Notes: Cuteness...

Music: Brokedown Palace (I really recommend this cd...it's very nice to write to)

Pairings: Ran x Ken

Warnings: AU, yaoi, fluff

Disclaimer: Of course, they're never mine. Nothing is fair. *pouts*

~~~

Like Your Eyes

1

We were sitting at breakfast, all four of us, just sitting there, silently. I was gazing down at my cereal in an uninteresting bout of chasing the cheerios, just sitting there, silently.

"What are we going to do today?" Omi asked, attempting feebly to break the heavy silence. I wished he wouldn't do that. I for one enjoy the quiet but apparently he can't realize that from the glare I shot him. Ken caught my glare and grinned slightly to himself. I watched for a moment, a smirk touching my own lips. Ken had such a cute grin.

I kept my gaze strictly to my cereal as Youji picked up the conversation, oblivious to the silent exchanges of his fellow assassins. I wasn't listening to him. I was busy eating my breakfast.

~

The autumn day was crisp and a chill wind was picking up through the multitude of trees bordering the property. I was leaning against the wooden fence, gazing at the four legged beasts that grazed idly nearby inside the pasture. I climbed over the fence and walked to a tall chestnut mare and stroked her face as she raised it from the grass. I fished an apple from my pocket and fed it to her. I was happy, being with the horses always made me happy. They didn't judge or annoy. They just were.

"Hey girl. Want to go for a ride?" She whickered in reply, nibbling at my pockets in search of more treats but there were none. "Sorry Abby, I only brought one. I'll give you some grain later." She snorted and started to trot away, gathering the other three horses grazing nearby with her. They churned in a group, trotting and walking and then finally all galloping further down the field in a group.

"That figures." I turned away to go gather my tack and grain hoping it wouldn't take hours to catch her.

I had furnished her in English tack, a small leather saddle of high quality and a deep crimson saddle pad that reminded me of the trees that had melted in a scarlet sea. Her long refined head was bridled in rich brown leather. She looked every inch a first class fox hunter. Her coat was soft even though it was beginning to gain the winter excess as the cold came on. I gazed at her for a moment before mounting and trotting down the dirt path leading from the barn.

In a few moments we were in a large ring bordered completely by woods. Jumps were placed strategically through the center of the ring ranging from low cross rails to six foot standards placed in the back. This ring was used by many people including young children.

I let Abby walk comfortably for a few passes to let her warm up and then moved into a steady trot and I marveled at her smooth gaits. We began to canter and the cues I gave her were so subtle I barely had to move my legs and hands. I wheeled her and cantered for the first jump barely over two feet. She came at it smoothly, not breaking her stride to take off and flew gracefully to the other side and instantly turned as I gave the cues. I rode her to the other end of the ring and slowed her to a walk as I saw a face at the gate, leaning against the fence. It was Ken.

"What are you doing here?" He looked taken aback at the tone in my voice. I didn't like being watched with notice and I especially didn't want him to watch.

"Nothing. Just watching."

"Oh." He grinned and I turned away. I didn't want him to see my answering expression. I wanted to be near him but he wouldn't come near me. I know it. Maybe I could impress him. I pointed Abby to the highest jumps at almost four feet towards the back. She picked up a canter easily, responding almost instantly to the pressure of my legs. I had only jumped this high with her once before and she had taken it well enough so I wasn't particularly worried.

She canted smoothly for the jump, turning well and keeping her speed in check. But then she began to slow and I urged her on but her strides were changing and as she jumped she broke her stride and hit the flower box with her knee dodged to the side as she tried to recover. I slid to the opposite side attempting to keep my balance but she was stumbling onto her knees and I slid off to get out of the way. As soon as I was off her back, she stumbled her feet and stopped moving. I heard Ken running. The fall was surprisingly slow and seemed almost planned in advance. I hadn't been able to feel emotion. That surprised me.

"Ran! Are you alright?" I was stroking Abby's nose in reassurance. I began to check her legs for any cuts.

"Yes Ken. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Were you actually worried about me?" He looked abashed and blushed slightly as I looked back at him.

"No. How would you know?"

"I could see it in your eyes."

~~~