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~~ Unannounced Visitor ~~

~~ 15. July, Early Midday ~~

Ryoma stirred awake as a gentle breeze caressed his hair and soft murmurs reached his ears. He tried to open his eyes, blinked against the rays of light as the dream slowly faded from his mind. A dream, not a nightmare. What kind of dream it had been was long lost but the serenity of it still lingered within him like a nostalgic memory. He yawned and the desire to return and dwell a little bit longer in the dream was strong because for once, he felt good and calm enough to simply enjoy the moment of peace. No thinking or worrying, just enjoying the blessed and quiet peace.

Something rustled beneath and beside him as he slowly moved his body, pulling his attention towards it. Papers and books were all around and also beneath him. He had unconsciously fallen asleep during his studies at the garden's pavilion. How long had he slept? A few minutes? An hour?

Damn, he had wanted to finish this stupid questions before lunch so that Tezuka could take a look at it. He still had so much to study for the test which was already in three days on the 18th July. Nervousness overcame him whenever he thought about it. He needed to succeed and pass this stupid test! Ryoma had barely studied the last few days due to the drama and chaos around and inside him and had therefore lost precious time to study. He was thankfully a quick learner but would it be enough?

The sound of a book page being flipped caught his attention and let him look up. Beside him on the patio sofa sat Fuji, who read a book, and Tezuka, who read some papers and scribble something onto it. A quick look around told him that Yukimura was standing not too far away behind his easel, drawing a picture of something. Sanada and Atobe were having a tennis match not too far away with the ball moving quickly from one side of the court to the other.

Since when had they been here?
If he remembered correctly, he had studied here alone without any kind of distraction around him because his lovers' presence alone was indeed a distraction. A pleasant one, but still a distraction nonetheless. They must have quietly joined him while he had been asleep. Had they been so quiet that he hadn't woken up from it or had his body already gotten used to their presence? Probably the second one.

Just because he could, as neither of them had noticed his awakened state yet, Ryoma watched them with his head still resting on his arms.
Fuji sat sideways and with bent knees on the patio sofa with his bare feet under Tezuka's legs and his eyes running over the pages of the book which Ryoma had given him yesterday. Tezuka, on the other hand, read and corrected some papers which Ryoma recognized as his just finished worksheets which he had wanted to show Tezuka for correction. When had Tezuka pulled them out from under him?

His view wandered further and paused at Yukimura who nibbled on his bottom lip as he painted delicately and carefully. What was the bluenette drawing again?
Sanada and Atobe were not far, sweating and running around on the tennis court to catch each other's tennis balls.

They all were not only beautiful and smart but also faithful and loyal, generous and kind, ambitious and fit. Everything he could hope to find in a partner.
They were his lovers.

His saviors.

He still couldn't believe it, not even after seeing it. They had shown him everything after yesterday's dinner. The bank data, the insurance and the money. Everything. His legs had turned weak when he saw it with his own eyes and had held it in his shaking hands. They had guided him to bed, kissing, hugging and talking to him about different topics until they had all felt tired enough to go to sleep.

He was finally free, able to buy himself an apartment with permanent electricity, gas and water. A life where he would have enough clothes to not freeze in winter, enough food and drink to stay healthy, enough furniture to feel safe and homey, enough space and food for Karupin stay alive.

Ryoma could go and leave right then, would have everything he needed for a fresh start. Freedom and a carefree life – the one thing he had desired the most over the last years.
But….

Somehow…

A life without them…

He blinked and looked closer at his lovers. Just watching them gave him a fluttering feeling in his stomach. A feeling of… ease and… calmness… and joy.
Was it because of what they had done for him?

No, it wasn't this kind of feeling. He was endlessly grateful for what they had done for him, all their help and patience, but it didn't fit to what he felt.
What kind of attraction did he feel for them?

A soft chuckle interrupted his staring and let him look in the direction where the sound came from. Yukimura chuckled and smiled at him, looking up from his painting on the easel that was between them. "Had a good nap?"

Feeling the heat in his cheeks from being caught staring, Ryoma cleared his throat uncomfortably before answering. "Yeah, I had. Why didn't you wake me?"

"We all thought you could use the extra portion of sleep after all the stressful days lately." Tezuka smiled at him. No, not only Tezuka. They all practically beamed at him, watching him with such strong emotions in their eyes. Something had happened during his sleep...

Oh no...

"Did I… speak in my sleep again?" Their already bright grins turned up a notch, answering his question silently. Of course he had and it definitely was something he wouldn't have said to them face to face. Ryoma groaned. "What did I say?"

"Nothing." Yukimura smiled sweetly and turned the easel around, showing a perfect image of Ryoma, sleeping peacefully with a smile on his lips and his head resting on his arms. Had he really looked like this? He had such a serene look on his face that he barely recognized himself on the picture. It was an expression he hadn't seen on his face for a long time. No, on second thought, it was an expression he had never seen on himself before. "What do you think?"

Amazing.

Mesmerizing.

