#or hell maybe there's not a rika-style curse

[orchidbutch]

i recently saw a post about "this probably wouldn't happen but imagine itadori not letting fushiguro die at all" which would definitely be interesting

but also consider: at this point in the manga, from what bits of spoilers i've seen, itadori has been fighting sukuna with EVERYTHING he has, been burnt to a crisp and even using his own domain expansion(which takes a lot of energy.) if he succeeds in saving fushiguro, he's not going to be in great shape. even if he can use rct that will take energy he may or may not have.

and if fushiguro (mr. i'll save the people i want to) wakes to see his best friend who fought to save him all burned and battered and on the verge of death... and also flashing back to all the people sukuna killed while in his body...

consider fushiguro getting that unhinged look on his face and going "if i have to live thru this shit, so do you"

this could be a yuuta/rika style curse with a blood pact, hell he could try to make him into a shikigami somehow, idk. i just don't think he'd accept itadori dying that easily (tho that may be the route canon takes)

[asterjennifer]

❗ Slight domestic violence scene

“Shit, shit shit shit shit…!”

She cursed under her breath when crossing over the familiar rooftop made out of what resembled pure marble. Her tiptoing sounds unnoticeable even to herself. She'd been lying if saying this new way of sneaking around didn't appealed to her the most when it came to this entire sinner form she'd taken after her downfall.

Jumping from one smug brick to another, landing gracefully onto the railing, onto one of the million endless balcony's of the castle. She's not fond climbing over its walls as she kept fearing that one day — someone would catch her right handed and then do whatever is worse imaginable inside her head. She might be an immortal being in hell now, but not immune to any pain.

That's what sinners had to deal with, the enteral punishment of experiencing pain repeatedly. And no way to stop it. Neither due to getting used to it, nor by the choice to kill yourself. No sinner could actually kill themselves unless they owned angelic weapons. And that chance was lower than the chance of the Happy Hotel succeed. Okay, maybe not that low. But still low.

She sneaked around a pipe attached to the edge of the second tower, lifting her head into the red sky. Day or night, lunch or dinner time, it didn't matter considering the red stayed the same shade throughout the year. Were there any signs for seasons at all? If so, she'd not seen them yet. At least familiar looking stars shone at random spots around the white planet that must've been heaven. Or at least she assumed so.

Shaking her head free, she jumped to the other pipe. It's not her intention to run late as it's not her style pushing the schedule around. However; how could she have said no when they practically begged her to help with the spontaneous side job they involved themselves in rather involuntarily. It's not really their fault and therefore she found no strength to brush their pleading off.

But now she risked the tragedy of getting spotted since she usually was long gone by this time of the night. Not in any sight, invisible to the world of royals that lived inside this castle. Despite only having seen a few faces before — she didn't want to test her luck either. It's better she stayed unaware of the actual number of residents inside the big place she used as shortcut.

Her bare paws landed silently on the floor of the balcony, another one she crossed every single time she's required to get to the other side of Pentagram City. Which was, if nothing messed up, every single work day. It was part of her everyday life after all. She sighed out after realizing it's still empty inside. What a lucky bitch, she thought to herself bewildered and in pity.

It's always a risk using this pathway. At least then she knew what hour was the best in order to avoid the rare chance of an encounter. That's something she inspected before even trying to use the castle as her own personal bridge, it's just so much easier and quicker walking and climbing this insanely big building than running around it. Making her ignore anxiety entirely.

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“You're a fucking disgrace!!”

She yelled into his face with her shrill tone of voice. Filled to the brim with anger that caused his stomach to twist until it threatened to throw up the remaining content right in front of her feet. His pulse overpowered the shattering reality of these pathetic, whiny nosies coming out his beak.

“You have one job, Ray. One! And you can't even do this right, can you!?” She ignored his sad sounds.

He felt both legs shake. “I… I'm really sorry, Rika—”

Her hand shot into the air, shutting him up the same millisecond. He swallowed the bitter taste of both fear mixed with guilt once her brows twisted furious.

“Dare you call me by name at this moment. You're not allowed to.”

Her glaring green eyes drilled through his every single thought — making it impossible to think about his next words. How to present the apology burning on his tongue.

Her tone sharpened drastically. “I don't want to fucking hear it… Seriously. You're a Goetia Prince, for Satan's sake!”

These words left with such desperation, as if she waited for someone to come in and explain this circus of a display to her. All Ray could do was pressing his hands into each other for a little grounding and let her continue scream until it echoed against the walls, coming back into his ears a second time afterwards. Like a second punishment.

“All you had to do was present the next centurie's climate change on earth! How hard can it be when it's your purpose!?”

She raised both arms into the air, looking up while her white bird face started to turn red from the madness he caused her. That's what he always did, he was painfully aware.

“Yet you didn't even finish the research… Am I and everyone who has to deal with your lazy ass a joke to you!?” Her eyes shaded a dark, crazy green.

“No!” He yelped back helplessly.

Hands pressed into fists out of pure desperation to fix his mistakes, his blue glowing eyes met her green ones, thus she narrowed them.

