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thepersonperson · 3 months ago

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The Reproductive Horror of JJK Part 2 (Dealing with Trauma)

Part 1

Notes before we start.

1) This analysis deals heavily with topics of nonconsent, grooming, abuse, and reproductive manipulation. Please proceed with caution.

2) This post was inspired by @hermitw and @tangsakura

3) Read the light novels. They are the equivalent of Bleach's CFYOW for JJK. There is a fan translation (Book 1 & Book 2), but I will be citing the official translations from my own copies.

4) I will be mainly using the TCB scans for the manga because of their accessibility.

5) Written as of JJK 265.

(Click images for captions/citations.)

Preface

This was written with the assumption you've also read these other analyses:

Thoughts on Sukuna and Kenjaku’s relationship as of JJK 258.

Gojo's You Pronouns (Gojo's Relationship with Toji and Geto)

Please give them a quick glance at least.

...

Some of you may have found it odd that a discussion about bodies being irreversibly changed and used left out Mahito whose ability quite literally irreversibly changes bodies for them to use. That was deliberate. Blame Tumblr’s 30 photo limit.

The previous post was actually about Mahito.

Mahito

For series that has a power system based on strong negative emotions, it is a bit odd that curses surrounding sexual trauma aren’t ever directly mentioned in this work. You could chalk it up to the series being Shounen and not Seinen. But that is precisely why I think JJK delves into the topic using abstract representations. It allows the topic to be explored in a way that connects well with those who’ve experienced it without being too graphic for the younger audience.

Though Kenjaku is a literal rapist, I argued the methodology and effects behind vessel creation resemble rape. Someone's body belonging to another through force, permanent changes brought about after experiencing immense trauma, being groomed into tolerating it as a natural part of this world… When I think of a curse equivalent to this, there is no one other than Mahito that fits.

The transfigured humans Mahito creates are through nonconsentual touch that strips them not only of their autonomy, but their clothing as well. These people are in immense pain from the distortion of their bodies and can never be returned to their original state. In this way, transfigured humans can be read as a stand in for victims of sexual assault.

I didn’t propose this idea first. The Tumblr user that inspired this entire analysis, hermitw, did so in this post (please read it, it's very good). This person’s ideas will be reiterated in this discussion and I will expand upon them starting with how poorly other characters react to their Cursed Technique (CT).

Breaking Composure

Mahito sets themself apart from other curses by how they’re able to get under the skin of the most seasoned sorcerers. It’s not because of their words but the transfigured humans.

Nanami is heralded as the no-nonsense man. Nothing gets to him. He is always calm and professional no matter the circumstances. Mahito's first interaction with him immediately throws him off kilter.

We saw how much fun Gojo was having beating Hanami to death and tearing Jogo apart. That stops entirely when the transfigured humans show up. Yuji can see it coming too. This is the first time during the fight that Gojo’s composure visibly breaks. His reaction to Mahito isn’t any better. There are no smiles and he looks to be in shock.

Gojo’s Six Eyes allow him to see Cursed Energy (CE) to the point where he can infer someone’s CT at a glance. When he sees those transfigured humans, he’s probably seeing the extent of their pain in how the CE controls their souls.

I also want to point out that sexual harassment on trains is such a massive problem in Japan that they have special cars for women. There’s something to be said here about a train full of people that can represent victims of sexual assault.

This visceral disgust when it comes to Mahito isn’t limited to the protagonists either—the main antagonist, Sukuna, finds them to be repulsive after a few interactions. In this instance, Mahito's touching of Sukuna's soul is straight up compared to a patron harassing a hostess.

Just like Gojo, Sukuna goes from having fun to having a really bad time in an instant.

I bring their reactions to Mahito up because there is something off about it. These are all characters that hardly balk at the gore and death brought about by curses. It’s as if Mahito’s brand of violence needs to be categorized as something else.

If Mahito is seen as the embodiment of sexual assault, this is in line with how sexual violence is separated into its own category for treatment and study. When compared to non-sexual violence, the lasting effects are so severe it's not helpful to treat it the same way.

And that’s just what Mahito is. An exceptionally dangerous curse that Jujutsu Society deems needs to be exorcized before it destroys everything because barely anyone can deal with its effects. Likening that damage to something on par with natural disasters is significant.

Mahito as a Natural Disaster

Mahito is the leader of the natural disaster curses despite being born of humans. Hanami, Jogo, and Dagon are forms of wrath spawned from environmental damage brought about by humans. When nature, the ocean, or volcanoes cause mass death, people accept it as a part of living in this world. Sometimes they’ll go as far as to blame others for causing their own demise by living so close to it.

Mahito doesn’t seem to fit into this category unless you consider how widespread sexual assault is. In the US alone 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime. These numbers are likely higher due to the underreporting of this crime in general.

In 2021 it was estimated that 101.8 million people were affected by natural disasters or about 1% of the current 7.9 billion population. By 2050 some estimate that 1.2 billion people will be displaced by climate change related natural disasters. That’s about 15% of the current population.

Compared to natural disasters, sexual assault certainly rivals their numbers. But when compared to reporting? It’s under discussed. People chase storms. Natural disasters are tracked extensively by the damage and cost. Nations build infrastructure and plan around them. They’re acknowledged as a problem that is to be dealt with. The victims of sexual assault get no such attention. Warnings against perpetrators are often ignored and the victims are something people would rather keep invisible.

Mahito is a lot like that. Able to go about unnoticed as they stockpile thousands of humans whose bodies disturb those around them. The transfigured humans are targeted first by sorcerers both because it’s easier and because the one creating them seems untouchable.

Mahito’s effectiveness as a curse is their ability to force people to reckon with the worst humanity has to offer. They mirror every little sin and exploitation committed by others, putting it on full display with their manipulation of Junpei.

Just like Mei Mei grooming Ui Ui with inappropriate but gentle touches and praise…

Just like Kenjaku manipulating the vulnerable to gain access to and use their bodies, only to betray them in the end…

You might call Mahito Kenjaku’s protégé. Really taking after all the worst aspects of that bastard. However, I have read CFYOW. Mahito’s true source of inspiration comes from someone unexpected.

Allegory in Darkness (JJK Summer of Ashes, Autumn of Dust, Chapter 3)

Before Mahito met Junpei, they met a blind homeless man living under a bridge. Their interactions with this man fundamentally change their view on humans and their approach to breaking them. This short story is one of the most harrowing things I’ve ever read. The quiet horror of JJK is on full display here. I’m not going to summarize all of what happens. Just read this.

This old man is so detached from himself and the world around him that he has essentially become nothing. He exists as a thing. This fascinates Mahito and they decide to observe them, forming a weird sort of companionship with him. Eventually, Mahito learns why the old man is this way.

Immense trauma. Abused and disfigured, the old man gives up on everything and in turn is freed from his suffering. Mahito likens his state to enlightenment Buddhist monks may achieve.

They’re not wrong about this. Buddhism is centered around the escape from suffering via detachment. But there’s something greatly unsettling about this situation. Unfortunately that never gets addressed, the old man dies and Mahito oversees it.

And what’s this? Right at the end. The old man appreciates Mahito for being there for him. His “enlightened” state is revealed for the facade that it is, causing his soul to waver. He appreciates that his suffering has been acknowledged by another and dies satisfied, leaving Mahito both in a state of mourning and with the perfect way to manipulate someone before they pass.

What a human is to Mahito.

There’s a lot I left out in my summarization of Allegory of Darkness. Mainly the little discussions they had to build a relationship. They’re centered around movies and books because Mahito uses those to understand the humans around them.

From their studies, they conclude the following.

Humans are creatures that eat, sleep, and rape while curses are creatures that deceive, cheat, and kill. But I’d like to break down the kanji Mahito uses for their description of humans.

食 (ku) is usually read as "ta" which is in line with regular eating. The "ku" reading is more like devouring and it can be a sexual innuendo.

寝 (ne) means to sleep. And just like in English it can mean to have sex with someone.

犯す (okasu) is the tricky one. It can mean to commit a crime, to break, to violate, to contravene, to deflower, to rape.

Translating this as rape isn’t wrong, but it can overemphasize the sexual connotation. Okasu is more about the nonconsent. Doing something against another’s will.

However in Mahito’s case, they’re most definitely drawing attention to that. The eat uses the ku reading and is next to sleep with heavy innuendo. Okasu implies an assault on a body that does not belong to them. With this in mind, I think eat would be best localized as consume to get across the greedy inconsideration.

This isn’t coming from nowhere. They watched such a thing occur first hand. That old man I mentioned? He’s killed by two random men on a dare because they see him as something for their consumption. His body doesn’t belong to him. It’s a thing for them to play with.

Kenjaku, a human, reinforces this behavior by having Mahito participate in death womb painting incarnations and other manipulative schemes. And in the end, Kenjaku causes Mahito to fall to the same victimization they learned from humans.

Mahito sees humans, not curses, as creatures that take without consideration. They’re beings that have made the violation of boundaries so commonplace it can be seen as natural. And he’s not really wrong about that in the context of this story. All the stuff I mentioned in the previous post—it’s both right there in your face and nearly invisible.

The acts themselves are never depicted but always implied. It’s an insidious thing that goes ignored or is outright denied by fans. Anyone who has experienced these things, recognizes it, and points it out will be chastised for reading too much into it.

