Chapter 50
Taiki parked in the almost empty Black Moon parking lot, and Seiya pulled up seconds later. Seiya and Yaten laughed as they got out of the car.
"That was too good. Did you see Dad's expression when Taiki told him we're leaving?" Yaten laughed, patting Taiki on the shoulder approvingly. "Well done, you really showed your future boss side."
"Even though it wasn't intentional, it was necessary. I just hope Dad keeps quiet for a while now," mumbled the brown-haired one, hoping he hadn't made a mistake.
"He's probably got enough on his plate dealing with Mom right now. She's definitely going to give him an earful for driving us away," Yaten said, grinning broadly.
Seiya pulled Usagi close. "You did great," he whispered to her, giving her a quick kiss. They entered the building together.
One of the scantily clad ladies jumped off her stool and approached them. "The Kou gentlemen, what can I do for you?" she cooed, her eyes fixed on Yaten, who winked at her playfully.
"Nothing, thanks. We just want to go upstairs. By the way, are Michiru and Haruka in the house?" Taiki asked.
"Yes, Mrs. Kaio and Mrs. Tennoh are in the suite, but they don't want to be disturbed," the woman informed them, reaching for a small key cabinet. She handed the small silver key to Taiki. "You know the way."
Seiya's grin widened. "Go ahead, I'll catch up." His beloved looked confused, stopping him momentarily. "No, not what you're thinking. I'm just picking up Ruka," he explained.
"But the lady just said they don't want to be disturbed," Usagi said, still holding onto Seiya. "Darling, I don't care. Remember when they suddenly showed up in our bedroom? This is just payback." Then he gave her a kiss and broke away.
Seiya walked purposefully along the long corridor; he could find this path even in his sleep. When he arrived at Michiru's suite, his fingers flew over the keypad serving as a lock. Gracefully, he pushed the door open and couldn't help but wear a mischievous grin.
"I'm home. Where are you, my love?" he called through the hallway. Indeed, it took only a few moments before he heard Haruka's cursing from the bedroom. Slowly, he pushed down the door handle and continued to open it with his foot.
"Seiya, damn it, what the hell? Can't you see we're busy? Close the damn door! From the outside! Or do I have to explain the meaning of a closed door in a brothel to you?" Haruka hissed, throwing a pillow at him.
Skillfully, Seiya grabbed the flying object and immediately fired it back. "Oh, it seems to have escaped my notice that it was closed. But since you're obviously taking a break anyway, you can get dressed and come with me."
Michiru rolled her eyes; she was aware that Seiya wouldn't disappear so quickly. Gracefully, she stood up, smoothly pulled her dress up, and stood in front of Seiya. "Please be so kind and zip up my dress. Then I can also check everything around here again," she politely asked the intruder.
Seiya only grinned broadly at Haruka while helping her friend. "I'll have drinks brought for you," Michiru said as she left the room.
Haruka looked annoyed at her best friend. "Did that have to happen?"
"Not really, but I hope it might teach you something. So, come on, get up. Without Michiru, you surely don't want to continue here," he laughed. Haruka muttered something incomprehensible as she got up and reached for her clothes.
Usagi, Yaten, and Taiki were already sitting in the conference room, chatting when the two joined. Seiya took a seat next to Usagi and immediately claimed her hand. Here, everyone could see that she was his, and he wasn't going to let that go unnoticed.
Haruka casually took a seat on one of the other available chairs. "Alright, spill the beans. What did I miss during this fancy dinner?" she asked casually, glancing around the room.
"Oh, not much, except that Taiki really stood up to the old man," replied Yaten, reaching for the Scotch bottle on the table. Impressed, Haruka raised her eyebrows and slid a glass over to Yaten. "So, how did that happen?" she asked Taiki.
He took a deep breath and rubbed his temples. "It just happened. But the fact is that I increasingly support Yaten's plan to sideline our father. It can't go on like this. Both Dad and Kenji pose a massive threat to the public. Yaten's plan is actually very good. Once Dad is no longer fit for business, I'll be able to override Kenji anytime. But that won't be enough. He surely won't tolerate that for long. Plus, I fear he's planning something else. He's too quiet towards us."
A thoughtful silence filled the room.
"That's definitely possible. After all, he didn't even invite Serena to spend the holidays with him," Yaten remarked, sipping his drink. "Oh, he has as much enthusiasm for holidays as Dad, which is none," Seiya added, trying to lighten the mood.
"I'm not so sure. I think Tai and Yaten are right. Think about it, why was the pregnancy so important to him? In the end, he gains nothing from it. The child will grow up with Serena and Taiki or Seiya. It's the heir of both families, but let's wait another 20–30 years for that. By then, Kenji would be, what, 90? So, what advantage does he get from a pregnancy now?" Haruka voiced her thoughts.
