QJP: Finally, I have an idea for putting my two favorite things together in
one fanfic!
PLP: Yeah, and to make it even better, I co-authored it! (PLP: My work is in paragraph form, like the first two paragraphs. The rest is QJP) hands BC some candy
BC: YAY CANDY! happily eats candy
Shippo: Can I have some candy too?
PLP: Sure hands Shippo candy
QJP: Just to get this thing started, I should point out that I do not, i repeat, I do NOT own any of the Inu cast. The great and all-powerful Rumiko Takahashi does. Although I wouldn't mind owning Sango and Miroku, they ARE my favorite characters and couple, afterall. ON WITH THE FIC!!
Barn Love
Chapter 1: New Arrivals
Kagome slide her feet across the cold cement floor. She hung her head low, her face buried in 'The Black Stallion: Mystery' written by Walter farley. Her head shot up as she heard a soft voice call her name. She looked around the dark building. "Sango, is that you?" Kagome asked in a whisper, a little scared. "Yes, it is, I couldn't sleep" Sango's voice came as she walked towards Kagome. Kagome sighed. "Me niether, I am so excited that Princess is having a foal, I just can't sleep."
Kagome dog-eared the page. "Wheres Shippo?" Sango asked. Kagome smiled "lucky him, he fell asleep. I told him he could take a nap and I'd wake him up when I thought she was going to foal." Sango nodded "what you got there?" she lifted the book and read the title "The Black Stallion, Mystery...agian?" Kagome chuckled "I can't seem to put it down." Sango's eyes grew wide and she looked down. She was relieved to find Shippo tugging at her pant leg. "Well then, morning...er Night...er hi Shippo. Good to see you are up" Sango stated.
"Why don't we check on Princess," Kagome suggested. Then they walked out of the observation room and down the wide isleway toward the foaling stall. Moonshadow, one of the many stallions standing at stud, greeted them happily.
Kagome stuck her hand out for him to see plainly and he nuzzled it softly. Kagome smiled "I have no treats for you right now". Moonshadow nickered stubbernly and Sango stuffed her hand in her pocket and fished out a sugar cube. "I have a treat for him" she said as she held her hand under his muzzle. He took it eagerly and searched for more. "sorry, no more, we came down to see Princess, not spoil you so your fat!" Sango stuck her tounge out.
"Well, it will take a lot more than a few sugar cubes to make him fat. besides, he's probably just as anxious as we are to see the birth of his foal." Kagome said as she peeked into Princess's stall.
"True, but still. The way he eats...." she broke off as she too peeked into Princess's stall. "Oh my gosh! Look Kagome...do you see what I see?" (PLP: Way up in the sky Shepard boy??? Oh sorry...) "Shes-the foals hoofs are out." Sango said excitedly. Shippo jumped up and down happily "YAY!" he said too loudly. "SHHHHHH!!!!" Kagome put her finger to her lips. Shippo hung his head. He looked around and saw all the horses looking out their stall door to see what all the ruckus was about. (PLP: thanks to QJP's spelling....)
A half hour later, the new foal was on it's feet, still shaky, and was wondering around Princess's belly looking for her teat. after another ten minutes of searching, Princess turned her head and gently nudged the baby towards it. the foal found it and happily started nursing, swishing it's short tail happily. Princess then turned back to the rest of her hay.
"Go and see what we have, besides, you better go now while it's nursing and Princess is eating." Kagome said to Sango as she and Shippo went to give Moonshadow another sugar cube.
Sango opened the stall door just big enough to slip through, so that they wouldn't be able to escape, and slowly went up to the nursing foal and lifted up the tail. "Looks like we have a little filly. and what beautiful markings too." the filly was a ligter version of Moonshadow. a light bay with his wide blaze. but this filly also had three white stockings, two back and one on the right front. she was beautiful, to say the least.
"Alright, lets get some sleep. I think we have two new people starting lessons tomorrow anyway." Kagome said as they went back to the observation room, yawning widely. "Shippo, did you want to stay here or go home? of course, it IS 3:00 so maybe you should stay with us. there should be an extra pull-out bed upstairs." (A/N: i should tell you what this barn basically looks like before this story goes too far. there are two isleways, one on each side of an indoor arena. there is also an outdoor arena. the observation room is a two story with a good sized apartment upstairs where Sango and Kagome live.)
"Yeah, I'll stay. Good-night Kagome, good-night Sango." Shippo then went ahead upstairs.
"Good-night Shippo." Kagome and Sango called up.
"Well, should we start getting the lessons on the board?" Sango asked, going into the office and getting out the binder with "lessons" written on it with permanent marker.
"Sure, why not. don't we have two new ones starting today?" Kagome asked, taking the paper with all the lessons on it and writing them on the chalkboard.
"Yeah, I think so." Sango said. "Well, I'm going to head back up and try to get a few more hours of sleep. Good-night." she then walked upstairs.
About ten minutes later, Kagome had checked up on Princess and the filly once more and was walking up the stairs to also get some sleep before 6:00 when they had to get up and feed the horses.
5:30
Sango woke up and stretched. She was still anxious about the foal and was very restless. She got out the "lessons" binder and wrote Snowy and Shadow for a 4:30 pm lesson. Kagome stirred in her bed and awoke. She walked out of her room and saw Sango "Sango, what are you doing?" she asked and walked to the desk where Sango was sitting. "Kagome, looky here, how does this look?" Sango asked and pushed the binder towards her. Kagome read it carefully "sounds okay to me, but I don't know when they will be coming," she then took a pencil and erased the times "we will write the time down when we know when they are going," she suggested and shut the binder.
Sango smiled and stood up. "Bet you the horses are hungry" she said as she headed down the stairs and towards the feed room. Kagome followed closely behind, but remembered that Shippo was asleep and went to go get him. "Shippo" she said softly as she shook him. He opened his eyes and smiled at her, he stretched and accedently slapped her. "Sorry, Miss Kagome" he said and got up. They walked to the feed room, but the wheel barrel was ready and the horses were being fed.
