Takes And Heartaches | Sukuna x Reader |

Chapter 10

The set for the next scene was a secluded, quiet location nestled deep within the sprawling film studio grounds. It was meant to be an intimate setting for a pivotal conversation between Elara and Darian, but for Y/N and Sukuna, it became a battleground for old grievances and unresolved emotions.

The scene required a serene, almost idyllic backdrop: a small, tranquil garden with blooming flowers and a gently babbling brook. The peaceful setting was a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing between Y/N and Sukuna, and it wasn't long before the simmering tension between them boiled over.

Y/N arrived at the location early, her mood clouded by the mounting frustration of their recent interactions. The quiet of the garden was a temporary escape from the chaos of the set, but it did little to soothe the agitation she felt. She paced the area, her thoughts a tangled mess of anger and regret.

Sukuna arrived shortly afterward, his expression as grim as ever. He exchanged a curt nod with Y/N before taking a seat on a nearby stone bench. The serene surroundings seemed to do little to ease the tension between them.

"Let's get this over with," Sukuna said, his voice clipped. "We don't have all day."

Y/N took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Fine. Let's get it over with."

As they began rehearsing their lines, it was clear that their performances were lacklustre, marred by the underlying tension. Their interactions were stilted, and the emotional depth of the scene was lost amidst their personal struggles.

"Cut!" Takashi's voice rang out, interrupting their rehearsal. "What's going on with you two? This scene needs to be tender and heartfelt, but it feels forced and disconnected."

Y/N shot Sukuna a frustrated glance. "Maybe if someone wasn't so intent on making everything a competition, we could actually get this right."

Sukuna's eyes narrowed, and he stood up abruptly. "Oh, don't start with me. I'm not the one dragging this down."

Y/N's patience snapped. "You know what? Let's just talk about it. All this hostility—there has to be a reason for it. We're not getting anywhere like this."

Sukuna hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Fine. Let's talk."

They walked away from the set, finding a quiet spot further down the garden path. The sounds of the film set faded into the background, leaving only the distant murmur of the brook and the rustle of leaves. It was a calm environment, but the air between them was charged with tension.

Y/N leaned against a tree, crossing her arms. "This is ridiculous. We're here, trying to work together, and it's like we're stuck in some kind of twisted rivalry. Why did things turn out like this?"

Sukuna's expression was a mix of anger and frustration. "You really want to know? Maybe it's because we never talked about what happened. We just let everything fester."

Y/N's eyes flashed with hurt. "You're right. We didn't talk. You broke up with me without giving me a reason. I was left in the dark, and I had to pick up the pieces on my own."

Sukuna's jaw tightened. "And you think it was easy for me? I had my reasons—reasons you never cared to understand. It wasn't just about you and me. There were other things going on that you never saw."

Y/N's voice wavered as she responded. "Perhaps if you'd tried to explain instead of shutting me out, we could have worked through it. But you just left, and it felt like everything we had meant nothing."

Sukuna's frustration was palpable. "It wasn't about it meaning nothing. It was about me needing to figure things out on my own. I was overwhelmed, and I didn't know how to handle it. So I made the decision to walk away. It was a mistake, but it was what I thought I needed at the time."

Y/N's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I was devastated. I thought we had a future together, and then it was gone. You didn't just break up with me; you shattered everything I believed in."

Sukuna's expression softened, but his frustration remained. "I never meant to hurt you. But I was struggling, and I couldn't handle the pressure. It felt like everything was falling apart, and I didn't know how to ask for help. I thought leaving was the only way to protect myself."

The conversation revealed deep-seated wounds that had been buried for too long. Both Y/N and Sukuna were grappling with their own pain and regret, and the candid discussion was forcing them to confront their emotional scars.

Y/N's voice was barely above a whisper as she continued. "I wanted to understand. I wanted to be there for you, but you pushed me away. It's hard to move on when you're left with so many unanswered questions."

Sukuna looked away, his gaze fixed on the brook. "I know. I should have been more open. But it's hard to admit when you're wrong, especially when you're trying to protect yourself from getting hurt even more."

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with the weight of their shared pain. The garden's tranquillity contrasted sharply with the emotional turmoil unfolding between them.

Y/N took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "I don't know if we can ever fully repair what was broken. But maybe we can at least understand each other better. Maybe we can start to move forward."

Sukuna's gaze met hers, his expression conflicted. "I don't know either. But I'm willing to try. We can't keep letting this rivalry control us. It's tearing us apart."

The conversation marked a turning point in their relationship, as they began to acknowledge their past and the role it had played in shaping their current dynamic. The raw honesty between them was a departure from their usual contentious interactions, and it provided a glimpse of a possible path toward reconciliation.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the garden, Y/N and Sukuna sat in contemplative silence. The shadows lengthened, and the peaceful setting provided a stark contrast to the emotional intensity of their discussion.

For the first time in a long while, they were faced with the reality of their shared history and the impact it had on their present. The journey ahead was uncertain, but the candid conversation had opened a door to healing and understanding.

As they prepared to return to the set, the air between them felt lighter, though the road to resolution was still long and fraught with challenges. The garden, once a backdrop for their confrontation, now seemed to symbolize the possibility of finding common ground and moving beyond their past grievances.

Y/N and Sukuna walked back to the set, their steps slower and more deliberate. The evening had brought them face to face with their emotional scars, but it had also provided a glimmer of hope that they could begin to mend what had been broken. The path to reconciliation was fraught with obstacles, but for the first time, they felt a tentative sense of optimism about their journey ahead.