Chapter Text
It was almost metaphoric the day Yuuji’s grandfather died. The sun had just been about to touch the horizon, swollen red among the few clouds that wrapped around her. The magnolias, in their summer greenery, looked like they were dripping with gold in the dying light, casting dart patterns like ink drawing across the floor of his grandfather’s room. There was a gentle breeze like a faint breath that came in through the open window, bringing in the final few cherry blossoms from the spring bloom months earlier to settle against the floor. The whole scene, so clearly etched into Yuuji’s mind in strange detail, felt beautiful, if strangely somber. The world felt like it was dying, or perhaps the underworld simply sat closer to the bedside of his grandfather, draining all colors into that strange twilight of gold and reds with growing dark shadows. Yuuji could remember that moment so clearly, yet it felt distant still, like a dream he had to wake up from. That he was still there in that room even after his grandfather’s body had been taken away to be prepared for the funeral.
Numb. That is how Yuuji felt. He didn’t cry, hadn’t cried yet.
He had sat by the old man’s side since he had been brought back from the battlefield covered in horrific injuries. There had been so much blood and Yuuji felt those times were lost to him. He couldn’t remember what was said or even what he did. Just remembered sitting there in the aftermath, many days later as the patriarch of his clan, the great tiger of the west, drew his last breath. That final gasp rattled a moment in the old man’s chest, as if stubbornly trying to stay there and away from death before slowly, peacefully, it was finally let go and the hand Yuuji held went limp. In that last breath, his grandfather passed onto him those final words, gentle, but heavy.
“You are a strong kid, save as many people are you can and be surrounded by those who care about you,” those final words were pressed deep into Yuuji’s mind as he finally felt tears prick at the corner of his eyes.
Yuuji closed his eyes as he listened to the gentle silence of the breeze against the wind chimes in the garden. Finally Itadori Wasuke had peace. For that, Yuuji was happy. Having to sit at the old man’s side as tradition dictated had been difficult, but as the alpha heir to the clan, it was his duty to be there to make sure every final moment of his grandfather’s passing was comfortable. There was no battles now. The head of the Ryoumen Clan, the vicious opponent of his grandfather, had suffered fatal wounds as well. The news came to Yuuji and his grandfather and the old man had smiled, chuckled a bit as he closed his eyes.
The two clan heads died hours apart.
With his grandfather’s death, all that was left of the Itadori bloodline was Yuuji himself. The only alpha of pure blood to the family and by birthright, now to become its leader. It was by that sad logic though that his clan now stood battered but victorious over the Ryoumen Clan. Wasuke had held on long enough to hear the news of Ryoumen Sukuna’s own death. Just long enough to be satisfied that the last battle he fought had accomplished its goal and the future of his clan assured.
The Itadori Clan won, even if they won by a matter of heir and gender.
The Ryoumen Clan had started this war with the killing of Jin, his father, when Yuuji had been five. Now at twenty, the war was settled with nothing but a whispering whimper as the Imperial Court now stepped in to quietly handle the politics of what would happen next as the Itadori clan was declared the winner. The powerful imperial and divine court, as always, sat back to watch the squabbling of lords, never interfering, and only putting their might forward when the dust cleared and peace settled.
The results of the battle were clear though. The Itadori Clan had an alpha heir. The Ryoumen Clan did not.
In all his years of life, the vicious bastard that ruled the Ryoumen Clan had only ever produced one pup from his twisted tree and that pup had presented as an omega. Perhaps if the terrible warlord of the Ryoumen Clan had survived his own wounds inflicted upon him by Wasuke, the Ryoumen may have survived.
Now the four-armed scourge was dead.
Dead, and the omega child of the former head a lingering, final piece to handle as the surviving warriors of the clan swore their allegiance quickly to the Itadori rather than suffer the humiliation of some omega leading their clan.
The whole affair felt sad to Yuuji. He could not imagine that pain that could come with being abandoned for as simple a thing as a secondary gender, but perhaps being an alpha, fawned over, spoiled, and raised with expectations of his worthiness being an assured thing, made his opinion skewed.
