Author's note: Yes, I know it's been a thousand years; I went back to school, so RL ate me. Still write fanfic though, when I have time, so keep the faith.

As he followed the trail out of the city and into the forest, Soubi suddenly realized that he knew exactly where he was going. It hit him like a sharp slap in the face. That house in the woods. The Aoyagi residence. What if it really was Seimei at the hospital…?

Before the Aoyagi family was torn apart by the intrusion of Septimal Moon, they had lived in a small house in the woods outside of the city. Soubi knew about it because he had followed Seimei home a number of times, though for the most part Seimei had sought to keep his family life private. As far as Soubi could tell, they had been a relatively normal household, on the outside, anyway. All too soon, however, dormant seeds of unease and disquiet bloomed into dark flowers of strife and discord, and the once-happy family was dissolved into a sea of dysfunction, never to be whole again.

Despite the dire circumstances, Soubi smiled to himself. That house also happened to be the place where he had seen Ritsuka for the very first time. A second dark-haired child, shorter than Seimei by half, had been sitting quietly in the fenced backyard by himself. His cat-eared head was bent forward in concentration, pine needles carefully sifting through small hands. Bringing a handful close to his face, he inhaled their pungent scent, letting them fall slowly into his lap. Soubi watched him in fascination, desiring to come closer, but fearing Seimei's wrath should he find him there. Suddenly, the pensive boy lifted his head, and deep violet eyes met his. Soubi froze, knowing that he should break away immediately, but there was something about those fathomless dark eyes that held him there, motionless. A noise from the house caused the boy to look away - Seimei returning, no doubt. Soubi took advantage of the opportunity and disappeared into the woods. He had never forgotten that moment, however, and when Ritsuka had looked up at him with those same dark eyes on that first day after school, Soubi had felt for once in his life as if fortune were smiling upon him.

And so it began. Recalling that moment gave him the strength he needed to continue on, as stinging drops of rain began to pelt his face. He knew the house was not far from here, not far at all. That house. Seimei. Could it be…?

He approached the dwelling cautiously as it loomed, white and ominous looking, in the distance. Despite his urgency, he was uncertain. What would he find inside? Where was Ritsuka, exactly? For a split second he regretted his rash departure and wished he had elicited the help of his companions, but that was foolishness. What did they know of the delicacy of this situation? No, Soubi had to handle this on his own. He alone could protect Ritsuka, and there was nothing he could do but face whatever it was that awaited him inside that house. He took a deep breath and steeled himself, moving around towards the back door, trying to pinpoint Ritsuka's location.

A sound startled him: the flick of a lighter, the aromatic smell of tobacco. Standing under the overhang of the back door casually smoking a cigarette was the last person on Earth he was expecting to see: his former teacher. Ritsu-sensei…! What the hell is going on here…?

"You're late, Soubi-kun. And where are your alchemist friends? I thought for sure you'd bring them with you. Tsk, tsk. Disappointing." He sighed, switching the cigarette from his left hand to his right. "Making things much harder on yourself, as usual."

Soubi stood there, feeling the raindrops battering his skull, completely at a loss. Ritsu-sensei. Here. With Ritsuka. And the man in black. Why…?

"Where is Ritsuka?"

"Inside. With his brother. Where he belongs."

"Seimei is dead. That man in black cannot be Seimei."

"Really." His bored, monotone voice grated on Soubi, as it always did. The way he toyed with people, creating or destroying lives at a whim, all with that same nonchalant tone of voice: it was infuriating. Soubi took a breath, trying not to let himself get riled up. Ritsuka. Think of Ritsuka. Keep him talking. Find Ritsuka.

"How do you know about Roy and Edward? That they are alchemists?"

Ritsu sighed again, adjusting the glasses on the bridge of his nose with one finger. "You constantly underestimate me, Soubi-kun. It's one of your biggest failings, you know. I created you. I made you what you are. You'd think you would at least give me the respect I deserve."

"I'm not your student anymore. I'm nothing to you." Soubi would not be deterred. "How do you know who they are?"

"The younger one has the Blood of the Father. Is that not obvious to you?"

"How is that possible?"

"Why don't you tell me?"

The Blood of the Father. Edward. Soubi had noticed something different about Ed, certainly, but it didn't even occur to him that he could be… "They are from another world. They aren't even a real Fighter/Sacrifice pair; they just got randomly thrown into our system. There is no way they can be related to us."

"Are you sure about that, Soubi-kun?"

Soubi put his hand on his head. He was done. "Look, what does this have to do with anything? I need to go retrieve my Sacrifice. If you would excuse me."

Ritsu looked for a moment as if he would try to stop him, but he moved out of the way and allowed him to pass through the door. Soubi proceeded straight down the hall, around the corner and into the bedroom, where he stopped abruptly in his tracks.

There was his Sacrifice, lying unconscious on the bed on top of the man in black. The man had his arms wrapped around Ritsuka's neck, and he was smiling that vicious smile. "So nice to see you again so soon." He was the very picture of politeness laced with arsenic.

Soubi's blood boiled. He immediately moved to come closer, but the man in black moved too: he adjusted his left hand ever so slightly, so that it was wrapped neatly around Ritsuka's throat. Soubi froze. "Hmm, better not get too close. Could be a bit of a dangerous situation."

This is too much. It's too much… Soubi bit his tongue till he tasted blood. "What do you want."

Ritsu had come into the room behind him, silently. "I believe I already told you, Soubi-kun. We want the one who has the Blood of the Father. I suggest you bring him here."

Soubi stood there, trying to remember how to breathe. We want the one who has the Blood of the Father. So all of this was about… Edward? His brain wasn't functioning properly. Ritsuka. He was right there in front of him, right there. I could just grab him and run, what could they do? But if he's serious, if he'd seriously hurt him, if it's not really Seimei, or if it is really him...

His heart was pounding in his throat. What he really wanted to do was to beg Ritsu-sensei to just let Soubi touch Ritsuka, just hold him for five seconds, just let me be with him… He shook his head, trying to clear it. Soubi knew his teacher had a vicious and cruel streak that could be activated for absolutely no reason whatsoever. He wouldn't hesitate to hurt Ritsuka right now just to prove that he was serious. Soubi didn't have a choice. He had to go. Even if it nearly killed him. He balled his hands into fists at his sides.

"If I bring him back here… will you let Ritsuka go?"

"It's possible," Ritsu said in that maddeningly calm tone.

"Don't hurt him." Soubi couldn't help but say it, even though he knew it was a useless plea.

"You're cute when you're angry," Ritsu answered, lighting another cigarette. "Come back soon."

With a last heartwrenching glance at his captive Sacrifice, Soubi bolted out the door at full speed.