A/N: A story inspired by the song "My Only Hope" by Miguel Escueta. One of my favorite songs :D

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA…I suck in grammar too much to even dream that I own it.

Well…read and review!

Chapter 1 – Cherry blossoms


Petals twirled about in the gentle breeze, each falling piece joining the others to carpet the ground like a soft pink blanket. Cool air whirled around even the sun was high, the lines of towering trees serving as a big umbrella to shield anyone who would like to walk below them. Shadows of the trees' leaves danced around the ground like living puppets.

A bench made out of used, probably stolen, wood was placed at the very center of the back of the seat was painted with black letter that says 'SIKAMURA' in unreadable lousy writing. The seat was obviously smoothened with sand paper, dots of its old red paint still decorating it. The legs were cut unequally, with the back leg on the right is shorter than the other three. It looked like the bench was only made out of the need to have somewhere to sit on.

Tranquility lingered through out the garden of cherry blossom trees as the melodic chirping of birds and rhythmic blow of the wind filled the place with life and calmness.

"What do you mean you can't pick me up?" A shrilled voice of a girl broke through the peace like rock to mirror, making some birds flop their wings hastily to fly away from the sudden disturbance.

Her blond locks sway about behind her shoulders, a red headband holding back her bangs from falling to her blue eyes. She wore a white sleeveless shirt that hugged her curves tightly and black skirt that reached her thighs and swirled about with her steps, the wind playing with it to tickle the sides of her legs.

She adjusted the bag strap in her left shoulder without spilling the orange juice in her left hand. A phone was stuck in her ear with the other shoulder as she continued to demand an answer from the person on the other line.

"Sorry Winry, but I have to shop in this new store. It'll close at three o' clock so I don't have much time!" A much girly voice squealed from the other line and Winry had to back her phone a little bit to save her eardrum. She raised her left wrist to glance at the time.

"It's only twelve. You have lots of time so get your ass here and pick me up already!" The blonde exclaimed with gritted teeth as she continued with her vehement strides, making some pink petals to fly away from her path like they were afraid to be thrashed by her wrath.

"But it'll take thirty minutes to do that and another thirty minutes to go back to the store." A girl with shoulder – length brown hair explained pleadingly to her friend, her right hand holding out a lavender cardigan while her left one held the phone to her ear.

"So? You still have two hours to shop." Winry's voice rang loudly from the phone, making the girl frown instead of answering back. She's a girl, right? She should understand things like this…

Winry stopped from her angry marches as she heard nothing from the other line. She hoisted her navy blue shoulder bag up and glared at nothing.

"Don't tell me two hours is not enough for you to shop one store?" It wasn't a question. She admits that she also takes hours when it comes to shopping, especially tools. But that's because she tours at least five to six stores to find everything she needs.

But three hours for one store? What the hell would she do? Buy the whole shop?

"Winry…" Her friend whined through the phone. Winry sighed tiredly. It was always like this. God, she could almost see her eyes begging like a puppy.

"Kellie! I just arrived from Riseembool and I'm very tired! I need some sleep because I haven't got one for three days!" She shrieked at her friend Kellie through the black cell phone, almost crushing the plastic cup in her other hand. It was true, she had been sleepless for a couple of days because of the rock – like seats of the train. The black lines under her eyes prove enough.

"But…the clothes are really awesome!" Kellie begged. Winry could imagine her watery eyes now. The blonde's eyebrows furrowed with disapproval.

"No. Pick. Me. Up. NOW." She said slowly and dangerously, and it was Kellie's turn to see Winry's sharp blue eyes in her mind's eye. She shivered and reconsidered her plans.

"Okay..okay…But one more hour. Pleeeasssseeee?" She supplicated like a child asking for an ice cream.

Winry began to tap her foot, her grip on her phone tightening with the shortage of her patience.

"Kellie…" The way she said her name explains it all – No.

"I promise I'll be there after shopping Pretty please! I won't be late!" She promised, hugging her newly – picked tank top in her chest.

The teen's frown deepened and stopped tapping her foot.

"Four hours? Are you freaking serious?"

"Come on, Winry!"

"NO. That's too much, Kellie McCarly." Winry stood firm on her ground.