Shadow reared in his stall. "Easy boy" Sango said as she dumped the grain into his feed bucket. He walked to his bucket and stuck his brown muzzle in it. "Pig" she laughed, joking around, and the young gelding nickered softly as he chowed down his food. "Ah Kagome, you've come. I haven't gave them hay yet, would you like to do so?" she asked as she finished feeding that row of horses.
Kagome nodded her head, but knew she should not yell so she just walked to the hay room and untied 3 bales of hay. She seperated some of the flakes and put them in another barrel. She walked by each horses stall and gave them hay. She heard neighs from the other side of the barn, than there was a scream. Kagome knew that no one should scream in a barn "Shippo, carefully give the horses their hay please, you know who gets what amount, I have to go check that out," she said and walked quick past but not to scare the horses. (a/n: if and when you scream or run in a barn the horses can get scared and rear, or hurt themselves so yeah its bad.)
She looked in the arena and there were no horses, so she went agianst her own rules, and ran fast. When she got to the other side she saw Sango laying on the ground. She ran to her and lifted up her head. Princess's stall door was a little open and Kasey, the filly, lay in the floor of the stall, bleeding. Princess was standing over her. She didn't know Sango was going to save her baby, and it probably screamed so Princess was just protecting her. Kagome put her hand up but she didn't move, she pinned her ears and than gently licked Kasey's wounds.
Kagome grabbed Princess's halter and she looked up at the human girl. Kagome smiled and whistled a melody. Princess backed up a little. Kagome raised her hand a little more and this time, she nuzzled it. Than she stepped aside and allowed Kagome to approach Kasey. she crouched down and looked at her leg. She looked around and saw that she had broken the feed bucket and cut her leg on the plastic edge. She shook her head and messaged Kasey's leg. Sango then woke up. "I'm sorry Kagome, she got scared and lashed at m-" she started but looked at Kagome "its okay Sango, she was just protecting her foal, now go fetch the first aid kit please" (a/n: Sango is fine, she just has a small bump on her head other than that shes okay.)
Sango got up slowly and walked to the tack room, she grabbed the first aid kit and handed it to Kagome. She lifted Kasey's leg and Sango gently wrapped it. As Kagome put on some medicine, Sango stroked the spirity little filly gently. Kagome gathered the tools, and Kasey stood up. Sango stood and watched. The cremello mare walked to her filly and nuzzled her. The filly was spunky agian, biting and rearing until Princess pinned her ears. Kagome and Sango shut the stall door behind them. "next time i'll be more carefull" Sango sighed and Kagome hugged her "its okay, I was hurt by Prancer two days ago when I just touched her foal" she rolled up her left sleeve and showed the small cut. Sango smiled "I am glade you are alright Kagome" and they hugged again "same for you" Kagome answered and they released the embrace.
They both then went over to the other side to help Shippo finish feeding. When they got to the other side, though, Shippo had already started watering.
"Miss Sango, do you think I could have a lesson after this?" he asked hopefully.
"Well, why don't we wait a half hour so that the horses will have enough time to finish their breakfast. Then I'll help you get Pepper ready, okay?"
"Okay! I'll just finish this side and then I'll get ready." He then continued watering while Sango went to move Shippo's lesson to 7:00am instead of the original time of 1:00pm.
Kagome in the meantime started to brush Pepper. Than Shippo stepped into the flea bitten gray's stall. Kagome smiled "you're missing the best part Shippo! Grab a brush and hurry now" she said happily. Shippo grabbed a curry comb and started stroking the mare's silky coat. She grabbed the hoof pick and asked the mare to lift her hoof. She clucked gently and the mare lifted her hoof, than Kagome scraped away the dirt. She did the same to the other three hooves. "Shippo, what are you doing? You can hard brush her now" she said as she grabbed the brush and handed it to Shippo.
Shippo gently shoved the brush away, "I wanted to start with the curry comb" he said. "HELLO?? ANYONE HERE!!" a voice called from across the barn. Shippo looked at Kagome. "Shippo, where is your mother, your only 5 and I can't babysit you all the time" she said laughing.
Sango looked "right here" she said and approached the two boys. "Hello my name is Sango Taijiya, I am 24 years old. Kagome Higurashi is 20 and we both own the barn together." she motioned for them to follow her. She grabbed the "lessons" binder agian "May I ask of your names, your age and how experienced of a rider you are?" she asked. "Well my name is Miroku Houshi, I am 23 years old and I have never riden before," the young man dressed in blue jeans and a purple shirt said. "I am Inuyasha Fang, I'm 19 and I also have never riden a horse" the man with a red shirt and tan pants said.
Kagome came leading Pepper as Sango, Inuyasha and Miroku went into the arena. "Whats up Sango?" she asked. Sango sighed "I need to get Pepper and Ginger because they want to ride together," Kagome nodded. "Since your going to get Ginger, will you tell Shippo I am ready for him to ride, why don't you get Apricot for Inuyasha and Miroku can ride Ginger."
"Alright." Then Sango went off in search of Shippo, finding him outside of Princess's stall looking at Kasey. "Shippo, Kagome has Pepper out in the arena waiting for you."
"Okay, thanks." Shippo then walked out to the arena and Kagome gave him a leg up.
Sango went into the tack room and got all Apricot's tack and a good sized saddle and proceeded to get the beautiful palomino paint ready. She moved carefully around her because from experience she knew that Apricot was one of the easiest horses to spook while in the stall.
Although she was careful, Sango had Apricot all tacked up and standing in the middle of the arena next to Ginger in ten minutes. "Alright, Inuyasha, this one's for you."
