A precious link (chapter 5)
Title: A Precious Link
Author: MatsuAurore
Beta: Sonvidel <3
Pairing: Sakuraiba, Sakumoto (brothers), Matsumiya
Genre: Au, drama, angst, romance
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Aiba belongs to Sho :P
Summary: Sho, a famous singer, is always acting cold and distant with anyone trying to approach him. One day, his manager discovers that the young man is hiding a painful secret that is eating him. After making him meet Aiba, a strange horse rancher, Sho will soon realize that maybe this mysterious man is the only one able to understand his scars and create a link stronger than anything.
Chapter 5:
You just need to look at a horse's head to see its heart.
"Why did you take me here?" Sho asked after a while. Aiba had convinced him walk to the meadow with him.
"It's time for you to start," Aiba said mysteriously.
"Eh?"
"Look." Aiba pointed something and soon Sho saw a beautiful gray horse galloping in the meadow.
"A horse?"
"Really? I thought it was an elephant," Aiba smirked.
"But why..." Sho ignored the sarcasm.
"His name is Spirit. He's a Mustang and will be your friend while you're here."
"A Mustang? Aren't they are wild horses?" Sho paled.
"Oh?" Aiba whistled and the sound of neighing was heard. A horse galloped toward them and stopped in front of the taller man.
"I thought Mustangs couldn't be..."
"Don't listen to the silly things you see in movies. I agree that Mustangs are very special horses that don't trust people easily, but who said it was impossible to be friends with them?" Aiba chuckled, stroking the horse's head.
"I thought Mustangs were always brown."
"Oh no. You see, Mustangs are wild horses from the northern part of America. All American horses are ancestors from the horses that Spanish Conquistadors brought in the 16th century. The first Mustangs descended from Iberian horses brought to Mexico and Florida. Most of these horses were of Andalusian, Arabian and Barb ancestry. Its name comes from the Spanish word mesteño that means 'wandering' because of its strength, courage and free spirit. With time, Oriental horses have been mixed with thoroughbred or French's horses. Then, the American government inserted Frise's stallion. It's why Mustangs have every color."
"You have a vast knowledge of horses," Sho smiled, impressed.
"It's my life. So, I have to warn you. Spirit is a very special kind of horse. Like his name indicates, he can be very stubborn and loves to drive people crazy. Spirit is very smart and his passion is to make you run. If he was able to smile, I think he would spend his time to showing you a mocking face. Ne, my baby?" Aiba kissed the horse's forehead.
"What do I have to do?"
"You have to win his trust. I want you to be able to ride Spirit but without imposing it to him. You have to become his friend. You'll see. Spirit is stubborn but when he trusts someone, he can do amazing things."
"What do I start with?"
"The Join-Up of course." Aiba smirked as if the idea was amusing. Was he preparing something?
"Okay. Here?"
"No. In the manège."
"You don't bring him here?"
"You bring him." Aiba held out a bridle to Sho who gulped.
"Well. Come on, boy." Sho tried to put the bridle around Spirit's head but the horse made a step back. "Spirit, I need your cooperation. Let's go." Sho tried again but the horse made a step back again. "He doesn't want to budge," Sho whined.
"Try again," Aiba grinned, hiding his laugh behind his hand.
"Spirit, please!" Sho managed to approach him but the horse raised its head high, preventing Sho to put the bridle. "You're not kind!" Sho whined, losing his patience. After several minutes, the rapper fixed the bridle. "I win!" Sho smirked but lost his smile when Spirit sneezed right in his face, sending disgusting mucus on Sho's cheeks. "Gross!!" Sho exclaimed and Aiba finally burst into laughter. "It’s not funny, you did it on purpose, ne?" Sho groaned.
"Well, maybe. I told you he was stubborn." Aiba wiped his tears.
"I'll show you I can dominate him!" Sho snapped.
"No, Sho..." Aiba tried to stop the rapper who had grabbed Spirit's bridle abruptly to put on the rein. Angry, the horse moved back and turned around Sho. He pushed him with its head, making him fall on the ground in a pool of mud. The horse neighed happily and Sho really believed he had smiled mockingly to say, “Hey, it's not time for your bath!”
"Fuck!"
"I told you not to try to dominate a horse. It was a good lesson and you're lucky he just did that," Aiba said half amused, half angry.
