DISCLAIMER: Isadora and Jona are the only characters I own. Fullmetal Alchemist isn't my baby.

Between the sheet of paper in her hand and the building she stopped at, she wondered if Jona was finally losing it. "This can't be right…" She had no idea what a butcher shop had anything to do with her training, but it wasn't like she had anything to lose by knocking, right? Stepping up, she lightly knocked on the door and just waited. It didn't take long for someone to answer, but she was startled by the stature of them. It was intimidating and she wasn't liking it one bit. "A-ah, um, I'm looking for Izumi." She spoke while straining to look up at him. If she thought she was tall then next to this man she was sorely mistaken. However, it looked like she had gotten the right place because the man called for her and disappeared and was greeted by a woman who didn't look the least bit happy to see her.

"Yes, what do you want?" Izumi asked getting straight to business.

"Jona told me to come here." Isadora said, "I want you to train me how to fight. It's the only way to achieve my goal." She looked her straight in the eyes. She wanted to prove that she wasn't afraid of the decisions that she was making.

Izumi said nothing and only walked back into the house leaving the door open. Was she supposed to walk in? Was she being invited? As she pondered all of these questions while just standing there unsure the woman yelled at her to come inside. Isadora did not hesitate to follow orders. There wasn't any talk about the training or whether or not she would teach her. She stayed for lunch that was beautifully made and tea as she sat uncomfortably across from the woman when they settled in the living room.

Isadora didn't dare speak up, she just shifted in the silence. Maybe this hope was futile.

"So..tell me, child. What reason could you possible need to be trained by a housewife?" Izumi suddenly asked keeping her eyes closed as she sipped at her tea.

"I, um, I'm planning on being a State Alchemist in a year and I need to learn close combat."

"Hm." Was the noise Izumi made before putting down her cup. Leaning forward she laced her fingers as her chin rested. Dark eyes were focused on her now and frankly, it was making her more uncomfortable than she already was. "What reason do you have for becoming a dog?"

Her lips pursed for a minute before answering with: "I can't tell you, just that they have information I need. I can't give you details when I'm not sure if you'll report me to the authorities. Jona may trust you and while I know better than to question his judgement, I don't even know you." As the words were leaving her lips, she went from nervous and slightly afraid to almost half glaring at Izumi.

Again more silence filled the room, but this time it didn't last as long as before. The woman spoke about her own experience with The Gate and then Isadora shared her story. Well most of her story, she left out the fact that she wasn't human and the curse Truth left her with instead of taking the toll. She hoped Izumi wouldn't question her and she was pleased when she didn't.

"Funny thing is, I'm not sure if I want to go back to that place. I just...I just want to know what happen." She had gotten up from her seat and headed toward the window with arms crossed over her chest, "That alchemist promised me that he'd come back if I did this, but from what you've told me...that's not possible is it? I sacrificed my life for nothing. Just fancy tricks and lies." Her hands gripping tightly as she held herself. Trying to keep herself from falling apart in front of this woman. Not now...not here. Please. She shut her eyes trying not to let the tears fall down her cheeks. "It's my fault that he's dead and why he couldn't come back." The thought that haunted her for years was now leaving her lips.

"Stupid girl, alchemist are not gods and you were foolish enough to think otherwise." Isadora flinched at her harsh words.

"I don't need you telling me what I already know." She bit back, "I went in with every thought that it probably wouldn't work."

"And yet you still did it."

"What about you?! You committed the same sin as me! Don't act high and mighty!" Isadora yelled as she whipped wildly around to glare at Izumi. She could feel her heart racing and did her best to catch her breath. She didn't want to be looked down by this woman of all people. As if she needed a reminder of the idiotic decisions that had made. "You know what? Forget it. As if some old hag could teach me anything."

With those words, she let herself out or at least she tried to, but her path was blocked by two figures. A blonde haired boy and a suit of armor stood in her way, in an attempt to step past them. The woman had ordered them to grab her before she could escape. A small yelp left her lips as the armor grabbed hold and lifted her off the floor. Besides being confused, Isadora was scared out of her mind. What was going to happen to her?

No one said anything beside silent hand gestures of telling them to follow her out back where she was let go. "You two stand over there." Izumi demanded as she stepped up toward the blue eyed girl and before she could even conjure up a reaction, she felt a fist connect with her stomach just knocking the wind out of her. "Tsk. You have a lot guts calling me an old hag, I'll give you that."

