The whistle blared out a last-call, making the train vibrate. The compartment was completely empty save for the single group of ninja. Tsunade and Iruka shared a bench, the former looking much bored and the latter trying not to peer out the window in curiosity every few seconds. Kakashi sat across from them, arms folded and head bowed, looking for all the world like he was sleeping. Sakura and Hinata were in the bench near the compartment door, checking their bags and making sure of their inventory. Kiba sat on the other side of the train, scratching Akamaru behind his tiny ears and trying to push away the lonesome feeling he always got when Ino wasn't there. On the very opposite end of the compartment, farthest away from everyone possible, Sasuke huddled himself up gracefully in a bench, forehead pressed agaisnt the glass. His legs were bunched up under him so that he would be able to leap to his feet should the need arise and his arms were draped at his sides loosely so as to give him access to anything he might need to grab. He appeared to look out the window, but actuality kept an eye on the faint reflections in the glass.

The sounds were loud and the movement was jerky as the train started up, huffing down the tracks slowly. Speed built up little by little and the great bounces and jumps smoothed out into a continuous rumble. The discomfort and the fear that each shinobi felt melted away with the vibrations, leaving their feelings along the rusted tracks. A little yawn escaped Tsundae, followed quickly by Iruka then Kakashi, then all the younger students. The godaime didn't fight off the wave of sudden sleep that fell upon her, instead relaxing into the familiar embrace. The two teachers exchanged glances, looked at the peaceful hokage and then at the teenagers scattered about the compartment, each drifting off into their own slumber. Kakashi nodded once to show the trust he held in Tsunade and then closed his eyes, folding his arms across his lap as Iruka relaxed himself into a comfortable-yet-alert slouch and slept.

Sasuke stayed awake, fighting off the sleeping spell as long as he could. He continued to watch the reflections in the glass, the images before him being noticed only in the back of his consciousness. And it was only there that he realized something.

There was no movement. The trees, the hills, the stones all stayed exactly where they were. The train did not move across the tracks, but their very souls traveled as far as they could go.


Edward's eyes drifted open lazily. He saw the dull grey ceiling of the military-issued dorms through a haze of gold. The three blankets he had piled on top of himself, despite the summer heat, had been kicked off during the night, but there was still a warm weight on his chest. His automail arm clicked and chinked, reminding him to let Winry have a look at it when he got the chance, as he reached up to move his bangs out of his eyes.

The weight on him, as comfortable as it was, shifted and grumbled, a sleepy snort escaping. A single blue cracked open and Edward felt lips tickle his chest as Naruto murmured, "Good morning, Ed-kun."

Edward moved forward to plant a quick kiss on Naruto's forehead in greeting, asking playfully, "What are you doing in here? Don't you have your own bed at Lieutenant Havoc's?"

Naruto sat up, stretching his arms above his head lazily and making his white cotton shirt (stolen from Havoc a few weeks ago) rise up to show a teasing amount of flesh just above his pajama bottoms. Edwards eyes moved down his lover's body and he could see the faint markings of a sun-like spiral scarred into Naruto's stomach forever. He felt his insides twist and his heart begin to hammer rapidly, but forced those feelings down, reminding himself that he wouldn't get hurt again and that Naruto and that woman he called his aunt (Fox demon? There was no way. Demons didn't exist and even if they did, that woman was one of the more normal people he'd ever met.) had sworn on their very lives that they would look after him.

"Is that really something to say to your boyfriend?" Naruto was asking sleepily, drawing Edward out of his darkened thoughts and back into the warm present. He yawned and sat himself more comfortably just above Edward's hips, legs straddling the other blonde's waist. Again, Edward felt that flash of fear, but he squashed it deep within himself, reaching up to cup Naruto's cheek instead of pushing him away. "Besides," Naruto murmured, leaning into the metal hand and warming it with his breath, "Kedit-baba decided to stay over at Havoc-dono's last night and I didn't want to have to listen to them. Again."

