The night had passed and with it a powerful rain storm moved in over Dodge city causing flooding in the streets. People quickly had to make use of makeshift bridges with long boards in order to move from on side of the street to the next to use the walkways to keep from sinking through the thick mud. Anyone who was out in the mess of the storm had to be out there in order to keep a roof over their heads. Others remained inside enjoying the sight before them if they could see through the windows. One such person was the one who the people in the town called the drifter. She couldn't help but laugh from the barred window in her cell observing the idiots running through the mud to get around for the day. The Pony Express riders would travel through heavy amounts of snow, knee high mud, torrential down pours, and yet it seemed no one else could handle such extreme weather without much complaints but them. Haruka withdrew from the window seeing enough when two men ended up slipping and falling face first into five inches of mud.
The rider was antsy and it didn't help matters that she didn't have her tack with her or her horse for that matter. She had been awake for close to two hours already awaiting the Marshall to come in and unlock the cell door. It wasn't like she had anything to pass the time except staring out the small window to the circus act outside. People slipped and tripped over their own feet often landing harshly in the mud. Others got lucky avoiding the mud but would be severely drenched before reaching the shelter of a roof. After a while of watching, it grew repetitive and the rider wanted nothing more than to get to the livery stable even if it meant running through the muck in the street.
"Come on already. Come open this fucking cell!" she finally roared finding herself losing a bit of her patience. It was just her luck a loud roar of thunder struck drowning her out.
Having an eye on the storm, the Marshall moved from her window with a mug of coffee in hand. With the rain and mud came the dampness which often caused the woman great pain in her right knee. It was an old injury she had sustained while in her past profession. Even then she had a knack for catching the harshest and roughest outlaw and bringing them in. Setsuna missed those days mainly because she could pick and choose who she went after and she could also quit for a time. As a Marshall, she didn't have that luxury. She was restricted in the ways of the law and at times she wished she could turn back time. The sound of thunder snapped her out of her thoughts and it didn't take long for her to move into the cells to check on Haruka.
"Bout damned time, woman!" snapped the blonde coldly. She was just aggravated and hungry and just snapped out.
"Morning to you too, sunshine." retorted Setsuna sarcastically.
"Come on, let me out of this hell cage. I could use some grub not to mention some coffee."
"Fine. You just better not bolt on me."
"I won't. I just want food and to get the hell out of this city and back to Wyoming."
The green haired woman took her time unlocking the cell and kicked the door open giving the rider her freedom from the bars. Haruka nodded in thanks grabbing her ebony hat and moved into the office portion of the jail house. It was warmer than it had been in the cells with the dampness seeping in through the window to mention the stone block also seemed to suck in any moisture and only intensified it making the cell block seem like a cooler. The rider didn't waste anytime walking around for heat but rather went right to the source. The wood stove was hot and the blonde went right to it soaking up as much of the warm as she possibly could. She extended out her hands letting her fingers warm up to flex them easier. While the blonde sucked in the heat, Setsuna shook her head limping to grab an apple curious of something. She didn't give a warning of her throwing it at Haruka's back, but rather watched as the blonde grabbed it turning around, only to bring the fruit to her lips to take a bite.
"Ah, quick reflexes." murmured the woman calmly.
Haruka shrugged continuing to eat the apple and enjoy the heat off of the wood stove. It wasn't very often she got to enjoy being comfortable under a roof with a heat source since the majority of her time was out in the elements or in stable barns she could sleep within. While those generally kept her dry and somewhat comfortable, in rainy weather the dampness would go right into her muscles and bones. The food in her stomach helped to settle her nerves down but she was still a bit on edge wanting to get to her horse through the mess outside. It seemed the storm was intent on waging war from above on Dodge City as lightning flashed in the distance only to cause a loud crack of thunder through the air moments later.
"Storm is really bringing the rain down. I'm surprised people are moving through it having such a hard time." Haruka murmured tossing the apple core in a bucket for trash for the time being.
Setsuna let out a soft sigh. "Yes, it is. Somehow I get the feeling I'm going to be told to go through it myself to speak with the governor in getting you out of here without getting shot at."
"Meh, not the first time I've had bullets or arrows hurled my way."
"Somehow, I don't doubt that at all." chuckled the law officer.
