Chapter 61
Taiki stepped off the plane, his gaze sweeping the vast hall. The sounds of bustling activity reached his ears as he navigated through the crowd. Amy had landed several hours ago. To avoid further speculation from Kenji, they had decided to fly separately and not take a direct flight. Seiya and Usagi should have landed by now as well.
His eyes scanned the gate, but no familiar faces were in sight. With a soft sigh, he grabbed his small carry-on suitcase and followed the stream of people to the baggage claim. Even here, he remained vigilant, watching his surroundings. Only when he was sure he was alone did he relax a bit. No pursuers, that was a good sign.
With a practiced move, he lifted both his own suitcase and the one containing Usagi's belongings from the carousel and placed them on a luggage cart. The events and their potential consequences had occupied his thoughts throughout the entire flight and still lingered in his mind. Only when a firm hand landed on his shoulder did he snap back to reality, turning to face his brother, whose blue eyes met his.
"Good to see you finally made it, Tai. We were starting to think you wouldn't make it at all," the black-haired one greeted him. Taiki managed a forced smile. He hadn't expected his brother to catch him off guard like this. He desperately needed rest and recovery, and that became clear to him in this moment. "Yeah, it's good to see you too. Where are the women?" he asked tersely, his eyes searching for the familiar faces of Usagi and Amy, but the crowd swallowed any trace of them. Seiya, on the other hand, remained remarkably calm. He seemed as relaxed as Taiki had not seen him in a long time, taking the luggage cart from his older brother and assuming the lead.
"They're waiting in the car. I thought it would be best to shield them from prying eyes. By the way, Amy already gave me an earful because no one changed my bandages... I didn't know she could be so bossy. Of course, she rectified that right away, and Usagi, to the best of her ability, also scrutinized me," he reported on their way and chuckled. "Very efficient in her approach."
A wry grin appeared on Taiki's lips. He had encountered this side of his beloved as well. "Yes, that's one of her strengths. But tell me, how is Serena? Did she handle the flight well?" he inquired about his wife, following Seiya outside.
"Yes, everything is fine. However, both the doctor at the clinic and our private physician agreed that she really needs rest. So, I suggest we head to the accommodation now," Seiya explained further, opening the trunk of a large black SUV.
Then, Taiki spotted Amy's blue hair inside the car, and Usagi's familiar blonde mane came into view. He smiled with relief. When Seiya reached for the first suitcase, Taiki stopped him. Seiya looked at him in surprise. "What's wrong? Why shouldn't I load the suitcases?"
"Serena, could you please step out for a moment?" Taiki called into the car, handing Seiya his phone at the same time. "I've developed a strategy during the flight to counter Kenji's statements a bit. We'll share our 'honeymoon' with the public. This will make Kenji's accusations of infidelity less credible, and attempting to file for divorce will be more challenging for him when everyone sees how happy we are... So, you'll take a quick picture of us with the suitcases as the beginning of our journey," Taiki paused, glancing at Amy through the open trunk. Then he turned to Seiya, a slightly uneasy feeling creeping into his stomach. "And... I need to ask you for something, Seiya," he continued, his gaze shifting back to Amy before addressing his brother more seriously. "To provide Amy with more protection, I ask you to present yourself on social media as her life partner. This way, we can legitimately explain why she's back in Tokyo and why she lives in the Tower," he concluded, explaining his plan.
Seiya looked at his brother in slight shock and then through the trunk opening at Amy. The blue-haired woman was also visibly overwhelmed by Taiki's suggestion, and a shy blush played on her cheeks. "Are you really sure about the plan? I mean, I have to pose for pictures with Amy and pretend she's my girlfriend? I'm just saying..." Seiya stammered, trying to find the right words, but it didn't quite work. Taiki handed him his phone insistently. "It's just for pictures, Seiya, just like Serena and I have been handling it since the beginning. You'll manage." "Do you really mean it?" the younger one reassured himself. Taiki briefly closed his eyes and audibly took a deep breath. "Yes, I see no other option. Even though we usually avoid the media, it's the only weapon we have right now, so we'll use it."
