Daisuke Niwa sat and observed his painting it was of Risa Harada. He quickly turned away blushing, he did not want Dark to come out, "Hey that's quite a painting! I can just picture it now, Risa staring into your eyes as the sun sets behind her." Daisuke's cheeks turned bright red, "Dark," He began to complain, "We don't have anything to steal tonight!" Dark's laughter echoed within his head. As he sat there trying to calm his emotions, an earthquake rocked his bedroom, and a flash of light blinded him. He was struck over the head by a falling object, which left him unconscious.
Meanwhile the Ouran Host Club was surrounding the Fujioka apartment, with the intent of kidnapping Haruhi. They were dressed in expensive yet casual clothes and climbing out of Mercedes Benzes. Tamaki Suoh led the way up the stairs and knocked on the small door. Just as Haruhi was answering the door, an earthquake knocked her into the arms of the Host club king. Then a brilliant flash left them momentarily blind.
Edward Elric cheered on his younger brother as they celebrated Alphonse getting his body back. They were at the Rockbell home and the Colonel had come along, they had just finished fighting Father, and Hoenhiem had disappeared after the victory. Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye clapped them on along with Winry Rockbell just as the ground began to vibrate. Pinako dropped her pipe as dishes and tools clattered to the ground. A giant eye appeared on the floor and Edward cursed vehemently. They were all pulled into the gate before anyone could do anything.
It was the first day of spring and in Reno NV it was finally starting to warm up, lots of folks were out walking around the Summit Mall. In front of the Century Movie Theater, a group of people lay in an undignified heap. All of them were dressed in very unusual clothes; they were unconscious and looked as though they might have been homeless. People passing by stared and whispered, but no one had the guts to see if they were all ok.
Edward Elric was the first one to come-to, he rubbed his head with his automail and cursed as he realized what had happened. He expected another limb to be missing; they had gone through the gate! He quickly checked himself over, and to his surprise found, he was intact. He then checked on the others around him, he didn't recognize all their faces but he still was concerned for them.
"Hey all of you wake up! Is anyone missing anything?" He yelled it rather loud and the people walking around gave them stares and glances as they passed. Tamaki Suoh popped out from under the other Host Club members, "What happened? Haruhi you got scared and threw yourself into daddy's protective arms!" Haruhi looked at Tamaki and sighed, "No Sempai I fell when the earthquake hit and just happened to land in your arms." She said rather coldly.
Daisuke Niwa looked around in awe and spoke to himself, "Dark, where are we?" He scratched his spiky red hair and sighed, "Why does this always happen to me?" Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye were whispering as they observed the stores and people around them. Kyoya grabbed his glasses from under Tamaki just before he crushed them, "Tamaki you fool, you nearly crushed my glasses!" He was clutching a black clipboard in one hand, and quickly replaced his spectacle with the other. Riku and Risa Harada looked around; they went to talk to Daisuke.
Winry Rockbell and Alphonse Elric checked on themselves, Alphonse rubbed his shoulder tenderly, "Wow Winry, I've forgotten how pain feels." He grinned at his childhood friend, and they both hurried to Edward who was arguing with Colonel Mustang.
"Fullmetal we have to figure out where we are you go do it." "Why don't you Lord Colonel?" "I'm not the shorty here." "Who're you calling so small you wanna crush me like an ant!?!" Winry and Alphonse tried to calm him down as the others checked on themselves. Tamaki suddenly yelled out in joyous surprise, "Kyoya, Haruhi, do you see what this is? It is a commoner's strip mall! Look at all these stores and the sales they have! Oh Haruhi lets go shopping together!" His eyes gleamed with childish wonder.
Hunny pulled out a piece of cake, "Just the right place for cake!" He announced in his cute little-boyish voice. The twins looked around with that mischievous gleam that usually struck fear into the other Host Club members, while Mori stood over Hunny watching him carefully. With jumped around searching for Daisuke and hopped into Riku's arms with a contented "Kyu!" Daisuke was having a private conversation with Dark, "Where are we?" "Honestly, I have no idea Daisuke. All I know is that we are still in this world, we haven't traveled through time." Dark's smooth voice rang in the boy's head.
