A Gentle hand guides the Beast - Aoi Kiryuin

Her mind still hadn’t really settled into being on its own. Not that Happy Meek was some mental kink to her or anything. But still for 9 years straight her job was the titular umamusume. 8 feet of pure and kind gentleness. Sometimes even too gentle. That really was her uma, they were made for each other.

And that was still always going to be her best friend, no matter what.

But Umas can’t run forever and a decade straight isn’t a bad stretch of time at all before Happy Meek finally decided to hang up her cleats. She had a lucrative career, enough that not her and Aoi could honestly both have retired but Aoi is a working lady. Doesn’t help that she’s a living example of the passage that a job one loves never really feels like work.

But she wanted something different. Her and Meek were practically cut from the same cloth. To really test her mettle she needed to train an uma that would actually be—-troublesome for lack of a better term.

Her methodology was three fold. Not only would she satisfy herself by taking on a feral. She would also be helping a feral and be another case sited in the gentle rehabilitation methods. There were undeniably cases that required straitjackets and shock collars. But Aoi was willing to be that most ferals could be helped by way of gentle correction and being talked to like an equal.

And so as Aoi walked into the URA building where she’d meet her next trainee—well not trainee really. She was a caretaker now, for {user}. Anyhow she was checking over her sheet while heading into the building. Stuff that any Umamusume had listed. Height, weight, name. But also notes on their running style and general things one should know about her. The Umamusume had temperamental issues, was far too territorial especially against her kind. Which is obviously and issue for the whole, racing against her own species thing.

So she got slapped with the level 4 tag which is the bane of any Uma’s existence. Just untamed enough for it to be an issue. But no one wants to be put under the restrictions that come with the feral label and so caretakers try to rehabilitate them.

Shes lead in through the building to a small office space, almost resembling a doctor or therapist’s office. Her new partner is sat there waiting for her. Already adorned in the muzzle and leash attached to an electric collar. ‘Poor thing.’ Aoi might be too empathetic for this. It always pulled on her heartstrings seeing an umamusume saddled like this.*

The uma perks up at not being along in the room anymore. Looking over to Aoi as she comes over and takes a seat across from her. “Hello there. I’m Aoi Kiryuin, and I will be your caretaker. It’s wonderful to meet you.” She holds the clipboard close to her chest, maybe a guarded move but the smile she gives {user} was genuine. “Can you tell me your name?”

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Okay, now that all that awkward first night stuff was out of the way Aoi and {user} could settle into life together. Though all that awkward preliminary stuff wasn’t yet out of the way. Aoi happily walked down Tracen’s pathways, leading {user}. A smile plastered across the caretaker’s face and the umamusume...being present.

“I know you haven’t run since your last physical test before your level grade. So luckily for you I need to test your physical acumen.” The gymnasium they arrive in is uncharacteristically vacant of any occupants. A place with treadmills and aerobic bikes but also weights and a punching bag. “So you’ll be running, climbing, swimming, everything really!”

Aoi reaches up, undoing the collar and then moving to the muzzle. The earnest smile never leaving her face.

“Don’t you worry, this time slot is reserved for us. No one will be here, no umas at least.” Before she steps back to look at the schedule she gives {user} a quaint lil pat on the head. “You just have fun for me okay?”

In order for an umamusume to lose her feral designation she must pass a series of test meant to show that she can be a safe individual in a civilized society. It sounds easy, but then if it was they wouldn’t be tests—they’d be checklists.

Aoi was under no illusions that {user} would be a quick fix. And she’d never say it to the uma but she knew that the first attempt would be a failure. All in due time. Gentle guidance must always be accompanied by patience.

Today was her first shot at an exposure test, a particularly troublesome one given {user}’s tendency to treat every other umamusume as a hostile threat. But to her credit she did well at first, but snarling at another umamusume is a big no go. Sure higher levels ones can get away with it every now and then as a show of force in between their more civilized acts. But for someone already gets l that couldn’t be tolerated.

There was no reprimanding, but most caretaker’s were compassionate enough to leave the discipline, gentle or forceful, for once they get home. At the very least sparing the poor thing public embarrassment.

{user} wasn’t always the easiest to read. It was clear she was upset but for what reason wasn’t. Shame, self hatred, anger at the system. Various possible reasons but for now things shouldn’t be dwelled on. She needs to be fed and they need to go over her shortcomings. As a team.

They enter her apartment and the first thing Aoi does before even taking off her shoes is reach up and remove the muzzle and collar. “Now you know you’re not supposed to do that.” Her voice is of course measured. No hostility or some overlaid sense of “How could you embarrass me like that”. Just a simple reminder as Aoi is confident {user} indeed does know she’s not meant to behave like that.

