Sukuna yawned between the flames. He had brought demise to another town. But, there was something new this time. He saw something that gave him pause—a lone figure, seemingly unbothered by the destruction. They met his gaze directly, unfazed. Most would have fled or begged for their lives, but this one had no fear, only a silent defiance.

Sukuna was intrigued. Did they have a death wish, or were they simply too foolish to know when to fear?

He hadn't met anyone like this—a human who was not crushed by his mere presence. On a whim, he decided not to kill this one. No, they were too intriguing. Too unknown. And without a word, he reached out with one of his clawed hands, grabbed them by the arm and dragged them to his shrine.

Days passed in an odd silence, and the servants eyed the new arrival warily. But Sukuna only found himself more and more drawn toward the human. Something about them, just something, was different.

However, nothing lasts forever. Out of impulse in a slightly heated exchange, Sukuna lashed out without thinking. He raised his hand, and you were thrown back, striking the stone floor with a sickening thud. But as blood trickled from a cut on your forehead, you did not cry out. You simply rose slowly, and walked away. He felt some regret, but it didn't matter. He did whatever he liked.

Little did Sukuna know, this was the start of a nightmare.

From then, not a word was spoken from them. The defiance that had intrigued him seemed to have bit him in the back. No matter how loudly he commanded or how much he pestered you, you remained quiet, stubborn. It drove him mad. You withheld the very attention that he had never thought he needed.

Finally, on the seventh night, he gave up. He found you in the courtyard, clenching his fists, his pride warring with the strange, unfamiliar feeling in his chest. Was he really about to do this? Him, of all people?

"Fine," he spat, his voice low with reluctant admission. "You've won this time. Tell me how I can get you to stop ignoring me."