A/N: Wow, this fic is recieving a lot of support! Thankyou to everyone who read and/or reviewed! Quick question, what genre do you guys reckon this story is? I can't decide :S This chapter is just to put Ed bck in character a little. He's in Xing next chap ;)

Chapter 2: Fury

"… We will reach Risembool station in the next ten minutes. Please collect your luggage and be ready for departure. We will reach Risembool station in the next ten minutes. Please collect…"

Edward awoke with a start to the automated voice, repeatedly informing the passengers of their next stop. He'd been asleep; Ed assumed the familiar station call had woken him. He yawned, stretching his arms over his head relaxedly.

"Hey Al, could you pass-" the teenager stopped abruptly as he realized Al was absent from the carriage. Yesterday's events came flooding back to him.

"We'd all be better off if he left!"

Edward sighed and hit himself lightly on the head. What was he doing? How could he be so unbelievably stupid? He could fix things with everyone for sure! A little change for the better wouldn't kill him. And yet, yesterday he'd just felt so damn upset that he'd just taken off without a second thought. Edward groaned, unable to believe that he'd just run away from his problems like a child. Mustang would never let him live it down.

The alchemist face-palmed yet again, suddenly recalling a serious problem. The resignation letter! He'd resigned from the military for no reason after 3 years of effort. Al really was going to kill him. Edward stood reluctantly as the train gradually stopped.

"We have arrived at Risembool station," the computerized voice announced.

"Yeah, yeah," muttered Ed to himself as he reached for his suitcase, before realizing it wasn't there. His luggage was back in central HQ. Swearing under his breath, Edward jumped off the train and headed up the familiar dirt path. He'd just go to the Rockbell house, call the others and let them know that he was alright, and then head back to Central tomorrow. Ed tucked his hands in his pockets as he walked. Why had he gotten so upset yesterday? It was strange, very unlike him. He ran a hand through his hair out of habit, receiving a shock when he felt the absence of his braid.

Edward ran over to the nearby stream he'd played in as a kid and observed his reflection. His hair was no longer weighed down by its length, and it now stuck up, a bit like his antennae used to. However, the long bangs lining his face remained the same.* He growled in annoyance and stood with a 'humph' before stomping the rest of the way to the Rockbell house.

"Hey, Granny? Ya home?" Edward called, pushing open the door. The Rockbells always kept their door unlocked, in case an injured person required their assistance quickly. He heard voices down the hallway and turned the corner to see Pinako talking on the phone.

"I hate Edward!" screamed the voice on the phone. Ed abruptly felt weak as he leaned against the wall, feeling the misery bubbling up inside him again.

"Calm down Winry. At least he left voluntarily," said Granny sternly. Edward hung his head. It never occurred to the despairing blonde that Granny was trying to assure Winry that he hadn't been kidnapped.

"He's finally gone! After all those hints from us and the other officers, he finally got the message. Right, Al?" Winry sounded wild. Al didn't answer.

Edward turned and slipped out of the house, feeling unfamiliar tears in his eyes yet again.

But they weren't just tears of sorrow. He was slowly becoming aware of the rage that was building in his heart. They betrayed him… All of them! He put his trust in those people, like a fool, and they were trying to get him to leave all along! The only reason those scumbag officers had even made 'friends' with him was probably just to boost their standing in the Military! None of them even cared about him, not even Al or Winry! Edward scowled and punched a nearby tree with his right arm in pure fury at this betrayal. The tree splintered and cracked in half, collapsing to the ground with a shudder. Edward turned on heel and tore down the dirt path again towards the train station. He was going to leave this country and everybody in it.

Everyone in the world hated him. Well, that was just fine, because he hated the world back!

Three strangers watched as the teenager felled the tree and ran off, seething.

"So that's how it works," commented a deep voice.

Two sets of pale yellow eyes turned to the speaker.

"Dessspair…" said one.
"And fury…" said the other.

The first man smirked malevolently. "Combine the two, and Amestris will fall. This country will soon be mine."

*If anyone is having trouble visualizing Ed's new haircut, think of Minato's (the 4th Hokage off Naruto) hair, but with just bangs, no fringe. :)