The short haired blonde seemed to be the type that just had trouble following her in any direction she went. Therefore imagining bullets and arrows flying toward her, only made the green haired woman shake her head faintly avoiding the temptation to let out a chuckle. Instead she cleared her throat finishing off her coffee while listening to the rain slamming against the roof in anger. The storm wasn't lessening in strength but it was growing more aggressive. That was clear as the wind picked up along with the rain pelting up against the window paces with quite a force. So much force in fact, that Haruka hit the floor thinking it was gun fire. Setsuna blinked and soon laughed at the sight before the rider realized it was just the rain and wind.
"Shut up." she grumbled getting up off the floor.
The Marshall smirked. "What? You're pretty damn jumpy. Afraid of the guy getting back at you for last night?"
"No, it's just I have to be on guard." retorted the blonde quickly. It was obvious she was on the defensive.
"Sure..."
Haruka rolled her green eyes and moved glancing out the rain washed window. "I should get to the stables and start getting ready to move out of here."
"I would recommend you wait until the storm subsides before trying to trek through this weather." responded the Marshall calmly.
"I've rode through worse before but then again I could stick around a while longer. I want to speak with someone."
"You do realize you get near her I won't be able to stop the Governor from saying you're harassing his daughter."
"Wait, how did you know it's Miss Kaioh I want to see?"
The law woman chuckled watching the other calmly. "It's quite simple. When I first walked in to grab you last night, you were guarded and on alert staying pretty close to Miss Michiru. It doesn't take much to notice when someone is trying to defend someone they care about."
Haruka blushed up a little and quickly turned her back on Setsuna. She coughed into her hand a bit trying to get the blush under control. Setsuna couldn't help but chuckle a bit more highly entertained by the woman's reaction to her words. It only proved the blonde was a bit fond of the violinist and the Marshall knew she had to keep an eye on the two of them while Haruka remained in Dodge.
"Anyway, why is her old man so overly protective over her? I didn't have much of a chance to ask her any sort of questions last night." sighed a still slightly flustered Haruka.
Setsuna closed her crimson eyes and shook her head. "Because she is the only thing he has left in this world of his wife." she explained. "Not to mention his political enemies are not afraid to go after her by any means. She's his only child and he tends to forget she isn't a little girl anymore."
The blonde sighed soon perching herself near the wood stove. "Hm, well her body guards don't know how to do their jobs right." she grumbled only to close her eyes.
The law woman nodded soon rising form her desk as she heard a heavy knocking on the door. She limped over to get the door and was surprised to find a cloaked figure out in the rain. Letting the person in, Setsuna closed the door and locked it to keep it from flying open from the storm's force. Haruka tensed a bit keeping her eyes on the individual that entered before catching a glimpse of sea green hair as the soaked hood fell back.
"Michiru." she stammered lightly.
The woman smiled faintly only to place her cloak on a hook near the stove to dry it out. She wasn't wearing an elegant gown but rather a plain blue dress even with the cloak having protected her. Michiru couldn't stay away and had to come and see how the Pony Express rider was doing as well as to escape her father and his comrades for a few hours. The governor had been lecturing her all morning about the importance of not going up to strangers and starting a conversation as she had with Haruka. Of course she blew him off only to slip out the back door in the storm. No doubt he'd be wondering where she vanished and would start sending people out searching for her in a half an hour.
"I had to come and see how you were and to apologize." remarked the violinist as she rubbed her arms.
Haruka noticed she seemed a bit cold and rose removing her duster. Stepping over to Michiru, the woman softly draped the long coat over her shoulders standing behind her. The smaller woman glanced up to her and smiled tenderly before clasping the sides of the coat pulling it about herself a bit tighter. The fabric was warm and comfortable but the fact the rider was being so polite made the woman more satisfied. It wasn't often she had people behaving in such a manner without hidden intentions at play. With Haruka, she felt everything was completely genuine without any strings attached.
Setsuna watched the scene unfold before her eyes and shoook her head limping to her desk yet again. There was nothing to worry about after all as far as she was concerned. The governor had just gotten hot headed and jumped on the person he found easiest to blame last night. The blonde seemed to be the type not to over step any boundaries. The Marshall couldn't help but have a faint smirk form on her lips.
"Michiru, does he know where you are?" she inquired.
"No, he doesn't and I rather he not find me. After his behavior last night, I don't want to deal with his domineering attitude anymore." replied the woman softly.
Haruka sighed softly placing her hands on Michiru's shoulders not liking what she had heard from her. Michiru blinked feeling the hands and sent a glance toward the blonde only to reach her own smaller hand to rest over top of Haruka's right hand. The blonde closed her green eyes feeling the soft skin on her rough hand. It sent a slight chill down her spine which she oddly found enjoyable. However, she soon let the feeling subside only to voice her opinion.
