A/N- Thanks for the reviews! I hope to read some more with the publish of this chapter as well, keep them coming!
-I own nothing but Ishino
Chapter 3 Step one Trust
A day had gone by and still no end to the rain. The stallion chose to stay in his stall closer to them. He was fairly quite and behaved for a horse people think is a crazed brute. Kaoru and the others were getting rather fond of him after he warmed up to the boys a bit. He still seemed to favor Kaoru…
The stable boy had come in to check how they were doing and give them all food, but when he tried to refill the stallions' water, the horse tossed his head and nickered lowly as if to growl. His powerful front hooves banged against the stall walls and his tail lashed about, the stable boy nervously opened the latch on the stall that allowed him to refill the water with out entering the stall. That done, the boy had quickly left.
"He really doesn't like the locals, does he?" Yahiko said while giving the snorting stallion a suspicious look.
Kaoru looked from the door then to the stallion with sympathy in her blue eyes, "He's just….. Lost."
"Lost? How can he be lost?" Sano tilted his chin while he scoffed a bit as the thought didn't really make sense to him, "He's right here in his own god damned stable with security and everything!"
"That's probably not the point," Kenshin sighed at Sano's simple mindedness. His violet eyes shifted from the taller man to Kaoru who had made her way over to the stall door. Her gentle hand rested on the cold bars of the stall while she breathed soothing noises to the stallion to calm down his pacing about.
"Animals are in many ways like people. We both think and feel, though it may be in different ways and levels." Kenshin said, "They feel the pain of life, and the joys. They can learn to hate and love…,"
"Yeah, yeah, we've seen first hand how this big guy here hates these people. So you're saying that he's had it pretty rough in life, eh?" Sano summed up, "I can understand that, but what I wanna know is why he fights. Horses tend to get broken out of that faze pretty fast, but this one seems to have been fighting for a while." Sano pushed off from the wall he was leaning on to walk over to the stall next to Kaoru, looking the calmed stallion in the eye, "He's not like other horses though. You can see it in his eyes; madness"
"Pain" Kaoru whispered, "He's eyes, no matter how bright, have dulled. He's faced death a few times. He might be confused and angry about the death of a previous owner?"
"You can really see all that in his eyes?" Yahiko sounded doubtful.
"Of course," Kaoru turned to look at Kenshin and Yahiko, "It's not that hard to see it in him, I don't need my grandfathers' old horse tricks to recognize something I've seen before…."
"Before?" Kenshin blinked curiously. Sano and Yahiko shared a similar look with the ex-samurai.
Kaoru nodded with a serene smile as she turned back to the stallion, "He looks just like Kenshin does when he's thinking about the life he lead as a samurai in the bakkumatsu. Only Kenshin's are old wounds, his though…. It's like his wounds are still bleeding."
"You're saying he's frustrated about something not being fulfilled?" Sano's question hung in the air.
"I wouldn't blame him…," came a new voice. Every one turned to see a young man in his early 20's in traditional hikamma and kimono, "The stallion is the survivor of a once proud group of horse back samurai. Swordsmen who didn't even have to dismount their horses to kill their enemies."
"Horse back swordsmen?" Sano looked to Kenshin to elaborate.
"I believe I had heard of such a group back then, though they tended to fight on wider planes than a city like a hitokiri, so I never really ran into them." Kenshin offered, looking at the stallion with renewed curiosity.
"I was the nephew of the man whom owned him previous to now. Master Tenyasu, the owner of this stable, gathered up what was left of the 'Horse-samurai' groups belongings after they were all wiped out mysteriously. We still don't know what happened to them, but all their horses and men were slaughtered brutally. Their body parts looked torn apart and their blood was painted to the trunks of the surrounding trees as if to mark their grave." The man pushed his thick rounded glasses higher on his nose, "Master Tenyasu found my Uncles stallion one night in running away through the fields we keep the other horse's in. his eyes were glazed over and he was in panic. Blood of men and his own marred his fur and mane. It took weeks for us to get the color somewhat out of his fur, but since then…" he held out his hand to the stallion who reared and lashed out with his hooves banging against the stall walls in anger, "He's not calmed down at all, nor has he let anyone near him."
"So he really is a wounded soldier out for revenge?" Yahiko looked over at Sano when he thought of something similar, "So in a way, he's just like Sanosuke was when we first met him!"
