Chapter 38

Yaten fixed his gaze sharply on the couple on the sofa. The atmosphere in the room was tense, and he felt like he had stumbled into a precarious situation that was extremely uncomfortable for all involved. His mind was racing as he strategically considered the best way to handle the situation. He depended on Usagi's help, and therefore, he didn't want to scare her away immediately. After all, she was now part of the family, and respect was crucial in this matter. However, if necessary, he could still resort to other means.

Yaten decided to give them a brief moment of calm. At the same time, he could use this time to handle some things and make an important phone call. "I'll go downstairs for a smoke real quick. When I come back, I expect an explanation for this situation, Seiya..." he said firmly. His gaze immediately turned to Usagi. "Also, I need to discuss something important with you, Serena," he added calmly, without waiting for a response, he turned around. With a smooth motion, he closed the door behind him, and the clicking of the lock emphasized the silence in the room.

Usagi's eyes widened in shock as her gaze fell on Seiya. "He knows, he saw us together. What if he tells Taiki? What if I lose everything now? If Taiki kicks me out? I can't go back to Kenji," she stammered in distress, her words choked by the fear rising within her. Seiya reached for her hand, his touch comforting and firm. "Calm down, sweetheart, take a deep breath. Yaten won't tell anyone anything." "How do you know? Did you see his look? I can't go back to Kenji, Seiya, you can't let that happen," she pleaded, her voice full of desperation. Seiya gently pulled her into his arms. "He won't reveal anything because he's my brother. If he wanted to, he could have exposed us in the underground garage instead of distracting Taiki. Trust me, he knows what I feel for you."

Slowly, Usagi calmed down, her breaths becoming steadier. "How... how do you mean that?" "Just as I said it. Yaten saw us after Makoto left. Afterwards, he confronted me, and I told him that I love you." "Does he know about..." Usagi broke off, unable to complete the sentence. Seiya shook his head slightly. "No, he doesn't know how far we've gone... If that's what you were wondering. And before you ask further, I think we should stick to the official version that it can only be his. I mean, we're brothers. Even if it's more like me, it's still somewhere in his genes. I don't want to shirk responsibility. On the contrary, I couldn't imagine anything more beautiful than having you and the little one around me all day. But, as you yourself just realized, this is about much more..."

Sadly, Seiya looked past Usagi, and in that moment, the depth of his own feelings was palpable. Even though he couldn't say for sure if it was his child Usagi carried in her womb, he knew he would love it unconditionally, from the moment he learned of its existence. Usagi gently placed her hand on his cheek, and their gazes merged in a moment of profound connection. Usagi couldn't hold back any longer. Slowly, she leaned in to Seiya and kissed him tenderly.

In this intimate moment, as they parted from each other, there was another knock on the door. The expected intruder entered. Yaten re-entered the living room, accompanied by a hint of cold cigarette smoke. "Just for my information. What exactly would you have told Taiki if he had walked in here instead of yours truly?" Yaten asked pointedly. His gaze almost pierced the situation. Seiya stood up and confronted his brother directly. "Drop it, Yaten. She's already not feeling well; she really doesn't need your dry humor."

Yaten scrutinized Usagi more closely. "Yes, right, I heard about it. Congratulations on the pregnancy," he said, pausing before turning to Seiya. "Is it yours?" he then hissed at his brother. Shocked faces looked at him. "How do you know about it?" whispered Usagi. Yaten rolled his eyes and pushed Seiya aside a bit. "Because it's my job to know such things, plain and simple... Amy took a blood sample from you yesterday, and the results were clear," he explained dryly. Then he turned back to Seiya and glared at him. "So? Is it possible that it's yours?"

Seiya tried to maintain a poker face, fervently hoping that Yaten wouldn't expose him. "No, even though I wish it were," he tried to say as composedly as possible, although it tore him apart internally.

Yaten breathed a sigh of relief. "At least something. Finally talk to Taiki, preferably tonight... Speaking of tonight. Dear sister-in-law, what are your plans for later?" Usagi was still slightly in shock, staring at her youngest brother-in-law. His words were still racing through her mind. If Amy knew, then it was impossible to keep this secret. Taiki probably knew already. "Serena? What are you planning for tonight?" Yaten asked her again.

