Two weeks had passed since their departure from Dodge and the two women had finally gotten to the Pony Express post that Haruka called her home. It had taken a lot out of her horse carrying two people so she expected to travel slowly. However, she didn't expect to go for two weeks before being able to see the post in the distance. She had dismounted her horse and walked for the last half mile to the post only to see a few of the riders handling their horses. One of which spotted her and dropped the hammer they had been using to nail a shoe into a horse's back foot, only to yell in her direction loudly.

"Tenoh! Dobson's pissed at you for being lat- whoa. Who's the rider?" he asked calmly.

Haruka growled a bit. "He can be pissed. I did my job, and it's none of your business, Wade."

The blacksmith shrugged off the snappy remark and returned to his work. Haruka shook her head and walked into the barn only to stop and help the girl out of the saddle. Michiru attempted to dismount on her own by quickly fell out of the saddle and into the awaiting arms of the blonde. Her legs were extremely sore from riding for so long and she was thankful the woman caught her.

"Easy there. Must have been a while since you've ridden this much in a saddle, hm?" teased the rider softly.

"Yes, it's been a long while since I've actually ridden a horse. Thank you for the help, Haruka."

The blonde nodded helping the woman walk her legs out a bit after flipping a reign to the ground. It kept her horse where he stood while she walked outside with Michiru keeping an arm around her waist to let her get the feeling back in her lower body. She recalled the time she had ridden hard for the first time on a horse and it had been painful. her legs hard burned so much she had been unable to sit right for a few days and even had trouble walking straight. A soft chuckle escaped her lips causing Michiru to look up at her stopping in her steps, although she soon shook her head ignoring it noticing a figure moving out of the other building across from the barn.

The figure seemed to be rather infuriated as the blonde suddenly lost a bit of color in her face causing her companion to worry. However before michiru could ask what was going on, the blonde quivered a bit. The figure of another rider appeared and it was someone the woman knew extremely well. Icy blue eyes narrowed and soon enough, Hawkins couldn't contain the anger built up in her chest over the last two weeks. Just like a powder keg, she blew.

"Just where in the hell has your sorry excuse for a fucking rider ass been, Blondy? Dobson's been riding my ass for the last two weeks wondering where the hell you've been!" roared the ebony haired rider.

Haruka for the first time in Michiru's sight, cowered faintly bowing her head seemingly in defeat. "I can explain, Jak. Please, just stop yelling in front of my friend here." she murmured meekly.

The infuriated rider crossed her arms over her chest awaiting an explanation. Whatever it was, it had to be a good one or else the blonde was subject to the wrath of the fuming gun woman. In a matter of ten minutes Haruka pleaded her case, and whatever burning desire that had been fueled in the older woman had been extinguished understanding the situation. She turned looking toward Michiru a moment recognizing her face from somewhere before.

"So, you were in Dodge City taking a gander to rest and somehow got swept up by the Governor of Kansas' daughter only to get jailed for a night and then stole her away?" murmured Jak smoothly.

"That's pretty much what happened." responded Michiru.

"Just what the hell were you drinking?" snapped Hawkins once more.

Haruka twitched just a bit and growled firmly letting her own temper flare. "I brought her with me because she wanted out. So I figured she could stick around with me for the time being until she figured out what she wanted. I know Dobson's probably pissed and he can be but I wasn't about to abandon Michiru."

Jak sighed removing her ebony hat only to wipe her brow a bit with a hand. "Fine, fine, however Dobson is also just in a pissy mood already on his own."

"What's got him so riled up?" inquired the blonde calmly still holding Michiru around the waist with an arm.

"The Pony Express is coming to a close in another three months."

"What?"

"You heard me. Seems the telegraph is moving westward. In another three months, all the riders here will be needing to find new work."

"That's terrible. You all have worked so hard with your horses." remarked Michiru gently finally speaking up. She sent a worried glance toward her taller companion.