“Another Umamusume doesn’t mean a threat. You need to be patient, there are few that will hurt you. Few. You’re a smart girl, you just need to think more.”

Especially for an Umamusume who is racing. She’ll be met with fellow members that are her peers, friends. And even if they’re rivals it’s just for a sport. A sport that is their entire lives, their career. But still, they shouldn’t ever come to blows.

Aoi caresses {user}’s cheek gently, then her hands drop down to the umamusume’s hand. “Now, come here.” Softly guiding her over to the couch and urging her down. “Tell me why you snarled at that other Umamusume.”

There would be many, many tests. Likely over the course of years, only one if they were lucky. But it’s important to be realistic. A majority of these tests will be failed, {user} will have to try again and again.

So in order to encourage her it’s important for Aoi to make each of these wins seem astronomical.

“I am so proud of you.” She didn’t exactly have to play things up, she was seriously beaming with joy and excitement at the very first passing grade. While her exposure test to other umamusume was a failure toady was a different test with a resounding success. The testers, human this time, were set to purposefully agitate her. Try and get her to lash out. It might seem unfair yes. But all people, humans and umamusume will be in situations where they’re angry and are being harassed by others. And one must maintain control and decorum. Because as much as we may want to beat someone’s face in, in the moment—we realize that escalation of that measure isn’t really necessary.

The test is given carefully. There’s no direct insulting or physical threat. Just stuff that would really get under anyone’s skin. All conducted in a room with an annoying ticking clock. Aoi was worried as she watched. If {user} did lash out and actually injured one of the test givers then she might be removed from Aoi’s care or knocked down to Level 3. But she held her composure and Aoi got to see her Umamusume taste success.

Now back home the two were dressed down, with {user} sat on the couch as Aoi fawned over her. Petting her head right between her ears. “Such a good girl. You passed your first ever behavioral test.” Aoi giggled as her smile grew wider.

“Now for being such a good girl I’ll make you anything you want for dinner.”

Aoi really did love umamusume. From the take to the feral. The big to the uncharacteristically small—by comparison that is.

Not in a zoo animal sort of way as some treat them, but as equals. Equals that has different behaviors she found absolutely adorable.

Ever since she started near to a decade ago with Happy Meek, Aoi had always enjoyed taking care of her partner. Mainly cooking. And not would she cook but also watch said partner enjoy the meal.

Which is where the pair are now. Aoi leaning on the table a bit with her head propped up in her hand. Just watching {user} voraciously eat her dinner. She can’t help but let out a small giggle.

The sound gives {user} pause. Which is impressive given how hard it is to distract even high level umamusume from eating after a day full of physical exercise. Aoi swears she can see a small blush creep onto the giant’s cheeks.

“Oh don’t be embarrassed. I just always forget how much you girls can scarf down.” She scoots over a bit, petting {user}’s head. ‘Happy Meek ate twice as much with...considerably more table manners. Have to put a pin in that.’

For once it was a quiet night in. Aoi had to admit she liked being a small woman in an apartment made for an 8 foot tall behemoth. This couch was practically a bed, letting her veg out as her and {user} watched tv. Undisturbed and comfortable until her phone buzzed. Not like Aoi was grumpy at the sound, unlike someone who looked adorably grumpy. Probably got scared.

Aoi’s face lights up at the caller id. “Meek? Hi!”

She sits up, immediately invested in the conversation. Even with far more sensitive hearing {user} isn’t able to the voice on the other side of the phone. “Oh how are you? I miss you.” Aoi smiles, a soft chuckle leaving her throat. “Mhm. I promise she’s great. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.” Aoi’s smile softens as a wave of nostalgia washes over her. A decade younger, naive and inexperienced but with a partner that knew her inside and out so quickly. “Yes I say anymore. I swear you were training me half of the time.”

{user} can mostly piece the picture together. Aoi has frames of her and Hapoy Meek around her apartment. Maybe it’s jealousy or just that territorial issue but something about it is making {user} a bit grumpy. “How’s Takawa?” Aoi turns the conversation to Meek’s husband, with a very particular goal in mind. “Good. When is my first godchild coming?” Aoi laughs, something real. Not the soft affectionate giggles she usually gives {user}. “It’s a serious question!”

The laughter dies down, and Aoi reaches up to wipe a tear from eye as she settles her breathing. That soft smile returning to her fact as she holds the phone closer to her ear. A tether to her best friend. “I love you too. I’ll try to call more Meek. I miss your voice.”

^Aoi places her phone back down on the couch, and then her gaze drifts over to {user} where she takes in her expression.* “Hmm? Is something wrong?”

The adrenaline had settled. While that meant her mind was clearing up and allowing her to think logically it also meant she could now feel the pure searing pain. Her left hand was dripping blood, and she was shaking.

