Chapter 64

Yaten had casually put his feet up on Seiya's large desk, observing the impressive fireworks over the harbor with an expressionless gaze. The conversation with Mimete had proven to be extremely enlightening, even more than he had expected. He had talked with her for hours, comparing her statements with the notes from the conversation with Tellu as best as he could.

A triumphant grin appeared on his lips as he leisurely lit a cigarette, internally patting himself on the back. The information he had gathered from Mimete was more than sufficient to finally eliminate Kenji. However, he knew he must not rush things now, even if patience wasn't one of his strengths.

He gradually flipped through the large stack of files left by the assistant, and with each page, his smile widened. The only thing that even Mimete remained unclear about was why Kenji hadn't investigated Minako's death more thoroughly. Yet, Yaten was sure he would find an answer to that sooner or later. After all, he had already assigned someone to keep an eye on the Chiba estate. As soon as Mamoru returned, he would confront him and finally get clarity on the events. It would only be a matter of a few days since Mamoru Chiba was expected back for the major board meeting after New Year. His personal confirmation for this was already logged in the system, further fueling Yaten's impatience.

The ringing of his phone snapped him out of his thoughts. Haruka was calling. "Happy New Year, Yaten. Where are you? You're not still in a coma, are you? We thought you would come to Black Moon," she exclaimed through the receiver. "Yes, that was the plan, but something came up. I'm at the harbor... But tell me, good thing I have you on the line now. On the freighter leaving tomorrow morning, there's still a cabin available for two. What do you think?" There was a brief silence as Yaten heard Haruka talking to someone before turning her attention back to him. "Yaten, what are you up to?" she asked suspiciously. "Just answer my question. I have neither the time nor the desire to explain everything in detail right now," he snapped impatiently. He knew he still had to uphold part of the deal. "In theory, yes... does it have something to do with this mysterious deal you couldn't tell me about?" Haruka inquired further. "Yes... exactly... I'll explain everything when we see each other. What do I need to do to get those people on the ship?" Yaten asked while nervously pressing his cigarette into the improvised ashtray. Haruka muttered again with someone in the background before whispering, "You're at the harbor, you said? Then stay there, I'll come to you. You won't manage with Seiya's organization. It took me years to figure it out, and if my memory doesn't deceive me, the freighter leaves before sunrise. I'll set things in motion, and hopefully, I'll get some answers." Yaten knew it made little sense to oppose. Somewhat unenthusiastically, he muttered, "See you soon," and hung up.

Hastily, he skimmed through some more of the notes and then stuffed them into his briefcase. Haruka didn't need to know everything, at least not yet. First, he had to get Tellu and Mimete out of the country, and then he needed to devise proper plans for all the other issues. On the one hand, he regretted not being able to take his vacation. But he knew this sacrifice would pay off.

Chibiusa's location kept flashing at him enticingly, but he reminded himself not to rush. First, he had to await the report from his people before deciding how to proceed. He hoped for news here as soon as possible to move forward. Slowly, he rose from his chair and approached the large glass front of the room, gazing out over the endless ocean. The darkness of the night enveloped him like a cloak, while the light from the last fireworks slowly faded away.

The days flew by for Usagi, and finally, she had the opportunity to find peace and process everything she had experienced. The afternoons belonged exclusively to her and Shingo. They exchanged their experiences, and Usagi took the time to gradually tell him everything that had happened in her life. Shingo did the same, sharing his experiences. The two of them enjoyed being reunited, and their privacy was respected by everyone else.

The pictures Taiki requested were quickly taken. Even Seiya and Amy managed to contribute some useful shots, although it was considerably more challenging than anticipated. The two of them simply couldn't harmonize in front of the camera as a couple, but Taiki and Usagi were sure they would also succeed. Yaten sporadically emailed brief updates of the events to Taiki every few days, but he found it suspiciously quiet in Tokyo, so they decided to fly back tomorrow afternoon. Usagi also stuck to her decision to leave, considering the upcoming Women's Assembly and the opening of her homeless center in a few days. Makoto had everything under control, overseeing every move of the craftsmen, but she wanted to personally conduct the final inspection—it was, after all, her project.

It was already late, and Usagi sat alone at the edge of the pool, her legs dangling in the cool water. She enjoyed the silence and carefree atmosphere of this place, but someone was still missing. Seiya had some professional matters to discuss with Taiki, Amy was engrossed in one of her books, and Shingo and Setsuna were dedicated to a nightly training session.

