Claire was the only one there to listen to him, on the second floor of one of the houses where they can see the previous battlefield from while sitting in front of each other, they watched the sunset at the horizon, spreading its largess into a grateful sky. Rich hues of red blended with oranges, purples, crimsons.

"Then, why did you get into this in the first place? Didn't you think this through before rallying those soldiers? I'm not sure if you realized this or not, but this is war, we have our tricks they have theirs, the main difference is the morals, they can do things we can't imagine doing, to be honest, I wasn't very happy about it," she had her usual deadpan emotion, but her voice had a hint of sadness in it.

Andrei couldn't say anything, he just looked down with his hands tightened into fists.

"It's okay, you don't need to say anything, but don't worry, if something happens you don't have to take on the sin all by yourself," she stood and turned away from him, "because I helped you make it, after all, we're both guilty, so please," she put her head down, "at least stop worrying about that now, trust my sister, have faith in her, she may not look like it but she's scared… who the h.e.l.l wants to take innocent lives?

Even how crazy it might sound, she loves you so much, after all, if you become like this, because you are worried about those innocent lives, she might risk herself instead.

I'm not being cold, If I were to choose between the lives of strangers or the life of my sister, it's obvious who I would pick"

Andrei looked at her still unable to say anything, but he knew what she meant. He decided to switch gears and gulped down his worry.

"Are you a mind reader Claire?"

"Why? Tell me some weird lines and I'll slap you"

"I'm that easy to read?" Andrei thought and made a wry smile, which Claire couldn't see with her back turned to him, but he knew that she was sad based on her quivering voice.

"Don't worry, I won't have her no matter what decision she will make, I might have been surprised earlier, but I know what situation we are in right now, so don't worry"

"I'm not worried, I'm just saying what I want to say, it doesn't have any deeper meaning than you think,"

"What meaning?" Andrei asked in a curious but a little perverted tone, trying to change her mood.

"At least nothing like what you are thinking, idiot," Claire turned to him and showed a relieved smile.

As he saw this, he felt his heart had just skipped a bit, "this cuteness, is a bit too much, why do you always smile, at the best timing?" he thought while looking at her beautiful face and precious smile accompanied by the color of the skies, "why do you always light me up inside so completely that my darkness disappears, even when you diss me on a daily basis," he was at a loss while looking at her grey colored eyes with his mouth open.

Seeing him in such a state, Claire couldn't help but chuckle, "do you want me to sprinkle gunpowder at your mouth?"

"I love you, marry m-" Andrei muttered in a state of stunned confusion.

"No," she retorted immediately.

"Why not?"

"Do you think I'm that easy? You may be able to fool my sister but I'm different," Claire was taken aback by the sudden confession, a faint blush appeared on her face.

"Then… I'll just patiently wait,"

"Stop with your nonsense, or I'll kill you, cheating in broad daylight"

"It's already sundown, How will you kill me? in what way?"

"Stomping?"

"If it's you I would gladly…"

"Whoaaaa, since when did you become a m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t?," while blus.h.i.+ng Claire made a disgusted expression.

"Wait, is there a word for that here?!"

"Yes, there are lots of people like you here, should I introduce some to you?"

"I'll pa.s.s on that"

The two looked at each other and felt happy within their hearts, they laughed together as the warm bronze sunlight was swallowed by the horizon. The orange large sky engulfed in darkness. Beautiful darkness where s.h.i.+mmering stars illuminated the moonless jet black sky, that reminds them that even in darkness there is still light.