A gun, a fist, and a gunblade in the sunset.

Chapter Three: Don't mess with my man.

Kinslayer glared at Zell at the most, since he was the one that had stood up on him. There was a shot of danger in his eyes. Squall just stood there, looking tired at Kinslayer. Then he looked at the four other men. They all looked back at the three new-appointed sheriffs with arrogance.

"What do you want, Kinslayer," Squall asked. Kinslayer glared back at him.

"I want to show you who I am. And that you don't mess with me!" he said.

"Hey, you started messin' with us! Buzz off, you...," Zell started, but Squall interrupted him.

"Zell, calm down!" Squall said before turning to Kinslayer. "Kinslayer, I have to tell you to leave the town, or I'll have to put you under arrest!" Kinslayer almost laughed his stomach up.

"Under arrest, huh?" Kinslayer guffawed. "So, the so-called mayor made you sheriff of this town, huh?"

"Indeed!" Squall replied.

"Well, you'd have to put me under arrest, then," Kinslayer mocked. He laughed again, and the four around him laughed. Zell's chins were bright red. He hated it when somebody mocked him. Or his friends, for that sake. And when someone did, he opened his mouth, for better or for worse.

"Not much of a challenge in a bunch of laughing jackals, I see," Zell said. The 'jackals' stopped laughing, and Kinslayer glared at Zell. "Could you butt-heads, just leave us alone and get the hell outta town? Either that or the cell!"

"Cell.. Zell..," Irvine laughed.

"What did you say?" he growled.

"I said get the hell outta town, butt-head-jackals," Zell growled back.

"You as quick with a gun as with your mouth?" Kinslayer roared, and drew his gun. All the others drew their guns at the same time as two guns jumped from Irvine's sleeves, into his hands, and started singing. Kinneas fired again and again, 'till all that was left of their guns were just scrap metal. Kinslayer and his men held their hands, roaring in pain.

Kinslayer's face weren't red anymore. It was white, or rather somewhat pink. Like he was trying to overcome fear with anger, but he didn't quite succeed. Irvine Kinneas pointed two guns towards Kinslayer and his men.

"Kinslayer, you are under arrest!" Squall said. "As well as the rest of you gentlemen!" Kinslayer mumbled something neither of them could hear. But there weren't compliments.

"That way to the prison cells, gentlemen!" Zell said, and the three of them guided five men down the streets, down to the sheriff's office.

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After they had been locked up, Kinslayer opened his mouth again.

"You won't be able to hold us here for long, sheriff! I bet by tomorrow I'll be a free man again!" Squall didn't bother to answer. Kinslayer on his hand didn't bother to shut up. "Deling will come and get us out!"

"Probably he will. However, as long as you're in there, you ain't much of a threat to the rest of this town. And when Deling comes, he will take you out of town!" Squall said.

"Maybe, but when we come back, we'll get you!" he growled. Then he turned against Zell. "And you, punk!" That was the last they heard before Zell shut the door to the prison section of the house.

"What comes around, goes around!" Irvine said, sitting at a table with his legs crossed up on it.

"And then leaves the town," Zell added. He went down on a couch at the office. Squall was sitting at the desk, reading a book he'd found.

"Whatcha up to, Squall?" Irvine asked.

"Diary of our predecessor, Nida," Squall answered.

"Does it say anything good? Or anything interesting?" Zell yawned from the couch.

"...They'll probably come to town today.." Squall read. ".. I'm afraid.. But if I don't stand against him, no one will.. If he gets to Mayor Cid..."

"What if he gets to Mayor Cid?" Irvine asked, lifting his hat up a little.

"Rinoa just told me there are riders coming to this town.. It's probably him. No use in delaying the inevitable. If I don't come back, I hope that the one reading this, is my follower. Do your job well. I trust you are worthy of the star you are bearing. Good bye!" Squall finished reading.

"He was a brave one," Irvine admitted.

"P.S," Squall added. "If you are Deling, or one of his men, reading this: Go lay down and make sure you get your horse's ass all over your head!" Squall clapped the book shut, and turned his head to Zell, who held his stomach in laughter.

"I dunno what Deling looks like, but I can imagine his head under the butt of a horse," Zell guffawed. "Nida had humour, I'll give him that!"

