If you can swim, can you ride? (Day 3, expecting, LM)

[Soshi Taira]

"Then I won't stare."

He chuckled. "You do have pretty eyes though."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Another snort.

"Arigatou gozaimasu," she murmured. I sound so formal. Just 'arigatou' would work, right? She took a deep breath and looked back at him. "Did you enjoy your lesson, Taira-dono?"

Oh the topic change isn't going to slide...

[Soshi Taira]

Meeting her gaze, he said, with a sly grin. "Yes, I did. All three of them."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

The Shinjo woman perked her brow. "Three? What do you mean, Taira-dono?"

[Soshi Taira]

He held up one hand, counting on his long fingers. "One, the fall. Two, the ride. Three, our conversation. All of them have been most interesting and enlightening."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Yue placed her hand beneath her cheek and did a mock impression of deep thought. "I would combine the first two, Taira-dono. Both involve horseback riding," she explained as if this was a profound truth of the universe.

[Soshi Taira]

"Yet both provided different applications for me to remember for later."

He placed one finger on the side of his nose. "One about what to do, one about what not."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"Sou desu ka. Then we shall settle on three lessons, Taira-dono." She was unable to contain a fit of laughter. "I am a good teacher after all! I should not have worried!"

[Soshi Taira]

"Indeed. Perhaps you've even managed to sneak in a lesson for yourself, in the mix."

Raising an eyebrow, he gave her a rakish grin. "So that makes four. I'm sure if we try, we could find a fifth."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

She continued to laugh. "Taira-dono, we could continue to find more until the sun is gone." Hikazume, pleased by her rider's uplifted spirits, went in for a few nibbles on the man's collar. "Oh! She is being affectionate! Do not worry, Taira-dono!"

[Soshi Taira]

Taira sighed, and distracted the horse with scratched on the nose.

"My collar is, apparently, quite edible. This is not the first time."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"Not the first time? That is surprising, Taira-dono." Yue kept a loose grip on the reins as she watched the other two.

[Soshi Taira]

"When I visited the stables on my first day here, I found my collar attracted the appetites of horses. I cannot begin to fathom why."

He rubbed Hikazume's nose fondly. "They are gentle though, so I don't much mind."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"Sou desu ka." She covered her laughter at his expense with her hand. "I believe Hikazume shares my opinion on masks, Taira-dono. She wants you to forego it. The other horses may appreciate Honesty as well!"

[Soshi Taira]

Taira contemplated that.

"I would hate to insult Bayushi-no-kami by forgoing his example, but I may need to come up with a new solution if I am to spend time with our equestrian friends."

As they approached the stables, he added, "I'll have to let you know if I find a fitting solution."