Kuroko, being the early bird he was, woke up two hours before the group was supposed to meet. He got up slowly and walked to his closet were his outfit was waiting for him. Kuroko tiredly tossed on his clothes before walking out of his tent. The sun was just beginning to peak over the mountains and crisp moist air washed away any tiredness left in kuroko. Kuroko started walking to the canteen when all of a sudden, he heard a voice yell out.
"ahh! Watch out, Loose mule!"
Before kuroko could even see what was going on, he was pushed over by a man who quickly grabbed up the loose mule.
"Lucy, you know better than to run off like that! Bad girl! I'm sorry about that, my name is takao Kanuri what's yours?"
Takao held out a helping hand that kuroko took. Kuroko brushed himself off and looked at the kid. He was obviously the stable boy, which is probably why he hasn't met this person yet.
"My name is kuroko tetsuya, it's nice to meet you takao-kun." Takao giggled and pet the large mule next to him.
"No need for the honor in my name kuroko-sama, I'm only the stable boy." Kuroko looked at the mule for a second before looking at the boy again.
"Same with you, I'm just a newbie around here, so there's no need for the 'sama'."
Takao giggled and began to walk the mule back to the stables, kuroko decided to fallow.
"Well, the thing is kuroko-san, to me you guys are like gods, so it's only natural that I show respect, but if you don't want me to then I won't."
Kuroko nodded his head and continued walking along side takao and his mule.
The stables were not too far from camp. Just a few yards away from were kuroko got his mark, were the stables. Kuroko counted the horses and mules along the wooden posts as they walked lucy down to hers. Kuroko counted four mules including lucy and six horses. One of the horses caught his eye and kuroko decided to ask about it.
"takao kun, why does this black horse over here have white paint on it?" takao stopped and looked over his shoulder at what kuroko was pointing at.
"oh, that's akashis horse. He painted that symbol on it. I don't really know what it means." As kuroko and takao made their way to the last post kuroko saw another horse that caught his eye. As takao tied lucy back to the post, he noticed kuroko gawking at one of the horses.
"that's a new horse I got yesterday. He doesn't have a name yet. I'm pretty sure this is going to be your horse for the journey so I think it's only fit that you name him." Kuroko looked at takao in surprise.
"this is my horse?"
Takao nodded and petted the horses nose. Kuroko looked at the horse. The horse was grey with even darker gray spots scattered around its body. The horses main was black and combed nicely. The bridge of the horse's nose was white and so was the hair near his hooves. Kuroko thought carefully of a name for the horse. He thought that something simple would fit better than a long name.
"I think…I'm going to name him road." Takao looked at kuroko confused.
"why road?" kuroko smiled and petted the horse.
"my father always told me to name the horse after what their job was, as if to remind them what their job is. It's kind of like a good luck charm. Naming him road will keep him following the road, to keep on the trail and not wonder off."
Takao smiled and walked over to the brown and white horse with the blonde mane and the chestnut horse and untied them.
"that's an interesting way of looking at it. By the way this is fawn and Bruce. Kise-sama and aomine sama's horses. Would you help me deliver the horses?"
Kuroko smiled and nodded.
"how can I help?"
Takao pointed to Akashi's horse and a pure grey horse.
"can you untie royal and dame? We'll come back for cream and road and the mules afterwards." Kuroko did as he was told. Soon the two boys were walking back to camp with four horses. The first horses delivered were Kise and Aomine's. Both men emerged from their tent fully clothed and bags packed and hopped onto their horses.
"I missed you so much fawn! Takao-chii took such good care of you! Will you be a good boy on this journey, huh? Thanks for bringing the horses you guys!" kuroko and takao nodded and smiled at kises excitement. Kuroko looked to Aomine who was struggling with his horse.
"god damn Bruce! Every time I see you, you get like ten times bigger! What the hell are you feeding him, takao? He has so much muscle I can't even control his head!"
Takao help a sheepish grin as he rubbed the back of head in modesty.
"I'm sorry Aomine-sama, I feed him what all of the other equines eat. I don't give him anything special." Aomine grunted as he turned his horse in the other direction.