"I'm begging you!"

"A no is a no. Be here in an hour."

"Oh c'mmon, Winny! Can't you find a place to wait? Where are you anyway?"

At the question asked Winry began to look around her surroundings for the first time. She then found herself in the middle of a garden of cherry blossoms trees. She twirled around with her phone still in her ear to search for some sign that might tell where she was. But all she can see are falling cherry blossoms dancing around her, flowing with the wind's path before they land softly on the sandy ground...

She stood there, speechless for a few seconds.

"Winry?" Kellie's voice from the other line snapped her back to reality.

"Kell…I think I'm lost." She admitted a little timidly.

"What?"

"I – I – I'm in a middle of some cherry blossom paradise but I don't know how I got here. I think I lost track when we started talking. Now how ca-" The low battery alert cut her off and the call ended in an instant.

"FUCK!" She cursed then kicked some cherry petals to the air.

"That's the last time I'm asking her to pick me up." She noted loudly to herself and started on her tracks once more, this time, putting her eyes to use to see the breath – taking environment she got herself into.

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Black boots clicked soundly on the hard ground. A rock then flew forward as the tip of the shoe contacted with it, so as another stone when it stayed at its spot to block the walker's way.

A boy at the age of sixteen continued to march his way to who knows where will he go, his lips curved in a stiff frown. His braided gold hair flew behind his neck, with his matching bangs framing his rounded face. His eyes of amber were dull and darkened with mystery of his hidden soul.

His hands were pocketed in his tight leather pants that matched his black jacket that was only buttoned on the top to reveal the tight black shirt beneath it.

The blond's tracks were suddenly halted when his feet reached a pool of pink petals. He lifted his downcast eyes to see the line of cherry blossom trees leading his path. Sadness was lifted from his eyes and they glittered softly, a small smile crawling in his face at the sight.

It was a nice place to forget some memories.

Memories that weren't meant to leave traces.

But cut deep to his heart.

Remorse fell to his golden eyes, guilt and anger flashing through the amber depths. He removed his right hand from his pocket and tightened it to a hard fist, his nails digging to his palm that it pierced through the flesh painfully.

Pain.

He squinted his eyes at the word he known all his life and began walking again, placing his hand back to his pocket. Edward Elric took the time to linger the place he considered as something that could actually understand him. He couldn't put a logical reason on it, but the place itself gave him the feeling of peace and calmness.

In here, he could somewhat forget about the past, even it was just for a matter of time.

In here, he could feel he existed to live and breathe like everyone else, not to be eaten by culpability.

At least in here, he could actually say that the world was still beautiful.

The young man took moderate steps as his eyes wondered to the magnificent beauty of the place. Even if he'd been here countless of times, he won't get tired to praise the amazing home of trees.

The falling pink flora…

The gentle sway of the wind…

The petal – coated ground…

The music of chirping birds…

The bench he made for him, only him, to sit whenever he visits…

A blonde girl fumbling in her phone…

Ed halted in his tracks at the last sight. That doesn't fit right in his eyes. The teenager squinted his eyes as he watched the girl trying to make a call on her damned phone. On his damned garden.

What was a strange girl doing here? Nobody knew this place except for him.

With another tight fist and knitted eyebrows, Ed marched his way to approach the stranger that just passed his territory.

"Oh c'mmon…" Winry muttered to herself as she tried to type her message before her battery dies out. She quickly finished the last few letters and pressed 'send', the loading bar appearing at the phone's screen. It was only two more bars when…

"Bye! Bye!" A smiley face appeared in her face before the screen turned black. She groaned and kicked some pink blossoms. Great, now how can she contact Kellie?!

Winry took a long sip from orange juice's straw and raised her phone again. She pressed the on button, praying that it still have a little battery to send her message. The phone glowed with life, lifting the girl's hope for a second before it turned off again. She let out a grunt of annoyance and tried to wiggle some life on the mobile, persistently pressing the on button.

"Hey you." A foreign voice spoke from her behind. It took Winry by surprise and she whirled around wildly to see who it was. But her sudden movement caused her to stumble with someone which caused her to spill her orange juice to the person's front.

"Agghhh! Cold!" A blond boy about her height and age complained and shook the cold liquid off his body.

