuji may not need any, but he did not wish to think that way. Presumptions may get them killed if they aren't careful. The battle for his homeworld would be a grand one with many moving parts. As nice as it would be to allow one person to shoulder the burden of victory, Yuji already knew the toll such pressure could take. There was no shame in increasing their chances of success as best as they could, and Ryomen Sukuna certainly couldn't complain, considering what he had to gain out of it. 

"I understand." Still taken aback by the mutual desire shared between them, Yuji waited until the human made it to the bottom of the ship's boarding ramp to turn his head and press a kiss against the lips of the larger mouth closest to him. He'd learned that kissing wasn't just a useful tool, but a sign of affection he quite enjoyed. Additionally, he, too, had something to whisper, but unlike Ryomen Sukuna, he would have to speak a bit louder and clearer to ensure it reached his companion's ears. "But if I catch you courting anyone else and insulting not only my name but my family and homeworld's name, I will liquify your insides while you sleep."

The sudden threat caused Ryomen Sukuna to drop him, unprepared for Yuji's ability to match his level of violence. This permitted Yuji the chance to skitter inside his ship, navigation key in hand and ready to shove into its proper place the moment the human gave chase. It would be a lie to state that he did not feel good about causing the other to pause. Ryomen Sukuna's pause revealed a chip in that otherwise impenetrable armor. And while Yuji was sure the human's guard would remain up to counter his effort or that healing ability would undo his work, knowing that his threat would remain as a constant reminder in the back of Ryomen Sukuna's mind was enough to keep him satisfied of any possible doubt. 

"You are beyond everything I could have imagined before meeting you." Ryomen Sukuna had eventually climbed on board. He stood with one arm leaning over the empty co-pilot seat, content to watch Yuji bounce around with his preparations.

"Your world was so much smaller then." Yuji chimed in after falling back into his seat. He would have to adjust the one next to him to fit his companion, already making plans to obtain a larger vessel should they find a friendly outpost to land on. "I'm about to show you the universe. You still think you can handle it?"

"I do."