"That wasn't wise, Michiru. You know who he'll come looking for first." remarked the blonde calmly. She wasn't exactly thrilled at the idea of being hunted down by a large mob.
"I'm sorry Haruka but damnit, I'm tired of his crap. He just uses me to entertain guests anymore and lectures me on how to behave. I haven't even had a date he's that damned stubborn." she growled. It seemed to catch the blonde by surprise as she raised a brow.
"Why do I get the feeling I know where this conversation is headed?" remarked Setsuna calmly having been listening and watching. "If it's what I'm thinking, I'm going to go check the cells."
The Marshall rose from her desk and limped out of the office to the cells looking them over. Haruka watched Setsuna leave and soon sent a glance down to the woman in front of her. She calmly moved out from behind Michiru only to walk toward the wood stove showing her back to her. Michiru watched her move and observed the way she walked as well as looking her over a little bit. The rider did interest her after all but she quickly adverted her eyes away when Haruka turned to look back to her.
The blonde moved a hand to rub her forehead. "All right, what are you plannin?"
"I want to leave this town and ride with you." remarked Michiru.
The blonde sighed bowing her head down. She didn't like what she was hearing, knowing just what kind of trouble it was going to create for them both. No doubt the governor would send a lot of men to track them down but her thoughts stopped rather abruptly as she took a moment to look back toward the woman. The look in her ocean blue eyes only made the blonde realize how much she seemed to trust her. Grumbling beneath her breath a bit, the rider turned around and walked back to stand in front of Michiru. Her jaw was bruised where Mark had struck her but she wasn't aware of it as she looked the woman in the eyes. Michiru looked up to her softly reaching out a hand to touch the bruise being gentle to not cause pain to her friend. She was hopeful she'd be her escape from her caged world and awaited an answer tenderly stroking the wounded lip as well with a fingertip. Haruka tensed at first feeling the touch but came to the realization she wasn't going to hurt her and allowed Michiru to continue with her actions.
"You do know how to ride right? If you can gather up what little things you will need, I'll take you with me when I ride out today. I suppose my horse can handle us both as I don't want you handling one in this weather on your own." Haruka commented gently.
Michiru smiled thankful to the woman and soon showed it by wrapping her arms around her pulling her close in a friendly hug. Haruka blinked a bit confused at first before realizing what she was doing. She blushed up a little feeling her heart rate spike while Michiru held onto her. Trying to erase it from her face, the blonde lightly coiled an arm around the smaller woman.
"Now don't go all teary eyed on me now, woman. It isn't going to be easy at all and you have to be able to do as I say when I say it, got it?" murmured the rider.
The smaller woman nodded realizing after a few moments she had laid her head on Haruka's chest. She flushed up a little and drew back from the woman to step closer to the wood stove. Even as she tried to hide her blushing cheeks, Haruka took notice of them but said nothing. After all, she was a bit red faced herself after having her that close to her body. She cleared her throat and moved noticing her gun belt behind Setsuna's desk by a rifle. As much as she felt weird without them on her, she would be patient and wait for them to be handed back to her.
"Where are you headed, Haruka? I'm curious." remarked the violinist as she took a seat in the chair.
"I'm heading back to Wyoming to the Pony Express post I work at. I'm sure I can find you a place of your own up there after all I doubt you'd want to stick with me for very long." sighed the blonde.
"Why do you think that?"
"I ain't rich for one thing. I don't have much in this world either. Not to mention I'm not the best behaved individual in the world, Michiru."
"From what I've seen, you are genuinely one of the better behaved. I don't give a damn about riches anyway. You are bluntly honest, speak your mind without restraints, stand up for your beliefs and are quite stubborn but I like that."
Haruka chuckled faintly soon noticing Setsuna entering the room once more. The Marshall sighed a bit walking slowly to her desk again but stopped to grab the ebony double holster gun belt to toss it in the rider's direction. She grabbed them without a problem and smiled putting the belt back on feeling much better with the guns present. Setsuna took a moment and glanced to Michiru who seemed nice and warm but also a bit flushed in the face.
"Well, I suggest you get on to the stable Haruka." murmured the Marshall.
The blonde gave a calm nod before adjusting her gray shirt sleeves. She approached Michiru who calmly rose from the chair sheepishly offering her coat back to her. In a way she didn't want to let it slip off her body but she knew Haruka would need the duster to keep herself dry in the dangerous rain outside. The rider smiled a little slipping the long coat back onto her body taking the time to button it up tightly. The last thing she needed was to get completely drenched down like a rat. In a matter of moments, the blonde slipped out of the jail house and out into the weather beyond.
