Disclaimer: Koroku stood curiously in front the simple poster board sign that read:
This is fan fiction and I do not own Koroku, Suikoden or any of the other Suikoden characters. They all belong to Konami.
Upon reading the sign with his doggy intellect, Koroku looked about and promptly left the area with a simple "aroo".
Just Like Knights
Koroku and Chris
Guest Starring: Chris' horse, Blizzard
Koroku sat under a large tree just to the side of Budehuc stables watching the pinned in horses with curiosity. Just a little over a week before, Koroku had caused three of the Zexen steeds to take quite a fall and the dog was now interested in seeing how they would react to seeing him. The single daunting white steed within the pin answered Koroku's curiosity with a menacing look. Meeting the horse's icy stare, Koroku decided that he had not been forgiven and backed up against the tree in an instinctive reaction to the threatening larger creature.
A gentle gust of wind crossed between the two animals as Koroku's attention shifted to a flock of chirping white birds crossing the cloudless sky in a triangular formation. As he thought about how free the birds were Koroku realized that the horses could not reach him from behind the wooden fence. Koroku yapped at the horses once to test his fence theory, it caused the majority of the Zexen horses to stir restlessly but they showed no ability to approach the thoughtful canine. The white steed, however, did give a fiery neigh in return.
Shortly after the disturbance, another foreign sound drew the canine's attention, but this time it was that of the slight clank of metal upon metal. Curiously watching for the source of the sounds, Koroku detected a white haired lady knight approaching. Immediately recognizing the woman, Koroku let out a welcoming bark to Chris Lightfellow.
The violet eyed silver maiden turned to the sound and smiled slightly before turning her attention back to the white steed residing in the stables, who snorted disdainfully in the dog's direction. Koroku growled with jealousy and walked out from under the shade of the tree to take a seat at Chris' left armored foot. The breeze whistling through the wooden stable, he looked up with a soft whine for attention. Chris' steed hoofed at the ground as Chris once again looked to the dog; she still wore a slight smile. Now that he had reclaimed the lady's attention, Koroku began to swish his tail back and forth across the ground with delight.
"Are you fighting for my affection too, Koroku?" Chris asked as she scratched behind the dog's ears gently, Koroku continued to happily wag his tail, "Well, you're not the only one," Chris said thinking of her jealous steed and fellow knights.
Koroku tilted his head to the side as his fluffy tail continued to wag. He let out a slight "aroo" to Chris' statement.
"Huh? You think I should be happy about all the attention I've been getting?" Chris asked Koroku, the question was something she truly wanted an answer to. As Chris thought, her horse nudged her cheek lightly, causing her thoughts to go back to the jealous equine. "Don't worry, Blizzard, I haven't forgotten about you." She patted the horse's head in reassurance and looked in to its eyes with another one of her infrequently seen smiles.
The white steed neighed pleasantly but leered at Koroku in triumph, the smaller animal gave a throaty growl in response. Undeterred by Blizzard's actions, the persistent dog rose up on his hind legs and gave a light whine as he pawed the empty air beside Chris' leg.
Chris looked down as she realized how much the two animals were like humans. "You two remind me of Borus and Percival. Well, maybe more like Nash than Percival," Chris stated in obvious amusement. "You're just as persistent as all three of them, that's for sure."
Koroku barked to draw Chris's eyes to meet his again. The dog was far too spoiled by everyone else's attention, Chris reasoned as she looked at how much Koroku reveled in just having her look at him. Another strong gust of wind caused Chris's hair to ripple across her face, widening her smile. With a gleeful bark into the wind, Koroku sat on his tail and reflected Chris' smile with his own attempt at one. The odd showing of teeth made the envious stallion sneer and jostle the fence irritably. Koroku snapped his jaws at the horse fiercely in reaction to the hostility.
Chris' smile disappeared as she shook her head in disapproval at Koroku's behavior. "That's not very kind, Koroku," she said, but was actually still amused by the animals' wordless bickering. If they could speak Chris knew their exchange would sound like those she had heard from various men.
Blizzard neighed, his eyes gleaming with amusement at hearing the dog being scolded. Koroku, not at all pleased, shifted to a threatening stance, barking and growling noisily.
"That's quite enough out of both of you!" Chris scolded, prompting both sides to back down. Koroku placed his tail between his legs with a whimper and the snow colored stallion turned his head away from his lady in shame.
"You two truly are just like stubborn knights."
Chris heaved a sigh as both animals looked to her as if to say: "We are knights!"
Chris pulled her hair away from her face and replied to their unspoken statements, "Unfortunately, I'm also a knight and have a lot of work to do." She turned towards the castle but instantly turned back to the animals once more. "I'll see you both later, and don't you dare fight once I leave," Chris warned, looking at both in turn as they nodded in their own animal ways. "Good, and don't think that I won't deal with you personally if cause any trouble." Chris then turned and walked away relaxed from the short reprieve from her numerous duties.
The two animals were greatly disappointed that there was no clear winner between them and traded quick, angry glances at the other after the female knight walked away. After their last exchange of opposing glares, Koroku trotted off in a taunting, horse-like style to find better company than the ill mannered horse. Blizzard angry neighed as he watched the stray's obvious mocking. For the rest of the day, each animal assured themselves that they were Lady Chris' favorite after their little scuffle; but in reality, they were both as equal in standing as everyone was to the dedicated knight, Chris Lightfellow.
Author's Note: I couldn't remember there being much if anything about Chris' horse from the game so I just went my own way with its personality, and I also hope that Chris wasn't terribly OOC.