"Well, I don't quite intend to sit around here and wait for Deling to show up," Irvine said, and stood up. Squall eyed him.

"Where are you going, Irvine?" Squall asked.

"Back to the bar. A drink, and that cute bartender!" Kinneas grinned, and blinked an eye to Squall.

"I'm coming with you," Zell exclaimed. "If that's okay with you, Squall!" he said, looking at the brown-haired youth.

"Go ahead," Squall said. "I can keep the prisoners in shape. Just be back in an hour,"

"Great," Kinneas slapped his forehead, and his hat fell off. He picked it up and brushed it. "With Zell around, I'll never get to ask her out!" He laughed as Zell chased him out on the streets.

"Try setting a good example as citizen," Squall sighed as his two companions went off. Then he went back to his predecessor's diary.

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A few people were out in the streets, looking at the two sheriff assistants in awe. The arrest of Mike Kinslayer was the first sign of resistance ever shown since sheriff Nida had stood up against Deling the previous week. And they looked at them in fear. They knew that threatening Deling would make him upset. And when Deling got upset... Last time he had ripped out Humming- Charlie's tongue. Just because Charlie had spoken against him. The arrest of Kinslayer would make him do something worse, the town were sure of that. They kept their distance to the two youths.

"Not exactly cheerful, are they?" Irvine said. Zell nodded.

"One should think they were afraid of us," Zell exclaimed. There weren't many other words spoken before they reached the saloon. The girl behind the counter made wide eyes as they entered. Zell and Irvine approached her, before Zell elbowed Irvine in the side.

"Maybe I'll go play some cards for a while," he grinned. Irvine shot him a 'if-you're bugging me-you're-dead'-gaze, and Zell laughed before he headed over to one of the tables. Irvine, on his hand, went over to the counter where the girl from earlier were standing.

"I thought I begged you to leave," she said, still frightened.

"Don't worry, milady!" Irvine said. "If Deling comes here, I will make sure no harm comes to you," The girl looked at him in a funny way for a moment. Then she smiled. The smile lasted until she saw the star he was wearing. "You're a.. sheriff?" she asked, holding her hand in front of her mouth.

"A sheriff's assistant, actually," Irvine said. "Looks good, doesn't it?" he said.

"Well, yeah, but when Deling sees you, he'll...," she said.

"Don't worry, milady!" Irvine said again. "If he wants to kill me, I'd like to see him try. I'm not going down that easily!" The girl still looked at him. Irvine looked at the glass she was rubbing, and noticed it started to shine pretty much. "Can I get a glass of water again, please?" he asked as he took off his hat and placed it on the counter. He shook his head so his long, brown ponytail waved on his back. He then removed his coat and hung it over the neighbour chair.

"All right, handsome," the girl grinned. "But only if you'll stop calling me 'milady'," she said as she finished rubbing the glass.

"What should I call you, then?" the cowboy asked with a smile.

"My name is Selphie Tilmitt," the girl giggled.

"Selphie... Now that's a pretty name!" Irvine said with a dreamy tone. Selphie giggled again.

"Now THAT one is classic. You're about the hundredth guy that tells me that," she said. "But you are sweet saying it!"

"Number hundred..." Irvine said. "Ain't I supposed to receive a special price then?" he added with a laugh. Selphie blushed, before handing him the glass she had been wiping for the last fifteen minutes, filled up with icy cold water. "By the way, did I told you my name is Irvine Kinneas?"

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"NO WAY!" the black-haired man said and shot Zell an angry glare. "That card is a FAKE! There's NO way anyone can be holding a Ruby Dragon Card!"

"This card is not fake. Sorry thing, I killed two dragons, but I only got one card!" Zell said after winning his second round of Triple Triads. He laid hands on the cash on the table. The black-haired slammed his hands on the cash before Zell could reach it.

"You wait just a damn minute! I repeat, there's NO WAY anyone can hold a Ruby Dragon Card! You're playing fake!" he growled.

"The card is not fake. And I play safe. Wanna see my Malboro Card?" Zell said. "I won, fair and square. Now give me the cash!" The man growled.

"I set two hundred gil! One more round!" he said.