"Uh... I was actually planning to attend that event, but I'm not so sure anymore if that's really a good idea. I think I'd rather have a cozy evening at home," Usagi hesitantly revealed her plans.

Yaten grinned widely; the whole situation seemed to be getting easier than originally thought. "I find that to be an exceptionally good idea..." he began and sat down beside her. Seiya's watchful gaze never left him. "Serena, I have a favor to ask of you. Rei Chiba will be at the event tonight. We now know that Mamoru is likely married to an American, but we don't know who. I want you to try and befriend Rei and get her to confide in you. Whatever you can find out about the American woman could be crucial."

"Why are you interested in Mamoru's wife?" Usagi asked, surprised, but Seiya already sensed where this was heading. "Because he still believes your sister is alive and that Chiba is somehow involved in her disappearance... And knowing my brother, this will turn into another eye for an eye scenario. He wants to get to Chiba's wife to then trade her for Minako, who, as I've mentioned several times, is presumed dead... Right, Yaten?" Seiya presented his theory before Yaten even had a chance to speak.

Yaten just rolled his eyes in annoyance. "And I've told you plenty of times that I don't believe Mina is dead... Something's off from the beginning. No one was allowed to say goodbye to her, the error in the autopsy report..."

But Seiya cut him off. "Yaten, Mina was almost completely burned. It's understandable that Kenji didn't let her be laid out, and whether the left or right arm was broken doesn't matter. Maybe the doctor just had a long shift and made a mistake with the side. It happens." Yaten glared at Seiya angrily. "Then explain to me why the doctor who conducted the autopsy suddenly disappeared off the face of the earth?"

Usagi didn't dare to intervene in this argument. Yaten had by now risen and stood directly in front of Seiya. Although Yaten was half a head shorter than his older brother, he seemed much more dangerous when agitated. Tension spread through the room as the two brothers faced each other in a silent showdown.

"Can someone tell me what's going on here?" suddenly, Taiki's cutting voice pierced the air. No one had noticed that the door had opened; all eyes turned to the newcomer. "Why are you already home? I thought you had appointments all day," Usagi asked her husband, hoping to lighten the mood a bit. Taiki looked from the quarreling brothers to his wife and back. "I couldn't concentrate anymore, so I canceled the afternoon appointments... There's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"He already knows," Yaten interjected, and Usagi nervously chewed on her lower lip, confirming his statement with a nod.

"Oh... well, could you guys please leave me alone with my wife? I think we need some time for ourselves," Taiki requested of his brothers. He briefly considered asking about the reason for their dispute but couldn't focus on that right now.

Seiya was trapped in a trance-like state. Once again, he was reminded that he had no claims here. She was Taiki's wife, and the child, even if it was his, would grow up as Taiki's child. Yaten already had another sarcastic remark on his lips, which he could barely hold back.

"Uh... Yaten, before you go. Yes, I'll try, but there's a problem. I don't have a stylist, and I'm a bit clumsy with doing hair myself," Usagi shouted to him. She hoped to gain some time for herself to distance herself from all of this. The silver-blond Yaten turned around and winked at her. "You're great, Serena. The stylist is the least of your problems. I'll organize someone for you. Let's say, in two hours at Makoto's apartment? Your things are still there, right?"

Then their eyes met with Seiya's. His blue irises were marked by unspoken agony. But instead of saying anything, he followed Yaten to the apartment door.

Only when the door had closed behind them, did Seiya receive an elbow jab from Yaten. "That was your chance to talk to Taiki! How much longer are you going to postpone it?" Yaten scolded him. "Yaten, it's almost Christmas... He just found out he's going to be a father. Don't you think the timing would be completely wrong?" "No, not at all. It would have been perfect... but once again, no one listens to me," grumbled the younger brother and pulled out his phone. "Why is it so important to you? Usually, you're pretty tight-lipped when it comes to things like feelings. Yaten, I want to know what's going on now. Why do you urgently want me to talk to Taiki? You already know more than you're saying."

To Yaten's relief, his phone started ringing at that very moment, allowing him to elegantly avoid providing an answer. "Excuse me for a moment," he said with a grin and answered the call. "Yes... cancel it... right away. I'm on my way... and have Petz meet me in the Tower in two hours... I have an urgent assignment for her... anything else... yes, he's right in front of me... I'll tell him," he growled into the phone.