Once Inuyasha and Miroku were on, Sango went to get two lounge lines to give them lounge lessons. "Kagome, how are we going to do this? I mean, neither Miroku or Inuyasha have ridden before so we need to give them lounge lessons, but how are we going to give Shippo his lesson at the same time?"
"Well, I guess Shippo could just have a fun day and do whatever he wants for the half hour, as long as he doesn't canter too much or get Pepper too hot. And I'll give Inuyasha his lesson while you give Miroku his."
"Do you think I could go outside and ride then, Miss Kagome?" Shippo asked while he was standing up to warm up at the walk.
"Well, I don't know. Pepper has been known for taking off with riders outside." Kagome said, putting the chain part of the lounge line through both sides of Apricot's bit and then clipping it onto the joint between the weaving and the chain.
"Miss Kagome, I'll be careful. Besides, I know what to do if she starts running."
"Oh really, then what do you do?"
"don't you just turn them around in tight circles?"
"That's right. Since you know that, I guess you could go outside as long as you stay in the outdoor arena or in one of the empty pastures."
"Alright, I will." He then went out the door to where the stalls were and walked outside.
Shippo clucked to young mare, grabbing her reins and turning her to the right. He walked her for a while and found that she was being calm. He stroked her neck and she winnied pleasingly, stepping up a little (a/n: Stepping up just means that shes going faster...). Shippo smiled, sat deep in his saddle and pulled on her reins. He let them go, than pulled back speaking softly to her "Easy girl," and she went back to a slow walk. Shippo smiled and scratched the mare in her favorite spot, the point of the withers. She shook and snorted, Shippo laughed.
Inside the barn
Kagome took Inuyasha into the 'bull pin' (a/n: its just a small area surrounded by metal fence that is usually located inside the arena) and grabbed a lunge whip on the way. As they got there, Kagome held the rope a couple yards away. "Okay, stand up," she said and he looked at her blankly. "Drop the reins and stand, i'm guiding her." She clucked to the mare, "walk Apricot" and she did. Inuyasha dropped the reins and wearily stood straight up, falling backwards into the saddle. Kagome couldn't help but chuckle a little. He snarled and grabbed the mare's mane. He found it easy to pull himself up that way.
"Good, now I want you to bend your knees more....thats it" she smiled. "Bend forward and let go of her mane." Inuyasha looked at her, "no way wench." Kagome frowned, "woah Apricot" she said softly and the mare stopped. Kagome brought her in and than grabbed Inuyasha's collar "Do you want to get off?" He shook his head. "Than apologize for calling me that. Respect the trainer, or leave."
"Inuyasha, say your sorry she did not deserve it" Miroku said from the other side of the arena. (a/n: if you don't know what a arena is, to dang bad!) Good thing Miroku had convinsed (sp?) him to stay, he was about to leave. He shook his head "i'm sorry" he said softly. Kagome let go of him and clucked again. Apricot walked on, going around and around Kagome.
Miroku was having troubles keeping his feet in the stirrup. "Listen," Sango said softly "sit down." Miroku sat. "Now scootch (sp?) back." He looked around and shivered, scooting (sp?) back. "Farther," Sango reassured him (a/n: forgive me for my spelling!) and he stopped when his butt was at the end of the saddle. He made his butt come up more, so it wasn't on the back, but so he 'sat deep in the saddle'. Sango smiled, "good, now drop your heels so your toes are pointing to the ceiling" Miroku shifted his feet, and they cracked. His lips moved into a soft 'o' as he messasged the back of his leg. "Now, doing all that, stand but let your feet level as if you were on the ground." a little confused, he stood.
Not shifting his toes parellel to his heels, he fell back. But he squeezed his knees hard and held onto the mare's neck. Sango smiled "good, now that is what I call leg gripping!" Miroku smiled pervertedly, and she gave him a death stare. "HELL NO!" Inuyasha yelled. Sango turned towards Kagome. "what's the matter?" Kagome was smiling "I told him he could sit down now and that was his response." Sango looked at Inuyasha "sit down!" He growled, "I just learned to stand!" He argued. Sango and Kagome laughed, shaking their heads. Sango turned back to Miroku and said, "you may sit also, and do you know what 'post' means?" Miroku shook his head and Sango started to discribe it. (a/n: for non-horse lovers its when you are trotting on a horse you raise your butt up and down per beat...if you don't know what 1 beat is, you're in trouble)
Inuyasha sat unwillingly. "Grab your reins," Kagome said and he did quickly. "Good, hold them like this," she put her hands into fists, twisted them to the left and showed her thumbs resting on her pointer finger than she let her other fingers relax to touch her palm with the tips of each finger. "Now than," she turned her side to him, still guiding Apricot. "Turn her left like this," she said as she showed herself gathering rain in the left hand, pulling back slightly, and releasing rein on the right side. Inuyasha tried it, and it worked, but not well.
Miroku was having the same problem. "Good thing Shippo's a good rider." Sango called to Kagome. Her eyes widened "SHIPPO! Should I go check on him?" she asked worringly. Sango clucked for Pepper to step up "give her a nudge with your heel" she turned to Kagome "no, he's fine, he's experienced enough" Sango smiled as she heard Kagome sigh. Miroku was getting the 'post' thing down, now Sango was trying to teach him not to pull on the reins as he did so, and by doing that he had to grip with his thighs.
Back to Shippo
He was laying on the grass as Pepper ate around him. Shippo sat up and felt her, she wasn't warm at all. But he didn't know how to get back on. He grabbed her reins and clucked to her. Reluctently she followed, snorting. He stroked the mare's neck to calm her as he led her to the white fence of the pastures. He pulled her really close, and she side stepped nervously. "Easy girl" shippo said softly, circling her and making her stand. He climbed the rails to the top, than mounted the horse. Pepper moved as she spooked and Shippo was barely on. Thankfully he swong his legs over, regained the reins and spun her into tight circles, sitting back in the saddle. "Miss Kagome would be proud," he said as the mare stopped a second later, breathing as if she hadn't cantered in ages.