"All right. Just don't accuse me for playing fake cards again!" Zell said as they started another round. The coin flipped showed that Zell started. 'Sore loser,' Zell thought as he played a Behemoth Card.

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"So how long have you lived here?" Irvine asked. Selphie had gotten taken by this new cowboy, and were leaning towards the counter, looking dreamy at Irvine.

"About two years," Selphie answered. "I came here, and they offered me a job here at the bar. Have been working here ever since,"

"Hey, little angel, Selphie?" An older, dark-blond haired man were standing at the counter. "Hand me a whisky, will ya?"

"All right, Jobby. Hold on a minute, handsome," Selphie blinked at Irvine before turning to the rows of bottles that were settled behind her. Jobby twitched at Selphie's 'handsome' comment and glared at Irvine. As soon as Selphie turned again, his face was back to normal. "Here you go, Jobby!" She placed a shot of whisky before the dark blonde.

"Thanks, angel!" Jobby said and smiled. Selphie returned the smile, before turning to Irvine Kinneas again.

"Where were we? Yes, I've been working here ever since then!" Selphie said, all attention headed towards the cowboy in front of her.

"So where do you live then, when you're not working? At your parent's?" Irvine asked, drinking his last sip of water.

"Edea Kramer took care of me. That woman is so incredible. It's like she always know exactly what I need, almost like a real mother. I've never had real parents. I have some vague images of my adoptive parents, but not of my real parents!" Selphie told. Irvine nodded.

"Don't worry, Selphie. Pretty soon you can move in at my house. Just marry me!" Jobby said with a smile. Selphie looked at him.

"You wish, Jobby," she said, grinning.

"Awww, you're so cute when you say no!" Jobby laughed. Then he sat the empty glass back down and threw an amount of gil at the counter. "One more, Selph. Make it a double!" he said.

"Ok," Selphie said, and Irvine could hear a slight amount of annoyance in her voice. She turned towards the rows behind her, but turned around again pretty soon. "Hmm. Seems we're out here. Hold on, and I'll go see back at the storage if there's more!" she said, leaving Jobby and Irvine at the counter. Jobby turned at Irvine at the same time as Selphie went out the door. He shot the cowboy a furious glare.

"What are you trying to do, huh?" Jobby sat himself closer to Irvine.

"I beg your pardon?" Irvine said, looking over the man next to him.

"Are you laying hands on MY girl?" Jobby said, threatening. He glared at Irvine.

"Your girl? I'm sorry, but she doesn't appear to be your girl!" Irvine answered.

"It's just a matter of time. I'M her man, and I won't allow you to take her!" Jobby growled. Irvine noticed the ruckus had started to draw the attention from several persons in the bar.

"I believe that's her decision to take, isn't it?" Irvine said, making Jobby growl even more. With a swift movement, he grabbed Irvine's shirt and held him close to him. Zell saw the whole thing, and got up from his card game, rushing towards the counter. Jobby glared at Irvine.

"Didn't you hear me? Get your hands offa MY GIRLAaaaaaaaarrrgghhhh...!" Before Jobby managed to notice it, a strong chain were thrown around his throat and pulled him backwards towards the counter. Selphie Tilmitt dragged Jobby so his back was laid on the counter. Her nunchaku remained around his throat as she shot Jobby an angry glare.

"I may not have expressed myself clear, Jobby Dough! But no matter what you say, or do, I'll NEVER marry, nor move in with you!" Mount Gulch's bartender said, leaving no doubt that she meant what she said. "If anyone belongs to anyone here, it's Irvy that belongs to ME! So don't mess with MY man!" Jobby Dough coughed and gurgled and tried to get up. Irvine calmly put his hat and coat back on, revealing the star on his coat. Jobby looked like the lightning had struck him.

"Let him up, Selphie. No use in choking him," Irvine said. Jobby got up, red in his throat and not so tough anymore. "Look here, Mr. Dough," Irvine said, standing close to Jobby. "I'm a kind person, so I'll forgive you for this little outburst of yours. But, at this moment, we got a cell full of prisoners, and one of them is a man called Mike Kinslayer!" A gasp could be heard through the saloon guests as Kinslayer's name was mentioned. "And if you throw up a ruckus like this again, you'll most likely get to keep him company. Do I make myself clear?" Jobby Dough nodded, and left the counter. He looked sad there he walked out of the saloon.

