Disclaimer : I own nothing, it's all Yun Kouga's work.

A/N : Thank you all for reading and thank you Blaqk Electric for pointing out that an elder brother is called oni-chan. I've corrected it.

Chapter 4 : Confronting one's brother

More than a month had gone by before the brothers met again. Ritsuka felt both nervous and happy about it. No matter what, Seimei was family. His brother's embrace was warm and soft and sweet-smelling. Just as it used to be. He almost sighed in contentment. How he wished to have oni-chan back.

"How are you, Ritsuka? It is so good to see you."

"I'm happy to see you too, Seimei." he answered, taking a step back to look at him. He was so tall, so imposing. But for him, Seimei would always be his caring champion.

"So. Did you come to join me at last? I'm glad you thought this over."

The teen frowned.

"I'm sorry, Seimei, I'm not. I stand by my words. I will not be bound to you by words. I make my own choices and I follow the path I've decided upon. It's bad enough I've been given a name I can't change."

"Please Ritsuka. Open your mind. The world has been made for the two of us. I don't care about your true name. I love you as you are. The others are just — there. They don't matter. Only you are important and I love you so much. Don't you love me, Ritsuka?" he cajoled, a hint of spell barely noticeable.

"Of course I do." He took a step towards his brother then seemed to think better of it and stopped. "I love you oni-chan and I miss you. But this part of you? The one who doesn't care, who is mean and cruel? I— can't. I can forgive you for leaving me alone, for faking your death, for mom who is mad with grief. I can forgive your absence and I can even forgive what you did to Minami-sensei. But I can't condone it. I cannot accept this violent part of you. I know how it feels to be on the other side. I can't do it. I can't forget it. I can't look at you and not see it. I'm sorry brother because I love you so. But you're in the wrong. You can't hurt people without a care and get away with it."

"You are so cute, Ritsuka. So young and innocent."" He petted the teen's cat ears and knelt before him, to be at eye-level. His aura hadn't diminished in the slightest. "Who cares if you kick a dog? It certainly deserves it." He paused and looked briefly towards his fighters. "Are you familiar with butterflies?" he asked, turning his attention back to him.

Ritsuka screwed up his eyes. He had a sick feeling about this conversation.

"Soubi hates them so much. Do you know why, little brother?"

"What is your point exactly, Seimei?" he answered back, taking a step back and increasing the distance between them. His ears hurt and he was keenly aware his brother was trying to manipulate him. He didn't like it much.

"Those 'people' you care so much about are mere bugs in the grand scheme of things. There are only two important persons and that's us. As long as we are together and united, no harm will come to us."

"You don't understand Seimei. I like these people. I don't want to live in such a world. I will not accept a world revolving only around us." He saw Seimei's eyes darken and felt the pressure increase. "And will you please stop this pressure thing? I know your words are tempting only because you're not playing fair. I do not appreciate that you're using your powers on me to sway my mind."

"You did your homework, Ritsuka-kun, didn't you ?" he chuckled darkly. "Tell me, why are you here?"

"I would think it's obvious. I'm not leaving without Soubi."

"Did he take such good care of you? Well, there's at least one thing for which he hadn't been disappointing."

"Oni-chan, I want him to come back with me."

"What for, Ritsuka? I'll buy you a puppy if you want a pet. I'm not sure Mother will love it but, hey, what wouldn't I do for you?"

"That was uncalled for, Seimei." Ritsuka clenched his teeth. He didn't dare a look at Soubi. How could his brother be so demeaning ? No wonder Soubi was so subservient.

"You're so sweet when you're angry. Stay with me and I'll let you borrow him. Hm, what do you say?"

"No."

"Then don't whine and go home. You know I will not harm you."

"Is that so? You lied to me. You abandoned me. You left me alone with mom. You set someone on fire on my chair in my school. You tried to bind me with a spell. Twice. And you took Soubi away from me. Do you have any idea how much pain you've caused me. Hm?"

"So. That wasn't about him after all. That would have been distasteful."

"Oh, but it is." Ritsuka snarled. Saying it aloud had fuelled up his anger and he was now gone on a rampage. "You're very mistaken Seimei. It definitely is about Soubi. Because I can forgive what you did to me. I can forgive what you did to strangers, however sick it made me feel. But I can't and I won't forgive what you did to him."

"Oh, really? And pray tell, why not?" he answered, unconcerned with his brother's anger.

"Because Soubi is MINE."

Seimei laughed, as clear as cristal. He truly found it amusing. Ritsuka tensed. Was his brother not going to give him any credit or to take him seriously ?

