IGNITE | Sukuna

Chapter 5: Veil of Visions

As his eyes gradually adjusted to the familiar chamber, he yawned and attempted to rise from the bed. However, something caught in his long hair. On the bed beside him, a man with soft pink hair that gleamed in the early morning light had his fingers entwined in his hair, as if playing with it. His brown eyes watched him intently.

"I should leave before anyone notices, Your Highness," he said.

The crown prince tugged him closer by his hair. "You still haven't told me who the intruder was, Kenjaku." His grip tightened.

Kenjaku closed his eyes in pain and whispered, "Don't you trust me?" He rested his hand on the prince's bare chest and opened his eyes to meet his gaze.

The crown prince traced a finger across Kenjaku’s lips, smiling softly before abruptly slapping him. Kenjaku laughed.

"I know Sukuna swapped the boar to humiliate me in front of the court. Feeding the King old meat is a crime, and that bastard knows it," The crown prince muttered, almost to himself.

Kenjaku ran his hands over the prince’s chest before straddling his lap. The crown prince grabbed his waist and looked up at him before Kenjaku leaned down to kiss him softly.

"The King will never be humiliated by you, Satsuki. You are the future king."

He slapped him again, this time hard enough to knock him off the bed.

"How many times have I told you not to call me by my given name?"

"So fiery," Kenjaku remarked as he dressed and retrieved his walking stick. "Shall I return tonight?" he asked, heading for the door.

"No, I have a mission tonight," the prince replied, searching for his robe.

Kenjaku smirked. A mission, huh. Interesting.
"Well then, good luck, Your Highness." He bowed before leaving the chamber.

He sighed, running a finger over the spot where the prince had slapped him. For years, he had shared a complicated relationship with the crown prince. Complicated because he couldn’t name this feeling. Complicated because part of him was doing it for the organization. Complicated because it was Sukuna’s brother.

As he walked slowly, his walking stick tapping softly on the floor, he remembered how the crown prince had dismissed the guards, not wanting anyone to witness their encounter. Of course, it would be embarrassing if people knew the crown prince was sleeping with a man, a cripple, a man without title. Kenjaku smiled. At least he was part of something the crown prince feared to reveal to the world. And fear was power.

Finally passing through the inner royal chambers, he reached the garden, where the morning prayers had already begun in the prayer chamber. He needed to return to the clan compound before anyone grew suspicious of him. Subuhi’s escape must have already caused disruption in the clan. They were probably searching for her by now. Kenjaku was pondering what to say to the clan leader when familiar footsteps interrupted his thoughts.

"Kenjaku," her soft voice lit up the garden, her white, shining hair giving her an ethereal appearance, like an angel descended from heaven.

"Tengen-sama," he bowed, "I didn’t expect to see you so early."

"Prayers," she replied, avoiding eye contact. "Did you come to see Ryo?"

"Yes, but it seems Sukuna was elsewhere." He lied, as he often did.

Kenjaku studied the small woman before him. She was always a fascinating sight. No one could guess she was 150 years old. Blessed with the technique of immortality, Tengen had been a mere village woman before her aging was halted. People in her village had called her a witch. Years ago, when they were children, Sukuna had saved Tengen and brought her to the Royal Palace, where the King immediately recognized her for her technique. Now, she was the King’s concubine.