A/N: Hai people, this is Reyaa! So I quoted this in Kadaj and Marluxia's story, but figured we better repeat it here since there are more readers for the Cloud and Leon pairing. Here goes:

MATURE CONTENT: Rated M (Mature) have content that are suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Stories in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.

I know a LOT of you are definitely under 17 and while I can't stop you from opening this story and reading it? I just wanna tell ya that it's very uncomfortable to share lemons with people your age for someone (myself and alice) who doesn't blatantly ignore the M tag and is indeed of age to read and write such things.

Yeah, I'm totally scolding your asses. Now do whatever you want with this information, I'm not your parent after all. I just hope you're as mature as you pretend to be.

Now that I'm done with my preaching, on with the story, and don't worry, next chapters will be submitted by alice who will keep these A/N's more friendly ENJOY.

Cloud

Okay, pap zei dat ik af de trein moet en daarna naar de bar moest gaan om direktie te vragen... Wait. Think in English. I was in the United States of America now, and I didn't want to stick out like a sore thumb. Stepping off the train, I coughed at the dust floating up off the ground, tugging on my shirt to try and straighten it, which failed.

The boat travel had been so very long... Most of the time I'd been sea sick, thankfully there was a nun traveling with me and she hadn't minded to make sure I didn't choke in my own vomit. Then the train ride... That had taken a while as well, but it had been bearable. Unfortunately, my suitcase had been stolen, so I hadn't been able to change into those clothes my dad had given me. The ones sent to him by my Uncle Strife who's ranch I was supposed to take over. It couldn't be that bad, could it? They probably dressed the same here... Pulling my top hat a bit more firmly onto my head, I checked my vest again, grimacing at the bottom of my black dress pants as they'd caught the dust there... My shoes were ruined too...

From what I could see, the town wasn't very big, nothing like Amsterdam anyway... But my brother had warned me that nothing here would be like it was back home in the Netherlands. I needed a drink. Maybe after a good cold beer I'd be able to think straight and figure out who to ask for help finding the ranch. This America was huge. Nothing like my small country. Each town had train stops there...

Apparently my traveling wasn't over yet. It was quite a long way to the ranch, from what I'd understood, and no such thing as a train or boat could get me there. Maybe I'd be lucky and find someone with an automobile willing to get me where I needed to be. Right now though, I needed the town's bar.

I reached down to pick up my suitcase, but then remembered it had been stolen, so I set off and out of the station to get into the town's center, hoping I could find me that drink. Sure enough, I stuck out like a sore thumb... None dressed like I did, which was a tad uncomfortable, especially because people were staring. But I wasn't the shy type, no, I could ignore them, which I did, all the way to the bar which was relatively easy to locate. Standing before it, I frowned at the small little wooden doors, that weren't actually doors... I could see inside the bar, and all I had to do was step through the little doors, pushing them open. Why did they put them there if it didn't keep anyone out or in? Including the wind as it could pass right underneath or above. Shrugging my shoulders, I stepped inside, clearing my throat as pretty much everyone inside stared at me.

"Hoi." I said as pleasantly as I could, what with the guy in the far right corner glaring at me somewhat meanly. Managing to ignore him, I walked over to the bar, sitting down on a bar stool and taking off my hat as I remembered it wasn't polite to wear a hat inside a building.

"Funny looking hat you got there, little boy. Maybe you should take it and yourself out of here where you don't belong." The man said, his voice deep and booming. He was easily two hundred and fifty pounds, over six feet tall with a crooked nose and broken tooth. He wore a gun strapped down on his hip with a belt holding extra cartridges circled about his waist.

I didn't have a gun of my own, but I had this syndrome called 'big mouth and don't know when to shut up'. "You own this place? Because I'm quite sure you do not." Paying attention to the man behind the bar instead, I lifted a finger to place my order for that beer, but wrinkled my nose and jumped slightly as a large palm flattened harshly onto the bar before me. Okay, I guess he wasn't done talking then.

Turning and grimacing at his breath, I cleared my throat delicately, "Do you mind? I'm trying to order a drink."

"As if some wussy ass kid like you could even handle a drink." The guy snorted and I watched as he spit the tobacco he'd been chewing into the spittoon with surprising accuracy.

Spittoons... Couldn't they just spit outside? "What makes you think I can't handle a drink? I'm not a lightweight." If there was one thing... it was that the Dutch could hold their liquor. "How about we make this fair," I nudged him away from me gently, "Keep that gun away from me and I'll leave this place and never come back if you beat me at a drinking game."