The wind whipped at her face causing rain to slam into her face at a high speed. She cursed beneath her breath before walking across the wooden walkway looking around a little. No one else was out facing the weather and in a way it put her to ease. The rain kept hammering down as she made her way to the stable with mud plastered against her shins and boots by the time she got there. Inside the building, she shook her head dumping the water off part of her hat to the ground hearing horses start up.
"Easy guys..."she murmured softly walking to the stall where she had put her horse up for the evening. He seemed all right having been fed a few laps of hay by the owner but that didn't stop him from nudging her hard in the chest. "I know, I'm sorry."she remarked patting his head.
She was satisfied that he was all right and soon she climbed up into the loft to retrieve her saddle which hadn't been touched. Checking the saddlebags, she found her spare duster as well as a change of clothes in case she needed them. Putting the items back, she climbed down the ladder to the floor carrying the saddle on her back with a hand. It didn't take her long to get things organized in order to take off when Michiru was ready. The only part that bothered her was the waiting and it started not long after she saddled up her horse. Deciding to just relax a bit and dry out, the rider slipped off her duster to let it sit hanging out to dry. It was a good duster and kept the rain off her back and she was thankful she had grabbed it when she did a few months back.
"Hm, now to wait for her to be ready."she sighed leaning back sitting in the stall with her horse in a pile of uneaten hay.
Back in the jail house, Setsuna glanced toward Michiru as she grabbed her cloak to put back over her shoulder. The elder woman shook her head carefully knowing what the girl was planning to do.
"You just make sure you keep yourself from getting sick in this weather." she remarked.
Michiru nodded before unlocking to door to embark through the rainy weather herself. Unlike Haruka, the poor girl was drenched when she got inside the inn and to her room. So much so, that she had to strip out of the wet dress and under clothes in order to keep herself from shivering. It didn't take long for her body to warm up as she grabbed fresh clothes which consisted of pants and a dark blue western shirt. She assumed since she would be riding there would be no point to travel in a dress. It would only make things more of a hassle if she did after all and she wanted to keep Haruka at ease. Michiru packed a few clothes and also grabbed her violin before taking one last look around for anything else she might need. If she could survive without much, she'd be happy and she quickly left her room with a long coat on with her hair pulled back in a bun beneath a gray hat. No one seemed to notice her slip out which was exactly what she wanted as she trudged through the mud to the stable to find some shelter.
"Haruka?" she softly called out. "You still here?"
A grunt seemed to answer her and she followed the source soon chuckling as what she found. The blonde had fallen asleep against the wall of the make shift stall her horse was in. Shaking her head, Michiru moved into the stall softly touching the horse and speaking to him in a low whisper to put him at ease. The last thing wanted was for anyone to get hurt because of an unnerved horse. Getting onto her knees, the woman leaned over and softly shook Haruka's shoulder to snap her awake from her sleep.
"Haruka, wake up." she murmured firmly shaking the shoulders a bit harder.
The blonde stirred slowly and awoke only stopping from hitting the person recognizing the blue eyes and the voice. "Michiru...I didn't recognize you."
"Come on, I have my things ready. You ready to go though?" she teased.
Haruka rose dusting herself off before approaching where she had her coat hanging. She grabbed it and slipped it over her shoulders only to move to her saddle bag to remove her other water proofed duster. Turning to Michiru, she tossed it to her.
"Put it on. It'll keep you dry for the trip." she grumbled lightly.
"Thanks." replied the small woman as she slipped it on quickly. In no time, the was ready to go handing Haruka one small bag along with the violin case.
The rider managed to situate the things on her horse before looking down to Michiru. "You sure you want this? There's no turning back if you come with me."
"I'm sure. I want to get out of here."
The blonde sighed and allowed Michiru to climb up into the saddle before taking the reigns to walk the buckskin out into the rain. She didn't stay on the ground long as she swung up behind Michiru managing to sit comfortably while handling her horse spurring him out of the town running him through the rain. They had wasted enough time but no one would notice them leave, except for one person in the jail house. Although she probably wouldn't hunt them down until the mud settled for a few days, which would give the two plenty of time to ride away from town. Together they rode out through the storm doing their best to keep dry and warm though Michiru had to admire the fact she was riding with a strong woman whose body she felt pressed agianst her back. It made her feel secure as the rain pounded into them while they continued their run into the wilderness far away from Dodge.