Chapter 49
Usagi wandered through the dressing room, examining the neatly arranged clothes. It was still unfamiliar to her that Petzite now stood beside her, having prepared a selection. Her thoughts briefly drifted to Tellu, but she pushed them aside. Today had to be perfect. She couldn't afford any mistakes in front of her father-in-law, she kept telling herself.
"I think you should try this. It's simple, but with the right accessories, it should be suitable for a family Christmas dinner," Petzite suggested, handing her a long, simple black dress with sleeves.
Not particularly motivated to discuss her wardrobe, Usagi simply nodded, allowing her new stylist free rein. So far, Petzite had demonstrated excellent taste. Petzite attempted some light small talk, and Usagi welcomed the distraction. Time flew by, and they were almost done with Usagi's styling when Taiki joined them.
"You look stunning, Serena. Are you ready? Can we go?" he asked.
Petzite glanced at Usagi once more, placed a necklace around her neck, and nodded contentedly. "Yes, I think she's ready."
She then approached Taiki, taking a few steps toward him and straightening his tie. "And you're ready now too. I wish you both a lot of enjoyment," she said as she bid them farewell.
It was the first time Usagi and Taiki were alone since Christmas Eve. An odd silence settled between them. Taiki put on a friendly, inviting smile and offered his arm to ease the situation. "May I?"
Usagi linked arms with him, and together they headed to the car.
"Serena, you don't need to be nervous. Everything will be fine, trust me. Seiya will come with Yaten, and once Father receives the news of the pregnancy, he'll be more than satisfied," he tried to reassure her.
"But what if Seiya can't control himself?" Usagi expressed her concerns.
"He will. After all, he stood in the front row at our wedding without revealing himself."
Usagi nodded thoughtfully, and Taiki started the car. Shortly afterward, they arrived at the Kou family estate, and only now did Usagi realize she had never entered it before. In contrast to Kenji's large, old villa, a highly modern new building extended before Usagi. The flat roof of the villa gave it a contemporary and sleek design. Large, impressive glass fronts traversed the structure. The clear lines and minimalist design of the architecture emphasized the building's modern aesthetic.
The huge parking lot in front of the villa was filled with many expensive cars, among which Taiki skillfully parked. Taiki could sense Usagi becoming more tense. He then placed his hand on hers. "Take it easy. I'm with you, and Seiya will be here soon. We can handle this. Ready?"
Usagi met his gaze and drew some strength from it. "Yes, ready."
They got out, and Taiki took her hand, interlocking his fingers with hers, leading her to the door. Both were somewhat nervous, but they were well aware of the importance of the upcoming meal. Taiki soothingly stroked her hand with his thumb. A servant opened the door for them before they even reached it.
"Mr. Kou, nice to see you again. Your father is expecting you in the dining room."
Taiki nodded in gratitude to the woman and led Usagi through the grand hallway. The sparse decoration, similar to Taiki's previous apartment, gave the building a certain sterility. It lacked the festive ornaments typically seen during the Christmas season. Usagi observed everything with wide eyes, letting Taiki guide her.
As they entered through a large double door, Taiki paused for a moment. Kakashi sat at the large table, and next to him was a woman.
The woman, middle-aged, exuded remarkable elegance. Her brown hair, similar to Taiki's, was well-kept, falling in gentle waves over her shoulders. Despite her seriousness, her brown eyes gave her a warm expression. The smile she directed at Usagi inevitably reminded her of Seiya. It was a lively smile, radiating a certain joy and carefreeness. Taiki then resumed his movement, leading Usagi behind him.
"Mother, I had no idea you would be here too. Nice to see you, and Merry Christmas," Taiki said, extending his hand to the woman.
The woman rose and hugged her son. "I wish you the same. Since I couldn't attend your wedding, I had to at least check on you now. Let me look at you. You look good, my boy, and this must be your wife?" She peered curiously past her son, focusing her attention on Usagi.
"Yes, this is Serena, my wife," Taiki replied with a composed voice, leading Usagi a bit further forward. The woman now extended her hand with a friendly smile. "I'm truly delighted, Serena. I'm Hikari. It's really nice to finally meet you. I hope my son is a decent husband and treats you well."
Usagi looked uncertainly at Taiki and then back at her mother-in-law. "Yes, he is."