But can you blame them? The perpetrators are named. They’re goofy and strong and interesting. Their victims are footnotes with little presence and are sometimes outright denied names. And yet they’re always there, just out of sight, suffering in the background.

How horrific that this mirrors a victim’s experience almost identically.

Mahito vs Yuji

The first time Yuji kills a human, it’s as a mercy. At the request of the transfigured human, Yuji puts them out of their misery.

It’s a sin Nanami has been trying to protect Yuji from as a child and Mahito forces it on him with a cruel choice between leaving them to suffer or ending it for them. Yuji chooses to liberate them from suffering.

I think Yuji is able to see the outline of Mahito’s soul, not because of Sukuna, but because he is willing to see Mahito for what they are and face them head on. He doesn’t hide how the transfigured humans or deaths affect him. He cries over them and carries on with that hurt.

And it’s painful. Yuji vomits and wails on the floor. But he deals with it. Unlike his mentors who bury their emotions and pretend everything is ok.

This is what makes Yuji fundamentally incompatible with Mahito. He is the exception that won’t allow Mahito to go unnoticed and slip away. He does it for their victims and himself. And still Mahito taints him. Yuji starts to see himself as a cog no different than Mahito.

He carries that mentality until he finally confronts Sukuna in JJK 265. Acknowledging why he started thinking that way in the first place, moving past it and onto something better.

That’s what I love about Yuji the most. To him, anyone’s trauma will never be invisible.

And the horror persists…

Even though Yuji is this tiny beacon of hope in this rather depressing narrative, there’s still so much he can do as a 15 year old boy. The trauma he takes on and deals with is only for those he was witnessed or has been told of. This means a lot of the characters don’t have their grievances addressed in a way that gives me comfort.

The old man under the bridge may have died satisfied, but I can’t stop thinking about him. His suffering and isolation masked by numbness went on for decades. The happiness he experienced at the end was for seconds. And the worst of the worst, Mahito, was the one to comfort him…

I can't stop thinking about the old man under the bridge.

There’s a lot I left out in my summarization of Allegory in Darkness. I really wanted to include more, but I found it to not fit into the rest of this discussion. Strange little bits of dialogue like these.

When I read these passages, a single question lingers in my mind.

Why does this man resemble Sukuna?

I lied. This post is actually about Sukuna.

Let’s go back to that homeless old man under the bridge. Mahito admires him as enlightened, but anyone can his state is mortifying. He has coped with the abuse, disfigurement, and suffering by becoming nothing. No different than a rock. He has no name. He’s not a person. He feels nothing. And the worst thing about it is how that’s technically better than being tormented by those memories.

JJK asks how does one cope with trauma? And repeatedly this question is answered by most characters in one of two ways:

1) You let it consume all that you are.

2) You become nothing as you detach yourself from it entirely.

The old man under the bridge is what Gojo tried to and failed to become. As much as he pretended otherwise, his attachment to grief and love controlled him. Sukuna mocks him for this. Calling him painfully ordinary in the English localization isn't incorrect, but it strips away that religious context. In Japanese this kanji 凡夫 (bonpu) can be read as Unenlightened.

The old man reached enlightenment while coping with his trauma. It worked for so long. But right at the end, when Mahito shows some semblance of care for him, those feelings he thought were shaved off cause him to waver.

A new question plagues my mind.

What the hell happened to Sukuna?

It’s presented as a humorous thing. Framing Mahito’s nonconsensual touching of Sukuna’s soul as a handsy patron ignoring the boundaries of a hostess.

Gege sometimes introduces character quirks as something funny before they’re revealed to be induced by trauma. Gojo Satoru is the biggest culprit of this with his sweet tooth and manner of speech and childish behavior that desperately tries to claw back the youth that was stolen from him.

Sukuna has such an averse reaction to having his soul touched by Mahito. He’s wearing women’s clothes when it happens. He’s likened to a hostess for it.

When we consider this and the quiet way misogyny and sexual assault is woven into this story… And how Gojo, the Strongest, was preyed on by older women. And how Yuki escaped having her body being used by someone much older than her by becoming strong. And how Rika, the Queen of Curses, is likely a victim of CSA by someone who was supposed to take care of her. And how Mai, a twin and a victim of CSA, creates a stronger twin by dying when she can no longer cope with her trauma.

I don’t like what this suggests for Sukuna at all.

Sukuna is willing to bond with all the other natural disaster cursed spirits, except Mahito. He himself became something akin to a natural disaster so it makes sense he liked the company of those like them. It’s him rejecting the strongest of the bunch because of how their CT violates others’ bodies is something I cannot overlook.

Jogo’s fire is so kind in comparison. The bodies he burns and the corpses he leaves cannot be defiled by anyone. It’s what would’ve prevented Geto’s body from being stolen. And hey! Sukuna returns the favor, burning Jogo in a way that prevents Kenjaku from absorbing him.

The easiest way for Sukuna to permanently scar and traumatize Yuji is to inflict sexual violence on him or his loved ones. JJK does not shy away from having rapists like Noaya and Kenjaku do just that. A common complaint from fans is Sukuna not trying to manipulate Yuji into working with him. JJK does not shy away from having groomers like Kenjaku, Mahito, and Mei Mei (and to an extent Tengen) do just that.

Sukuna is strong and clever enough to do these things, but he doesn’t. I think there’s more to this than a disinterest in sex.

Choso’s mother faced ostracization for her unique body that allowed her to give birth to hybrid children. With nowhere left to go she wound up at a temple for sorcerers. Kenjaku took advantage of her situation and body, partaking in her rape to satiate intellectual curiosity.

Sukuna faced ostracization as a child for his unique body that made him a great sorcerer. Just about everyone who knows him has tried to exploit his abilities for their benefit.

There’s a massive blank in this parallel. What happened to Sukuna growing up to make him this way? Every time I try to fill in that blank with the information we have now, I’m left with something deeply unpleasant.

When Sukuna has flashbacks, it only ever goes as far back to his time as Yujikuna. He verbally recounts his time in the womb and there’s nothing else. The first time we see Heian Era Sukuna in full, it’s from Yorozu’s memory. And if you recall…this introduction is him being sexually assaulted.

Sukuna’s fingers are scattered everywhere, fragments of himself are throughout the world and in a little bit of everyone. A curse that cannot be destroyed that only gets stronger with time. He’s something that was repressed despite everyone knowing he exists—a victim of sexual abuse.

Sukuna’s Backstory—Revised

Back when I theorized that Sukuna is an ex-slave, I deliberately withheld references to sexual abuse slaves are often subjected to because I felt it was too heavy for the post.

But seeing others theorize something that severe happened in part because of his CT’s name and spiritual pederasty practices at the time, makes me regret not including it. Please read the post by Tumblr user tangsakura that brought this to my attention.

Pederasty, if you do not know, refers to a boy having a sexual “relationship” with an older man sometimes as a form of “guidance”. The most known form of this originates from ancient Rome and Greece. I put “relationship” and “guidance” in quotations because children cannot consent to or grow from this kind of abuse.

Such a thing was common, sometimes socially accepted, systemic abuse in the ancient world. (Though a form of it exists to this day.) Japan partook in pederasty, even in certain types of Buddhist temples, prior to the Meiji Restoration in 1868. (Here’s a video source on it. Be warned it's pretty upsetting.)

And in most of these societies that accepted pederasty, a relationship between two men of equal standing was frowned upon or not tolerated at all. The imbalance of power and exploitation of children was the socially acceptable thing. Despite, you know, the resulting trauma and suicides of the victims.

As discussed in the linked video, the children at these temples were seen as pure and therefore closer to Buddha. Since celibacy between human monks was expected, fetishizing these children as gods allowed for the mental gymnastics to justify molesting them.

That’s not too surprising. Organized religion with massive followings all have it in common—the sexual abuse of minors and tolerating it or covering it up. What’s striking about this abuse is that it was considered important to or even necessary for enlightenment by some sects. Their suffering brought about enlightenment.

Mini crash course for those not familiar with Buddhism. There are 4 Noble Truths that are foundational to this religion. (Copy and pasted from Wikipedia.)

1) Dukkha: Suffering exists: Life is suffering. Suffering is real and almost universal. Suffering has many causes: loss, sickness, pain, failure, and the impermanence of pleasure.'Dukkha: Suffering exists: Life is suffering. Suffering is real and almost universal. Suffering has many causes: loss, sickness, pain, failure, and the impermanence of pleasure.

2) Samudaya: There is a cause of suffering. Suffering is due to attachment. It is the desire to have and control things. It can take many forms: craving of sensual pleasures; the desire for fame; the desire to avoid unpleasant sensations, like fear, anger or jealousy.

3) Nirodha: There is an end to suffering. Attachment can be overcome. Suffering ceases with the final liberation of Nirvana. The mind experiences complete freedom, liberation and non-attachment. It lets go of any desire or craving.

4) Magga: In order to end suffering, follow the Eightfold Path.

Per the 3rd Noble Truth, enlightenment comes from the end of suffering, not its continuation. The idea that suffering is needed for enlightenment contradicts this Truth. But that’s not surprising either. I was raised Protestant and I’ve got a whole laundry list of how that branch of Christianity seems to have ignored the basic fundamentals of Biblical text.

