Drops of Starlight

Chapter 21: Turn of Events

💫 Drops of Starlight 💫
By Strawberry Moon Rose
🍓🌙🌹

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Chapter 21: Turn of Events
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Chibi-Usa adored playing outside.

Usagi, Seiya, and Hotaru took turns towing her in the infant sled, navigating through the rollercoaster of drifts that had amassed in the backyard. The snow kept falling like something out of a movie. This snow was the heavy, wet variety - ideal for crafting a snowman. And that's precisely what Seiya and Hotaru busied themselves with while it was Usagi's turn to pull the sled.

"Chibi...Usa...you're turning six-months old...in a few days," Usagi panted. "But...this is...like dragging around...a six-year-old!"

Usagi heaved herself backward and lay on the ground, trying to catch her breath. Chibi-Usa peered over at her mom and let out an exuberant squeal.

"It's a bit of a workout, isn't it?" Hotaru smiled in her direction sympathetically.  She understood as her legs were also sore from trudging through the snow. Pulling the sled made her out of breath, but it was nothing compared to the attacks Hotaru had before her rebirth.

"Come have a look at our snowman, Bun Head!" Seiya called over. "We're about to do the face, and I promised you could place the carrot!"

"Just give me a bit!" Usagi started moving her arms and legs in the snow, making a snow angel.

Seiya's prankster side shone through as she molded a handful of snow into a ball. The compact sphere soared through the air in a gentle arch, splattering against Usagi's puffy winter coat. Usagi swiftly sat up, shock registering on her face.

"Seiya!" She was fast to make a weapon of her own. Unfortunately, Usagi's softball skills transferred over to a snowball fight and she missed Seiya by a mile.

"Is that the best you got? C'mon, Bun Head! Didn't I coach you better than that?"

It wasn't long before snowballs were flying and Hotaru made a dash to whisk Chibi-Usa out of the line of fire. They laughed while simultaneously attacking and trying to build walls as shields. Somehow by sheer luck, one of Usagi's throws managed to hit Seiya squarely in the face. The Starlight signaled her surrender with waving hands.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to." Usagi rushed over, delayed when her boot got stuck and came off. She hopped back to retrieve it before closing the distance. Upon reaching her, Seiya was grinning and had wiped most of the snow off.

Up close, Usagi noticed snowflakes clinging to her lengthy eyelashes, and clusters of snow were caught in her bangs, pressed against her forehead by the snug winter hat she wore.  The cold and the snowball's impact had painted Seiya's cheeks red.

"I wasn't aiming for your face," Usagi apologized. She couldn't help smiling because Seiya was too, and Usagi could tell she wasn't hurt.

"I'll give it to you, Bun Head. You win that round."

"Wow, that's a first! I never win anything. What's my prize?"

Without warning, Seiya picked her up and spun her around. Usagi giggled and held on tight, even when Seiya set her down close. Usagi's gaze dropped to Seiya's lips, which were slightly parted and blowing out visible breaths of cold air. Usagi stood on her tiptoes, waiting for Seiya to meet her in a delectable kiss. Usagi tasted the chapstick she'd lent her earlier - strawberry-flavored.

"Oh. My. God," someone said.

Startled, Usagi pulled back hastily, her gaze locking onto the newcomer.