Hi! here is Chapter 2. I'm basically introducing you to your parental figure, that I promos will play an important roll somewhere down the line. So please don't skip! YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW THIS FOR LATER CHAPTER! Anyway, this is -Hopfully- the last mini story chapter. Sorry and enjoy!

1 WEEK

"(Name!)" Ms. Minikui yelled as you nodded off at the kitchen table.

"Hmm?" You ask, trying to keep your eyelids from falling again, but you were just too tired...

"(Name)!" She yelled again, only this time because you had fallen into your bowl of cereal.

"What the hell do you want, woman!?" You snapped back, wiping the food off your face. You had only gotten a total of three hours of sleep the night before, because you were deciphering alchemy notes and lost track of time. "I was up until 5 am deciphering notes, so excuse me for being a little low on sleep." You added, with a little sarcasm.

Ms. Minikui laughed dryly as she took your breakfast away, and began washing it. "Still looking for the key?" She asked, shooting you a look. Ms. Minikui wasn't the most beautiful woman in the world, but she wasn't ugly either, despite what her surname implied. ('Minikui' is Japanese for 'ugly') She had long black hair, and slightly tanned skin. She was a little on the flabby side, but only because she was about a billion years old. She was never married, and only had two cats that she refereed to has her children.

"Yeah, and I'm gonna keep looking until I figure it out." You replied, yawning and laying your head on the table. You long (hair color) hair was tied back in a messy braid, and you needed a shower. This was your fourth night without antiquate sleep, and the bags under your eyes where large and puffy. It was no wonder you were falling asleep right there at the table.

Ms. Minikui's small home in Central had been home to you for nearly six months now. She wasn't much of an alchemist, but she offered to teach you the styles of fighting they used in Xing, and a place to stay until you passed the Exam. So you having no other options, and not wanting to miss out on new knowledge, took her offer in a heartbeat.

"Well sweetheart..."She started. "You need to stop staying up so late. You'll die of exhaustion before you can find what you're looking for!" She joked, but you knew she really did mean what she said. "Go take a nap. I'll excuse you from your lessons today."

"But I don't wanna..." You protested

"GO TO BED NOW!" She yelled, pointing her kitchen knife at you.

"Ok! Im going!" You retreated before she could throw it. That old woman had killer aim.

You climbed the stares carefully, as it's was a proven fact that your coordination and basic motor skills were that of a drunk when you were sleep deprived. You stomped down the hallway as you always had, because you liked the way the floor creaked when lots of pressure was put on it. Once up in your room, you took you time actually going to bed. You spent almost an hour and a half just staining out the window, and another at the ceiling. In less than a week, you would be leaving her. You weren't one to cry, but the thought of leaving the comfort of the only home you ever knew, saddened you. Your mind flashed to the thought of what would happen if you didn't pass the exam, but you quickly dispelled the thought. I am going to become a state alchemist.

6 DAYS
The steam from the bath escaped when you opened the door, and for the first time in a wile, you felt completely clean. You scampered down the hallway and into your room, closing the window shades quickly so that no one could see you. You changed into some clothes quickly, and sat at your desk. It was a mess to say the least, but you didn't dare move a thing, because it was all part of your research.

"(Name)!?" Ms. Minikuni yelled to you from downstairs.

"Yes?" You yell back, coming to the staircase.

"Would you help me with the pie? I never can make them as good as you can." She smiled, waving you down to the kitchen.

You loved to cook and bake. It was just like alchemy, but without the equivalent exchange...and it was edible. When you reached the kitchen, the smell of fresh apples, and cinnamon stimulated your senses, and you couldn't help but stand there sniffing the air for a second. But only a second. Pies don't bake themselves! You first made the crust, then pealed and cut the apples, added the cinnamon, spices, sugar, more sugar...and after about an hour of prep, you popped the pie in the oven. Then you waited a hole ten seconds before checking the oven to see if it was done yet. Patience was not one of your strong suits. After almost going into a brake down twice, it was finally done!

As you and Ms. Minikui sat at the table eating the delicious pie, you frowned at the fact that this would be the last pie you would get to bake with her.

96 HOURS (four days)

It was only six in the morning when you slipped out of the house. Today was Minikui's 67th birthday, and you hadn't gotten her a gift yet. As you strode down the streets to the market, you were greeted by one of you friends. Her name was Kano, and she often came over for dinner or to ask you for help around her store. She was also great at haggling.