"I'M NOT A RAGED ANIMAL!" Sano gritted out.
"Forgive me for not introducing myself; you must think my manners have gone astray. I had forgotten that just because I know others names, they don't always know mine." The young man bowed respectfully, "I am Tsukoto Matshime. Apprentice of Master Tenyasu in the art of science and mechanics."
"Mechanics?" Kaoru asked. Tsukoto noticed she and the others had owlish faces.
"Well, you know about the dam that holds off the river right? Did anyone tell you how it worked?"
"Yeah, Monomer told us about it." Sano answered.
"The dam's design is one of many of my Master's works. He is quite the inventor. He's even traveled the world and brought back a few different breeds of horses. The horses of this barn aren't native to Japan; all were brought back with him from his many voyages. Horse breeding is a hobby of his, so he lives kind of a double life." Tsukoto explained proudly as he spoke of his master,
"So that's why all these broads are so fancy." Sano shrugged.
"THEY ARE NOT BROADS!" Tsukoto huffed, "That is a pregnant MARE if you must use that term, and it is NOT foaling season so we have no BROADS." He seemed very offended by the word.
"Okay! I'm sorry!" Sano held up his hands to surrender, "I won't use that word!"
"If you don't mind, why would he keep a banged up horse if he's so passionate about foreign breeds? Not that this guy's any native, but he's not the type I'd see a horse breeder using." Yahiko inquired,
"Oh… that…" Tsukoto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "My father fought along side his brother, my uncle, who was also the stallion's owner. He was also lost in that blood bath and we found his body along with his own horse, a gray mare, among the gore. I remember going riding as a kid with the men, and this stallion is all that's left of that memory. Master Tenyasu keeps him for my sake, but I don't know how long that'll last. His patients runs thin and I'm afraid that he'll…." Tsukoto shook his head, "You guy's are leaving after the rain has let up, yes? Take the stallion with you."
"WHAT?" the other 4 eeped.
"We really don't have room at the Dojo for a-," Kenshin started.
"We'll take him!" Kaoru said with fiery passion.
"WHAT?" Sano, Yahiko and Kenshin yelped again.
"KOARU! Are you serious?! We can't take him!" Yahiko protested.
"We have no place to put him!" Sano chimed in.
"And we're already scraping for food as it is," Kenshin reminded.
All 3 men nodded at that in agreement,
Kaoru turned on the 3 'free loaders' that lived with her, "We can manage, and it's MY DOJO! I'LL DO AND LET WHO EVER I WANT STAY THERE IF I WANT TO!" She growled viciously at them, "GOT IT?!"
Sano and Yahiko hid behind Kenshin, "Sure! Sounds good to me, missy!" Sano suddenly agreed.
"Yeah! Who cares if he's a killer animal! Kenshin was an assassin and Sano was a hit man so no harm, right?!" Yahiko laughed nervously.
"Oro??" Kenshin knew he was in the line of fire with Kaoru's temper and wasn't really feeling up to another one of her amazingly strong right hooks this early!
"So you'll take him?!" Tsukoto asked hopefully.
"Sure!" Kaoru was all smiles as she turned to him.
"Take who?" an old, gruff voice approached behind Tsukoto who still stood at the door. The young man with thick glasses turned to see his master. The old man wore dark magenta practice kimono clothing with riding boots on his feet rather than sandals. He had warm brown eyes and faded brown hair with old age, "Are you trying to sell one of my kids again, Tsukoto?"
"Kids???" Kaoru yelped.
"No, no, you see, Master Tenyasu calls all his horses his 'kids' since he is so fond of them." Tsukoto laughed nervously. Kaoru and the others sweat dropped, "Master, I have just found a home for the stallion."
"The rouge?" Master's eyes hardened, "No. I can not let anyone take him. I will not burden him to anyone. I have never sold a horse that did not accept the rider and that stallion refuses to accept anyone. He will be shot and buried soon as the rain clears. I'm afraid he has gone too crazed."
"YOU CAN'T!" Kaoru stepped up, "You can't put him down! Who says he won't accept a rider!"
"You think one of you can?" Master raised a brow.
"I do." Kaoru said determined.