He decided to walk her slowly, so she could cool off and catch her breath. Once she did, he turned her left and went by the barn. He went close to the wall, and when walking down it he made Pepper's head turn towards the wall by gathering lots of rein and he kissed, cueing the mare to canter. He bumped her reins softly (a/n: that's when you are doing saddleseat, long story...you use your pinkies thats all you need to know) to get her to go into a smooth and easy canter. She took the wrong lead so he stopped her and did it agian. Than the next time, he kicked the mare with his right leg and she took the correct lead.
The mare went into a very slow easy 3 beat rhythm. Shippo walked her after a minute and since she wasn't hot, he let her go into a slow trot. She saw a rabbit and spooked, picking her legs up high and Shippo scratched her neck, than stopped her. "It's been 45 minutes! I better get back in!" Shippo gasped as he looked at his watch. He guided the mare back to the barn.
In the barn
Kagome was still working on Inuyasha when she heard a horse walking around in the barn. "Shippo, that you?" she asked. Shippo stopped the mare "yes" he said and guided her to her stall. He hoped off, rolled up his stirrups and put her into cross ties. He took off her tack and put it in the tackroom. Kagome smiled "woah girl" she said and brought in the horse. "What did I do now?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome smiled, "nothing, lessons over." She motioned to Shippo to come to her when she saw him looking at her.
Sango smiled and brought Ginger into the middle also. "Your done." She chuckled, petting the mare's neck. Miroku groaned, "Uhh, how do I get down?" Sango shook her head, "take you feet out of your stirrups, swing your right leg over, let go of the reins, and drop to the ground" she said in a simple but understanding tone. Miroku did just that. Shippo was in the middle "you wanted something Miss Kagome?" Inuyasha was trying to get down but didn't succeed. "Yes, if you'd like you can give Pepper a bath." Shippo smiled "thank you Miss Kagome" he walked to the back and groomed Pepper.
"Oh, so you lovely ladys aren't married?" Miroku asked.
"Yeah, what of it?" Kagome said.
"Oh, nothing. It just seems strange that two beautiful women such as yourselves would still be single."
Kagome growled and looked at Miroku. "Excuse me?!" Miroku bowed his head and bit his tongue "um, nothing." Sango shook her head "Uh-huh, sure," she clucked to Ginger agian. Kagome tried to help Inuyasha down. His foot slipped and he fell backwards, knocking Kagome onto the ground. Apricot snorted at the two as Kagome landed with a "oof." Sango looked at them "you okay?" she asked. Kagome grumbled as Inuyasha got off "I'm sorry" he said and stood up. He held his hand for her. She grabbed onto it smiling and he helped her up. Kagome grabbed Apricot's reins "follow me" she said and clucked softly. "Me or the horse?" Inuyasha asked wide-eyed. Kagome shook her head "you, I need to show you what to do before and after a lesson." Inuyasha sighed and followed slowly. "Follow ME not the horse, you'll get kicked." Inuyasha looked at her and stepped to the side, running into a wall.
Kagome shook her head "you need to borrow one of my horse books. Because your going to scare the horses and not all of theses are ours" Inuyasha smiled "sound interesting" he said pulling himself out of the wall. Kagome put Apricot into her crossties just as Sango and Miroku passed. "Pervert" Sango whispered and went to smack him but hit Ginger in the neck. Her head went high "sorry hunny" Sango smiled and pet her. Kagome started at Miroku "if you want to ride here, i'd stop that!" Inuyasha shook his head "stupid monk" he looked at Kagome "do you board here?" Kagome nodded "yes, why?" he smiled "you said all of these horses weren't yours." She looked at him "And?"
"I'd like to board my horse here" Kagome nodded "why can't you keep him-" Inuyasha shook his head "her" he corrected. Kagome stommped her foot "why can't you keep HER where she is?" Inuyasha smiled "she's at my dad's place plus I'll probably be here more often, so I want to re-train her because it's been awhile." Kagome nodded "you'll have to fill out some papers," she said.
Sango had put Ginger in cross ties and was grooming her. Shippo was done giving Pepper a bath and put her away after drying her. He stood between Apricot's stall and Ginger's stall, which were right next to each other. "What breed?" Sango asked "what's the mare's name?" Kagome asked. Inuyasha smiled bigger and stood proud "she's a Saddlebred and her show name is CF Prowlers Rare Memory." Suddenly it became quiet, both Kagome and Sango dropped their brushes, mouths wide open.
PLP: That's the end of the first chapter.
QJP: No s shurlock!
BC: I noticed.
PLP: growls at QJP I can't believe I wrote 32 paragraphs, although my ideas are ZERO!
BC: coughs and says 'not cool' So how are you going to continue with this fic?
QJP: We feed off each other's ideas. they are Mmmm-mmm good!
BC: Cambels soup! I prefer ramen.
PLP: I HATE condensed soup, its nasty! looks at BC I agree! Lets eat some ramen!
QJP: that condensed crap is discusting. the ONLY time you will see me eat the s is when I'm sick or really, REALLY desperate for some food.
BC: If your so desperate for food, why don't you have Baka-chan feed you?
QJP: YOU TAKE THAT BACK!!!! or no candy for you!
PLP: Oh god you are threatening BC's precious candy! BC, you better give up.
BC: NEEE! My candy! I take it back! I take it baack! Just give me my candy and DONT HURT ME!!
QJP: to end this Author note, Send me...us...whatever reviews PLEASE! even flames are great and appreciated. PLP, anything else you want to say to the nice reviewers-to-be?
PLP: Sounds like your wedding someone. smiles Yes I do. Flames are awsome! They are pretty! So pretty with the light and the burning and it hurts so no touchy! But yeah, PLEASE review our fic!!!
