Chapter 59
The minutes seemed to pass like an eternity for Seiya as he sat helplessly by Usagi's side. He could do nothing more than hope that they would reach the safe harbor soon. When the captain announced that there were still 20 minutes until the port, he immediately made an emergency call to ensure that an ambulance would be waiting for them. However, Usagi's agonizing pain hardly subsided. Every time she seemed to calm down and Seiya hoped that everything would be okay, she would draw her legs to her body again and quietly sob.
Usagi was filled with a panicked fear of losing her unborn children. Although she was only at the beginning of her pregnancy, she knew that miscarriages in the early weeks were not uncommon, further fueling her panic. She had deliberately skipped passages in pregnancy guides that dealt with this topic. But now, in this moment, she wished she had informed herself more. The surroundings around her blurred, and only Seiya's hand, lovingly caring for her and providing comfort, kept her connected to reality.
Seiya's concerned gaze shifted between Usagi and the clock. There were only a few minutes left until they would reach the harbor. Resolutely, he wrapped a blanket tightly around Usagi and gently lifted her to carry her in his arms. With quick, determined steps, he rushed to the deck, where the ambulance with its blue lights was already waiting for them.
As Seiya approached the emergency medical personnel with Usagi in his arms, one of the men took her from him and placed her on the prepared stretcher. The older paramedic pulled Seiya aside and politely asked, "Can you please tell me what happened?" Seiya's feelings oscillated between desperate concern and helpless fear. He was still caught in a state of shock, but he managed to organize his thoughts. "I don't know... We were sleeping, and suddenly she started screaming." The paramedic tried to reassure Seiya. "Take it easy. Please tell me your name first." "Kou, Seiya, and Serena Kou," Seiya replied automatically, his eyes already searching for Usagi, who was being attended to in the ambulance. "Alright, Mr. Kou. We are here now, and we will take care of your wife. Does she have any pre-existing conditions we should know about? Does she take medication regularly, or does she have any allergies to medications?" the paramedic asked while making some notes. "She's pregnant... Otherwise, no, at least not that I know of," Seiya replied. The paramedic gently squeezed Seiya's shoulder. "Good, then we will head to the nearest hospital. You can sit back there. My colleague has already connected your wife and conducted an initial examination. Please remain calm during the ride."
Seiya took the assigned seat and observed Usagi with a worried expression. The world seemed to pass by him, and his focus was solely on her. Usagi lay on the stretcher, a breathing mask covering her face, and it seemed like her body had relaxed a bit.
Just a few minutes later, they reached the clinic, and Seiya didn't leave his girlfriend's side. She was wheeled directly into a treatment room, and then it was a waiting game. Usagi still seemed to be drifting in and out of consciousness as Seiya kept a watchful eye on her.
When the young resident doctor opened the door, Usagi seemed to slowly regain consciousness. "What's going on? Where am I?" she murmured disoriented. "Take it easy, sweetheart, stay lying down. We're at the hospital. Everything will be okay, I promise," Seiya whispered to her, stroking her hair reassuringly. Then he stood up and extended his hand to the doctor.
"So, Mr. Kou, what can I do for your wife?" the doctor asked calmly as he flipped through his clipboard. Seiya tried to keep a clear head and grasp the situation.
"She suddenly had severe pain, out of nowhere. I've never experienced anything like this," confessed Seiya, his voice tinged with concern and uncertainty.
"Yes, I can see here that your wife is pregnant. How many weeks along is she?" the doctor inquired.
Absolute bewilderment was evident on Seiya's face. "Uh... I don't know, somewhere at the beginning. On the last ultrasound, it looked like two gummy bears... So, not much was really visible."
The doctor briefly turned the corners of his mouth into a slight smile. "Alright. Let's start with an ultrasound and see if everything is okay. You mentioned two gummy bears? Did I understand correctly that it's a twin pregnancy?"
"Yes... exactly," confirmed Seiya with a nod.
The doctor took a seat on a stool and brought the ultrasound device closer. "Mrs. Kou, I would like to examine you now. You received something for the pain and something to calm you down in the ambulance. If you agree to the examination, please nod," he now spoke louder, addressing Usagi.
Struggling to open her eyes, Usagi managed to nod. She was just relieved that the cramps had finally subsided. Her senses slowly cleared, and she tried laboriously to push her shirt up. Seiya reacted quickly and assisted her. Gratefully, Usagi looked up at him, her lips forming only a silent thank you. The connection between them seemed stronger than ever in that moment.
As the cool gel touched her stomach, Usagi flinched briefly, and suddenly the excitement and nervousness returned. She gripped Seiya's hand firmly, and both eagerly watched the blurry screen. The room was filled with the silence only interrupted by the faint hum of the ultrasound machine.
The doctor appeared highly concentrated as he moved the ultrasound probe over Usagi's abdomen. Time seemed to pass endlessly slowly, and Usagi already felt a new wave of emotions rising within her. But then, the doctor's facial features relaxed.
"So, here's the first one. It looks vital and lively. We'll listen to the heartbeat again, and then we'll check on the second one," the doctor explained calmly. When the rhythmic pulsating of the heartbeat was heard again, Usagi looked up at Seiya. His gaze was still fixed on the small being on the screen, and an unmistakable pride flickered in his eyes. It was the first time he was present for an examination, and the new life growing within his partner suddenly became even more real to him. The little being, recognizable with some imagination, moved lively up and down.