Maybe. All Yuuji knew as today, the final matter of the war was to be settled and the whole thing finally over.
Yuuji knelt upon his plush mat, the head of his clan, although he felt dwarfed by the generals that knelt to either side of him. The battle-hardened warriors had seen the years of war with the Ryoumen Clan and remained grim-faced, although Yuuji could see the tired lines that had etched their ways into their face Yaga and Kusakabe. No doubt they both had long prayed for this day to come where they could trade swords for pen once more. Yuuji had prayed as well for the end of this war, endlessly training for violence he may have to enter as it dragged on through his entire childhood. Just he had hoped so much that his grandfather would have lived to handle this final closing of the war and enjoyed just a moment of his twilight years.
There was so much work to do, now laid out in front of Yuuji.
His clan would need time to rebuild, although the Itadori clan was positioned well with allies. They stood well in the ranks of the Imperial Court. Yuuji just didn’t know if he was ready for being a leader or the pressures to come to find a mate as he would have to secure his bloodline quickly, but his grandfather often said rarely was anyone prepared to lead their clan.
Yuuji’s heart was heavy in his chest as he knelt there, feeling like some sort of pretender. The shadow of his grandfather, of his strength, still felt like it was next to him and he only had to look up to find the elder Itadori ready to greet important guests and discuss matters of the war, just as he had all of Yuuji’s life. Yuuji kept his eyes forward, tensed, but waiting for the Imperial Handler dispatched by his most holy emperor to arrive and grand him the bloody spoils of the war.
After all, as the losers, the Ryoumen Clan had to pay its blood price. The shattered remains left to rot, their estate looted, and the single pup of the head, the rumored omega, to be dealt with. The final notes to be taken in this long and savage conflict.
Yuuji shifted as he knelt in the high seat, tensing as the gates across the courtyard were opened wide and a servant came forward, bowing low, “Itadori-Sama, the Imperial Handler and their escort has arrived,”
“See them in,” Yuuji said, trying to sound like he had authority and still feeling like a child playing lord.
The servant bowed and took their leave. Kusakabe moved to put a hand briefly on Yuuji’s shoulder to give it a squeeze, “Just let the Imperial Handler speak and handle the business. Respond when asked, and don’t question a thing. It will go by quickly and we can get to tending our own,”
“Right,” Yuuji breathed out, trying to calm his nerves.
Kusakabe gave another pat before settling back once more, “You’ll do fine kid. Your grandfather had you watching his every step since five,”
Yuuji gave a quiet laugh even as he kept his gaze ahead, “Let’s hope something stuck in my head,” he murmured, his hands curling into fists against his knees.
He could only hope at least something stuck. Yuuji felt his breath hitch with nerves as the imperial messenger and their entourage finally began to make their way into the courtyard, led by the infamous and powerful Imperial Handler.
The Imperial Handler did not look human with how tall they were, masked, and covered from head to toe to reveal not an inch of skin. They wore their wealth clearly in the rich shades of the silks they were and the exotic patterns woven into their clothes. They entered like some sort of ethereal figure, graceful and powerful with the words of the emperor in what they declared. The emperor was a mysterious force and those who answered directly to his will carried that same air of mystery and of being unknown. Whatever the Handler determined, it was to be seen as law and the judgment of the emperor themselves. They were a voice of his will and his will alone. Yuuji felt even smaller as the Handler came to a pause before him, head cocked to ensure the rest of their entourage had entered.
Behind the Imperial Handler, servants came, back bowed under the weight of pallets that bore riches taken from the vault of the Ryoumen Clan. There were weapons and statues, trinkets of personal worth to the clan, and plenty of rare artifacts and heirlooms that were worth their weight in coin. Such precious things were numerous, speaking of the wealth the Ryoumen Clan had enjoyed before the war. Or rather, a testament to how many other clans they had destroyed and looted over their many decades of existence.
All of that though was not what set Yuuji on edge. These objects were not what had his nerves alight and his jaw tightening.
