**Y/n POV**

"So Sukuna's soul is housed within your own?" I asked Yuuji.

"Well, yea... Something like that," he mumbled.

I just learned that he was slowly but surely on his way towards an execution. Once he had consumed all Sukuna's fingers, that was the next step.

Which it's unbelievable this guy saw a random finger and decided, oh let me just eat that real quick...

Anyway, apparently his execution was the only way to free this world of the King of Curses.

This was honestly my first time hearing of any of this, which surprised me. I thought I would've heard something since being with the Zenin's.

No wonder they kept me hidden once Toji exposed my technique. Naoya was already terrified of losing me, I'm sure this added to the paranoia.

Along with the fact that it seems the Zenin's wanted Yuuji dead more than anyone.

On the bright side, there's no way I'd ever let anything happen to Yuuji Itadori. Add me to his list of guardians I guess.

He was a treasure in this dark world, one I would gladly sacrifice myself to protect.

"So how does your technique work then?" Nobara asked. "You gonna slice up Sukuna with those chain things?"

"I mean, wouldn't that just be slicing up Yuuji too?" I asked as I looked at her.

"Well how the hell am I supposed to know!?" she got defensive.

I actually really adored her too.

This was a dangerous group to get close with. If I wasn't careful, I'd end up with a full list of people I'd be willing to die for.

24hours with them and I'm already softening up... Still, my main objective would always be to get revenge.

First on Naoya. Then on everyone who destroyed my mother.

I would never let myself lose sight of that.

"Will you explain your technique?" Megumi asked softly.

And there it was. The third person on this ever-growing list of people I admired and appreciated.

He was intense, but from the first time I laid my eyes on him, I knew he cared. Really, truly cared.

I could feel it, and yet, I had no idea why. He didn't seem to be like Yuuji who just cared about everyone.

And he wasn't like Nobara who I think felt a kinship to me since we were both younger woman in this misogynistic sorcery world.

So why was he being so kind?

I sighed, "Yea, so uh, my chains..." I trailed off, at a loss as to where I should even begin.

I guess I'll just keep it simple.

"I can use them to drain cursed energy."

"Drain?" his eyes intensified. "What do you mean?"

"As in she can literally drain someone's technique from them, stealing their power and even their entire life source if she wanted to," Gojo answered.

He glanced over at me, "At least that's what I was told. Is it right?"

"Basically, yea," I nodded.

"It's remarkable really," Geto muttered out, mostly to himself since he was zoning out at the grass beneath us.

"But it's definitely not as easy as it sounds. I mean, my technique isn't compatible with everyone. And if I'm against an opponent who's stronger than me, or has more cursed energy than I do, it could kill me instead."

"So the plan is to see if you can drain Sukuna's cursed energy?" Megumi clarified.

I looked at Gojo, "I don't know. Is it?"

He shrugged, "I mean, it doesn't hurt to try."

"Won't that kill you?" Yuuji asked, and it looked like tears had already formed in his eyes.

"No, you don't need to worry about that," I smiled softly at him as I rested my head in my hands. He really was just so pure, and it may end up being a friendship I could actually depend on.

"Here's the thing," Gojo spoke up. "If she doesn't drain the energy completely, the other person can eventually regenerate their strength, yea?"

"Mm," I nodded. "It takes awhile and depends on the person, but yea."

"Exactly. So we don't need to do it all at once. She'll drain what she can until he gets stronger, then we'll do it again. As many times as we need to."

"It'll keep Sukuna's power in check, and it'll give Yuuji his freedom to live."

I couldn't help but scrunch up my face as he said that...

As many times as we need to? So then he's planning on me being here for my entire life? Using my technique against Sukuna every couple months or something...

That's fucking crazy.

I'll be stuck here until Yuuji dies of old age and natural causes or some shit.

Was I really prepared to do that? Live out my life as a fucking servant to sorcerers... Just like my mother.

I'd rather drain Sukuna's energy completely and just let it kill me.

"And that's not too much to handle?" Yuuji asked me.

"Not physically, no."

"What do you mean physically?" Megumi added.

"Mentally I might go fucking crazy, being your pet for the next 50 years," I muttered.

Gojo leaned over towards me, shooting me another flirty smirk, "But I thought we were finally getting along. Is there someone else you were hoping to spend your life with?"

No, but I'd like to have the option.

I quickly stood up, "Come on, Yuuji. Let's try out Gojo's little theory."

"Don't be shy, dear. Call me Satoru," he offered.

"No thanks," I mumbled as I continued to walk away from the group, waiting for Yuuji to catch up.

I heard Geto and Nobara start chuckling a little bit. I'm glad they all think this is funny.

But Gojo thinking I wanted to spend my life here really had me on edge.

I didn't even know if it would work. I couldn't drain everyone's cursed energy. I had only met one person that my technique didn't work on, but still, that meant there were others.

Plus, using it against the most powerful curse to ever exist... Who knows what the hell would happen to me?

Yea Yuuji was worth it I guess, but it didn't mean I wasn't scared out of my mind. And I didn't love the idea of another band of sorcerers thinking they owned me and my powers.