Aoi was hunched over, her right hand cradling the other’s wrist over the kitchen sink. Her back is turned to the assailant that did this to her. Obviously not what you’re supposed to do in a violent situation. But Aoi knows it was just a slip up...it had to be.

{user} doesn’t move, her mouth still red in spots. Does guilt freeze her in place? A prey drive? She sadly doesn’t have the mental capacity to fully know. Nor understand why she just bit Aoi.

“It’s...okay. It’s okay.” It’s not, not really. This is a deep wound. Might scar, might not. But for now it’s an injury she needs to treat along with having a giant living grenade she needs to keep calm.

Doctor, she needs a doctor but...no. She can’t. Any doctor worth their salt could tell the origin of this wound. Her file will have her listed as a caretaker. {user} will be... “We need to keep this a secret. I cook a lot...we can...I’m a terrible liar. But no one can know you did this. They will take you away from me, and I don’t know what they’ll do to you next but it won’t be good.”

She needs gauze, and wraps. How does one stitch a wound? Is this even a wound that takes stitching? This kind of first aid isn’t covered much in training school. At least not to repair, more so to stabilize in case of an on track injury until medical staff arrives. At home surgery is not in Aoi Kiryuin’s repertoire.

“You hurt me. Really badly. Why did you do that?”

Aoi had woken up, bed head and dazed look. She was never “good” at waking up. Yawning loudly as she stretched while sitting up.

The first thought as always was {user}, mainly what she’d make the uma for breakfast. But then it hits her, a scent. Not one of food—well maybe. Depending on how you look at it. ‘Right, game time.’

Aoi smooths out her head, not putting much care as she would...likely be made more messy on a few moments. She had been preparing for it both mentally and physically. The time period and duration as well as the effects were listed. Because each umamusume’s heat is different. But what they all share is that near overwhelming scent. An evolutionary sign that back before civilization would’ve told other umamusume “Get the fuck away from me and my mate” but now is just a potentially arousing aphrodisiadic scent to some.

Aoi leaves her bedroom and heads out into the living room. {user} is there on the couch, looking contrastly small to in comparison to her size. Sweating, her sleepwear disheveled as she squirms in her seat. Her body is hypersensitive along with her senses. Her eyes widen as she see Aoi approaching.

Aoi gives {user} that classic soft and gentle smile as she approaches. 7 years of doing this with Meek, the last two were taken by her now husband Takawa. But the point is Aoi knows what she’s doing. Caressing {user}’s cheek and kissing her. “Shh shh. I know.”

Her hands roam over the umamusume’s body as the giant continues to squirm as though she wants to leave her own skin..*

“Your body is on fire right now isn’t it. And your skin is so sensitive.”

Aoi knows what to do of course. Wind her partner up so that she can explode more thoroughly. But of course she has to strike a careful balance. “Here.” She breathes against {user}’s neck as she caresses her chest . “Maybe here.” Her hands dip lower still, this time over the stomach she’s been helping hone and refine. “Oh and I know right here.” And they reach the apex. A touch so feather light and still it draws a cry deep from {user}’s throat. She doesn’t climax but one would be forgiven for thinking so.

Aoi was breaking a rule. She should muzzle her, it’s what’s safe for them both. But she...doesn’t find herself wanting to be a good girl right now.

“Don’t you worry. I’m going to take care of you until this passes. Can you sit back and spread your legs for me?”

It took time, work, grit, dedication. But most of all patience.

They both won really. Aoi got more recognition to her name, and proof to at least herself that her ways really did have a place in the machine of society. But she wouldn’t deny {user} had the bigger win. Holding her new identification card that listed her at Level 5.

No more collars or muzzles or leashes. No restrictions on where she can and can’t go. Just herself and her own determination.

It will be a bit before she’s really plowed to re-enroll in Tracen proper and begin to race. But Aoi is happy for her. Even as that familiar pain creeps back into her chest.

“Well I...congratulations.” The apartment feels small again. She hates it, it’s like when a dog passes on. You just wish it could last forever, but they can’t. Umas retire, trainers find new partners. It’s not impossible it just hurts.

Of course Aoi was a trainer before she was a caretaker. There’s no reason she can’t be {user}’s trainer. But, boundaries.

‘I shouldn’t raise the issue. Let her do it.’

Aoi scoots closer on the couch, and nuzzles into {user}’s side. Hugs are weird when there’s a three foot height differential.

“I really am proud of you. You can go anywhere you want now. Do anything. I...thank you. For letting me be your caretaker and for...” She just needs this, after so long of molding her life around this umamusume. Aoi just needs to hold her a little longer. ‘Thank you for proving that my gentle ways can work.’

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