Chapter 34

"Oh, relax. He most likely took the bait. Your message to him was crystal clear... and even if he finds one or two bugs, I've plastered his office and the hallway quite thoroughly. Trust me, he won't find them all," Yaten laughed, steering the car into the garage. Taiki rubbed his temples tensely. "I really hope you're right. Is the surveillance up and running?" Yaten grinned broadly. "Of course, do you think I'm a beginner or something?"

Then, he suddenly hit the brakes. Taiki jerked forward abruptly. "Are you crazy? Why did you suddenly brake?"

Yaten's gaze met Seiya's, who had just pushed Usagi away.

"Oh, I just wanted to test the brakes, you know, rust and all...," Yaten quickly replied, observing the two in the rearview mirror while parking. "Next time, please give a warning," grumbled Taiki.

The underground parking lot was bathed in subdued light as Taiki got out of the car. His steps echoed softly on the concrete floor. His gaze swept through the large hall and then fixed on Seiya and Usagi, who were standing at the other end of the parking lot. "Oh, great, you're back too," he called to them and positioned himself next to Usagi. "How was it with Kenji?" Taiki asked the group.

Usagi swallowed, the memory of the conversation alone stirred her emotions again. "I threatened him," Seiya came to her rescue. "You did what?" Taiki asked, surprised. "I told him that if he ever gets physical with his daughter again, I'll sink all his shipments to the bottom of the ocean," Seiya explained dryly. "He was about to get physical? Are you okay?" Taiki inquired, concerned.

However, Yaten's vigilant gaze was fixed on Seiya. He analyzed his body language precisely and knew that he had to have a detailed conversation with the raven-haired man.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Seiya was there and prevented the worst. But I'm really tired. I think I'll go to bed soon," Usagi said. Taiki put his arm around her waist. "Then let's go upstairs. It was a tiring day for me too. Yaten, if anything happens..." "I'll let you know... Why does everyone always tell me that as if I don't know that!" Yaten grumbled irritably.

Taiki pushed Usagi deliberately toward the elevator, while Seiya watched them with a wistful look. The tension in Seiya's posture was clearly visible, and Yaten, noticing this, unexpectedly elbowed him in the ribs.

"I hope your gaze doesn't mean what I fear," Yaten whispered to Seiya as they followed the couple to the elevator. "It's complicated," murmured Seiya. When the elevator doors closed, Yaten stopped and pulled Seiya around by the sleeve. "It's not complicated; it's our brother! And you're definitely ogling his wife. This time, you don't have Ruka here to bail you out. Seiya, I want to know what's going on between you two."

Seiya snorted but felt that Yaten wouldn't let him off the hook so easily this time. He pressed the elevator button several times before giving Yaten a dark look and said, "Upstairs, over whiskey." Skeptically, Yaten crossed his arms over his chest. "This better be a damn good explanation, Seiya." Seiya nodded briefly, and the elevator doors opened. They entered the elevator together.

Taiki carefully surveyed the living room as Usagi eagerly awaited his reaction. "And how do you like it? Of course, I'm not done yet, but I've already unpacked most of the boxes," Usagi began to explain. Taiki looked around once more, letting his eyes glide over the carefully selected decorations and harmoniously furnished rooms. He nodded slightly and then turned to his wife. "Looks nice. A bit more decoration than I'm used to... but that's not hard." A soft giggle escaped Usagi's throat. "That's true. So, do you like it?"

Taiki thought for a moment and then nodded. "Yes, you've done a great job here. Are you satisfied? Do you think you'll feel comfortable here?" "I think so," Usagi replied, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "It will surely take a while for it to feel like home, but I think it's a good start."

Taiki took a few steps. "Yes, I think so too." He headed for the kitchen and gratefully switched on the coffee maker. "Do you really want to drink coffee at this time?" Usagi inquired as the sound of the fully automatic machine reached her. "Yes, do you want some tea or something?" Taiki asked politely. "No, I'm really going to bed soon, but first, I have to find our toothbrushes because I left those boxes from the bathroom standing earlier," Usagi mumbled somewhat unmotivated.

The kitchen was filled with the delightful aroma of freshly brewed coffee, gradually permeating the air. Taiki, contemplating the day's events, offered Usagi a smiling glance. He liked her slightly absent-minded nature and watched her as she disappeared into the hallway.

Meanwhile, Usagi had entered the bathroom and stood before the stacked boxes labeled "Bath." Her hands delved into the cartons, searching for the toothbrushes. During this, she wondered how she and Taiki had accumulated so many things. It almost seemed as if all these items had materialized out of nowhere.