"What can I do?"
"Be gentle," Aiba shrugged.
"Okay." Sho stood up, his clothes covered of mud. He lowered his head a bit while holding out his hand like Jun did with Yume. "Come on, Spirit, let me put on the rein." Spirit stared at the rapper but didn't move.
"He is very attached to politeness."
"Please, Spirit." To Sho's surprise, the horse finally moved and stopped in front of him to let him put on the rein.
"I told you so," Aiba smiled.
"Thank you, Spirit!" Sho grinned. The horse neighed happily as if he had understood.
"Go to the manège now. Oh, and be careful. When Spirit is too calm, it means he has prepared some kind of trick," Aiba grinned evilly.
"Sugoi," Sho groaned. What was he going to do with a horse like that?
Aiba opened the barrier and let Sho enter the manège with the horse, the rapper looking like he was going to die.
"Spirit won't eat you, you know," Aiba chuckled.
"I'm sure he would be able to," Sho mumbled, making Aiba laugh.
"Do what you did when you were with Ghost but it might take longer with Spirit."
"Okay." Sho took the rein off and threw it toward Spirit to make him run but the horse didn't even move. Spirit stared at him with the look of what-are-you-trying-to-do-dwarf? "Go Spirit!" Sho threw the rein again and this time, the horse moved for Sho's relief.
"Don't get excited too quickly," Aiba whispered with a smirk. The rapper made him run, taking an aggressive pose. However, as minutes passed, Spirit was still running and didn't show any sign of cooperation.
"Why doesn't he react?"
"He won't let you win his trust so easily."
"He is going to kill me. Please, Spirit!" Sweat was rolling down Sho's temple, tiredness winning him over as Spirit was making him run. The horse didn't seem tired nor ready to stop and Sho almost gave up when Aiba screamed at him.
"I forbid you to stop! You have to deserve Spirit's trust. Prove to him you are worth it!" Aiba ordered firmly. "Prove to him you're not a poor baby!"
"I'm not a baby!" Sho snapped. For 30 minutes Spirit ran but suddenly, its ear turned toward Sho.
"Don't stop!" Aiba exclaimed. Finally, the horse lowered its head, biting the air. "Now!"
Sho nodded and losing his aggressive pose, turned around and waited. For a minute, nothing happened and the rapper believed it hadn't worked. Suddenly, a noise resounded and soon Sho felt something touching his shoulder. Turning around, the rapper grinned and stroked Spirit between the eyes. The horse neighed softly. Spirit gazed into Sho's eyes and the young man understood what Aiba meant when he was saying a horse could read your soul. In one look, he had felt as if Spirit had read everything about him. The horse licked Sho's palm kindly, making him grin like a child receiving his Christmas present. The idol's hand traveled on the animal's neck, feeling every muscle contracting under his hand.
"You finally understand," Aiba smiled softly.
"You knew I would understand with him."
"Maybe," Aiba grinned mysteriously.
"Can I ride him today?"
"No. It's enough for the moment. You'll ride him tomorrow if he agrees."
"So, now what?"
"You have to groom him. After, we will meet Yume and Jun."
"Okay." Sho led the horse in its box, took the brush, cleaned the beautiful gray animal while he hummed a song. Spirit closed his eyes, enjoying the moment but when Sho took the tool to clean the hoof, Spirit kept his leg still. "Spirit, please, give me your leg," Sho implored. But the horse looked at him with a mocking face and farted loudly. "Pouahhh! Disgusting! You stink!" Sho exclaimed. A laugh made him jump and he turned his face to see Aiba with Nino and Jun looking at him with mocking faces. "Stop making fun of me!" Sho groaned.
"You don't have a good method. Spirit is a wild horse. He won't give you his hoof so easily."
"How can I get him to give it to me?" Sho sighed and blinked when Jun entered the box. The young boy stroked the horse's neck, making him sniff his smell to be accepted. When Spirit gave his approval, Jun went beside to Sho. Slowly, Jun touched the leg from the top, stroking the muscles. When he reached the hoof, Spirit raised his leg naturally, allowing the boy to clean its hoof.
"How did you do that?"
"He asked Spirit's permission," Aiba smiled proudly.
"Good work, J," Nino exclaimed.