Haruka bowed her head down calmly letting out a long defeated sigh from her lips. The news was indeed bad upon a lot of ears in the outpost. Many riders had been working hard for a year long run with the Pony Express while young upstarts would be cut off yet again. The blonde shook her head before debating on what else she could possibly do once the express fell through. She was brought out of her thoughts however by a hand on her face and she blinked a few times. Glancing down, she couldn't help but smile faintly seeing Michiru watching her with a worried expression.

"It'll be fine, Michi." she remarked calmly.

Jak rolled her eyes calmly before placing her hat back upon her skull. "Seems you've gotten yourself rather attached to this beauty. I do hope you don't screw this up, Blondy because I have the sneaky suspicion she could kick your ass."

The comment made Michiru giggle a little but it only seemed to cause the blonde to turn red in the face trying to mask it by leaning down into Michiru's hair a little for a few moments. Michiru only laughed harder as a result only causing Hawkins to start laughing as well. It was just not the blonde's turn to win for some reason. After moving a hand to calm Haruka a little, the violinist sent a look toward Jak in a questioning manner not knowing who she was. It didn't take long for the gun woman to notice the expression and she smiled giving a little bow of her head.

"The name's Jak Hawkins, miss. I showed Haruka the ropes to being a Pony Express rider when she joined up with this outfit." she explained.

Michiru smiled gently and observed the woman looking her over silently. Jak Hawkins looked rather intimidating in the long black duster and ebony attire she seemed to wear. However, the short woman took the time to notice the silver belt buckle and a light icy blue colored shirt she wore. In contrast with the ebony pants and chaps, Michiru got a creepy feeling the woman resembled an angel of death for a few moments. She was taller than Haruka by three inches at least and the violinist took into account the two guns the woman wore on her hips matching the ebony leather gloves on her hands. The woman hoped Hawkins would remain a friend rather than become an enemy.

While Michiru was busy looking over Hawkins and getting a read of her, Haruka had loosened her grip around the woman's waist finally having her composure back. The blonde often could handle such digs to her but somehow in the presence of Michiru, she couldn't help but turn red. She pulled her head back from Michiru soon noting her gaze and smirked very faintly in amusement. She couldn't help but be amused simply because the woman Michiru was looking at had been quite a mentor for the blonde. Her attention turned seeing other riders working their horses in the distance. When the post would close, the woman doubted she'd be able to move on very easily to find another suitable job. It scared her a bit not knowing what would come next but she had a feeling she wouldn't ever be alone again. At least with Michiru by her side, she could handle the unknown a bit better but she only hoped she didn't scare the woman off in the end with some of the habits she had. So far they had survived for two weeks and she honestly hoped it would last a lifetime since she truly had grown rather attached to the woman.

It didn't often take a genius to see through the front that Haruka often put up around herself however, it had to take someone that she willingly allowed to get to know her to read her more accurately. While others would have assumed she was just some run down rider with nothing better to than than chase women, Jak could tell something was changing in the woman for the better. In the time Haruka had stayed with the post, Jak hadn't seen her blush nearly as much as she did with Michiru present with the woman. She also didn't witness the look of content in the emerald eyes either that now seemed very apparent to the gun woman. Hawkins was proud that haruka had managed to find a bit of happiness but she had a feeling it would be put to the test knowing who Michiru was related to.

"There's a bunk house on the right of the property passed the barn near the woods if you two feel the need to shack up there. Although, I have a feeling you'll be taking your spot in the barn. No one else sleeps in there but me, but I have to make a mail run to Dodge this evening." sighed Hawkins lightly.

Haruka tensed slowly. "Be careful while you're there." she murmured.

"Relax, Blondy. You seem to forget who taught you."

The gun woman moved and placed a gloved hand on her friend's shoulder lightly. Her icy eyes caught the look within the green eyes of her old student and she soon withdrew her hand to walk away to saddle up her horse for the ride. She knew just what sort of trouble that would most likely envelope her when she got to Dodge

but she wasn't afraid. The least she could do was give Haruka a break from riding to keep Michiru company as well as to check to see just what sort of chaos the two had caused back in Kansas. Either way, Hawkins made sure her pistols were loaded and she even made sure she had her rifle with her as well for the trip.

