"Brother, please stop this! A story such as this can only end in tears and tragedy."

"What do you know? You left too! It's not like you ever cared!"

"Brother, of course I care. About you and Alphonse both! I-"

"Stay away from Al, you heartless bitch."

"Brother..."

After watching his back fade into the distance, the girl opened her eyes and allowed one tear to slip from her eye before she closed it once again.

"What did I tell you, idiot?"

"What?! What do you mean 'Ed's sister?'" The energetic man was surprised, of course, having just been told news that he doubted anyone else knew about the youngest state alchemist in Amestrian history.

"Just what I said," his blond partner in conversation replied, "Ed's sister has been living in this city for some time, so I don't really need to stay with you and your family. Please, I don't want to be a burden."

"A burden? Nonsense! We'd be glad to have you, plus it's Elicia's birthday, and she'd be so happy to meet you. Besides, I'll need you to give me more details about this 'Ed's sister,'" the man replied with a mischievous grin. The man, Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes, placed an arm around the girl and forcefully led her through the empty halls of the hospital and outside to his car. She protested the whole time, but he kept an iron grip.

"Hey, Al. Since we're already here, do you think it would... be okay...?"

"So, it's not really a big deal," the young blond teen finished explaining around the head of a large teddy bear.

"Of course it's a big deal! The Elric Brothers and the secret Elric Sister-"

"Not Elric," she said, lowering her gaze to the ground. "To avoid confusion, she took the name 'Hohenheim.'"

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind, but what about you?"

"Though, if you want to stay on Ed's good side, I wouldn't suggest mentioning her around him. You'd probably be fine talking to Al, but Ed would either lose his temper or lose his calm."

"Eh? Why just Ed?"

"Because he blames himself for what happened."

"I think I'm strong enough this time."

The two brothers stand outside the great, black iron gates, their gold and silver contrasting the dark and gloomy atmosphere of the building. Neither one can take the first step, and eventually the golden one takes a step back, shaking his head.

Not today…

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I'm sorry