PLP: Yeah, and to make it even better, I co-authored it! (PLP: My work is in paragraph form, like the first two paragraphs. The rest is QJP) hands BC some candy
BC: YAY CANDY! happily eats candy
Shippo: Can I have some candy too?
PLP: Sure hands Shippo candy
QJP: Just to get this thing started, I should point out that I do not, i repeat, I do NOT own any of the Inu cast. The great and all-powerful Rumiko Takahashi does. Although I wouldn't mind owning Sango and Miroku, they ARE my favorite characters and couple, afterall. ON WITH THE FIC!!
Barn Love
Chapter 1: New Arrivals
Kagome slide her feet across the cold cement floor. She hung her head low, her face buried in 'The Black Stallion: Mystery' written by Walter farley. Her head shot up as she heard a soft voice call her name. She looked around the dark building. "Sango, is that you?" Kagome asked in a whisper, a little scared. "Yes, it is, I couldn't sleep" Sango's voice came as she walked towards Kagome. Kagome sighed. "Me niether, I am so excited that Princess is having a foal, I just can't sleep."
Kagome dog-eared the page. "Wheres Shippo?" Sango asked. Kagome smiled "lucky him, he fell asleep. I told him he could take a nap and I'd wake him up when I thought she was going to foal." Sango nodded "what you got there?" she lifted the book and read the title "The Black Stallion, Mystery...agian?" Kagome chuckled "I can't seem to put it down." Sango's eyes grew wide and she looked down. She was relieved to find Shippo tugging at her pant leg. "Well then, morning...er Night...er hi Shippo. Good to see you are up" Sango stated.
"Why don't we check on Princess," Kagome suggested. Then they walked out of the observation room and down the wide isleway toward the foaling stall. Moonshadow, one of the many stallions standing at stud, greeted them happily.
Kagome stuck her hand out for him to see plainly and he nuzzled it softly. Kagome smiled "I have no treats for you right now". Moonshadow nickered stubbernly and Sango stuffed her hand in her pocket and fished out a sugar cube. "I have a treat for him" she said as she held her hand under his muzzle. He took it eagerly and searched for more. "sorry, no more, we came down to see Princess, not spoil you so your fat!" Sango stuck her tounge out.
"Well, it will take a lot more than a few sugar cubes to make him fat. besides, he's probably just as anxious as we are to see the birth of his foal." Kagome said as she peeked into Princess's stall.
"True, but still. The way he eats...." she broke off as she too peeked into Princess's stall. "Oh my gosh! Look Kagome...do you see what I see?" (PLP: Way up in the sky Shepard boy??? Oh sorry...) "Shes-the foals hoofs are out." Sango said excitedly. Shippo jumped up and down happily "YAY!" he said too loudly. "SHHHHHH!!!!" Kagome put her finger to her lips. Shippo hung his head. He looked around and saw all the horses looking out their stall door to see what all the ruckus was about. (PLP: thanks to QJP's spelling....)
A half hour later, the new foal was on it's feet, still shaky, and was wondering around Princess's belly looking for her teat. after another ten minutes of searching, Princess turned her head and gently nudged the baby towards it. the foal found it and happily started nursing, swishing it's short tail happily. Princess then turned back to the rest of her hay.
"Go and see what we have, besides, you better go now while it's nursing and Princess is eating." Kagome said to Sango as she and Shippo went to give Moonshadow another sugar cube.
Sango opened the stall door just big enough to slip through, so that they wouldn't be able to escape, and slowly went up to the nursing foal and lifted up the tail. "Looks like we have a little filly. and what beautiful markings too." the filly was a ligter version of Moonshadow. a light bay with his wide blaze. but this filly also had three white stockings, two back and one on the right front. she was beautiful, to say the least.
"Alright, lets get some sleep. I think we have two new people starting lessons tomorrow anyway." Kagome said as they went back to the observation room, yawning widely. "Shippo, did you want to stay here or go home? of course, it IS 3:00 so maybe you should stay with us. there should be an extra pull-out bed upstairs." (A/N: i should tell you what this barn basically looks like before this story goes too far. there are two isleways, one on each side of an indoor arena. there is also an outdoor arena. the observation room is a two story with a good sized apartment upstairs where Sango and Kagome live.)
"Yeah, I'll stay. Good-night Kagome, good-night Sango." Shippo then went ahead upstairs.
"Good-night Shippo." Kagome and Sango called up.
"Well, should we start getting the lessons on the board?" Sango asked, going into the office and getting out the binder with "lessons" written on it with permanent marker.
"Sure, why not. don't we have two new ones starting today?" Kagome asked, taking the paper with all the lessons on it and writing them on the chalkboard.
"Yeah, I think so." Sango said. "Well, I'm going to head back up and try to get a few more hours of sleep. Good-night." she then walked upstairs.
About ten minutes later, Kagome had checked up on Princess and the filly once more and was walking up the stairs to also get some sleep before 6:00 when they had to get up and feed the horses.
5:30
Sango woke up and stretched. She was still anxious about the foal and was very restless. She got out the "lessons" binder and wrote Snowy and Shadow for a 4:30 pm lesson. Kagome stirred in her bed and awoke. She walked out of her room and saw Sango "Sango, what are you doing?" she asked and walked to the desk where Sango was sitting. "Kagome, looky here, how does this look?" Sango asked and pushed the binder towards her. Kagome read it carefully "sounds okay to me, but I don't know when they will be coming," she then took a pencil and erased the times "we will write the time down when we know when they are going," she suggested and shut the binder.
Sango smiled and stood up. "Bet you the horses are hungry" she said as she headed down the stairs and towards the feed room. Kagome followed closely behind, but remembered that Shippo was asleep and went to go get him. "Shippo" she said softly as she shook him. He opened his eyes and smiled at her, he stretched and accedently slapped her. "Sorry, Miss Kagome" he said and got up. They walked to the feed room, but the wheel barrel was ready and the horses were being fed.