Snorting and glancing around, he saw that most of the bar was listening in to our conversation. "As if some yellow livered kid could out drink me. You're on." Smiling, and showing me that teeth cleaning was apparently optional, he waved at the bartender. "You heard him, Hank. Drinking game." He sat down beside me, and I couldn't help but move over to a bar stool two spots further from him, nearly gagging at the smell of him. Maybe I was over-reacting, maybe I was a spoiled little rich kid from a foreign land. That's okay. I wasn't about to let his odor bother me while drinking though.

"Something wrong there, boy?" The tone was challenging and he was eying me roughly. Apparently he took offense that I took offense to his odor.

"Yes. You smell. Now stop trying to find ways to get out of this and lets start drinking." I reached out, grabbing one of the shots the bartender named Hank had poured us, lifting it and throwing it back in one gulp. "Keep'em coming." I said, smiling as that nice little burn settled in my throat.

"Watch it, boy. You'll be carried out 'o here, and not still breathin'." Angry now, he grabbed a shot and threw it back, cocky and arrogant.

I threw back the second and then the third, once Hank had filled it up. "What's your name?" I asked, "I wish to know so I can tell the tale of how I won against..." I trailed off, waiting for him to answer me, throwing back the fourth shot.

"The names Wil Hatchett. And what might your name be, boy? So I can have them put it on your tombstone." Laughing at his very lame joke, Wil drank the next two shots that were lined up for him.

"Cloud Strife." I shot back the fifth, "In case I do die, make sure to spell that with a capital C and not a K." And then the sixth.

Eleven shots later, I'm pretty sure I couldn't feel my knees anymore, but my head was still on my shoulders, yes siree it was... Wil on the other hand... I chuckled as the poor bastard fell off his barstool, face first on the wooden floor of the bar. "Can someone-" Hicup, "Help me breng hem uit?" Woah... "Bring him out."

Two people, who I figured had to be one person really as I was seeing a bit double, walked over, taking the right side of Wil, helping me haul the cowboy up as I took his left side. Pursing my lips, I grinned, hiccuped and then slid my hand down, snatching his wallet and tucking it into my vest's pocket. No way I was paying for all those drinks. Once the very kind doubly man had helped me bring him outside, tanked Wil's head in the water bucket the horses drank out of, I shuffled back inside, suddenly not minding the country music all that much... Huh... Okay. Blinking, I made my way to the bar, putting Wil's wallet in front of Hank's nose.

"That is for you, very nice man. Can you tell me where I can find someone who'd be willing-" That sentence was so long... "I need a guide who can bring me-" I smacked my lips together, wondering how they could be so dry after all that drinking. "Strife Ranch. Can someone help me get there?" I slurred out.

"Where the hell is Strife Ranch, boy? Never heard of it." Wiping out a glass the bartender set it down in front of another patron. "Listen, why don't you head over to the livery stable. Maybe that old timer can point you in the right direction."

I frowned, "What's a livery?"

Rolling his eyes, the bartender pointed. "The town stables, you messed up foreigner. Big building at the end of the street."

I reached out, patting the man's shoulder as I smiled, "Dankjewel!" I shouted, whirling on my heel and nearly falling in the process, but I managed to stay upright! Yes, I did! Once out of the bar, I spotted the building Hank had been talking about and then made my way over, wondering why the sun was painful to my eyes all of a sudden.

I made it there in one piece, although, I did nearly get crushed by a carriage, but that was besides the point. I'd jumped and missed it! Knocking on the 'livery' thing stable's door, I didn't wait for a response and waltzed inside, frowning as I wasn't sure what an 'old timer' was either.

"Can someone help me find this 'old timer'?" I asked, feeling a bit tired all of a sudden. I did not like traveling...

"What in tarnation are you doing walking in through a stall door, boy?" A tall sinewy older man came into my view, clothes worn and his facial hair white to match the bit sticking out from his hat. He was pointing, and I noticed that there was indeed a different place I should have walked through. A large open doorway, wide enough for horses to walk in and out of without bumping shoulders was in front of me and I looked behind me and realized I was standing in the middle of a horse's stall. Huh. "You ain't got the sense you was born with." He chuckled and led me out into the sort of large and wide hallway between the stalls and pointed to a bench. "If you're lookin' for a place to spend the night, you passed the motel about a hundred yards back."

"Thanks, sir," I said gratefully, sitting down on the bench, "I'm looking for 'the old timer'," Very good Cloud, keep going, "Who owns the livery stable thing. This is the livery stable thing. Hank from the bar said so." Hicup, "Can you bring me to Strife Ranch?"