What brought him such anxiety was the figure being led in chains by four guards in the middle of the procession that was forced to stand beside the Imperial Handler like a prisoner of war. The figure was tall and powerful figure, veiled and wearing a white kimono with wide sleeves to show four arms, a reminder of the rumors of demonic blood running in the veins of the Ryoumen Clan that had given rise to their strange appearance and supposed powerful magics that rivaled that of the emperor’s inner court and retainers. right away Yuuji could smell the stink of a stressed and angry omega from where he sat and almost hear the low growl of one more than ready to attack given the chance. The Imperial Handler seemed to care little for such signs as they raised a hand causing the guards to stop and move to force the figure they had in chains to kneel down.
“Itadori-sama, as the victor of the conflict, I, the emperor’s hand, have come to sort out the price to be paid and to formally dissolve the Ryoumen Clan. The Emperor gives his deepest gratitude for bring this rogue clan to heel, given their audacity to mock the divine rule and the power the Emperor holds with their dark practices,” the Imperial Handler said, lifting their hand and giving a bow, “In addition to all the wealth the Ryoumen Clan claimed, a blood price must be paid for the death of your father. Have you made your choice what is to be done?”
Yuuji swallowed, giving a nod, bowing his head, “I have,”
He had been thinking about it since his grandfather died. Before that even. Since his grandfather explained that he would have a life in his hands and have to make a choice.
The Handler nodded before turning to the veiled kneeling figure, “Unmask the last of the Ryoumen Clan,”
Yuuji watched the guards pull away the veil roughly, revealing a scowling man. He had the pink colored hair that was prominent in a few of the clans of the Valley of the Cherry Blossoms, said to have been blessed by the sun goddess herself. It was a similar shade to that of the Itadori clan, although noticeably a shade darker and more curled. Four sharp red eyes flicked with disdain from the Imperial Handler, to the guards, and then to Yuuji. There was a sense of pride in the main despite how low he was forced to kneel, a sneer on his lips, accentuated by the dark tattoos about his face. Between all these features, it was no wonder the ruling lineage of the Ryoumen Clan were treated more like monsters rather than like men. It was rumored the former clan head, Ryoumen Sukuna, had been barely human at all and the reason for a lack of heirs was from how he killed his mates when he had taken them to his bed.
The man before Yuuji, while tall, broad in build with four arms and four eyes, still had more humanity to him than the rumors would have said. Or maybe that strange blood was simply a bit more thinned in the omega child of the vicious warlord.
“State your name, omega,” The Imperial Handler said coolly.
The omega sneered openly to reveal teeth, snapping them curtly in displeasure at the clear sign of disrespect coming from the Imperial Handler.
“Ryoumen Sukuna,” the man spat, “As is the name given to every head of the Ryoumen Clan for generations-”
“An omega cannot claim the name or title of head of the clan, not without an alpha’s-”
“My father declared me head of his clan before he passed away. When he died, he had relinquished control of the clan to me and made sure that I was marked to show my rank,” the omega snarled, baring teeth further, “If you must check, then do so. I carry all the tattoos that mark me, in my own clan’s traditions, as the legitimate heir and patriarch of my bloodline and what was agreed upon when my clan formed before the Imperial Court’s doctrines,”
The Imperial Handler revealed nothing and that cold masked face left Yuuji a touch unnerved. The masked hand of the emperor simply raised a hand in gesture to the guards, almost uncaring and letting out a sigh, “Strip him and check,”
A flush rose to Sukuna’s cheeks and Yuuji had to bite back a wince. If Sukuna had presented as an alpha, such a thing would not be called for. To strip down an omega, in front of so many unfamiliar alphas was a humiliating thing. Yet Sukuna held his chin high, glaring at the Imperial Handler as he was undressed. Black tattoos adorned his body along the shoulders and arms, down over his chest and back. The guards were rough, intentionally being cruel and jeering, just to place further humiliation on the omega. The hate burning in Sukuna’s four red eyes was so intense, and even he couldn’t hide the red flush of shame that touched him as the rough hands of low-born alphas pressed over his neck and scent glands and down over his chest like he was some sow at a market needing to be checked over.