What I want to get into is the specific branch of Buddhism Sukuna appears to have been abused under—Tachikawa-ryū. Just as a heads up, information on this sect is limited as this person explains:

“Tachikawa practice became forbidden and the school’s ritual texts were destroyed. As a result, only a few original scriptures and rituals survived the persecution, which makes it very difficult nowadays to fully understand the teachings of the Tachikawa-ryū.”

(The wikipedia page is straight up missing citations so feel free to correct me if I get some stuff wrong.)

The destruction of records sounds exactly like what happened with Kenjaku and the Meiji girl. But the similarities don’t start or end there. This sect is accused of using human and animal skulls for rituals. And if you recall, Sukuna sits on a throne of oxen skulls. Other heretical acts included the consumption of meat, which at the time was forbidden. Another thing Sukuna loves to do.

But what this sect is most known for are the bizarre sex rituals needed for enlightenment. You know the thing Sukuna explicitly has no interest in. More excerpts about that from the non-wiki source:

“Since the idea of a world, created by the union of male (yang) and female (yin) elements, is the essence of cosmology in Tantrism, sexual union serves as the “real life” version of this dualism. In other words, sex is an effective way to achieve buddhahood in a relatively short amount of time (best case scenario: this life, “becoming a buddha in this very body (即身成仏 sokushin jōbutsu)”). Furthermore, much ink has flown on the description and discussion of a human skull ritual that involved sexual intercourse and the use of seminal and vaginal fluids to create an object of worship.”

This melding of male and female elements is everywhere in JJK. It’s a massive component of the reproductive horror too. Everything with Kenjaku is self explanatory. But Sukuna, who wears women’s clothes, is currently pregnant with the Merger, and has a gender ambiguous servant… He’s a part of this too.

It should also be noted that Tachikawa-ryū is actually a sub-sect of a sect. It originates from Shingon Buddhism. …Which was first introduced in the Heian Era.

Here are some quotes from the wiki article:

“The essence of Shingon practice is to experience the Dharmakaya, the ultimate reality, by emulating the inner realization of the Dharmakaya through the synchronized meditative ritual use of mantras, mudras (hand gestures) and visualization of mandalas.”

Oh hey that sounds like what Jujutsu Sorcerers do.

“The goma (護摩) fire ritual is an important and recognizable ritual in Shingon. The meaning of goma is to burn the firewood of delusion with the wisdom flame, consuming it completely.”

Oh hey that sounds like Sukuna’s fire CT.

“The most important Shingon mandalas are known as the Mandala of the Two Realms which are: The Womb Realm (Sanskrit: Garbhadhātu; Japanese: 胎蔵界曼荼羅, romanized: Taizōkai) mandala based on the Mahavairocana Sutra and the Diamond Realm (Sanskrit: Vajradhātu; Japanese: 金剛界曼荼羅, romanized: Kongōkai) mandala based on the Vajrasekhara Sutra.”

Oh hey that’s Kenjaku’s Domain.

I wasn’t raised any kind of Buddhist, so there’s probably a lot here I’m missing. My point here is that the symbolism and historical context are in line with Sukuna enduring some pretty horrific abuse as a child. It’s very likely that the way he behaves and thinks is one massive cope to rationalize what happened to him.

Identity and Trauma

Sukuna is a difficult character to grasp because he’s so unforthcoming in personal information. He’s not once introduced himself by name and reveals fragments about himself in very cryptic ways. Most of what we know about him is from other characters. (Much like how the original writings of Tachikawa-ryū are lost and the remaining info is sourced from outsiders.)

To better understand him, I’ve been working under the assumption that other characters reflect fragments of Sukuna that will eventually fall into place.

Sukuna is like Maki. Consuming his twin to survive and becoming stronger for it.

Sukuna is like Toji. Discriminated against for the way he was born, he becomes strong enough to separate himself from Jujutsu Society only to be dragged back in.

Sukuna is like Geto. Falling from grace and procuring a cult-like following.

Sukuna is like Todo. He’s completely self-centered and hates taking orders from those weaker than him.

Sukuna is like Mechamaru. Disfigured by birth, longing to connect with others, he finds himself at the end of a manipulative deal that promised him a second life.

Sukuna is like Kenjaku. He sees himself as above others and only wants equals for companionship. Other people are playthings for him to consume to stave off boredom.

Sukuna is like Mahito. Endlessly curious about the humans he was born of, he consumes their art and lives in an attempt to understand them.

Sukuna is like Yorozu. Obsessively pursuing a single person, trying to teach them love through violence.

Sukuna is like Yuji. Adapting to any situation with battle intuition like no other by understanding his opponent.

Sukuna is Gojo. I call them twin flames since they have the most in common. If you noticed, that homeless old man from Allegory in Darkness resembles Gojo a lot too. For this reason I often use Gojo as a reference to infer how Sukuna is as a character.

Gojo’s trauma that helped him reach his self-proclaimed enlightenment was Toji. And that was just normal assault. But let’s reframe that battle as something a little more abstract…

As a teenager Gojo has his Infinity, a barrier that kept him safe, forcibly penetrated by a much older man. This both kills him and awakens him to immense power that irreversibly changes him. His loved ones can no longer recognize him and his relationships are destroyed by this. His ability to feel pleasure and his sexuality are contorted in ways that others find deeply perverse.

This is the plot of Baby Reindeer—an extremely upsetting semi-autobiographical recounting of how the creator’s sexual trauma ruined his life.

But that’s not how everything is framed at first. The main character, Donny is introduced as a man trying to report his stalker, Martha, to the police.

Martha recognizes that Donny has been abused. Maybe not in the same way as her, but similar enough to the point where they become toxicly attached to each other. She stalks him and assaults him in what she believes to be acts of love. You both pity her for her circumstances and hate her for the destruction she causes.

That sounds like Sukuna doesn’t it?

Sukuna saw something in Gojo he can’t recognize in anyone else. And I think it’s much more than the loneliness that comes with being strong—It’s having your body violated and no one recognizing or taking your trauma seriously because you’re supposed to be strong.

Toji’s failed assassination attempt on Gojo resembles sexual assault in how Gojo reacts to the whole ordeal. He wants some kind of support but pushes everyone away. He craves touch but has a barrier to prevent it running 24/7. He both pities Toji and admires him, fears him and kills anything like him. His sexuality cannot be divorced from this incident, needing a good deal of violence to get off. It’s too similar to how Donny engages his own sexuality after his assault.

But to my knowledge, Gojo hasn’t been raped. He went through something that resembled it and Sukuna picked up on that. During their fight, Sukuna essentially dealt with that trauma. He became a sort of Toji that satisfied Gojo’s perverse needs while tearing through the very thing that had him targeted in the first place—Infinity.

This is the source suffering Sukuna seemingly liberates Gojo from with extreme violence like some kind of heretical Bodhisattva. There’s also something to be said about him using Mahoraga to do this.The Eight-Handled in its title is a reference to the Eightfold Path that’s to be followed in order to obtain enlightenment.

And they both have this trait in common—using violence to guide others towards enlightenment, a perversion of the 3rd Noble Truth. Gojo just calls it tough love.

(And notice how Megumi recalls both Sukuna and Gojo's words as he grows from a difficult fight.)

I know that Gojo does this because of his trauma with Toji and his own “growth” coming from it. It’s one of Gojo’s many destructive coping mechanisms. He’s stuck in the past trying to relive what was stolen from him. Like I mentioned before, Sukuna calls Gojo unenlightened for this. And if they’re twin flames, I have reason to believe Sukuna is the exact same way.

Sukuna finds Maki to be the most compelling of Gojo’s students. And I think there’s more to this than seeing a fellow monster in her. She’s what he wants to be.

Not only is Maki free of the sorcery that ruined their lives, she has confronted and dealt with her trauma. She killed the source of her suffering, the Zenins, and has accepted the death of her twin she was so dearly attached to. And unlike her mentors, Maki appears to be emotionally stable because she did this in spite of her trauma, not through it. The sumo guy's compassion is what guides her. In other words, she’s obtained enlightenment outside of violence.

Maki also succeeds where Toji failed. There isn’t anything left that would cause her to waver. She stays true to herself and remains enlightened.

That seems to be a recurring thing—characters deviating from their “enlightened” state through human connections that rouse their unresolved emotional issues and then dying. Toji’s projection of his trauma from Jujutsu Society onto Gojo gets him killed. Kenjaku’s desperation for companionship has Takaba create the perfect opening for Todo and Yuta’s ambush.

Sukuna has started to deviate from himself because of Yuji. And it’s probably because he’s projecting his trauma onto him. If that’s the reason both Toji and Kenjaku were felled, it’ll be the reason for Sukuna’s downfall too. Just like that old man under the bridge.

Sukuna and Yuji

Umineko no Naku Koro ni (When the Seagulls Cry) is a visual novel about a person who is fundamentally misunderstood by those around them. They desperately want to be loved without being perceived, believing themself to be unworthy due to trauma and immutable characteristics given to them at birth. Instead of telling anyone these feelings directly, they play games akin to torture. They torment the ones they love over and over in hopes they'll see through their actions and understand them.

I’ve always compared Sukuna to this character, but for this analysis I’ll be comparing him to another from Umineko—Rosa Ushiromiya.

The youngest of 4 from a rich conservative household, Rosa was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by her father and older siblings. As an adult around them she cowers. She shows her abusers respect they don’t deserve because of her social standing within the family and tolerates their jeering.