"Very well then. I'll give you a week's time to woe the stallion into trusting all 4 of you into accepting you all as a rider on his back. If you can show me that he has accepted you by then, he's yours. If not, he'll be put out of his misery. A warrior stallion is usually killed along with his master anyways. That's probably why he's so angry." Tenyasu sighed.
"He's angry because he's in pain." Kaoru insisted, "He needs someone to show him that there's still a life for him even if his comrades and master are gone."
"You speak very deeply of the heart, miss. I admire that in you." Master nodded, "If you need any equipment, just ask Tsukoto to get it for you," with that, the master bowed and walked on toward the stables now that the rain had parted for a while.
"I… I didn't mean for that to happen…" Tsukoto apologized.
"No, it's time for Ishino to regain a new family." Kaoru looked to the dark horse.
"Ishino?" the others echoed.
Kaoru blushed, "Well he still doesn't have a name, so I gave him one."
"Ishino…. Patriot" Tsukoto smiled, "It suits him. Do you need anything?"
"No, Tsukoto, thank you. We've got every thing we'll need for now," Kaoru said.
"We do?" "Oro??" her friends blinked in confusion,
"Then I shall see you later then" Tsukoto bowed and left.
"Alright, boys," Kaoru turned to her friends and new horse, "Lets get to work!"
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"Alright, Sano, AGAIN!" Kaoru demanded from where she sat on the dampened fence post watching Sanosuke and the wry stallion in the pen.
Sano gave her a flabbergasted look, "AGAIN?? DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO FEEL THE AFTERSHOCK OF HOOVES SLAMMING INTO THE GROUND WHERE YOUR HEAD USED TO BE?!" he shouted.
"Look Sano, we can't move on to Yahiko or Kenshin trying this until Ishino accepts you to come near him and lets you halter him." Kaoru sighed, "If we do, then he'll see it as your weakness and make this harder on us to get him to respect you as his equal."
"How about I knock his lights out? THEN he'll cut the crap!" Sano grumbled.
Ishino growled lowly nearby and startled Sano into shying away from the annoyed stallion. Ishino seriously didn't seem all that angered by what they were doing, but his stubborn pride and nature was getting the best of them. So far, Kaoru had been able to easily call out to Ishino and halter him with out any flaws. He even lowered his massive head to her respectfully so she could slip it on. She then walked him around a bit and then let him go. When Sano had approached him with the roped halter again however…..
Ishino reared and charged menacingly at him. ((Sweat drop)) Sano had tripped backwards in surprise when he started to back away fearfully and narrowly missed having his lower parts stomped on by large horse hooves. He wasn't all that trusting of the stallion now, but Ishino seemed to be taking some kind of amusement out of this. There really was no ill intent in the horses' eyes, just mischievous glints of silver.
"You're not gonna get anywhere if you go on with insulting him like that." Yahiko deadpanned.
"That you most certainly wont." Kenshin agreed. To try and prove himself, Sano boldly approached the stallion with the halter at the ready and he seemed like he was about to jump the horse when Ishino bolted around the arena just out of range. Kenshin sighed and the others sighed disdainfully, "This could take a while"
"Yep" Kaoru groaned, "If only Sano didn't have to go after HIM….wait, what if we can get Ishino to want to go to Sano?"
"How? Ishino doesn't exactly like Sano right now with the rope and all." Yahiko droned board.
"Horses are all different, but they all have a type of sweet tooth. We need to find Ishino's favorite treats and that'll encourage him to comply easier." Kaoru thought aloud. Her blue eyes sparkled proudly.
"Don't horses like apples?" Kenshin suggested.
"It's a start!" Kaoru looked around for somewhere an apple might be.
"That stable guy gave us some apples and fruit when he brought us our lunch a while ago." Yahiko hopped down from the fence post near Kaoru and rushed inside their temporary home for the week. He remerged with an apple at hand, "Here! Sano, CATCH!"
"Huh?" Sano's eyes bugged out when he saw an apple flying full force at his face, "GAAAAH!" he caught it in his hand at the last second and sighed with relief, "WHAT'D YOU DO THAT FOR?!"
"Offer it to him!" Yahiko called back.
"Do what now?" Sano gave them a dry look then looked down at the apple then at the horse who watched on with a board expression.
"Offer it to Ishino to try and coax him into trusting your presence. When you get close enough, try talking to him and petting him to relax him more" Kaoru elaborated.
