A/N: Finally this is the last chapter. I'm really sad I must end this. (T_T) I have to thank three people: silver-hedgehog, AzikaRue394 and RedWheeler who had reviewed this fanfic continuously. And you too, the others who had read this. Thank you!!! ^_^

Disclaimer: Aoki Takao-sensei

Setting: Alternate Universe

Sheriff and the Thief

Chapter Seven

"Who's there?" Kenny yawned. It was still so early in the morning. Who knocked his door?

Kenny opened the door and became so surprised when seeing who's standing outside.

"Emily? What are you doing here at this time?"

"Kenny…" Emily looked at him and Kenny became more surprised. The girl's eyes were full of tears.

"What's happened?" Kenny asked worriedly. Emily didn't answer. She only threw herself into Kenny's arm, crying hysterically. Kenny was so confused, but he let Emily cry. Seemingly there is a big trouble she has to face…

"Max," Emily said with broken voice. "Max…"

Kenny sighed deep in his heart. Sheriff Max again? Oh My God, when will he stop making Emily cry?

"What's the matter with Sheriff Max?"

"He…" Emily sobbed louder, "…he… he betrays me…"

"What!?"

"He loves another girl…"

And for the first time in his life, Kenny felt so angry.

***

BRAK!

Max's hospital room's door was opened harshly. Max turned his head to the door and smiled slightly.

"Hi, Kenny."

Kenny didn't reply his greetings. He looked very furious—something Max had never seen before. Kenny came nearer to Max, letting the door opened.

"Sheriff Max," Kenny said in a low voice, "what have you done to Emily!?"

Max frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"You betray her, don't you?" Kenny's eyes narrowed. "For the sake of that bastard thief!"

Guilty feeling came to Max immediately. He couldn't reply Kenny's words, so Kenny continued,

"I'm really disappointed, Sheriff Max. I always wish she will live happily forever with you—I know it's only you who can make her happy. But if I know it will be like this…"

"I don't know it will be like this," Max sighed. "I'm very sorry, Kenny. I regret it so much—I don't have any will to hurt Emily, trust me. But I can't lie to myself. I love her… I love Miss M."

"Stop it, Sheriff Max!!! I don't want to hear that!!!" Kenny shouted. "You hurt Emily; it means that you hurt me too!"

Max blinked.

"Kenny…," Max said slowly, "do you love Emily?"

The sheriff's assistant took a deep breath.

"I do," Kenny didn't look at Max. "I do love her. Always."

Max's guilty feeling became bigger. How come he didn't know about it? Kenny really cared about Emily. He loved her so much…

I'm supposed to know, Max sighed in his heart. If I were more sensitive… oh, what a silly person I am!

"You disappoint me, Sheriff Max," Kenny said. He seemed tired. "I don't know why I admire you so much before."

Afterwards Kenny walked outside, leaving Max who became guiltier.

***

Meanwhile, at another place…

"Wake up! Wake up, you damn bandit!!!"

Joseph opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was his sister's angry face.

"Oh, it's you," Joseph grinned. "Hello, my ex-sister."

"You are the one who told Emily, didn't you?" Miss M asked with a dangerous voice. "You poisoned her mind, you made her thinking that Max is cheating with me, didn't you?"

"Hey, that is a fact," Joseph said lightly. "He is cheating with you, right?"

Miss M slapped her ex-brother's face.

"You son of a *****!!!" she shouted.

Joseph only smirked.

"I never saw you berserk before," he tittered. "And I think you are quite cute."

"Joseph-you-are-so-dead—"

"Well, whatever you say," he shrugged his shoulders. "It had happened. Sheriff Max's reputation will be ruined soon. And your name also will be more disgraced. That's my purpose."

Miss M seemed ready to kill Joseph. Joseph laughed coldly.

"Don't worry Mariam. I will never bother you and him again. My revenge has been settled. I'd been quite satisfied."

Miss M gazed on him.

"You will pay this, Joseph. Someday. I swear you will pay this."

And then she left him, who starting to laugh maniacally.

***

Max had been out from hospital and his wound had been completely cured. Ironically, he felt worse than after he was shot.

The news about his cancelled wedding with Emily had been spread to the whole town. It told that Max was caught by Emily when he was cheating with Miss M. There were so many versions, of course, but with one resemblance: it was Max's fault which made them broken up.

Max got frustrated with this. People's attitude to him changed drastically—although they still smiled and greeted when they met him, Max knew well they would gossip about him behind.

Emily was furious, no doubt about it. She always avoided him when he was trying to talk with her. And in his office, Kenny was still furious as well. Kenny only spoke to him if necessary—Max never expected that Kenny could be this cold. For the first time in his life, Max missed his fussy and talkative assistant.

Max had not met Major Dickenson yet. Actually he didn't have courage to meet him. Max wondered what Major Dickenson will say to him about his broken relationship with Emily, yet in the other hand he didn't want to know. He might be a coward, but he had no care about it now. His prestige had been pulled out from him when a local newspaper wrote news about his cancelled wedding with an article which mocked him so much.

Max felt very tired. He'd never been under pressure like this before. It resulted he was unable to concentrate with his job. He often only daydreamed for hours in his office.

And finally, Max made a decision. The most important decision in his life.