"Y/n!!!" they all yelled out to me.

I went to react, but I was too slow. I was lost in my own thoughts, and by the time I was aware of what was happening, it was too late.

"So," a strong arm reached around me, a large hand grabbing me by the throat. "You're the brat that's supposed to keep me in check, huh?"

The hand choking me was covered in markings, black claws digging lightly into the skin of my neck.

His chest pressed up fully against my back as his gripped tightened, and he forced my head upwards.

Holy fuck... This is...

"Sukuna," I commanded, staring up at him as he glared down at me, my voice not wavering in the slightest.

He had me in a chokehold as his other arm wrapped around my waist and kept me steadily against him.

One false move, and he could have his hand rip right through my throat if he wanted to.

He licked his lips as he peered into me, "Disruptive and deviant, just as I've heard."

I heard a rustling behind us, and Sukuna quickly took notice too.

He kept his eyes locked to me as he spoke, his claws digging in a little deeper as they drew their first drops of blood from my neck, "Anyone moves, and she dies."

"Y/n," Gojo called out in a low voice.

"Don't worry about me," I peered up at the King of Cursed. "I'm fine."

Sukuna smirked as he leaned in closer, "I don't scare you, doll?"

"I'm not your doll," I snarled back.

I wasn't the best at a lot of things, but I would always be the best at staring down my enemies. I'd rather die than give anyone the satisfaction of seen me beaten down and weak.

This was no different.

His raspy chuckle vibrated throughout my whole body, and his hand that was wrapped around me gripped onto my bare side, just underneath the hem of my shirt.

"I'll tell you Y/n, your beauty is quickly becoming the least interesting thing about you."

Suddenly, he went quiet. His face became more serious, concerned even, as his thumb stroked lightly against the skin of my hip and stomach.

"Who did that to you?" he asked in a soft voice.

He was feeling a unique burn mark I had on my side. One I received the moment my mother was dead.

It was when they had me tagged and branded like cattle.

"Higher ups," I answered.

His jaw clenched tighter, "Which ones? Who made the order?"

"I don't—" I was mid-sentence when he quickly spun me around so that I was facing him.

His arm wrapped around my waist again, and he pulled me in so that we were still smashed right up against each other.

His other hand found it's way to the back of my neck this time, holding it just as firmly as before.

"Don't lie to me," he growled.

I looked over to see everyone on high alert as they watched us. I wasn't able to see them before with my back turned away, but I could now, and it was making this a lot more difficult.

"Ignore them," he demanded. "Focus on me."

I nodded as I returned my attention back to him, "The leaders of the Gojo clan."

"What—" Gojo huffed out, and I briefly glanced over to see his face twisted up with confusion.

They knew part of my story, sure. But only the parts of it I wanted them to know. And they would never know everything that's actually happened to me over the last 19 years.

I froze completely as Sukuna began to crouch down in front of me, his hands trailing along my sides until he was at eye level with my scar.

"May I?" he asked as he looked up to meet my eyes, holding onto the hem of my shirt.

I was speechless and confused and partially terrified, so I just nodded silently.

He lifted up the corner of the fabric, exposing the branding mark. It was in the shape of a diamond enclosing a square, devil written on the inside.

It was so no matter what happened, they'd always be able to identify me.

A reminder of who I really was.

Naoya knew about it, but he never told a soul. All he was ever able to focus on was his fear of someone finding me out and then taking me away from him.

And last night it was so dark, I don't think any of the sorcerers got a good look at my scars. I'm pretty sure they just knew I had them scattered across my body.

But now Sukuna, and everyone else here, they all knew what I really was.

He gently brushed across it with his fingers, shaking his head slightly as he stared at it.

We all watched him as he brought his lips to my skin and left the gentlest kiss over the scar. My eyes went wide as I watched the skin heal over, the mark disappearing right before my eyes.

He stood up slowly, seeming to stretch up even taller than before.

"They don't own you, Y/n," he spoke as he ran his hands back through my hair before holding onto my face softly.

"And they never will."

I quickly glanced down at his chest after hearing a loud thump ricocheting outward, but immediately returned my eyes to his.

I knew it was crazy considering who this was, but I loved looking into his eyes. The deep resolve they held, it was mesmerizing.

"Just like they'll never own me," he whispered right before leaving a kiss on my forehead.

He took a step back, and in just a moment, Yuuji was returning.

"Y-y/n?" he muttered out in confusion. "What happened? Did it work?"

Fuck. The technique. I didn't even try it yet.

But now would I even be able to? That man, Sukuna, he wasn't anything like they described.

He saw me for more than anyone else here did... For the first time, I thought maybe someone saw me for me.

And to heal my most shameful scar, it left me in a daze.

I looked at Satoru for guidance, more confused than I've ever been. Except his face carried unexplainable anger.

"What do I do now?" I asked him.

He shook his head, replacing his blindfold as he ignored me, "Suguru. Nanami. Take her to the basement."

"W-what?" I huffed out with concern.

"Gojo—" Nanami went to talk but Gojo shut him down immediately before beginning to walk away.

"Now."