Roy stood atop one of the decorative brick walls that were all around the strip mall and cleared his throat, 1st Lt. Hawkeye stood behind and to the right of him her eyes watching the crowd of confused people suspiciously. "Everyone," Roy waited as the squabbling and questions died down, "I know we are all very confused at the moment, but we need to figure out what is going on. I believe I have the highest rank and shall perform the duty of leading this sudden expedition."
Tamaki Suoh jumped up to stand in front of the Colonel, "Excuse me, but I think I outrank you! I am the Host Club King!" Roy nearly snapped his gloved fingers in annoyance, but Riza put a hand on his right arm. Kyoya pulled Tamaki down harshly, "Listen Tamaki, we may be rich and privileged, but his stars indicate he is a military Colonel. I'm sorry, but he outranks you." Thank God he does. Tamaki took on his rejected pose at the first corner he found.
Roy continued, "Our first objective is to find a hotel for the night, my subordinate Edward Elric has found out where we are. Fullmetal, please tell everyone where we are at and what has happened, you have more experience with the gate than I do." He grinned at Ed as everyone turned to stare at him in his bright red coat. He sneered back at the Colonel, "Thanks a lot Lord Colonel!"
Ed jumped up onto the brick wall as Roy climbed down and as they passed each other, Mustang whispered something in Ed's ear. "Who're you calling microscopic!?!" He screamed back. Edward sighed and spoke as calmly as possible, "I know that we have been sent to America, we were all sucked into something we alchemists call 'the Gate of Truth', I don't understand it though. Usually the gate takes some kind of toll for passing through; he took off his right glove and revealed his automail. I lost my right arm and left leg going through 'the Gate' several years ago. I am surprised it didn't take a toll from anyone standing here... Is there anybody you were with who is no longer here?"
His face changed from confused to concern and fear, everyone shook their heads and Ed sighed with relief. Kyoya felt in his pants pockets and a bead of sweat slid down his face, "Obviously this Gate you speak of did take a toll. I'm afraid my wallet is missing." Tamaki, who was off to the side staring at a sale poster, froze and he turned his head to glance at Kyoya in fear, then he quickly hid Kyoya's black wallet in his clothes.
Edward shrugged his shoulders and continued, "The only thing we can do is to find a safe place and figure out who brought us here. The gate should have taken a toll, but it didn't. The only answer I have is that someone opened it on us." They all were rather puzzled at the fact that someone had forcibly sent them all to the same destination.
Roy went up to a passer-by and asked for the name and location of a hotel, he returned with some annoyance. At this moment the Hitachin twins were inspecting Edward Elric, "Hikaru, he could use a new wardrobe," "Yeah Kaoru, his clothes only make him look shorter," In unison they said, "Those black pants only make his legs look short and stubby." Ed blew up, "Who're you calling a microscopic peanut!?! I'll show you both!" Winry came up behind Edward and struck him in the head with her wrench, "Oh no you don't Ed, you can't start fighting with the others right now, and Alphonse just told me you can't move your elbow. What's your excuse this time?" Ed took off his coat in submission and Winry happily began repairing his arm. The Hitachin twins watched Ed get tortured with a gleam of curiosity in their eyes.
Riku and Risa looked at the theater, "Hey Niwa! Let's go watch an American movie!" Riku came up behind Daisuke and With jumped from her hands to sit on his shoulder. Risa was a few steps behind her twin sister, "Yeah! Let's go see a Western style movie!" Daisuke sighed, "I don't know if I even have the right amount of money." Tamaki over heard the three and his eyes gleamed like a child's.
"Haruhi! Do you want to go watch an American movie with your daddy?" He ran towards Haruhi who was talking to Hunny, she turned to look at the Host Club King with dismay. "Sempai we can't waste our time at a movie theater." Tamaki fell to the ground struck by Haruhi's natural knife. He sat on the ground murmuring to himself, "What a mean daughter I have."
Hunny looked around and saw the restaurant 'Pizza Balls', he exclaimed in a loud cheery voice, "Hey everyone, lets go eat something! Food always makes people happy!" At that moment Roy was interrogating Dark Mousy, he had appeared out of nowhere, thanks to Risa tripping and Daisuke catching her. Dark grinned at Roy, "I'm a friend of Daisuke's, and I think we have a problem over there." He pointed to Edward and Winry who were about to attack the Hitachin twins, who had been taunting the automail engineer's work. Roy sighed and hurried to go stop the fight.
