James chuckled, "You like alcohol." he challenged, "There must be something else you like."

"Alcohol gets me into trouble with gege," she replied bitterly. "I always do something stupid that makes him angry with me."

"Your gege seems like a harsh person." James said quietly.

"He's not!" Yue snapped at James, her temper flaring up again. "How dare you say that!" She cussed at him a little in Chinese.

James raised his eyebrows a little, "It's clear you really love your brother." he nodded to her, "I didn't mean to offend you. He just seems over protective."

"Of course he is," Yue snarled, letting off some access steam. "He's only ever done what's best for our family... Yeah..." She tossed another rock. One skip. "

"Who else is in your family that he looks after?" James asked, managing to get one skip this time with his pebble. He looked proud.

"... Just me," Yue whispered.

"Hm, no wonder he's so protective then." James agreed, "I suppose Wolfe is the closest thing I've had to a 'protective brother'" he chuckled.

Yue didn't say anything as she kept tossing stones. She wasn't doing nearly as well as she had been before.

James paused for a moment as he glanced around before focusing back on Yue, "Hey..." he said gently, "Do you trust me?"

"Only trust family," Yue replied quietly. "That's what they say; family is everything."

James nodded, "But who defines what family is?" he asked quietly.

Yue was about to reply automatically, but paused. Then after a moment her face contorted with anger. "Only by blood," she spat.

"Hmm, then aren't I family?" he asked.

"No," Yue replied smoothly.

James snorted, tracing the scar on his arm, "Yeah, I suppose not. I would take a lake full of blood to wash away your anger at the world." He stared out at the lake, expression more somber than before.

Yue was silent for a long time. Then finally she tossed another stone at the lake. No skips, it just dropped into the water with a loud plop. Then slowly she slipped down onto her knees, dropping the rest of the rocks in her hands.

James glanced at Yue out of the corner of his eye as she sank to her knees, "Too drunk to stand?" he asked a little cruelly before relenting with a sigh and walking over to her. He squatted beside her and put a hand gently on her back.

"No," Yue tried to spit back, but her voice was just weak. It sounded like she was fighting back tears. She lifted her arm to bat James away, but it feel back to her side before it could reach him. "Why?" she whispered bitterly.

James slowly rubbed Yue's back a little as he plopped down beside her with a small sigh.

Yue held back for as long as she was able, but she finally started crying.

James tilted his head back as he looked at the sky and let out yet another sigh as he continued to rub Yue's back. After a little while he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gently tried to tilt her towards him.

And so Yue cried like she had that night on the Juttle. But she seemed physically and mentally more exhausted. Whatever was on her mind was seriously starting to eat away at her. Maybe the distance was only making things worse instead of making them better.

James watched her for a moment before leaning over and kissing the top of her head lightly, "What's eating at you so bad, Yue? Is it the separation from your brother?"

Yue didn't say anything for a long time. Then when she found her voice, she whispered weakly, "... I don't know who I am."

James squeezed her a little tighter, "Ah, an identity crisis." he said seriously as he looked over the lake. "Where have you lost yourself?" he asked after a pause.

Yue was silent for a long time as she tried to trace her thoughts and put them into words. "... You t-trust family..." She mumbled, "B-But how am I supposed to trust gege... when it feels like he's b-betrayed me? But what a wretched sister I am for doubting..."

James mulled over her words for awhile before slowly standing and picking Yue up in his arms. "You are not a bad sister. No bad sister would be this distraught." he told her gently as he started walking back up the small hill.

Yue shook her head slowly. "It doesn't matter," she muttered. "By doubting I've betrayed my only brother."

James sighed a little, "Yue, if doubting meant betrayal, I have betrayed everyone around me." he said quietly, "Everyone doubts, it's in human nature to doubt and question things. Are you telling me your brother has never doubted you before?" he asked as he continued up the hill.

"He never doubts," Yue replied. "He can't afford to."

"I bet you he does. He just doesn't voice his concerns because he's in a position of influence." James replied, "Don't be so hard on yourself, Yue. You've been through a lot, cut yourself some slack."

Yue was silent for a moment. "... If I trust him... then I can't trust you," she whispered, eyes starting blankly at the sky.

"How so?" James asked quietly as they reached the top of the hill.

"He told me to never trust anyone but him," she explained quietly.

James nodded, "He is protective." he agreed. "Take a look at this, Yue." he said quietly, moving her in his arms to better see the view from the hill. The valley dropped away before them making the red and orange sky look even bigger. The smog and pollution which normally looked so ugly over the far away city now only added to the pristine color. James sighed a little, "When I see beauty like this... it always makes me wonder how there could be any evil in the world." he mused, eyes glazing over a bit.

Yue didn't say anything as she stared blankly at the sunset.

James stared for a moment longer before looking back down at Yue. "I guess you have a choice to make." he said quietly, "You're an adult and can made the decision of who to trust on your own. You're a strong girl, you'll figure out what to do regardless of your brothers influence." he nodded before looking around. "It's getting late." he mused.

"... Why do you have so much faith in me?" Yue asked suddenly.