dramatispersonae | ♫ citrine ♫

♫ citrine ♫

You're in a sumptuous room, with rich brocade in your team colors and fine appointments in copper and marble that should look bright and beautiful -- but everything is dusty and grey, with a furtive, abandoned air. This is a place that's been locked away for a long time. It feels as if it would be sad to linger here for long.

Fortunately (perhaps), after one good look at the room, you catch a brief, pained snatch of melody. Your vision goes dark, and you immediately find your mind somewhere else-- ♫

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Soubi was taken away from me.

How?

[HOW DO I CONDENSE THIS . . .]

. . .

Soubi used to be my brother's partner. Seimei. A couple of years ago, my brother—died . . . and Soubi ended up with me, by Seimei's orders, left behind. Soubi and I became close, and I wanted to find out who had killed my brother. But then we both found out—that Seimei had actually faked his own death and was alive the whole time. He ordered Soubi to betray me, but left him by my side. Then, finally, he came back and ordered Soubi to leave me. He took him away.

What the hell-- Can't he do anything? Why does he have to listen?

And why would your brother do that?

I don't know why my brother would do that. I don't know what's going on in his head. But he terrifies people. I didn't believe it at first . . . my brother was always so kind to me. But I was wrong . . . he abused Soubi, did terrible things . . . I don't know who he is and it scares me. But he's still my brother—? I don't know how to separate that love and reconcile it with the things I know now.

[speaking rather quickly, strained, face white]

Soubi's been—hurt. It's not that he doesn't care about me. He wants to stay by my side. But fear is strong. My love isn't stronger than the fear of Seimei.

[Ritsuka he really wonders about you and the world you come from sometime...] Your brother sounds like a real piece of work.

He'll have to break free of Seimei on his own. Don't know if there's much you can do.