Indeed, Haruka's question brought tension back into the room. Everyone knew she was right in her considerations. Kenji didn't do anything without gaining a personal advantage.
"Yaten, do you have anyone at the Tsukino estate who can provide us with information?" Taiki asked thoughtfully.
"Theoretically, yes. I'll contact the necessary people tomorrow... But I can't promise anything. Kenji has become very cautious about sharing information. Or should I invite one of his top executives?" he asked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
The staredown between Taiki and Yaten didn't last long. "Who are you thinking of?" Taiki inquired.
Playfully, Yaten waved a pen. "Oh, I don't know, I've wanted Rubeus in my basement for years."
"No. Out of the question. If he disappears, we'll immediately be under suspicion, and then no one here is safe. It's already a miracle that Chiba hasn't reacted to Zoisite's disappearance," Taiki firmly responded.
"Come on. Rubeus is his Achilles' heel. That red-haired devil is involved in everything. With the information he can provide, we could probably outsmart Kenji in no time," Yaten tried his luck again.
"No, Rubeus is not an option here... Can anyone think of someone else who could help us?" Taiki continued to assert his position.
Everyone was pondering, even Usagi went through her time in the villa over and over again, and then an idea struck her.
"Um... how about Tellu?" she asked hesitantly, and all eyes turned to her.
"How did you come up with your former stylist of all people?" Seiya asked, surprised.
"She definitely knows more than she lets on. Plus, she's currently living in the villa again without even having a task. With a fake letter announcing a new job, her absence would hardly concern anyone..." she justified her choice.
Haruka looked visibly impressed. "Well done, Serena. It seems you're cut from the Tsukino cloth after all. Capturing the wannabe Barbie shouldn't be too difficult."
The tense gazes now focused on Taiki as he made the final decision. "Yaten, what do you think? Do you see any problems?" "No, why? Even though I'd rather play with Rubeus. But it's enough if I interrogate her after the vacation, right?" "Yes, exactly. It's just a few more days until we leave. Intensify the search for Serena's sister and find out when Mamoru will be back in Tokyo. I still want to involve him in all these plans," Taiki addressed his youngest brother. Then he stood up before anyone could start another discussion. "I think that's it for today. Personally, I just want to go home."
The group bid farewell to Haruka and returned to their cars. Yaten moved towards Seiya's car as if it were the most natural thing, and Seiya, still holding Usagi's hand, looked at him questioningly. "What are you up to, Yaten?" "Maybe ride home with you? Or should I walk?" Yaten replied, already on the passenger side of Seiya's sports car. Then he realized what his brother meant – the car was only a two-seater, and he wanted Usagi to ride with him. "Got it, I'll ride with Taiki," he grumbled and changed his position.
Seiya opened the door for Usagi and took a seat beside her. The engine of the sports car roared as Seiya shifted gears. They drove off, and Usagi quickly noticed that Seiya was taking a different direction than Taiki. Curiously, she looked at him. "Seiya, where are we actually going? This isn't the way home, is it?"
Seiya winked at her and said with a mysterious smile, "It'll be a surprise, sweetheart. Just trust me." The dark streets of Tokyo, illuminated by the city's Christmas lights, rushed past them. The city was quiet and bathed in festive splendor. The atmosphere of the late Christmas evening added a touch of magic to everything.
Eventually, they arrived at the harbor, and Seiya got out. Usagi was a bit puzzled but followed suit. Seiya led her through the harbor, past impressive ships and huge machinery. The sounds of the city were drowned out by the waves and the ships' rustling, and then they stood in front of an impressive office building. Seiya smiled lovingly at her, "Welcome to my realm."
He opened the door and escorted Usagi into the building. "Wait here for a moment," Seiya said to Usagi before slipping into his office. She was still very puzzled about what he was planning but did as he asked. Soon, he returned with a large blanket and headed towards the elevator. The doors closed, and Seiya entered a combination into the control panel. The elevator started its long journey upwards until it finally stopped on the rooftop. The doors opened, and Seiya led Usagi out.
The wind gently tousled their hair as Seiya wrapped the blanket around Usagi's shoulders. "Wow, Seiya, this is wonderful," she whispered to him, snuggling up to him. The city lights danced on the nighttime water, and the stars in the sky seemed particularly bright on this festive evening. "Yes, I used to sit here a lot and just enjoy the view. I thought you might like it too. Come, let's sit down," he said, leading her further. Together, they sat on the edge of the flat roof, their gazes lost in the vast horizon. The atmosphere was as intimate as the spark between them, and the view was breathtaking – the lights reflecting on the sea, the clear sky, and the sparkling stars above them.
Seiya put his arm around Usagi, and together they enjoyed the magical moment high above the rooftops of Tokyo.
It was as if the world paused for a moment, and their hearts beat in unison. "Have I told you today how much I love you?" Seiya whispered in her ear. "I don't think you have yet today," she replied with a smile. "More than anything else."