Michiru sent a glance toward the black coated woman as she left and softly moved to nudge Haruka in the ribs with an elbow. The action made the blonde grunt a little but she looked down to the smaller woman with a questioning expression.

"You never told me about Jak. Why didn't you?" she asked.

Haruka chuckled faintly. "Because you never asked for one. However, I just don't think to mention her often. I suppose you could call her a mentor or a good close friend."

"Seems to me you look to her like would would a sibling at times. After all, who else can get away with calling you Blondy?"

The blonde turned red faintly hearing the nickname pass through the violinist's lips. The smaller woman grinned brightly obviously amused as it seemed she could also be the only other person to get away with it. The cough the taller woman gave only confirmed , Michiru caught sight of Jak leaving on her horse bolting off in the direction they had come in and she sighed closing her eyes slowly. She couldn't help but hope that nothing terrible would happen to her as a result of what Haruka and she had done.

"Relax, Michi. Jak can handle herself. Trust me on that. Now, let's get you off your feet so you can rest your legs." remarked Haruka gently.

The two made their way to the barn ignoring the glances from others still around. The blonde had walked slowly to not aggravate the sore legs of her companion though soon decided she had walked slow enough. One moment Michiru was on the ground, the next she was cradled against Haruka's torso and chest where she closed her eyes momentarily. She cheeks flushed in a faint pink color as the blonde kept walking only to stop at the ladder leading to the main loft above the horse stalls. She gently lowered her blue eyed friend to the ground before guiding her to the ladder to climb it. The woman didn't step away from Michiru as she struggled with her legs to climb the object. The blonde climbed up beneath her in case she slipped and lost her balance. Luckily she didn't and Haruka was thankful for that as they both got to the loft seeing hay stacked all around.

"So, this is your supposed room, hm? It's kind of comfy though I do wonder about somethings. Do you ever get too cold up here?" asked Michiru as she moved to sit upon a pile of loose hay to rest.

The blonde shifted soon to sit alongside her friend. "When winter usually comes around I tend to build up a wall with the hay where I sleep or I usually will drift down to sleep in the aisleways by the stalls. You'd be surprised just how warm the horses keep the place in the winter months when they are all cooped up inside."

"That makes sense. I still have a lot to learn with this but I'm enjoying it nonetheless."

"I'm thankful for that, Michi. I was kind of worried you'd want me to take you somewhere and leave you while I moved on. I don't think I could do that with you. granted I've known you only a short period of time I-" the blonde was caught off guard and silenced by a kiss from the violinist.

She relaxed at the tender gesture and moved only to lay Michiru back amongst the loose hay deepening their kiss. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears as she drew her mouth back for air trying to steady her nerves which were on fire. The woman underneath the rider smiled reaching up a hand to cup her cheek sweetly.

"You talk too much, Ruka." she chided.

"Michi, I may talk much but I'm nervous as hell. It's a reflex so cut me some slack."

"Then just let your body do the talking."

"I'm not going to do anything too physical with you right now. Your legs are sore enough without me influencing them."

Michiru couldn't help but allow a laugh to escape as she leaned up to kiss the blonde softly. Haruka sighed and shifted laying by Michiru's left in the hay remaining beside her. She was quite comfortable by the side of the woman and knew she never wanted to leave her after stealing her away from the life she had been a prisoner in. Already the rider felt a strong bond with her but it seemed it was mutual now which caused the woman to smile. Haruka couldn't be happier but soon she was proven wrong feeling Michiru shift to lay up against her body using her chest as a pillow for her long locks. The blonde reached a hand down and softly stroked her cheek and shoulder just basking in the emotions she was feeling. The thoughts of Dobson being angry at her, of Jak facing a possible war in Dodge, they never crossed her mind as the world was shut out of her mind. Everything except one thing remained, and that was focusing on making sure the goddess in her lap was content with her.