Glad You Came
Hikari woke up, feeling just as excited as she had been the night before. She quickly got dressed, finding an old pair of blue jeans and a red tank top, putting in her favorite blue earrings. Unsure of what to do until she was ready to leave, she went out back to watch the birds in her tree. She whistled to them and collectively, a hum and choir of birds rang out, tuning the early summer breeze into a pure, natural melody. She wished Amane was there to share this moment with, before Jack or her mother could possibly ruin it. She watched as one by one, and then two by two, the birds flew off into the late morning. After a while, her tree became silent, but it didn't bring Hikari the familiar sadness of being abandoned. She knew the birds would come back, whenever they needed to come home, one by one or two by two.
As the morning grew on, she went back inside to hopefully find a quick breakfast to fix from the refrigerator, but found nothing other than some apples, age-old leftovers of some kind, and chicken. She decided on the apple, which luckily had not been sitting in the half-functional cooler for too long. Jack would come grumbling out of bed soon, and her mother was already at work at the hair salon. Only by luck and some illusion of charm could she have hoped to keep her job there. She could be professional and welcoming at work, loving and caring to Jack, but distant and most times indifferent or hostile to Hikari, making her feel like just a big burden around them. As for Jack, she could only imagine that it was because of his brutish nature specifically he thrived in the construction industry. Otherwise, how else could he wake up so late every morning, treat on out like a zombie, and still manage to keep his job? Sighing, she went through the kitchen, up to the living room, and walked out the front door. She brought her phone and the Walkman Yaya got her for Christmas. It would be a rather long walk there, and Hikari knew she'd need a distraction from the heat if it didn't rain again. It was already incredibly hot out, the sweet breeze from earlier seeming to have dissipated. She silently wished for some small drizzle, or at least a few clouds in the sky, but was reminded of Amane's intense training she put herself and Star Bright through. She wouldn't mind sitting alone with Amane in the stables for some time talk under a dark and stormy sky, but she knew Amane needed to practice. Hikari always loved to watch Amane ride Star Bright, she made every move look flawless and smooth. Realistically, rain or shine was fine for the young girl, as the excitement of what she was doing- actually going to hang out with The Ootori Amane- hit her again. Hikari would stand in the middle of an open field during a tsunami for this once in a lifetime chance.
Half an hour had passed, and she could see the park coming into view. She smiled, slightly tired from the draining heat but still grinning ear to ear. It's getting close now, she thought. A soft blush came about her cheeks. I'll be there soon, Amane-sempai.
Amane sped off from her apartment towards the park, knowing she left way later than she should have. The time was so far past when she and Star Bright should've been out running the track, it wasn't remotely excusable. Regardless, she knew where her thoughts had been, and the whole drive there she kept a close eye out for Hikari. Surprised when she actually saw her, with cute blonde curls bouncing off from a scarlet tank top not too far away from the park entrance, she slowed down and changed lanes to meet her at the sidewalk. She felt her heart thud as Hikari turned around at the sound of her approaching motorcycle with those big ocean blue eyes.
"Hey there, need another ride?" She teased lightly.
Hikari blushed. "Hi Amane-san"
Amane, remembering a second helmet, handed her one, and motioned for her to hop on. She held on tight, wrapping her arms fittingly around Amane's waist, burrowing her head into her back. Amane rode slowly into the park, taking in the trees and bushes as they passed them, staring out into the lake, which now held opposite to her, barely visible, the gazebo. She took a final turn towards the stable, parking next to the keeper's house. The man nodded to Amane, taking note of Hikari.
"Would it be alright if we borrowed an extra horse today?" Amane asked.
"Haha, well if your gonna be bringin' in pretty girls like that, you outta bring me one sometime. They come to you in droves." He said, a small falsetto in his voice, and winked at Hikari. Amane winced, and put a protective arm instinctively around her shoulders.
"Can we?"
"Sure, just don't hurt 'em. Well, you know. You are my favorite, of course," He said
She looked in the corner of her eye to see a river of red flowing through Hikari's soft face again. Amane knew they wouldn't get hurt, as long as Hikari didn't freak out for any reason, most of them could be sensitive creatures. She opened the tall and heavy door to the stables, leading them straight for Star Bright. She smiled, unlocking and opening the stall with her key to allow Hikari, then herself in. Amane watched Hikari's face as she looked upon the white stallion with awe. He whimpered at flung his mane about, mad that he's been stuck in his stall for as long as he had been.
"I'm sorry boy, really. Calm down, I know I'm late, okay? I'm here now," the bluenette tried to reason with him, but he just stomped his foot angrily like a child. Hikari giggled softly at the display. Amane blushed, embarrassed. "He can be such a drama queen when he wants to be. Valiant and beautiful aside, his personality is definitely all his own."
Hikari tried to hide her giggling behind her hands- a wonderful sound, if you'd ask Amane- but Star Bright was still demanding complete attention. Amane noticed the younger girl looked nervous and unsure of how to calm him again. The Rider took her hand, surprised at its smoothness and warmth, and combined their entwined fingers through his marvelous mane. Near instantaneously, Star Bright stopped his tantrum, and in turn stilled.