"Good, I'm pleased to hear that. Please, have a seat. The others will surely join us soon. They're never on time, always the same with them," Hikari laughed and made an inviting gesture. Taiki gave a brief nod to his father across the table, then pulled out a chair for Usagi and took a seat beside her.
While Hikari wore a warm smile and engaged friendly with Usagi, tension was palpable in Kakashi's face. His gaze was not only cool and distant but also revealed little interest in engaging in small talk with the ladies. Instead, he delved into a conversation with Taiki about business matters, as if that were the only relevant aspect of their gathering.
Usagi couldn't help but wonder how such a warm woman like Hikari willingly got involved with someone like Kakashi. Somehow, Hikari reminded her of her own mother, who, according to Kenji's descriptions, also voluntarily entered a relationship with a man like him.
It wasn't until the voices of Yaten and Seiya echoed through the air that Usagi tensed slightly. The two entered the room laughing, and upon seeing their mother, they were as surprised as Taiki. Hikari rose with a radiant smile and approached her sons. "My two darlings, it's so lovely to see you!" She warmly embraced Yaten and Seiya. "Surprise successful, right?" she added with a wink, and Usagi immediately understood where Seiya got his cheeky, carefree nature.
Usagi and Seiya exchanged an intense look as he sat across from her, with Yaten taking a seat next to him. "Well, now that the family is complete, we can get this over with. Happy holidays," Kakashi greeted the present company in his usual distant manner.
"Kakashi, it's a holiday. Try to have a good mood at least for today. For my sake," scolded Hikari as the appetizers were served, and silence filled the table. The head of the family directed his gaze towards his youngest, who froze in the middle of his movement. "What is it, Father?" "There was a break-in at one of our estates the day before yesterday... And you, the self-proclaimed master of secrets, completely overlooked it, or did you just forget to inform me?" Kakashi's tone was cutting and determined.
Yaten swallowed, knowing exactly which incident his father was referring to. After all, he orchestrated the break-in himself. However, outwardly, he managed to remain calm. "It must have slipped my mind in all the Christmas stress. But you never keep anything valuable in the estates anyway. Or was something important stolen, Father?" he asked casually.
Kakashi skeptically contorted his face. "Something was definitely stolen, and I want it back. Send out your little birds," his voice was sharp and commanding. Yaten obediently nodded. "I'll inquire, will you tell me what we're looking for?"
"Kakashi, that's enough, not now during dinner," admonished Hikari from the side, and all the present men fell silent again. Usagi was completely surprised that one woman could have all four men under control like this.
The light touches from Taiki during the meal were not unpleasant for Usagi. She had gotten used to him over time and knew that it was necessary to keep up appearances, as it had been since their wedding. While waiting for dessert, Kakashi's cutting gaze focused on Usagi, and she gripped Taiki's hand tighter.
"Serena, tell me, how is your family planning going?" were the first words he directed at her that evening. Everything in Usagi tightened, and she sought support in Seiya's gaze and in Taiki's touch. As long as the brothers were near, she felt safe, but she hadn't expected such directness from her father-in-law. She looked nervously at her husband.
However, Taiki did not reveal his cards. His expression was completely composed. Of course, he knew his father and had expected that he would ask this question during the meal. With a calm motion, he pushed something towards his father.
"I can reassure you, Father. This is an ultrasound image of your future grandchild. That fulfills all the conditions of the contract," he said calmly and firmly.
The words hung in the air for a moment. Kakashi's face remained inscrutable, but a certain tension was palpable. Hikari smiled proudly at her son and lovingly placed her hand on Usagi's arm.
"What wonderful news. A child will completely turn your lives upside down, but it's the most beautiful thing in life."
Kakashi looked at the small, blurry black-and-white image, where nothing more than a black blob was visible. His mouth twitched slightly upward.
"Good. Let's hope it's a boy."
Hikari cast a reproachful glance at Kakashi. "A girl would be wonderful too for a change. It can't only be boys." Then she leaned a bit closer to Usagi. "You know, I always wished for a girl. After Taiki was born, I prayed for a girl in both Seiya's and Yaten's pregnancies. Oh, how I cried when I found out Yaten was going to be a boy too."
"Thank you, Mother, I heard that," grumbled the silver-haired man across the table, and Seiya couldn't help but chuckle. "We could dress him in a little dress, just for fun," he joked, and Yaten elbowed him in the ribs. A painful sound escaped Seiya's throat, as his ribs were still sensitive.
