[Ch.24] A Surprise Visit

When Panzram opened the door, the Madame was in the doorway with a startled expression. She had been about to knock when the door suddenly slid open. Her face lit up when she saw Panzram, "Young master Pan! Just who I wanted to speak to."

He raised an eyebrow as she continued, "Has Ryu offered you a job here yet? I could use another strong man to help around this place and provide security. I pay extra in addition to providing food and shelter. Although there aren't any rooms open, I could convert the storage shed outside-"

"NO!" Ryu sat up quickly. The two looked at him in surprise. He gave an embarrassed grin, "I mean... He can't stay in the storage shed outside. That's too cruel. He can stay in my room."

The Madame gave a mischievous grin, "But Ryu… You only have one futon."

He tapped the tatami mats, "It's fine! I can sleep on the tatami mats. I don't mind."

The Madame thought that Ryu was only trying to act as if he intended on sleeping on the tatami mats, but secretly he planned to share the futon. Homosexuality was looked down on in society so naturally sharing your bed with another man was considered scandalous. However, those in the red-light district weren't as prudish so they accepted it without batting an eye.

However, in reality, Ryu fully intended on sleeping on tatami mats. Ryu was completely unaware the Madame was misunderstanding him and stared at her with pleading eyes.

"Fine. If he is okay with that." She looked at Panzram, "As long as Young Master Pan agrees. What do you think?"

Panzram grunted, "It's fine."

She smiled, "Great! Then Ryu can show you what your job will be like tonight."

Ryu frowned, "But Madame! Can't I have a day off? My head still hurts."

Her smile twitched, "Oh? But wasn't I kind enough to give you the day off yesterday?"

Ryu looked down with a guilty expression, "Urk..."

She scolded him with a lighthearted smile, "Don't be selfish and get to work. We are opening soon."

Starting at that moment, Ryu and Panzram worked as hired security. Panzram got more manual jobs while Ryu was in the entrance carefully watching the customers who came in. Although one would think that Ryu would cause fewer visitors because he was infamous for being too playful and mischievous, however, it was the opposite.

If anything, he seemed to draw in more customers. He was a natural beauty that many would pay just to see his face. There were even some brave enough to ask Ryu for a night together, but Ryu would only smile at them in such a way that made them gulp before finding a female companion.

Panzram stayed in the background as he was deemed too terrifying to have at the front door. As he sat in the shadows, his sharp eyes watched Ryu during these interactions. He knew the man was alluring, but he didn't know he was this popular. Panzram felt irritated as Ryu smiled at the guests politely.

After a girl saw her customer out, she noticed Panzram watching Ryu closely. She shuffled over to Panzram and gave a charming smile, "Ryu is rather popular, isn't he?"

Panzram looked down at her with his arms crossed. She made no attempt to hide her bodacious cleavage, but he wasn't flustered by it in the slightest. He gazed back to Ryu, "He is."

She giggled, "You may not believe it, but our little Ryu is actually not as friendly as people think."

Panzram raised an eyebrow. How could he not be friendly? Ever since he had met Ryu, his ear had been talked off almost constantly. He was always smiling and speaking in such a friendly tone. Not only that, but Ryu seemed to be attached to Panzram as if his life depended on it.

She noticed Panzram's disbelief and continued, "He has never had a friend visit him before. He doesn't even speak about his family to us and makes no attempt to visit them. In fact, you're the first person that Ryu has ever been genuinely interested in before. You might even be the first person he's ever visited before."

Visited? Panzram thought to himself. Did they not know he was in prison? Did they think he had worked in prison instead? Sure enough, this seemed to be the case. They must have misunderstood the situation, but that was probably for the best.

The girl left him to go back out to find another customer. Panzram continued to watch Ryu with a burning intensity. Ryu could feel Panzram's piercing gaze on him the entire time and tried to ignore it. However, this time the stare was so intense he looked towards the feral eyes which watched him closely.

When their eyes linked, Ryu gave Panzram a warm smile. Panzram felt his eyes waver when he saw such a warm expression.

His curiosity grew stronger.

After work was over, they returned back to Ryu's room. Ryu yawned and laid on the tatami mats while Panzram laid down on the futon. Panzram never once doubted that Ryu intended on sleeping on the tatami mats, however, he was now used to Ryu's sleeping behavior so he waited.

As soon as Ryu laid down, he fell asleep immediately. Panzram was impressed at Ryu's ability to fall asleep so quickly and watched him for a while. Soon, the sleeping Ryu thrashed and flailed around before finding his way over to Panzram's side. He then hung onto Panzram closely and mumbled something intelligible while he slept.

An uncomfortable chill traveled up Panzram's spine, but he soon got used to the abnormally cold body. As soon as he did, a comforting feeling came across him. Only then did Panzram close his eyes and quickly fall asleep.

Panzram was always the first to wake up since Ryu had the habit of sleeping the entire day away. He considered this both lucky and unlucky.

He wondered what Ryu would do if he found out he had been cuddling him in his sleep. Would he be embarrassed? Would Ryu show him an enticing face?

While Ryu and Panzram ate the next day, the Madame spoke on the other side of the door, "Fourth Young Master Ryu… You have a visitor."

Ryu looked up confused, "Visitor? Who in their right mind would try to visit me?"

The Madame spoke on the other side of the door, "He says he is your brother."

Ryu dropped his chopsticks instantly. "B-Brother?!" He jumped up in a panic. "Which brother?!"

The Madame frowned, "I'm not sure. How would I know?!"

"Does he look dependable, scholarly, or terrifying?!"

She looked at the tall man beside her, "Uhhh… I would say dependable with a dash of charm."

The tall man grimaced and spoke in a deep voice, "It's your First Brother. Now open the door before I smash it down."

The Madame's face paled at his words. She looked at the door, "R-Ryu dear? Are you still in there?"

"I'm here." Ryu breathed a sigh in relief, "It's okay... It's the dependable brother."

Ryu then grabbed Panzram and pushed him to the far wall. Panzram raised an eyebrow.

Ryu whispered, "Stay here. Don't say anything."