(Day 6, LM) Living on the Edge (Expecting)

[Tonbo Misa]

"It was, and arigato Butaj-san. If it suits me well it will be because of your eye for art." Misa took the necklace pendant carefully from Butaj and bowed once again.

[Moto Butaj]

"Butaj is happy." Butaj beams, looking at the blind girl with fondness. "And since we talk horses now, would Misa like to meet Huludai?"

[Tonbo Misa]

As Butaj spoke, Misa put the pendant carefully around her neck. At the question she nodded and smiled brightly. "Of course, I would be honored."

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj pulls Huludai closer to get an apple out of the saddlebag. Then, he reaches out for Misa's hand to give the fruit to her. The neighing is close enough for her to know where to turn. "Huludai is here, but don't expect two refusals from him!" He chuckled happily. Doubly so because he sees the horse pendant on her.

[Tonbo Misa]

Misa giggled softly. "Animals aren't samurai, Butaj-san." She moved forward with the apple, just holding it out as her other hand reached out to touch the horse's head.

[Moto Butaj]

Her hand receives a slurpy kiss but not bite as Huludai deftly sucks the apple from her hand and munches it without haste. Butaj takes Misa's hand and moves it up the horse head, letting her feel his short coat as he lays it there for her to pat. His soft laugh reaches her ear from short distance. "Right now he is distracted, time for Misa to use endearing powers!"

[Tonbo Misa]

Misa wasn't quite certain what that meant, but Huludai wasn't her first horse by now, so she knew what she wanted to do. Smiling, she hugged onto Huludai's head, gently enough he could keep eating his apple leisurely.

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj admires her endearing powers. Now he has no doubt Huludai will let her ride him. As they hug to the sound of neighy muching, Butaj readies the stirrup for her.

[Tonbo Misa]

Misa heard the rattling of the stirrups, but she didn't stop the hug. "Was Butaj-san going to go for a ride?"

[Moto Butaj]

"Aren't we both?" There is joy in his voice.

[Tonbo Misa]

Misa giggled quietly. "Well, I don't know if I could carry both you and Huludai..."

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj laughs. "Of course you couldn't. It's Butaj who will carry you while you carry Huludai, it can only work this way." He then stands close to her. "Come, beautiful. Let Butaj kidnap you for a bit. Butaj wants you to know what it means to have the wind of the steppe on your face and in your hair."

[Tonbo Misa]

Misa couldn't help teasing softly. "I already have, but not with Butaj-kun. Are we going to be good at least and ride properly, or will we be in more rumors?"

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj feels a deep pinch in his chest. What is it? "Butaj wasn't going to be untoward... to Tonbo-sama." He sighs, swallowing some air that shouldn't be in his lungs if he was breathing evenly. "Maybe it's a bad, redundant idea then. Butaj doesn't insist." He pulls on his plait as he takes half-step back. "Butaj respects that Tonbo-sama has other suitors to take her for horse rides." It passes his throat with some difficulty, but he keeps a grin up, trying to prove himself that everything is alright. Not that she sees it.

[Tonbo Misa]

Misa heard the tone of Butaj's voice and let go of Huludai to move next to him, though her touch only went to his sleeve. Her tone was patient and kind. "Butaj-san... it is adorable that you worry so, but I can think of nothing in the world I would like better than to ride beside you on Huludai-kun's and feel the wind through my hair." She even gave a little titter of a laugh into her hand. "Besides, the only 'suitor' that took me for a ride was Otaku Kitakuhime-sama, and I think she would insist you show me how a Moto rides. A true man of the desert and steppes."