“All the marks are there, my lord, for how little that is worth,” one of the guards said.
“Then he can take the title of Ryoumen Sukuna,” The Imperial Handler said, turning to Yuuji, “So I present to you, Itadori-Sama, the last of the Ryoumen clan, the heir to a dead clan, Ryoumen Sukuna,”
For the first time, Sukuna gave Yuuji more than just a passing glance, but a lingering, hateful look. That vicious glare cut into Yuuji and the alpha found himself stiffening, but he kept his face neutral, as he was taught. The two of them stared each other down, Yuuji feeling his nerves bundle in his gut as the Imperial Handler looked to him now as well.
“The blood price is clear when it comes to the circumstances we now have. If the heir had been an alpha, his head would be presented to you now in formal execution. However, given that the last child of the last head of the clan is a mere omega,” The Imperial Handler sneered out the word as if it were meant to be a pointed insult, “His life is now in your hands,”
Yuuji nodded, swallowing hard, “I understand,”
“If you choose to forgive the blood price, then he will remain with you and become your concubine to serve as his lowly gender is required. A dame who will take on your clan name and who’s children will inherit nothing,” The Imperial Handler continued, “If you with to pursue the blood price, then he shall be castrated and taken to the Imperial City to serve out his days in exile among the court,”
Yuuji nodded again, although he felt neither choice were ones he wanted to make, but of the two, at least one of them would not weigh heavily on his consciousness. Sukuna was staring at him, that vicious glare never leaving, teeth bared in utter contempt.
“What is your choice, Itadori-sama?”
Yuuji took a breath, aware of all the eyes of his court were on him. That his generals watched him, the soldiers who guarded him, the Imperial Handler’s cold, hidden gaze, and above all, the burning eyes of the omega, fixed upon him, hateful and unyielding.
“Enough blood has been spilled for this conflict, and I will not be the cause of more blood to be spilled,” Yuuji said quietly, “I welcome Ryoumen Sukuna into my clan as a concubine,”
Sukuna tensed, scowling but held his tongue as the Imperial Handler nodded, “Very well. Then from henceforth, the name Ryoumen is to be struck. Itadori Sukuna will be all that remains,”
The Imperial Handler gave a glance towards Sukuna, letting out a sight, “A pity. He is a spirited thing. It would have been fun to see him break under the service to the court,”
“And it is a pity I would have the chance to rip your throat out myself,” Sukuna snarled, baring his vicious omega fangs, dripping with his venom.
The Imperial Handler gave a small chuckle, “It would have been a delight, sweet thing,” They turned away from the snarling omega and towards Yuuji with a small wave of their hand, “I pass on his keeping to you then,”
Yuuji nodded, lifting his own hand. The guards of his clan moved forward to take the chains from the Imperial guards. Beside Yuuji, Yaga rose to his feet, giving a small bow, “I’ll make sure he is handled, my lord,”
“Treat him kindly,” Yuuji instructed softly, “We’ve had enough of war and fighting. I don’t want to be the cause for more bloodshed or cruelty. Make sure Joga tells him the rules of the house too, when he has time,”
Yaga’s expression softened a touch and he gave a nod, “Your will be done, my lord,”
The Imperial Handler gave a bow then to Yuuji who returned it, although he was still tense in the presence of the cold, almost inhuman feeling being, “The business is concluded then and my role is done. I will take my leave back to the court and hope that in this new age of peace, your clan will flourish and your bloodline will remain strong,”
“Thank you. The blessings of the Imperial Highness honor my clan,” Yuuji said, the response polite, rehearsed, and given a smile he didn’t really feel.
“We look forward to seeing how such a loyal clan grows,” The Handler said, “Do not disappoint us,”
And with that said, the Imperial Handler turned and began to leave, their entourage following out on their heels, leaving behind the great wealth of war spoils behind.
Yuuji only allowed himself a sigh of relief and allowed his shoulders to sag when the Imperial Handler was out of sight and he could finally rise to his feet to take his own leave. The war was done. The final affairs concluded.