Then the doctor shifted, again with a concentrated expression on his face. "And Number Two seems to be doing well too, although it's a bit calmer than its sibling," he announced finally, and once again, the familiar thumping sound started. A relief that they hadn't dared to hope for washed over Usagi.
Seiya also looked at the second little being with pride. He was absolutely speechless and emotionally overwhelmed. Only when the screen went black did he look down at Usagi, and a broad smile appeared on Seiya's face.
"Mrs. Kou, is it possible that you've had a lot of stress lately?" the doctor now wanted to know from Usagi, handing her some paper to wipe her stomach. Usagi bit her lower lip, tears filling her eyes, and a soft sob escaped her throat. "Yes, that's very likely."
The events of the past days were still vivid, and Usagi could clearly feel Kenji reaching out for her. She knew he wouldn't stop searching for her until she was back in his clutches.
"Mrs. Kou, if this pregnancy is important to you, I recommend at least two, preferably three weeks of absolute rest. Consider these cramps as a warning from your body. If the stress level is not significantly reduced, your body may not be able to sustain this pregnancy. I'll give you something for the pain. If you'd like, you can also stay overnight for observation," suggested the doctor, rising only to settle down at the desk a moment later.
Usagi's gaze shifted to Seiya, who looked at her with concerned eyes. Seiya's lips were pressed into a thin line, and she could see the turmoil within him. "That's really kind, but I think it won't be necessary," Usagi replied, trying to sound calm despite the persistent tension within her. She knew she had to leave Japan as quickly as possible. "Are you really sure?" the doctor continued to inquire with a skeptical look. Usagi nodded reluctantly. She had no other choice. Once Seiya had brought her to safety, she would avoid any stress. But first, she needed to put as much distance between herself and her father as possible.
"Could I use your phone?" Seiya suddenly asked in the oppressive silence. "Of course, get the phone from the front desk. Your wife can wait here; once the doctor's note is ready, you can leave. If you change your mind about the observation night, just let me know," the doctor replied without looking up from his paperwork. Seiya planted a kiss on Usagi's forehead and headed to the front desk.
An older nurse handed him the receiver. Seiya dialed Taiki's number almost instinctively and nervously tapped his fingers on the counter. "Kou," Taiki answered after some time. "Yeah, it's me. Tai, I'm with Usa at a clinic in Yokohama," Seiya began. "What? Why? What happened?" his brother interrupted, sounding concerned. "She suddenly had severe pain. That's why we came ashore. She and the kids are fine, don't worry. The doctor prescribed absolute rest for her in the coming weeks. The pain seems to be from the stress of the past few days," Seiya reported briefly on the events. "With her brother, she should hopefully have some peace. Take the next flight from Yokohama towards the West tonight or tomorrow morning. Amy and I will follow as soon as possible... I hope Yaten and Ruka will have everything under control here. Should I go ahead and book the tickets for you?" "Good idea, Tai, but I don't have my phone, and neither does Usa. My plan was to use only cash to make it harder to track us. We're heading to the airport now; I'll see what I can do... I'll contact you as soon as we have a connection. Is that okay with you?" "Yeah, that's fine. And Seiya, take care of her," Taiki advised. "Don't worry, I will," promised the younger brother.
Taiki hung up, shaking his head at his phone. Deep furrows were etched across his forehead as he stared thoughtfully out of the window. The city lights glowed in the distance, but his focus seemed far away. Amy watched him with concern. The tension in his face had persisted throughout the evening and was now more pronounced than ever.
Amy approached him with gentle steps, placing her hands around his shoulders. "Taiki, what's wrong?" she asked sympathetically, her eyes filled with worry. Taiki took a deep breath, collected his thoughts, and then turned to face Amy. His fingers delicately clasped hers. "Amy, please pack our things. We'll take the next flight to Europe. Serena is safe, Seiya is already on his way with her, but there were complications. He's with her at a clinic right now; she was in pain..." Amy's eyes met his. "You're worried about her... That's understandable, especially since she's your..." she hesitated for a moment, her hand brushing over his cheek. "Are you sure I should accompany you? I mean, if Serena's father already has his eye on me..." Taiki gently placed a finger on her lips to silence her. "I'm sure. You belong by my side, and I'll come up with something, I promise... and someday, I'll find a way for you to be my wife." Amy lowered her head onto Taiki's chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Okay, then I'll start packing. How long do you think we'll stay?" Taiki soothingly stroked her back. "I think about a week, maximum ten days... I won't be able to be away longer than that." Amy raised her head, looking firmly into his eyes. "I understand," she said calmly. "I'll start packing right away... Serena's suitcase is already almost ready at Makoto's apartment." Taiki smiled weakly and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I'll take care of that." Amy slowly released herself from Taiki's embrace to pack the suitcases. Meanwhile, Taiki took his phone again and started making some calls to organize the trip and ensure everything went smoothly.
Meanwhile, Yaten pushed open the heavy metal door of the cellar and entered the room where he had left Tellu with an ominous anticipation. The green-haired woman was still bound to the chair. Her head had slumped forward, and her eyes were closed. Yaten smirked slightly - Tellu had fallen asleep. Confidently, he moved through the room to his concoctions. Thoughtfully, he ran his finger over the vials. His attention lingered on a small one. It might still be useful, he thought, placing it within easy reach. Next to it, he arranged a syringe with a needle and a cloth.
Then he stood with crossed arms in front of the stylist and kicked her foot several times. "So, Sleeping Beauty, had enough sleep. I'm back," he called out to her. His expectant grin turned into a dangerous smile as he nudged her again.