Reaching up to stroke his short beard, he eyed me strangely. "Strife Ranch, huh. Heard of a Strife boy settling out west a ways. You got a letter or something to maybe tell you where to go?"

I nodded, that action nearly leading me to tip off the bench, "Yes I do!" I said happily, ignoring the fact I'd lost my balance and ripping the letter out of my pocket, "I was smart enough to keep it on me and not in my suitcase." I handed him the letter, "My suitcase got stolen, you know." I was still grumpy about that.

"Can't imagine how that could have happened." The old man read over the letter and nodded. "That's what I thought. Boy, you got a ways to go and only one way to git there." Handing the letter back to me, he pointed at the city on the address part. "That is a good week or two of travel right there. And as much as I wished it didn't, my conscience ain't going to let me just sell you a horse and point you in the direction." Pulling out a pipe and a rawhide bag of tobacco, he stuffed and lit his pipe. "You are gonna need a guide, boy."

I blinked, "That's a very good idea, Sir, I have no sense of direction and horses frighten me a bit. Do you know a guide?"

He snorted and smoke puffed out from his beard. "Shit, you're a greenhorn. And that is gonna make a difference on the time it takes you to git there. You able to pay a guide, boy? People ain't gonna just help you out cause o' the goodness of their hearts." Greenhorn? I shook my head, standing up shakily so I could move closer to him, pulling on his ear so I could whisper into it.

"I'm three quarters rich. I don't want to say too loud, or else I might get roughened up and I can't handle another drinking game to get myself out of that one."

"Easy boy. With liquor breath like that, you get to close to my pipe and you'll light up." Stepping away from me, he gently pushed me back down onto the bench. "I might know a man to help you out. But," He held up his finger and brandished it in my face, "he ain't a real talkative one and he's likely to put a bullet in ya, 'stead o' talkin' to ya. Git it?"

"You aren't very pleasant people here in the America, are you?" I nearly got beaten to a pulp, crushed by a carriage and now my guide was going to most likely put a gun to my head and I had to soak all that information up in less then an hour. "I'll be good, promise." I gave him my best smile, "Can I have my guide now?"

Chuckling he stepped back. "I can git him here, you gotta persuade him to take ya." Pausing as he gave me a once over, he said, "Use the money angle, boy. That might be the only thing that can git him to take ya." Without waiting for a response, he put his fingers to his lips and whistled. "Leonhart! Git over here and give an old man a hand." I grabbed my head, groaning as that sound was not pleasant to my sensitive ears, but then just as soon jumped off the bench, panicked.

"Oh no! I forgot my top hat!"

"Probably the best thing that could have happened. I'd stay away from them, if I was you." Did my ears explode? That didn't sound like the old guy's voice... Oh hey, that's what 'old timer' means. I chuckled, looking up and then shut up. A very, very pretty cowboy was standing in front of me. He looked a bit broody... Oh! He had to be that guide who'd put a gun to my head. My head was feeling heavy... Were my knees coming to live again? Blinking, I tried to get up, opening my mouth to say hello to my guide, but I think I passed out instead.

Leon - The next day

Stomping the mud from my boots as I stepped up onto the boardwalk outside the hotel, I squinted to see if there were any strange horses tied to the hitching post. Nothing. Which didn't really make sense as I'd told the old timer that I'd be taking the stranger to the hotel after he'd passed out dead at my feet. Not really the best impression he could have made, but what could you expect from a foreigner who was stupid enough to wear a top hat.

I'd been set on letting him sit in the dirt, but the old man had told me his rather sad sob story. Apparently, he needed a guide to take him across the state to Strife Ranch, a place I'd never heard of but I knew where the town that he needed to get to was. I hadn't said anything, simply stared at the blonde spikes splayed out from his head as he rested on the stable floor and was teetering on the edge of saying no.

"Leon, you know this is the best way to git the start up you need. You ain't gonna find another chap like this one that doesn't have a prejudice against ya. You best be thinkin' long and hard about giving this here fella a chance. The pay ain't gonna be bad, and I can imagine him puttin' up the cash for supplies and everything." The old man had puffed his pipe thoughtfully. "Take him over to the hotel and set him up for the night. He ain't fit to converse with at the moment. Go on over tomorrow morning and talk to him and see what you think. But I reckon you'll be going along with him as there ain't nobody else round here that can help him." Nodding at me, he went out back to start feeding the horses in the livery stable.

True enough, I'd dropped the drooling foreigner off at the hotel, checking him into one of their rooms and laying him out on the bed before glancing one last time at those blonde spikes and leaving to get my horse. Seeing the strawberry roan standing three legged in front of the general store's hitching post, my supplies ready and packed up, I debated about leaving right now. How much could that foreigner possibly need my help? My eye twitched as I remembered him complaining about a lost top hat. He'd need my help bad if he didn't want to end up in a dry creek bed, bushwacked and dead.