Yaten slid his phone back into his pocket. "So, as you can see, I'm a very busy man. I have a meeting now... And by the way, Kenji is probably at the harbor office, making a fuss about his delivery not arriving. You better take care of that. Do you know what's going on there?" A mischievous grin spread across Seiya's lips, but he just shrugged innocently. "I warned him... but I think you're right. I should check in, just to make sure he doesn't turn everything into kindling."

Taiki stood there, unsure how to begin. Usagi smiled somewhat awkwardly at him. An uncomfortable silence lingered between them until Taiki gave himself a nudge. "So, you already know." Usagi nodded affirmatively. "Yes, I took a test earlier." Taiki's lips twitched slightly, and he approached Usagi slowly. "Well, it seems we'll be parents sooner than we thought," he said, pulling something small out of his bag. "I thought you didn't know yet, and I've been racking my brain the whole way back on how to tell you."

He opened his hand, revealing a small pacifier.

Usagi looked at the white pacifier in Taiki's hand, and a warm smile spread across her face. "That's cute," she said, gently taking the pacifier into her palm. "I still can't quite believe it. Everything feels so unreal, like in a dream." Taiki stepped even closer, gently placing his hands on her shoulders and looking deep into her eyes. "I know, it feels that way to me too... But I think we can manage this together, don't you? I mean, we seem to work well as a team."

Team sounded beautiful to Usagi's ears. Taiki smiled, and in that moment, Usagi felt a deep gratitude for the friendship that had developed between them. "I'm really glad that despite everything, we get along so well. You can't imagine the thoughts I had at the beginning... You could be like my father, were the worst of them. But you're the exact opposite. You'll make a wonderful father, I'm sure," Usagi said, trying to suppress the rising emotions.

"Well, I'm relieved that you see it that way. Serena, even though I don't have deeper romantic feelings for you, I want things to be good for you, no, for both of you. I don't know how you see it, but I think if we build this on a friendly basis, it can and will work."

Usagi looked at the pacifier in her hand and then back at Taiki. She knew he was right, and he had certainly earned a place as a friend in her heart. Somewhat hesitantly, she reached for his hand and beamed at him. "Friends sound very good."

For a moment, a pleasant silence settled between them. "By the way, don't you want to stay home and rest today? I mean, it must have been exhausting for you. You can also attend the next meeting; they happen regularly." Usagi suppressed a smile. "You don't need to start mothering me now. I'm fine. It was just a bit overwhelming in the first moment."

"Did you call Seiya because of that? Because you didn't want to be alone?" Taiki asked sympathetically. Usagi tried to keep her feelings in check, but the mention of Seiya made it much harder for her. "Uh... yes. After all, he was on the list, and I didn't want to bother you unnecessarily." "If it's something so important, you can bother me anytime. Understand? You and the baby are my top priority," his words were sincere but brooked no argument. "Okay, I'll remember that..." Usagi mumbled. She thought for a moment. "But I can't cancel today. I promised Yaten that I would go."

A thoughtful furrow appeared on Taiki's forehead. "Yaten? Why is he interested in the women's group?" "He asked me to try to befriend Rei Chiba." Slightly annoyed by the topic, Taiki rolled his eyes. However, he didn't say anything about it; his brother's motives were clear to him, and he remembered their agreement well.

"He's looking for my siblings, so it's the least I can do to try to support him," Usagi tried to explain her reasons to him.

Taiki had to reluctantly accept that Usagi wanted to go. He wouldn't lock her up; after all, she was a free person. "But promise me you'll be careful. When Yaten reaches out, there's usually more to it..."

Usagi looked at Taiki and could see a hint of concern in his eyes. "I'll be careful, I promise. Besides, I still have Makoto with me; she won't let me out of her sight after yesterday."

Usagi looked at Taiki and smiled slightly. An idea came to her on how to lighten the mood. "Hey, are you hungry? I prepared something earlier... in case Seiya left us anything." Taiki chuckled briefly. "That sounds good. I am actually a bit hungry," he said, thinking about the lunch bag he had left in Amy's office. For a moment, there was that dull, empty feeling in his inner self. Amy had left him, and that fact pushed to the forefront again, weighing heavily on his heart. Taiki knew he needed to distract himself; otherwise, he might find himself on the next flight to Zurich, and that would be hard to explain.