A/N: Finally I finished the 4th chapter. I really enjoyed writing this, because… well, you'll know it. In this chapter, I admit that maybe Joseph is too bad (I'm sorry, Joseph!!!). But as an antagonist, I have to make him being a vexing person. ^_^ Okay, please enjoy…

Disclaimer: Aoki Takao-sensei

Setting: Alternate Universe

Sheriff and the Thief

Chapter Four

Sheriff Max opened his eyes. He felt a searing pain in his chest. The pain was spreading slowly and steadily from his wound to his whole body.

He tried to wake up, but he couldn't. The daze made his vision went foggy. So he closed his eyes, trying to remember what's happened before.

Death Valley.

Emily.

Joseph.

Joseph shot him.

Sheriff Max sighed. He didn't know what the miracle which made him not dead was. Actually a death would be better. This pain was so torturing—he didn't know whether he could survive or not.

He knew well he had not died yet because he still could feel his pain. If he has been in heaven, he will not feel any pain, will he?

So where was he now?

His curiosity forced him to open his eyes again. He tried to make his gaze focus. And then he looked at his surroundings.

He was in a room, an old room. He was lying on a bed. On his left side there was a curtained window. And on the right side there was a wooden table. Not so far from the table was the door. That was all.

Afterwards Sheriff Max groped his chest, trying to find his wound. But he found that his wound had been bandaged.

He was thinking who had done this when he heard shouts of two people, replying each other.

"You may not do that, Joseph! What if he dies!?"

"Who cares?"

"Who taught you to kill someone!?"

"Myself."

"I won't let you kill anyone. You know it is nauseating."

"Calm down, Mariam. Your talk can make all people think this is a very big problem."

"This is a very big problem!"

"You are really fond of him, huh?"

"What are you talking about!?"

"Hey, listen. You are supposed to thank me about this. He wants to arrest you, doesn't he?"

"Yes, but I can trick him anytime. I will never be arrested by him. Don't talk out of topic, Joseph. I warn you once more, I won't let you kill anyone. Remember, our father allowed us to be a thief because of our poverty, but he never taught us to be a murderer."

"You are too naïve, Mariam," Sheriff Max could hear Joseph's laugh. "I'm not a thief. I'm a bandit. If you think you can forbid me doing anything I want just because you are older, you had made a big mistake."

"You don't have any appreciation to your father even a little, huh?"

"Stop talking about our father, I'm sick hearing that!"

"All right. You really don't have any appreciation to him even one percent. You are not admitted as my brother."

Joseph burst into laughter.

"Who cares about it! I'm a modern bandit now—not a petty and old-fashioned thief likes you! Otherwise I have to thank you, Mariam, because you can't have a hand in my businesses again. I'm always sick because of all your interferences in my life. Moreover, you even did not help me when I was in jail!"

"I didn't help you because it was your fault. Deservedly you were in jail at that time."

"What kind of sister you are, Mariam?"

"Do you forget I'm not your sister anymore?"

"Oh sh*t. I forget."

"You are really disgusting, Joseph. Get out now! You are not permitted to be here again for ever. Your presence here only litters this house."

"This house had been dirty before I came," Joseph tittered. "All right, I leave now. Good bye, my dearest ex-sister. I'm not surprised if tonight you will ask him to sleep with you."

"Shut up!!! You ********!!!"

Joseph tittered again. And then Sheriff Max heard the door was slammed.

After that the condition turned quiet. It was making Sheriff Max could think freely.

What was that? Joseph was talking with whom?

There were so many questions floated in his mind which he didn't understand at all.

***

"So you're awake."

Sheriff Max turned his head to the voice. He focused his gaze for awhile. And then he could see it clearly: a very beautiful girl with tasseled blue hair who was eating an apple.

"Who are you?"

The girl snorted.

"You don't know me?"

She put her apple on a plate on the table. Afterwards she cloaked her head with hood.

"Do you recognize me now?"

"You…!!!" yelled Sheriff Max. He just realized that the girl wore a black cloak.

The girl opened her hood. She took her apple and started eating again.

"Why are you here!?"

"This is my house."

"Apparently you hostage me."

The girl, Miss M, looked at Sheriff Max coldly.

"I have saved your life and you say that I hostage you. That's really a nice way to be thankful."

Sheriff Max blinked.

"You saved my life?"

Miss M didn't answer. She didn't need to.