"Can you show me?" Sho asked to his brother who nodded. After a while, Jun left the box, letting Aiba pat his head.
"You did great, Jun."
"Can we start with Yume now?" Nino asked excitedly.
"Hun. Don't forget to be soft and to stop if Yume becomes aggressive," Aiba warned Jun who nodded seriously.
Jun took a sugar in his pocket before entering the stable. Yume moved back a bit, scared but calmed down when Jun started to hum softly. It was barely audible but enough to appease the horse. After cleaning at least its hoofs, Jun put a bridle and led Yume toward the manège. The horse was still scared and could run away at any noise around them but Jun kept humming.
"You know what to do, like Kazu showed you with Niji," Aiba said.
"I wonder if it will work," Nino whispered.
"I hope so. Yume is very scared and won't give his trust so easily."
And Aiba was right. At the second Jun took off the rein, Yume galloped away, scared. But the young boy didn't give up and taking an aggressive pose, chased the horse that was panicking.
****
"It's been 30 minutes, it's enough, Jun. You did your best but Yume isn't receptive," Aiba finally sighed sadly. Jun shook his head stubbornly and kept chasing the horse despite his tiredness.
"Jun, stop now. It's useless and you're exhausted," Nino exclaimed.
Jun didn't stop. Aiba wondered if he should stop him himself but something told him he had to wait and trust Jun. The young boy's face was all red from sweating but determination was shining in his eyes.
"Masa, it's useless!" Nino sighed after an hour of this game.
"Wait! Look!" Aiba grabbed Nino's arm and pointed the horse. Yume's ear had turned briefly toward Jun.
"He is..." Nino gasped.
The horse looked exhausted too. After a while, Yume lowered his head. Jun decided to stop and turned around. Yume was sweating just like Jun was. He hesitated just a second before walking toward Jun and put its nose on the boy's shoulder. Jun grinned and hugged the horse's neck happily. Yume neighed softly and licked his shoulder, letting his new friend touch him like he wanted.
"He has created a link," Aiba whispered, tears shining in his eyes.
"Jun formed a bond. I would have never thought Yume would let someone approach him and touch him," Nino smiled with emotion.
"They are friends now. Yume will trust Jun with his life," Aiba stated, looking at the horse that was following Jun like a puppy.
"I thought Yume was lost and we had to..." Nino whispered.
"You know I would have never been able to do that. Horses are the last family I have besides you, Oh-chan and Ghost."
"And Sho-kun?" Nino smirked.
"Eh?" Aiba blushed deeply.
"I've seen how you look at him and how he looks at you," Nino chuckled as Sho was kissing Jun's cheek and looking at them with a wide smile.
"No, I..."
"Don't apologize. I'm happy for you. You deserve to meet someone that will love and protect you."
"I can't."
"You can, you just don't want to. You always help and protect others. You heal horse's wounds but you forget you need someone that will look after you."
"I don't need anyone." Aiba snapped.
"You told Sho he had to stop hiding his scars but shouldn't you do the same?" Nino sighed before joining Jun.
Aiba looked at his friend with surprised eyes. He would have never thought Nino would ask him to date Sho. After taking a deep breath, Aiba joined the little group and congratulated Jun who was smiling so widely that the sun would look dark next to him.
"Now, you have to work on your trust with Yume."
"How?" Sho asked.
"I'll teach him how use soft massages on Yume. It's a method from a specialist, Linda Tellington-Jones." Aiba explained while the others were following him toward the stable. "As I can't approach Yume, I'll show you on another horse." Jun followed Aiba into Ghost's box. "You have to massage its head as it's the most sensitive part. Put your left hand on the horse's side and concentrate on your right hand. You have to be relaxed or it won't work. With your fingers, stroke the skin in clockwise motion and draw a circle before doing it elsewhere. Like that." Jun watched Aiba working, his eyes focused on the man's fingers. "As Yume is very stressed, start with quick and light circles and when he calms down, you will reduce your speed."
"Does it really work?" Sho asked suspiciously.
"Yes. Most of the time, it works," Aiba nodded. "Now, you can try with Yume."
At the second Jun started the massage, Yume neighed softly and finally closed its eyes under Jun's fingers after several minutes.
"Keep massaging him like that. You can also sing. Yume will appreciate it. When he sighs, it will mean he is completely relaxed."
