Greetings all. Welcome to a different kind of Prince Of Tennis story. HOWEVER, there IS no tennis. This is a story of a forbidden Teacher-Student love affair set in a high class riding school that has been written as a present for one of my Mythic Brotherhood readers Kurotsuki Shie. HAPPY late (VERY late...sorry) BIRTHDAY!

Now then, I had originally planned to write this as a one shot, but I thought I'd put out a small first chapter just to see what you Kurotsuki Shie (and other readers) think. Also, it was going to be a more medieval type of setting. But after kicking a few ideas around, it kind of turned into a modern day setting all on its own.

Anyway, there will be Yaoi...so be warned!

Hope you read, enjoy and review my latest creation.

Disclaimer: Well, if Prince of tennis was REALLY mine, Tezuka would not be teaching horse riding. He would be: A DRAGON KING!

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"Under The Equine Sun."

By Tora Macaw.

For Kurotsuki Shie.

Chapter 1

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Lifting a saddle from a nearby wooden rail, a messy haired, handsome young male reached up to gently place it on a horse's broad back. Lowering its head, the four year old snorted then shook its mane; one front hoof giving a quick stamp as its handler reached beneath it for the girth.

Pulling the thick band of supple leather around the chestnut gelding's belly, the man quickly fed two buckles through the saddle's long straps before securing the girth on the first four notches. Reaching up with one hand, he stroked the animal's neck a few times; his deep, even tones soothing the horse as he patiently waited for the beast to release its air.

The man knew that horses often blew out their sides as the girth went on. The unwary could be caught out, resulting in the saddle slipping over as they tried to mount. However, the head riding master of the "Equine sun school of horsemanship" had been around horses all his life and could never be caught out by any of their little tricks.

He also knew that some so called horsemen had no patience whatsoever and would therefore beat a horse rather than let it take its time adjusting to being saddled. Thankfully, the handsome young man wasn't one of those brutal types and reaching for the bridle, he decided to give his four legged friend a little more time.

Carefully easing the reins over its head so as not to frighten it, the man then stood close beside it; his right hand lightly curving over the center of the gelding's long nose while holding both of the cheek straps against his palm. Snorting, the horse attempted to toss his head. But keeping a firm pressure on the chestnut's face, the man was able to maintain control. Relaxing under the kind yet authoritive hold, the horse obediently dropped his head.

Gently sliding his left thumb against the back of its mouth, the handler asked the horse to open his jaws. Almost at once, the gelding opened his mouth to receive the bit and quickly pulling the bridle into place, the man straightened out a small section of the top of the horse's mane caught in the back of it. Grunting, the horse then casually chewed on the bit; his weight easing into his right back leg as his left leg cocked into a relaxed posture.

Russet orbs gleaming behind his oval glasses, the handler lifted a side flap on the saddle and with the top of his head buried against the inner padding, the young man swiftly pulled the girth to its correct tightness. The task of saddling complete, he then untied the gelding and led him from the stable into the bright morning sun shine.

That morning, the crisp, yet gentle breezes lightly stirred up the chestnut's immaculately groomed mane and caused the silken coat to shine like the surface of a mirror. Raking his friend with a final, critical gaze, the man voiced a serious sounding; "Hnn..." before taking his horse over to a small patch of close cropped grass.

Pausing, the handler looked around at the long row stables behind him and spying one of his fellow instructors emerging with a sorrel coated quarter horse mare, the man briefly nodded a greeting.

"Good morning Tezuka." said the red head brightly, his left hand indicating the well grown hunter as his rider quickly dragged the stirrups down their well oiled leathers. "I see you are taking Brandy Wine for a work out."

"Atobe wants him ready for the spring show."

Placing his left foot in a stirrup, Tezuka lightly swung himself onto the horse's back with the ease of long practice. For a few seconds, the horse danced nervously beneath him. However, his rider's firm seat and steady hands were quick to curb the animal's outbursts and once Brandy was standing quietly, the messy haired male asked him to walk on.

Falling in beside Tezuka's mount, the flame haired youth shifted slightly in his western saddle as he spoke.

"Ah yes, the spring show. I'd say half of our employer's horses have been entered nya. " Extending his right hand, the lanky youth gave his mount a quick pat."I need to get Wind song here ready for the barrel racing, but don't you worry! She'll be the fastest horse the western society has ever seen!"

"Do your best Eiji." Remarked Tezuka flatly as he turned his horse to enter a well laid out jumping arena.

Waving his hand, Eiji replied with a merry; "See ya!" before asking his horse to trot down to the large training grounds located several meters away.

Ignoring his friend, Tezuka shortened his reins then pressed his heels into the chestnut's sides. At once, the gelding began to trot and after circling the arena several times, Tezuka turned him towards a low practice jump. Snorting his excitement, the horse tried to rush at it, but firmly collecting the reins, Tezuka gently; but sternly reminded him that such behavior wouldn't be tolerated.

Ten minutes later, his mount was easily flying around the course taking every jump in his stride and bringing the cantering horse back into a trot, Tezuka noticed the morning's main group riding instructor Tachibana watching from behind the white painted railings.

Mounted on a fine white Arab stallion, the dark haired man lifted a hand to indicate that he wished to talk. Angle ling his horse over to the fence, Tezuka bought a high blowing Brandy to a steady halt.

"Sir." The young man began respectfully. "Atobe wishes for me to remind you of this morning's private lesson."

