Chapter 35
Usagi blinked tiredly and slowly woke up. A glance to the side revealed that Taiki had already gotten up since the bed next to her was empty. She got up slowly, draped her morning robe over herself, and tiptoed into the living room.
There, Taiki sat at the table, engrossed in a newspaper, and just like the evening before, she sensed that peculiar smell in the air. Sniffing, she followed the scent to the table. Suspiciously, she pulled Taiki's coffee cup a bit closer and smelled it. Looking at her thoughtfully, he asked, "Do you want a coffee too?" However, Usagi just grimaced and pushed the cup back to him. "No, I think I'll stick to tea. But tell me, do you have a new type of coffee beans, or is this machine different from the one downstairs?" she asked, still fixated on the black brew in his cup. "No, why would you think that? Same machine, same beans," Taiki replied, mildly amused. "I don't know; it just smells strange, pungent somehow," Usagi said, wrinkling her nose.
Taiki lifted the cup and smelled it too, then took a demonstrative sip. "Smells normal and tastes normal," he replied with a gentle smile. Eventually, Usagi sat down on the chair opposite Taiki, still lost in thought. "Maybe I'm just not fully awake yet." Taiki set the newspaper aside and looked at Usagi attentively. "A coffee might actually help with that. So, what else do you have planned for today?"
Usagi, still pondering the peculiar coffee scent, shifted her gaze to Taiki. "Oh, I'm not sure. I thought I'd continue arranging the apartment. There are still a few boxes waiting to be opened." Taiki nodded approvingly. "That sounds like a good plan. Anything else on your agenda?" Usagi thought for a moment. "In the early afternoon, I have an appointment to inspect the premises for the food distribution of our homeless project. We need to clarify some details and see if everything fits as I envision."
Taiki stood up and handed her a white envelope with delicate golden decorations from the kitchen counter. "This invitation was in the mailbox yesterday. It's an event that takes place annually for the wives of wealthy men in Tokyo. It's about exchanging ideas on charity projects and similar topics. I think it would be a good opportunity for you to make new contacts."
Usagi curiously opened the envelope and skimmed over the elegant text of the invitation. Her eyes scanned the lines as the words registered with her. Suddenly, she froze when she noticed the date. "It's tomorrow night! I really don't know if it's such a good idea..." she began, and the thought that Taiki was still unaware of her stylist's machinations came to the forefront. The fact that she had been deceived still gnawed at her, but she didn't want to address the issue for the time being.
Taiki, noticing her strange reaction, approached and gave her a fleeting kiss on her hairline. "You can think about it calmly. It's a good opportunity, but no one will pressure you into anything. There are many similar events, and if it doesn't fit tomorrow, you can just go to the next one. I'm sorry, but I have to leave; the conference starts soon. It might be late when I return; you don't have to wait up for me."
Usagi nodded and watched him thoughtfully as he left. Then she decided to continue unpacking the boxes in the bathroom. She replaced her morning robe with comfortable clothes, and her hands delved into the cardboard, bringing their contents to the surface. Shampoo, perfume, creams, and numerous towels were neatly placed in the cabinets. Suddenly, she came across a small bag containing pads and tampons. She paused for a moment, began to count.
Since irregular cycles were normal for her due to her life on the streets, she pushed aside the thought of a possible pregnancy. Being four days late was entirely normal for her—no reason to worry, she assured herself, and placed the bag in one of the drawers.
Only when she unpacked the last box in the bathroom did she decide to take a break. Somehow, she felt more exhausted than usual. She glanced at the clock – still two hours until her appointment. The sofa in the living room beckoned invitingly, and Usagi decided to lie down for a short while. She pulled the thin blanket over herself and fell asleep within minutes.
Makoto gently shook her shoulder to wake her up. "Serena, we need to get going. The appointment for the homeless project is coming up." Usagi took a moment to realize she had fallen asleep. She quickly got up, and as her surroundings came back into focus, she said, "Damn, I fell asleep."
She rushed downstairs with Makoto to quickly put on something appropriate. However, without Tellu, she felt lost in the mountains of clothing that occupied an entire room. It took quite a while until she found something suitable. She sorely missed Tellu's professional eye and expert opinion. Tellu had always had an overview of her wardrobe and often made decisions easier for her.
Nearly on time, Usagi and Makoto reached the meeting point. The tour of the building was breathtaking. It was exactly what Usagi had envisioned. Downstairs, there was a fully equipped cafeteria, perfect for her plan with the food distribution. Upstairs, there were even more rooms they could use. In her mind's eye, she had already set up one room as a sleeping area. In another, donated clothes and blankets would be distributed, and in the third, she wanted to create a creative space for the children. She knew all too well how much Chibiusa enjoyed drawing or crafting, often using discarded items. She wanted the children, when they were here, to be able to be children and find solace.
As the tour progressed, Usagi's eyes widened with excitement and hope. This place had the potential to provide real support to people in need.
The real estate agent offered Usagi and Makoto some coffee to pass the time until the contracts were ready, but just the thought of coffee made Usagi feel queasy in her stomach. Her gaze briefly wandered to the coffee pot on a small table, and she forced herself to suppress the nausea.
