Yeah-hi... I know I've been way overdue for an update. I would like to, from the bottom of my heart, thank all you readers for your engagement and patience. Due to focusing on "Frosted Hearts" and various personal reasons, I had to neglect this project longer than I preferred. But also, I was having a ton of trouble finding my footing with this chapter—I literally rewrote it three different times. I never want to go through that again... but, of course, only the best for my readers :) and luckily, I have my best for you!

I know that this might be a difficult time for some due to the war in Ukraine whether you're there or have family there or any kind of direct ties. I wholeheartedly pray for the safety of you and/or your loved ones. I also would like to take this bit of time to not only encourage support for the Ukrainian people but encourage kindness toward the Russian people—they are not individually responsible for the reckless actions and consequences of their government. There's enough hate and idiocy in this world but never enough love. Please keep your hearts and minds open.

On that note, please note that this is the PG-13 version of this story that has been edited of heavy sexual content. If you wish to read this chapter with all the goods, please reference it on AO3. I'd paste a link but this website is dramatic and doesn't allow that. You gotta work for your smut in this town, apparently.

But please enjoy nonetheless!

Beta'd by AnxietyAvocado

"Hold On, We're Going Home" by ASTR

Seiya gulped as she sat stiffly on the couch of the hotel living room, her eyes fixed on the television but far from focused on the show. A celebrity chef was preparing a strawberry shortcake on a kitchen set, layering whipped cream and strawberries on top of a pastry for the third tier. The segment managed to make her both salivate and nauseated, her gag reflex intensifying as she noticed a banner appearing on her cell phone of received text from Usagi.

'I'm at the elevators!'

For reasons she couldn't pinpoint, the thought of opening the text made her shake. She had so many scenarios imagined of what could happen once Usagi walked through the door, which had her head muddled in a mixture of excitement and anxiety. So much so that Seiya had been sitting on the couch for the past twenty minutes since the chef was working on the starter cocktail as her pool bag sat ready by the door with sunscreen, sunglasses, and bottles of water. And as if there was room for more emotions, she was also still in disbelief at the events which transpired the weekend before.

The kiss was part surprising and scary as the world dissolved around them and time became a forgotten concept. Seiya could still clearly recall her bliss reaching transcendence to the point of nonexistence, allowing her heart and mind to withdraw from any emotion and thought besides reveling in the realness of it all. All the pain from the doubt was now a distant memory, and she was all too happy to be at the mercy of the moment and to whatever her Odango wanted. And whether Usagi's desire was contained to that moment or destined to continue for the long term was lost within the black hole of Seiya's reverie, which still persisted to today.

The rest of the weekend continued without a suspicious eye from anyone. They hid it well, keeping their hands to themselves and across-the-room glances to a minimum. It was helpful for both women that Mamoru and Motoki stuck together and gave them room to make up for lost time. Their hearts felt light and the conversation so easy as the past, current, and upcoming lies and secrets hadn't quite sunk in… not feeling real just yet…

The three knocks at the door had Seiya's heart ready to burst from her chest and she suddenly felt winded. Nevertheless, she was on her feet at once and blew out a breath for a fleeting moment of calmness before stepping to the door to open it.

"Hey." Usagi was pure brilliance in a strapless blue terry cloth romper—her smile radiating and eyes twinkling as her naked shoulder supported the strap of a half-full duffle bag and separate pool bag while she held a flowy black cocktail dress on a hanger.

Seiya smiled back, suppressing her self-consciousness of being relatively underdressed as she was only sporting a long tank top that barely covered her hips—of course with her white two-piece swimsuit underneath. But Usagi's roaming glances indicated to her that she didn't mind. Alongside her own utterance of "hey," Seiya grabbed both bags from her shoulder.

"Let me take that."

"Thank you."

The Starlight turned on her heel and carried the bags into her room, placing them on the floor against the dresser. Though she felt a presence following her, turning around to Usagi standing mere inches away made her take a step back instinctively.

"Sorry! Uh… did you want me to hang that up in the closet?" Gulping down her regenerating nervousness, Seiya pointed at the dress.

"Sure." Usagi nodded and held out the garment for Seiya to take and hang up within her own clothes.

She admired the dress. "Is this what you're wearing tonight?"

She nodded again. "Yeah."

"I love it. You'll look stunning in it."

"Thank you."

Seiya took the next couple of moments to stare at Usagi, who was now barefoot. Her hand had grasped her elbow on her other arm and squeezed her breasts together as the elastic hem of her romper pressed into the supple flesh of her chest. The sight prompted Seiya to subtly clench her jaw as all she could imagine was squeezing and biting every inch of her pale skin. But she vowed to keep herself under control for the time being, feeling hesitant in making the first move so soon despite receiving the most obvious and confirming of confirmations. As far as she was concerned, everything would be on Usagi's terms, just like it's always been.

