Chapter 2
The blue light of his phone screen cast harsh shadows across Yuji's face as he scrolled through yet another social media tirade. As an actor, he'd grown accustomed to public scrutiny, even developed a philosophical stance about it – people should be free to speak their minds without fear of backlash. But lately, his patience for dealing with the constant barrage had worn paper-thin.
His schedule had been brutal this past year. Fourteen-hour days on set, promotional events that stretched into the early morning hours, and countless script readings had left him with barely enough time to breathe, let alone maintain a relationship. It came as no surprise when Mei finally reached her breaking point and walked away, though that didn't make it hurt any less.
But this – this was different. Now she was online, wielding her hurt like a weapon, spreading vicious rumors about him to her growing audience of sympathetic followers.
"I do not pick my boogers!" he shouted at his phone screen, his knuckles white against the case. His voice echoed off the walls of his empty apartment, making him feel even more pathetic. He had apologized, hadn't he? Multiple times, in fact. He'd hoped they could at least maintain a cordial relationship after the breakup, but Mei had blocked him on every platform, refusing even the possibility of a conversation.
Yuji buried his face in his pillow, letting out a long groan. The what-ifs began their familiar parade through his mind. Maybe if he'd taken more time off work... Maybe if he'd fought harder for their relationship... Maybe if he'd been less focused on his career...
The sound of footsteps in the hallway jolted him from his spiral of self-pity. For a moment, he was confused – then he remembered. Sukuna. His older brother had mysteriously reappeared after years of absence, taking up residence in their shared apartment as if he'd never left. It was bizarre seeing him again; the familiar stranger who shared his blood but felt more like a ghost than family.
Yuji propped himself up on his elbows, studying his brother's silhouette in the doorway. "Where have you been for the last few years?" The question came out softer than he'd intended, more worried than accusatory.
Sukuna's response was preceded by an irritated groan, as if the mere act of explaining himself was beneath him. "Just got into some trouble, had to disappear for a bit." The words were casual, but there was an edge to them that hinted at deeper waters.
"So you couldn't even tell me? Or send a text?" Yuji pressed, unable to keep the hurt from his voice.
"Couldn't. Had to get a new number." Sukuna turned to face him, and that's when Yuji noticed it – an angry red mark blooming across his brother's cheek.
"Did you just get slapped?" The words tumbled out before he could stop them. Sukuna's only response was a dark scowl, which was answer enough.
"Was it one of your girlfriends?" Yuji asked, trying to keep his tone light despite his shock. Someone had actually dared to hit Sukuna? The same Sukuna who had terrorized their neighborhood as teenagers?
"An ex," Sukuna replied curtly.
Yuji almost laughed. An ex? That hardly narrowed it down. His brother's romantic history was more populated than his bank account "At least one of them taught you what you deserved," he said, not bothering to sugar-coat his words. There was no point pretending – they both knew Sukuna was an asshole of the highest caliber. "Knowing you, you probably tried to sweet-talk them into dating you again."
Sukuna's frown deepened. "Aren't you clever? No, I just wanted to catch up with them, that's all," he said, rolling his eyes with theatrical annoyance.
"Right, because that's so normal for you," Yuji drawled, sarcasm dripping from every word.
"Since when were you the sarcastic type?" Sukuna raised an eyebrow, genuine surprise coloring his features.
"Lots of things change in a few years." The words hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken accusations. Not like you'd care though, Yuji thought, turning back to his phone to hide the bitterness in his expression.
"You've done well for yourself," Sukuna finally said, his gaze sweeping around Yuji's room. The space was a stark contrast to the cramped bedroom they'd shared as teenagers – designer furniture, tasteful art pieces, and a view of Tokyo's skyline that cost more than their parents' entire house. "Always knew you'd make it big, little brother."
There was something in Sukuna's tone that made Yuji's skin crawl – not quite jealousy, but something darker, more calculating. He sat up straighter, phone forgotten beside him. "Cut the small talk, Sukuna. Why are you really here?"
A smirk played at the corners of Sukuna's mouth as he pushed off the doorframe and walked into the room. He moved with the same predatory grace Yuji remembered from their childhood, like a wolf trying to pass as a house dog. "Can't a man visit his only brother?"
"After three years of radio silence?" Yuji scoffed. "Try again."
Sukuna's smirk widened as he dropped into the leather armchair by the window. The city lights cast strange shadows across his face, highlighting the fresh bruise on his cheek and the faint scar above his eyebrow that Yuji didn't remember being there before.
"I need a favor," Sukuna said finally, his voice low and serious.
Of course. Yuji felt a bitter laugh bubble up in his throat. "Some things never change, do they?"
"Hear me out—"
"No." Yuji cut him off, standing up abruptly. "I'm not your personal ATM, Sukuna. Not anymore."
"This isn't about money," Sukuna insisted, though the slight twitch in his left eye – a tell he'd had since childhood – said otherwise. "Well, not entirely."
Yuji moved to his floor-to-ceiling windows, pressing his forehead against the cool glass. Below, Tokyo pulsed with life, millions of people going about their lives, each with their own dramas and dilemmas. Sometimes he envied them their anonymity.
"Just tell me what you want," Yuji said finally, not turning around. "Stop with the dramatic build-up. You're not auditioning for one of my movies."
Sukuna chuckled, but there was no warmth in the sound. "Remember Kenjaku?"
The name sent an involuntary shiver down Yuji's spine. How could he forget? Kenjaku had been Sukuna's "business partner" back in the day, though Yuji had never been clear on exactly what kind of business they were involved in. Nothing legal, that much was certain.
"What about him?"
"He's looking for me." Sukuna's voice had lost its usual arrogant edge, replaced by something that might have been fear in anyone else. "And not in a friendly way."
Yuji finally turned from the window, studying his brother's face. The bruise on his cheek was darkening now, a stark contrast against his pale skin. "What did you do?"
"Why do you assume I did something?" Sukuna snapped, then immediately held up his hands in a placating gesture when Yuji raised an eyebrow. "Fine. I might have... borrowed some money. And some other things."
"Other things?"
"Details aren't important," Sukuna dismissed with a wave of his hand. "What matters is that I need a place to lay low for a while. Just until I can sort things out."
Yuji laughed, the sound hollow and bitter. "So that's why you're really here. Not to reconnect with your little brother, but because you need somewhere to hide."
"Don't be dramatic—"
"Dramatic?" Yuji cut him off, anger finally bleeding into his voice. "You disappeared for three years, Sukuna. Three years! No calls, no messages, nothing! I thought you were like dead in a ditch somewhere!"
"You should know I'm harder to kill than that," Sukuna smirked, but the expression faltered when he saw the rage building in Yuji's face.
"This isn't a joke!"
"I didn't have a choice," Sukuna said finally, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. "Kenjaku... he's not the kind of person you can just walk away from."
"And yet here you are, having clearly tried to do exactly that." Yuji ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every movement.
"What happened to your face anyway? Really an ex?"
A dark look crossed Sukuna's features. "Yeah. Ran into them at that coffee shop downtown."
"Shocking," Yuji muttered. "Here's a crazy thought – maybe if you stopped treating people like disposable toys, they wouldn't want to slap you."
"You don't understand—"
"No, I really don't." Yuji walked to his dresser, pulling out a fresh t-shirt. He needed to get out of here, needed to clear his head. "And I don't want to. You can stay here tonight, but tomorrow you need to figure something else out."
"Yuji—"
"One night, Sukuna." He pulled the shirt over his head, grabbed his keys from the bedside table.
"That's all you get."