Shadow reared in his stall. "Easy boy" Sango said as she dumped the grain into his feed bucket. He walked to his bucket and stuck his brown muzzle in it. "Pig" she laughed, joking around, and the young gelding nickered softly as he chowed down his food. "Ah Kagome, you've come. I haven't gave them hay yet, would you like to do so?" she asked as she finished feeding that row of horses.
Kagome nodded her head, but knew she should not yell so she just walked to the hay room and untied 3 bales of hay. She seperated some of the flakes and put them in another barrel. She walked by each horses stall and gave them hay. She heard neighs from the other side of the barn, than there was a scream. Kagome knew that no one should scream in a barn "Shippo, carefully give the horses their hay please, you know who gets what amount, I have to go check that out," she said and walked quick past but not to scare the horses. (a/n: if and when you scream or run in a barn the horses can get scared and rear, or hurt themselves so yeah its bad.)
She looked in the arena and there were no horses, so she went agianst her own rules, and ran fast. When she got to the other side she saw Sango laying on the ground. She ran to her and lifted up her head. Princess's stall door was a little open and Kasey, the filly, lay in the floor of the stall, bleeding. Princess was standing over her. She didn't know Sango was going to save her baby, and it probably screamed so Princess was just protecting her. Kagome put her hand up but she didn't move, she pinned her ears and than gently licked Kasey's wounds.
Kagome grabbed Princess's halter and she looked up at the human girl. Kagome smiled and whistled a melody. Princess backed up a little. Kagome raised her hand a little more and this time, she nuzzled it. Than she stepped aside and allowed Kagome to approach Kasey. she crouched down and looked at her leg. She looked around and saw that she had broken the feed bucket and cut her leg on the plastic edge. She shook her head and messaged Kasey's leg. Sango then woke up. "I'm sorry Kagome, she got scared and lashed at m-" she started but looked at Kagome "its okay Sango, she was just protecting her foal, now go fetch the first aid kit please" (a/n: Sango is fine, she just has a small bump on her head other than that shes okay.)
Sango got up slowly and walked to the tack room, she grabbed the first aid kit and handed it to Kagome. She lifted Kasey's leg and Sango gently wrapped it. As Kagome put on some medicine, Sango stroked the spirity little filly gently. Kagome gathered the tools, and Kasey stood up. Sango stood and watched. The cremello mare walked to her filly and nuzzled her. The filly was spunky agian, biting and rearing until Princess pinned her ears. Kagome and Sango shut the stall door behind them. "next time i'll be more carefull" Sango sighed and Kagome hugged her "its okay, I was hurt by Prancer two days ago when I just touched her foal" she rolled up her left sleeve and showed the small cut. Sango smiled "I am glade you are alright Kagome" and they hugged again "same for you" Kagome answered and they released the embrace.
They both then went over to the other side to help Shippo finish feeding. When they got to the other side, though, Shippo had already started watering.
"Miss Sango, do you think I could have a lesson after this?" he asked hopefully.
"Well, why don't we wait a half hour so that the horses will have enough time to finish their breakfast. Then I'll help you get Pepper ready, okay?"
"Okay! I'll just finish this side and then I'll get ready." He then continued watering while Sango went to move Shippo's lesson to 7:00am instead of the original time of 1:00pm.
Kagome in the meantime started to brush Pepper. Than Shippo stepped into the flea bitten gray's stall. Kagome smiled "you're missing the best part Shippo! Grab a brush and hurry now" she said happily. Shippo grabbed a curry comb and started stroking the mare's silky coat. She grabbed the hoof pick and asked the mare to lift her hoof. She clucked gently and the mare lifted her hoof, than Kagome scraped away the dirt. She did the same to the other three hooves. "Shippo, what are you doing? You can hard brush her now" she said as she grabbed the brush and handed it to Shippo.
Shippo gently shoved the brush away, "I wanted to start with the curry comb" he said. "HELLO?? ANYONE HERE!!" a voice called from across the barn. Shippo looked at Kagome. "Shippo, where is your mother, your only 5 and I can't babysit you all the time" she said laughing.
Sango looked "right here" she said and approached the two boys. "Hello my name is Sango Taijiya, I am 24 years old. Kagome Higurashi is 20 and we both own the barn together." she motioned for them to follow her. She grabbed the "lessons" binder agian "May I ask of your names, your age and how experienced of a rider you are?" she asked. "Well my name is Miroku Houshi, I am 23 years old and I have never riden before," the young man dressed in blue jeans and a purple shirt said. "I am Inuyasha Fang, I'm 19 and I also have never riden a horse" the man with a red shirt and tan pants said.
Kagome came leading Pepper as Sango, Inuyasha and Miroku went into the arena. "Whats up Sango?" she asked. Sango sighed "I need to get Pepper and Ginger because they want to ride together," Kagome nodded. "Since your going to get Ginger, will you tell Shippo I am ready for him to ride, why don't you get Apricot for Inuyasha and Miroku can ride Ginger."
"Alright." Then Sango went off in search of Shippo, finding him outside of Princess's stall looking at Kasey. "Shippo, Kagome has Pepper out in the arena waiting for you."
"Okay, thanks." Shippo then walked out to the arena and Kagome gave him a leg up.
Sango went into the tack room and got all Apricot's tack and a good sized saddle and proceeded to get the beautiful palomino paint ready. She moved carefully around her because from experience she knew that Apricot was one of the easiest horses to spook while in the stall.
Although she was careful, Sango had Apricot all tacked up and standing in the middle of the arena next to Ginger in ten minutes. "Alright, Inuyasha, this one's for you."