Everyone seemed to be selling the same things. Cloth, food, 'rare' pieces of pottery, jewelry, cloths, and just old junk. You just couldn't find the right gift for her...until you stumbled across weapons from Xing. You carefully picked up a staff with gold accents. This was more for decoration than fighting, but you still believed it would be a nice gift for a woman who was armed to the teeth.

"Excuse me sir? How much for this staff?" You asked, holding the staff in front Of the man who was selling the piece.

"O-oh, that? W-well, that's about, ah, 700 cens." He said, picking something out of his teeth and rearranging things, not giving you his undivided attention.

"WHAT THE HELL!" You shout In disbelief.

"(name,) Settle down. Let me handle this." Kano said, softly patting you on the shoulder.

"Look here, Sir. Don't you think 700 cens is a bit pricey?" She started, leaning over his counter a little. "I mean, it's not even that nice,"

"Now look here Girlie. That staff is one-of-ah-kind!" He shot back, defending his merchandise.

"But if you look at that scratch here...and the chip here...and this here..." She relied, pointing to scratches and other imperfections. The man nodded and took note. "I'm a professional weapons appraiser and from what I'm seeing, this staff isn't even worth half of 700 cens." Kano stated doing over-the-top gestures to sell her act.

The man took a second before responding to Kano. "Ok, tell you what. I'll charge you 150 cens."

Kano smiled, and shook her head 'no'. Taking the staff from you, she continued to show the man errors in the staff until he finally decided to let you take the item for 25 cens, as Kano had told him that was the best offer he would get for something so 'flawed'. Satisfied with this price, you shelled out the money, and took the staff away.

"Kano? Are you actually a weapons appraiser?" You ask as the two of you made your way from the market. Kano suddenly burst into laughter and told you that she made the hole thing up. I'm glad I brought her along.

2880 MINUETS (two days)

Kin and Kuna (the cats) were curled up by the stove as Minikuni prepared for dinner. Tonight's dish was her famous Ahi tuna, and boy, was it smelling good tonight! By the time dinner was ready, it was dark. Tonight was strangely quiet, as you didn't have the usual surprise guest.

Suddenly, Kin jumped onto the table, soon followed by Kano. You frown as they walk up and down the table, smelling the food, and shedding all over your dinner. After about ten minuets, you lost it.

"Can you make the cats get of the table or something. I want to eat tuna, not Kuna." You stated, your irritation obvious.

"sorry, can't help you." She answered, not even noticing that the cats were now licking your food.

You were pissed. First, your dinner is being stollen by a couple of house cats, and now, the person in charge of them wont lift a finger. So you stood up, picked up the cats, and left them outside all alone, until Minikui made you sleep outside as well. These where her exact words "if your going to treat my animals like animals, then I'm going to treat you like an animal as well!" Even though you weren't quite sure if she realized that you were a person, and Kin and Kuna where cats, you didn't dare protest.

86400 SECONDS (one day)

It was your last day before the exam, and you were very excited, but also sore from having to sleep outside all night, and for some strange reason, Minikuni had sent you away for the day. She didn't even tell you why! So as you walked about central, you thought about what that crazy woman was up to now. Last time she sent you off, you came home and the hole house was flooded in the woman's attempt to deep clean the house.

You are walking by the park when you notice you are being followed. "Bark! Bark!"

"What do you want!" You yell, knowing that the dog wouldn't be able to answer back. The dog keeps barking and seemingly telling you to follow it. So you do.

The dog takes you a butcher shop, and you quickly get the message that the animal is hungry and wants some food. So you walk into the store, and buy some scraps. You head back outside, and quickly give the animal some food. The dog was red and white, and about 45 pounds. He was strong, but skinny. He also didn't have a collar, so you assumed he was a stray. After the dog finished his food, and you were walking home, you noticed you were being followed again.

It was dark by the time you arrived home, and it looked like Minikuni had fallen asleep, because the lights were out. You tried to open the front door, but it was locked. And so was the back door. And all the windows. What now? You thought for a second. "I'll just make my own door." You say, completing a transmutation circle on the back side of the house. You smile at your good work, and enter the house. You walked into the kitchen when suddenly, the lights flipped on, and your house is filled with all your friends. You smiled,and hugged Minikui as she and everyone else wished you good luck on your exam tomorrow.

Thank you, Minikuni.

So there! Hope it wasn't too bad! Ch.3 is on the way, and in that chapter you -finally- meet the Elrics! If you have any ideas, don't be scared to PM me or post in the Comments! I'm looking for a way to possibly have someone die, so let me know if you have an idea about how I could do that.