Luck Be a Lady
"Po-ker," Ryuuren enunciated slowly.
"There is no such game," Kourin eyed him suspiciously.
"Soul Friend's Soul Friend," Ryuuren turned up his nose, causing multi-colored petals to plummet from his headdress, "you needn't play…if losing scares you."
"Oh, Ryuuren-san, everyone should play," Eigetsu urged. "Kourin-san, let's try it, ok?"
Kourin sneered at Ryuuren, but couldn't refuse Eigetsu's smiling face. She glanced at her cards reluctantly and noticed a heart symbol in the corner of each. She tried to remember the rules Ryuuren had explained. Wasn't it good to have all the same color?
Ryuuren tossed a coin into the center of the table.
"We should NOT play for money," she insisted.
"Soul Friend's Soul Friend makes an excellent point," Ryuuren considered. He rose suddenly, emptying more petals onto Kourin's scrubbed floor. "We of bold hearts should risk what is most precious to us! Name your wager, dear lady!"
Her heart raced. She looked at her cards again and licked her lips.
"Eigetsu-sama!" she declared.
"Huh?!" Eigetsu stared at Kourin.
"If I win, you'll leave Eigetsu-sama…for a year!" she stated quickly, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Well played, dear lady!" Ryuuren bowed to her, a stray petal drifting past her nose. "Now, if I win…" Ryuuren spoke softly, his eyes narrowing on his dark-haired target. "You will become my Soul Friend #3."
"Eh?" Kourin grimaced in horror. "What does that mean?"
He leaned down close to her. "You will cook exotic dishes to my taste, gather materials to construct my headdresses, listen to the music of my soul," he waved his flute in front of her. "You will take the place of Soul Friend #2 when he's busy."
Eigetsu gasped. "Ryuuren-san! Kourin-san!"
She shuddered, but peeked at her cards again. A wicked smile curled the corner of her mouth. "Let's play."