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[pinnedwings]

These memories are available to anyone doing the Flowers for Cynthia mini event or the February Event!

Comments

17 years old: meeting Seimei; cw: possessive language, allusion to future injury

[pinnedwings]

He sits quietly in a chair, staring at the floor in disbelief.

"Your sacrifice will arrive today. A boy named Aoygai Seimei."

Soubi's hands tighten against his thighs and his eyebrows draw together. "What?"

"You are fortunate to be a blank fighter unit. Upon the shell of your soul, any one name can be written. Once a name is written, it cannot be rewritten. For that reason, I have chosen your sacrifice carefully. From the seven houses, I've chosen the eldest son of the Aoygai family for you. Or rather... Seimei chose you for himself. It was his dear wish. He is... influential. That is appropriate for you."

He doesn't realize that he's on his feet until he hears the chair fall over. Soubi doesn't know what he can do, but sitting quietly and accepting this isn't--he can't do that. His hands are curled into fists and he can't quite bring himself to look at Ritsu.

"So that person will become my master. You're going to hand me over to him, sensei. You're going to let him write his name, aren't you? That's your decision, isn't it?"

"Decision?" Ritsu looks back at him. Soubi can feel the sharpness of his gaze. "That's just what's going to happen."

Soubi takes a deep breath and picks up the chair. He sits in it again. "I understand," he says, clipped and tight. "Please leave me alone while I wait."

Ritsu doesn't leave, though. Soubi knows the look on the man's face without having to actually see him.

"I've given him my best student, Soubi-kun. The strongest goes to the most worthy. I prized you above all others."

"You did, didn't you?!" Soubi can't hold back his anger, his frustration. Not now. "That's why I--I thought it would be you who would write my name."

All these years. Ritsu has been the sole constant in his life for eleven years and now he's going to give him away? Soubi can't imagine a life other than this. What will happen to him? Who is this boy he's being given to? Why doesn't Ritsu want him? Soubi wants to keep arguing, but he knows that it's pointless. The decision is made. He will belong to Beloved.

"I've expressed this many times, Soubi-kun. To be blank is not to be empty: it represents unlimited potential."

"Screw that!" he yells before he can stop himself. "You're only saying it because you're afraid to give me your own name!"

What is going to happen to him?

"But I'm not afraid, Soubi."

He looks up, towards the door, when he hears another voice. The words hit him like a blow and Soubi is left speechless as Ritsu opens the door further. He accuses the boy standing there of eavesdropping, but he - Seimei - brushes it off. Seimei still has his ears and Soubi is deeply aware of his lack. But Seimei just reaches out for him and says that he needs him. Without thinking, Soubi gets up to approach the younger teenager. He shivers as cool fingers brush over his bare neck.

"I think I'll put my name here," Seimei says thoughtfully. "It'll be like a collar."

Seimei strokes his fingers against Soubi's cheek and all Soubi can do is stare at him.

"Soubi. I'll put my name upon you. I'm not afraid of giving you my name. I'm not afraid of owning you. I'm not afraid of controlling you. Love will always stray, and likes and dislikes can change instantly. But power is eternal. In heart, in body, in life, in soul, in name... devote everything to me."

In that moment, Soubi can't imagine wanting anything else. He looks down when Seimei takes his hand to lead him from the room. Soubi looks back, once, at Ritsu. He can't tell if his teacher is pleased, but it's done now. He will belong to Seimei. In totality.