Chapter twenty three - Affection

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A solid and spacious cottage, isolated from any other civilization by deep woods and rocks, was surrounded by the waking nature. The warm sun beams were quickly melting the morning frost on tree branches, making the ground under them wet and the air damp. Even some birds were already singing cheerfully, hopping between the falling drops, which were sparkling on their way down from the tree tops.

Jin peeked out from the barn, checking on the temperature first, before, satisfied with the result, he went outside and didn't even bother to button his coat up. He stretched in the sunshine, deeply breathing in the fresh air. He slept for quite long after their adventure in the Cursed Mine, as they arrived to their refuge late in the afternoon, but the other guys hadn't got up yet either. With the exception of Kazuya of course, as after waking up, Jin had found his sleeping place empty.

He focused his eyes in the direction of the corral for horses, confirming his suspicion– the slim figure was moving among the noble animals, probably grooming them. Jin just stood there watching the younger one from distance for a while, before he set off toward the house.

To his pleasant surprise, the kitchen was already filled with the fragrance of hot coffee, and Leo was sitting at the table with his girlfriend. They were attached to each other so closely that they almost sat on one chair. They were literally giggling over there and that amused Jin a lot – he didn't expect his younger brother to ever make a sound like that.

"Morning, early birds," he grinned at the couple. "Would you mind if I take some coffee?"

"Help yourself, Jin," Jane smiled in a way, which made her face look so much younger, that he would have never guessed she was older than Leo. "I made enough for everyone."

"I think it's you who's unusually early," the Riders' leader noted, copying his brother's expression. "So far, only Kame showed up."

"Let them have some rest," Jane looked at him, pleading playfully. "They deserve it. And it's so quiet around here without them..." she added, snuggling under Leo's arm.

"You're definitely right, love," Jin's brother agreed, caressing her shoulder slowly.

"Uhm, I think I'll bring one cup to Kame," Jin announced, taking two full mugs from the table.

Those two lovebirds didn't even seem to notice he left; they were obviously very happy about the fact that they were both all right and together. Jin could imagine they had quite a lovely night. Unlike himself, whose only night's pleasure was sleeping and knowing that Kame was right next to him.

But that was definitely not enough, he thought gloomily, as he approached the wooden fence.

The younger one was not grooming anymore; Jin saw the brush forgotten at one of the columns. Kame stood with his eyes closed right next to the white mare, with his face pressed against her big head, and his fingers kept running up and down her neck slowly. Ukushi stood there motionlessly, her own eyes half-closed as well. It almost looked like they talked to each other in a way. Kuro was observing them from careful distance and he just nodded his head at his master's arrival.

Jin didn't let the other one know about his presence, but Kame seemed to notice it anyway, as he suddenly opened his eyes, looking at him directly, and those eyes were very deep, with dark circles under them. Jin almost sighed, but he suppressed this sign of annoyance and smiled instead.

"Coffee?" he raised one mug.

Kame patted Ukushi for one last time and approached the fence from the other side, taking the warm mug with his hand, stroking Jin's fingers during the movement.

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