Suddenly Sheriff Max realized something. Miss M must be the person who debated with Joseph!

"Where's Joseph?" he asked. "I heard your conversation with him."

"If you heard, why do you ask?" said Miss M sarcastically.

Sheriff Max regretted his stupid question. Finally he changed the topic.

"So you have saved my life. Thanks."

"You're welcome," Miss M replied apathetically. She seemed has no interest to talk about this at all.

"How did you do it? I mean, took out the bullet from my wound."

"I'm sure you don't want to know. But you must be grateful because Joseph is really bad in shooting."

Sheriff Max gulped.

"Well, it seems so," he sighed. "But I really want to know why you did it. Why you saved my life."

Miss M looked at him sharply.

"I think you've heard my conversation with that bandit. Are you stupid enough thus you can't conclude by yourself?"

Sheriff Max's ears turned red hearing this quip.

"I did not hear all of your conversation," said Sheriff Max, trying to be patient. Actually he did hear all of it, but he really wanted to listen to the reasons from Miss M's mouth directly.

Miss M raised one of her eyebrows.

"It's not your business," finally she said. She stood up and exited from the room, leaving Sheriff Max with his curiosity.

***

Kenny was sitting anxiously at Sheriff Max's office. It had been three days and there was no news about Sheriff Max. He worried about both of Sheriff Max and Emily. Everyday he was in this office, looking forward for the telephone ringing.

But the telephone never be ringing. This fact made Kenny more anxious. He became a very nervous person nowadays. He often dropped anything he was holding, he also easily jumped up in surprise when somebody called him.

Just like now.

"Kenny! Kenny!"

Kenny jumped up in surprise. He turned his head angrily to the voice called him.

"How many times I have to say, please don't call me suddenly like that!!!"

But his anger was 100% gone when he saw who called him.

"EMILY!?"

"Oh Kenny!!!" Emily ran to him. She threw herself into Kenny's arm, crying uncontrollably.

Kenny's face immediately turned scarlet.

"Wh—what's hap—happened, Emily?" he asked nervously. "Where's Sheriff Max?"

Hearing that, Emily's cry became louder. Kenny gulped. He didn't know how to handle this. He'd never seen Emily cries before—even though they were childhood friends. As long as Kenny remembered, Emily was a tough girl, with her stubbornness. She was not a girl who can cry easily in front of a man.

So there must be a serious reason which makes Emily crying like this.

"Emily?" Kenny tried to make his voice softer.

"Max… Max is…" Emily couldn't continue her sentence.

"What's happened with Sheriff?" again, Kenny felt a bad presentiment.

"Max… Max…"

Kenny guided her to sit down. He also brought her a glass of water.

"Drink. You'll be better."

Emily obeyed him. Kenny was right. She had been better after drinking.

"Thanks, Kenny."

Kenny smiled weakly. He still felt so nervous.

Emily put the empty glass on the table. She seemed so tired. Her white wedding dress that she worn was very dirty. It would be a miracle if the dress could return into 100% white again after being washed.

"Call my father, Kenny."

"What?"

"Please call my father. I need him to be here before I tell everything."

"Y—Yes, Emily!" Kenny ran to the telephone.

Minutes later, Major Dickenson arrived at Sheriff Max's office. He hugged his daughter soon after arriving.

"Emily! You are safe! You are safe!!!" Major Dickenson's eyes were full of tears. "Thanks God!!!"

He hugged Emily again.

"Father, I miss you, but now there's something more urgent to be talked. Hence please listen to me. We must help Max. Soon!!!"

And then Emily told everything while crying again.

"Wh—what!? You mean Sheriff Max got you to go back here while he himself stayed there!? To face Joseph!? ALONE!?"

Emily nodded.

"I don't know whether it is you or him who is more stupid," Major Dickenson sighed.

"Of course it's me who is more stupid!!! Even I can say that I'm the most stupid person in the world!!!" shouted Emily. "If I listen to you, Dad, this won't be happened! And if I'm not lost in my journey to come back here…" she moaned sadly. "I caused two days in vain because I'm lost… whereas we may not waste our time to save Max!"

She cried louder than before.

"It's okay, Emily. We'll make our move now," Major Dickenson patted Emily's back encouragingly. Afterwards he turned his head to Kenny. "Call police. Today we have to go to Death Valley to help Sheriff Max!"

Kenny nodded.

"I hope it has not been late," Emily whispered to herself. She really didn't know what she will do if all had been late.