"It's amazing," Sho whispered as the horse was relaxing its muscles.
"It's a great method. The horse can let go and is appeased."
"How long do you have to massage the horse?"
"As long as he needs it. When he is completely relaxed, Jun will feel it. I'll also add some valerian in its food to appease him."
It took Jun an hour to relax Yume fully. After a sugar and a kiss, the young boy left the box with shining eyes.
"You did great. You can be proud of yourself." Ohno grinned.
"We will make a campfire tonight to celebrate this perfect day," Aiba said cheerfully.
"Yeahhh. I want Masaki to sing!" Nino clapped his hands excitedly.
"Oh-chan, I'll let you buy the sausages and the meat while I'll buy the marshmallows and the drinks with Sho-chan."
"Okay!" Ohno chuckled, not missing the blush on Sho's cheeks.
"Jun and I will feed the horses!" Nino exclaimed.
"Okay, we will meet at the house in two hours."
***
"Ne, Jun?" Nino asked softly as the two boys were feeding the horses. Jun looked at the older with questioning eyes and Nino blushed a bit. "Why aren't you allowed to talk?" The gamer thought his friend would never answer but after some minutes, Jun took a paper and wrote.
"To protect Nii-chan."
"Why?"
"Because I'm dangerous."
"Eh?" But Jun didn't answer. "You're not dangerous, J." Nino put his hand on Jun's arm, making the boy jump. "Sorry, but if you were dangerous, Yume would never trust you." A tear left Jun's eye and Nino wrapped him in his arms, stroking his friend's hair. "You'll see nobody thinks you're dangerous and you will fill the emptiness in your heart." Jun looked at Nino with curious eyes and the older smiled softly, cupping his cheeks. "I'll help you to fill this emptiness." Slowly, Nino approached his face and put his lips on Jun's, deciding to ignore his fear of being rejected.
To be continued...
A/N: A lot of things happened in this chapter xD Sho is starting his own training and Aiba is getting closer to him though, he still hides him several things XD
And here, the Matsumiya first kiss :D I wonder how Jun will react and why he said he was dangerous :) See you soon for the next chapter, comments are always <3
Author: MatsuAurore
Beta: Sonvidel <3
Pairing: Sakuraiba, Sakumoto (brothers), Matsumiya
Genre: Au, drama, angst, romance
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Aiba belongs to Sho :P
Summary: Sho, a famous singer, is always acting cold and distant with anyone trying to approach him. One day, his manager discovers that the young man is hiding a painful secret that is eating him. After making him meet Aiba, a strange horse rancher, Sho will soon realize that maybe this mysterious man is the only one able to understand his scars and create a link stronger than anything.
Chapter 5:
You just need to look at a horse's head to see its heart.
"Why did you take me here?" Sho asked after a while. Aiba had convinced him walk to the meadow with him.
"It's time for you to start," Aiba said mysteriously.
"Eh?"
"Look." Aiba pointed something and soon Sho saw a beautiful gray horse galloping in the meadow.
"A horse?"
"Really? I thought it was an elephant," Aiba smirked.
"But why..." Sho ignored the sarcasm.
"His name is Spirit. He's a Mustang and will be your friend while you're here."
"A Mustang? Aren't they are wild horses?" Sho paled.
"Oh?" Aiba whistled and the sound of neighing was heard. A horse galloped toward them and stopped in front of the taller man.
"I thought Mustangs couldn't be..."
"Don't listen to the silly things you see in movies. I agree that Mustangs are very special horses that don't trust people easily, but who said it was impossible to be friends with them?" Aiba chuckled, stroking the horse's head.
"I thought Mustangs were always brown."
"Oh no. You see, Mustangs are wild horses from the northern part of America. All American horses are ancestors from the horses that Spanish Conquistadors brought in the 16th century. The first Mustangs descended from Iberian horses brought to Mexico and Florida. Most of these horses were of Andalusian, Arabian and Barb ancestry. Its name comes from the Spanish word mesteño that means 'wandering' because of its strength, courage and free spirit. With time, Oriental horses have been mixed with thoroughbred or French's horses. Then, the American government inserted Frise's stallion. It's why Mustangs have every color."
"You have a vast knowledge of horses," Sho smiled, impressed.