Her quest for the toothbrushes proved to be a challenge. Strands of her disheveled hair clung to her forehead as she continued steadfastly searching for the missing toothbrushes. As time passed, Usagi was on the verge of succumbing to frustration. However, when her fingers encountered something hard, a feeling of relief washed over her. Triumphantly, she pulled out the toothbrush, only to realize that it was Taiki's. A disappointed sigh escaped her, accompanied by a slight shake of her head. With a contemplative look, she turned away and left the bathroom.

Taiki looked up as Usagi emerged from the bathroom, his face lighting up. "Well, did you find the toothbrushes?" he asked with a warm smile. Usagi held up Taiki's toothbrush and shook her head. "Only yours... Mine is still missing. I think I might have left it downstairs." She sat across from Taiki at the kitchen table. After a moment, she wrinkled her nose and furrowed her brow slightly. The smell, usually very familiar to her, seemed strangely unpleasant at the moment.

"Everything okay?" Taiki asked concerned. "Yeah, yeah, just something smells weird here. Maybe I'm just too tired." She yawned lightly, emphasizing her exhaustion. "It's been a tiring day. Maybe you should get ready and go to bed. I'll check downstairs for your toothbrush and join you; I have to get something anyway," Taiki suggested, getting up to clear the coffee cup. Usagi nodded and also stood up. "That sounds like a plan."

Yaten's expression was like an impenetrable mask as he intensely observed Seiya. The second glass had long been poured, and Seiya continued to skillfully avoid the subject of Usagi. But slowly, he was running out of distractions. The worst part was that Yaten made no move to leave anytime soon. He sat there with patient calmness, listening attentively and analyzing Seiya down to the smallest detail.

"Don't you want to get to the point already?" Yaten broke the tense silence. Seiya hesitated for a moment before answering, "What exactly do you mean?" "You know exactly what I mean..." Yaten said earnestly. "So, knowing Serena from before is nothing new. But I want you to lay your cards on the table now. Do you have feelings for our sister-in-law?" Yaten's tone grew increasingly serious.

Seiya felt a slight panic; his heartbeat quickened, and he averted his gaze from Yaten. However, the younger man didn't miss this sign. He knew he had struck a nerve.

"Seiya, it's more than obvious, but I'm giving you the opportunity to explain yourself now. I could have let you walk into an open knife earlier. I saw you! I saw you kiss her, damn it, and Taiki almost saw it too!" Yaten raised his voice.

Seiya felt the ground beneath him swaying. Shockwaves ran through his body as he realized that Yaten had seen them. Panic thoughts raced through his mind as he struggled to find words to explain the situation. But he knew that only the truth could get him through this.

"Damn it, Yaten. I tried. Really tried to stay away from her. But I just can't let her go. I love her, more than I've ever loved any other woman, and that's been true since the first second. She was sitting dirty and in rags on the roadside, and even at that moment, she had my heart in her hands. Why do you think I've been living with Ruka for the past few weeks? Certainly not to water her flowers while she's with Chiru... I can hardly explain it to myself, but as soon as Usagi is near me..." Seiya's voice broke, and he swallowed heavily, suppressing his rising emotions. His eyes glistened with tears, and he felt as if his heart were breaking into a thousand pieces. Yet, he had to say it, had to make Yaten understand how deeply rooted his love for Usagi was.

"Yaten, I love her with every fiber of my being. I would die for her. When Kenji raised his hand against her earlier, I just saw red. I was so afraid that something would happen to her... I know she's married to Taiki. But I can't stop loving her, no matter how hard I try. It's like a curse that won't let me go, and it's tearing me apart, Yaten."

Yaten regarded Seiya with a thoughtful expression. His gaze shifted between Seiya and the floor as he pondered over his brother's words. After a while, he nodded slightly, as if he had made a decision. Without another word, he finished his whiskey in one gulp, placed the glass on the table, and got up from the sofa.

With a compassionate but encouraging look, Yaten patted Seiya on the shoulder. "Seiya, I think you should tell Taiki the same thing." A wry smile spread across Seiya's lips. "Yes, exactly. I'll go upstairs now and tell him that I love his wife. What a brilliant idea, Yaten. I can't believe I didn't think of that earlier." Yaten's mouth curled slightly upward. "Firstly, you shouldn't do it now, only if you're sober and have thought everything over again. And secondly, you can thank me later."

Now Seiya grew suspicious; his hope flickered as he looked into his younger brother's piercing green eyes. The feeling that Yaten was trying to convey something to him lingered. "Is there something you know?"

However, Yaten just shrugged. "Seiya, forget it. You won't get more than this advice from me. This is a matter between you and Tai, and I won't interfere further. Do it or don't, but stop pursuing Serena behind his back, or I'll tell him."

Yaten gave Seiya a final meaningful look before heading towards the door. His hand rested on the handle as he glanced back over his shoulder. "Seiya, I meant that seriously. Believe me, I can imagine how you feel, more than you might think. Talk to Tai," he said calmly, leaving Seiya in the silence of his apartment. Yaten's words echoed in the air.