Chapter 24
Yaten was the first to wake up, as he often only needed a few hours of sleep to get through the day. Skillfully, he pulled Haruka's laptop onto his lap, which was on the small coffee table, and quickly cracked the password. He hurriedly skimmed through his emails to check if there was anything important. Most of them were of a general nature; one concerned Zoisite, who continued to remain silent. But then his eyes caught a line.
Subject: Urgent Information/New Insights
Curiosity seized him. Setsuna was the sender; she had started monitoring Chiba's bug additionally yesterday to gain background information, as her attempts at approach had so far been unsuccessful.
Yaten, Attached is an audio file that raises significant questions. This might explain why he is not responding to any flirting attempts. I'm afraid we need to come up with something else. Suna
Yaten furrowed his brow as he read the email. The prospect of further revelations piqued his curiosity, and he quickly downloaded the attached audio file. After adjusting the volume, he stared intently at the laptop. Recording Start:
A moment of silence, then the creaking of a door. High-heeled shoes clacked on the floor.
"Rei, can't you see that I'm working right now? I have to get this done. I wanted to at least make a brief appearance at the wedding," Mamoru Chiba's voice sounded slightly annoyed.
"Nonsense, you won't show weakness there. You stay at home. You offered your help to Serena. If she didn't accept it, she'll see what she gets," his sister's voice echoed.
Chiba snorted in annoyance. "And if one conversation wasn't enough?"
"You did what you could. Concentrate on the really important things. How is all this going to continue? I mean, up to a certain point, everything was perfectly planned, but you both didn't think much further," Rei scolded her brother.
"I know," he grumbled back. "No one could have expected another Tsukino daughter."
"I just wanted to point it out... by the way, I just talked to your wife on the phone. She asked when she can expect you back..."
Yaten paused the recording briefly and rewound the last sentence. She said it clearly and distinctly, "your wife"... But as far as he knew, Chiba was not married. Curious, he let the recording continue.
"Rei, stop interfering in everything. I will get in touch with her... If you communicate with her again sooner, tell her I'll come over the holidays and won't leave until after New Year's. This time for real. The wedding is already over... I can hardly do anything more here, and you have the daily business well in hand."
"As if. I told you I'll take over for a while; this is not a permanent solution, Mamoru! I have enough on my plate without constantly dealing with these suit-wearers!" she hissed back.
"All right. I'll come up with something. But it won't be easy... Our plan would have been perfect if Serena hadn't shown up; that messed everything up... Could you please let me finish this now? This is about a lot of money; I can't afford to make mistakes. I promise you I'll figure out a solution."
End of recording.
Yaten stared at the laptop in disbelief and listened to the entire conversation a second and third time. Chiba didn't have a wife; that was a fact. But who were they talking about? If he were married, he would have known, especially as Chiba was a head of a family. Something as significant as a wedding would have been widely known in Tokyo. Unless it was maybe indeed an American woman, which would also explain his increased stays there. However, this raised new questions. Who was the woman? And what were his plans? Countless questions raced through Yaten's mind. He needed answers, and quickly.
"Why do I even bother putting a password on the laptop when you're just helping yourself anyway?" Haruka whispered suddenly to Yaten.
He drummed thoughtfully on the keys. "Ruka, your birthdate is not a secure password, neither is Seiya's or the last four digits of your cellphone number," he retorted dryly, without looking up. "If you seriously wanted to keep me away from this device, you would have to put more effort into it, or do you want me to explain passwords to you more precisely? Is our Sleeping Beauty awake by now?"
Haruka leaned on the back of the sofa behind Yaten and looked over his shoulder at her laptop. "No, he's still in a coma. But I've already put water and painkillers next to him. He's sure to have the hangover of his life... What have you been listening to?"
Yaten looked up at her. "My toy turned out to be useful after all. But listen to it yourself; you probably wouldn't believe me otherwise," with these words, he let the recording play for the fourth time.
After the dialogue ended, Haruka furrowed her brow in thought. "But, to my knowledge, Chiba doesn't have a wife... Who is Rei talking about?"
Yaten slammed the laptop shut and jumped up. "And that's exactly what I'm going to find out now. You get along with Seiya, right?"
"Yes, of course... He probably won't be able to do more than complain to me about how bad he feels... What I would like to know now is where you're going." Yaten had a mischievous grin on his face. "I still have a visitor in the basement, and he's going to give me answers today."
Haruka rolled her eyes; she couldn't understand Yaten's fondness for torture at all. "Yes, then I wish you good luck. Should I let you know when Seiya comes back to life?" Yaten hastily tied his hair. "Yes, please do, but remember, I only have sporadic reception in the basement."