First thing this morning, if he still wanted me as a guide, we have to get him properly outfitted and supplied for this trip.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door to the hotel and checked with the girl at the counter and found out that he'd checked out and was eating breakfast in the dining room. Tipping my hat in thanks, I headed in the direction that she'd pointed me to. All I needed to do was find those yellow spikes sticking up and out of place...there. My spurs jangled a little as I stepped into the room and I saw him glance my way. He frowned, then looked thoughtful and then seemed to remember as he smiled and waved me over, sticking his hand out to me.

"You're the guide, if I remember right."

I didn't smile, but shook his hand. "That depends. I'm not running a charity." Dropping his hand and pulling up a chair, I ordered a coffee from the waitress as she walked by.

"I have money." He answered simply.

"Good." I grunted and took a sip of the hotel coffee, grimacing at how weak it was. Weak coffee was like weak men. No place in this country. Taking in the rumpled appearance of the stranger in front of me, I was seriously doubting the odds that he would even make it out there. "So, what kind of gear do you have? I didn't notice a horse out front."

He looked sheepish, "Lets just say I have nothing, know nothing and can do nothing, so hopefully the money will persuade you to take this on anyway." Shit. A greenhorn. And not some youngster that was willing to learn everything you had to teach. He didn't look that much younger than me, and from his clothes, he didn't seem the type to learn without making a giant fuss out of it.

"Five hundred dollars. Take it or leave it. Plus, you have to supply the gear that we need. I have my own horse and some supplies, but you will need to provide the rest." Hopefully that amount would scare him off. But...if he agreed, I'd be bound to help him.

His eyebrows raised, "Only that? Alright then." He offered me his hand again, willing to close the deal. Scowling and hoping I wasn't going to regret this, I took his hand, soft and white with no trace of dirt or calluses on it.

"The name's Squall Leonhart. But I answer to Leon most often. What's your name, stranger?"

"Cloud Strife. With a C, not a K."

Standing and ignoring the still almost full cup of coffee, I nodded my head at him. "When you've finished your food, stop by the general store. I'll be setting to gather supplies. We'll take the basics and just hunt what meat we can. After that, we'll get you a horse. The old timer's got some stock he keeps at the stable that you can look at." Turning on my heel I didn't' give him much chance to respond before I was gone out the hotel doors and back onto the street.

"Pack up that into my saddle bags, but leave out those clothes and the bullets. I'll have him pick out a rifle and six-shooter when he gets here." I thanked the young lady who was running the shop while her father was laid up with a broken foot, ignoring her as she tried to flirt with me. The blacksmith's son had his eye on her, and he only needed to work up the courage to talk to her father before I was certain they'd be married. They'd be happy together, and I chuckled as I imagined how much more efficiently she would run his shop for him. She was a hard bargainer, a born merchant just like her father. I'd never outwitted her when it came to supplies, that's for sure.

The door burst open, the yellow mop of hair that belonged to the foreigner whooshing by as he quickly made his way into the store, giving the girl behind the counter a quick smile before ducking behind it. I was about to ask what the hell his problem was, but the door opened again, revealing an angry lookin' Wil Hatchett. He took a quick look around, tipped his hat to the lady and then exited the store when it was clear he couldn't find what he'd been looking for.

"Is he gone?"

"Yes, but what in the hell are you doing?" Frowning at him as he made his way out from behind the counter, I waited for his response. Not that it was a big surprise that he could anger Wil, a pigeon shitting on roof angered him, but I'd only been away from him for twenty minutes tops. If this was how fast he could get into trouble, I added it to my doubts about taking this job.

"Nothing!" He said, panicked, "I got off the train yesterday, went to the bar and before I could order my drink, that big," He turned to the lady, "He's very big..." And then he turned back to me, "Wil. He was threatening me. I'm half his size! I know how to hold my liquor though, so I settled it with a drinking game, making sure to keep all my teeth in the process." He grinned, "I won." And then didn't grin anymore, "But on my way here to the store, he saw me and I guess he wasn't too happy about my victory, so I ran because I don't want to drink again..."

"Go put these on." Shoving the set of clothes that I'd gotten for him into his hands, I pointed to the back of the store where a curtain was set up. "What you're wearing is never gonna last out there." He frowned down at the pile, but then did as I asked him to do, disappearing behind the curtain. Now we'd figure out if he was any kind of smart, because he seemed the kind capable of putting the pants on backwards.

