Chapter 13

Seiya's head snapped up as he heard a faint rustle, and a mischievous grin appeared on his lips when he spotted Usagi. He reached out his arms. "Come on, darling, I'll catch you."

Usagi hesitantly took his hand and descended towards him. When their hands touched, the anger over him discussing her with Haruka dissipated, replaced by a pleasant warm tingling.

The two exchanged an intense gaze and lingered in their movements. Eventually, Usagi took a step back. "You... you wanted to talk to me?" she asked shyly, tucking a rebellious strand of hair back under her cap.

Seiya nodded slowly, his eyes still fixed on her. "Yes... but not here. It's still too unsafe here. Come with me," he said gently, delicately holding her hand to lead her. His grip was warm and inviting.

As the walls of the estate faded behind them, Seiya let go of her hand. Silently, they walked side by side for a while, neither knowing exactly what to say. It wasn't until they reached the edge of the forest that Seiya couldn't bear the silence any longer. He cleared his throat and turned his gaze to Usagi. "So, darling, how have the last few days been for you? Could you settle in a bit?" His words were carefully chosen; he didn't want to dive straight into the heart of the matter.

Usagi swallowed hard and stared into the darkness of the forest. "It's okay," she mumbled, struggling with her emotions. She still felt lonelier than ever in this large villa, even though Mimete and Tellu were constantly dancing around her, and Taiki paid his courtesy visit every day. Yet, she was still alone, and she felt it anew every day. Chibiusa and Shingo were gone, and she had no one in this new life to confide in.

Restlessly, she clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging lightly into her palms. She fought to maintain her composure.

Seiya stopped, slowly took her hands, and loosened her clenched fists. Now, he persistently sought her gaze, which she initially avoided. "What's wrong? I can see that something is troubling you. You can trust me," he asked with concern. He hadn't expected such a simple question to stir her up so much.

But when he said that, Usagi remembered his betrayal to Haruka. He had revealed her secret to her, and he couldn't deny that. "Oh really? Can I? Then why did you confide my secret to that Haruka? It wasn't your place! You shouldn't have done that! What if she tells someone? What if..." she exclaimed, overwhelmed by her own emotions, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

Seiya saw her emotions breaking free and simply reacted instinctively. He pulled her tightly into his arms, and she allowed it without any resistance. His embrace felt protective. Gently, Seiya stroked her head comfortingly as he tried to calm her. "Haruka won't tell anyone. Our secret is safe with her," he whispered softly to her, without loosening his embrace.

Carefully, Usagi pushed him back a bit, her swollen eyes focusing on his. "Our secret?" she asked in surprise, trying to understand what he meant. She still felt taken aback by his words. She was the one who had to leave her past behind and assume a new identity, not him.

A slight grin played on Seiya's lips as he looked at Usagi. "Yes, our secret. Because she knows everything. She knows how we met, who you are, and how you turned my head in the first second. That I've been thinking about you like crazy for a damn week, and how insane the thought of you marrying Taiki makes me. She knows how much I hate that I can't do anything against your connection and also that I dared to kiss you. She knows because she's my best friend, and we can trust her." While he spoke, his rough fingers gently stroked Usagi's cheek, and his touch once again evoked that beautiful warm feeling in her.

Although Seiya's words reached Usagi, she needed a moment to grasp their meaning. "You like me? Really?" she asked, still feeling like she was in a dream.

Seiya couldn't bear the tension between them any longer. He gently tilted his head and sealed her lips with his own, and she hesitantly reciprocated the kiss. In that moment, the world around them seemed to disappear, and both felt an internal fireworks display of emotions and passion. However, when Usagi realized what she was doing, she stepped back a bit, her heart racing with excitement.

"Seiya, as much as I would want to, we can't do this... I mean, what will happen next? I'm supposed to marry your brother, after all!"

Seiya felt a slight pang in his chest as Usagi confronted him with that, but at the same time, he made a decision. "I know... But I also know that I just can't let go of you. Darling, damn it, you're robbing me of any clear thoughts, and that's been the case since our first encounter. What you trigger in me, no other woman has managed before. You make my heart beat faster, and my thoughts revolve around you... Even though we haven't known each other for long, I'm sure I love you."

Her heartbeat had tripled by now, and Usagi felt her heart racing effortlessly in her chest. The revelation of his love hit her like lightning, and she was unable to move or find a clear answer.

"Say something," Seiya urged her after a moment, a pleading expression in his eyes as he waited for a response from her.

"Seiya... I... I don't know what to say." Her words were barely more than a whisper, and she was completely overwhelmed by her own feelings, struggling with her rational thoughts.

Seiya's gaze was intense as he continued gently, "Please don't feel uncertain because I love you. I know exactly what a damn situation we're in. But it was very important for me to tell you what I feel before the engagement. Because right now, in this moment, you're still free and unattached. I'm aware that everything will be different starting the day after tomorrow, but I had to tell you."

His face was only inches away from hers, and his lips dangerously close. The tension between them was palpable, and Usagi's heart felt like it was on a roller coaster.

"Seiya, I feel so torn," she whispered softly. "It's hard for me to explain. Of course, I have feelings for you, that's beyond question, and the connection between us is so intense. But I can't... I can't just give up my responsibility. My siblings are all I have left, and I can't risk leaving them to fend for themselves... or going back to the streets..." She stopped, the thought of the past times stealing her breath again.

Suddenly, Seiya was reminded of the original reason for this meeting: Usagi's siblings. His face turned serious all of a sudden. "Seiya? What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?" Usagi asked uncertainly.