“I- I'm sorry I didn't finfish yet— the earth is a very wild climatic place! It's hard to b-be consistent in the results if one tiny bit can change everything! It—”

The blabbering died by the sound of her flat hand hitting his cheek with all her might. He felt the electric pain shooting through his nerves, almost knocking him to the ground by how she liked using all her strength when putting him into his rightful place.

“I so not care about your excuses, Ray…” She mumbled threatening low.

He rubbed his cheek to ease some of the pain. Yet the tears strung in his eyes regardless. Not brave enough to meet hers again.

“You embarrass me, the entire Goetia family!...” Her hand wiggled as she must've caused herself some pain by the impact as well. “Have some class and skill for once in your otherwise useless existence… For all our sakes. You're a fucking headache like this.”

He lowered his head as deep as he could — letting her spit the words with the venom of hatred he made her feel towards him since what felt like forever. Without waiting for a response from him, she turned on her heels to leave the room. Her golden locks curled around her arm gently in contrast to her radical movement of tearing the door open. He couldn't even hear it over the sound of his own heartbeat in his ears.

“Oh, and Ray.” Air thicker than butter.

She looked over her shoulder, much calmer in her appearance now. Both of them knew better, though.

“Do my decision of taking care of you dirty one more time and you can rot away all alone in this castle forever. I don't care.”

“Yes, Ri— My Savior.” He quickly corrected his mistake.

Although he's praying internally she didn't notice, she either did not or she simply didn't care — she just left the room with a bang. Ray's body flinched hard from head to toe at the deafening sound of her going out of the castle. Letting him stand in silence and guilt to think about the mistake he'd done.

Somehow nothing he ever did seemed to be right, good enough or just worth acknowledging with more than a mere nod. A sigh left his beak, coming out from the deepest place of his stomach which still spun uncomfortably fast. His face shifted into a disgusted grimace, forcing him to close his eyes.

Why can't I be better? Not look like a disgrace to the rest of his peers who were more than talented and royal blue than he ever felt. It's unfair, he thought sad. It's unfair that no matter how hard he tried being better, being a Goetia Prince, it was never good enough to anyone. Was he doomed to live in this misery of being a failure forever?

The tears that had been on the edge finally found their premission to run down his cheeks. It made him feel only worse about himself, though. He wasn't supposed to cry. Or be this weak in general. It was disgraceful. With that he took his steps towards the balcony, perhaps some fresh air would help him relax both his racing pulse and the uneasy carousel inside his belly.

On his way, he wiped the tears as well. Although nobody should be able to see him from that height — it was better not risking someone being able to catch him in this state and take a photo for social media. Then she'd make her threat come true, leaving him forever lonely to rot away inside these walls made for influential royals.

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She froze in her place when the doors to the balcony opened without a warning. The sound of marbel hit the glas once they were out of the way — there was the face she'd been avoiding the most, right after the blond bird woman. Her heart stopped working and came to a standstill.

Any plan of escape, the ideas she played through endlessly for her safety now vanished altogether. Leaving her defenseless to the loud gasp of the Prince. Who's eyes widened in pure shock when his hands shot up to his chest the same second. Shit, she thought panicked. I'm so busted...!!!

Ray couldn't move for a good while. Somehow his muscles didn't listen to any order after finding an unexpected visitor on his private balcony.

Her purple hair moved slightly with the warm wind of hell. Big, round yellow eyes stared directly into his, as if they tried to reflect his own. She was smaller than him, but to be fair, most people were. A sinner... he noticed immidiately because of her form. She's no native to hell. This cat-like appearance must've been a result of either her sins on earth or the silent story of how she died.

He ears dropped down onto her head, hiding away almost. The panic ate away at her nerves, wondering what punishment a Prince of the Goetias would come up with. After all, not only was she rudely invadig his private place, but she also sneaked around like she's about to actually break in. It made the sweat run down her back.

Then, by the most rooted reflex, she felt her legs shake heavily. "I don't mean any harm!!" She yelled out.

"I- I swear I only pass over your castle t-to reach my town faster-! It- It's not what it looks like-"

However, the Prince didn't take in her justfications, nor the whimmering tone of voice under her words. He kept staring at her. For some reason he wasn't feeling anything. He neither felt anger, nor fear. No worry, offense or confusion. All he could do was look at her roundly shaped face and eyes.

The darkness of earlier suddenly left his shoulders. She was pretty, her straight hair fading into a colder purple down along her strains, her clothes reminded him a bit of that gothic style some people wore throughout their daily lives. The fact she wore no shoes was a good way to realize just how small her figure truly was. These soft looking feet were maybe as big as the palm of his hand.

It's obvious that she couldn't be older than him. Time moved foward differently in hell, yes, but there's this qurik to her that revealed she must've come here not too long ago. The Prince blinked out of his trance — hearing her still ramble while being pressed against the railing.