"It's my life. So, I have to warn you. Spirit is a very special kind of horse. Like his name indicates, he can be very stubborn and loves to drive people crazy. Spirit is very smart and his passion is to make you run. If he was able to smile, I think he would spend his time to showing you a mocking face. Ne, my baby?" Aiba kissed the horse's forehead.
"What do I have to do?"
"You have to win his trust. I want you to be able to ride Spirit but without imposing it to him. You have to become his friend. You'll see. Spirit is stubborn but when he trusts someone, he can do amazing things."
"What do I start with?"
"The Join-Up of course." Aiba smirked as if the idea was amusing. Was he preparing something?
"Okay. Here?"
"No. In the manège."
"You don't bring him here?"
"You bring him." Aiba held out a bridle to Sho who gulped.
"Well. Come on, boy." Sho tried to put the bridle around Spirit's head but the horse made a step back. "Spirit, I need your cooperation. Let's go." Sho tried again but the horse made a step back again. "He doesn't want to budge," Sho whined.
"Try again," Aiba grinned, hiding his laugh behind his hand.
"Spirit, please!" Sho managed to approach him but the horse raised its head high, preventing Sho to put the bridle. "You're not kind!" Sho whined, losing his patience. After several minutes, the rapper fixed the bridle. "I win!" Sho smirked but lost his smile when Spirit sneezed right in his face, sending disgusting mucus on Sho's cheeks. "Gross!!" Sho exclaimed and Aiba finally burst into laughter. "It’s not funny, you did it on purpose, ne?" Sho groaned.
"Well, maybe. I told you he was stubborn." Aiba wiped his tears.
"I'll show you I can dominate him!" Sho snapped.
"No, Sho..." Aiba tried to stop the rapper who had grabbed Spirit's bridle abruptly to put on the rein. Angry, the horse moved back and turned around Sho. He pushed him with its head, making him fall on the ground in a pool of mud. The horse neighed happily and Sho really believed he had smiled mockingly to say, “Hey, it's not time for your bath!”
"Fuck!"
"I told you not to try to dominate a horse. It was a good lesson and you're lucky he just did that," Aiba said half amused, half angry.
"What can I do?"
"Be gentle," Aiba shrugged.
"Okay." Sho stood up, his clothes covered of mud. He lowered his head a bit while holding out his hand like Jun did with Yume. "Come on, Spirit, let me put on the rein." Spirit stared at the rapper but didn't move.
"He is very attached to politeness."
"Please, Spirit." To Sho's surprise, the horse finally moved and stopped in front of him to let him put on the rein.
"I told you so," Aiba smiled.
"Thank you, Spirit!" Sho grinned. The horse neighed happily as if he had understood.
"Go to the manège now. Oh, and be careful. When Spirit is too calm, it means he has prepared some kind of trick," Aiba grinned evilly.
"Sugoi," Sho groaned. What was he going to do with a horse like that?
Aiba opened the barrier and let Sho enter the manège with the horse, the rapper looking like he was going to die.
"Spirit won't eat you, you know," Aiba chuckled.
"I'm sure he would be able to," Sho mumbled, making Aiba laugh.
"Do what you did when you were with Ghost but it might take longer with Spirit."
"Okay." Sho took the rein off and threw it toward Spirit to make him run but the horse didn't even move. Spirit stared at him with the look of what-are-you-trying-to-do-dwarf? "Go Spirit!" Sho threw the rein again and this time, the horse moved for Sho's relief.
"Don't get excited too quickly," Aiba whispered with a smirk. The rapper made him run, taking an aggressive pose. However, as minutes passed, Spirit was still running and didn't show any sign of cooperation.
"Why doesn't he react?"
"He won't let you win his trust so easily."
"He is going to kill me. Please, Spirit!" Sweat was rolling down Sho's temple, tiredness winning him over as Spirit was making him run. The horse didn't seem tired nor ready to stop and Sho almost gave up when Aiba screamed at him.
"I forbid you to stop! You have to deserve Spirit's trust. Prove to him you are worth it!" Aiba ordered firmly. "Prove to him you're not a poor baby!"
"I'm not a baby!" Sho snapped. For 30 minutes Spirit ran but suddenly, its ear turned toward Sho.
