[D1 LA] Short Lesson Before Dinner

[Asako Hirase]

"I tend to take him out in the early evening if I am not required elsewhere. On a day of your discretion, then."

"The day after tomorrow then? I think I have an arrangement in the evening, not sure when." She looked over to Fei and thought of her with Suteichi. "I look forward to it," she added, with a smile.[/quote]

"Then it shall be so."

He smiled again, then glanced around a bit helplessly.

"This is usually the point wherein one graciously excuses themselves to begin preparation, even two days in advance, but it seems I have to figure out the easiest way to dismount first. I take it that it is more or less just a reversal of how I got up?"

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Yue blinked and realized it would not be as natural for him. She held up the reins to him. "You're essentially correct on that. Keep the reins tight so that she does not move while you dismount." She gestured to the horn of the saddle with her eyes. "Use that for balance as you swing you leg around. Remember that you never want to be off-balance in case the horse takes off."

[Asako Hirase]

"That would be problematic, I expect."

HE did as she had instructed, seeming to juggle a bit between holding the reins, the horn, and the back of the saddle for balance as he slung a leg over. Like many new riders, he ended upleaning far over the horse on his belly, one foot still in the stirrup to brace him, for several seconds as he oriented himself. Slooowly he lowered himself, seeming perplexed that it took so long to find the ground, and then very nearly tripped himself up trying to get his sandaled foot free of the stirrup again.

Gently releasing the knot of reins he still grapsed, he turned a rueful look up at Liu Yue again.

"Not the most graceful thing, I'm sure, but I will learn. I see now why a stirrup would be useful...the stability for dismounting probably isn't valuable to you now but I can see the strength and support it could offer in the right setting."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"Woah there girl! Calm down, it's okay." Yue went over to the front of her horse. She focused on keeping Hikazume calm rather than correcting the man's form. When he was finally on the ground, she let out a sigh of relief. "Good girl, good girl."

She turned back to him, putting on a smile. "You will learn, Hirase-san." She looked to the stirrup. "It is vital to dismount and mount properly. It is also vital for directing the horse."

Yue then bowed to the man. "Arigatou gozaimasu. I am honored that you trust me with your lessons."

[Asako Hirase]

Another slice of apple was found for the horse in thanks and he made sure to hand it over before turning back to smile up at the Unicorn again.

"I will strive to be a good student. Arigatou gozaimasu to you for trusting me with your friend."

Carefully, he brushed at his clothes, assuring himself that they'd settled back where they should be.

"Next time, I will wear clothes better suited for learning. I'm sure a kimono is easily managed when one knows what they are about, but for now, I'd rather not have my focus split between proper modesty and staying astride."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Hikazume, once again, devoured the apple with glee. The horse then went in towards the man in hopes for more, only stopped by the reins. "No no, that's enough for now. What did sis say? That you'll get fat?

Liu Yue nodded. "It would be wise to dress better for the occasion, Hirase-san. Then I can have Hikazume go more quickly."

[Asako Hirase]

That sounded both difficult and enjoyable and Hirase nodded, smiling. "I warn you if you take Ichiro at any speed, you're likely to have him shrieking in delight. While a childs joy is of course a good thing, it can be a bit hard on the ears." Ruefully, he rubbed his right one. "Especially when you've got them more or less in your lap at the time."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Yue was unable to refrain from laughing. "Sou desu ka. I will prepare myself for his screeching." She looked over to her sister and the other Asako. "Do you know what they have been discussing, Hirase-san?"

[Asako Hirase]

He glanced in the same direction.

"I would expect horses, since my Cousin's family had some." He paused a moment, then added, "Or perhaps they are discussing prospects. Did you and your sister perhaps bring along brothers or male Cousins that she might be trying to pair Yuki-san with?"

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

The tall woman shook her head. "No. Fei is my only sister. I believe any discussion between them is on horses, Hirase-san." She blinked and looked only briefly at the man before turning back to looking at her sister. Prospects? Goodness, what is he thinking? Am I a prospect? Would my sister approve? Oh goodness.

[Asako Hirase]

Sensing her sudden shift back to discomfort and unsure how it had happened, Hirase shifted to follow the safer half of the discussion. "To be fair, I think what we call 'horses' are probably merely ponies to you. Even the draft beasts that pull wagons are not nearly the size of your fine steeds and they are bigger than most of the mounts I observed during school. I do wonder if a Unicorn's horse would be happy among a herd of their smaller kin...do they ever seem to mind?"

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Yue smirked. "I have not encountered Rokugani ponies closely, Hirase-san. I cannot offer an educated opinion on them at the moment." She placed a finger on her chin as she thought more on the matter. "The Otaku steeds are able to get along with the others. It may be similar with Unicorn horses and ponies but I am not certain."

[Asako Hirase]

"Otaku horses are different?" This was new information and he turned to focus on his companion again, bright interest lighting his eyes. "Are they from a different breed of horse you found along the way, then, or is it something more?"

[Shinjo Liu Fei]

Yuki nodded, then paused with a smile. "Like an old sensei, then." She examined the horse for a moment and grinned as she started to laugh. "It would be funny to see him with a long white beard."

"You hear that Gokiburi, Asako-san here thinks you would look funny with a long white beard," she said and Gokiburi snorted in response. "Thinking about it, I think you would look funny too," she said and once again Gokiburi answered. This time with a small shake of his head.

[Asako Yuki]

"You hear that Gokiburi, Asako-san here thinks you would look funny with a long white beard," she said and Gokiburi snorted in response. "Thinking about it, I think you would look funny too," she said and once again Gokiburi answered. This time with a small shake of his head.

Yuki couldn't stop the laughter now. "And he would be a very strict sensei, trotting about the dojo with dignity, staring down any rambunctious students."