We needed Kio for leverage. [Against you, in case you turned against Seimei, but also to justify your cooperation to Seven Moons, in case it needed to look like he was armtwisting you. Seimei's strategizing paid off, when Soubi needed to be given a reason not to take Nisei apart.]

Soubi and I could hardly hate each other more. Only one of us would be left, if it weren't for instructions from you and Seimei. But I can assure you that I didn't single him out because he's your fighter or your friend.

Seimei ... isn't giving me anything that would otherwise be yours. When you decide to accept him, he'll probably want you with him all the time. You're a person. [He meant to add something like "I'm just his dog fighter," but it sticks in his throat. Saying that would be embarassing, in a way that it usually isn't, because you think fighters can be people.]