"This apple is supposed to change his mind?" Sano deadpanned in disbelief, "Did you not see him try to kill me earlier?"
"Just try it; it can't hurt any to just try something new." Kaoru insisted.
"Yeah it will, ME!" Sano barked, but sighed. He really had nothing else to lose so he cautiously approached the horse again with the apple in his palm outstretched in front of him to offer, "Hey, big guy, ya hungry?"
Ishino's dark ears perked when the man started coming back at him with something new. He took in a deep inhale and smelled the sweet tartness of the apple in the mans hand and stretched out his neck toward him curiously. Sano stood still while the horse approached and nudged the apple with his lips before shunning the treat with disinterest.
"I don't think he likes apples." Sano sweat dropped, "Now what?"
Ishino had yet to back away so that was a step in the right direction!
"Just stay there and try to talk to him, he hasn't moved away yet so he's at least reconsidering you." Kaoru piped in.
"What the hell do I say to a horse!?" Sano moaned, "It's not like I can say "You have really nice eyes" or something"
"Not unless you're a furry" Yahiko shrugged.
Sano growled at him, "YOU LITTLE-," he was cut off when Ishino did something unexpected. Sano stood stock still in shock as the large horse nudged his spiked hair curiously. The stallion seemed to like the feel of it against his muzzle and started nuzzling it.
Kaoru and the others tried to stifle a giggle at the ex-fighter-for-higher' wide-eyed look while the stallion continued to nuzzle him.
"Well he doesn't hate you." Kenshin offered with a shrug as Sano decided to glare at him.
Sano carefully started to raise his hand until his palm gently eased on to the soft fur on Ishino's proud neck. Ishino stilled a moment. His silver eyes were glued to the hand before the horse let a low sigh and moved away from Sano's hair. The horse pressed his muzzle into Sano's chest affectionately while Sano started to slowly halter him. When he was haltered the horse obediently followed the tall mans lead over to his friends calmly. Kaoru was all smiles.
"He accepts you as his equal now!" she was happy.
Sano rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "It wasn't that big a deal, I didn't ride him or nuthin."
"Nope, that'll take a lot more coaxing than just your spiky hair he seems to have fallen in love with." Yahiko smirked while Ishino raised his head to nibble at Sano's spiky brown rooster hair.
"I liked it better when he was trying to get away from me…." Sano grumbled.
"Go ahead and let him go for a break and we'll eat lunch then Kenshin and Yahiko can try afterwards."
"You sure?" Yahiko sounded nervous.
"I don't think he'll hurt you, Yahiko. If he didn't like us, he would be angry right now." Kenshin reassured.
"So you'll go first then?" Yahiko asked hopefully.
"I believe that the youngest shall go first. It is only fair." Kenshin smirked.
"SAYS WHO!?"
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'I'm gonna die' Yahiko thought as he held the halter in his hands watching the stallion toss his head. The young boy held the rope halter in front of him as if it were a shield to protect him from the large, over powering animal.
"Just don't show him your fear and you'll walk away from this with out too much of a limp in your step" Sano teased from the sidelines. Kaoru whacked the tall teen with a frown.
"Don't say that!" Kaoru hissed before she turned to smile encouragingly at Yahiko in the round pin, "Go on Yahiko, just try to coax him to acceptance."
"Coax him" Yahiko repeated doubtfully. He took a step toward the taller stallion and Ishino tossed his head with a rumbling whinny as if to laugh menacingly at the mere thought of allowing the boy near, "Right…" he gulped then steeled himself for what he was about to do.
'It's just a horse' he repeated over and over inwardly to prepare him for the inevitable, 'Swordsmen are worse than any old horse!'
As if he heard that thought, Ishino lowered his head and let loose a low guttural sound that was close to a feral growl of warning. Black ears pinned back in threat as he pawed irritated at the earth as if to say he wasn't having this again. Yahiko didn't have time to retaliate to just what the horse was warning him of before Ishino bolted at the poor boy.
Yahiko darted to the side just as Ishino dashed by him in a narrow swerve. Panting on the ground, Yahiko growled frustrated when he realized that he failed for one of the horses' tricks. Ishino out smarted him. The stallion proudly and arrogantly pranced around the ring with high knees while swishing his tail smartly as if to say 'Ha ha, I got ya again!'.