Seiya directed his perplexed gaze to the full moon. He wasn't quite sure how to put this gently into words yet, but he had to tell her. She needed to know that her siblings had left the country. "Darling... I... I found out something, and I think you should know. It's about your siblings." He took a thoughtful pause, and his tension seemed to transfer to Usagi. "Actually, I wanted to give you a surprise, so I had Yaten locate your siblings. Believe me, Yaten is a pro at these things... Now, it's like this... Yaten can't find them. Kenji has placed the two outside Japan... But we don't know where. Yaten has been looking for them for a few days now, but still without success."

Her heart began to beat faster, and a feeling of fear overwhelmed her. The fact that Kenji had placed her siblings outside Japan triggered her worst fears – that was against the agreement. Chibiusa and Shingo were supposed to be here in Japan at a boarding school. Why had her father broken his promise? Why had he let them leave the country?

"What do you mean, outside Japan?" she asked with a trembling voice. "Why did Kenji do that? Why didn't he tell me?" Seiya gently took hold of her hands again, trying to calm her. "I don't know, I really don't, but I will find out. I promise you. I will find out where they are and why. But you mustn't let anything show. Kenji mustn't suspect that you know more; otherwise, he might change his original plans, and we'll be back to square one. I can only imagine how difficult all of this must be for you, but I'll be by your side, no matter how this continues," he said softly, pulling her back into his arms.

Usagi leaned against Seiya's shoulder, drawing some strength. She would have liked to confront her father immediately, but the more she thought about Seiya's words, the more she realized he was right. Kenji probably wouldn't tell her the truth. If she wanted to know, she had to be patient and hope that Seiya's brother would find out something.

"Thank you, Seiya. Thank you for telling me," she whispered softly, pulling Seiya a little tighter.

Seiya planted a kiss on her forehead. "There shouldn't be any secrets between us, never... Now you know why I had to see you. I didn't want anything to come between us."

Usagi listened to herself and felt that she could really trust Seiya. After a short moment of consideration, she decided to be open with him as well. Once again, she took a deep breath and carefully planned her next move. He knew how this world worked and could surely advise her on the best course of action.

"Seiya, there's something else you need to know about me. I didn't know it myself until a few days ago when Kenji told me," she began hesitantly.

Seiya looked at her in surprise; the tone of her voice had changed, and that made him pay attention. "Seiya, my mother's real full name is Yumi Ikuko Chiba." His eyes widened as he realized what she was revealing to him. "You... You're a Tsukino and a Chiba?" Usagi bit her lip and nodded. "My mother was once the Chiba heiress and was originally supposed to marry your father. I don't know much more, except that she became pregnant and then went into hiding before anyone found out. Kenji didn't want me; he wanted to pressure her into an abortion... but my mother escaped." Seiya's features were frozen. "Who else knows about this?" "Kenji, me, and your father." "Damn it," he gritted through clenched teeth. "Why? What's wrong?"

Seiya suddenly became extremely tense, and his gaze drifted into the void behind Usagi as he tried to grasp the new information correctly. It took a while before he could respond to her. "Darling, you're of unimaginable value to my father with this information. I really hope my old man doesn't plan to topple the Chibas too, but I'll find out. We must prevent the Chibas from ever finding out. I really wouldn't put anything past them if they feel threatened in their position of power... and the way it looks, you're a real threat to them now... and in combination with Taiki..."

A storm raged within Usagi. "I... I tried talking to my fat... Kenji, about shifting the engagement to another member of your family... It was just a thought... after all, you're also a Kou... and I didn't even know if you would agree... but apparently, only your brother is an option for Kenji..."

Seiya smirked briefly when he heard that, but then he became serious again, and a sigh escaped his throat. "He is the heir, and you are the heir of the Tsukinos. That alone is like hitting the jackpot for our fathers because..." Seiya paused and refused to continue speaking. The thought that was revealing itself to him right now was unbearable. "Because what?" Usagi gently urged him. "Because your child will inherit both empires, considering your Chiba genes... it will create a completely new dynamic that could completely undermine our business foundations," Seiya said, swallowing hard. The thought of Taiki laying a hand on Usagi deeply revolted him, and Usagi, too, now understood more and more the magnitude of her decision.

Usagi felt a shiver run through her, and she clung tighter to Seiya, pressing her head against his chest, seeking his closeness more than ever. Seiya reciprocated her embrace and led her to a nearby bench. "Come, darling. Sit down for a moment. You've suddenly turned so pale; I wouldn't want you to faint on me." Usagi nodded in agreement and sank down on the bench beside him.

Both fell into thoughtful silence as they contemplated what had been said. The night's stillness became their only companion as they together gazed at the clear sky and sparkling stars, lost in their thoughts. Being with Seiya on this special night felt like they were far away from the complicated realities and the expectations of their families, which, nevertheless, continued to catch up with them.

Over time, they began to exchange gentle affection again. The stars glittered in the clear sky, and Usagi leaned against Seiya, resting her head on his shoulder. His arms enveloped her, and she felt the warmth of his body. Eventually, his lips sought hers once more. Their fingers traced over each other's skin, and their initially shy kisses became more passionate and intense. Their hearts beat in unison, and their souls seemed to merge.

As the first rays of sunlight illuminated the sky, Usagi jumped up. She knew she had to return before her absence was noticed. "It's getting late; I should go back," she said with a hint of sadness in her voice. She didn't want to say goodbye to Seiya, but she had no choice. She had to go back.

Seiya rose as well, confidently interlocking his fingers with hers. "I'll take you back." Their fingers intertwined as if they never wanted to part again. As they made their way back to the wall, they tried to imprint the precious moments of the past night within themselves.

When they reached the wall again, Seiya's hands lovingly cupped her face, and then he kissed her tenderly one last time. "Take care of yourself, my darling."

He helped her over the wall, and she disappeared on the other side. Seiya watched her go, knowing that this was likely their first and only night together. However, the bittersweet memory of their closeness and the feelings it stirred in him would linger forever.