His gut reaction is to object to Koumyou's unflinching assessment of his relationship. Madame's not taking advantage of him; he agreed to be her sub! She grinds him underfoot because that's what he wants her to do-- isn't it? She certainly tells him he should want that, if he wants to be a good sub, her good boy. He needs to let her train him, so he can please her, so he can meet her expectations.

...Her ever shifting expectations, nebulous from session to session, sometimes one demand in direct contradiction to another. Her whims, impossible to predict, so that he somehow ends up requiring discipline even when he thinks he's got her just right. How sometimes it seems she sets goalposts he can never reach, just so she can knock him down and punish him for failing.

He's always pushed that mutinous thought down deep, refusing to acknowledge it. But right now, he finds that he... doesn't want to. He lets it settle into his mind, and he doesn't try to interrupt or deny. Instead he watches Koumyou speak; the Sanzo once again compelling his attention and it's like he can't drag it away.

That intent regard is why he doesn't miss those very, very soft words. They pull him closer, turning back in to face Koumyou. "...What do you mean?" he asks, his own voice just as quiet as Koumyou's.