As Dark tried to slip away, Risa Harada jumped out in front of him, "Mr. Dark, would you go to the movies with me?" Dark grinned back at her, "How could I turn down such a beautiful young lady? Of course Phantom Thief Dark will accompany you." Riku came up behind Dark, "It's the Pervert!" Dark kissed Risa's hand and darted off to hide. Daisuke claimed control over his body and sighed with relief.
Soon everyone was heading for Pizza Balls, Roy and Ed stayed behind just long enough to transmute their cenz into American dollars. Tamaki ordered for everyone, "We'll take as many as you can make! Every flavor!" The woman behind the counter nodded and asked if they wanted drinks, "Kyoya how many people are here?" Kyoya glared at Tamaki, "Lazy! There are exactly 16 people inside this restaurant." Tamaki pulled out Kyoya's wallet when he left and looked at the yen in dismay; Ed came up and quickly transmuted it into dollars. Tamaki handed the woman the proper amount, Kyoya came up and saw his black wallet. The Shadow King emerged, "Tamaki?" He said darkly, "Why do you have my wallet?" He emphasized the word 'my'. Tamaki froze as the Shadow King's glare ate through his soul. "You will have to repay me ten fold what I had on me." Tamaki nodded slowly.
As everyone sat down to feast on the plentiful round balls, Tamaki took his and threw it at Kyoya in good sport. The all cheese ball splattered on Kyoya's back. He turned, "Tamaki! I don't believe they are meant to be thrown, but if you insist!" He grinned evilly, and threw one of his own at his friend. Tamaki dodged the ball with ease; instead, it hit Winry's head.
Winry turned and threw hers at Ed, but he ducked. Dark Mousy got the pizza ball on his face, he sighed, "I do hate to retaliate against such a lovely lady." He returned fire and it hit Hunny. Mori took the offensive and fired off a wave of pizza balls, which hit a great number of people including the Hitachin twins, Riku, Alphonse and Haruhi.
Haruhi pulled cheese out of her hair, "This isn't necessary." It was too late, everyone was involved in a massive pizza ball war, and several loose teams had been formed. Roy and Riza finally walked in to find the restaurant a messy battlefield, Riza put her hand to her head sighing. "Sir, I don't think this is going very well." Edward launched one at Roy, "Hey Lord Colonel!" Roy turned to glare at Ed and the projectile landed square on his face. Riza grabbed a full plate and took Edward out of the battle.
Alphonse took the opportunity to hit his big brother, "Big Brother this is for being a short tempered idiot!" Ed chased his little brother, "Al you dirty cheat!" The Hitachin twins caught sight of Roy and Riza standing in the center of the room, they grinned at each other and proclaimed loudly, "Hey Everyone get the Colonel!" All fighting stopped and they all threw what they had at Roy and Riza. Roy and Riza stood back to back and Roy snapped his fingers, all pizza balls that were in mid-flight burst open.
Sizzling cheese rained down on everyone, the few Roy missed were blown to bits by Riza and her guns. Complete silence filled the room; the girls were picking gooey cheese out of their hair. The manager stormed into the room, "I want you all to get out! I want you to pay for this mess I have to clean up and just get out!" Kyoya dragged Tamaki to the counter, "He is in charge of expenses." Tamaki solemnly paid the manager as the others hurried out.
Unfortunately, people had gathered around the restaurant to watch the battle, and they were talking and whispering about the strangers and their actions. Roy looked around; he and Riza were the only ones who were clean. Ed and Alphonse used alchemy to remove the cheese and sauce from everyone else. "Riza we need to get some taxis and go to this hotel." Tamaki popped up, "Don't you have limos and chauffeurs?" Roy shook his head, "I only have a chauffeur when I'm on a mission."
Daisuke saw a bus, "We could take the bus?" He suggested as the others gathered around. "Public transportation? The commoner's way to travel for cheap!" Kyoya sighed and they piled onto the bus. Daisuke looked at Roy, "There isn't enough room." Roy looked at the boy, "Nonsense, we can squeeze you in." Daisuke shook his head, "I'll take the next one. You're going to the Hyatt right?" Roy nodded "Alright, but I'll have Fullmetal stay with you." "No, I have Dark with me." He pointed to With who had transformed to look like Dark. Roy nodded and climbed on.