A moment later... "These are comfortable!" Dear lord. Scowling at the curtain and ignoring the giggles of the shopgirl, I waited for him to finish. He still needed a rifle, a handgun and a horse. Hopefully, the old timer would have an animal that could keep up with my horse, as he was known for his endurance. The roan was probably one of the best horses in town and I'd turned down many an offer to sell him. I'd made some good money on the side using him as a stud, but most didn't want to pay the fee, they wanted to own the horse.

The curtain pushed aside, him stepping out from it, holding out the bullets far away from him, grimacing at me. "I don't like guns."

My scowl felt like a permanent addition to my face and I guess I should get used to it. This was going to be a long trip. "Most men won't harm an unarmed man, but where we are going? Some will put a bullet in your back and never bat an eye. And since I expect you to watch my back as I'll watch yours, you will get a gun and I will teach you how to use it. End of discussion." He stared at me for a moment, his teeth clenching and then he groaned, walking over to the guns in display, picking one out without hesitation.

"No need to teach me." He muttered. "What's next?"

I stared at the .44 Colt he'd picked out and nodded my head. Good. He wasn't a total waste of space. "I suggest you pick a rifle now. That Winchester will do the trick." The girl grabbed the rifle I'd pointed at and expertly checked the barrel and hammer for damage before handing it to Cloud for him to check over. Tying the belt around his hips, he hooked the gun onto it, and strapped the rifle over his back. It was clear he wasn't used to the clothes he was wearing a he kept tugging on them. He didn't whine though, leading me to think he might not be all that stupid.

"Now what?"

"Unstrap your rifle from your back. It will go on your horse for easy access. Leave it with the supplies and they'll be delivered to the stable when we've found you a horse." Assuming it must be different from where he came from, I just tried to ignore how he now looked a little less foreign, but that blonde hair was so crazy looking, he'd still stand out. Whatever. "Come on."

As we made our way to the stables, I realized that even with the proper clothing, he'd never walk the way he should around here. Then again, it might also be because this was most likely his first real sober moment in town, and he seemed to be drinking the surroundings in, nearly bumping into a cart along the way.

"Try and act a little less like a drunken fool while we're still in town, please. I'd like to get out of here in one piece." Ignoring him, I didn't head into the stables, knowing they would be empty right now, the animals most likely in the back corral to get some exercise. The old man, Tyrel, I think his name was, but everyone just called him Old Timer, he was leaning against the fence yelling at the youngsters trying to rope a mare.

"Dang'namit! She's smarter than you, apparently! Git her outta there!" I chuckled as the mare ducked the rope again and easily darted behind the cowhand before he could get his loop back in place. He'd learn. "Leonhart, fancy meetin' you out here." Slapping my shoulder, the old timer turned and glanced between me and Cloud. "You took the job? Good on' ya. Now, what can I do ya for?"

"He needs a horse, something that can keep up with my roan." I jerked my thumb at Cloud. "Preferably something this flatfoot can handle as well."

"I would appreciate it if you began insulting me in terms I can actually understand." He murmured absently, eying the animals.

Throwing his head back, the old timer laughed long and hard. "Whooo boy. He's a feisty one, ain't he?" Wiping his eyes a bit, he looked at me. "He's something alright." I grumbled, my eyes drawn once again to that strange yellow hair. Walking up to the fence, I swept my eyes over the stock inside. Maybe I'd let Cloud pick his horse. There wasn't a bad horse among them, and I was used to adjusting my animal's pace to slower ones.

Sighing, I turned back to Cloud. "Go ahead, pick your horse." I paused, "You do know how to ride, correct?"

"Nothing too wild." He allowed, stretching his arm out and pointing, "That one." T'was the Palomino, a mare. Sturdy legs, and definitely one of the best ones out there. Impressed despite my best attempts not to be, I raised my eyebrows at him in question. He shrugged, "She's pretty and doesn't look as mean as the others." Dammit. Scowling, I turned to the old timer and spent the next ten minutes haggling out a price for her and her tack. I wasn't too concerned about the cost. If something happened, we could always sell her and get him a donkey to ride. Chuckling at that image, I shook the old man's hand to seal the deal.

"You drive a hard bargain, Leonhart, but ya got yerself a deal." Spitting in the dirt, he waved at the cowboys in the ring as Cloud made his way over to her and let her sniff him. At least he wasn't afraid of horses completely. "Git that mare's tack for that young feller over there. Don't be skimpy on it either." Nodding, the ranch hands made their way over to the barn.

"What's tack?" Cloud asked loudly, smiling at his horse as he petted her neck, scratching her mane.