A masterpiece of art, even though it showed him a sight of himself he wasn't sure others should see. He looked beautiful and stunning, really did, but also quite… vulnerable.

'Because with time passing by, maybe you will fall in love with us and reveal a sign of vulnerability? You would let us see the deepest and most hidden parts of you, even those parts you don't like about yourself.'

Right….
Fall in love…

Would it end like this?
Him falling in love with them?

They had already seen so many of his weaknesses, flaws and strange habits, so many ugly things about him and still they wanted him as their partner. Not a one-night stand but a permanent partner. All the while, Ryoma had seen some of their habits and flaws too. It wasn't as bad as his own flaws like having done a lot of thievery, instead it were little things without much meaning.

Atobe's grumpiness each morning before his first cup of tea and his desire to overthrow each one of them with presents no matter what the cost.
Fuji's rushed and impulsive way of handling things and his stubbornness.
Tezuka's and Sanada's strictness and strong desire of being in control and having a set structure.
Yukimura's obsession of taking track of their eating habit and diet.

Habits which made them to the characters who they were. Nevertheless, it were those habits which often led to small discussions and tension between them. Nevertheless, they always returned to each others' arms and made up, fought for their relationship instead of giving up when life turned out to be complicated and harsh.

Was he already falling for them?

Was that what he was feeling?
How had he felt when he had been together with Yagyuu?
Definitely not like this, not so good and free and carefree and… just good.
Were they feeling the same?

"Ryoma?" Yukimura stepped forward and leaned over the table to look at Ryoma more closely. His beautiful face with bright amethyst colored eyes and full lips was scrunched in worry and slight confusion. He was so beautiful, so kissable. A desire welled up within Ryoma. He wanted to kiss him. Right now and then. Before his brain could start to spread any doubts or fears, Ryoma lifted his head and leaned forward with his heart rising in speed and his throat turning a bit drier while his gaze never left Yukimura's eyes.

"Sirs, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there is a visitor asking for Ryoma-sama."

Ryoma jolted back in surprise and put some distance between Yukimura and himself, feeling like a child who got caught by stealing a cookie from the cookie jar. Damn, since when was the maid standing there? Why now when he had finally managed to initiate the contact? Shit!

"A visitor for Ryoma? Who?" Fuji asked, putting his book onto the table.

"The young man didn't want to tell me, just demanded to speak with Ryoma-sama." Who the hell wanted to see him? Who the hell knew where to find him? The maid nodded, still standing and waiting for further instructions. "Shall I tell him that you are unavailable?"

"What does he look like?"

"Like a homeless person with oily and messy blond hair and rather… thin and dirty. Not someone you would expect to knock on this door for sure." The last sentences was muttered by the maid and probably not meant to be heard.

A homeless person... could only be someone from Ryoma's past, but who?
Who could know where he was?

The description fit only one person.
A person who shouldn't be here under normal circumstances and would never reach out for him after their last encounter, which hadn't gone well, if there wasn't a dire situation going on. Something was wrong if his guess was right. He had a bad feeling about this.

Ryoma stood up abruptly and hurried past his lovers, who called after him in surprise, rushed through the garden and mansion, straight to the entrance where two bodyguards stood and blocked the stranger's way. The closer he got, the louder and clearer were his fear and confusion.

Was it really him?
Could it be?

And if yes, then why was he here and not with Yagyuu?
Had Yagyuu manipulated and forced him to bring a message?
Or do something to ruin Ryoma's life?

Ryoma came to an abrupt halt, paused to catch his breath when a cowering mess with dirty, ragged clothes came into his view. Big blue eyes looked at him pleadingly.

Shit.

It really was him.

"Kevin, what..." Ryoma breathed out the one word, not knowing what else to say.

What are you doing here?
Why are you here?
What had happened?
How did you find me?

There were so many questions swirling around in his head that he didn't know where to start. His friend was a mess, looked even worse than Ryoma had right before his lovers had taken him in. Kevin's clothes were obviously not his as they were far too big and whoever had owned them before had worn them already till their maximum usage. Furthermore, Kevin's blond hair was long and messy, his eyes were slightly red and swollen, his cheeks had fallen in and his body had grown too thin for a man who was pregnant and supposed to have a large baby belly.

No, Kevin wasn't here to harm, manipulate or threaten him or his lovers in Yagyuu's stead. Not with they way he looked and behaved.
Ryoma's best guess would be that the blonde was here because he needed help.

"…. I-I don't have… I…"

The blonde's lip quivered furiously and his gaze flickered around as if he was afraid of something.
How long had his friend been on the streets again?
Since when had the bastard abandoned him?
What had happened to the baby?

"Ryoma!" Hurried steps echoed from behind him, announcing the arrival of his lovers who had apparently followed him. Kevin jumped by the sound, stumbling back a few steps and looked frantically around as if to search for an escape route. His entire body language changed instantly from slightly shaken and ashamed to afraid and terrified.

