Jujutsu Kaisen: The Sorceress of Control

Tengen looked intently at Makima, evaluating her with a gaze that mixed curiosity and caution. Then, he sighed as if resigning himself to an inevitable decision.

"You lost to it," he said in a resigned tone, though he seemed to measure each word with precision. "That's why I'm offering you a deal. I'll give you something of interest, and you'll join our side."

Makima, sitting with her elbow resting on the arm of the chair and her chin on the palm of her hand, raised an eyebrow with disinterest. It was as if she wasn't impressed at all with the offer.

"And if I refuse?" she finally replied, her tone light but filled with defiance, as if the situation was not at all concerning.

Tengen smiled softly, as if he had already anticipated that response. He knew it wouldn't be easy to negotiate with someone like her.

"Good luck getting out of here then. Only I can open the seal of this room."

Makima observed him for a moment, her smile growing wider, but inside, she knew she was in a delicate situation. Things had gone as she predicted up to a point, but now the scenario was becoming more uncomfortable. However, that discomfort didn't mean she couldn't take advantage of it. She knew that if she refused, sooner or later, they would force her to accept. She still wasn't strong enough to face someone like Gojo directly. Nevertheless, if she played her cards right, this agreement could bring her closer to her goal.

"What do you want?" she finally asked, tilting her head slightly as she watched him attentively, her expression unperturbed.

Tengen took a deep breath before responding. "Explain to me how your technique works. No one but me, one other person, and those you choose will know it."

Makima slightly furrowed her brow, though more out of curiosity than annoyance, and rested her chin on the palm of her hand. It was clear the proposal piqued her interest.

"And who is that other person?" she inquired, her tone a mix of curiosity and caution, but in her mind, she was already beginning to strategize. If she played it well, this exchange could give her a considerable strategic advantage.

Tengen responded without hesitation. "It will be someone I choose to tell."

Makima's smile widened, though the mocking undertone was unmistakable.

"And what do I gain?" she replied, her tone shifting, showing a strange amusement at the situation. She knew that even within this sealed room, she still had room to maneuver. Meanwhile, outside the barrier, Rika moved restlessly, frowning and unable to hide her worried expression.

"Don't worry too much, girl," Gojo said, laughing softly as he noticed Rika's anxiety. "He won't eat her... at least, not anymore."

Rika stared at him distrustfully. It wasn't the first time she'd seen the man with dark glasses, and although his presence felt familiar, something about him still caused her lingering discomfort.

"Do you know what that... thing wants from her?" Rika asked, referring to Tengen, her concern evident in every word.

Gojo let out a laugh. "Yes and no. I know why he brought her here, but I have no idea why he wants to talk only to her."

That didn't calm Rika. In fact, it only made her feel more uneasy.

Inside the room, the tension remained high, though the conversation between Makima and Tengen was more intellectual than emotional. Makima kept her smile, becoming more sinister with every word she spoke.

"It's impossible, it's too much..." Tengen murmured, feeling the weight of the proposal. It wasn't just the magnitude of the deal, but what it would imply for the future.

"If it's not possible, prepare tea. We have at least 60 years together," Makima said, her tone playful but with a gaze that reflected pure coldness. She knew he was on the verge of accepting, and her power would guarantee it.

Tengen swallowed, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation. She couldn't be serious.

"Only those within the seal?" he asked, seeking some glimmer of hope not to give in completely.

Makima corrected him immediately, making it clear there was no room for misinterpretation. "The main seal."

Every word she spoke was carefully measured, aware that her technique, Cursed Domination, analyzed every detail of the contract. She knew her technique was recording every word in both their souls, as if signing an eternal pact.

"With that, you'll be completely on the side of the sorcerers?" Tengen insisted, trying to ensure there were no hidden traps, though he already doubted his own ability to handle the situation.

Makima held his gaze intensely. "As long as they don't attack me or mine. If they do, I have the right to attack them."

Tengen brought his finger to his mouth, biting it in frustration. What she was asking was too much, but after how she had explained it, he couldn't deny the magnitude of her technique. Cursed Domination was practically one of the most powerful techniques, perhaps only surpassed by Gojo's Limitless.

Finally, he sighed, clicking his tongue. He slowly stood up and offered his hand. He knew that, though he felt like he was making a pact with the devil himself, this devil was better to have on his side.

Makima also stood up. "Is it a deal?" she asked, as she shook Tengen's hand.

He nodded, though part of him felt like he was making a grave mistake. But it was more beneficial than having her as an enemy. Especially knowing what she could be capable of if she decided to turn against them.

"It's a deal," Tengen confirmed solemnly.

Makima's smile deepened, becoming even more unsettling, a smile that left Tengen feeling as though the room's temperature had dropped suddenly. This girl seemed more like a curse than a human. However, he knew that all sorcerers were somewhat unstable, some more than others. And she seemed to be at the top of that madness.

"In three days, they will come to fetch you. Decide which institute you want to go to, Kyoto or Tokyo."

Makima brought a finger to her chin, thoughtful, as if considering a trivial decision. "Hmm, which one should I go to...?"

The tension in the room slowly dissipated, but the aura of danger remained. Both knew the deal had been sealed, but the real game was just beginning.