But with her little 9 year old daughter who can’t fight back? She beats her the moment she makes any mistake. As she beats this child she screams about how everything is her fault. Rosa projects her financial woes, her childhood abuse, and systemic misogyny all onto this child that never asked to be born. She blames this child for her own shortcomings that keep her tethered to her abusers year after year.

The sad thing is that Rosa doesn’t realize why she’s doing this. She is unable to come to terms with her own trauma and remains stuck in the cycle of abuse as both a victim and a perpetrator, unable to spare her daughter from it.

Knowing that Sukuna and Yuji are blood uncle and nephew. And knowing that by technicalities, Yuji would be genetically recognized as Sukuna’s son…I see that kind of hurt in their relationship.

Sukuna is a very good liar. Most take him at his word. He says that he hates Yuji for his ideals—how he puts his life on the line in service to others. The things Megumi, Higuruma, and Gojo do as well. And yet Sukuna admires them. Todo sacrifices himself to prop up Yuji and save Hana. Sukuna calls him a true sorcerer for this. It’s not unreasonable to conclude that Sukuna isn’t being honest about why he hates Yuji.

I think it’s because Yuji is somehow linked to Sukuna’s trauma through no fault of his own. And because Yuji is easier to target, Sukuna uses him as an outlet.

We’ve seen this scenario play out before in JJK. Mai lashes out at Maki instead of Naoya or all the other men like Naobito who enabled or partook in her abuse because it’s the safer thing to do. She doesn’t actually hate Maki. She hates what she has to endure at the Zenin Clan and sees it as inevitable. Fighting back is scary and she really hates doing that. If the manga didn’t make that clear, the CFYOW: Thorny Road at Dawn, Chapter 4: Advancing in the Face of Fear sure does.

Yuji isn’t a cage to Sukuna because he chose to be this way. Kenjaku made him for it and even manipulated him into ingesting the fingers. But you know, Yuji is someone Sukuna can attack without consequence.

I do not know if Kenjaku is the person who abused Sukuna or if Kenjaku merely resembles the person who abused Sukuna. Kenjaku is older than Sukuna, has a fascination with him, and has manipulated him. There are plenty of other characters that have been traumatized by Kenjaku.

Whatever the true nature of their relationship is, Sukuna is choosing to attack a symptom of his restriction instead of its source. He’s behaving no different than Mai or Rosa which leads me to believe there’s something deeper to his hatred of Yuji.

Yuji’s Role

I think that Yuji is aware something terrible happened to Sukuna. He’s not really sure what. The type of abuse Sukuna likely went through is not common historical knowledge even in Japan.

For the longest time, Yuji regarded Sukuna as a curse and denied him his humanity. But as of JJK 265, Yuji treats Sukuna like a human. He takes him through his memories and plays little games with him. He rejects the cog mentality Mahito groomed him into and says this:

“I could very well be doing the wrong thing here. So I thought I should at least let you see the humanity of someone other than yourself.”

Yuji is admits that his approach to Sukuna may be flawed.

And flawed it is. This entire chapter and offer Yuji makes to Sukuna might be one of the cruelest things he has done so far and he isn’t even aware of it. Yuji is recounting a pleasant childhood full of love and quiet moments. That’s something Sukuna didn’t have because it was taken away for reasons beyond his control.

This accidental cruelty isn’t anything new. It happens right before Junpei dies to an ability that resembles sexual assault. Yuji reaches out to him and asks what’s wrong. He notices something is off and tries to console Junpei through it.

And here he apologizes for saying something so insensitive. He didn’t know, but he had to ask. Sukuna was there to see that.

I think that's what Sukuna wants from him. He wants Yuji to acknowledge he was hurt. To recognize that something happened to him and offer something like he did with Junpei. It’s a bit odd that he humors Yuji’s kindness towards him instead of immediately opening his domain as a counter. This could be an explanation for that.

Yuji hasn’t given Sukuna the same treatment yet. In fact he’s done the exact opposite thing he does with other people. Yuji usually lets his opponent yap at him and meets them as they are. This time, Yuji is the one who does the bulk of the talking and he doesn’t give Sukuna a chance to open up about himself.

That’s not his fault at all. He’s 15 and it’s not his job. The reason he thought Sukuna was a curse for so long is because everyone else told him he wasn’t human and Sukuna never denied it. But just like with Junpei, Yuji did something really insensitive.

Yuji showed Sukuna pity then told him to die or go back into his cage.

People picked up on Yuji being posed like the Fallen Lucifer painting. I think it’s deliberate this offer is being framed as villainous. If Sukuna is outright revealed to be a former slave or a victim of CSA, on reread this would come across as wicked.

It wouldn’t be the first time a scene goes from hype to depressing on reread. I loved watching Yuji and Nobara grow as they killed Eso and Kezichu. After Choso? That fight breaks my heart. Yuji has been manipulated into killing his own brothers and he didn’t even know it.

Yuji’s status as a cage is likely reminiscent of whatever bound Sukuna to the abuse in the first place. And that’s what he’s offering. Death or existing in that state you could argue is much worse than death—a state where his body does not belong to him. Where he is forced to watch a normalish life he can’t have play out for the one tormenting him.

The anger Sukuna displays at Yuji for this is something we’ve only seen him lob towards Mahito. Hell, it’s the same kind of face Yuji makes at Mahito.

I think it’s also telling that Sukuna couldn’t feel anything towards the small things in life. That’s common for anyone who has undergone immense trauma. He was rather cordial about trying this stuff out until Yuji gave his ultimatum.

I’m sure Yuji would give Sukuna more grace if he’d just be honest with his feelings. But this guy is no different than Gojo. He bottles everything up and gets mad at others for not intuiting he’s about to explode.

Strength and Masculinity

Baki the Grappler. This is a manga where men destroy each other’s bodies as a test of strength. It’s poorly written but the art is terrifying and I love it so dearly. Between fights of extreme violence and body horror the characters eat. And that’s it. That’s the manga.

I’ve brought this series up before when discussing how fights can be used as a dialogue between characters. In Baki, many of those combat convos ask the following:

What is strength? What does it mean to be strong?

What is a man? What does it mean to be a man?

Various characters will answer in their own ways. But I want to focus on the man who seeks to challenge death.

This is a man, who after being raped feels like he’s less of a man. And he thinks that others will see him as less of a man if he ever admits to it. (This happens in Baby Reindeer too.)

In a misogynistic society, women are expected to tolerate sexual assault. Their identity is often linked to experiencing it. Men are expected to be perpetrators of it, not victims. This is why this character calls his rape being shown “the woman within him”.

Echoing this sentiment, Sukuna, in women’s clothing, is quite literally referred to as a girl when Mahito touches him without permission. It’s also treated as a joke. The Baki character doesn’t fare any better in fanspaces. If you mention his name, someone will eventually reply “Yujiro Rapes Mid Diff”. It’s got an abbreviation too: “YRMD”. A little in-joke since the fandom at large refuses to take his assault seriously.

This is probably why Sukuna refuses to even hint at his abuse. It fundamentally conflicts with his identity. He’s the strongest sorcerer in all of history who would be mocked for being a victim. After all, he did just that to Junpei and torments Yuji over his helplessness. He perpetuates the cycle of shame to protect himself even though he’d benefit more from dismantling it.

And there’s another reason Sukuna wouldn’t be forthcoming with his trauma—predators will take advantage of this vulnerability and revictimize people. It’s often why those who escape abusive relationships find themselves in another. Straight up, that’s why it’s considered safer to not list out your traumas and mental illnesses on dating apps. It’s safer not to trust.

But still, this is something you eventually have to disclose with anyone you’re trying to connect with. Otherwise they won’t understand you or why certain things send you into a panic. And that’s the problem. When is it safe to do that? When can you tell someone of this thing that makes you so vulnerable? It’s not like you can show up to a first date and go, “Hi, I was abused as a child. I need to make sure you’re not going to hurt me. If your voice rises above a certain pitch I’m going to cry on the spot.” If that somehow doesn’t sour the mood, they now have the exact tools to hurt you with. That’s scary as hell.

Sukuna has been destroying absolutely anyone that can have power over him, despite him craving companionship from those of equal strength. Gojo did this same song and dance with anything that resembled Toji until it killed him. It’s a consequence of a coping mechanism this toxic. As long as they are strong, they can’t be hurt like that again. And because they are strong they must endure solitude. The loneliness is worth being safe.

Yuji’s approach to trauma is the polar opposite. He faces it and deals with it. In the same way Mahito forces sorcerers to see the worst of humanity they’ve been overlooking, Yuji is forcing Sukuna to reckon with something he’s been repressing for centuries. This is why Yuji can strike at his soul.

Outliers

This section is for characters I don’t know how to fit into the rest of this analysis and should be considered because of their direct relationships to Sukuna.

Megumi

Sukuna is rather merciful with his kills compared to other characters like Kenjaku. When he’s done playing with someone, they die. He’ll even be respectful about it in his strange little way. Megumi is the sole exception to this, putting him in a very weird spot with the rest of this analysis.

Sukuna forced himself into Megumi’s body through incarnation and has subjugated his soul. And though this has been better for combat as he wanted, Sukuna is noticeably more miserable. Yujikuna before the Culling Games is still the happiest we’ve seen Sukuna. Whether this is from Megumi’s gloominess influencing him or Sukuna no longer having a goal to work towards or Sukuna incidentally retraumatizing himself by repeating the cycle remains to be seen. Maybe it’s all of this at once.