"What the hell?!" He bellowed at the girl with sharp gold eyes.

"Sorry! I didn't know you were there!" Winry apologized and pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and damped it on the Ed's wet jacket. The blond watched the girl do the task with disbelief for a moment before he slapped her hands away.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" He demanded and walked off to the bench to have a seat. Winry's face contorted in confusion, not knowing what to do or say.

Her mind then set to panic mode, dark thoughts began to bounce around her mind.

"Are you gonna rob me?" She asked firmly, trying to keep her fear to herself, her hand slowing crawling inside her back to grab her wrench.

"What? NO!" Ed shouted and wriggled off his juice – soaked jacket. The liquid was slowly forming a light colored stain on the cloth. Now he has to do laundry twice this week.

Winry looked at him, her paranoia slowly fading away to be replaced with relief. What was she thinking? If he was a robber, he would just sneak behind her and stab her or something.

"Uh…I'm really sorry…I didn't mean to-"

"Forget it. Now, why are you here? Nobody knows this place except for me." Ed started and glared at her standing form.

Winry raised a questioning brow at him.

He's the only one who knew this place?

"I'm kinda lost…I guess…" She replied, biting her lower lip.

Edward growled in displeasure and ran a hand through his hair before extending an arm to point at his right.

"Well in that case, GO. The way's down there." He directed at her.

"But I don't want to get lost again. I'll just wait here for my friend to pick me up." The young woman suggested and approached the bench. She then turned on her back as she reached the vacant seat, and sat on the space next to Edward.

Edward, seeing her actions, widened his eyes in horror.

"What the hell are you doing? You can't sit there!" The blond shrieked and tried to push Winry out of the chair.

"What the? What are you? The owner of this place? Let me see the title of this place so I can burn it. You sound way worse than my landlord back home!" Winry shot back in defiance and slapped Ed's pushing hands away from her.

"Just get off already! This is my bench!" Ed exclaimed and continued to fight her off the wooden seat. The bench started to creak because of the two teen's vigorous movements, threatening to fall any second now.

"You selfish jerk! I need to sit too! I've been walking for hours I need to rest!" the girl retorted and slapped his shoulders to deflect his attacks of getting her ass off his bench.

"The bench won't hold for two peo-AHH!" Edward screamed with Winry as the legs snapped broken, sending the two teenagers' butts on the hard ground.

Ed groaned with Winry moaning painfully at his side. He tried to move but the ache in his butt stopped him.

"Ahh…That hurt." Winry complained as she rubbed a sore spot in her back, trying to massage the throb away. Ed glowered down at her, dark aggravation filling his amber eyes.

"Okay, that's it! You are OUT OF HERE!" He barked at her as he stood up on his feet. He grabbed her wrist without warning and dragged her up to her feet.

"Hey!" The blonde girl protested, trying to break away from his hold.

"You're lost, right? Well then, I'll show you the way out!" He shouted back at her and continued to drag her with him. They walked for ten more minutes, with Winry still tugging her hand out of Ed's hold but failing every time.

"I told you I was gonna wait for my friend to pick me there! I can't afford to get lost again goddammit!" She shrilled at him, still trying to get herself free. But her attempts only made the young man's grip tighten more.

"Well that's your problem! You can't stay at my place! You're pissing me off!" Ed shot back at her and finally threw her violently to a new road that follows a path going to the city, causing the blonde to stumble a few steps before regaining her stance. Once she did, she turned around only to have Ed a couple of inches away from her face. The girl took a step back from the boy's fuming expression.

"There. Take that road straight ahead, turn left and about ten blocks you'll reach Rufford Avenue. There! Don't come back because I need peace really badly, OKAY?!" He shouted at her face, that she backed her face away a little as she felt some drop of water hit her face. She clamped a palm in her cheek and wiped the undesirable liquid.

The fuming blond then turned on his tracks back to 'his' place, his stomps loud enough for Winry to hear.

"JERKFACE!" She hollered at his retreating back and swirled around wildly to begin on her own road to follow the jerky short guy's directions, stomping every step with lines of curses about irresponsible friends, useless phone batteries and inconsiderate bastards.


A/N: Read and Review please!