"Don't stop!" Aiba exclaimed. Finally, the horse lowered its head, biting the air. "Now!"
Sho nodded and losing his aggressive pose, turned around and waited. For a minute, nothing happened and the rapper believed it hadn't worked. Suddenly, a noise resounded and soon Sho felt something touching his shoulder. Turning around, the rapper grinned and stroked Spirit between the eyes. The horse neighed softly. Spirit gazed into Sho's eyes and the young man understood what Aiba meant when he was saying a horse could read your soul. In one look, he had felt as if Spirit had read everything about him. The horse licked Sho's palm kindly, making him grin like a child receiving his Christmas present. The idol's hand traveled on the animal's neck, feeling every muscle contracting under his hand.
"You finally understand," Aiba smiled softly.
"You knew I would understand with him."
"Maybe," Aiba grinned mysteriously.
"Can I ride him today?"
"No. It's enough for the moment. You'll ride him tomorrow if he agrees."
"So, now what?"
"You have to groom him. After, we will meet Yume and Jun."
"Okay." Sho led the horse in its box, took the brush, cleaned the beautiful gray animal while he hummed a song. Spirit closed his eyes, enjoying the moment but when Sho took the tool to clean the hoof, Spirit kept his leg still. "Spirit, please, give me your leg," Sho implored. But the horse looked at him with a mocking face and farted loudly. "Pouahhh! Disgusting! You stink!" Sho exclaimed. A laugh made him jump and he turned his face to see Aiba with Nino and Jun looking at him with mocking faces. "Stop making fun of me!" Sho groaned.
"You don't have a good method. Spirit is a wild horse. He won't give you his hoof so easily."
"How can I get him to give it to me?" Sho sighed and blinked when Jun entered the box. The young boy stroked the horse's neck, making him sniff his smell to be accepted. When Spirit gave his approval, Jun went beside to Sho. Slowly, Jun touched the leg from the top, stroking the muscles. When he reached the hoof, Spirit raised his leg naturally, allowing the boy to clean its hoof.
"How did you do that?"
"He asked Spirit's permission," Aiba smiled proudly.
"Good work, J," Nino exclaimed.
"Can you show me?" Sho asked to his brother who nodded. After a while, Jun left the box, letting Aiba pat his head.
"You did great, Jun."
"Can we start with Yume now?" Nino asked excitedly.
"Hun. Don't forget to be soft and to stop if Yume becomes aggressive," Aiba warned Jun who nodded seriously.
Jun took a sugar in his pocket before entering the stable. Yume moved back a bit, scared but calmed down when Jun started to hum softly. It was barely audible but enough to appease the horse. After cleaning at least its hoofs, Jun put a bridle and led Yume toward the manège. The horse was still scared and could run away at any noise around them but Jun kept humming.
"You know what to do, like Kazu showed you with Niji," Aiba said.
"I wonder if it will work," Nino whispered.
"I hope so. Yume is very scared and won't give his trust so easily."
And Aiba was right. At the second Jun took off the rein, Yume galloped away, scared. But the young boy didn't give up and taking an aggressive pose, chased the horse that was panicking.
****
"It's been 30 minutes, it's enough, Jun. You did your best but Yume isn't receptive," Aiba finally sighed sadly. Jun shook his head stubbornly and kept chasing the horse despite his tiredness.
"Jun, stop now. It's useless and you're exhausted," Nino exclaimed.
Jun didn't stop. Aiba wondered if he should stop him himself but something told him he had to wait and trust Jun. The young boy's face was all red from sweating but determination was shining in his eyes.
"Masa, it's useless!" Nino sighed after an hour of this game.
"Wait! Look!" Aiba grabbed Nino's arm and pointed the horse. Yume's ear had turned briefly toward Jun.
"He is..." Nino gasped.
The horse looked exhausted too. After a while, Yume lowered his head. Jun decided to stop and turned around. Yume was sweating just like Jun was. He hesitated just a second before walking toward Jun and put its nose on the boy's shoulder. Jun grinned and hugged the horse's neck happily. Yume neighed softly and licked his shoulder, letting his new friend touch him like he wanted.
"He has created a link," Aiba whispered, tears shining in his eyes.
"Jun formed a bond. I would have never thought Yume would let someone approach him and touch him," Nino smiled with emotion.