This is probably one of those things that will make more sense to me with more information. For now, I’ll focus on how Megumi’s name means blessing. Sukuna stole Gojo’s Blessing and destroyed it. And if Sukuna is Gojo, he has also destroyed his Blessing.

That kind of makes sense. Mahoraga, a representation of the path to enlightenment, has been destroyed by Sukuna’s actions as Megkuna. Adaptation is something that could’ve kept Sukuna entertained for a very long time since it would evolve with him. It could’ve also killed him and set him free. But he squandered that blessing when used it to satisfy Gojo instead.

Uraume

Uraume is also in a weird spot. They can gauge Sukuna’s mood by his CE and anticipate his needs in an instant. And yet Sukuna doesn’t feel fully understood by them.

That’s mostly Sukuna’s fault. He didn’t disclose he was a twin to them for over 1,000 years, so it’s unlikely they know the extent of his trauma. However, Uraume dresses like a monk and has the androgynous features considered desirable in the child acolytes that were abused in historical Japan. This could mean they went through something similar to Sukuna and share that connection. It would explain why Sukuna is so gentle towards them compared to other characters.

In other words, Sukuna should be able to trust them of all people with his trauma. They’re loyal and have always been there for him. So why won’t he do that?

Looking at Gojo's relationships for an explanation, this kind of reminds me of how Gojo blew off Shoko’s friendship after Geto left. If someone that close to Gojo could betray him, why would Shoko be any different? Plus he’s stronger the more alone he is. And strong people don’t need help with their emotions. (Cue increasingly contradictory and destructive behavior stemming from a combination of trauma and toxic masculinity fuelled by questionable practices based in religion.)

Yuji differs from Uraume in how he has directly shown Sukuna time and time again that he is a person who can be trusted. Everyone who has admitted their trauma to him has been taken seriously. Sukuna sat there and watched Yuji’s soul never once stray from compassion. He may hate this about him, but Sukuna seems to know he is the safest person to be open with. I think this is why Yuji is being framed as the one to guide Sukuna towards true enlightenment. (Aka addressing your trauma instead of burying it until you no longer understand how it is influencing your actions.)

In conclusion…

I want to emphasize that I am trying to explain why Sukuna is the way he is. To do so I’ve been rather assertive about his trauma despite it remaining unrevealed.

I’m certain something really awful happened to Sukuna. Exactly what I don’t know, but it’s likely something worse than what all the other named characters have experienced. I can say this with relative confidence because of this:

Sukuna himself suggests he has suffered more than Yuji.

Gege has been very careful not to show extreme instances of child abuse outright. If any of this gets confirmed, it’ll likely be vague.

But as it currently stands, I think you can read Sukuna as a victim of CSA. This sort of thing has always been in the manga, it’s just hard to see it.

#cactus yaps #This is another one of those please for the love of fudge read the content warnings I’m not messing around.#I never want to write about this topic again.#Had Lie Alaia playing on loop in my head as I realized what the hell was going on.#I know inspirations for JJK have been listed out but are we Sure Gege hasn’t read Umineko?#Gege! Directly reference Umineko and my life is yours!#jjk spoilers #jujutsu kaisen #jjk meta #mahito #itadori yuji #ryomen sukuna

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matchagator · 1 year ago

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Clash | jjk (Mature) Ch.8

Surprise! Chapter 8 is finally here! After a really long month, I am finally working on this baby again. I hope you enjoy this chapter! There will be two more before the end of Clash. Don't worry, there is more smut to come. 😈

{Main Pairings:} Jeon Jungkook x Female Reader

{Rating:} 18+

{Genre:} Slice of Life | Neighbors

{Summary:} You're a new resident in your very first apartment excited to enjoy the simple life of adulthood. Unfortunately for you, you continue to run into unruly neighbors no matter how much you try to keep to yourself.

{Warnings:} Mature Language, Enemies to Lovers, Hostility, Mild Angst, Sexual Tension, Banter, Smut, Mild Degradation, Sexual Content, Prank Wars, Unprotected Sex, Awkward Tension, Fluff, Oral Sex, Teasing, Blood, Peril, Car Accident, Elements of Cheating (This list will be updated as each part gets released)

Your usual work week progresses as normal, going through the motions of your nine-to-five shift as you desperately try to keep yourself invested. Thankfully, your phone occasionally buzzes with the promise of a text message from your favorite asshole of a neighbor, your stomach flipping with excitement each time his nickname displays itself on your screen. You can’t help but fight the smile that stretches across your lips each time he responds or sends you a silly meme, even though he isn’t the best at keeping a steady text flow.

This week, Jungkook’s schedule contradicts yours as he takes on a week of night shifts, leaving you bored in your apartment on most evenings. You did manage to hang out at least once with Roxanne and Lisa, filling them in on the development of your prank war with Jungkook. Their reactions to your animosity-turned-romance cause you to roll your eyes, knowing deep down you equally couldn’t believe the change you’ve seen over the past few weeks.

Tonight, you find yourself curling on your couch with your favorite blanket, enjoying the cooler evenings of the approaching seasons as you select a relatively scary movie to watch. You figure since fall was rapidly approaching, you might as well start getting cozy.

You smile as you find the mug of hot apple cider resting on your coffee table, pulling yourself up from your lying position as you bring the warm ceramic to your lips. The hot beverage soothes the stress from your day at work as you melt back into the cushions of the couch, and your eyes latch onto the scenes displaying on your television screen.

As the movie progresses, you find the warm glow of sunlight starting to disappear from outside the sliding doors leading to your balcony. It was on nights like these you wish Jungkook would be off so you can spend more time together. You knew it was a selfish thought since he was off saving lives and doing something meaningful each night he was gone.

An hour of the movie passes, your eyes occasionally glancing down at your phone to see if Jungkook texted you while on a break. A long drawn-out sigh escapes your lips as you abandon hope of hearing from him tonight, settling further into the couch as the plot of the movie becomes increasingly more intense. Your attention is captured by the haunting sounds of the music picking up, biting the inside of your cheek nervously as you become completely enthralled by the story.

Next door, Jungkook is staring at his phone screen after changing out of his work uniform into a comfortable pair of shorts with a large hoodie draped over his torso. He’s debating whether he should message you or knock on your door to surprise you. After working so many back-to-back nights, the hospital decided to put him on call for the evening, allowing him the opportunity to simply enjoy his time to clean around the apartment, and to see you.

He fiddles with the piercing on his lip, using his teeth as he paces the span of his living room while debating the best way to inform you of his sudden availability. He decides to walk out toward his balcony, thinking that there is a possibility you aren’t even home. He opens the glass door, being welcomed by the cool air outside as his eyes immediately dart towards your neighboring balcony.

His lips tug into a smile at the sight of light shining from inside, the flickering luminescence from your television confirms your presence as he goes to turn back inside. He pauses as the sounds of your movie reverberate from the glass, recognizing it as a classic horror film that only gives him mischievous thoughts. Jungkook’s smile morphs into a cunning smirk as he tugs the hood of his hoodie over his head, the material casting shadows over his face as he smoothly crawls onto the railings, effortlessly creeping over onto your balcony. Despite the troubling height of the seventh floor, Jungkook seems unfazed as he jumps onto your balcony, carefully listening to the sound of the movie as he awaits the perfect timing.

Meanwhile, you find yourself hugging your pillow frightfully as you nervously chew on the inside of your cheek, asking yourself why you decided to watch such a movie on your own without at least a friend by your side to ease your nerves. Just as you anticipate a jump scare, you hear a series of taps against what sounds like glass. The music and sound effects of the film are almost silent at this point which makes the tapping sound even more profound.

You hear them again as the movie resumes free of a jump scare, causing you to reach for your remote to pause the film. Your apartment becomes silent, the only sound coming from your refrigerator in the kitchen. You wait a few moments, certain the sound is coming from your apartment and not from the film. Once a minute has passed without any indication of the sound, you turn your attention back to the movie, resuming the film as you scold yourself for being such a wimp and thinking something else was going on.

A few moments later, the tapping resumes, startling you from your seat as you quickly reach to pause the movie once again. Once the sounds of the film fade away, the tapping noise continues from outside your sliding glass windows. You hear the soft howling of the breeze, wondering if the tapping sound was from something simply blowing in the wind.

Given your now likely explanation for the mysterious noise, you bravely walk over to your glass door, reaching for the dial on the blinds to open them just enough to peek outside. You knew this was most likely your ridiculous paranoia, however, your curiosity got the best of you.

The blinds rotate under your manipulation, revealing the sight of a tall figure standing directly outside your door, a hood draped over their head as their head hung low, preventing you from seeing any identifiable features. Instinctually, you let out a screech of a scream, shutting the blinds quickly as you stumble back from the sight. Your mind is racing with possibilities, wondering who was standing outside and what they could possibly want with you. For some reason, your fear causes you to forget the logic of your balcony being seven stories high and the unlikelihood of someone climbing up.

You reach for your phone as you hear a childish chuckle, one that distinctly belongs to the man who just so happened to live next door. Your fear quickly shifts into rage as you stomp your way back toward the glass door, unlocking it and pulling it open to see the mysterious figure hunched over in laughter, Jungkook’s laughter.

