DISCLAIMER: I don't own Loveless. If I did, Ritsuka wouldn't have his ears. *conveniently ignores the fact that he's only 12*
A/N: This chapter is set between manga chapters 60-63, and is pretty much in Soubi's pov, quoting conversation between Seimei and Soubi while hinting on what Ritsuka says. If you've read the manga you know what Ritsuka's conversation is about, but I give enough information for those who haven't read it to understand the basics, since what I really want is what's going on with Soubi, not Ritsuka.
"Seimei's word is absolute." This isn't going to end well.
"Don't submit to his will like that!"
You say that like I have a choice. We all know that I must follow Seimei's orders above everyone else's. I can't even obey Ritsuka if it conflicts with Seimei's previous orders. Soubi left his thoughts long enough for an oh shit, Seimei is putting Ritsuka under a spell!
"Ritsuka, don't answer to him!" Soubi watched the exchange between Ritsuka and Seimei, and listened as Seimei kept trying to twist Ritsuka's words to make him sound like the bad guy. And, it Ritsuka's mind, it seemed to be working. That just won't do. "Seimei, please don't make Ritsuka suffer."
Seimei decided it was time to do something about Soubi. "Shut up."
"Don't make Ritsuka afraid."
"Ritsuka isn't afraid of me, like he is of you! I told you to shut up, yet you're ready to speak again. I won't forgive you for that." Seimei briefly wondered why Soubi didn't stop talking the first time, then decided it didn't matter. As long as he obeyed direct orders.
"Ritsuka, don't believe anything Seimei says."
"Be quiet!"
"Ritsuka has a mind of his own, and is old enough to use it."
Seimei hit the window behind him. "Okay then. I'll make him think on his own. You, you know, I thought about bringing you with me. Not anymore. This is where you can stay. Branded as a traitor. Do me a favor and break this window. I'm afraid I'm not quite strong enough to do it myself. I'm thinking now is the best time to take my leave. Still, at this moment, you are my fighter!"
Sometimes Soubi hates being right. Right now, it was definite that this encounter will not end well. And it's going to be his fault. He wasn't strong enough to disobey Seimei, and because of that he got away. "Please forgive me."
Soubi didn't care what happened after that. He just wanted to sulk – and perhaps die – in silence, away from everyone. If he said nothing but 'no', maybe they'd get the hint. Of course not, because Ritsuka is just too stubborn for his own good.
Ritsuka insisted that he wasn't a traitor, that he had no choice and was not to blame. In fact, nobody blames Soubi, except for Soubi himself. He wanted to run away and never see Seimei again, because he knew he would never disobey him. After all, Seimei had said so himself, and Seimei's word is absolute.
No matter how much Soubi wished otherwise.
This story is going to have a lot of psychological stuff in it. Really, you can't expect Soubi go from being abused to being taken care of and not have a few mental issues. The exact reasoning will be explained in a different chapter.