I thanked the old man again, and tipped my hat in farewell. "Good luck, there Squall. Yer gonna need it." I scowled as he used my real name. I hated that.

Rolling my eyes at Cloud, I made my way over to stand next to him. "It's her saddle and bridle."

"Why don't you just say that?" He grumbled, but then cooed the horse. "Hoi! ja, jij bent lief. Heel mooi meisje."

"Why don't you just say that in English?" I snapped back, annoyed that he seemed to have a way with his new horse. Although I didn't understand why that should upset me. It would make my life easier, but then again, he was complicating my life in general and that was just annoying.

"Sorry." He mumbled, staring down at the ground, absently patting his horse. "The America is a bit scary. Nothing is the same. Can't talk my own language." He smiled at the horse then, "I can with her though, she doesn't mind. Nee, jij vind that niet erg, he?"

"What language is that anyways?" Curious despite my best efforts not to be, I bent down to check her hooves for rocks or anything that might be a problem.

"Dutch. I'm from the Netherlands." He left it at that, not explaining where it was, clearly not doubting my intelligence.

"Her feet look good. You can saddle and ride, right?" Dear god, what would I do if he couldn't do that. Thinking about it, I should probably make one more order from the shop before heading out. He was definitely going to get saddle sore and if I didn't have some sort of cream or horse ligament set aside, I'm sure he'd complain about the soreness.

He crinkled his nose, "I do..." There was a but. "But would you mind just staying here and see if I do things right? I don't want to hurt her back if I happen to do it wrong."

"Sure." I watched as he shyly saddled up his new horse and I only readjusted the cinch tighter before he mounted. So, he'd obviously had some sort of experience, but I'd heard that the saddles were completely different in Europe. "That's good. Let's head back and have them put the supplies on them and we'll see if we need to get a pack horse."

Walking back to the store, Cloud following behind me on his horse, we let the shopgirl and her younger brother load up the supplies onto the horses as they blew at each other. I guess I should be worried about my stallion and the mare getting along and other complications, but since I was only going to be his guide for about ten days, I figured it would be his problem in the future.

A half hour later we were all set to go, and I mounted the roan, tossing two bits at the youngsters as a tip. Cloud did indeed have money as he didn't bat an eye handing over enough to cover the supplies and then some. The girl had given him a cowboy hat that he hadn't put on yet, but whatever. If he could stand the sun beating down on him, more power to him. Running my spurs gently along my horses side, he jumped forward into a slow canter as we road out of town.

Cloud - Couple of hours later

It was a little while later when I'd finally been able to find the right position to sit in on this very strange saddle, that it occurred to me this Leon could very well be taking me into the middle of nowhere, because that's where we were right now, the middle of nowhere... to then murder me and rob me of my money. And my horse. I had a horse now too. There wasn't a farm or house or any type of building in sight, and although there wasn't anything other then grass fields to see, I couldn't stop staring in awe.

We didn't lack grass in the Netherlands, but we didn't quite have this amount of it either. Especially without roads, any type of roads. Then again, I was from Amsterdam, quite a large city, and hadn't ventured out much into the country. While being sea sick, I'd managed to be impressed by the never ending amount of ocean as well. My horse was a good horse, didn't seem to scare easy at all and she didn't make any sudden movements, which I was very thankful for. She was definitely not lazy, but not to nervous either. Just in the perfect middle. Reaching down, I stroked her neck, wondering what I could name her... It's all I could do to entertain my mind with really.

Normally I'd have chosen a name first ten minutes of the trip, but the old man hadn't been lying when he'd told me that Leonhart didn't talk much. He didn't talk at all, really. So, I'd dragged the name finding out. I'd gone through Julia, Karen, Naomi, Samantha, Lidewij, Anne, Dominique, Marjolein, Marie and a bunch more. It was getting a bit boring though.

Feeling the sun heat on the back of my head, I hesitantly pulled the hat the girl had given me at the store over my hair, pushing it down so my blond spikes wouldn't sneakily push the hat back off again. Pushing gently into the sides of my horse, I let her pick up the pace some, catching up with Leon. Now that we'd been riding for a good long while, I figured it couldn't hurt to try and talk to him. He couldn't turn back now. And if the old man hadn't lied, then at least Leon wouldn't have to worry about where to dump my body after having put a bullet through my head out of annoyance. This was the middle of nowhere. I could rot in peace.

"Are you married?" I asked, because I was nosy and still suffered from the syndrome 'doesn't know when to shut up'.

He scowled at me, no doubt being used to shutting people up with that look alone. "No." Well, that really didn't qualify as a conversation.