“You fucking Asshole!” Your voice is quite harsh, not expecting to see him since he was supposed to be at work tonight. Your annoyance only intensifies as Jungkook continues to laugh joyfully, grabbing his stomach as he tries to maintain his footing.

“You should’ve seen your face, Y/n.” His voice is youthful, his bunny smile almost blinding you as he leans back up, his hood falling back to reveal his handsome chiseled jaw and familiar features. “That was priceless.” He chuckles happily as he points a finger at you mockingly.

The irritation on your face softens at the sight of him, knowing that while you hated his stupid trick, you were still happy to see him. You cross your arms over your chest, popping your hip out to the side as you offer him a stern glare. “I thought you were supposed to be at work? Not pranking me.” You complain, narrowing your eyes as he finally locks his stare with yours.

Despite your agitation, Jungkook is still smiling ear to ear as he steps closer to you, snaking his arms around your waist as he smoothly pulls you into his chest. “Come on, princess.” He coos as he brushes his fingers across the edges of your face to push back some loose strands of hair. “You’re just such an easy target.” Jungkook can’t hold back his laughter as he speaks, causing you to roll your eyes and push away from him.

You turn around to retreat back into your apartment, leaving the door open behind you to allow him access inside. “I got put on call and wanted to surprise you.” He offers apologetically, a smile still blatantly plastered across his mouth as he chases after you.

“Oh, you surprised me alright.” You groan in annoyance, hearing him fight more laughter as you turn to face him, his bright big bug eyes instantly causing the tension in your limbs to soften. You let out a long sigh as you giggle softly, knowing that while you hated being the object of his pranks, you would’ve done something similar if you had the opportunity. “This means war, JK.” You counter, putting your hands on your hips as you offer him a challenging glare. “I’ll get you back.”

He smiles, moving towards you once again as his large hands grip your waist, pulling you closer to him as he seizes your lips with his. You feel his lips mold against yours, the familiar warmth mixed with the cold metal of his piercing causes you to melt under his ministrations, leaving your body filled with a comforting warmth as he pulls back, licking his lips to get another hint of your taste. “Don’t be a…” Before he can get the word out, you roll your eyes once more before pulling him back to your lips to kiss him silently.

Jungkook simply groans in response, allowing his hands to trail down your hips to your upper thighs as he savors your affection. You both pull away, smiling happily at each other as he turns his head back toward the television. “Shall we finish your movie?” He offers with a raise of his eyebrow, causing you to laugh sarcastically at his request.

“You’re crazy if you think I’m watching the rest of that with you.” You state plainly, not really feeling like getting another heart attack because Jungkook finds joy in watching you suffer.

Jungkook blinks, watching as you walk back toward the couch, picking up the remote to click out of the movie back onto the home screen. “Don’t be a baby.” He teases, watching you purposefully ignore his remark as you turn toward him.

“The answer is no, JK. Try not to throw a tantrum over it.” You tease right back, letting your voice morph into that of a small child, watching his jaw tighten as he visually fights his urge to push you onto the couch and put you in your place. You smile triumphantly as you scroll through Disney+, clicking on the second Iron Man movie as you gesture toward the television. “Anyway, didn’t you say I needed to catch up?” You offer sincerely, watching his smile return as he moves to find a comfortable seat on your couch.

“I did say that.” He confirms, tapping the surface of the couch directly beside him as if inviting you to sit close to him. Being your stubborn self, you start the movie and find a seat on the opposite end of the couch, causing Jungkook’s jaw to harden. “Brat.” He groans, grabbing your ankle and tugging you effortlessly across the plush cushions as you slide closer to him.

You give up your tough act, adjusting yourself comfortably beside him as you grumble to yourself jokingly, “Ass.” You both offer each other a smile as the movie begins, melting into the presence of the other as you both get comfortable on the couch.

—

The soft tone of the lobby elevator resonates in your eardrums as you struggle to balance two large pumpkins under each arm. Your biceps flex against the smooth round surface as your bag hangs helplessly across your shoulder, tilting your head to the side in an attempt to keep the strap from sliding down your anatomy. You groan at the discomfort, adjusting your grip as the doors slide open to reveal the seventh-floor corridor.

The loud rattle of your keys echoes down the hallway as you fiddle with the metal to locate the correct piece for your door. You feel the strain of your muscles begin to ache as you approach your doormat, feeling your arms shake from the heavy gourds as you desperately maneuver the metal in your hand.

You hear a click from the corner of the hall, watching as the door to Jungkook’s apartment swings open, revealing the devilishly handsome neighbor that you helplessly fell for. Jungkook’s toned figure is draped in a plain black muscle top, wonderfully displaying the ink on his right arm as a pair of basketball shorts hang around his waist.

Usually, you would take the opportunity to admire his physique, but the burn of your muscles was screaming at you to ask for help in opening your apartment door. “Oh, thank God.” You breathe in relief, watching as Jungkook shuts his door, locking the mechanism before turning to face you.

“Well if it isn’t…” Before he can say anything else to you, you shift uncomfortably, your eyes locking onto his with a silent plea.

“JK, please grab one of these pumpkin for a second.” Your voice is shaking in desperation as you uncomfortably contort your leg up to keep the large sphere from falling and smashing into pieces on the hallway flooring.

To your surprise, Jungkook simply leans into the frame of his apartment threshold, crossing his arms over his chest with a sly smile stretching across his features. “I don't know…This is quite amusing.” He teases, lifting his eyebrows as his tongue runs against the span of his bottom lip.

You can’t help the morph of your stare as you send hypothetical daggers in his direction, your muscles threatening to give out. “JK, please.” You beg, wishing he didn’t choose this moment to be an ass.

Thankfully, Jungkook catches the severity of your plea, pushing off the wall as he reaches out to grab the pumpkin from underneath your right arm. You can’t help but sigh in relief from the much-needed break in weight as you try to readjust your grip to wrap both of your arms around the other pumpkin. Jungkook moves faster than you, effortlessly grabbing ahold of the second round structure, leaving your arms completely free except for your bag still hopelessly hanging onto your frame and your key ring laced between your fingertips.

Jungkook offers you a comforting smile as he balances the two objects without difficulty, waiting for you to open the door of your apartment. You offer him a grateful smile, your arms relaxing as you move to insert your key into the slot. “Thank you.”

“Why do you need pumpkins anyway?” He asks bluntly, adjusting his grip as his arms flex to hold the two gourds. “You know, they sell pumpkin in a can. It’s a lot more convenient.” He teases, watching as you push open your door you quickly enter and hold it open behind you. Jungkook follows you inside, moving toward your kitchen to place the large masses on your counter.

“You can’t carve a can.” You answer plainly, excited to have found such nice pumpkins to carve this year compared to the oddly shaped leftovers from the grocery store the previous year. “Don’t you carve pumpkins?”

Jungkook quickly lets out a breathy chuckle, shaking his head in amusement at the thought of spending his time carving a squash. “No, I don’t find joy in massacring gourds.” He teases, knowing that pumpkin carving was never a tradition he got into. While his artistic abilities would surely handle the task without complication, he could only imagine the smell that came from inside the large fruit.

You narrow your eyes at his dramatics, leaning into your counter as you offer him a challenging glance. “Ha ha.”

“Why do you need two pumpkins?” He questions as he turns to offer you a judgemental stare.

Your features soften as you instantly recall your childhood with your dad, spending time carving pumpkins every year once the grocery stores put them out for sale. “I used to carve them with my dad before he passed.” Your voice is soft as you speak, leaving you pondering what to say next. “Guess I buy two to keep the tradition alive.”

Jungkook’s judgemental gaze vanishes at your words, his eyes becoming wide as he suddenly regrets being so short about it. “Oh.” He pauses for a moment, unsure what to say next.

You take the opportunity to gently tap one of the pumpkins, offering him a gentle smile. “I have a spare pumpkin if you want to join me. I’ll even order takeout.” You attempt to entice him, watching him laugh as you bat your eyelashes.

“You’re cute but I really should get to the gym.” Jungkook flashes his teeth as he clicks the metal of his lip piercing with his enamel as he starts walking back towards your entryway. You narrow your eyes in his direction with curiosity, wondering what his hesitation was in joining you.

“What? Afraid I can carve a better pumpkin than you?” You challenge, giving him a cheeky grin as you shrug your shoulders. You turn your attention to the bag you slide off of your shoulder, placing it on the counter as you pluck out your cell phone to order some Chinese takeout.

You grin to yourself as you notice Jungkook pace in your direction, placing his hands against your waist as he guides you back against the cabinets behind you. You glance up from your phone, met with his determined eyes staring directly into your soul. He moves his hands off of your waist onto the counter, caging you in as he hovers his face just inches from yours. “Oh, you’re on, princess.”

Jungkook catches the glimmer in your eyes at your victory, realizing you played on his competitive side to get him to join you. He leans into his arms, closing the proximity between you as his lips hover just above yours. “But when my pumpkin turns out better than yours, you owe me.” He grins mischievously, lifting his hand to tap his index finger on your bottom lip, suggesting what he means when he says you owe him.

“Deal.” You accept, knowing you’ve been carving pumpkins for years. By the sound of it, Jungkook doesn’t seem to have a history in the activity, finally giving you an upper hand to win something over him.