"Let him sulk!" Selphie said, putting her nunchaku under the counter. "He'll get over it!"

"Thank you, Selphie," Irvine said, still a bit taken back from Selphie's saying a while ago.

"Don't mention it... handsome!" Selphie giggled.

"Wooo, luck already, Irvine?" Zell laughed, coming over after winning himself a few new cards and a nice amount of gil.

"Nah, luck is mine, since Irvy came here!" Selphie said happily. Even Zell were a bit taken back by how forward this girl was.

"Guess we should be heading back, Irvine," Zell said.

"Aww, do we have to?" Irvine said.

"Aww, do you have to?" Selphie said at the exact same time.

"Guess so. Squall said an hour!" Zell answered. "As a sheriff's assistant, you have to be on time!"

"When were you on time last, Zell?" Irvine mocked. Zell mumbled, and Selphie giggled.

"Always a first time for everything," Zell said, and tried to sound cool. Somehow, he didn't quite make it.

"And this is the first time I've had my luck with a girl," Irvine said. "Let me enjoy it!"

"Ya, right...," Zell said, making Selphie widen her eyes.

"What was that!!!?" she demanded.

"Zell...," Irvine said with an angry voice.

"Come on, handsome. Time to go!" Zell grabbed Irvine by his collar and the two sheriff assistants went out of the saloon. Selphie looked after them, puzzled over Zell's saying, but at the same time, she sighed.

"Come back soon...," she sighed.

"HEY? Can I have a beer without having to ask three times?" a black haired man asked, standing at the counter.

"Sure thing," Selphie said with a dreamy expression on her face. She looked towards the entrance one more time, where the two men had already left, before she went back to work. A little cheerier than usual.

---------

"If Selphie never talks to me again, I'll blame it on you!" Irvine said annoyed to his friend.

"What do you worry about? With your charm, you'll have her talking to you in no time, ladie's man!" Zell laughed, and ducked as Irvine's fist came flying. The two friends laughed as they headed back to the sheriff's office. The day had started to fade away, and the dawn was red. "Quite a day, huh? Not bad for a first day in a new town?" Irvine asked.

"Tell me about it. First getting threatened, then appointed to sheriff assistants, threatened again, bringing in five prisoners, then getting a good time at the saloon. Yeah, I'd call it a good day!" Zell said. They continued to chat a little, until they approached the sheriff's office. Squall had lightened the lamps inside. Irvine and Zell stopped. The familiar sound of many horses running could be heard in the evening air.

"Someone's coming!" Irvine said.

"Better get in and tell Squall!" Zell answered. The two assistants got through the door in a little hurry. Squall looked up at the two.

"What's the rush?" he asked.

"We've got visitors," Irvine said. "And many of them!" Squall raised his eyebrows.

"Zell, stay in here and watch the prisoners. Irvine, you come with me!" Squall said as he got up from the chair and went outside. He and Irvine went out in the streets and spotted a posse of about eight horses, coming at them. Squall and Irvine stood their ground and barricaded the street.

The posse approached, lead by an old looking man, dressed in a marine- blue/black suit and a black hat. He carried two magnums in his belt and a rifle in a quiver on the horse. The rest of the posse looked like ordinary cowboys. All of them carried rifles and magnums.

"Hold it!" Squall shouted, and the posse stopped upon approaching the two. "Who are you, and what's your business here?" he demanded.

"A sheriff?" the man in suit asked. He laughed.

"State your business!" Squall said, unaffected by the mocking. The old man snorted.

"My name is Vinzer Deling, I'm a mayor of this town, and I'm looking for some of my men!"

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A/N: I decided to do something about this now, since I've been walking with a writer's block on it for so long now. I'm highly uncertain on when I'll post a new chapter on this one, since I'm working mostly on my other fic. But I won't forget about this one, and I get each and every review you give me. And I say thank you for each and every one of them :)

Paladinraines: Thanks for the tip. I might just use that.

Edenblack18: You fit in very well. Thank you for the compliment :)