"Divorced?" Could they get divorced in the America? "Widowed?" I smiled, faking innocence as he glared at me. I needed entertainment and he was the only other talking thing in this place.

"Neither." Sighing in defeat, he glanced at me. "Get all your questions out now so we can enjoy the rest of this trip in silence." Should I tell him that I was capable of keeping up a conversation for weeks if necessary? Or should I just let him find out?

"What's wrong with you then?" I guess the latter. "If you're not married, nor divorced, nor widowed, something must be wrong with you." Not that I personally had anything against being single, but society started to frown upon it at a certain age, and I was pretty sure that, like me, Leon had reached that questionable age.

"Watch it, flatfoot." His tone was warning. "There isn't any reason for me to be married. I don't own my own land yet, or have a trade. The only real jobs around here are the ranch hands or becoming a marshal. And ain't looking to work for another man my whole life, and being a marshal has a life expectancy of a few months in some of these parts." He shrugged and looked around. "And I don't need some no account girl holdin' me back every time I wanna travel around."

"Oh..." It suddenly dawned on me, "That's why uncle Strife went to the America. Not to make his fortune, because clearly he didn't manage that, but to get out of his arranged marriage..." My parents must really believe I'm a lost cause if they didn't even want to try and marry me off anymore. Eh, whatever. "Does the high society have a committee? Ladies who take charge of marrying people off? They had in Amsterdam. I'd have been forced to marry a girl even if I'd been orphaned somewhere along the way."

He raised an eyebrow at me, a confused look on his face. "I don't have any idea what you're talking about. Does it look like I know anything about how society does things here?"

I laughed, "That is great! If you don't know, then they must be far away and won't be able to find me here. My parents were trying to marry me off to this girl who's father is my father's boss. I said I wouldn't marry any girl until I could pee straight." Which was funny, because what with having a cock and the ability to aim, I could pee crookedly forever.

Eying me warily, he just nodded. "You'll have to explain the reasoning behind forcing someone to marry against their wishes to me. That's not exactly how we do things out here. Although I've heard of instances back east." Reaching out, he patted his horse on the neck, checking to see if he was overheating.

I shrugged, "Money, mostly. Titles. My parents wanted me to marry that girl because it would have gotten my father a promotion. They had the money and we had the title."

He chuckled darkly. "Trading the title for money. I'm glad I don't have it then. Tell me, what do you plan on doing when we get to your ranch?"

"Good question. I have no idea." I smiled, "How old are you?"

"Twenty-four. You?"

"Twenty-two. What's your horse's name?"

"Name?" He sent me another confused look.

I send him a confused look back, "You know, a name. Like mine is Cloud and yours is Leon. I think I'm going to name my horse Kalinka. What's yours called?" I tried again, "It needs a name, or else how do you call for it? 'Horsie'? You'd run the risk of all horses answering your call." Would he smile now? He was such a broody man.

His cheek twitched and he shook his head. "My horse knows me just fine. He doesn't need to hear his name and I don't let him run with other horses. It's just him and me."

"He doesn't know me. What if I need to call him?" I wanted to know the horse's name. Not because I wanted to know the name, but because clearly Leonhart was having trouble spitting it out.

Rolling his eyes, he growled out, "Arrow. His name is Arrow. Happy now?" Again the side of his face twitched as he turned away from me.

I smiled broadly, "Yes, very happy. Now, Arrow, keep that cock away from my mare. I don't want to have to deal with babies when you set off into the sunset with Leonhart, leaving Kalinka behind as a single parent." I crinkled my nose, "That would just be unfair." Siting back into the saddle, I let Leon have his peace for a while, shutting up for the time being. "This saddle is really comfortable."

Later into the evening

"Godsamme!" I cursed, "This saddle is evil, I think it ate my assflesh down to the bone. Leon..." I whined, "I need a break."

"Fine." Pointing out a crop of trees along a small stream we were traveling next to, Leon led us over to them and dismounted. "I figured a city boy like yourself wouldn't be able to handle the pace much so I had the shopgirl throw in a little horse ligament. It'll smell like spit, but it'll help you toughen your skin." His eyes strayed to my hat and for some reason he scowled. Feeling self conscience, that having been the main reason I hadn't put the hat on right away, I reached up and quickly pulled it off.

"I told the girl that I couldn't wear hats like this..." I mumbled, leading Kalinka over to the trees quickly and once she was there, I slipped down her side, my knees buckling as my feet hit the ground. Then I fell on my ass, which led me to groan loudly in discomfort. Falling back into the grass, I rolled over onto my stomach so no pressure would set on my bottom and I chuckled as Kalinka stuffed her snotty nose against the back of my head. "Does your ass have callouses?" I tried to picture it, but it was tricky...