An unimaginable pain coursed through her body, but it still was nothing compared to when she shifted between her tail and legs. Scrapping her fingers through the dirt, she forced herself to stand up. Isadora's only reply was a laugh, she probably looked hysterical as she felt, but she didn't know how else to reach.

Sticking a hand into her bra, she pulled out four vials of water as she poured them into her hand just clapping them together and just let the liquid spread up her arms and extend outward. She balled translucent fists just smirking at her. "Is that the best you've got, old hag?" She knew it was stupid to continue pushing her buttons, but with those words she ran at her full speed wildly throwing punches.

Two minutes. That's all it took for the woman to down the girl. Isadora's breaths were ragged as Izumi left her line of vision and was greeted by a blonde and the armor again. Even in her tiredness, she still found the strength to narrow her eyes at them - which was equally just as painful.

"Hey, it's not my fault you're an idiot." The blonde said as she offered a hand to help her up. Isadora had thought about refusing his help, but at this rate she doubt that she would be able to scrap herself off the ground. Groaning as she was brought up on her feet again, her footsteps wobbled. Without much of care, she just leaned herself up against the boy, "Woah, jeez, what were you even thinking? Do you have a death wish or something?"

"Or something...yeah." When they settled her at least on the stairs, Isadora undid in her ponytail and let her hair drape like a curtain to hide just how badly she wanted to cry, "Dammit..maybe I should forget about combat...being a State Alchemist can't be all about fighting…" She mumbled as she clapped her moist hands and placed one on her arm as a silver glow began its work it's magic and heal some of the bruises that coated her arms and was about the only learned alchemy she knew, healing was something she picked up from books. Everything else? She had that since birth, but to not completely throw people off she gave the illusion of it.

She hadn't realized that in the process of semi fixing herself up that the boy was watching her. Eyes as wide as a deer in headlights, all she could do was stare back at him with a cocked brow.

"What?" Isadora snapped.

"You...You did alchemy without a circle." He replied.

Looking away from him she tried to stand up to leave, but her legs shook so much that she couldn't even fathom the idea of getting up. No, she wasn't going to answer anymore questions or tickle anymore curious brains. Just as he began speaking up Izumi had made her entrance again. Isadora's entire body froze at the sight of her, but she just walked past her toward the two boys. Isadora couldn't with her kill first, ask questions later method. Well, at least she wasn't the victim this time as the woman sent the boy flying.

Much to the two boys protest about her staying for what seemed like an extremely none of her business conversation. Of course she was shocked by everything she was learning about the two, Isadora wasn't sure what the heck to do anymore. Her entire visit was equally painful as it was awkward. While they all shared something in common, she still couldn't relate to them on the same level. She wasn't even the same species as them to begin with. Yet without further ado, she received the answer she had been waiting for all evening.

"I won't train you because you've already broken my rule," Izumi glanced briefly at her before looking at the boys, "And you two are expelled." While Isadora didn't react much, but boys look broken. "Now get out of my house and take that with you."

As all three were kicked out of the house, Isadora didn't hesitate to get a move on. She already had spent too much time faffing around for nothing and she sure as hell was going to have a stern talking to with Jona when she got home.

Yet her pace was so slow that Ed couldn't deal with it. Slinging her arm over his shoulder he mumbled, "Where do you live? We'll walk you home."

"Why?"

"Well...it is sort of our fault that you got roughed up." Alphonse replied as he scratched the back of his head.

"Da, chert voz'mi eto! Vy pridurki!" She replied in her native tongue as the two looked confused at her outburst. She wanted to laugh, "Yeah, just keep going down this road until you hit the bookshop."

Once they reached the house, she invited them inside to be faced by a man that only went through so many series of emotions that it kind of just pissed her off toward the end when he started laughing.

Basically what she said: "Damn right it is! You assholes!"

Ugh, this chapter has been through a series of endless changes, but I think that this is a good stopping point. I realize I keep ending with Jona cuteness because, well, he's an adorable old man. Anyways, I hope you enjoy! I'm going to try and post as often as I can. I have so many muse for this story since it's a combo of two things that I love so much. o u o