The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 05~♫

 "Oh, dear!" an older woman with a name tag Sakura Sato called. "She's here!" She waved into the gate. "Freya-chan, it's good to see you!" The head-smaller wife hugged her. "But think more about yourself," she added once she freed the girl from her mama-hug.

Freya only shrugged her shoulders, giving her a small smile.

"We are saved!" her older husband cheered once he appeared. "Welcome, Freya-chan."

"What are you saying?" Mrs. Sato-san frowned. "You aren't thinking of letting Freya-chan do all the work, are you?" She put her hands akimbo.

The man shook his head, scared of his wife's fierce eyes. "Just kidding." He stuck out his tongue a bit, and his hand cleaned a speck from his name tag: Kenji Sato.

His wife's broad smile erased all her wrinkles, and she nudged him with her elbow. "Show her. You practiced."

Freya blinked, confused, as the man blushed. He wiped his hands on his pants and lifted them. He kept watching them as he made shapes and air letters. When he finished, he raised his eyes, seeing a beam on Freya's face.

Then she gestured, "Thank you."

Mrs. Sato-san grinned. "We may be slow and clumsy, but we are learning."

Together, they entered the ranch on the outskirts of the city. Calling it that way might be stretching it, as houses spread among them, but it was much quieter here.

Freya changed into overalls and slung over her shoulder a big bag, heading to tend crippled horses. The couple was taking care of five of them. It was disheartening to see them in pain and unable to run. They were born to be wild, but it filled them with happiness seeing them making baby steps.

The girl was mostly taking care of one horse named Star. It was her photograph she brought to the school earlier, trying to collect some money to support this place. She should have known it was pointless but trying never hurt.

She entered the small stable, and Star lifted her head from her food. She lay on the ground as her legs could support her only for a few hours at most. Freya made a heart symbol, greeting Star. The horse neighed, saying hello too.

Freya checked her skin, looking for any place needing ointment, and soon she had found several places. From outside, she brought a bucket full of water, cleaning the worst from the injured areas.

Star held, not jerking. She used to shy away from everybody's hand, but Sato's love and Freya's care rekindled Star's trust toward humans. Within half of an hour, she cleaned half of Star's body and turned to grease the affected places.

The cooling touch of the ointment reminded Freya of the morning, sending a strange sensation of calmness through her body. There wasn't much left inside, so she made every stroke count.

"Do you need some help?" Mrs. Sato-san asked, peeking inside the horsebox.

The girl turned around, and Star whipped her tail, neighing her hello. Freya shook her head.

"Okay, just tell us when you want to take Star for a short walk. She has a hard time getting on her legs lately."

Frey nodded, turning away so the owner wouldn't need to see her disappearing smile. She continued with the treatment, and then she moved to the other side, repeating the process.

Star watched her, and Freya gestured to her with her free hand when she could. Occasionally there was a spark in Star's eyes, as if she could understand the silent language. Freya could no longer talk without hurting her throat. But in all honesty, she didn't miss it. She had nobody to communicate with, except for Mr. Smith-san and the Satos with their horses.

However, sometimes she wished she could speak with them. But, she was also glad for her muteness. At this rate, she could precisely control what she would give away.

Freya stood up, stretching her limbs and narrowing her back. Star, sensing it was walking time, tried to get up, and the girl had to hug her neck to calm her down. The horse stopped wriggling, her breath calming down.

She stroked her painfully short mane. Star had soft and beautiful fur before the accident. Burning an innocent animal was too cruel. To this day, they had never found the culprit. After a few more pats, Star calmed down, and Freya went to get the Satos.

With their help, Star got onto her legs. Once she was steady, Freya put her hand on her neck, guiding her outside. The sun already gazed at everything, basking in the whole place in a golden veil.

Other horses, which didn't have such problems, moved around and about, nibbling on the pasture. Star tried to take a few bites, but her muscles didn't allow her to move down enough.

Freya fed her the fresh green candies, and Star licked every single bit of her friend's hand before she kissed the girl's face.

They took a lap with a few stops to snack on the grass or leaves. The other horses greeted Star, and they chatted for a short while before she had to return to her stable. Freya could tell Star wanted to remain outside longer since Freya also wished to stay, but she had to head back. Satos would take her for a walk in the afternoon as well.

Freya waved everybody goodbye and headed back into the city. She caught the bus arriving at the stop as she got there. Before she reached her destination, it was packed with people traveling to school and work.

At home, she did the most necessary procedures like re-brushing her hair, checking her schoolbag, and throwing her uniform on herself.

The cool breeze accompanied her all the way, but as in the last days, crazy fangirls drooling over Greek Gods blocked the school gate. They only avoided Kagetsu, whose wild looks had one perfect advantage.

Freya squeezed through, elbowing a few of them without a care. The angry stares lasted only for a second, as nobody wanted to take their eyes off them.

The youngest Kamini spotted their girl and used this chance to speak to her. His brothers were too busy giving autographs or math tips. He followed her to the locker rooms.

"Hey, Freya!" he called to her with no honorific. "Can't you hear me?"

The people present stopped doing whatever they were in the middle of. All stares turned their way, but neither of the duo paid them any attention. Freya's head leaned deep in her locker, sorting the needed books and notebooks.

Kagetsu circled her. So he wasn't behind the door. "You still didn't answer me."

The surrounding ears perked. He, one of the Greek Gods, was interested in Freaka? That would make a great headline in their school papers and online videos.

The redhead girl closed her locker, the freckles on her nose twisting with disgust.

"Can't you pass the decision already?" He scratched behind his head.

Then Freya did something nobody ever dreamed of. She placed her hand on his biceps. Kagetsu froze, as this was the first gentle contact she had made with him.