Jungkook groans happily at your acceptance, leaning in to steal a kiss as his lips mold over your own. You can’t help but softly moan at the sensation, his touch instantly causing your body to react in need for him. He pulls away, leaving you leaning forward for more as he turns to face the pumpkins, examining his options. “I’ll take this one.” He beams, selecting the larger of the two as he turns to face you.

You let him have the satisfaction of picking his pumpkin since you knew you were about to wipe the floor with him. “You okay with beer and Chinese takeout?”

He offers you a side glare, tilting his head in disbelief as if you should know him better by now. “Are you kidding?” He rolls his eyes at you sarcastically before lifting the pumpkin to bring it out toward your balcony to avoid making a mess indoors. You smile as you glance back at your phone screen, quickly typing away to get the food ordered for your unexpected evening with Jungkook.

The soft glow of the fairy lights strung along the rails of your balcony cast the perfect lighting for you and Jungkook to work on your pumpkins as you await your dinner. Jungkook has set up both succulent canvases on the ground of your balcony as you pop open a few bottles of beer, carrying them outside to join him. You hold out your hand, offering him the alcoholic beverage as he happily takes it from your grip, tossing his head back for a sizeable gulp.

You can’t help but shake your head as you sit down in front of the smaller pumpkin, glancing at the gourd in the deliberation of what you might make for your design. You set your beer down beside you as you cross your legs, displaying a small orange box filled with various tools to carve the large fruit.

Jungkook sighs, reaching for one of the larger serrated knives as he observes the pumpkin. You focus on yourself, selecting your preferred tool as you begin stabbing it through the top of the object and carving out a circle.

After successfully completing your task, you glance up at Jungkook, watching his handsome features turn rigid as you pull the top off of your pumpkin. The cool breeze carries the fragrance of the squash in his direction, causing his face to blanch from the scent.

“Damn.” You hear him groan as he lifts his tattooed arm up to his face to cover his nose. “I forget how bad that shit smells.”

You blink in surprise, suddenly putting together his hesitation to participate. Jungkook didn’t like the smell of pumpkin. You can’t help but allow the mischievous grin to pull across your lips as you watch him turn his head away from the scene.

“Oh?” You ask curiously, holding the top of the pumpkin out in his direction as you dangle the strands of pumpkin in front of him. “You mean this?” You bite back a laugh as an audible gag escapes his lips, watching his body convulse at the aroma as he pulls his shirt over his nose.

“Y/N!” Jungkook groans, fighting back another heave as you continue chuckling through your smile. “It’s not funny. Get that shit away from me.”

You roll your eyes as you place the top of the pumpkin down beside you. “It’s hilarious actually.” You grin in triumph, finally knowing a way you can get Jungkook back from scaring you a few nights ago. Jungkook visibly relaxes, taking a soothing breath before glaring down at his pumpkin.

“I can help you gut it.” You try to hold back your laugh as you lean forward. “If you ask nicely.” You bat your eyes as Jungkook glares up at you, hearing the condescending tone and mockery in your voice.

“I don’t need your help.” He stubbornly admits as he stabs the top of his pumpkin, carving out a circle to gain access to the inside. You bite your lip as malicious thoughts course through your mind, reaching your hands into your pumpkin to grab handfuls of seeds and remnants as you hold them out toward him. “Are you sure?”

A roar of laughter breaks the barrier of your lips as Jungkook’s chest concaves in another heave as he fights off the urge to throw up once again. You laugh at his reaction, rolling onto your side as you place the mush into a trashbag you brought outside with you.

“That’s it.” Jungkook’s voice drops an octave as he shoots a deadly glare in your direction as if he is stalking his prey. “You asked for it.”

A loud screech escapes your lips as you push yourself up, quickly standing out of his vicinity as he leans forward to try and grab you. You see a smile crack against his stoney expression as he stands up, chasing after you as you run towards the glass doors to go inside in an attempt to hide from him.

As you push open the glass door, you make a dash for your bedroom, Jungkook quickly catching up to you and grabbing your waist from behind. You’re a giggling mess at this point, feeling so giddy as he effortlessly turns you around and lifts you up to wrap your legs around his torso.

You feel your chest swell with joy as the genuine bunny smile plastered on his features, wrapping your arms around his neck as he traps you into a sinful kiss, his mouth violating yours to gain every taste of your being. You moan against his mouth, moving your hands to grab ahold of his face without realizing you still have pumpkin all over your palms.

Jungkook bites your lip as a warning, pulling away before you can get your hands too close. “Touch me with that crap and I swear you won’t be able to walk for days.” His expression is deadpan as you blink off your surprise, freezing in his arms as you process his words.

You nod softly, watching him grin as he leans back in to steal another soul-sucking kiss. You moan at his taste as he begins to lead you both into your bedroom, making his way towards the bathroom with every intention of cleaning you up and indulging in your body until you’re begging for forgiveness.

—

The tight pull of the black body suit constricting your body has you adjusting the material around your curves as you eagerly examine your figure in the mirror. The Black Widow Halloween costume has every section of your figure accentuated as the fabric morphs into your limbs. You grin at your reflection, satisfied with the appealing fit as you adjust the small red belt buckle around your waist, eager to see the reaction of your friends to your choice of Halloween costume.

You toss your hair to the side as you reach for the accompanying gun straps to fasten around your thighs. You quickly secure them before turning your attention to the zipper located in the middle of the body suit. You hesitantly tug down, allowing the material to open at your collarbone, stopping just before your chest.

You nibble on the flesh on your bottom lip, boldly lowering the zipper just enough to provide a scandalous peek at your chest, knowing you were sure to blow Jungkook’s mind given his love of Marvel movies.

Once satisfied with your attire and makeup, you venture into your bedroom to locate the black knee-high boots you plan on wearing for the evening. You sit on the edge of your bed, quickly pulling the fabric of the boots over your legs as you zip up the side to secure them in place.

Soft thumping noises echo outside your bedroom window as you peek out the blinds to see the courtyard below decorated to the nines for the spooky season, a DJ spinning the hottest tracks for the apartment complex’s yearly Halloween bash.

A loud knock resonates through your apartment as you stand up and adjust to the heels, strutting through your hallway toward the door to pull it open. You’re met with the boisterous greeting of your friends, Lisa and Roxanne both dressed in sexy costumes for the evening, eager to get a drink or two into their systems to let loose.

“Y/N! Damn girl, what an outfit.” Roxanne hollers, excited to see her friend after weeks of being too busy to hang out. She lunges forward, wrapping her arms around you to pull you into a hug, clearly already buzzed from her pregame.

“Seriously, you look hot,” Lisa adds, quickly joining the hug as you grin proudly at your choice. If your girls thought you looked good, Jungkook would probably drool at the sight of you.

Your face illuminates in pride as you reach for your phone on the counter, along with your apartment key that was looped on a small wristband. “Thanks. You guys look amazing yourselves.” Roxanne is quick to spin in a circle, showing off her body proudly as she adjusts her costume from falling down her chest.

You can’t help but roll your eyes as Lisa grabs your arm, eager to drag you downstairs. “Well, let's go! I saw a bunch of hot single men down there.” Your eyes quickly lock with Roxanne’s, both of you sighing at Lisa’s desperation as you follow her lead into the hallway.

It doesn’t take you long to lock up, following your friends to the elevator as you glance down at your phone, wondering if Jungkook has made it home from work. To your surprise, you see a text message waiting for you on your screen.

Taking a shower. Be down soon.

“Where’s your boy toy?” Roxanne interrupts your thoughts as you walk into the elevator, glancing back down the hall toward Jungkook’s apartment door.

“He’ll be here soon.” You respond with a smile as you click your screen close, stuffing your device into one of the small pockets on the side of your bodysuit, thankful that you didn’t need to bring a purse down with you.

You end up tuning out most of the conversation Roxanne and Lisa seem to engage in on the elevator ride down, your imagination wondering what costume Jungkook could possibly decide to wear. As the elevator doors slide open, you notice Taehyung leaning against the wall of the lobby, seemingly awaiting Jungkook.

“Hi, stranger.” You grin happily at his presence, noticing that Taehyung is wearing one of his paramedic uniforms. “Seriously?” You arch an eyebrow at him condescendingly, crossing your arms over your chest. “That’s your costume?”

“Listen, Y/N. It was this or nothing.” He responds unapologetically before pulling you into a side hug.

Roxanne struts up from behind you, her eyes shamelessly checking Taehyung up and down as she offers him a flirtatious grin. “You can do CPR on me anytime, smoke show.”

Lisa giggles from behind you as she watches your eyes widen at Roxanne’s brazen comment. You feel your spit get caught in the back of your throat as you desperately try to clear your airway to change the topic of conversation. “Okay! Let’s get some drinks.” You offer, watching as Lisa happily follows after you while you pull Taehyung along.

The loud music echoing through the courtyard causes your body to suddenly fill with adrenaline as you guide your group toward the patio bar. Roxanne and Lisa are quick to drop money on a fruity margarita while Taehyung settles for getting himself and Jungkook a couple of beers. You opt for a wine cooler to start, shifting your attention around the courtyard as you observe some of the familiar faces you’ve seen around your complex.

There is a soft vibration against your leg as you reach down into the side of your bodysuit to retrieve your phone, noticing another text message from Jungkook.

Where are you?

