Chapter 51
The upcoming days passed by Usagi in a blur, filled with the joy of falling asleep next to Seiya and waking up beside him each morning. While on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays she shared the bed upstairs with Taiki to maintain appearances, she was perfectly content with that arrangement. The remaining four nights were exclusively hers and Seiya's.
When the men were at work, Usagi immersed herself in her projects, which, with Makoto's support, had taken clear shape. Once she returned from her vacation, the renovations would be complete, and she could open her homeless shelter. Petzite had already started packing her bags; there were only a few days left until they left. Usagi often wondered why she needed so many clothes for just a week-long trip, but as the journey approached, her nervousness increased. Would she finally meet Shingo? The mere thought brought tears of joy to her eyes. But before that, there was today's doctor's appointment.
She sat on the couch, her hand resting on her stomach, which looked normal but held the promise of new life, possibly even two lives. Usagi wished she could have Seiya with her for the appointment, but that wasn't possible. Taiki was officially the father, and he awaited her upstairs in the top floor of the tower. She had discussed it with Seiya multiple times in the last few days, but his stance was clear; he didn't want to tell Taiki about the possibility of his paternity. As the clock moved into her line of sight, she couldn't help but feel a bit anxious. Taiki should be arriving soon; they had the appointment in half an hour.
As if sensing her thoughts, Taiki opened the door. "Apologies for the delay, Serena. The meeting took longer than expected, and the traffic was dreadful... but I'm ready now, give me 5 minutes," he said, placing his briefcase next to the sideboard, taking off his coat, and hanging it on the coat rack.
"No problem, you're here now. Was your day very stressful?" she greeted him. Taiki sighed lightly and loosened his tie.
"Yes, and exhausting, as usual. Someone even spilled coffee on my shirt during the meeting," he informed his wife, unbuttoning his shirt. "I'll just change into something fresh quickly, and then we can leave whenever you're ready. How was your day?" he casually asked her.
"I spent the day sorting out a few things for the homeless shelter. If everything goes well, we might even have a doctor once a week. And then, with Makoto's help, I baked a delicious pumpkin pie. I left you a piece; it's in the fridge."
"Thank you, but before we relax and have the cake, we should hurry," Taiki said with a smile, heading towards the bedroom to get a fresh shirt. He returned shortly after, dressed in a new shirt. "Oh, by the way, what do you think about inviting the others over for dinner tonight? I think it wouldn't hurt to discuss a few more things for the trip."
Usagi nodded in agreement and stood up. "Yes, I think that's a nice idea."
Together, they headed to the gynecologist's office. The medical practice welcomed them with a calming ambiance, but Usagi's nervousness increased as she went through the same procedure as last time. Blood was drawn, weight was measured, and she was asked about any possible complaints. However, on this day, her heart beat faster than usual.
In the waiting room, Taiki took her hand, and they tried to reassure each other. When their names were called, they stood up together and entered the examination room. As they entered, Usagi felt Taiki grip her hand tighter. With a faint smile, he tried to break the tension a bit. The door opened, and Dr. Tanaka, the gynecologist, walked in. Her friendly smile and professional demeanor had a calming effect.
"Good day, Mr. Kou. Good day, Mrs. Kou. How are you today?" Dr. Tanaka greeted them, gesturing for them to take a seat.
"Quite good... I think, but I would like to know what to expect, and that's why I'm a bit tense," Usagi admitted nervously.
The doctor nodded understandingly. "That's understandable. Let's first see what we find, and then we'll take it from there. Is that okay with you?"
Usagi looked at Taiki, lightly squeezing his hand before smiling at the doctor. "Yes, that's okay." Despite her uncertainty, a hint of excitement could still be heard in her voice.
The gynecologist directed Usagi to a small changing room, where she could undress for the examination, apologizing for a moment. Lost in thought and filled with a mix of anticipation and nervousness, Usagi undressed and sat on the examination table.
Dr. Tanaka entered the room again, accompanied by a warm smile. "Take your time, Mrs. Kou. We have all the time you need," she said calmly, sensing Usagi's tension. The examination began with the transvaginal ultrasound, and Usagi felt excitement coursing through her body. Taiki's hand, as it did the last time, rested on her shoulder, providing her with strength. Dr. Tanaka gently inserted the ultrasound probe, her gaze focused on the screen.
She patiently explained each step, pointing to the monitor. "Here, you can already see a small embryo, and the heart is already beating." Usagi stared at the monitor, discerning the contours of a gummy bear-like little being. The doctor paused, allowing the moment to sink in. A gentle smile adorned Dr. Tanaka's face as she continued, "And here we have number two. No blighted ovum. Congratulations, it's unequivocally twins." Usagi was overwhelmed. The news hit her, and she could hardly believe that they would soon be parents, and to twins, no less.
For what felt like an eternity, Usagi stared, overcome, at the screen. Taiki still beamed with joy; his warm hand remained on her shoulder, and he gently stroked her shoulder blade with his thumb.
"Mrs. Kou, you can get dressed again; everything is in perfect order. I'll give you some brochures, and we'll see each other again in a few weeks. Take your time to consider which prenatal examinations you'd like to undergo. Since today's examination was outside the regular schedule, I don't have much time now, especially during the holiday rush. Nevertheless, I wish you all the best, and next time, I'll have more time," assured the doctor, extending her hand.