She's scared, he finally made the conclusion for himself. Her pupils were only a point wide and continued shaking with tremor of pure fear. And while he's having every right to be filled with wrath, his intuiton made him decide to not be bitter towards her. He's able to see she didn't mean to come rob or harm him.

Her fearfull attitude, this slim albeit elegant body of hers, it all screamed innocence. And while it should never be taken for granted — he's aware it was the truth. A foreign wamth spread inside his chest.

"No, stop." He said calmly, lifting his hand.

The way her mouth snapped shut wasn't what he intended, so he shook his head. "I mean... tell me the reasoning."

The air around them burned for her. She had no idea how it felt on his feathers. The soft tone caused mistrust to bubble up. Why was he behaving like she didn't just land on his balcony as a stranger?

Knowing there's no choice, she swallowed the lump blocking her throat. "I... use the castle as a shortcut to reach my city faster, My Prince."

Although they quavered at the edges, the Prince's cheeks heat up until they turned a deep pinkish color due to her words.

The title definitely was nothing new. Despite the most stuff calling him Mr. Ray on his demand, being called a Prince shouldn't have made his heart jump as high as it did. No, he thought half conciously. It's not about being adressed as Prince. She said "My Prince."

What was going on with him? He never felt this way before, clueless he wondered what spell she probably used to tame him for her benefit. For now, however, he didn't mind all that much and instead nodded thoughtfully because of her simple answer. It seemed logical — she's a cat demon. Sneaking around places had been a new gift amongst the torture of this enternal life.

He scanned the floor for a second. Then he raised his eyes again. "You swear upon your wounds its the truth?"

No room to interpert this oath, considering it sounded oddly specific, she breathed through silently. "Yes, My Prince." She swore.

The Goetia noticed the breeze of the night came flowing easier now. Without awareness, a smile creeped under his beak. And while she's no expert on bird demons — she realized that it was a smile indeed. Confusing her further, feeding this doubt that cricled around her head.

"What's your name?" He couldn't help the question.

The stranger blinked once, then a second time. "....(N), My Prince." The fright too present for his and her taste.

(N).. he replayed her name in his mind with his own voice. (N) sounds beautiful. That's the first thing he came up with. Her name was just like her apperance. It was beautiful. His smile widened an inch.

"How long have you been using my castle as your shortcut?"

"Since... two months, My Prince."

"When did you die?"

"Five months ago, My Prince..."

"(N), certainly you're aware of what you're doing."

No answer to reciprocate. Of course she knew, it's not like she was stupid enough to sneak over places she didn't at least did surface research on. All she's able to offer was a reluctant nod. The Prince sighed conflicted.

On one hand it's his duty to punish intruders, regardless their intentions. On the other though, he couldn't deny this shot of excitement once they first made eye contact. This Sinner reminded him of a pet. Of a cute, little kitten that's just seeking shelter when breaking into the back of a house. It didn't mean to cause trouble. It was looking for a comfortable place to rest in.

Exactly that's what she looked like to him. It's not the truth, it couldn't be and neither of them would have the power to convince him otherwise. But maybe, just maybe, he found a new opportunity. Something better than this msierable, lonely life he was forced to live. She looked like she needed shelter — he could give her shelter.

His shoulders relaxed. "Come, (N)." He meant it as an invintation, but sounded more of an order by accident.

The girl's ears shot back into the air. Wiggling her tail unconsciously fast by the insane situation. She knew she couldn't make it if she tried to run away. He'd catch her before she managed to jump off the balcony.

That's it, she shivered defeated. Stomach spinning and making her sick to the bones. He's going to do the worse to me for touching his castle...

Plagued by intense fear, her legs managed to move along his enormous steps regardless. She hugged herself, feeling the goosebumbs even underneath the layers of fur. Praying to whatever's there that it would only result in instant death, that's the best outcome she could imagine. What else would be better?

He closed the doors behind her after they entered the living room. Mint eyes fixated on the handle — a new wave of excitement overcame his system.

His heart pulsed hard in his neck, hands and feet. This was totally forbbiden. He never ever could invite a lower class demon into his private walls. If Rika knew... The mere thought of her finding out ran down in an ice cold shower. With all these warnings, this ungodly risk he took, it was still so thrilling. This had to happen and he told himself it was nothing other than fate.

She's a lost kitten that needed shelter. And he could provide her the best shelter in all of hell. Ray shook himself from the words and turned his head around. She stood in the middle of the room. Taking all attention, as if pulling it onto only her. Her arms were wrapped around her chest, it made him a bit sad he couldn't see her chest now. Yet her face — it was everything.

"(N)," He made her flinch by accident. "Tell me about yourself."

The second the order left his beak, he's bewildered by himself for asking such a trivial thing. Again, he couldnt't win against these intrusive thoughts. She was like a flower than an actual cat when thinking about it. He would scrap through the dirt until she had space to bloom. He's certain she would be gorgeous after she presented him her petals. All he had to do was digging into the depths of the dirt. She would come out.

She licked over her lips in a nervous manner. "I... W-What would you like to know, My Prince..?"

"Whatever there is to learn, Flower. Whatever it is. I want to know."