Only when cool water droplets hit her face did she startle. Shingo stood to her right, having splashed her with water. "Hey, where were your thoughts wandering?" he asked casually, sitting down next to her. "Oh, I don't know... about this and that, but mostly, I've been thinking about Chibiusa. I wondered if she's doing well and how much she would have loved this place. Surely, she would have jumped through the garden from early morning to late evening or maybe even learned to swim," Usagi said, still slightly absent-minded. Shingo laughed briefly. "With Suna as her teacher, she would have learned to swim within a few hours, trust me," he joked, nudging his sister's side encouragingly. "Just trust that she's doing well, and eventually, we'll come here together with her."

Usagi forced a smile. "Yes, there's nothing else we can do. But tell me, what do you want to do? Are you coming back to Tokyo tomorrow as well? You were quite evasive on that topic during dinner," she asked, insecure. Her voice was tinged with uncertainty. She didn't want to say goodbye to him again, not now that she finally had him close again. But she noticed that he always avoided this conversation.

Shingo directed his gaze into the clear night sky and leaned back with his arms. He didn't want to look Usagi in the eyes. "I will stay here... This is nothing against you or your new family, but... Usa, I can learn so much from Suna here. I'm not ready to go back to Tokyo. I will come back, I promise. But only when I'm capable of protecting you, and Chibiusa too. You can't imagine how helpless I felt when they separated us, and I couldn't do anything. I never want to feel that helpless again, and Suna is capable of teaching me everything I need to know," his voice became quieter and eventually fell silent.

Usagi slowly turned her head towards him and saw the faint tears glittering in his eyes. The pain in his words was unmistakable. But, on some level, she could understand him. She placed her hand on his cheek and gently stroked it. "But can't you continue your training with Setsuna near Tokyo? I mean, then you would at least be close by. It doesn't have to be here at the other end of the world," she tried to persuade him, even though her inner voice warned her against it.

Shingo looked sadly at her and nodded. "Usa, please don't make it harder for me... here is optimal until the basics are solid, and no one asks questions. The locals can all be easily bribed, and they skillfully ignore everything. Where near Tokyo could I practice shooting, throwing knives, or building small bombs... No, that would be impossible even in our old neighborhoods... besides, we'll be leaving here soon as Suna has a mission in three weeks, and I'll accompany her."

Usagi's face reflected mild horror. Until now, she had assumed that Shingo was only learning self-defense from Setsuna, but what he just told her sounded significantly more dangerous. "Shingo... what are you saying? Shooting? Building bombs? Why would you need all that?"

Shingo splashed lightly with his legs in the water, considering carefully what he should say next. "Usa, I just want to be prepared for everything. As long as I have the chance to learn from her, I will take it. Please don't worry about me. Even though her methods are questionable, and I've cursed her more than once in the first few days, I know that this is exactly what I want... and I ask for your support."

A pensive silence spread between the two. Then Usagi stood up. She placed her hands from behind on Shingo's shoulders and gently pulled his head to her knees. "I will always support you, you hear me? No matter what you're planning. Just promise me that you'll really take care of yourself. What Setsuna is doing is not safe, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you," she whispered to him. Shingo nodded thoughtfully. Of course, he was aware that Setsuna's activities were far from safe. But for him, it was clear that he wanted to learn from her. They remained in this position for another moment, enjoying each other's presence. This touch gave both of them the strength they desperately needed.

It wasn't until Shingo slid into the water that this moment of tranquility was interrupted. With a playful smile, he splashed his sister, and a giggling scream escaped her as she took a few steps back. "Shingo, stop that, I'll get all wet," she laughed, trying to shield herself from the splashes.

Seconds later, Seiya rushed outside, his face marked by deep concern as he tried to assess the situation. "What's wrong? I heard you scream," he asked anxiously, not seeing any obvious danger.

Usagi reached him with a few light steps and nestled against his side. "Everything is fine. Shingo just splashed me, no reason to worry," she reassured him, planting a kiss on his cheek. Hearing this, Seiya relaxed somewhat and could only shake his head with a smile. The fact that Usagi let herself go with someone else as she normally only did with him was still unfamiliar to him, but he liked seeing her so relaxed and happy. Since she had her brother back with her, she seemed much more at ease and calm than a few weeks ago.

The blonde lovingly wrapped her arms around her beloved and pulled him gently along. "Are you coming in? I'm very tired already, and we have to leave early tomorrow," she asked him, and he followed her silently after bidding farewell to Shingo.