As the two sat back in Taiki's car, an odd silence hung between them. Taiki still radiated joy, while Usagi felt completely uncertain. "Do you really think we can handle this?" she asked, still staring at the ultrasound image.
"Of course. Besides, we have no other choice, do we?" he replied with a lopsided grin. "I'm afraid you're right... somehow, we'll make it," she murmured. Taiki gripped the steering wheel, and suddenly, a furrow appeared on his forehead. "But we have to tell your father before the press release goes out."
"Press release?" Usagi repeated, staring at her husband.
"We're Tokyo's upper class. It's customary to share such news with the public. Our wedding was covered in the media. But I would keep it relatively low-key, only 2 or 3 selected magazines without a big statement."
Usagi was confused and overwhelmed. She hadn't expected this at all. "And when do you plan to do that?"
"Your father, preferably soon. The press release only after the critical three months; you never know what could happen in the first 12 weeks."
The blonde briefly reconsidered what Taiki had just told her. She took a deep breath and made a decision. "Alright, I'll go to Kenji this afternoon and tell him, then we'll have it behind us."
"We can go together if you want; I'm not comfortable with you being alone near him," Taiki suggested, but she shook her head.
"No, it's kind of you, but no thank you. You already have enough with your own father and all the business to deal with. Kenji is my responsibility. I'll handle it alone," she said resolutely.
Taiki studied Usagi thoughtfully, then nodded in agreement. "Okay, if you think you can handle it alone, go ahead. But please, at least take Makoto with you. Your father can be dangerous, and I want to ensure that you're not alone in this matter. And if you change your mind, you can call me anytime. I still have a flexible appointment."
Her lips formed a thin line as she nodded. "I know he's dangerous, better than you might suspect." She didn't say more about it. Her fingers dug into her thighs as she thought about his slap.
Taiki started the car and drove back to the tower. Shortly after, he entered the underground garage. "If it's really okay for you, I'd go directly to the appointment now, but don't worry, I'll be reachable the whole time and back in time for dinner," he said.
Usagi smiled gratefully at him. "Of course. See you tonight," she bid him farewell and got out. "Serena, and please remember to take Makoto with you," he called to her again before turning around and driving away.
Usagi first went up to Seiya's apartment. She called for him, but he seemed to still be at the harbor. He had already mentioned having some extra work before the vacation. Once again, she pulled out the ultrasound images and caressed them. Then she clenched her fist; an uncontrollable anger surged as she thought about her father. But she had made up her mind to confront him. He wouldn't do to her unborn children what her sister and she had endured. With the help of the Kou brothers, she would break this cycle and rearrange Tokyo's elite.
Carefully, she placed the ultrasound image on the small coffee table, and then she went downstairs to Makoto's place. The familiar and wonderful scent greeted her as she entered. "Makoto?" she called through the hallway, already guessing where Makoto would be.
"I'm here," Makoto chirped cheerfully from the kitchen. Usagi blinked around the corner. "That smells wonderful..."
Makoto was just taking a tray out of the oven and glanced over her shoulder. "The cookies still need to cool a bit," she said and placed the hot tray aside.
"Oh, too bad. But then you must have some time, right?" she asked the brunette.
Makoto leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. "I thought there were no more appointments for today."
"I have to go to my father; Taiki wants him to know about the pregnancy. Can you drive me?"
A smirk appeared on Makoto's lips. "Of course. Or do you think I'd let you go alone into the lion's den? Give me 10 minutes. I'll be ready soon, and then we can leave."
Urgently wiping her hands on the apron, Makoto hung it on a small hook on the wall. Usagi paced restlessly while waiting for Makoto. She felt a mixture of anger and determination rising within her. This time, she would stand firm and not be intimidated by her father.
Finally, Makoto was ready. She grabbed her jacket, and together they set out on their way. During the drive, Usagi could sense the tension in the air. Her gaze wandered out the window as she tried to organize her thoughts. In front of her father's imposing villa, the nervous fluttering in Usagi's stomach became more pronounced. Thoughts of past confrontations and unpleasant memories crowded her mind. However, she fought against the rising fear. This time would be different because she had Seiya and Taiki by her side, and even Yaten, whom she found hard to assess, seemed to be advocating for her. After all, he had already ensured Shingo's safety and continued the search for Chibiusa.
Together with Makoto, she entered through the grand front door, letting her gaze sweep through the reception hall. Suddenly, she tensed. A familiar figure sat in one of the chairs, right in the middle of the reception hall, engrossed in a fashion magazine. Tellu lowered her magazine and glared at the visitors.
"Oh, what a high and rare visit," she began to mock, rising from her seat. She looked down on Usagi. "So, Petzite replaced me? You must be desperate to hire such a dinosaur."
Usagi was already preparing to give Tellu a piece of her mind, but Makoto discreetly pushed her back. "Petzite is doing an excellent job unlike others," Makoto countered sweetly. "We want to see Mr. Tsukino. Is he in the house?" she continued professionally.
Tellu rolled her eyes and turned away from them. "In his office. Serena should still know the way," she hissed. And Usagi knew the way, it had been etched in her memory. To distance herself as quickly as possible from Tellu, she accelerated her steps without looking back. However, she was confident that Makoto kept pace with her.