"They are friends now. Yume will trust Jun with his life," Aiba stated, looking at the horse that was following Jun like a puppy.
"I thought Yume was lost and we had to..." Nino whispered.
"You know I would have never been able to do that. Horses are the last family I have besides you, Oh-chan and Ghost."
"And Sho-kun?" Nino smirked.
"Eh?" Aiba blushed deeply.
"I've seen how you look at him and how he looks at you," Nino chuckled as Sho was kissing Jun's cheek and looking at them with a wide smile.
"No, I..."
"Don't apologize. I'm happy for you. You deserve to meet someone that will love and protect you."
"I can't."
"You can, you just don't want to. You always help and protect others. You heal horse's wounds but you forget you need someone that will look after you."
"I don't need anyone." Aiba snapped.
"You told Sho he had to stop hiding his scars but shouldn't you do the same?" Nino sighed before joining Jun.
Aiba looked at his friend with surprised eyes. He would have never thought Nino would ask him to date Sho. After taking a deep breath, Aiba joined the little group and congratulated Jun who was smiling so widely that the sun would look dark next to him.
"Now, you have to work on your trust with Yume."
"How?" Sho asked.
"I'll teach him how use soft massages on Yume. It's a method from a specialist, Linda Tellington-Jones." Aiba explained while the others were following him toward the stable. "As I can't approach Yume, I'll show you on another horse." Jun followed Aiba into Ghost's box. "You have to massage its head as it's the most sensitive part. Put your left hand on the horse's side and concentrate on your right hand. You have to be relaxed or it won't work. With your fingers, stroke the skin in clockwise motion and draw a circle before doing it elsewhere. Like that." Jun watched Aiba working, his eyes focused on the man's fingers. "As Yume is very stressed, start with quick and light circles and when he calms down, you will reduce your speed."
"Does it really work?" Sho asked suspiciously.
"Yes. Most of the time, it works," Aiba nodded. "Now, you can try with Yume."
At the second Jun started the massage, Yume neighed softly and finally closed its eyes under Jun's fingers after several minutes.
"Keep massaging him like that. You can also sing. Yume will appreciate it. When he sighs, it will mean he is completely relaxed."
"It's amazing," Sho whispered as the horse was relaxing its muscles.
"It's a great method. The horse can let go and is appeased."
"How long do you have to massage the horse?"
"As long as he needs it. When he is completely relaxed, Jun will feel it. I'll also add some valerian in its food to appease him."
It took Jun an hour to relax Yume fully. After a sugar and a kiss, the young boy left the box with shining eyes.
"You did great. You can be proud of yourself." Ohno grinned.
"We will make a campfire tonight to celebrate this perfect day," Aiba said cheerfully.
"Yeahhh. I want Masaki to sing!" Nino clapped his hands excitedly.
"Oh-chan, I'll let you buy the sausages and the meat while I'll buy the marshmallows and the drinks with Sho-chan."
"Okay!" Ohno chuckled, not missing the blush on Sho's cheeks.
"Jun and I will feed the horses!" Nino exclaimed.
"Okay, we will meet at the house in two hours."
***
"Ne, Jun?" Nino asked softly as the two boys were feeding the horses. Jun looked at the older with questioning eyes and Nino blushed a bit. "Why aren't you allowed to talk?" The gamer thought his friend would never answer but after some minutes, Jun took a paper and wrote.
"To protect Nii-chan."
"Why?"
"Because I'm dangerous."
"Eh?" But Jun didn't answer. "You're not dangerous, J." Nino put his hand on Jun's arm, making the boy jump. "Sorry, but if you were dangerous, Yume would never trust you." A tear left Jun's eye and Nino wrapped him in his arms, stroking his friend's hair. "You'll see nobody thinks you're dangerous and you will fill the emptiness in your heart." Jun looked at Nino with curious eyes and the older smiled softly, cupping his cheeks. "I'll help you to fill this emptiness." Slowly, Nino approached his face and put his lips on Jun's, deciding to ignore his fear of being rejected.
To be continued...
A/N: A lot of things happened in this chapter xD Sho is starting his own training and Aiba is getting closer to him though, he still hides him several things XD
And here, the Matsumiya first kiss :D I wonder how Jun will react and why he said he was dangerous :) See you soon for the next chapter, comments are always <3