Note: This fic is set in America, because I know the American school and horse show system a lot better than the Japanese ones. The boys ride in semi-rural Massachusetts. They currently all go to the same middle school, into which Rin transferred six months ago.
Chapter 2: The Ticking Clock
Haruka just stares, silent, while Rin watches clouds. It's like he doesn't know the bombshell he just dropped.
"When?" Haruka finally asks.
"The week after the show," Rin says absently.
Haruka doesn't want to ask why, doesn't want to say but what about me, because that makes him sound like Rin's boyfriend or something and they're not like that. But another thought occurs to him.
"What about Izza?"
Rin sits up, but his gaze falls to the ground. His long hair hides his eyes.
"I can't… I can't take her," he whispers, and a tear falls into Izza's mane. "And my mom says we can't afford to keep her here and send me to school."
It makes Haruka uncomfortable when Rin cries. Rin is an emotional being, far more so than Haruka, but for once Haruka understands why. The mare is his friend. And she's so sensitive, so reactive, that who knows what will happen if she leaves Rin's care.
"Haru, you – " Rin starts to say, but he cuts himself off. His eyes are misty, his voice shaking.
"Rin…."
"Can you buy her? Please, Haru…." Rin is begging now, but Haruka's not sure if Rin is begging him or the heavens for some way, some possibility of holding onto his horse.
Izza is not the horse for Haruka. She is flighty, tricky, and doesn't even seem to like him. She doesn't know the movements for the freestyle dressage that Haruka loves so much. She is Rin's horse, through and through. And Haruka is the only person who can keep it that way.
"I… I don't know," he says. "I'd have to ask my parents, I don't have much money."
Rin looks at him and there's hope in his eyes, and Haruka can't stand to think of that fading.
"Rin's mare? Why do you want to buy Izza? I thought you were looking at Avalon," Haruka's mother says, barely paying attention. "Why are they selling her, anyway?"
"I told you, Mom, Rin's moving to Ireland for high school," Haruka mutters. "His mom can't afford to keep Izza and send him to school. He said he'd talk to her about paying for some of the board if we do buy her."
Haruka's father cuts into the conversation.
"She's a jumper. You don't jump."
"I know, Dad, but I can still ride other horses, and it's not like jumping is all she can do. Please, you said you'd buy me a horse this year."
"… Your mother and I will talk about it."
Sasabe has given them some unstructured ring time every other day to prepare for the show. Rin would prefer to get cross-country training, but ring jumps are good enough for now. Makoto's practicing dressage forms, which confuse the living hell out of Cruiser (being a Quarter Horse and not terrible flexible, dressage is not his favorite of the three events). Nagisa is showing off, jumping things almost as tall as Paddy is, but the little palomino is having the time of his life and seems to have springs in his legs.
And Haruka and Avalon dance to the music.
Haruka would love to own Avalon. He's a big, gorgeous grey Trakehner who moves smoother than any horse Haruka has ever ridden and knows twice what Haruka does about dressage. He's older than most of the others' mounts – fifteen – but he clearly hasn't noticed. His owner bought a young Hanoverian last year, and doesn't have time to train the colt and ride Avalon.
But Haruka won't break Rin's heart if he can help it, and there's not a chance of owning two horses.
Nagisa's family isn't doing so well with money right now. He can't afford his own horse. Makoto's parents have finally agreed to buy Cruiser. Haruka is Rin's only shot at keeping Izza.
It's his grandmother who finally tips them over to his side.
"That mare is the love of that Rin boy's life, and you want to let him send her off to Lord knows where?" she scolds. "You let your son choose what horse he wants to own, and if she's wrong for him it's his responsibility."
So Haruka is in.
Rin pulls him into a rib-crushing hug, crying tears of joy onto Haruka's shoulder.
"Thank you, Haru, thank you," he says. "I'll be back for her, I promise, and I'll pay you back and everything."
Awkwardly, Haruka pats Rin's shoulder. Makoto and Nagisa look on as their mounts graze on lead lines. It's obscenely hot, so they hosed off the horses after working, and they're letting them dry and eat grass in the sun.
Haru clears his throat and pulls away from Rin, back to toweling off Avalon. The big horse snuffles at Izza's forelock, and the mare squeals and backs quickly. Rin rolls his eyes, but Haruka knows he's not mad.
End Chapter
