AN: Royai, hope you enjoy!! R&R :)

If anyone wants to give me Fullmetal Alchemist for my birthday, that would make me very happy. Until then, I don't own it. (aka Don't sue me.)

Chapter 1: Rubber Duckies

"Hey, Riza!" Alix tugged at Riza's sleeve, looking up at her with wide, blue eyes. "Check this out! Roy made it! It's huge!" Alix tugged Riza down the street towards where a big crowd was gathering in the town square. "It's so cool!" she babbled. "He made it with alchemy!"

They slowed to a stop at the back of the crowd and Risa looked up at the monstrosity Roy had created. What the hell have you done this time, Roy? she thought.

"I told you I could do it," Roy said, gesturing at the 10-foot tall rubber duck behind him. The comment was aimed at Carl, a skinny boy with sandy blond hair that Riza and Roy knew from school. They would all start 8th grade when the summer was over.

Carl glared at Roy, folding his arms across his chest. "Next time," he muttered darkly.

Roy grinned. "Told ya so. I win."

Riza rolled her eyes. Boys.

The crowd had started to thin out, so Riza and Alix walked over to where Roy was standing. "We're going home now," Riza said. "Are you coming?"

"Sure," Roy replied.

Riza frowned. "You're just going to leave that there?" She pointed at the giant rubber duck.

Roy turned to Carl. "You asked me to do it, you lost, you clean it up." He turned around and walked away.

"WHAT THE- NO WAY! HEY! COME BACK HERE! DON'T IGNORE ME! Oh, come on. What the hell am I supposed to do with this?" Carl glared at Riza. Riza turned and chased after Roy.

They dropped Alix off at her house. Alix was in second grade. She was like a little sister to Riza, cute, cheerful, somewhat annoying. Riza had never had siblings, so she had adopted Alix as her unofficial sister. It was nice to pretend she had a sister. She got kind of lonely sometimes.

She was a tomboy who fit in better with the boys than with other girls. She'd always thought it was easier to make friends with boys. A couple young men whistled at a pretty girl as she walked by. Simple creatures, she thought drily.

Roy wasn't like that, though. He was deeper. She stole a quick glance at him. He was staring off into the distance, deep in thought. He was frowning the way he always did when he was really concentrating. Complicated creature, she thought instantly. She smiled.

She hadn't felt lonely since Roy had arrived.

Yeah, Roy was busy most of the time, training to be an alchemist. He spent most of his free time honing his alchemy skills or studying. She'd seen him, late at night, pouring over alchemy textbooks her father had given him to read. He woke up early in the morning, too. She'd once asked him, "Seriously, when do you sleep?" He smiled mysteriously and went back to work.

She admired his dedication. Even though they didn't talk much, just having him in the house helped take away the emptiness. There was something about him that made her smile.

They arrived at the house, a big, dark mass perched on a hill on the outskirts of town. For as long as she could remember, Riza had called it home. Her mother died when she was young so she was raised by her father, a talented alchemist who was often too busy with his research to spend time with her. So she had learned to fend for herself.

"Any requests for dinner?" Riza asked, unloading the contents of her shopping bags onto the kitchen counter.

"Not really." Roy shrugged and went upstairs. She watched him go, wondering why she cared.

So, what'd you think? Did you like it? Did you hate it? Do you want me to write another chapter? Do you want to send ninjas to attack me in my sleep? TELL ME. It's called the review button. Use it.

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