You got to know when to hold em,’ know when to fold them… know when to walk away and know when to run… (That is, unless you’re a gunslinger)
(The Gambler, Kenny Rogers)
“I wonder, are we playing for cookies?” Usagi lunged at the chance to get her chocolate hit, and her lips were moist with anticipation of the delicious treats.
“Never-you-mind, now, did you bring the playing cards Bunny?” Makoto asked, giggling.
“Yup, the Anime themed ones with Risa and Roy on them, you bet!”
That was when Umino and Naru, having gone for a walk rugged up from the falling snow, arrived back at the homestead. The innocuous white flakes shone like diamonds in the light of the blazing fire, glittered upon their clothing as they began clapping their gloved hands in front of the hearth. The warmth between the two lovebirds more than made up for the weather.
“I think it way too cold for the abominable snowman, my hands were numb as ice blocks!” Umino said, the shiver fading as the heat soaked into his cold face.
Naru kissed him on the lips and he blushed. “That is the way I like to thaw out best, Umi…” she purred and hugged him, and he blessed her cool cheeks with hot kisses of his own.
“Hey kids, the Motoki special!” Nephrite said cheerfully, leading the procession of guys into the large lounge room as the two lovebirds turned to face their friends, gloves discarded and clasping the hot beverages.
“Thanks guys, that’s exactly what the doctor… Ami, ordered,” Naru giggled.
“You bet!” Ami said, laughing from her place upon the couch, winking. “Although the boys were responsible for the hot drinks, but I fully concur with the remedy to the cold.”
---
“I’m out I’m afraid!” Ami said, sighing, turning her cards face down, and once more, Makoto grinned and scooped the cookies from the center of the table into her basket.
Usagi drooled, she looked as if she were a refugee from the Goby Desert. “Hmmmm, cookies!” she breathed, “Can, can I…?”
“Guts!” mumbled Rei, swatting the bunny’s hand from the basket for the tenth time in half a minute.
“Good game, Mako-chan!” Minako said, not noticing Artemis sneak a banana and blueberry muffin from the table with one stealthy paw onto the floor.
“I want to play to get back a cookie for supper!” Usagi whined, biting her bottom lip. “They’ve got chocolate chips in them!”
“Hey Usagi, because I’m such a good sport, I’ll give you one, besides, I baked these and I’ve got plenty to eat. I’d burst if I finished these on my own, even if I won them fair and square. After all, it is the participation and the getting together with friends that counts, right?” she said, and all agreed.
“Odango, if you stuff your face too much, Mamoru will think you a pig!” Rei snickered, and Usagi poked out her tongue. “You need to be more classy Usagi, like me!” she boasted, tapping her chest and tossing back her head, sending her black locks flying like her two crows.
“Now, children!” Minako giggled.
Then Shingo and Liana, his new girlfriend, came into the room. Without so much as a by your leave, Shingo plucked two cookies from the basket, grinned and shoved one in Usagi's mouth, then another in his girlfriend’s mouth. Seemed she was a lot like Usagi, even her bouncy personality mirrored the Bunny and everyone liked her.
Ten minutes later, a knock at the door had Shingo rushing to answer it.
“Hi guys! Pizza anyone? Pretty shitty night isn’t it?” The pizza delivery guy said, stepping inside, a flurry of snow dancing around his boots. Well insulated against the elements, he reminded Umino of an Arctic explorer and in his arms, the precious life-saving cargo: a huge stack of pizza boxes in protective padded envelopes, the only things missing, the snow dogs and the sled.
“Sure is, I hope they’re paying you extra for coming out on a night like this one,” Minako said, batting her eyelashes at the good-looking pizza delivery guy. She was a shameless flirt, but Kunzite didn’t really mind her carrying on. After all, he got the real Minako and others just had to make do with fantasy.
“If I get a smile like that from a pretty lady, it makes the task worthwhile!” he winked and Minako brazenly winked back.
The cheerful young man helped Shingo and Umino take the pizzas out of their heat envelopes. Soon money, food and dessert changed hands. The door closed and the sound of the snowstorm, for that was surely, what it was as the delivery guy sped off on his next drop-off on his motorbike, raged on unabated.
Shingo dropped the stack of pizza boxes onto the table, and Motoki, Jadeite and the guys helped serve their friends.
“Anyone Wanna play for these?” he chuckled, winning a gentle nudge in the ribs from his girlfriend.
All eyes were immediately drawn to the spicy treats, steam rising like dancing snakes to the piper's tune, and only one thing was on their minds, ending their hunger.
Usagi’s cheeks were bloated, eyes bulging out of their sockets, the Bunny’s mouth stuffed with pizza. She sounded like a teddy bear trying to talk with a mouthful of straw, making the girls giggle.
“Don’t make her laugh guys, she’s armed and dangerous, and I want the news Bunny, not the weather report!” Shingo cackled.
“Shingo, you’re too mean to your sister. Bunny…, us girls should stick together,” Liana grinned, nudging him in the ribs as she slung her bag over the back of a high backed wooden chair, and sat down, inhaling the aroma of the Hawaiian pizza before her.
“Ah Mexican and meat-a-saurus!” Minako said, in an etheric voice, she was famished having been on a shoot for an art house film that she planned on bringing her friends up to date on after having her fill.
---
The burning logs in the huge fireplace crackled and popped as Mamoru, and the guys returned from the kitchen, mugs of fresh coffee, and chocolate for all. The thought of gambling soon became a distant memory and food the only concern amongst the gathering of long-standing friends.
While the cats ate their ill-gotten gain under the table, Minako reached down and stroked her feline companion’s fur. Artemis jerked up, feeling a little guilty, but kept munching away all the same. Luna was considering a wager with the white Mauan, and as gambling had left the thoughts of their human compatriots, there was no reason the cats couldn’t have a little downtime and bet the odd fish and grilled chicken breast in a game of poker, or…fish. Luna giggled at the pun.
“Something amusing you, Luna?” Artemis whispered in-between mouthfuls of cake, flinging the unwanted banana peal he’d pealed off the fruit he’d also snuck off the table when nobody was looking out behind him, but hadn’t realized this was folly.
Suddenly, a loud crash accompanied by a cry from Mamoru had everyone rushing to his aid, a Stephen King paperback that he’d been reading lying facedown beside the unconscious young man.
“Oh my Mamo-chan! Ami… is he-“
“He’s out cold, but he’s all right, Usagi, now please, bring me a pillow and a cool cloth and water…”
“Right!”
Mamoru saw a black metallic door with unrecognizable motifs and ancient text embossed upon its satin skin. Probably hieroglyphics he mused, as like a leaf the sky lost its center as had he, and it open up beneath him to reveal another sky, flashing with bright gold and the sound of a steam train ringing in his ears, a forest of crystal spires rushing up to meet him. He called upon the Kinzuishou and blacked out, for a second time it seemed as dark wings enfolded him, huge leathery black wings.
