Sunset Breezes (D3, EE, Expecting)

[Asako Hirase]

"Some words, but not much. Most of my work with the language happens outside of the home."

Young children who have never learned fear are remarkably adaptable to new situations. This boy was, as his father had said, naturally athletic, at least as much as one so young could be. When instructed to hold on, he gripped the saddle with both hands, no fear in him.

Hirase nodded, then, in an effort to make Liu Yue feel less nervous, offered, 'He's fallen off of rock piles higher than that before with nothing more than some scrapes. It'll be fine." To his son, he instructed, "If you feel like you might fall, tell Shinjo-san, alright?"

The boy promised, though with the air of one who thinks that their parent is being foolishly overprotective.

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"Some words, but not much. Most of my work with the language happens outside of the home."

Young children who have never learned fear are remarkably adaptable to new situations. This boy was, as his father had said, naturally athletic, at least as much as one so young could be. When instructed to hold on, he gripped the saddle with both hands, no fear in him.

Hirase nodded, then, in an effort to make Liu Yue feel less nervous, offered, 'He's fallen off of rock piles higher than that before with nothing more than some scrapes. It'll be fine." To his son, he instructed, "If you feel like you might fall, tell Shinjo-san, alright?"

The boy promised, though with the air of one who thinks that their parent is being foolishly overprotective.

"Right. You did mention that he was adventurous." She urged her horse onward into a jog. They went about in roundabout paths in order to not separate too much from the two Asako adults. "Are you having fun, Ichiro-san?" she asked, knowing it was probably a moot point to make. Still, she wanted to make a good impression on the little boy.

[Asako Hirase]

"Hai!" His answer was both immediate and full of conviction. "This is much more fun than the goat!"

At this, his father made a soft groaning noise, covering his eyes with one hand.

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Yue blinked at the yelling and smiled more. She pulled Hikazume to a halt and began to show off how to side-step with a horse. "A goat? Is it common to ride goats in the Empire?"

[Asako Hirase]

Before Hirase could answer with more than a shaken head, Ichiro was quick to explain.

"Me, and Hana, and Hideo, and Mai, were pretending we were Roc riders but since you can't ride chickens and the ox had to work we borrowed a goat!" The story paused a moment as the maneuvers began, the boy leaning a bit to see the hooves better before getting told to 'behave' and sitting straight again. "Well....me and Mai had the goat. Hana went home crying because it ate some of her sleeve and Hideo tried to ride the dog instead. The goat was better. Horns are good handles!"

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"Sou desu ka," was all the Shinjo managed to say at the end of the story. She gave Hirase a nervous smile, unsure if she had made an error by asking the child about the story. "You are doing well, Ichiro-san. You have stayed on better than some grown men!"

Poor Taira. Well, if I don't say who fell off then it doesn't hurt him, right?

[Asako Hirase]

"Grown-ups are silly." The boy announced it as if it was gospel truth, then realized this might be insulting since Liu Yue was, in fact, an adult. One hand released the saddle to pat the woman's knee in apology even as he said, "But you're not too silly. You are still fun and not all frowny and grr and 'go away and go home!'." Then, twisting, he mostly managed to look up at her. "Did the man cry like a big baby?"

[Tonbo Misa]

Getting near to Gekko again, she tells Misa, "Move a bit to the front, I'm hopping up."

With that, the Otaku holds up on the horn, and jumps over the saddle behind Misa.

Misa gave a bit of a yelp of surprise, but that was immediately followed by a giggle. After a moment Kitakuhime felt the short, somewhat frail girl lean back into her. "I will trust in you Kitakuhime-sama. Take us where you will."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"Grown-ups are silly." The boy announced it as if it was gospel truth, then realized this might be insulting since Liu Yue was, in fact, an adult. One hand released the saddle to pat the woman's knee in apology even as he said, "But you're not too silly. You are still fun and not all frowny and grr and 'go away and go home!'." Then, twisting, he mostly managed to look up at her. "Did the man cry like a big baby?"

Yue blinked and then smiled at the child. Receiving compliments from the kid felt nice. "He did not. He is a samurai, Ichiro-san." She left out the part that Taira was left completely winded. "It is unbecoming of a samurai to cry."

[Asako Hirase]

"Unless they're Ikomas." The boy giggled again, twisting back to face forward once more. "Papa says Ikomas are the only samurais who do it and it's Duty for them. Was he an Ikoma? Because that would be funny."

Hirase, watching this all, sighed a bit, then admitted to Liu Yue, "I'm afraid I've taught him some bad habits as far as lack of neutrality with the Lion is concerned. The war and all."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"That is the Ikoma's Duty?" She led Hikazume naturally as she thought on the matter. I suppose Families have their own unique little niche. She then shook her head. "Iie. He was not an Ikoma."

She looked over to Hirase. "He's still a child. One day he will have to shape up his behavior but today is not that day."

With that, the Shinjo urged her steed forward into a light sprint. She still was uncertain about going too fast but the timing felt right.

[Otaku Kitakuhime]

Misa gave a bit of a yelp of surprise, but that was immediately followed by a giggle. After a moment Kitakuhime felt the short, somewhat frail girl lean back into her. "I will trust in you Kitakuhime-sama. Take us where you will."

Kitakuhime blinks a bit at the change of treatment, then inhales the fresh air, ponders how to reply, and whisper back to the girl in front of her, "Thank you, Misa-sama... for trusting me."

With that, the Shiotome leans forward to hold the Dragon firmly atop the saddle. Gekko rears wildly, then charges ahead at full speed down the hill.

[Tonbo Misa]

The uncertainty Misa had shown before was entirely gone. As the world shook around her from the hard gallop and the wind rushed around her, Misa was smiling warmly and peacefully. She said nothing, merely seeming to take in the ride with silent thrill. She remained leaned back against Kitakuhime for support, her grip still on the horn as she'd been told. Her head turned after a moment, cheek resting to Kitakuhime's shoulder as she just let the moment rush over her.

[Asako Hirase]

"That is the Ikoma's Duty?" She led Hikazume naturally as she thought on the matter. I suppose Families have their own unique little niche. She then shook her head. "Iie. He was not an Ikoma."

She looked over to Hirase. "He's still a child. One day he will have to shape up his behavior but today is not that day."

With that, the Shinjo urged her steed forward into a light sprint. She still was uncertain about going too fast but the timing felt right.

"Ikoma's do all of the sad and happy and other feely stuff for Lion. Except mad. Matsu are best at mad." Ichiro was delighted to educate Liu Yue on matters, as eager as his father to share knowledge. When the horse took off, the happy squeal sounded again, the boys grip tightening a bit but without any sign of bouncing off.

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"Ikoma's do all of the sad and happy and other feely stuff for Lion. Except mad. Matsu are best at mad." Ichiro was delighted to educate Liu Yue on matters, as eager as his father to share knowledge. When the horse took off, the happy squeal sounded again, the boys grip tightening a bit but without any sign of bouncing off.

"Sou desu ka. You know much, Ichiro-san. Your father must be proud." She kept the pace for a couple minutes, allowing the two of them to experience much of the field. Eventually, she brought the child back to the two Asako adults. "There." She nodded at Hirase for him to help Ichiro dismount. "We should let them learn too, Ichiro-san."