The rain was cold, but he didn't care. He was already soaked, straight through his red over-coat to his black tank top. His blond hair, pulled back into a tight braid, was completely saturated. The hard patter of the downpour pounded his mechanical arm, making a tinkling sound, cold and yet oddly beautiful.

Ed closed his eyes, feeling an emotion of utter defeat well up in his chest. There were moments like this, where he wished the Gate had taken him back then…. Days where the pain of everything they had lost overwhelmed him, and he felt like crying until there was no fluid left in his body.

He hid these moments from Al. It wouldn't be good to let his brother know of his weakness. Ed had to be strong; he was, after all, a dog of the military, and they were supposed to be heartless creeps who killed for the fun of it.

"But then why do I hurt so much…?" Ed whispered to himself, wrapping his arms around his legs and touching his head to his knees. A tear traced the contour of his cheek, but the rain had numbed him so much so that he couldn't even feel it.

"Because you're human," Came the unexpected reply. Ed's eyes widened as he lifted his head up and turned around. Standing behind him was his teacher Izumi, the woman who had taught his brother and him the real meaning of "tough love."

Izumi was holding an umbrella over Ed's head. The boy turned away, and he sensed his teacher sit down next to him. She didn't seem to mind the mud and wet of the grass.

Ed didn't say anything. He couldn't, really. More than he wanted to hide this from Al, he wanted to hide it from Izumi. Lord only knew how she would react.

What he really didn't expect, though, was the warm arm that wrapped around his shoulders.

"There is no joy without suffering…." Izumi whispered. Ed swallowed, controlling his emotions.

"That's… just equivalent exchange…." He muttered, a theory he knew all to well.

Izumi smiled, though it was unnoticed by Ed.

"Yes, but equivalent exchange is in everything we do. Alchemy, of course, but also any human interaction. You can't buy anything without paying for it, and you can't get that money without working for it. Everything has a price; you of all people should know that. So you are hurting now because you are not a god, but a mortal. And eventually you will complete the exchange and be able to live again. Trust me."

Ed was silent. She was right. Of course, she was always right.

"Sensei…" he whispered, not looked at her. Izumi glanced down at her student, feeling a pang of pity and understanding.
"Yeah, Ed?" She asked quietly. Ed stood up, turning away from her.

"Thanks."

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Disclaimer: I do not own FMA, sadly. It belongs to Arakawa-san. Dang.

Also, this fanfic was written by an official Risembool Ranger. Red Dawn!