"Oh, Father, before we forget," Yaten began to change the subject. Kakashi's icy gaze silenced Yaten momentarily. "No, it's not about that. I just wanted to let you know that we've decided to go away together for a week after New Year. I'll filter the incoming information and then relay the important parts to you."
Kakashi snorted angrily. "So, that's what you thought! And who will continue your business while you soak up the sun? First, I want to know who dared to break into my property and where my stolen things are! How can you even think about something like vacation in such a situation?"
"Oh, Father, come on. Even the employees are entitled to a vacation. We're not slaves. The logistics at the port are settled; I've briefed everyone on what to do during our absence," Seiya interjected into the conversation.
"Hold back, Seiya. You're the last person who deserves something as ridiculous as a vacation right now! Incidents like with Kenji must not happen again. You've clearly exceeded your competence there! Do you even know how long I had to negotiate with that old stubborn man to get him back in line?" Kakashi hissed across the table.
Hikari rose and offered her hand to Usagi. "Come, my dear. We'll stretch our legs while the men have their discussion. It's better to let them have these conversations among themselves."
Usagi hesitated as she rose, feeling a strange sensation. She didn't want to leave any of the three behind, but she had little choice. With heavy steps, she followed her mother-in-law out of the room.
Seiya's gaze sharpened, and his words cut through the room like icy knives. "He's our enemy, Father. He threatened us. Even his own daughter, your daughter-in-law, was threatened by him, a part of our family. He sent thugs after me, and you took no countermeasures! I only did what was necessary to demonstrate our strength. Someone had to finally set boundaries for him."
Suddenly, Kakashi became suspicious and scrutinized his middle son. "Why do you suddenly care so much about the girl that you're risking our business for her? Did your brother's wife turn your head?"
Seiya struggled to maintain composure. He knew that his father was almost as adept at reading the body language of others as Yaten. He couldn't afford any mistakes now, or everything would be lost. He forced himself to breathe evenly and feverishly considered how to answer his father. Yaten noticed the precarious situation of his brother and reacted quickly.
"Well, it's quite simple, Father. She's part of our family now. Besides, it's scratching Seiya's ego that he took a beating," Yaten came to his aid.
"Exactly. She's my wife and his sister-in-law. We can't let Kenji get away with such behavior. Besides, everything happened on my orders. Seiya, you don't need to cover for me. I stand by my decision, and I would make it again anytime," Taiki said calmly, facing his father's stern gaze.
"On your orders?" Kakashi asked, then turned to his eldest son.
"Yes, Father. Even though Serena is his daughter, he has no claims on her. She is my wife, and as I already told you after the wedding, I won't allow anything to happen to her. Seiya sank Kenji's shipment on my orders, and that's just the beginning if he doesn't stop."
Even Seiya and Yaten were momentarily speechless. No one had expected Taiki to take responsibility for Seiya's actions. Kakashi tensed his lips. Such a turn of events, even he hadn't foreseen.
"Do you dare make such decisions?" Kakashi sounded increasingly displeased.
Taiki rose calmly, exuding a certain authority at that moment. "Yes, and before this escalates further, we will leave now. Serena needs peace in her condition; you'll understand that. Consider this vacation as a honeymoon or whatever you please, but we're leaving, together. A week without us won't ruin the company. After all, you managed to build all of this on your own. We'll, of course, be reachable for emergencies, and Yaten will inform you if he hears anything relevant for you."
Taiki continued towards the door. Seiya and Yaten also jumped up and followed their brother. "Yaten, get Serena. We'll meet at the cars."
Yaten nodded and headed off.
"Seiya, that was damn close. This can't happen again," Taiki hissed to his brother on the way out.
"I know," Seiya gritted out in response.
Shortly after, Yaten and Serena arrived at the parking lot. "What's going on? Why are we leaving already? Dinner wasn't even finished," she asked.
Taiki approached her, took her hands, pulled her closer, and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Keep playing along; we're being watched. We're heading to the Black Moon, and then we can talk openly," he whispered to her and placed his arm around her waist.
Usagi nodded almost imperceptibly and reached for Taiki's hand. Her eyes briefly searched for Seiya; he seemed unharmed.