Kio's House
"Thank you so much for letting me stay, Kio. I'm sorry I bothered you this late."
"It's okay. I know Soubi can be difficult.. I will get better."
"I hope you're right.."
"I can't believe it... Seimei's really alive..."
"I'm so scared. I don't know how to feel about it all."
"Oh Ritsuka..." Kio held him close. "It's understandable to be confused. Would you like some tea to make you feel better?"
"No, thank you."
"What's got you so upset, Ritsuka?"
"Yeah, stop pouting and spill it. You have Natsuo worried over here."
"Youji! You agreed we'd be sensitive!"
Ritsuka sighed heavily and rose from his seat.
Should I tell them?
Would they even understand?
Maybe they will be able to help me..
"Look what you did Youji! You stressed him out! Now he will never tell us... Oh I hope he's okay. Poor Ritsuka!"
"Poor Ritsuka... Is that all you worry about? He probably just had a fight with Soubi."
Is it really that obvious?
"You're right. Soubi and I haven't been getting along too well..."
Youji's mouth dropped open as he stared into Natsuo's shocked eyes.
Okay.. Maybe not that obvious.
"What happened Ritsuka?! Come on, tell us. We're here for you!"
"Get off of him Natsuo!"
"If you two weren't arguing, I might be telling you right now."
That shut them up.
"Soubi isn't mine... He's Seimei's. Every word he says... Every breath he takes... Seimei is aways there pulling the strings. Even before we realised Seimei was still alive, there were certain rules in place that prevented Soubi from truly belonging to me.."
"Unfortunate, but that's just how it is. I mean, Seimei's name is carved into Soubi. There's no erasing that." Youji shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing you can do."
"Wait a second Youji..." Natsuo leaned forward. "Those two may be bound together by name, but Soubi has already proved that the name doesn't even matter. He has fought for you.. Fought against his name. Soubi is a remarkable person."
"He only fought for me because Seimei ordered him to. He didn't go against his name.. He did as he was told. If not for that, Soubi wouldn't even spit in my direction."
"Soubi would give his life for you! Order or no order."
"I have no control over him! It seems like no matter what I do, he won't listen. He told me.. All I had to do was order him and he would do it. I never liked people who allowed themselves to be used... But it was all just a lie. A false sense of power. It was always 'I'm sorry Ritsuka. I can't.." What if Seimei orders him to kill me? Nothing would stop him from obeying that order. I could demand him to stop, but my words are useless against him."
The world would surely come to an end the day Youji ran out of words to say, yet there he was... Speechless.
"Ritsu-sensei..." Natsuo muttered almost inaudibly.
"What?" Youji looked to him, eyes questioning.
"Ritsu-sensei... You mean Soubi's old teacher?" Ritsuka couldn't contain the disgust in his voice.
"Ritsu knows Soubi better than any of us do... Probably even better than Seimei. If Ritsuka talks to Ritsu... If he tells him it's urgent and that it concerns Soubi... Surely he might be able to help."
"I can take you there."
Kio's voice filled the room, shocking everyone.
"How long have you been there?!" Youji shouted furiously. "You nearly gave us a heart attack!"
"Long enough. Ritsuka, I will take you."
"Who even said I was going? I appreciate the offer, and I understand where you are coming from Natsuo, but I don't want that man's help."
"Ritsuka." Kio's voice was firmer than he had ever head it before. "I've said it before and I'll say it again.. Seimei is a terrible person and he is planning something evil. I don't know what, but he had to have a reason for making everyone think he was dead. For manipulating you. If there is any hope for Soubi, it's you. You can't ever give up on him. The day you give up is the day you give Seimei the freedom to do with Soubi as he pleases."
"He never stopped controlling Soubi... I'm just and obstacle."
"Don't you dare tell me you don't play a role in this! Seimei isn't as powerful as he was before and I believe you can break Soubi from him completely."
"But how?"
"I don't have the answers. I don't know if anyone has the answers you seek, but if someone does, it will be Ritsu. You don't have a choice in the matter. I am taking you tomorrow and you are talking to this man. I won't let you give up. I won't let you lose Soubi and I definitely won't let Seimei be the death of you. I hated you, too, at first. I couldn't deal with the thought of Soubi being controlled by another Aoyagi... But you are everything he needs. You are his life. I couldn't handle losing either of you."
Kio left the room in an emotional rush, leaving Ritsuka to gather his thoughts.
This feeling..
I feel empowered.
Kio's words.. He couldn't handle losing me?
I never thought there would be a day when I would be loved so much and by so many.
I understand now. I must fight. I must win.
"Where does Ritsu live?" There was a new energy in Ritsuka's voice.
"Natsuo and I will go with you and Kio. We will lead you to his workplace. Nagisa-sensei took us there a few times."
"Thanks... But once we get there, I need everyone to stay outside. I must do this on my own..."
"Ritsu- sensei, we need to talk."
"I have no interest in speaking with you."
"It's about Soubi."
Ritsu stopped his work and finally looked up at Ritsuka.
"Shut the door."
"Seimei is alive and I fear for both Soubi and myself. I need you to teach me how to control Soubi."