Sadness is very heavy.
"Soubi?"
"Yes."
"Were you… Seimi… Were you going to make him lose his ears?"
"…Aa."
"He was old enough when…"
"He didn't want to, yet."
Ritsuka remained silent, his ears unconsciously twitching and responding to Soubi's petting hand. His tail danced around.
"There are many things Seimi didn't want - some of them were even necessary, but he was my sacrifice and I…"
"Did you love Seimi?"
"…Aa."
"Is that why you love me? Because I remind you of him?"
Soubi remained silent.
Ritsuka's ears hid in his hair and his tail stilled on his hip as his knees came up and his arms curled around them. His brows frowned as warm sadness engulfed him. Heaviness kept him pinned in his position, and that was how he fell asleep and woke up the next morning. Detached. Sad. And heavy.