"That's okay Yahiko! You can try again! Don't let him get to you!" Kaoru coached.
"Yeah, says the ugly broad that only a cocky stallion likes…" Yahiko muttered.
Kaoru bristled in anger when she heard that!
"YEAH? WELL THIS TIME I HOPE HE TRAMPLES THAT BIG HEAD YOU'VE GOT ON YOUR NECK, MINNIE SPIKEY HAIR!" Kaoru shouted back as she stuck out her tongue childishly at the child.
"WHO YOU CALLING MINNIE?!" Yahiko barked back.
"We'll Sano's the extra large spike head so you're only Minnie spike head" Kaoru smiled impishly.
"HEY!" both Sanosuke and Yahiko growled.
"Yahiko!" Kenshin warned.
Yahiko froze when he felt Ishino nudge his back firmly. He dared not move while the war horse nosed around him almost curiously before nosing his muzzle over the boys shoulder and into his gi.
"HEY! WHAT'S HE DOING!" Yahiko yelped but still dared not to move.
Everyone stood still with baited breath while Ishino seemed to investigate the folds of Yahiko's gi. Finally the horse retracted his muzzle with his prize between his lips- a special sweet pastry from last night.
"THAT'S MY CAKE!" Yahiko growled at the horse while Ishino happily chewed the new tasty treat he found and licked his lips in delight with a sigh. He then lovingly rested his cheek on Yahiko's shoulder and rubbed fondly against the kid like a scratching post.
Kaoru smiled, "He accepts you," she looked over at Kenshin, "now all he needs to do is bear with you"
"This one is pleased to hear your enthusiasm" Kenshin deadpanned.
Ishino trotted away from Yahiko and came over to Kaoru and the others where they sat on the fence posts. He greeted Kaoru and Sano warmly, but harshly nudged Kenshin with his muzzle. Kenshin yelped as he fell backwards off the fence post and landed on the dirt ground below with a resounding 'THUD' Ishino whinnied his 'laughter' but seemed happy that he once again one upped a human.
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"Alright Kenshin," Kaoru smiled at the red head now in the middle of the round pin, "Go on, get Ishino to like you"
Kenshin looked at her with a grimace, then down at the rope and up to the tall stallion that flicked its tail at wandering flies nearby. Obviously, Ishino could really care less where that rope halter and these people were concerned. He didn't even bother to taunt Kenshin the way he had Yahiko and Sanosuke. One dark ear pivoted in Kenshin's direction soon as the horse heard the man take a step in the mid-drying dirt.
Kenshin stood tall and held out a hand like he had seen the others do before approaching the proud stallion, "There, there, Ishino" he said soothingly, "This one doesn't wish to hurt you, just to say hello. That he does"
Ishino's eye lids lowered half way lazily and snorted with a flare of his nostrils while he shook his dark mane. His silver eyes looked like they could doze off any time in the late sun's rays.
Taking this as a good sign, Kenshin slowly approached the horse, still holding out his hand until he was close enough for the horse to touch him, if he wanted, with his muzzle. He stood there and waited for the stallions' sign that he was welcome closer. Silver eyes lazily bore into violet as both man and horse seemed to glimpse into the others soul for a moment.
Ishino's tail arched with his neck as his eyes widened in anger at Kenshin's familiar Ki. The stallion let loose a shrill scream from deep with in his lungs as he bared his teeth threateningly at Kenshin.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY KENSHIN!" Sano shouted when the horse's flailing hooves aimed for Kenshin.
The ex-samurai rolled out of the way as the distraught horse's hooves slammed the ground he once stood, leaving a deep imprint of hooves in the soft mud. His violet eyes darted up the horse's face. Its pupils were dilated as it screamed in terror, but nothing was around to have spooked the proud horse! Then it clicked; Kenshin's Ki still held the tint it did when he was the hitokiri Battousai- a warrior like aura, probably similar to the stallions' late master…..
The horse was remembering when its master died…. It was having flash backs just as Kenshin had had once or twice before of his old self before he met Kaoru and the others.
'But how?' he thought, 'I didn't think animals were capable of such a …. Human trait.'
Ishino rose again, screaming at the top of his lungs now. When he fell to all fours again, he arched his back and started to gallop madly around the round pin, freaking out and rearing when he came close to contact with the bars of the round pin. He seemed like a caged animal frightened beyond belief.
