AN: A bit of all the couples except Mamoru/Usagi (well, they're mentioned, but Usagi's not in it)
Theme: Winter Sports
Catch Me If You Can
"How did I let you talk me into this?" Rei glared at her friends as she shivered in the cold, wrapping her arms around herself.
"It's not that cold, Rei." Makoto chuckled as she adjusted her grip on her poles.
"It is that cold when your element is Fire!"
Ami smiled, "I think it's beautiful."
Rei glanced at the smallest of the girls and sighed. Ami had definitely brightened since they'd come to the mountains. The cold, the snow, all of it seemed to be good for the Senshi of Ice and Water.
"Aaaand, it's romantic!"
Rei bit her lip to keep from laughing as Minako's comment caused Ami to blush.
"It's a shame we couldn't convince Usagi to try the slopes."
Mamoru laughed, "Makoto, I think I'd prefer my fiancé in one piece, please. She's gotten much less clumsy, but…" He lifted his right foot slightly, "I'm not sure she could handle these very well."
"Even with you as her teacher, 'Mamo-chan'?"
Rei groaned and used her pole to bonk her lover on his head. "Be nice."
"Ow… Rei!" He wagged his eyebrows at her, "I'm going to get you for that."
"You'll have to catch me first." The Senshi of Fire stuck her tongue out at Illusionist and took off down the mountain.
"Oh… I will…" He grinned, "I'll see you guys later."
Minako grinned, "That's so cute."
"You think that's cute?" Kunz raised an eyebrow.
"Mmm-hmm."
Ami shook her head slightly as she watched the different expressions of affection between the couples.
Minako grinned to Kunz and then looked over to Makoto, "Think we can take them?"
Makoto smirked as she looked over the Neph, "Them? Easy."
"You ladies are on. Mamoru? Count us off."
"Wait!" Zoi interrupted before Mamoru could begin his count. "If you're going to challenge them, there needs to be a prize."
"Oh, don't worry, Zoi… there's a prize." Kunz's expression as he looked at Minako was positively predatory, causing even the Senshi of Love to blush.
Mamoru chuckled, "All right. On your Mark. Get set. Go!"
The four took off and Ami watched them until they were out of sight. "Is Minako purposefully slowing down?"
"Looks that way."
Ami blushed as she shook her head, though she envied her friends for their ease around the guys. Which was when she realized that she was now alone with two of them.
She blinked and looked at her feet for a moment.
"See you guys at the bottom."
Ami's head snapped up as Mamoru launched himself and started down the mountain.
"Um…"
Rei laughed as she reached the bottom of the slope just a couple of moments before Jade. "I thought you were going to catch me?" She popped the skis off and leaned them against the fence.
"Oh… I am." Jade quickly had his skis beside hers.
"You think so, huh?"
He took a couple of steps toward her, "I know so."
She didn't back up. Rei never backed down from a challenge.
Jade laughed and stepped closer again, this time snaring her waist with his arm. "I saw a hot tub in the hotel."
"Ooh… consider me caught."
Jade grinned.
"I believe that means we won, ladies."
Rei and Jade looked over to see the other four reaching the bottom. Kunz then Makoto, followed by Neph, and finally Minako a good half minute after the other three. Makoto was positively glaring at Minako.
"You lost on purpose!"
Minako squealed as Kunz, who had placed his skis beside Rei and Jades caught her up in his arms. "I don't know, Makoto. I think we won."
Makoto groaned as Neph grinned at her, "Skis off, woman. You've got a forfeit to pay."
"Yeah, yeah." She laughed as she undid her skis. "You know we paid for these for the whole day."
Neph shrugged, "Oh well."
Mamoru laughed as he reached the bottom of the mountain. "Are you guys calling it a day already?"
"Mm-hmm. At least for a while. I can think of other things I'd rather be doing."
Mamoru grinned, "Good… I was going to feel bad if I was the only one to take a break. I think I'll go find Usako."
"Mamoru?"
He turned around hearing Rei call his name. "Yes?"
"Where are Ami and Zoi?"
"I'm sure they're coming." He shrugged as he took of his skis and headed into the lodge.
Minako squealed again, "OH! And the snow. This is sooo perfect."
"Minako…" Kunz grinned down at her as he put her down so she could take her skis off, "Leave them alone."
"I don't know, you're going to have to keep me distracted…"
"Gladly."
Rei rolled her eyes and grinned to Jade, "Hot tub, now."
"As you wish, Phoenix."
"Mako? We don't have to go in yet, if you don't want."
Makoto grinned up to Neph. "A couple more runs, and then I'm all yours."
"Deal."