"I-I shouldn't have…" He took another step back, ready to turn around and run away, so Ryoma grabbed Kevin's wrist right in time to stop him and lifted his other hand to stop his approaching lovers.

"Kevin, wait. It's okay." Ryoma kept his hold on his companion, only facing his now five lovers after the blonde had finally looked him in the eyes. "Just give us a few minutes, alright? I want to talk to him."

Sanada and Atobe had joined the others, standing beside Tezuka, Fuji and Yukimura and looking just as suspicious as the others.

"Are you sure he isn't-"

"Yes." Ryoma interrupted Sanada mid-sentence and softened his voice when he looked at the cowering blonde once again, speaking more to himself than to anybody else. "The bastard had abandoned you long ago, hadn't he? Otherwise, you wouldn't look like this."

Kevin whimpered, every muscles ready to jump. The last couple of days, if not weeks, must have been horrible to cause such a reaction. Kevin had certainly not survived on the streets for so long because he was weak or afraid of risking his life each day. No, something must have happened that didn't give him any other choice as to ask for help. Kevin had done the same before when the bastard had offered him a solution to keep the baby while Ryoma had argued against it.

How could this bastard…
No, on second thought, Ryoma shouldn't have expected anything else from this narcissistic psychopath. Not after what he had done to Ryoma himself.

"Alright." Yukimura sighed, giving in and holding up his hands in a resigned gesture. "Go and take him to the pavilion in the garden. We will tell the cook to make an extra portion and let someone bring it to him while we wait in our bedroom."

In other words, they would be watching him through their large windows and be ready to intervene should there be a need for it. Should he feel so happy about their protectiveness?

The bluenette walked slowly towards him, cupping his cheeks and kissing Ryoma softly on the lips. "Call us if you need anything."
The way his lover glanced daringly at Kevin didn't go unnoticed by Ryoma. "Thank you. I will."

Did they see him as a threat?
Or did they have pity with him?

Yukimura nodded and glanced once again between Ryoma and Kevin. The bluenette wanted to say something but stopped himself from doing so. Instead, he turned around, took their still doubting and disagreeing lovers' hands and led them away. Ryoma would need to think about something to thank his lovers for their trust and understanding... and maybe he already knew what to give...

Ryoma shook his head and returned his focus on Kevin.

"You heard them. We can talk at the pavilion which is right here outside." Ryoma nodded in the direction of the garden gate, which was left of the mansion and also heavily guarded, and guided Kevin slowly towards it. The blonde stumbled more as that he walked as the fear and anticipation seemed to never leave his fragile body.

Ryoma knew the feeling all too well, had known if for too long to not recognize it, and it pierced his heart and mind, brought back nightmarish memories. He didn't dare to let go of Kevin's wrist as he was afraid that the blonde would change his mind and run away. They walked slowly through the garden and straight to the pavilion where all his and his lovers' stuff was still lying around. Right, they must have run straight after him, not caring to clean up.

He only dared to let go of Kevin's wrist after they arrived at the pavilion and had sat down onto one of the two patio sofas. He waited for Kevin to start the conversation, didn't want to pressure him or step onto a mine. However, from the looks of it, Kevin was already too overwhelmed from his surroundings and not noticing anything else. His eyes flew from left to right with his arms crossed over his chest in defense and clear discomfort.

What had happened to him?
What had Yagyuu done to him?

Only when Ryoma cleared his throat to catch his... Kevin's attention did the blonde focused on him.

"I-I have… I-I need help, Ryoma." Kevin's voice broke at the end and he swallowed hard as he stared at his twisting hands. "I-I don't know... where to go, have nothing left. T-The baby…. The hospital won't help me… b-because of… no health insurance and… no money and… I'm scared, Ryoma. It's not growing anymore, not moving, and I... I don't know what is wrong." Kevin covered his face with his hands. Nonetheless, the tears and sobs couldn't be missed.

"I-I know I put a risk on your… thing with... your three…, but I don't know where else to go. Please, Ryoma, I-I..." The blonde sobbed and took a shuddering breath, then looked up right into Ryoma's eyes, pleading and begging silently with them. Some of the words regarding his five partners didn't make sense to Ryoma and sounded all too wrong. Nevertheless, he let it go as he didn't want to start a discussion or argument but wanted answers to his burning questions. Furthermore, there were other and more important things to do first. For example, calling a doctor, getting some food into Kevin and letting him have a hot bath. Maybe Yukimura could take a look at him as well?

He stood up and knelt with one knee in front of Kevin, glancing into blue eyes.

"My... partners have friends who are doctors and know a lot about health and also about male pregnancy. I will ask them if they could give them a call. One of them checked me when I started living here. He is okay, professional but nice." He tried to smile sympathetically, trying to calm the blonde down.

"… Y-You really live here…" The words were almost inaudible, just a whisper. "…with them?"

Ryoma nodded and stood up, then turned around to face the windows of the master bedroom. He could see all his lovers watching him from there, looking absolutely not amused but concerned and maybe… dissatisfied.