"ISHINO!" Kaoru shouted fearfully as she shot off the fence and into the round pin, dodging the fear-blinded horse as he raced past her.
"KAORU ARE YOU STUPID!" Yahiko screamed after her.
"HE'LL KILL YOU WITH OUT REALIZING IT!" Sano roared, but neither dared follow her. If Ishino wasn't completely confidant in them when he was calm, it would only serve to upset him even more should they approach him when he's spazzing out like this.
Kaoru stood in the middle of the round pin, watching helplessly as the beautiful stallion raced around her, trying to run away from some unseen fear he saw in his own minds' eye.
"ISHINO!" she called out to him.
Ishino bucked and kicked at the air as he turned sharply to face her. His body trembling with pent up fear. He was still blinded, but he remembered that scent of the woman who was kind to him. However, all his hazy mind saw was a human! Those wretched creatures who stole his master from him. Those pitiful souls who tried to 'break' him in as a colt. The foul beasts that continually tried to force him under them like a common pack horse! He would have none of it. Snorting, he reared and prepared to attack the human, to show that he would no longer stand for what they were inflicting upon him!
"Ishino?" Kaoru gasped when she no longer recognized him very well. His mind was set in anger and it was pinpointing it all on her…. He was going to attack at close range!
Ishino was just about over her now as he reared back, ready to slash her with his sharp, hard hooves.
"ISHINOOOOO!" she screamed.
"ENOUGH!"
Ishino's silver eyes widened as the horse sucked in a breath. He fell down to all fours and stood very still in shock. A powerful aura stood in front of the woman now. Golden eyes glared up at him through fiery bangs of the swordsman from before.
"That's enough Ishino, calm down, there's nothing to fear" the deep timbre said lowly.
Ishino blew a loud breath out of his nostrils at the familiar words his master had said to him.
'Calm yourself, friend,' he had said, 'there is nothing to fear….'
Ishino's large silver eyes started to clear until he saw very clearly the red headed swordsman standing protectively in front of the woman he had come to care for from the way she had shown such blatant kindness to him when others wanted him dead. He let lose a whimper when he smelt her fear.
Lowering his head, Ishino nickered an apology. His forelock covering his eyes as he hung his head submissively.
"What set him off like that?" Yahiko let out a breath he was holding in.
"Hah," Sano snorted off his own fear, "He just doesn't like Kenshin with a strong passion."
"That's not it…" Kenshin said softly while his golden eyes started to soften to violet once more, "It's like Ms. Kaoru said; he's in pain. This is merely his way of protecting himself, just like any battle wry soldier would. He's more human than most give him credit for."
Ishino's silver eyes looked up at Kenshin wryly, as if asking for forgiveness.
When Kenshin did nothing to threaten other wise, the large horse took a hesitant step around the samurai and lowered his muzzle to the woman couched down, covering her ears and screwing her eyes shut. He blew a warm breath on her hands, nuzzling her.
Kaoru looked up slowly to see that Ishino wasn't maddened anymore.
"Ishino?" she whispered.
Ishino answered her with perked up ears that had been hanging down worried. He let an unsure nicker flow from his throat. Kaoru smiled at his apologetic look and slowly stood up. He raised his head with her and flattened his ears to his skull to say he was sorry.
"You're fine, Ishino, you didn't hurt me, I know you're in pain, I know" she reassured as she wrapped her arms around his thick strong neck.
Ishino moaned and curled his neck to hug her back.
"Is he sane now?" Sano asked from behind the fence safely.
"That he is, Sano" Kenshin replied.
Hearing Kenshin's lightened voice, Ishino pulled away from Kaoru's embrace and faced off the old samurai again. He stood bracingly and proud before Kenshin as if sizing him up. Kenshin tensed, ready for another out burst from the stallion. Yet it wasn't necessary. Ishino's hard silver eyes softened and he lowered his head submissively as he approached the surprised red head. The horse pressed his muzzle against one of Kenshin's' hands that had held the rope halter. He nickered warmly at the man and nudged the halter again.
Getting the hint, Kenshin slipped on the halter over the horses' head with out any complaint from Ishino at all. Ishino stood respectfully at Kenshin's side with his head bent level with the mans' shoulder, a show of trust and affection.
"He accepts you now." Kaoru said with a warm smile at her secrete love.