***

It had been three days since Miss M saved Sheriff Max. His condition had been better although couldn't be said he had really cured.

During these days, Sheriff Max's thought about Miss M gradually changed. He didn't want to arrest her anymore. Otherwise, he felt a big thankfulness to her. Miss M had taken care of him nicely. Well, she was a good nurse, yet she was not a good person to talk. She was very sarcastic and apathetic about anything. Besides, she never talked a lot to Sheriff Max.

But he respected her so much.

"Thank you," Sheriff Max smiled after Miss M had finished feeding him porridge.

"You're welcome."

Miss M was ready to go out while bringing the porridge bowl, but Sheriff Max restrained her.

"Hey, may I ask you something?"

Miss M turned her head.

"What is the reason of your thieving?"

"What is your need to know?"

Sheriff Max took a deep breath. He really should have a bunch of patience when talking to Miss M.

"I just want to know," Sheriff Max answered. "Because I think you didn't be a thief for bad reasons."

"I will let you guess by yourself then. It's not your business to know."

Miss M walked to the door. Sheriff Max sighed.

"I just want to talk with you," he said hopelessly.

"Oh yeah, I forget you are a famous sheriff that is always surrounded by people," Miss M rolled her eyes. "You always must have a person to chat anytime."

She snorted.

"Why are you so sarcastic?" Sheriff Max asked impatiently. "I just want to be your friend."

"A friend who wanted to arrest me? Huh."

"All right, all right," Sheriff Max gave up. "Up to you then."

Sheriff Max closed his eyes because he thought that Miss M would be going out from the room. But instead of getting out, Miss M spoke,

"I thieve because of my family's poverty."

Sheriff Max opened his eyes quickly. He turned his head to Miss M who still stood up near the door while holding the porridge bowl.

"I was born in a poor family. We lived in this ex-horse ranch, far from everywhere. My mother died after bearing Joseph—you know he is my little brother, don't you?"

"I know," Sheriff Max nodded quickly.

"My father worked hard to grow us up. But we still live in poverty. One day we don't have anything to be eaten. Therefore my father stole some food. Since that time we became a thief family.

"We are thieves, but we are not murderers. My father always says to me and Joseph for not hurting anyone, especially killing."

"So it's the reason why you got angry with Joseph when he was trying to kill me!"

Hearing that, Miss M looked at Sheriff Max sharply.

"I think you had ever said that you did not hear all my conversation with Joseph at that time."

Sheriff Max gulped.

"Well, I heard that part," he said hastily. "Continue your story, please."

Miss M rolled her eyes again, and then she continued, "You're right. I was angry with him because of that."

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Joseph changed after our father's death. As he said, he is not a thief anymore. He is a bandit now. I was shocked when I heard that he was arrested because of crazy looting done by him. But he deserved his custody, so I did nothing to free him."

"I can say that you are wise," Sheriff Max smiled. "May I ask you another question? Why didn't you stop being a thief after your father's death?"

"You still remember about your wedding cake, huh?" Miss M chuckled. "Well, it has been my habit. I can't leave it. Moreover, I'm really fond of delicious meal. I don't have any money to buy it, so better for me to thieve it. I love Hilary's doughnuts."

Sheriff Max smiled widely. Now he knew well that actually Miss M was a very kind person.

"You can come to me if you want to eat delicious meal. Anytime," Sheriff Max said. "And about my wedding cake, don't worry. I will send you an invitation of my wedding."

"You are kidding. I never go to a wedding ceremony."

"So it will be the first wedding ceremony you attended," Sheriff Max said lightly. "You want the wedding cake, don't you?"

"Maybe I will steal it," she said, back to her natural sarcastic.

"Don't dare to do that," Sheriff Max threatened her jokingly.

"We'll see," she replied while opening the door. She was about to come out when Sheriff Max called her.

"Hey… Mariam."

Miss M stopped.

"It's your name, right? I want to say thanks. For everything."

Miss M was still frozen for awhile. But eventually she said, "You have to know, Sheriff: I do not hate you."

And then she got out, closing the door softly from outside.

Sheriff Max looked at the door after her leaving.

"Neither do I," he whispered, "Mariam."

TBC

A/N: So I think you've known why I really enjoyed writing this chapter. ^_^ I will work harder for the next chapters. I hope this fanfic can finish in two next chapters. Thanks for reading and thanks more for reviewing.