Chapter One: Introducing the Queen of Mood Swings

A/N: Hello. Now just so you know if you're reading this, I'm re-writing the story with Hana in it. So that's why Ed's 12 and they just tried to bring back their mom. I don't know when I can update again because I borrowed the DVD's from my friend Daniella and I leant them to my friend Angela just now so she can watch them and I need to see them again so I can remember what happens next. Or if someone can help me out and tell me what happened next again since my memory sucks, I'll be forever grateful!

A journey of 1,000 miles starts with a single step.

Fruits Basket

I walked through the rain, and up the muddy dirt road trying to get to Winry's house to see how Ed and Al were doing today. I blew my pink bangs out of my stone grey eyes with annoyance. No, my hair was not dyed. It was natural. I get it from my mother. Who I think got it from my Grandpa. Poor guy…

I realized I was getting mud all over my black converse, and my black t-shirt and pink Capri's that matched my hair were soaked through, but I didn't care. All I could think of was Ed and Al. Al wouldn't tell anyone what had happened, which annoyed me greatly. They wouldn't tell me how Al ended up in a suit of armor and Ed ended up missing a couple of limbs that were just kind of necessary. My scowl deepened as I reached up my hand and again attempted to push the strands of hair out of my eyes.

I'm 20 years old. I'm kind of like the town healer, though martial arts is my passion. I've been studying it all my life and-not to sound totally conceited-KICK SOME MAJOR ASS! So, when I got outside of the house wondering, if I'd need more bandages for Ed, and saw a man's back in the window I stiffened for a second before quickening my pace. I'm suspicious by nature.

Creeping along the side of the house until I could peer in through the window, I could see the man had dark hair and was wearing a black hat and trench coat.

"Get out of my house!" I heard Pinako say angrily. My heart skipped a beat, and I didn't wait to hear anymore. As they continued arguing, I ran to the front door just as the man turned to leave. I flung the door open when he was a few paces away. With a snarl, I flew the few paces at him, put one hand on the ground to balance and sent my foot straight above my head to connect with his jaw.

The man went up an inch before falling back clutching his jaw. I straightened up, a glare on my face and pink bangs in my face. The man looked up angrily, a bit of blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth. Oops…I think he bit his tongue. My bad. I pushed the bangs out of my eyes again. I really needed a hair tie…

"What the hell was that for?" He yelled angrily his eyes meeting mine. They were an unsettling dark color. So dark, that they appeared black. He looked like he was in his 20's, but he still had a boyish face. His dark hair fell in his eyes and his hat had fallen off. He was surprisingly handsome.

My eyes widened as I realized he was in an army uniform. I just high-kicked an army dude in the jaw…this can't be good…

"Hana!" said Winry.

I was trying not to look too surprised and turned to Al, Pinako, Winry, and the sleeping Ed. "Are you all alright?"

"Are they alright?" I heard the man yell and turned back around with a scowl. I didn't care if he was an army dude anymore, Pinako didn't like military guys and he had come anyway and didn't leave when she asked him to. You cross my friends and you cross me.

I stomped over to him and leaned down so my face was right in his, "YES, are they alright. Last time I checked, they were the ones whose property was being trespassed on."

He looked like he was gonna bust a vein in his head. "YOU JUST KICKED ME IN THE JAW!"

I blinked. "Oh, right, sorry about that. You were in my way and you were bugging my friends. I really am sorry." I said. My gaze softened when I thought he might have an aneurism. "I don't like hurting people." He jumped when I pulled a tissue out of my pocket and wiped the blood off of his mouth.

He stood up quickly and I straightened. I almost collapsed when I realized he was about 5 foot 11 while I was 5 foot 5 at best. My tan skin paled. Damn, he was tall. I threw my bag to a surprised Winry and said "Hold on, I'll find…um…what's your name?"

"Roy Mustang" he said. Was it just me, or did it seem like his face had a permanent scowl?

"Ok, I'm gonna go get Roy some ice for his jaw real quick. I'll be right back. Pinako, can you come with me?"

I followed her into the kitchen. "Hana, you have a way of trusting who ever crosses your path. I don't suggest it with this man. I don't trust him."

I ignored the comment as I got the ice and said, "What does he want here, Pinako? What is he doing here?"

"He wants Ed to come to Central so he can become a State Alchemist."

I froze. "Pardon?" I said turning back to her, the ice still in my hands.

"Don't make me say it again, Hana. I know you heard me the first time."

Just then Al came in and said, "Um, Hana?"

I jumped and said "What is it?" I was still getting used to calling that suit of armor Al.

"Well, you see, he didn't want to listen when I told him to wait a second and uhm, yeah…Roy just ran out the door."

I twitched, grip tightening on the ice. "I'll be right back" I growled.

Winry had poked her head through the door and said "Hey, don't make too much noise. I'm surprised we haven't woken Ed up yet as it is."

I patted Winry on the head as I walked past her. I went out into the rain and saw his retreating back. Breaking into a run, when I was in range I yelled, "HEY, ROY!"

He turned slightly to look at me. I brought back the arm holding the ice and chucked it at his head.

He yelped and ducked the flying ice pack. "WILL YOU STOP TRYING TO BREAK MY FACE?" He bellowed down the road to me.

I walked the rest of the distance to him and said, "Roy, I don't want you messing with Ed and Al. They've been through more than you know. They're too young to go become State Alchemists. Ed's only 12!"

"They're gonna grow up eventually, little girl, they might as well get a head start and jump ahead when they get the chance."

"Well-WAIT, DID YOU JUST CALL ME LITTLE GIRL? I'M 20, YOU DUMBASS!"

"Really?" He said seeming mildly surprised. "You're so short, I thought you were 14."

"I DON'T LIKE YOU!" I snapped like a 5 year old, and turned to walk away and slipped in the mud, falling backwards on him. I started laughing at my own stupidity.

I jumped when I realized Roy was holding me from behind and had caught my fall. "Well, aren't you the Queen of mood swings?" He said in his sardonic voice.

My cheeks turned a light pink and I quickly pulled away from him. I huffed and started walking back to the house. When I got back inside soaked from head to toe and sulking, I saw his black hat lying on the ground. He must've left in a real hurry…I'm not that scary, am I? I picked up the hat and stared at it.

"Hana?" I heard Ed say and I jerked my head up remembering why I had come here in the first place.

"Hey, Ed." I said, giving him a warm smile. "How are you feeling on this lovely rain soaked day?"

He snorted before realizing I was holding a hat in my hand. "What's that?" he asked suspiciously.

"Oh, this? It's nothing a man from the a-" I caught myself. I didn't want him to know Roy had been here, because if Ed knew, I feared he might actually go. I cleared my throat and said, "Some man who stopped by to dry off for a second left it here. I'll just throw it away later. Now, let's change your bandages, ok?"

Ed wasn't stupid. I knew he hadn't believed a word I'd just said, but I was thankful he said nothing.

Or maybe I'm not. If he had asked, maybe I would've really thrown that hat away. If I'd thrown that stupid hat away, maybe I would've never gone to Central with Ed and Al. And maybe…maybe then I wouldn't have stayed there, either.