"You should really watch what you say about peoples asses. You'll get us killed." Sounding completely serious, he walked over and handed a small round pot to me. "And no. I've been riding since I was just a youngster. You'll get used to it before too long."

"Nobody is here." I pointed out, taking the round pot from him. "What am I supposed to do with this?" I asked, having an idea, but needing to make sure before rubbing anything on my ass.

The most amazing thing happened to his face; it turned a remarkable shade of red. "You, well, you have to, you know." Pausing he sort of motioned to his thighs. "Just a little bit will go a long way. Just wipe it on your skin and then put your pants back on. I'll leave you to it then." Nodding to me, he took a step back.

Pursing my lips, I tried not to laugh. "On my bottom, right?" Lets see how far his limit went...

"Yes." I nodded, standing up and throwing the round pot his way, which he caught, leaving me the time to undo my pants and let them fall down my legs. Now I was going to count the seconds for how long it would take him to throw the thing back. His posture stiffened, but he didn't give any other sign of being affected. Holding out the pot, he waited for me to take it, never taking his eyes off of my head.

I kept my eyebrows from raising. I'd have expected a baby cry of ridiculous man cooties. "Dankjewel!" I said pleasantly, taking the pot from his hands and unscrewing the lid so I could start rubbing some onto my sensitive skin. "So, what are we eating? I'm starving." I announced, closing the pot after having finished applying that disgusting smelling stuff onto my ass.

Turning back to the horses who were busily pulling up the grass around us, he cleared his throat. "Let me just get a fire going, and we can just have some bacon and biscuits for dinner. I'll see if I can take some quail or some rabbits tomorrow." His voice was low and I had trouble hearing him.

Pulling my pants back up, I asked, "Are you okay? You sound funny."

"You'd be better served finding us some firewood than worrying about me." Voice strained and rough, Leon didn't look at me as he unloaded a few things from his horse's back, including a frying pan and the hunk of bacon he'd bartered for us in town. Alright then, he was back to being broody. Shrugging, I turned and set off to find some firewood, but stopped in my tracks, frowning.

"What does firewood look like?" He turned and glared at me, eyes narrowed and mouth set in a deep frown. My right eye twitched, and I pointed a shaky finger at the gun on his hip, "You can leave that there. I'll figure it out for myself." I said quickly, whirling around to do just that.

I came back once I was sure to have found every type of wood available lying around, this way I could be sure one of them was the firewood he'd asked for. Peeking my head over the large pile of wood I was carrying, I sighed heavily, letting it fall down to the floor once I reached the horses and Leon again.

"That's plenty. And next time, you only need to worry about large pieces about this big." He pointed to one of the logs I hauled to him. "And we'll only need about two of them to last the night. Drop that one gently on top of that." He pointed to a very small fire he had going. "Start small, and then build it."

I took the one he'd pointed out, gently placing it on top of his small fire. "Who taught you all of this?" I asked curiously. My idea was his father, which was a nice thought. I had a father who wanted nothing to do with me. The only thing he'd indirectly taught me was by sending me to school. Good thing too, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to speak the English language.

"Sometimes experience is the only teacher." He said solemnly. "I learned a little from the cowhands I had to work with." Setting up the frying pan and slicing the bacon into it, he looked thoughtful. "I've been on my own since I was fifteen and most of what I learned was through trial and error. How'd you learn English?"

Fifteen? Impressive. "My father sent me to boarding school at sixteen. I learned English and many other things in those three years I spent there." One very particular thing I'd learned about myself, but, anyway... "What kind of land will you get when you can?"

He paused and looked off into the distance. "A large section, one with enough water to make it through any drought that might happen, and it will tempt the deer to come through. I would build a big house, two story with a fireplace in every room." Glancing back at me sheepishly, he shook his head. "It's just an idea I had."

"You could build a house?" Amazing... I smiled, "It's a very nice idea."

He sent me a small smile in return. "Let's eat and get some sleep. We'll start early tomorrow. And this is a good place to spend the night." Handing me a plate with bacon and biscuits on it, he settled himself back and started eating. I was staring rather intently at him, surprised to hell and back that broody Leonhart had actually granted me one small smile today. The smell of bacon is what snapped me out of it though, leading me to sit back myself, starting to eat too.

"It'll be fun sleeping under the stars."

A/N: Alice here. Thanks for reading the first chapter of our new multi-pair series. Updates will be daily and so far, there are seven different stories in total, with a possible eighth to be added.