"You're adorable! This is—really—Ritsuka, this is so naive! I will never abandon him because, as pathetic as he is, he is still the perfect Fighter for me. To this day, Beloved remains undefeated. Why would I let him go?"

"You have your true Fighter. I've been asking questions. You cannot have two Sentouki."

"What's done is done. His name is Beloved and can't be changed. That makes him mine. He follows my orders. You can rant all you want, that is an absolute fact."

"You aren't listening." Ritsuka shook his head slowly. "I know your word is law for him. I'm not saying he isn't following your command. I've seen your artwork with my own eyes, thank you very much." he added, lip curled in distaste. "But obeying is not belonging."

"You don't understand any of this, Ritsuka. Don't talk about what you don't know. You're young, untrained and without a fighter. What makes you believe you know better than I? I sent Soubi to protect you, for you not to feel lonely. I've never once considered leaving him behind. Because he's such a good, docile Fighter."

"No Seimei. You really abandoned him, because you didn't let him know of your plans. This one there," Ritsuka said, pointing accusingly towards Akame Nisei "he did know. Tell me. How can you be Beloved if your Fighter fears and despises you? Your relation with Soubi is so corrupted."

"This is stupid, little brother. Love is about control. Feelings and opinions of the Fighter don't matter. I've no need to take them into account. They just have to submit to me."

"I see them now, Seimei. The strings. The chains. I've watched Zero. And Moonless. Bloodless. Fearless. Faceless. Sleepless. Breathless. I've watched them all. And I've listened. I've paid attention. I've noticed. The name is law. But the choice is still there. The possibility to disagree. To voice your opinion."

"It's pointless and ridiculous. They have all lost. Have you seen me defeated, Ritsuka? That's because my Fighter obeys. He doesn't question me. He doesn't disagree. A fighting team is a losing team."

"Yes, that is true." he admitted. "They are weaker in a spell battle. Still. I want Soubi back."

"That is the end of the discussion, Ritsuka."

"No. You misunderstood me. I've not made myself clear enough. You stole my Fighter, carved him like cattle, hurt him, mistreated him and broke him to remodel him into a submissive pawn to use and dispose of as you wish. But he has always been mine and you had no right to do so." He spoke softly but the determination in his voice was unmistakable.

"What are you talking about?" Seimei asked, obviously peeved.

"He had no name, so you claimed him yours, as a blank fighter. I'm saying he wasn't. I'm saying he is and has always been Loveless. I'm saying he is mine because we're connected. I'm saying I'm claiming him as my Fighter. Because I can call him. Because I see where my string leads to. Because my name has appeared." He paused to study his brother's face. He was going to need all the strength he possessed. "This is his choice now, Seimei. Because a Sacrifice can't have two Fighters and a Sentouki can't have two masters."

He turned towards Soubi suddenly and held his gaze without flinching. So tall, so white. He had to get him back now or he would lose him forever. He couldn't let Seimei win, he couldn't give out. He had to be strong for them both. Words had been thrown but the real fight was about to begin and Soubi wouldn't escape unscathed. Seimei would never let him go willingly and he sincerely hoped his presence would lend his Fighter enough courage and force to break his bond with Seimei. His chain was so thick... He looked at it with disdain, hoping to see it shatter and clatter to the ground.

"Will you chose Beloved or Loveless, Soubi? What is your name?" he asked, very intent on the man. He stood there, unmoving, pretending he wasn't the least bothered by his brother's increasing aura. Any show of fear or weakness would lose him the fight. That was not acceptable. He didn't notice the Zero team stagger nor Akame Nisei as he grit his teeth. He didn't acknowledge his brother's power and energy. His Fighter wasn't moving. He seemed rooted there, looking as if any flutter would break him. So he concentrated fully on him. He felt Seimei's aggravation by Soubi's absence of response. It became physically painful and Seimei's command to him felt like a violent blow to all of them.

"Obey!" he snapped. He yanked so hard on the Fighter's chain that the blond keeled over. Still, he didn't budge.

"Soubi," the teen interjected calmly. "You will only get to choose once. You have to move now. Choose," he ordered firmly. "I've claimed you, you can come to me."

"Ritsuka," he whispered. "I recognize you as my master," he gasped out, clearly suffering. Finally, he moved on, slowly closing the gap between them, taking and enduring each and every painful step, all the way to him. His shirt was soaked red when he finally reached him. The pressure dissipated.

"Brother, this matter is not over." Seimei hissed. "I assure you, we will meet again."

"I can't forget what you did but — Oni-chan — I love you." Ritsuka replied, his heart breaking as he took in the blatant rift between them.