It took Seiya a while to fully grasp his brother's message. Usagi had already gotten out of the car, a shy smile on her lips as she playfully nudged Seiya. "You'll manage, we're doing it too, and now take a few nice pictures so we can get going. I'm getting hungry," she winked at him and stood next to Taiki. They stood in silence for a moment, just looking at each other. Then Taiki wrapped his arms around her, pulling her a bit closer. "I really worried. Are you... both okay?" he whispered in her ear, and Usagi could only nod silently. She gently pushed him away and looked up at him. "Really, I'm fine now. Seiya treated me like a raw egg the entire flight. Don't worry so much all the time," she whispered back, and Taiki brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "That's good."
Seiya seized the opportunity and took some pictures of the two as they stood there. Even though something in him resisted, he knew that Taiki was probably right. Such an attack was currently the best defense they had. But he didn't like how professional the two looked in front of his phone camera. Once he had taken the pictures, he grabbed the suitcases and threw them into the car a bit louder than intended. Usagi gave Seiya a skeptical look. "Why are you suddenly so grumpy?" she asked, taking a few steps towards him.
"I'm not grumpy. I just want to get out of here quickly and be alone with you again," he dryly replied, closing the trunk. With a fluid motion, he handed Taiki his phone back. "I think there should be one or two usable pictures. Of course, I made sure that you can't tell from the pictures where you are. Can we go now?"
Taiki suppressed a laugh. "Could it be that you're a bit jealous, my dear brother?" he asked sharply and opened the door for Usagi to get to her seat. For his remark, Taiki only received a warning look from Seiya; he had hit the mark. Taiki sat in the passenger seat and looked over at the dark-haired one. "Seiya, you know very well that your jealousy is out of place here, right? Serena and I are only married on paper. I now know that her heart belongs to you. Besides, I love Amy," Taiki tried to soften him a bit. "I know," Seiya grunted back and started the engine. "Do you even know where we need to go?" Taiki continued trying to keep the conversation going. "What do you think I've been doing for the last four hours at the airport until you arrived? I've already contacted Suna and got the address. She's expecting us."
Finally, Taiki felt a certain relief coursing through his body, and he turned slightly to the back to Amy. Gently, he ran his fingertips over her knee. She reached out her hand to him, giving him an affectionate smile. During the drive, an eerie silence filled the car. Seiya sat silently at the wheel, his gaze focused on the road. The monotonous hum of the engine accompanied them on the journey, as the landscape slowly transformed into the rural idyll of Tenerife. They drove for a good half hour, and finally, they reached their destination. The Finca, surrounded by lush natural scenery, looked somehow lost and lonely at first glance, without any neighbors, and precisely that made it somehow perfect. When the car stopped on the gravel path in front of the impressive estate, a gentle shadow fell on the driveway. The Finca, surrounded by a privacy wall, exuded an atmosphere of privacy and luxury. The wall, adorned with narrow windows reflecting sunlight in subtle patterns, encircled the property like a protective shield.
The main building stretched majestically over the garden, and between the flowers was a dreamy pool. Tall palm trees lined the path to the building. Seiya had his fingers intertwined with Usagi's and took the lead. Taiki followed him a few steps later with Amy in tow. They agreed to take a look around first before unloading. The warm breeze gently brushed over their skin as they entered the garden, enveloped by the peaceful atmosphere of the Finca.
Suddenly, a sharp hiss cut through the air, followed by a muffled thud. A throwing knife embedded itself just a few inches in front of Seiya on the gravel path. His instincts reacted swiftly, and he reflexively pushed Usagi behind his back to protect her. Taiki also positioned Amy close to Usagi, taking a stance beside his brother.
The silence of the garden was shattered by the threatening presence of the invisible assailant. The brothers communicated wordlessly, their gazes searching and alert. Seiya crouched down and pulled the knife from the ground. His face showed no emotion as he recognized the weapon. Without hesitation, he handed it over to Taiki, who accepted it calmly. Once he saw the engraving on the blade, he, too, knew whom they were dealing with.
