All Ren could see was darkness, though he could faintly hear voices drifting through his mind. He knew it was his brothers, he could sense they were nesr him. Upon attempting to make a sound in order to alert his brothers that he was there, he felt himself grown, realizing that as he woke up, his body was beginning to feel pain. He heard Haru's voice first, calling his name almost excitedly. Then he could hear Shima, who sounded like he was instructing Haru to do something. Lastly, he heard Aki say his name, followed by a hand resting in his chest. Ren groaned again, face scrunching in pain before he blinked his eyes open. Squinting against a splitting headache, Ren saw his brothers looking down at him, Haru directly above him as his leg was serving as Ren's pillow; Aki on the floor, hand resting on Ren's stomach; and Shima leaning over the back of the couch.
"Thank God, you're finally awake!" Haru said happily, though also loudly. Ren cringed away, moving to be closer to Aki, who now had his arm draped over Ren's stomach due to him moving.
"I told you, it looks like he hit his head. Be quieter," Aki scowled. A puzzled look crossed Haru's face, but he nodded quickly and gently petted Ren's hair.
"Ren?" Shima spoke softly, placing a gentle hand on his little brother's forehead. The youngest gazed up at him, eyes pained as he strained to keep them open against the headache.
"Haru, go get him some painkillers," Shima instructed, "and Ren, can you tell us what happened? " he asked, watching Haru walk off to the kitchen.
"A man..." Ren mumbled, his words heavy.
"Who dared to touch my Ren?! Who was it? I swear, I'll find them," Haru growled, his ghostly green eyes ablaze with fury. Ren felt fear tug at his chest as he looked at his oldest brother, his eyes wide.
"Do you remember what they looked like?" Haru demanded, the fury in his eyes was chilling. He leaned closer to Ren, moving his hand to give the youngest a few pills. In a slight panic, Ren sat up and bolted off the couch, standing behind the smaller couch. The other three looked at him, startled at the suddenness of his movement. The brunette sat behind the couch, peeking around the corner like a frightened dog. He was visibly shaking, eyes staring fearfully at his brothers.
"Ren, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Haru said softly, eyes filled with concern. He moved slowly toward the cowering teenager, stopping when Ren made a small movement backward.
"Oh my. What could've caused this?" Shima wondered aloud, adjusting his glasses and quizzically observing his eldest and youngest brothers.
"He looked like that when I found him. And then he hugged me," Aki told Shima and Haru, earning incredulous looks from both.
"He's only ever hugged Haru," Shima replied, still disbelieving.
"I know, it was weird."
"Call him," Haru said, his face expressionless. The twins shared a look, knowing that the fact Ren would not go to him was painful to Haru.
"I doubt he'll do it again," Aki said before standing up and facing Ren.
"Little brother," he invited gently, opening his arms. Ren looked frantically up at Aki, slowly moving his body around where Haru was standing, eyes locked on him as if he were some sort of predator. The second he was behind Haru, Ren ran and hugging onto Aki, glaring at Shima and Haru from the corner of his eye. Aki was stunned for a moment, before he wrapped his arms loosely around Ren.
"Can you tell us what happened, Ren?" Shima asked, moving to standing beside Haru, who was pouting. Ren held tightly to Aki, but his voice portrayed no fear, it was simply monotone.
"A man grabbed me, and threw me at a wall." He said shortly before burying his face in Aki's stomach. "Why won't you stand with me?" Haru whined, crossing his arms over his chest like a child.
"Safe," Ren answered into Aki's shirt.
"But Ren-," Haru vegan to protest, though was hushed by Shima.
"Clearly, whatever happened today is making it hard to be around us. Let's just give him space and try again in a little while." The rational twin proposed. Haru pouted more, but agreed with his brother. However, the light haired Kaidou brother walked over to Aki and Ren, placing a soft kiss on Ren's head.

"I love you, Ren." Haru whispered to him, getting a small whimper and a mumbled "love you too" in return. Aki shifted uncomfortably, looking at Haru.

"What should I do?" he asked, looking for some sort of ideas as to how to handle Ren.

"I usually sit with him or lay down with him. Maybe watch tv?" Haru offered, sitting on the small couch. Aki nodded and slowly nudged Ren off him, getting him to sit on the couch. Shima sat with Haru, turning the television on with the remote.

The brothers watched television for about an hour before Ren began to fidget, tugging on the hem of his shirt. The teen sitting beside him glanced down, raising an eyebrow.

"What's up?" he asked, one arm draped over the back of the couch, the other in his lap.

"Eat," Ren replied. Ren's response made Haru stiffen in his seat, staring at his brother.

"Go find something." Shima answered calmly. The three watched Ren get up, walking between the two couches, not seeming to be as bothered by everyone's presence.

"He hasn't spoken like that since I first met him." Haru said quietly to the twins, watching Ren look through the kitchen.

"Like what?" Aki asked, not seeming to notice anything wrong.

"When I first met him, he would only use the words 'eat' and 'sleep,' he would never say anything else. It took a long time to get him to use complete sentences." Haru explained, sadly watching his precious brother. The twins turned to see Ren when Haru called out his name.

"Ren, please use chopsticks." Haru called over, seeing that Ren was eating plain soba noodles with his hands. Ren's eyes met each of his brother's in turn, no expression on his face. He stuck another noodle in his mouth with his hands before picking up a pair of chopsticks and bringing his bowl over to the couches. He looked around briefly, choosing to sit on the floor, back pressed against the couch, between Haru's legs. Aki and Shima exchanged a truly confused look, not at all matching the joy on Haru's face. Tanuki had quietly joined them, laying in Ren's lap as he ate. Haru gently played with his brother's hair, looking at his other brothers, each with one big question in their eyes.

"What happened to Ren?"