Makoto, standing beside her, noticed Usagi's sudden paleness and gave her a concerned look. "Are you okay? You look so pale."
Usagi waved it off, trying to play down her discomfort. "Oh, I think I probably upset my stomach yesterday. You know what, I saw a pharmacy across the street. I'll quickly go over and get something for it. You can wait for the contracts and then join me at the car, okay?"
Makoto nodded and handed Usagi the car keys. "Sure, take care of yourself. I'll be right there."
Usagi hurriedly left the building and took a deep breath outside. The cool air cleared her senses for a moment, but the thoughts of a possible pregnancy briefly flared up again as she opened the door to the pharmacy.
A young pharmacist smiled warmly at her. "What can I do for you?"
Usagi was strongly uncertain, to buy some time, she carefully examined the products on the shelves on her way. When she stood in front of the blond man, her fingers fidgeted nervously in her coat pocket. "I... I need something for nausea. I probably upset my stomach," she expressed her discomfort. The man nodded and brought out a few preparations. He briefly explained their effects and recommended her to try one of them. Hesitant, Usagi chose the one with the most appealing packaging and handed Taiki's credit card to him.
As she stood at the door, about to leave, she hesitated again and turned around. "Can I get you anything else?" the pharmacist asked when he noticed her hesitation. "I... I think I'd also like a pregnancy test," Usagi mumbled shyly. The pharmacist nodded professionally, handed her a test, and swiped the card through the reader again.
For her, it felt like she had just bought something forbidden. She quickly put the test in the small paper bag, slid it into her purse, and clutched it tightly. The thought of pregnancy passed through her mind like a shadow. Just yesterday, she had made a clear statement to Kenji about it, yet the idea kept creeping back that it might be possible. She needed clarity.
Outside, her gaze wandered along the busy street when suddenly an iron grip seized her wrist, forcefully pulling her along. Everything happened so fast that Usagi could hardly comprehend it. In the next second, she felt a solid wall against her back, and a man with fiery red hair pressed her throat with his forearm. The pressure was merciless, and Usagi struggled for breath, but it barely reached her burning lungs.
"Not so easy, Princess. Did you really think your father would just accept an incident like yesterday? In the future, you will behave respectfully towards him and fulfill your duties without further antics. Do you understand? Otherwise, you will soon get to know a whole different side. They can't always watch over you, and we will find ways," the man hissed threateningly into her ear.
Usagi's heart raced with fear. Who was this man, and what did he intend to do to her now? The pressure on her throat did not let up; she tried to answer but only produced a stifled whimper. The surroundings blurred before Usagi's eyes.
"Rubeus! Let her go!" a muffled voice reached her, and then everything around her turned black.
Rubeus slowly turned to Makoto, his eyes sparkling challengingly. "Well, who do we have here? The little lapdog supposed to watch over her? Do you really think you'd be a match for me?" he said arrogantly. "We can find out if you don't release her immediately!" Makoto retorted with unwavering conviction. "Not this time, but soon, for sure," Rubeus said arrogantly. With one last threatening look at Makoto, he let go of Usagi. She slumped unconscious to the ground, and for a moment, the world lingered in eerie silence.
Makoto hurried to Usagi, checked her breathing, and shook her lightly, hoping to bring her back to the present. Usagi's face looked even paler than before, and her breathing was shallow, but she was still breathing.
Immediately, Makoto dialed Taiki's number.
"Serena was attacked and is unconscious. I need a doctor at the Tower. I'll explain the rest shortly," she shouted into the phone. "Attacked? By whom? And where were you at that time?" Taiki's voice sounded tense. Makoto briefly described the events, and Taiki's audible intake of breath on the other end revealed his growing concern. "I see. So, a hospital is not an option... I'll figure something out; take care of her. Be there soon."
Taiki's gaze shifted guiltily over his shoulder to Amy, who gently traced her hand along his back. "What's going on? Why a hospital?" she asked empathetically.
A heavy sigh escaped Taiki's throat as he sought eye contact with the young doctor. "I know exactly what we agreed on, but do you think you could overlook our arrangement just this once and examine Serena? She was attacked by one of Kenji's men and is unconscious. Makoto is bringing her to the Tower."
Amy felt an internal conflict as she heard Taiki's request. Their agreement was clear. However, now she faced a situation that tested her loyalty to the Hippocratic Oath and her feelings for Taiki. She knew very well that the woman in question was the one he came home to every night, the woman he could be seen with in public. A wave of jealousy surged within her. Suddenly, another emotion mingled with her feelings: pity. This woman hadn't intentionally chosen Taiki as a man, and she had Kenji Tsukino as her father – that alone was burdensome enough for a lifetime. She took a deep breath and nodded in agreement. "I will check on Serena. But Taiki, this is the last time. Please think of an alternative for future emergencies."
Taiki nodded gratefully, knowing he had put Amy in a moral dilemma. He pulled her close and gave her an intense kiss, then handed her clothes and began to dress.