Haruka watched him shaking her head as the door closed behind him.
Usagi had borrowed a pair of sweatpants and an oversized sweater from Taiki. Of course, the clothes were much too long for her, but still better than her nightgown or her wedding dress – those were the only alternatives she had at the moment. She sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, lost in her own thoughts about the past night, the tumultuous morning, and Seiya. Eventually, her gaze wandered to Taiki, who was sitting at the table, going through some documents.
He had genuinely stood up for her earlier, even against his own father, and she was deeply grateful for that. When he lifted his head and noticed Usagi looking at him, he smiled. "Is everything okay, Serena?"
She shook herself out of her thoughts. "Yes... it's just all a bit much right now."
Taiki put the pen down on the table and looked at her more intently. "Serena, is there something you want to talk to me about? I know we didn't consciously choose this marriage, but I think if we are open with each other, it can work."
Usagi started to wrestle with herself. She would like to tell him everything, lay all the cards on the table, and then gauge his reaction. However, something held her back. A dull feeling in her stomach. "I... I'm not sure."
The uncertainty in Usagi's eyes didn't go unnoticed. Taiki stood up, approached her, and then sat down with a bit of distance beside her. His proximity conveyed comfort and understanding. "Then let me phrase the question differently. What did they use to pressure you into agreeing to this marriage? When we first talked at the engagement party, you just said it was time for a fresh start... I've been wondering for a while now how terrible your old life must have been for you to agree to this. Please be honest with me now. I won't hurt you; you can trust me."
He gently placed his hand on the blanket where he assumed her hand was. Usagi lowered her head despondently. She weighed how much of the truth Taiki could handle, how much she was ready to reveal now, and took a deep breath.
"You're right... I went through a really tough time before Kenji found me. There were moments in the past few weeks when I wished I hadn't accepted his offer... Taiki, I was homeless. I lived on the streets for two years, begging for money and working as a day laborer. I slept under bridges, on the dirty ground... In the icy winter, I stuffed my clothes with newspaper to avoid freezing, and I went hungry... But I knew why I was doing it: for my siblings. Chibiusa and Shingo, that was the only way we could be together. Then Kenji came... he guaranteed me a carefree life for my siblings in exchange for the marriage... That's why I agreed to marry you, that's why I did all of this. Because I am responsible for them... They have no one else... and now..."
The more she talked, the more tears welled up in her eyes. The pain of losing her siblings resurfaced, and it was as strong as on the day she had said goodbye to them. Her whole body trembled with suppressed emotions, and in that moment, she felt broken, unable to continue.
Taiki didn't hesitate and pulled her into his arms, soothingly stroking her back. Now he could better understand what drove her, and at the same time, his anger towards Kenji and his father, who surely knew everything, grew. "Do you know where your siblings are?" he asked calmly as he noticed her sobs slowly subsiding.
Usagi sat up a bit straighter, wiping away her tears with one hand. With a heavy heart, she shook her head. "No, I only know that they were separated... Your father gave me a letter from Shingo yesterday during the party..." "I'll take care of that, I promise. Can you give me the letter?" he asked, searching her gaze. "Uh... It's in the box with the greeting cards... I didn't have anywhere else to put it, so I just threw it in there... I couldn't very well walk around with a letter in my hand for the rest of the evening." Taiki chuckled. "Then it will arrive here soon, just like the other gifts and your clothes. I'm glad you're finally confiding in me. We have to stick together; otherwise, we have no chance."
Usagi blushed slightly, feeling a bit self-conscious under Tellu's scrutinizing gaze. She followed them to the elevator, realizing that the senshi had already settled into a familiar routine. As the doors closed, she heard Makoto giving a warning to Tellu, "Be gentle, Tellu. Remember, we're guests here, and Serena is still getting used to everything."
In the meantime, Taiki chuckled to himself, amused by the sudden burst of energy the senshi brought into the apartment. He returned to his work, grateful for the distraction from the earlier tense situation. While he concentrated on the documents, he couldn't help but wonder how Usagi was coping with the senshi's styling endeavors.
Upstairs, Tellu had already taken charge, directing Usagi to sit in front of a mirror. "Alright, my dear, let's turn this into something decent. Don't worry; I've worked miracles on worse situations," she declared with a confident smile.
Makoto hovered nearby, observing with a protective eye. "Just let her work her magic, Usagi. You'll be amazed by the results."