Once Inuyasha and Miroku were on, Sango went to get two lounge lines to give them lounge lessons. "Kagome, how are we going to do this? I mean, neither Miroku or Inuyasha have ridden before so we need to give them lounge lessons, but how are we going to give Shippo his lesson at the same time?"
"Well, I guess Shippo could just have a fun day and do whatever he wants for the half hour, as long as he doesn't canter too much or get Pepper too hot. And I'll give Inuyasha his lesson while you give Miroku his."
"Do you think I could go outside and ride then, Miss Kagome?" Shippo asked while he was standing up to warm up at the walk.
"Well, I don't know. Pepper has been known for taking off with riders outside." Kagome said, putting the chain part of the lounge line through both sides of Apricot's bit and then clipping it onto the joint between the weaving and the chain.
"Miss Kagome, I'll be careful. Besides, I know what to do if she starts running."
"Oh really, then what do you do?"
"don't you just turn them around in tight circles?"
"That's right. Since you know that, I guess you could go outside as long as you stay in the outdoor arena or in one of the empty pastures."
"Alright, I will." He then went out the door to where the stalls were and walked outside.
Shippo clucked to young mare, grabbing her reins and turning her to the right. He walked her for a while and found that she was being calm. He stroked her neck and she winnied pleasingly, stepping up a little (a/n: Stepping up just means that shes going faster...). Shippo smiled, sat deep in his saddle and pulled on her reins. He let them go, than pulled back speaking softly to her "Easy girl," and she went back to a slow walk. Shippo smiled and scratched the mare in her favorite spot, the point of the withers. She shook and snorted, Shippo laughed.
Inside the barn
Kagome took Inuyasha into the 'bull pin' (a/n: its just a small area surrounded by metal fence that is usually located inside the arena) and grabbed a lunge whip on the way. As they got there, Kagome held the rope a couple yards away. "Okay, stand up," she said and he looked at her blankly. "Drop the reins and stand, i'm guiding her." She clucked to the mare, "walk Apricot" and she did. Inuyasha dropped the reins and wearily stood straight up, falling backwards into the saddle. Kagome couldn't help but chuckle a little. He snarled and grabbed the mare's mane. He found it easy to pull himself up that way.
"Good, now I want you to bend your knees more....thats it" she smiled. "Bend forward and let go of her mane." Inuyasha looked at her, "no way wench." Kagome frowned, "woah Apricot" she said softly and the mare stopped. Kagome brought her in and than grabbed Inuyasha's collar "Do you want to get off?" He shook his head. "Than apologize for calling me that. Respect the trainer, or leave."
"Inuyasha, say your sorry she did not deserve it" Miroku said from the other side of the arena. (a/n: if you don't know what a arena is, to dang bad!) Good thing Miroku had convinsed (sp?) him to stay, he was about to leave. He shook his head "i'm sorry" he said softly. Kagome let go of him and clucked again. Apricot walked on, going around and around Kagome.
Miroku was having troubles keeping his feet in the stirrup. "Listen," Sango said softly "sit down." Miroku sat. "Now scootch (sp?) back." He looked around and shivered, scooting (sp?) back. "Farther," Sango reassured him (a/n: forgive me for my spelling!) and he stopped when his butt was at the end of the saddle. He made his butt come up more, so it wasn't on the back, but so he 'sat deep in the saddle'. Sango smiled, "good, now drop your heels so your toes are pointing to the ceiling" Miroku shifted his feet, and they cracked. His lips moved into a soft 'o' as he messasged the back of his leg. "Now, doing all that, stand but let your feet level as if you were on the ground." a little confused, he stood.
Not shifting his toes parellel to his heels, he fell back. But he squeezed his knees hard and held onto the mare's neck. Sango smiled "good, now that is what I call leg gripping!" Miroku smiled pervertedly, and she gave him a death stare. "HELL NO!" Inuyasha yelled. Sango turned towards Kagome. "what's the matter?" Kagome was smiling "I told him he could sit down now and that was his response." Sango looked at Inuyasha "sit down!" He growled, "I just learned to stand!" He argued. Sango and Kagome laughed, shaking their heads. Sango turned back to Miroku and said, "you may sit also, and do you know what 'post' means?" Miroku shook his head and Sango started to discribe it. (a/n: for non-horse lovers its when you are trotting on a horse you raise your butt up and down per beat...if you don't know what 1 beat is, you're in trouble)
Inuyasha sat unwillingly. "Grab your reins," Kagome said and he did quickly. "Good, hold them like this," she put her hands into fists, twisted them to the left and showed her thumbs resting on her pointer finger than she let her other fingers relax to touch her palm with the tips of each finger. "Now than," she turned her side to him, still guiding Apricot. "Turn her left like this," she said as she showed herself gathering rain in the left hand, pulling back slightly, and releasing rein on the right side. Inuyasha tried it, and it worked, but not well.
Miroku was having the same problem. "Good thing Shippo's a good rider." Sango called to Kagome. Her eyes widened "SHIPPO! Should I go check on him?" she asked worringly. Sango clucked for Pepper to step up "give her a nudge with your heel" she turned to Kagome "no, he's fine, he's experienced enough" Sango smiled as she heard Kagome sigh. Miroku was getting the 'post' thing down, now Sango was trying to teach him not to pull on the reins as he did so, and by doing that he had to grip with his thighs.
Back to Shippo
He was laying on the grass as Pepper ate around him. Shippo sat up and felt her, she wasn't warm at all. But he didn't know how to get back on. He grabbed her reins and clucked to her. Reluctently she followed, snorting. He stroked the mare's neck to calm her as he led her to the white fence of the pastures. He pulled her really close, and she side stepped nervously. "Easy girl" shippo said softly, circling her and making her stand. He climbed the rails to the top, than mounted the horse. Pepper moved as she spooked and Shippo was barely on. Thankfully he swong his legs over, regained the reins and spun her into tight circles, sitting back in the saddle. "Miss Kagome would be proud," he said as the mare stopped a second later, breathing as if she hadn't cantered in ages.