Giving his glasses a little push with his middle finger, Tezuka sternly declared that he hadn't forgotten. "I still have 20 minutes." he added after a quick glance at his watch. "Tell Kamio that I want him to take Sliver Bell over the jumps once I'm done."

Touching the brim of his black riding helmet with the tips of his index and middle fingers of his left hand, Tachibana turned his horse away. Nodding a greeting to Oishi as the man rode a beautiful palomino into the western training area to work with Eiji, Tachibana rode off to meet up with his class.

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Exactly twenty minutes to the dot later, Tezuka finished exercising Brandy. Passing his reins to a smiling stable boy, the head instructor of Equine Sun then made for one of the large covered riding arenas squatting apart from the main open air schooling arena. Already, Tachibana was hard at work with his class and striding past the group of thirty, Tezuka marched through one of the building's many small side doors to greet his newest student.

Fuji Syusuke; Tezuka had remembered his information well. Seventeen years old; the oldest son of a wealthy horse owning industrialist family, Fuji had lived most of his life Japan. But thanks to his company upbringing, the youth spoke excellent English and had been well briefed in all areas regarding his temporary home land.

For Tezuka, meeting another one of his fellow country men was like facing a small breath of his past. His own family had always owned horses. Starting out with the training of Samurai mounts, they had later turned to race horses and show jumpers. Tezuka himself had been trained to ride almost from birth by the best equine masters Japan had to offer.

But once he had hit his late teenage years, the messy haired, regal youth had been sent to Oxford University in England to complete his exclusive education. Becoming captain of the tennis team, he had quickly discovered that one of his teammates was the son of a baron and owned many horses.

Quickly impressing the youth's parents with his impeccable riding skills, Tezuka was soon invited to take part in a fox hunt and it was there that he met Keigo Atobe. His family, like Tezuka's own, had a rich history connected to high quality performance horses and had recently moved to England to improve on the breeding of equines and the production of world champion competition riders. Naturally, they had bought all of their Japanese staff with them and upon purchasing Equine Sun Estate, Atobe's family had constantly churned out world beating horses and riders in all equine aspects.

Racing, jumping, dressage, western riding; Atobe had conquered it all and had certainly wasted no time in making certain that his new master of the horse; Tezuka Kunimitsu, was fully competent as well.

Recalling the discussion he'd had with his boss earlier that morning, the honey haired youth now standing quietly before him had come to the now famous Japanese run riding school to learn dressage and show jumping.

Raising one finely shaped eyebrow, Tezuka stared at his new student out of critical eyes. He was a small teenager; short, with a fine willowy grace about him that made him the perfect kind of show rider. His closed eyes and smiling mouth gave him a tranquil, yet crafty look and letting his russet orbs rove over the youth's slender form, Tezuka got the distinct impression that his new pupil wasn't a person to be trifled with.

But once his student was on a horse, Tezuka's word was law and indicating the bay mare waiting silently beside the new comer, Tezuka sternly ordered the youth to mount up.

Cocking his head to one side, Fuji gave his instructor a serene smile before planting his left foot into the stirrup and almost floating onto Sun Dancers back.

Nodding his approval, Tezuka walked to the center of the arena then commanded Fuji to trot his horse in a wide circle around him. Hands correctly positioned, his heels down and toes up as his feet remained perfectly level with the girth, Fuji rode as if born to it; his body rising neatly to the 'post' as the mare moved in an elegant neck arched, extended trot.

His eyes never leaving his student's face, Tezuka then barked a single word; "Serpentines."

At once, Fuji began to weave his horse in and out between make believe poles; his riding skills remaining picture perfect as his instructor told him to canter.

Walking over to some low training jumps, Tezuka told Fuji to ride over them and that was where the problem started. A fleeting look of fear crossed the placid face and lips pressed into a thin line, the willowy youth nudged his mount towards them.

Shapely brown ears flickered forwards then back as if Sun Dancer was appraising her rider and sensing Fuji's sudden uncertainty, she swerved slightly on her approach. Folding his arms across his chest, Tezuka glared as the teenager's lower legs unexpectedly dropped contact.

Freed from firm guidance, the mare ran out; the sharp sideways movement almost tipping Fuji from the saddle.

"Apply pressure with your legs!" Snapped Tezuka as Fuji tightened his reins to regain control. "And give with your hands. No wonder the mare refused you."

Pale faucal skin flushing red from anger and embarrassment, the slender teenager's closed eyes suddenly peeled open. Fixing two piercing blue orbs upon the jump, Fuji collected his mount and rode at the barrier for a second try.

This time, Sun dancer neatly popped over, but it was painfully clear to Tezuka's highly experienced eyes that the formally calm youth riding her was shaken by the small jump.

Calling for Fuji to halt, Tezuka strode up to the horse and pinned Fuji to the spot with the force of his stare before demanding to know what kind of accident had once befallen his student in a harsh, frosty voice.

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To Be Continued...

Riding terms.

Rising to the post; when a horse is trotting, the rider must lift themselves up and down in the saddle in time with the horse's movement. This stops one from being uncomfortably bounced about.

Collecting: To draw in the reins and apply correct leg pressure to keep a horse under control.

Running out: When the horse suddenly swings away from a jump to race past it.

To 'give' with the hands: To move your hands slightly forwards as the horse extends its neck to jump.