Now only the weight of the entire clan, the people who looked to his clan to keep them safe and help their lands to prosper that hung on his young shoulders. Twenty felt too young to become the head of a clan, but there was little choice. Not when so many people were dependent upon him. Yuuji closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he turned to enter into his estate, trying to carry himself with a confidence he didn’t feel yet and keep a brave, cold face when inside he was twisted up. Grief still ate at him. Fear clung to him. Uncertainty sat upon his young shoulders like a cloak of responsibility he was trying to shoulder as well as his grandfather had always done.
For now, he had to sit with his ministers and see about handling the wealth bestowed upon him and the usual boring, yet terribly stressful talks of the budget and restoration that came after a war that had dragged on for so many years. A lot of books to be balanced and rebuilding to be done.
All things Yuuji felt were in over his head, but he would approach with a smile or grim determination to learn and be somewhat competent. The endless meetings, at least, distracted him for a time. At least until the evening as he headed tiredly back to the private inner quarters of the Itadori estate.
The inner family home was a small compound within the larger one, walled away and private where the clan head, his mate, his concubines, and any pups were to be housed. A rather empty place as it had been only Yuuji left in those halls after his grandfather died. With their many rooms that spoke of great prosperity, and fertility, in the past, of Itadori lords with many concubines and pups in excesses, it now seemed far too big for just one person.
Or two people now, as Yuuji remember then the new omega that was housed within.
“I’ve done as you asked, Itadori-sama. Your new concubine has been made comfortable in his quarters, although he refuses all food and drink offered,” Yaga said, giving a stiff bow as Yuuji approached the entrance to the family compound.
Yuuji couldn’t help a wince, remembering then of what had been decided. Just a sniff of the air and the alpha could smell the acrid stench of a displeased omega mixed with that stress that seemed to infuse itself into the air like a cloud.
“Did he give reason for not eating?” Yuuji asked.
“He does not respond to anyone and holds a sullen silence save a few pointed words,” Yaga paused, letting out a sigh, “He is dangerous still Yuuji. Even a disgraced Ryoumen, stripped of their name, is a cunning viper. To keep him so close-”
“I’m not about to leave the doors wide open and invite him to sit close,” Yuuji retorted, “And what would killing me accomplish? To be passed on to the next lord who would see him a plaything for his soldiers?”
“Still, at least allow me to have guards posted,” Yaga said, dipping his head, “For mine, and the others, peace of mind,”
Yuuji pursed his lips before giving a nod, “You can post one of your strange dolls at the door. I think that will suffice and not stress Sukuna further to seek violence at least,”
“Thank you, Itadori-sama,” Yaga said with a relieved dip of his head, “I’ll put my talents to use then,”
He knew why the general worried, just as most would worry. Sukuna was the only child of their sworn enemy, the last of a clan now destroyed. A clan that was well known for a petty streak of violence towards any little slight towards them. Sukuna could very well want only vengeance against him, yet at the same time, despite all the hate, Yuuji wanted to believe that they could put this conflict behind both of them and move on. Maybe it was childish of him to think he and Sukuna could peacefully coexist and still live good lives. He had no plans to be cruel or deny Sukuna his dignity. That, in his thoughts at least, was better than the alternative of promised abuse in the court’s dungeons.
Quietly, the alpha made his way down the hallways towards the concubine quarters, set apart from where the main family was set. It was a small walk across the inner gardens, now green with summer’s heat, and Yuuji could see the light of a candle pass the sliding doors into the concubine quarters. He cleared his voice loudly before giving a simple knock against the wooden frame of the sliding door, “Uh, can I come in?”
“A lord doesn’t need permission of a simple concubine to come in,” A bitter voice retorted, “You go where you please in your own household, yes?”
“I could, but that wouldn’t be respectful of your space,”
“And if I told you to leave? That I don’t want to see your miserable face ever until I can piss on your corpse?”