Taiki chuckled, shaking his head, and then took a few confident steps forward. "What a warm welcome. I hope that was a mistake, and you haven't switched sides overnight," Taiki called in the direction from which the knife came. He eagerly awaited a reaction, which indeed didn't take long. A faint cracking sound was heard, and shortly after, a woman stood before them. Short shorts and a snug black tank top accentuated her dark hair with a subtle greenish sheen, even though she had tied it back into a tight ponytail.
"I would have hit if that were the case. I rarely miss my target, as you know," Setsuna greeted the newcomers. Her gaze revealed a mix of seriousness and a hint of irony as she made the throwing knife disappear into her hand.
Taiki and Setsuna faced each other for a moment, their gazes merging in a blend of old camaraderie and newfound caution. Then, without breaking eye contact, Taiki extended his hand, and she instantly shook it. "Setsuna, it's good to see you again," Taiki said, a hint of joy in his voice. Setsuna gripped his hand more firmly and nodded briefly. "Yes, it's been a while." Glancing at the two women who stood a bit apart, the assassin expressed her interest. Setsuna turned to them, while Taiki applied a subtle pressure on her hand as a warning, then released it.
"Usagi, Amy, this is Setsuna Meioh. She was a close ally of ours," Seiya interjected into the conversation, introducing the mysterious woman to the other two. After the initial polite exchanges and brief introductions, Usagi's eyes wandered over the surroundings, but she couldn't spot her brother anywhere. So she cautiously decided to inquire about Shingo. "Setsuna, how is Shingo? I was looking forward to seeing him again, but I don't see him here... I thought he would be with you."
Setsuna chuckled. "Shingo is currently training, and I expect him back only at sunset. Should I show you to the accommodation and your rooms in the meantime? Then you can unpack and settle in peacefully."
Meanwhile, Yaten lay on the sofa in his office. Sunbeams struggled through the drawn curtains, gently tickling his eyes. His head ached as he sat up and ran his hands through his long, tousled hair. Damn, what possessed him to drink two bottles of his best whiskey with Tellu?
Instinctively, he reached for his cigarettes on the low coffee table, relieved to find them immediately. Weary, he opened one eye halfway to watch the flame ignite the cigarette.
"Oh man, you Kous sure all sleep like the dead. If I ever thought waking Seiya was a challenge, I'll remember today," a teasing voice suddenly reached him. Yaten jolted upright, nearly dropping his cigarette. His gaze landed on Haruka, leaning against the doorframe, observing him with a mischievous grin. "What the hell, Ruka? What are you doing here?" he grumbled, rubbing his temples.
Haruka slowly stepped further into the room, deliberately pulling Yaten's desk chair back and settling into it. She grinned, amused, and considered her next words. She would have loved to tease and provoke him a bit more, but she knew how short his fuse often was, so she decided to present him with the facts. "Taiki sent me an email... It was brief and somewhat confusing. He told me to go through with the deal with Mimete. No idea what he means by that. Do you?"
Yaten massaged his still throbbing temple with his free hand. "Yeah, but let me wake up first and get rid of this damn hangover." Laughing, Haruka pulled out a packet from her jacket pocket and tossed it to Yaten. To his relief, his reflexes worked flawlessly, effortlessly catching the flying object. Painkillers; Haruka was his savior. Without paying much attention to her, he pressed two of the white pills from the blister and swallowed them.
"Yaten, do you want to explain to me what this deal is about? I still have Seiya's entire business to handle, and Chiru demands my presence tonight at the Blackmoon for the big New Year's Eve party," Haruka pressed a bit, drumming her fingers on the table.
Yaten, however, just grunted. "Ask Tellu, she's downstairs in the basement, Interrogation Room Two. You can torment her with your presence as long as you want. I need some more time to get myself together." The sandy blonde rolled her eyes and stood up. "Fine, as you wish. I'll check on her and then I'm out. If you need me, call me, but like I said, I'm swamped today."
Yaten sighed and slumped back onto the sofa. The headaches still hadn't subsided; he just felt miserable. "Do whatever you want. But please, keep the noise at a bearable level... and lock the door behind you," he mumbled.