"See? You're fine. Don't you know how to behave with a lady in the room?" Amane chided him.
She saw in the corner of her eye to see a river of red flowing through Hikari's soft face again. By compulsion, she softly squeezed her hand, still tangled in his mane. ish like many other fans of hers. There were many qualities she'd already taken note of on the blonde. She smiled then, thinking that it was so cute that she was so easily fluttered. She noticed her voice would get softer after she'd get excited, almost like she was trying to retract her emotion. And beyond that, Amane noticed a certain sadness in her, only prevalent when she wasn't preoccupied in a conversation. She let go of her hand and went to fetch her horse's breakfast.
Star Bright looked for the source of the new hand and brushed his muzzle against her cheek. Blushing, she strode her hand lovingly down his nose, scratching his ears and his chin. Amane turned around and smiled- she knew her horse loved to be scratched behind his ears. The stallion loved Hikari in no time, clomping his back foot once showing his approval. Amane decided that she wouldn't need an extra horse after all. She excused herself as she put his morning meal in front of him, and let the two of them continue bonding while he ate. While Hikari was busy with Star Bright, and the horse her and his food, the Rider put a saddle on his back, grabbed a helmet Hikari's size, and turned to the small blonde girl.
"So... want to ride him?"
Hikari jumped a little, not sure if she had heard right. Then her face brightened. "I...really? You'd let me?"
There was never a sight she had seen before that could have melted Amane's heart so fast, so hard. Not even when Star Bright had been born. Not even the king of Hell could tell this girl no. She lifted Hikari bridal style into her arms and onto Star Bright's saddle. She walked them out of the stable and into an open field. Hikari strapped on the helmet Amane gave her. They came to a track, where two fences stood in the middle, one high, one low. Hikari looked nervously at them, and Amane smiled.
"Don't worry, I wont make you jump on your first ride," Amane joked, noticing her friend's apprehension.
Hikari looked down, "Arigato ...you make it look so easy." Amane suddenly remembered the region tournament from a few months ago, where the contestants had to jump five consecutive fences throughout one of the stages. She remembered the anxiousness about Star Bright, knowing that Kaname and her black Beau Knight were her biggest competition there. If only...
"It takes many years of practice," Amane replied. "I was too nervous when I was younger, my main focus was just learning to get in sync with Star, and go from there. I jumped for the first time when I was fifteen."
"When did you start riding?" Hikari asked curiously.
"Oh boy...let' see, Star Bright was born when I was ten, but I had been riding for two years on my father's horse. So, about eleven years."
Hikari almost fell off the white stallion. How long?
Amane saw the perplexing look on Hikari's face, and smiled. "I guess you can say I've always known I'd do this." She laughed then, thinking of her father and his horse, remembering how he had once been unbelievably outraged that his horse had gotten pregnant, from an incident where all the horses in that particular stable were set free one weekend. She turned to tell this to Hikari, and upon hearing the story, she giggled, especially when Amane tried mimicking her father's voice.
"What in blazes do you mean they got out? Iiiiii swear, if she mothers some mutt!" Amane embellished a bit o the haughty parts, but she knew Hikari would just laugh harder. She became as enthralled in the sound as Hikari was in her story. She kept on, talking about when Star Bright was born. " 'Gah! How am I supposed to register this damned thing?' He wasn't the nicest to the poor baby. Called him a bloody useless fowl even! Can you believe?"
Hikari was wide eyed. "What? But... he's so beautiful, what would it have mattered?"
Amane sighed as she explained. "In the world of horse racing, everything matters on your steed's pedigree. My father was worried his prize mare had mated with a lower grade tat had been in the stable that weekend. Eventually, I learned who it was just from watching and learning about the ones that had been there at the time, but I never told him. I said it shouldn't have mattered because he was already an amazing horse. He begged to differ, saying it just made Star Bright more difficult to register should we ever go into professional races. But... look at us now, I guess."
Hikari smiled at Amane's witty conclusion, adoring her big heart. "So, how did you get to keep him if your father was so hostile towards him?"
"Well, simply, I begged. I begged and begged until I could get him to fall for a bet- if by the time Star Bright was old enough to ride, I'd master the amateur ranks, I could keep him as my own. At the time, I was almost eleven, and quite ambitious for someone only in junior high. He never thought I could do it, having started late, but... well..." Amane reached over and scratched her beloved horse between the ears, who acknowledged her happily. "He never should've doubted the love girls have for their horse."
Hikari laughed again, captivated by the amazing entity Amane became to her. She was so... interesting, and bold. A knight almost, with her bravery to challenge her father for someone she loved so much. She wondered if Amane had ever fought for another person like that. Would she if it were me? Oh, stop being ridiculous, Amane hardly even knows you. She held onto the Rider tighter, as if wishing that someday, someone would care for her like this amazing human being did for Star Bright.