Tellu began unpacking her beauty supplies, and soon, the room was filled with the scent of various cosmetics. Usagi sat patiently, allowing Tellu to inspect her hair and wardrobe with a critical eye.
"Okay, first things first – those clothes have got to go," Tellu declared dramatically, and soon, she had Usagi changing into a more fitting and stylish outfit she had brought along.
As Tellu worked on Usagi's hair, she chatted away. "So, how did you end up in this mess, Serena? I mean, Taiki seems like a nice guy, but this whole forced marriage situation is just bizarre. Did Kenji blackmail you or something?"
Usagi hesitated for a moment, debating how much to share. She decided to keep it simple for now. "It's a long story, and yes, there was pressure involved. But I'm still figuring things out."
Tellu gave a sympathetic nod. "Well, I'm sure we can help you navigate through this mess. The girls and I have been through our fair share of crazy situations. Just hang in there, okay?"
After a bit more primping and styling, Tellu finally stepped back, admiring her work. "There! Much better. Now you look like the beautiful lady you are. What do you think, Mako?"
Makoto grinned, genuinely pleased with the transformation. "You did great, Tellu. Usagi, take a look."
As Usagi saw her reflection in the mirror, she was genuinely surprised. The senshi had worked wonders, turning her disheveled appearance into something chic and stylish. She smiled, genuinely grateful for their help.
"Thank you, Tellu, Makoto. I really appreciate it," she said sincerely.
Plagued by pounding headaches, Seiya awoke, needing a moment to orient himself. He wasn't in his bedroom but in Haruka's guest room. He sighed in relief. On the nightstand, he found a bottle of water and a pack of painkillers. Gratefully, he took two pills and washed them down with a large gulp.
He couldn't remember much from the previous night, and he was glad for it. He needed to get Usagi out of his mind. She and Taiki had gone through with it; they were married now, and he couldn't be the reason standing between them, he told himself repeatedly.
Swinging his legs out of bed, Seiya made his way, still slightly unsteady, to the living room.
"Oh, look who finally crawled out of bed. I thought you might never wake up... I've tried waking you at least five times... no chance," he was greeted by Haruka.
"Shh... not so loud," Seiya grumbled, wrinkling his face.
"That wasn't loud at all," Haruka intentionally shouted even louder, bursting into laughter.
"Yeah, yeah, make fun of poor people in pain."
"Poor people... Where? ... I only see someone who had a bit too much to drink, and that, my friend, is self-inflicted. No sympathy for that."
Seiya had no patience for such banter. "I'll take a quick shower, then maybe you can deal with me better. Go ahead, make me a coffee, extra strong."
Effortlessly, he found his way to the bathroom. The warm water slowly cleared his senses. However, along with that came the memories from the previous day, and suddenly, he wished they had remained forgotten. After getting ready, he scrutinized his reflection in the mirror. The dark circles and exhaustion were clearly visible, but he forced himself to keep a clear head.
Upon returning to the living room, he found a steaming coffee that Haruka had prepared for him. She sat on the sofa, casting him a curious glance.
"Well, does your head feel better?" she asked with an amused grin.
Seiya nodded and took a seat in the available space in front of the coffee cup. His gaze now scanned the room more attentively, noticing that Yaten wasn't around. "Where's Yaten? Did he drink too much too?"
Haruka sighed and shook her head. "No, he helped me get you here yesterday. I wouldn't have managed alone. Yaten is working... His guest apparently needed urgent attention. You get what I mean... I don't want to rush you, but honestly, I have another appointment, which I've already postponed by several hours because of you."
"Alright, alright, I get it. I'm as good as gone," Seiya grumbled, rubbing his still slightly throbbing temple.
"No, that's not what I meant. You can stay here as long as you want. I just needed to make sure you woke up. Man, you couldn't even walk yesterday. If you hadn't gotten up in the next hour, I would have seriously considered calling a doctor."
Seiya sipped his coffee. "Don't worry, I'm feeling better now. I'll leave soon."
However, those words made him pensive—home. To the house where Taiki now lived with Usagi. How was that even supposed to work? How could he distance himself from her when they lived under the same roof? Seiya finished his coffee in peace while Haruka headed to her appointment.
Then he closed the door behind him and walked aimlessly through the streets of Tokyo. He didn't know where to go. Thoughts of Usagi and Taiki swirled like a storm in his mind, and he found no clear way out. After a while of wandering, he found himself standing by the Sumida River. The gentle splashing of the water and the city lights reflected on its surface. Leaning against the railing, he tried to give his thoughts some space.