Yuuji paused before sighing, “That’s fine. I’m not going to press any issues here. I just want you to be comfortable,”
There was no response, only a lingering, angry silence that had the young alpha’s instincts all worked up. He rubbed the back of his head, letting out a sigh as he glanced away, “I just...wanted to ask why you weren’t eating is all. I know none of this can’t be easy. If your stomach isn’t settled, perhaps some tea-”
“We all express our grief in our own ways, brat. Leave me to mine,” Sukuna’s voice was savage, dripping with hate and loathing that made Yuuji wince again, “I am not about to starve myself if that is what concerns you. I’ll be healthy enough for your pleasure,”
“That isn’t-”
“That isn’t what you want?” There was shuffling at the door and the sliding door was thrust open and the full wave of Sukuna’s hateful scent smashed into Yuuji’s face, making the young alpha grimace and shy away a touch, “Well then, you might want to ask your dear servants what purpose a concubine serves in your household, brat. Or do you think playing nice will help us get along? That I’ll feel better being in your household because you mock me with kindness?”
Yuuji swallowed hard, frowning as he reared himself up some with a snort, “I’m not mocking you. I’m just tired of having grown up in one conflict and rather we come to an understanding, not more bloodshed,” he retorted, “What about you?”
Sukuna glared at him, teeth bared, “If I had my will, I would continue that war until you were a bloody smear on the ground, but given the generals abandoned the family, and all our soldiers deserted at the idea of an omega leading them,” He sucked in a breath, bristling with anger, his claws digging against the sliding door, “There is little recourse left other than to suffer this indignity until I can strike or take my own life which I assure ,you, the latter is not a consideration. I would not shame my clan with such cowardice,”
“Sukuna-”
“Keep my name out of your mouth brat. To hear a damned Itadori use it without honorifics, like I’m a common thing makes me want nothing more than to rip your tongue out of your skull,” Sukuna snarled, “And make no mistake, the moment I can kill you, I will. I’ll take your clan down with mine, if that is all there is left to me,”
With that, Sukuna slammed the sliding door shut, the whole of it rattling and he could hear the angry snarls of the omega as he retreated further into the room. No doubt to some nest he had started to create to offer himself some comfort and place to brood. The smell of violence was very clear though, and for a moment, the young alpha wondered if he had signed his own death warrant taking Sukuna in.
Yuuji sighed and ran a hand through his hair. So much for sullen silence. It seemed Sukuna had very choice words for him and perhaps a bit more murderous than intended. He made a mental note that no weapons be kept near Sukuna and allow Yaga to do sweeps of the omega’s room when he was out. He now also saw why the general insisted on guards to be posted about to keep an eye on the disgraced omega.
At least until maybe Sukuna’s temper settled and he might be more open to speaking with Yuuji rather than murdering him.
If that was ever a consideration for the future.
Yuuji gave a shake of his head before heading to his own chambers and paused to look at the cute plush animals that sat about the entrance. They looked like toys, but at the drop of a dime, would suddenly attack anyone who approached. Corpse dolls is what Yaga called them. It was something the general had learned while once living in the Imperial Court before some disgrace that put him on the streets before he was taken in by the Itadori Clan. One of those with the strange magic of the Imperial Court that was said to be a divine blessing.
At least they would keep Yuuji safe. The Imperial Handler would have passed on warning if Sukuna, like his father of the same name, had inherited his strange magic.
The young alpha shook his head as he slid his bedroom door closed behind him and started to prepare himself to rest for the evening. The stench of unhappy omega lingered in the air even this far from Sukuna’s room. He wrinkled his nose, taking the time to light some incense to try rand clear the air and make a note to have Joga have some servants spread soft perfumes to deal with the scent given the source wanted no comfort as of yet.
Maybe tomorrow, after eating and resting, Sukuna’s scent wouldn’t scream of pure distress. Or maybe he would let Yuuji speak to him and he could explain his thoughts to the omega on more amicable terms.
Or maybe he was just going to have to get use to such a stench. Yuuji ran a tired hand over his face as he laid down in his bed, curling up.
That was a problem for tomorrow. For now, all he wanted to sleep.