He decided to walk her slowly, so she could cool off and catch her breath. Once she did, he turned her left and went by the barn. He went close to the wall, and when walking down it he made Pepper's head turn towards the wall by gathering lots of rein and he kissed, cueing the mare to canter. He bumped her reins softly (a/n: that's when you are doing saddleseat, long story...you use your pinkies thats all you need to know) to get her to go into a smooth and easy canter. She took the wrong lead so he stopped her and did it agian. Than the next time, he kicked the mare with his right leg and she took the correct lead.
The mare went into a very slow easy 3 beat rhythm. Shippo walked her after a minute and since she wasn't hot, he let her go into a slow trot. She saw a rabbit and spooked, picking her legs up high and Shippo scratched her neck, than stopped her. "It's been 45 minutes! I better get back in!" Shippo gasped as he looked at his watch. He guided the mare back to the barn.
In the barn
Kagome was still working on Inuyasha when she heard a horse walking around in the barn. "Shippo, that you?" she asked. Shippo stopped the mare "yes" he said and guided her to her stall. He hoped off, rolled up his stirrups and put her into cross ties. He took off her tack and put it in the tackroom. Kagome smiled "woah girl" she said and brought in the horse. "What did I do now?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome smiled, "nothing, lessons over." She motioned to Shippo to come to her when she saw him looking at her.
Sango smiled and brought Ginger into the middle also. "Your done." She chuckled, petting the mare's neck. Miroku groaned, "Uhh, how do I get down?" Sango shook her head, "take you feet out of your stirrups, swing your right leg over, let go of the reins, and drop to the ground" she said in a simple but understanding tone. Miroku did just that. Shippo was in the middle "you wanted something Miss Kagome?" Inuyasha was trying to get down but didn't succeed. "Yes, if you'd like you can give Pepper a bath." Shippo smiled "thank you Miss Kagome" he walked to the back and groomed Pepper.
"Oh, so you lovely ladys aren't married?" Miroku asked.
"Yeah, what of it?" Kagome said.
"Oh, nothing. It just seems strange that two beautiful women such as yourselves would still be single."
Kagome growled and looked at Miroku. "Excuse me?!" Miroku bowed his head and bit his tongue "um, nothing." Sango shook her head "Uh-huh, sure," she clucked to Ginger agian. Kagome tried to help Inuyasha down. His foot slipped and he fell backwards, knocking Kagome onto the ground. Apricot snorted at the two as Kagome landed with a "oof." Sango looked at them "you okay?" she asked. Kagome grumbled as Inuyasha got off "I'm sorry" he said and stood up. He held his hand for her. She grabbed onto it smiling and he helped her up. Kagome grabbed Apricot's reins "follow me" she said and clucked softly. "Me or the horse?" Inuyasha asked wide-eyed. Kagome shook her head "you, I need to show you what to do before and after a lesson." Inuyasha sighed and followed slowly. "Follow ME not the horse, you'll get kicked." Inuyasha looked at her and stepped to the side, running into a wall.
Kagome shook her head "you need to borrow one of my horse books. Because your going to scare the horses and not all of theses are ours" Inuyasha smiled "sound interesting" he said pulling himself out of the wall. Kagome put Apricot into her crossties just as Sango and Miroku passed. "Pervert" Sango whispered and went to smack him but hit Ginger in the neck. Her head went high "sorry hunny" Sango smiled and pet her. Kagome started at Miroku "if you want to ride here, i'd stop that!" Inuyasha shook his head "stupid monk" he looked at Kagome "do you board here?" Kagome nodded "yes, why?" he smiled "you said all of these horses weren't yours." She looked at him "And?"
"I'd like to board my horse here" Kagome nodded "why can't you keep him-" Inuyasha shook his head "her" he corrected. Kagome stommped her foot "why can't you keep HER where she is?" Inuyasha smiled "she's at my dad's place plus I'll probably be here more often, so I want to re-train her because it's been awhile." Kagome nodded "you'll have to fill out some papers," she said.
Sango had put Ginger in cross ties and was grooming her. Shippo was done giving Pepper a bath and put her away after drying her. He stood between Apricot's stall and Ginger's stall, which were right next to each other. "What breed?" Sango asked "what's the mare's name?" Kagome asked. Inuyasha smiled bigger and stood proud "she's a Saddlebred and her show name is CF Prowlers Rare Memory." Suddenly it became quiet, both Kagome and Sango dropped their brushes, mouths wide open.
PLP: That's the end of the first chapter.
QJP: No s shurlock!
BC: I noticed.
PLP: growls at QJP I can't believe I wrote 32 paragraphs, although my ideas are ZERO!
BC: coughs and says 'not cool' So how are you going to continue with this fic?
QJP: We feed off each other's ideas. they are Mmmm-mmm good!
BC: Cambels soup! I prefer ramen.
PLP: I HATE condensed soup, its nasty! looks at BC I agree! Lets eat some ramen!
QJP: that condensed crap is discusting. the ONLY time you will see me eat the s is when I'm sick or really, REALLY desperate for some food.
BC: If your so desperate for food, why don't you have Baka-chan feed you?
QJP: YOU TAKE THAT BACK!!!! or no candy for you!
PLP: Oh god you are threatening BC's precious candy! BC, you better give up.
BC: NEEE! My candy! I take it back! I take it baack! Just give me my candy and DONT HURT ME!!
QJP: to end this Author note, Send me...us...whatever reviews PLEASE! even flames are great and appreciated. PLP, anything else you want to say to the nice reviewers-to-be?
PLP: Sounds like your wedding someone. smiles Yes I do. Flames are awsome! They are pretty! So pretty with the light and the burning and it hurts so no touchy! But yeah, PLEASE review our fic!!!