Hidden Secrets

Chapter 48

"Seiya, we're..." Haruka called as she entered the apartment but suddenly stopped when she stumbled over a trail of clothes. "What's going on? Why do you..." Michiru, following behind, peered past her and a mischievous grin spread across her face. "I think we should leave him alone. It looks like he has company. Let's go upstairs to Taiki and Serena. Seiya will surely join us once he's ready."

Haruka assertively pushed Michiru's hand off her shoulder. "Not happening! First, he whines to me for weeks about Serena, and on Christmas, when we have plans, he finds a consolation prize... I need to check this out."

Michiru just rolled her eyes. "Ruka, you could be a bit more discreet. Just be happy that he found someone."

"I'll be right back," Haruka called over her shoulder to her friend and disappeared into the hallway.

With a swift motion, Haruka swung open the bedroom door and flicked on the light switch. As she suspected, Seiya was in bed, and to his left, Haruka only spotted a blond tuft of hair. An annoyed grunt escaped Seiya as he reacted to the light. The woman, on the other hand, pulled the blanket over her head, revealing only her contours beneath the cover.

Haruka positioned herself in front of Seiya and pulled back the blanket. "Good morning, lazybones. I just wanted to let you know we're here. Chiru and I are waiting in the living room. Toss the woman out and come; we're about to head to Tai's."

Seiya rubbed his face with his hands, trying to get his bearings. Sleepily, he blinked at his best friend, attempting to comprehend her words. His hand wandered under the blanket to the left, and when he touched soft skin, he couldn't help but grin broadly. Slowly, he sat up. "Do you know you're extremely annoying right now, Ruka?"

Haruka grabbed one of his shirts from a chair and tossed it to him. "Still, you won't get rid of me. So, get dressed and come; we should've been upstairs ages ago." Haruka closed the door with a firm noise, making it clear to Seiya's acquaintance that she was unwelcome.

Laughing, Seiya threw himself back onto the pillow, pulled the blanket off Usagi, and wrapped his arms around her. "Good morning, my darling," he whispered to her and kissed her neck, moving downward.

Usagi giggled softly. "Seiya, not now. Haruka is in the living room. What if she comes in again?"

"I don't care. Maybe she'll finally learn the function of knocking." Seiya pulled himself closer to Usagi and kissed her passionately.

Usagi pushed Seiya slightly away. "It may not bother you, but it bothers me," she said, a light blush playing on her cheeks. Seiya relented and swung his legs out of bed. Then he threw on the shirt Haruka had thrown at him, grabbed a pair of boxers from the dresser, and picked out some pants from the closet. His gaze then lingered on Usagi, who still sat in bed, the blanket pulled up to her chin.

"What's wrong, sweetheart? First, you say we need to get up, and then you're the one still in bed," teased Seiya, leaning over to steal a kiss. "My clothes... I think they're all still in the living room. I have nothing to wear," she whispered shyly.

"Well, as far as I'm concerned, you don't need to wear anything," Seiya winked cheekily and received a light smack on the upper arm for it.

"Okay, okay. Here, take something of mine for now. When we're upstairs, you can change, and you can take some stuff down as well," he said, pulling out a pair of joggers and a sweater from his wardrobe. "You can go ahead if you like. I'll be right there," Usagi replied and slipped into his sweater.

She deeply breathed in Seiya's scent and indulged for a moment in thoughts of the previous night.

Seiya entered the living room, beaming, where Michiru and Haruka were already waiting for him. Michiru's curious gaze was smilingly fixed on him, but, as usual, she held back with her words, unlike Haruka. She leaned against the wall with arms crossed, awaiting his arrival. "Where's your acquaintance? You didn't introduce her to us."