Seiya blinked away her gaze and cleared her throat. "So is it just gonna be us girls tonight?"

Another nod. "Yes."

"How fun—I'm looking forward to it! We haven't had another girls' night since… we got here." Yes, remember the night when this whole shit started? It still felt awkward to bring up.

"Me too."

Seiya finally noticed how Usagi had been uncomfortably brief in her responses, which made her raise a brow at her. "Odango, are you okay?"

"Yes. Why?"

"You haven't said more than two words to me?"

She took a couple of moments to giggle and shrug. "I'm sorry."

The smile in her eyes made Seiya feel at ease but stopped short of completely. Still, she laughed to try to release some of the internal tension and grabbed the back of her bare neck through the hanging tendrils of her messy bun.

"Okay… um, well… Do you… need a drink or anything?"

"Maybe… soon." Usagi stepped closer, her eyes locked on her lips. And this time Seiya stayed put as she was guided downward by firm yet delicate fingertips on her jaw. It was obvious now that the Starlight was too deep in her head to pick up on the glaring hints.

Nonetheless, she made up for it and met Usagi's mouth at the level of passion. She grabbed the back of her arms with firm clenches, anxious to taste and touch the rest of her body. She had to focus to keep herself from squeezing and biting so hard as the rush of lust ricocheted from her hands and all throughout her body, causing a feeling of tension to develop between her legs.

After a few moments and she was satisfied, Usagi pulled back with a grin across her face. "I missed you."

Seiya grinned back. "There we go." Ah, the magic to unlocking more words was in the kiss.

However, within a blink the bunhead had her lip pushed out in a playful pout. "Did you miss me?"

"Yeah—yes, of course!" Seiya nodded vigorously. "I missed you so much."

"You promise?"

"Yes!" Seiya took her hand and kissed the back of it to further emphasize her honesty. "And I already miss you now, knowing I won't see you tomorrow."

Usagi returned the kiss on the back of Seiya's hand to communicate her forgiveness, the large grin now back on her face. "Good," she said before biting into her lips and turning to look out the bedroom door. Once she turned back, she faced Seiya with that sparkle in her eye from earlier.

"Where are Taiki and Yaten?"

"Oh, they're out shopping."

"Shopping?" Usagi became extra keen and curious. "For how long?"

She blew out a breath as she looked up and shook her head to estimate an answer. "It could be anywhere from four and twelve hours. It's Yaten we're talking about here."

"How long have they been gone?"

"About… thirty-or-so minutes ago?"

"Hmm." Though that sound is normally indicative of pondering, Usagi had made up her mind about her next move before she even woke up a few hours earlier. This was just evidence that it was meant to happen. She began to shuffle backward and lured Seiya along through their clasped hands.

"Maybe we could lay down for a little bit…"

They did not make it out to the pool.

But by the time they made it to the karaoke room, Usagi's cheeks were patched red not only from all the free birthday shots but from smiling and laughing so much at dinner. Sparkling wine bottles sat cozy in their ice buckets and lined the table in front of them before being used to fill everyone's empty glasses. Minako and Yaten were a mix between fighting for and sharing the touchscreen menu of songs as the rest of the group gossiped with each other across the room. Usagi took advantage of the neon darkness and everyone else's distraction to turn into Seiya and whisper, "I'm so happy you're here," before biting her earlobe. She would take advantage of a few more of those moments throughout the night as it naturally became easier to hide the more everyone drank.

After a couple of hours and the four inners excusing themselves for a restroom break, they returned with a surprise homemade multi-tiered strawberry shortcake with a sparkler candle in the middle, placing it in front of the birthday girl as the rest of the party gathered around. Usagi's eyes lit up as much as the mini-firework while everyone began to sing a sloppy rendition of "Happy Birthday." The Starlights tried to break through with their natural vocal harmonies but the wine mixed with everyone else's voice was too powerful for them.

However, Usagi's eyes and ears stayed focused on Seiya, somehow able to drown out the rest of the drunken chorus to let her voice carry her to pure contentment. Now that she had her full attention, life was officially complete. The anxiety and depression wouldn't be able to stand against the support she had in Seiya—she was the answer, the end, the beginning… the wind beneath her wings… And Usagi felt like she was soaring—able to achieve, conquer, and move on with life like before… like normal.

Like everyone else wished she would.

Yes, this is what they would want for me, too…