[Ch.49] The Bent Rabbit

Ryu stared at his brother in disbelief, "E-Elder brother?! What are you doing here?!"

Kiyomori ran to Ryu and pushed Panzram to the side as if he was trash. Kiyomori inspected his brother in a panic, "Are you hurt?!"

Ryu blinked as he was being manhandled by his brother, "N-No! I am not!"

Kiyomori spoke in an anxious tone, "I heard that you were attacked by mercenaries from the Minamoto family. They even burnt the entire town to the ground just to try to capture you!"

Ryu forced a smile, "I am fine, so you do not have to worry so much."

"Worry?! How could I not worry! You must come back home right away! It is too risky having you parade around in other prefectures by yourself! What if they had caught you?! We wouldn't have known! How can you just- wait..." Kiyomori froze abruptly and turned to Panzram. His voice was stale, "Who is this."

Ryu instantly panicked. He was so taken aback by his brothers' sudden appearance that he did not even think about Panzram sitting next to him. Ryu spoke, "He is- He is… He is um…"

Ryu's eyes jerked around trying to come up with anything. He looked at Panzram for help, but Panzram did not have any ideas either.

Ryu spoke quickly, "T-This is my f-f-"

However, Ryu could not finish his sentence. He hated lying and he was not good at it anyway. Just the attempt made his tongue taste as if someone had just shoved handfuls of sand into his mouth.

He gagged as he held his mouth, trying not to puke.

Kiyomori sat down at the table with a dark expression. He stared at Panzram who stared back at him without fear.

Kiyomori spoke calmly, "You. Who are you to my little brother?"

Ryu looked at Panzram in a panic.

Panzram answered coldly, "He is my travel companion."

Ryu's heart warmed up and he grinned from ear to ear. Although this was not quite a friend, it was certainly getting closer!

Panzram and Kiyomori noticed Ryu's bright smile that appeared as if roses were gathering around it.

Panzram had only said travel companion because he did not know what else to say. He had no idea that Ryu would react so happily. If anything, he thought Ryu would be upset that Panzram did not admit they were closer.

Kiyomori turned back to Panzram now behaving more overprotective, "Just a travel companion, huh? And your name?"

Panzram lied flawlessly, "Tenma."

Kiyomori smacked his hand on the table. The sound echoed off the walls. He glared at Panzram, "Do not lie to me! I know exactly who you are! You are the prisoner my little brother was so interested in! Panzram the Grim Reaper!"

Ryu sighed and buried his face in his hands. It was all over. Now his Elder brother is going to become their enemy.

Ryu would without a doubt take Panzram's side if he had to choose. Although he still loved his Elder brother, he cared for Panzram in a way he couldn't quite explain.

However, much to everyone's surprise, Kiyomori broke down into tears. "J-Just what spell did you put on my little brother?! Huh?! How did you make him so interested in you?!"

Ryu looked at Kiyomori in astonishment, "Elder brother!? What are you crying about?!"

"Do not try to deny your love for him!" Kiyomori snapped at Ryu while still crying, "Do you think I am blind?! You have never been interested in anyone before!"

He broke down into sobs, "M-My brother is a cut sleeve!"

Ryu blinked in disbelief, "First Elder brother… I think you are confused."

"Am I confused?! He is wearing your headband! It is the one you treasured so much because it was the only thing left from mother! You would not let anyone else touch it!"

Panzram was surprised and unconsciously touched the headband. Was this really so priceless to Ryu?

He glanced at Ryu and saw him blushing bright red from being called out. Ryu desperately wanted to shut his brother up before he could embarrass him further.

Kiyomori continued, "And he even has your sword on his hip! If you two are not together, then just what is the meaning of all of this?!"

Ryu blushed more and forced out, "First Elder brother! You are mistaken! Please calm down!"

"I am not mistaken! Admit it! You two are a couple!"

"We are not!" Ryu shouted in a whimper that sounded similar to a cry. He couldn't handle any more teasing!

Just then, Nezu opened the door and announced, "I have that arousal tea and lubricating concoction for you!"

Panzram sighed at Nezu's bad timing.

Kiyomori's face twitched, "A-Arousal tea?! LUBRICATING CONCOCTION?!"

Kiyomori brandished his katana and pointed it at Panzram. Panzram jumped up and glared at Kiyomori as he also pulled out his katana.

Kiyomori shouted, "I ought to kill you for bending my perfect little brother!!!"

Kiyomori kicked the table away and the two squared off, waiting for the other to make their move.

Nezu forced out a chuckle, "Oh my… I seem to have come at an inappropriate time…"

Nezu scurried over to Ryu to hand him the items, then turned to run away. Ryu grabbed him by the collar with an ominous smile, "Where do you think you are going?"

Nezu pinched his eyebrows together in worry, "Ryu… Look at them. They look like they are about to kill each other. I'm not strong. I do not want to get caught up in a fight! I would just become collateral damage!"

Ryu sighed and put the items into his bag. He turned to Nezu, "Could you just bring us some calming tea?"

Nezu nodded, relieved to be excused. "Right away."

When Nezu scurried away, Ryu clapped his hands together. Kiyomori felt his body stiffen up and refuse to move. His forehead turned red as his veins throbbed while he tried to fight his body's sudden freeze.

Panzram's tense state relaxed when he noticed something off.

Ryu put his hands on his hips, "Now you two both calm down. Nezu is bringing us tea and I would prefer it if you did not destroy the establishment."

Kiyomori stopped resisting and looked towards Ryu with a pitiful expression, "But Ryu! This diabolical man tricked you into being his lover somehow! He must have used some kind of spell to seduce you!"

Panzram scoffed in irritation as he put his katana away. If anyone was doing the seducing, it was certainly Ryu.

Ryu looked at his brother in exasperation, "First Elder brother. Panzram did not trick me into anything."

Ryu released Kiyomori once he was sure he would not do anything.

Kiyomori looked between the two, "B-But… You…"

Panzram moved the table back to normal and sat down with a grunt. He didn't care to explain anything to this low-life.

Ryu chuckled lightly, "If anything, I am the one who is pursuing Panzram so fervently."

Panzram flinched and looked at Ryu in complete disbelief.

Kiyomori collapsed to his knees, "M-My precious little brother… Has been… Bent…"