The next day was quiet, and everyone seemed content to relax and play with their new toys, Duo specifically. He was up earlier than I had ever seen him, and immediately went to the game system to start his new game. I had to remind him to brush his teeth, then drag him to breakfast.

Quatre made a large breakfast on Sunday, even though Master didn't require him to cook on the weekends. We all enjoyed the big meal, then retired to the den to play games or read. Though I was very interested in my new book, Duo managed to con me into versing him in one of his new games. Trowa and Quatre were seated together on the couch, looking through the new music books. I had no doubt they'd soon move upstairs to the library, where the piano was. Wufei was on the chair, deeply involved with his new book. The only on missing was Master.

I sighed. I had hoped, after I had talked to Master yesterday, that he would talk to me today, but it seemed that he was too busy again. I knew I was being greedy and petty, that I was lucky Master still wanted me at all, but if I were honest with myself I had to admit that I missed having his undivided attention. With Duo rejecting my every advance, even strictly platonic advances, and Master so preoccupied with Collar and the other boys, I was feeling decidedly less... warm than I had before. Master had warmed me with his touches and caresses before, and now I was left cold. It was an unpleasant feeling, but not an intolerable one, and I would simply have to bear it. I had faired far worse in the past, though it would be more difficult now that I knew how good living with an affectionate master could be.

Duo was very fond of his new video game, and it took his several hours to tire of it. I wasn't that interested in car chases and gun fights, but I stayed near Duo anyway, if only to hear his entertaining comments when the game did not go as he liked. Even after Quatre and Trowa went upstairs to play, as expected, and Wufei went to the kitchen to brew some of his new tea, I remained curled in one of the chairs, reading my book and watching over Duo at the same time. Eventually, when Duo fell asleep at his controller, I turned the TV off and put him on the couch, where he could sleep more comfortably. Still recovering from yesterday and his treatments, Duo didn't even stir when I lifted him.

"Did he fall asleep already?" Master wondered, surprising me as he came into the den.

"Ah- yes. It seems that sitting still was too much for him, and he dozed off a few minutes ago."

"Hm. He's probably still worn from the treatments. Yesterday might have been a little soon to take him out, but we don't have a lot of time to waste either."

"He enjoyed it greatly," I replied, "And I think getting his spirits up is more important that keeping him from getting worn out. He'll bounce back by tomorrow," I assured.

"I think you're very right about that," he told me, coming to stand very close and laying a hand on my shoulder, "It's much more important to raise one's spirits than to relax one's body," he told me with a smile, "With that said, we should get going."

"Going, Master?"

"Mm-hm. We're going horseback riding," he said, helping me to my feet. "I was thinking that you've done quite well in riding in the open field, but we haven't tried you on uncertain or uneven terrain. I want to take you into the woods today, to see how you fair riding in the forest."

"Oh," I responded, disappointed. I had hoped Master was planning... something else, but again, he only wanted me for work.

But it was still Master asking me to go, so I dressed quickly and donned my new hiking boots, excited for a chance to try them out, even if we would be riding more than walking. In the barn, I found that Master had already saddled both the horses. My roan, Zero, neighed as I approached, and I found after a moment that his harness was a bit too tight. In the next stall, Zechs' white stallion, Charger, called loudly to me, but he was only jealous of the attention I was giving Zero. The final horse, a filly Zechs had bought in case one of the other boys wanted to ride, quietly awaited my attention in her stall. Duo, who sometimes came to ride with me even though he was fairly hopeless as an equestrian, had taken to her immediately. She was an almost red color, young, energetic, and ornery as hell. Duo had lovingly named her Beelzebub, shortened most often to Bee. Still, she was easier to ride than Zechs' monster, even if she was evil.

Today Bee was relatively calm, since she was the only horse that hadn't been saddled. I assumed, as I rubbed Bee's nose, that only Zechs and I would be riding out today. In the far part of the barn I heard a kitten give a series of frightened mews and rolled my eyes, then went to retrieve the white kitten before it wandered into a stall. I wasn't really worried that it would scare the horses, because by now they only found the kittens a mild annoyance, but that particular kitten had gotten into several near misses with the horses' hooves when it innocently tried to befriend them. I retrieved it and replaced it in the nest, smiling as it playfully attacked one of its siblings the instant it was released from my hands.

"Kittens?" Master wondered as he entered the barn. "Where did they come from?"

"It seems a wildcat has taken up residency here. She had her kittens in one of the empty stalls a few weeks ago, but I just found them last week, when their eyes opened."

"They're cute," Zechs admitted, extending his hand to pet the white one. It immediately latched on to his fingers, playfully biting him. Zechs wrestled with it for a moment before pulling his hand away with a chuckle. "I could buy some food for them, the next time I'm out," Zechs offered. "Feeding them would do a lot in trying to keep them tame."

"That would be nice," I told him, watching as the little white one finally settled down to sleep between the brown and black ones, with the tabby and the orange forming their own bundle a few inches away from the others. "We should probably get going," I told Master, then got to my feet. Master threw another glance down to the kittens, then nodded and rose as well.

"Well, let's mount up and ride out."

The ride was invigorating, and even Zero seemed to be having a good time. Going out of the yard confused the horses at first, but as soon as they got their feet on the new terrain they seemed to enjoy the scenery as much as we did. We rode several miles into the woods, a distance that would have made me nervous if Master hadn't been with me. Instead I was completely at ease as we followed the small river that snaked across the land about a mile from the house.

We left the house around noon, and stopped several hours later at a small clearing where the river was more shallow and calm. We both dismounted, covered in sweat, then allowed the horses to drink. From there Master unsaddle Charger, and after a moment I followed suit with Zero.

"We'll let the horses graze for a bit," Master said, pulling a blanket out of one of the saddlebags. "I brought some sandwiches, if you're hungry," he offered, laying out an impromptu picnic. I nodded and helped him unpack, for I was famished.

Twenty minutes later found both Master and myself stuffed to the brink of exploding, laying back on the blanket like we would never move again. Well, like I would never move again. Master, however, seemed to be making a valiant effort toward getting up.

"Come on, lazy bones," Master teased, pulling me to a sitting position, "It's far too hot to lay around."

"No, it's far too hot to move around," I whined in protest, but stopped as Master took his shirt off and threw it at me. I caught it... with my face.

"Come on, you don't want to ride home all sweaty," Master said as I pulled his shirt off my face. "A quick dip will make you feel a lot better, trust me."

"Alright," I said.

Removed for content.