You glance around to see if you can find him, however, he isn’t easy to spot through the crowd. You feel a little playful, deciding to mess with him once again in an attempt to get the upper hand on the prank war you both seem so insistent to continue. You spot a woman standing not too far from the bar with a sexy nurse costume who resembled you from behind.

A smirk tugs at your lips as your fingers type away at your screen.

By the bar. In a nurse costume. Can’t miss me.

As you hit the send button, a chuckle festers in your chest as you hide your phone back into the pocket. “Was that Jk?” Taehyung inquires, watching you put your phone away as he brings his beer up to his lips for a taste.

“Yeah, he’ll be here any minute.” You smirk mischievously as you take your own sip of your drink. Your eyes follow the imposter of a nurse around as a man in a hoodie begins to approach her from behind. You notice a familiar tattooed hand swinging towards the woman’s ass, your body instantly cringing as Jungkook smacks her backside unapologetically.

The woman suddenly turns around and smacks Jungkook from his abrasive touch, a few words of profanity jumping from her lips. You can’t hold back your laughter as Taehyung narrows his eyes at the scene unfolding, quickly catching onto your little stunt.

“I’m so sorry.” Jungkook apologizes, running his hand through his hair in distress until Taehyung comes to his rescue.

“JK!” Teahyung calls out, flashing you a glare in the process. “Over here!” You watch as Jungkook offers an apology once again before following Taehyung’s voice, his eyes finally settling on your figure once he figures out who is standing beside his best friend.

You bring your drink up to your lips, smiling against the edge as Jungkook’s eyes pierce into you. “I swear, Y/n.” He groans as he holds his hand out to greet Taehyung with their handshake. “I’m gonna end up getting arrested for all your pranks.” He raises his brows in a playful manner, his desire to get you back only fueled by your latest stunt.

Taehyung holds out the extra beer for Jungkook, wrapping his arm around his friend’s shoulders as he pats his back. “Keep an eye on that one.” He warns before turning his attention back onto Roxanne and Lisa to let the lovers deal with their quarrel.

“Oh, I plan on it.” Jungkook teases as your eyes scan Jungkook’s figure, noticing the same hoodie and outfit he wore the night he tried to scare you out on your balcony. Jungkook is equally taking the opportunity to rake in the sight of you, his teeth clicking against his piercing as he admires the tight bodysuit accentuating your figure. “Damn, Y/n. If you didn’t look so fucking hot, I’d throw you in the pool.”

“You like?” You smile brightly, taking a page out of Roxanne’s book as you slowly turn in a circle to allow Jungkook the opportunity to see every curve you have to offer.

He steps closer toward you, wrapping an arm around your back as he pulls your body flush against his. He practically growls at you as his hand drops from the small of your back to your ass, giving it a sizeable squeeze before offering you a cheeky grin. “Definitely.”

You lean up on your toes, pressing a quick kiss upon his lips before pulling away, reaching up to pull the hood off of his head. “Seriously? You didn’t even try to dress up?” Your lips pull into a pout, placing your hand against your hip as you offer him a disappointed glare.

Jungkook leans in closer to you, eliminating any proximity remaining between you as he goes to whisper in your ear. “Last I checked, this outfit scared you plenty.” He teases, pulling back as he passes his tongue over his bottom lip, his grin far too cocky and proud of himself.

You instantly feel the tension in your muscles as you recall his previous prank, your cheeks becoming a shade of crimson as you remember how scared you were to find him outside your balcony. “Ass.” You mumble, crossing your arms over your chest as Jungkook grabs your shoulder, guiding you to turn to the side ever so slightly.

He swiftly sends his hand against your backside, the sting radiating through the bodysuit as he chuckles softly. “Absolutely.” You roll your eyes at his actions, noticing that Roxanne, Lisa, and Taehyung moved toward the firepit, occupying the available seating as they engaged in conversation.

You motion toward them as you and Jungkook start making your way toward your entourage of friends, noticing there is only one chair left around the firepit. Jungkook doesn’t hesitate to claim the seat, leaving you stunned that he wasn’t more of a gentleman to offer it to you.

Just as you go to scoff, Jungkook’s eyes widen in excitement as he motions you over, patting his lap seductively with a charming smile on his face. You feel your cheeks heat with embarrassment at the thought of sitting on his lap in front of his best friend and your girls. It’s the thrill of him inviting you to do so without pause that has you accepting his offer.

Jungkook sets his beer down on the floor beside the wooden chair, letting you hesitantly take a seat on his lap. You gasp as his arm instantly wraps around your waist, guiding you so that your back is comfortably resting against his chest.

You fight the blush from your cheeks as you hear Lisa suddenly gasp in excitement. “Oh my God!” Your eyes instantly follow her field of sight, expecting to see something strange. Instead, you are met with a few large barrels with residents bobbing for apples. “I wanna try!” She screeches in excitement as you laugh at her dramatic reaction. “Hold my drink.”

Lisa passes her margarita to Roxanne as she happily skips away to the traditional fall activity. You half expect Jungkook to guide you off to take the now open seat, but instead, he simply holds you in place with one arm as he reaches for his drink with the other.

“You know, Y/N.” Roxanne’s voice resonates over the music as she offers you a proud smile. “I wasn’t expecting you to be so festive given everything.”

Taehyung and Jungkook look at each other in confusion before Taehyung turns his attention back to Roxanne. “What do you mean?”

Your heart sinks as you suddenly put together the pieces of what Roxanne is referring to. Before you can interrupt her, she further explains herself. “You know since last Halloween was a complete shit show with Han and all.”

You close your eyes at the mention of your ex's name, feeling completely overwhelmed by the sudden memory. “Who’s Han?” Jungkook is now the one inquiring about this conversation which causes you to twist your torso in order to distract him from the topic.

“No one.”

“Her Ex,” Roxanne answers him at the same time that you speak, causing you to shake your head in annoyance. You feel overwhelmed, thoughts and memories of the previous Halloween plaguing your mind as you tilt your head back to down the remainder of your wine cooler.

You sigh as you finish the small bottle, realizing that you are going to need something much stronger now that Roxanne has brought up Han in front of Jungkook. “That bitch broke up with her after we found him macking on some other chick.”

“Who wants another drink?” You ask nervously, feeling lightheaded from the sudden influx of attention that was being brought upon your previous love life. You shimmy off of Jungkook’s lap, despite his effort to keep his arm wrapped around you to comfort you. “Anyone?”

While you’re asking, you find yourself avoiding eye contact, knowing your relationship with Jungkook was still pretty casual. You never discussed what your relationship was, all you knew was that you were exclusive friends with benefits who seemed to have a thing for each other. You didn’t need him to know all about how Han cheated on you last year.

You nervously walk away, making out Roxanne’s voice as you dart back towards the bar. “Did I say too much?”

A long drawn-out sigh escapes your lips as you order yourself a Halloween-themed vodka mixed drink, hoping it will distract you from your swirling thoughts. Once the bartender gives you the drink, you glance back toward the group to find Jungkook’s concerned glare following you.

You hesitate before you turn away to walk around the courtyard, glancing at the different games and events they have set up for the evening. You stumble upon a table with various carved pumpkins displayed, noticing the two large pumpkins you selected earlier that week.

A small smile pulls at your cheeks as you remember your evening carving pumpkins with Jungkook. After your impromptu shower and managing to clean them out, you were both able to carve the gourds and submit them in the contest. Much to your surprise, you discovered Jungkook’s artistic side, his carving completely blowing yours out of the water.

You bring your glass to your lips, sucking down the sweet yet bitter liquid as a warmth invades your chest. You feel an arm snake around your waist as Jungkook walks up beside you, offering you a smile despite his saddened eyes. You brace yourself for the influx of incoming questions regarding your past relationship.

“I told you mine would be better.” Jungkook gloats, pointing towards the voting sheets, grinning proudly at the number of votes his pumpkin carving has received compared to yours. Jungkook can feel your body relax from his touch, the tension in your muscles disappearing as you giggle in annoyance.

“Yeah yeah yeah, whatever.” You complain playfully, sticking out your hip to bump into him gently. “It was rigged.”

Jungkook’s mouth drops open dramatically from the accusation, shaking his head in disapproval. “I won fair and square, princess.” He teases, turning to face you as his eyes lock onto your lips. “Which means, you owe me.”

You freeze at the recollection of your deal, knowing that your blind confidence brought you to accept his terms. Part of you wants to retaliate and give him a hard time making him lose his mind while the other burns with the desire to watch Jungkook begging for you. You bite the inside of your cheek as you glance up at him through your eyelashes. “Wanna get out of here?”

If there was anything you’d rather be doing right now, it’s watching Jungkook fall apart as you give him the best damn blowjob of his life. Jungkook groans deep in his throat as his length twitches in excitement. “Lead the way.” He beams as you seductively begin to lead him back inside toward the lobby.

Your eyes find Roxanne and Taehyung who both seem to be thoroughly enjoying each other’s company while Lisa is flirting away with a few guys she met while playing games. Surely no one would miss you and Jungkook for a few minutes.

You start to walk toward the elevators until Jungkook stops you in your tracks, guiding you toward the doors of the gym. “I can’t wait.” He huffs in impatience, crashing his lips against yours the moment you’ve both made it inside the gym. Thankfully, no one is occupying any of the machines as Jungkook recklessly guides you toward the saunas. You moan against his lips, happily following his lead as you both fall into a deep spell of lust.

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