A curse in human flesh

Chapter 2

The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the Xiao Long residence as the little voice of Yang, now a vivacious five-year-old, rang out, filling the air with an infectious energy. Sukuna, now a ten-year-old with the weight of ancient knowledge in his eyes, turned his attention to the source of the exuberant call.

"Big bro!" Yang's voice echoed through the house, the innocence of childhood bubbling in every syllable. The five years that had passed since her arrival marked a transformative period, and now, as Sukuna regarded her, Yang stood as a testament to the resilience of familial bonds.

Sukuna, nonchalant and detached, responded to her call with a question steeped in boredom. "What is it, brat?" The word, a nickname that had become a part of their dynamic, drew a pout from Yang—a defiance that spoke of a spirited determination.

"I-I'm not a brat! I'm Yang!" she declared, her little fists balled in protest. Sukuna, unperturbed by the indignant response, rolled his eyes with an air of boredom.

"Okay, but you're younger than me and smaller, brat." Sukuna's words, though delivered with a matter-of-fact tone, seemed to intensify Yang's resolve.

"You're a big meanie!" Yang retorted, her pout evolving into an expression of mock offense. Sukuna, seemingly unfazed by the exchange, maintained his stoic demeanor.

"And I generally don't care. So what is it that you want?" Sukuna's question, laced with a detached curiosity, invited Yang to share the purpose of her enthusiastic call.

Yang, undeterred by her brother's nonchalant attitude, shifted her weight from one foot to the other, a bundle of uncontainable energy. "I wanted to show you something!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of a child eager to share a newfound discovery.

Sukuna, though maintaining an air of disinterest, raised an eyebrow. "Show me what?" he inquired, his tone betraying a subtle curiosity that lingered beneath the surface.

Yang, her enthusiasm undiminished, reached into the pocket of her little overalls and pulled out a colorful pebble. "Look! I found the prettiest rock outside! Isn't it cool?" she gushed, presenting the modest treasure with a sense of pride that only a child could muster.

Sukuna, despite his stoic exterior, couldn't help but feel a subtle warmth at the simplicity of Yang's gesture. The pebble, though ordinary, became a symbol of the genuine affection that began to intertwine their sibling dynamic.

"Hmm, it's just a rock," Sukuna commented, his monotone response contrasting with the vibrant excitement emanating from Yang.

"But it's my favorite rock!" Yang declared, a determination in her voice that spoke of an unwavering attachment to the newfound treasure. Sukuna, recognizing the significance of the moment, couldn't help but relent.

"Fine, it's your favorite rock. Now, what else do you want?" Sukuna's question, though seemingly indifferent, carried a subtle invitation for Yang to share more of her world.

Yang, undeterred by Sukuna's stoicism, grinned with infectious joy. "I want you to play with me, big bro! We can build a tower with my favorite rock!" Her eyes, wide with anticipation, held a hope that Sukuna, despite his detached demeanor, found himself unable to resist.

Sukuna, with a sigh that carried a hint of reluctant amusement, acquiesced. "Fine, let's build your tower. But just this once." As the two siblings ventured into the simple joy of play, the living room became a canvas upon which the dynamics of their evolving relationship unfolded—a tableau of sibling bonds shaped by the resilience of familial ties and the innocence of childhood.

The vibrant sunlight bathed the outdoor landscape as Sukuna, the ancient force within a twelve-year-old form, observed his half-sister Yang collecting rocks with the unbridled enthusiasm of childhood. The world of Remnant, remade as it was, held echoes of the past—a past where creatures known as Grimm mirrored the curses Sukuna had once encountered.