James kissed her back, still holding the gause to her head.

Alex sighed, "I wish it were that simple." Alex said, still looking out over the village. He knew it wasn't that simple, he couldn't make up for what he did with three simple words. Could he? He hadn't tried.

"I don't know. Maybe it is that simple, but I doubt it." He needed to sleep, he needed to think about something else. He needed a distraction, a big one. Anything. What he didn't need was this, it was pointless and to tell the truth, shortening his life span. He put his hand over his eyes, closing them, thinking.

"I love you James"she said,looking into his eyes.

Maru smiled and put a hand on his shoulder."Just try it"He said.

"I love you too" James answered, putting his forehead against her, looking into her eyes.

~

Alex relaxed under his touch, "Yeah, I will." Alex said, turned around but til leaning on the rail. "But not tonight." he insisted.

She smiled and closed her eyes.

"Okay"Maru smiled.

James hugged her, laying down.

 ~

Alex suppressed a yawn and turned back to the village, it was peaceful. He watched the lights below, some flickered off. Meaning the villagers were going to bed. He looked up at the sky, the moon looked really big tonight, and it was full. The stars around it shown brightly, and there were crickets and fireflies out.

"It's perfect." He said to himself thoughtfully.

Tsumai smiled and soon fell asleep.

Maru yawned and looked around.

James listened to her breath for a long time, but he couldn't fall asleep. Instead, he reached over and turned off the lamp beside the bed and put his arm back. Staring into the dark, wondering if Alex would come back tonight or not.

~

"You can go now." Alex said, looking over his shoulder at Maru, he smiled. "You don't have to stay with me, I don't plan on going anywhere..." He said, keeping his eyes respectfully on his face. "and I tend to get on people's nerves." He added lightly. 

"No I'm good"Maru said."Besides James is watching Tsumai.He's trying to stop her bleeding"Maru said,smiling."My sister has your brother wrapped around her finger.I mean..look at him.He protects her unlike me.I've been gone for 7 years and now look.She's all grown up and has a boyfriend,who doesn't call her a demon all because she has white hair"Maru said,taking his hand off Alex's shoulder and clenching it by his side.

 ___________

Tsumai smiled and curled up tighter.

James allowed the movement. shifting slightly for her to move, then went back to his previous position. He glared at the darkness, of all the times today she couldn't protect her and she thinks that she causing the trouble! 'Im causing everything.' He thought bitterly.

~

"I'll have to agree with you on that." He said, referring to Tsumai having James wrapped around her finger. He listened quietly to what Maru said, his smile went away as he stared out over the village.  "Tsumai is special, and James can see that. Only a fool wouldn't see that, and unfortunately... there are a lot of fools n this village..." He said sadly. 'Including me.' He thought, thinking of James and his mistake years ago.

He glanced quickly over at maru from the corner of his eye, then back at the village. 'We're more alike that I thought." He thought to himself. 

"Yeah thats true"Maru said.He sighed and went to stand next to Alex,the wind playing with his hair."I am a fool.I left her all alone.I just couldn't reject the mission that Lady Hokage gave me"Maru sighed.

Tsumai smiled and curled up closer to James.

"Haha." Alex laughed nervously. 'Damn he's good.' He thought, looking down. The houses and building below them looked extremely small. 'I wonder if a fall from this height would kill me?' He thought sarcastically, knowing his face was turning red again. He had excellent reflexes and would probably save himself whether he wanted to or not.

He kicked a few pebbles over the edge and watched the fall, bounce off the side of the cliff face and they were lost in the darkness.