"well it can't be helped. Come on Kise, let's go wait at the meeting spot." Kuroko and takao watched as the two rode off. When they were out of sight, takao grabbed up the grey horse and started walking further into camp. Kuroko followed. He knew were they were going and kuroko had mixed feelings about it.
As the two arived at akashis tent, they found midorimas voice as penitrating through the crisp morning air.
"akashi! I swear, this is not the time for sleeping in! wake up!" as kuroko and takao came close to the tent, akashi and midorima walked out, one dragging the other. Kuroko giggled slightly at the scene.
"hello midorima-kun, akashi-kun. We brought your horses." Midorima huffed and grabbed his horse from takao before pushing akashi to grab his horse. Royal, akashis horse stomped his hoof and snorted when akashi leaded against his shoulder tiredly.
"calm down horse, let me use you." Kuroko watched as royal backed up and akashi fall to the ground. Akashi was now fully awake. He sprung up from the ground and got in the horse's face.
" you have a death wish don't you horse? I have a silver platter perfect for horse meat you know!" royal neighed as if he were laughing before headbutting akashi playfully. Akashi quirked a smile and hopped onto his horse. Midorima had already done so and was already heading off to the meeting point. Akashi turned around and looked down to the two boys.
"thank you for bringing the horses. Job well done. Now hurry up finish the job so we can head out." With that akashi caught up to midorima and headed off.
Kuroko and takao made their way back to the stables. Takao attached all four mules to each other and saddled Lucy before hopping on her. Takao waited patiently for kuroko to get on road, but kuroko was having a hard time getting on.
"hey kuroko what's the hold up?" takao watched as kuroko repeatedly tried to mount the horse, but he couldn't get his leg over the saddle.
"here let me help you." Takao got down from his mule and held onto kurokos leg. Kuroko used the boost to swing his other leg over. When kuroko was settled on his horse, takao remounted his mule and untied cream, murasakibaras horse. Cream was a very large Mayer, even bigger than Bruce in terms of with and Hight. As the name implies cream is white with a blond mane. A very lovely horse. Takao handed kuroko the rains and told him to attach them to the he back of his saddle. Kuroko did and soon the men and the horses were ridding back to camp. When they arrived at the canteen, Murasakibara was already waiting outside with bags sitting next to him.
"I got the saddle bags ready takao-chin."
"thank you murasakibara-sama." Takao unmounted his mule and started placing the heavy saddle bags on the other mules. When he placed the final saddle bag on lucy, murasakibara untied cream and lazily pulled himself on the horse. With everything ready, the three people rode to the entrance of the camp were everyone was waiting. Akashi was in front of everyone else, while Midorima stayed by his side. Kise and Aomine were side by side behind Midorima. Murasakibara went a little faster to flank Akashi's left side. As kuroko approached the group takao slowed the mules down. Takao was a few feet away from the group, something kuroko didn't understand.
"what are you doing takao kun? Aren't you coming?" takao smiled and bowed his head.
"I'm sorry kuroko-sama, my place is behind the herd. I'm not allowed to come any closer. Besides, the mules don't like being next to the big horses." Kuroko nodded in understanding before, walking to stand next to Aomine. With everyone now ready to go, akashi turned his horse to face the group.
"we are going to travel three days to northshirre gamma town. The path midorima mapped out is the safest one, but it is the longest, so keep yourselves sane. Our goal is to capture Kagami taiga and erase his memories. To do that we must first pick up satsuki who is just a few miles from the camp. After that, it's a straight shot to northshire. During our three-day journey routa, daiki, it is your job to help kuroko discover his power and hone it so he will be helpful in the struggle. Ok then, let's get on the road men."
With the winy of a few horses and the sound of hooves pounding against the forest floor, the men set off to their next destination.
A/n: so I ended up doing a whole chapter on horses and mules. I'm sorry about that. the next chapter is going to have the good stuff though, I promise! if you guys have any questions, put them in the reviews and I will answer all that I can! please don't forget to follow and favorite if you haven't already!
love,
mousekid!