***

"I resign."

Major Dickenson looked at Max confusedly. Beside Max, Kenny—who came here with Max because Max insisted him to—also seemed surprised.

"What are you talking about, Sheriff Max?"

"I have decided to resign," Max put his star-shaped sheriff badge on Major Dickenson's table.

"Are you serious?"

"I'm absolutely serious, Major Dickenson. I'm sorry."

Major Dickenson took a deep breath.

"Sheriff Max, if this decision is affected by your relationship with Emily…"

"This is more complex than it," said Max quickly. "But this is the best. For me, and for this town. Please trust me, Major Dickenson."

Max stood up.

"I will leave this town. I'm not worthy to be here again—I have disappointed many people here. And about my successor, I suggest you to choose Kenny, Major Dickenson."

Seemingly Kenny was ready to collapse after hearing that.

"What!?" he yelled. "Me!?"

"Yeah, you," Max smiled to him. "I believe you will be a great sheriff."

"But…" Kenny's face turned pale, "Sheriff Max, you must be kidding! You know I'm too careless—"

"I'm not kidding. Now it's your turn, Kenny. Mine is over."

Kenny still couldn't believe it. Major Dickenson turned his head to him.

"Max is right. If I have to choose a new sheriff, I should choose you."

Kenny's face turned paler. Max patted his back, and then whispered to his ear, "You can do it. You can do it as well as you can make Emily happy. Take care of her, Sheriff Kenny."

Afterwards Max went out from that room, smiling to himself.

***

Night.

Max was ready to leave his house to take a walk for the last time in this town. He had packed all his stuffs and he would go tomorrow morning.

Suddenly Mariam came to him.

"Hi, Mariam," he smiled to her.

"I have heard it. You resigned?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because of you."

Mariam rolled her eyes.

"And I will leave this town too, tomorrow. So, do you mind accompanying me to take a walk?"

Mariam didn't answer, but she turned around while walking. Max smiled and walked beside her.

"It was Joseph," Mariam said as she told him what Joseph had done.

"I'm not surprised," Max commented after Mariam finished her story.

"I will kill him someday. I promise."

"Remember what your father had taught you. Moreover, he is your brother."

The blue hair girl just clenched her fist. Max chuckled. Joseph, I have to thank you someday. I promise.

"What will you do after being a retired sheriff?" asked Mariam.

"I don't know. I haven't thought about it."

"What about being my partner?"

"What do you mean?"

"You can try to be a thief. Maybe you can be Mr. M or else," Mariam shrugged her shoulders.

Max laughed.

"Instead of being Mr. M," he said as he gazed on Mariam warmly, "what if you being Mrs. Max Tate?"

"What!?"

"You'd said you never attended a wedding ceremony," he said. "So I ask you to attend it. As the bride."

"What the hell are you saying?"

"Are you stupid enough thus you can't conclude by yourself?"

"Since when you become a sarcastic person?"

"I don't know… maybe since I met you," Max shrugged his shoulders, smiling. "So, what about my offer? Are you coming?"

"Who's the bridegroom?"

"Me."

Silence.

Mariam was frozen. She couldn't say any word for awhile.

"Please?" Max added.

After several minutes finally Mariam said, "I won't come to a wedding which is entitled 'The Wedding of Sheriff and The Thief'."

"I'm not a sheriff anymore!"

"Well… maybe I come then."

"As the bride?"

"Whatever."

Max looked at the girl, who seemed cool as usual.

"I consider it as 'yes'," he said, smiling happily. Mariam's face was impassive, but Max could see a hidden smile.

"You know, Mariam? Your words gave me a good idea."

"I'm listening."

"I think now I know what I will do. I will write a book."

"Sounds good."

"Yeah, a book which is entitled 'Sheriff and The Thief'. It will tell about a sheriff who chases an annoying-vexing-hungry thief girl—but in the end, the sheriff will ask her to marry him. And then they will live happily ever after…"

"That will be such a boring story!" Mariam commented sarcastically.

"Oh yeah, it's boring for you because I've told you what the ending is."

Mariam rolled her eyes. Max chuckled.

"I bet ten thousand dollars that the story won't be a best-seller."

"You don't have money as many as that!"

"I don't have it this moment, but who knows later?"

Now it was Max's turn to roll his eyes. He decided to change the topic.

"Hey Mariam, can you cook? Except porridge, of course."

"I'm sure you're gonna be amazed with my cook."

"Okay then," Max smiled widely while offering his hand. Mariam replied his smile as she gave her hand softly. They continued walking, with holding hands, while still talking to know more about each other.

"Where will you go tomorrow?" Mariam asked when they had been back in front of Max's house.

"I have to meet my parents before I come back to pick you up at ranch."

Mariam only nodded. Max smiled, then he kissed her.

"Good night, Sweetie."

"Night," replied Mariam, surprisingly not sarcastic as usual. She left Max with an amazing thief's movement.

"What a thief," Max murmured to himself, smiling. Yeah, a thief whom I love…

The End

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A/N: So it really ends. Hope you like this. (T_T) I will write another MaxMariam in the future, because they're my favorite pairing. But it won't be soon after this. Thanks for reading, and thanks more for reviewing. I will miss you all! *_*