Amane then changed their conversation towards how to ride the magnificent creature. Hopping down, she adjusted Hikari to the center of the saddle, showing her how to sit in it comfortably. Then she moved onto maneuvering Star Bright with her motions of the reigns, walking alongside them around the track. Hikari's expression never withered from its state of joy, and Amane saw how different she really was from the other crazy fan girls- she was content to just be there with Amane. Everyone had always wanted something out of her- be it a photograph of some kind, a date somewhere prestigious, always something superficial, just proof that they had met, really, to give them some satisfaction. Usually, that was the end of it, and the most Amane had ever done was sign something for them. She was scared that if she had done something too personal, she would lead them on. Some she didn't need to though, they were already insane.
It took her back to when she had been forced to move to her apartment. She knew that the ridiculousness had gone too far when some of the girls would follow her home from the track. She'd turn around and look behind her, seeing the same car there from a couple streets ago. Soon after, they'd turn away, knowing they'd been seen. Amane originally thought nothing more of it, thinking it would be the end of it, but after she'd been ambushed in her own home, it was time for Amane to go. It took four of her neighbors to get them off and away from the blue haired rider, including old Mrs. Tanoma with her rolling pin and spatula, obviously just coming from her kitchen when she heard the commotion. She offered to call police, but Amane denied, saying it wouldn't happen again.
And it never would. Shortly after, Amane moved into an apartment in outer South Tokyo, a stone's throw away from Kawasaki. It took her a while to get to the track now, but it was better than having to worry about stalkers. Amane felt bad about it, and she hoped that they hadn't been in trouble. She didn't know why she was defending them, but in any case, as long as they weren't harassing the tomboy, she was fine. The manager of the complex she now lived in, a Mr. Sasaki-Tokutaro, helped her move into a second floor, one bedroom apartment, complete with a functional toilet and bath in the restroom, a stove, a fridge, and a counter. Amane purchased a fan, because the only one that had worked was a ceiling fan in the living room. She was content with her little home, only disliking the thin walls and ceiling. Her neighbor one floor above her kept her up many nights when she had just moved in, often bringing home some woman, and Amane would have to endure the long hours they spent noisily together deep into the morning.
There are just some things you never need to know or hear.
Eventually he moved out with her, as her best guess was, and apparently it had seemed they'd been together for a while. She only saw him once or twice, but he wasn't a pretty sight to see at all, much less the one of many nights she would see him dead drunk. With a tall blonde woman in tow, he usually wore ratty jeans and a smelly, puke stained t-shirt, and she hoped that the woman had more sense than to go to his bed with him those nights. He was easily forty or fifty pounds heavier than Amane, so if she needed help getting out, Amane wasn't sure how much assistance she'd be. He had jet black, spiked hair, a nasty stubble on his chin that was starting to get raggedy, with bloodshot brown eyes. His eyes were as unalike to Amane's as possible- where hers looked like the smooth, faceted surface of shiny bronzite, his were cold and hard to look at, like a mud-caked sleeping serpent. She hated imagining the torture of what could happen when that serpent woke. Amane remembered this man had an occasional temper, often complaining about what she could only gather to be the woman's daughter. He seemed truly repugnant, and his company was worse. Work friends, he called them when she worked up the nerve to have a conversation with him. She hated their arrival- the lingering smell would seep down and stink like hell for days on end.
Amane looked now again to Hikari, thinking of how she made things around her beautiful. She stunned herself with this thought- she had only known Hikari a day. She had always believed to appreciate the true beauty of things, it was through time and devotion. Amane couldn't deny it, Hikari had appeared to Amane like an angel, and it was so easy to feel ensnared by her- her wet blonde hair blowing softly against the storm's wind, a soft glow coming of from where the rain had fallen on her, the utter joy of her companionship, and of course that easy blush that cried of innocence. She felt so childish for being dumbstruck when she saw her. No wonder Hikari had been nervous. You couldn't crush on someone by appearances, could you?
They circled back to the stable, and Hikari got the hang of riding Star Bright. Amane decided to take Hikari somewhere special, so that she could both train a little today, and show Hikari the best way to ride a horse- fast.
"Wait here; I'll grab a second helmet."
"Wait, what?" Hikari asked confused, but Amane had already left
She came back shortly, explaining her plan while strapping on the new helmet. "So, if you're comfortable with it, I'll go a little faster, just so he can show off a bit." And myself, I guess. "Star Bright and I know this place like the back of our hand. Um, or hoof." Star Bright acknowledged his part in their conversation, and as if on cue, raised his front hooves and reared mightily. Hikari gripped his neck as closely as she had Amane's waist on the motorcycle. Amane smiled, giving a small laugh, accompanied by Hikari's cute, nervous giggles.
"W-works for me," the blonde replied when she found her bearings. "Does he do that often?"
"Only when he's in the spotlight."
Hikari laughed once more, and scooted back in the saddle so Amane could hop on up. She did so in one swift motion, and Amane saw a look of awe in Hikari's face when she turned around. "You trust me on this?"
Hikari nodded, pulling her arms instinctively around Amane's waist. Amane focused straight ahead, reared up Star Bright to get him hyped, and sped ahead into the trail.