"Did you see Alphonse this morning?"

"No. But I did come in through your window, so he might still be here."

As though on cue, a hollow voice echoed through the closed door, calling out, "Big brother? Miss. Kedit is looking for Naruto, is he in there with you?"

"I'm not here," Naruto called. "Try looking somewhere else."

"Come on, bratling," Kedit called as well, her voice accompanied by a loud banging on the bedroom door. "It's our day off and I need you to go somewhere with me."

Naruto sighed and cast a longing look at Edward who just smiled and pushed Naruto off him gently. "If you don't go, she'll keep yelling at you."

Naruto stood at the side of the bed, stretching lazily. "I know. I just wanted to spend a little more time with you."

Edward leaned over and gave Naruto a soft kiss, feeling the other boy's arms drape around his neck lightly. Gentle teeth nipped at his lips, and Edward felt a pleasant shiver run down his spine, warming even his automail with a soft heat. Naruto pulled away with a cheeky grin and Edward hugged him once before turning away to get dressed.

"I'll see you later, Ed-kun," Naruto said, walking out the door.

"I'll be where we usually are," Edward called after him, and Naruto gave a thumbs up at acknowledge the words as Kedit immediately grabbed his arm and dragged him off.


Naruto sighed pointedly, plopping down on the park bench. Before him, the single water fountain stood like an ancient idol, ivy and moss growing out of control. Thick vines snaked between what had once been concrete statues of children playing, their various toys and instruments once supplying a stream of water now clogged by age. The main statue, a life-sized woman with two wings and her hands raised to the sky, was chipped away, missing one of her hands and half her face to reveal the simplistic mechanics designed to spray water forth from her fingertips. The grass spread out in thick waves from the base of the fountain, once only "unruly" and now descended into "chaotic". Benches made of stone, and one of dilapidated wood, sat at each of the eight compass points, though they were scarcely decorated and almost as overrun with growth as the fountain.

Kedit surveyed the land with one hand on her hip. Her black miniskirt danced across the tops of her thigh-high faux-leather boots in a gust of wind, and her low necked red shirt fell off one shoulder to reveal her bra strap. Her nine braids seemed to quiver, but a quick swipe of her hand stilled any energy that might have escaped.

"Do you think this is right?" she asked out loud, nervously fingering her hoshi-no-tama that she had strung up around her neck. The pear-shaped ball glowed dully against the base of her throat and she glanced at Naruto out of the corner of her eye. "Well?"

"How should I know?" Naruto grumbled. "You haven't told me why we're looking at random places. It's past noon and I haven't had any food today - I'm hungry."

"You're being whiney again," Kedit growled irritably. Without another word on the matter, or any matter at that, she turned sharply and stalked out of the park, Naruto catching up and keeping pace in three steps. She grabbed one of her braids and began to gnaw on the rubber tie at the base. Naruto contemplated asking his "aunt" why she was being neurotic again, but didn't. He would probably only be cursed at again.

"Where are we going this time?" Naruto chanced to ask, hands shoved deep in his pockets. Kedit and Naruto had stopped by Havoc's long enough for Naruto to dress in a pair of black slacks and a bright orange shirt, both of which Havoc had bought for him when he'd first arrived in Central. He wished he'd managed to grab a jacket since the weather was starting to cool down, but Kedit had rushed him so bad he was surprised he had his shoes on.

The Fox gave a mournful sigh around her mouthful of hair. Releasing her braid, she offered Naruto a small smile and said, "Would you like to go get some ramen? I'll pay for it."

Immediately the boy brightened and he threw his arms around Kedit. "All right! I can't wait - let's go!"

Kedit gave a soft laugh and hugged him back quickly. "I know you're eager, so go on and I'll meet you there."

Hardly had the words left her mouth than Naruto sped off, running down the streets to the little run down shop that had quickly become his favorite place to eat.


"So why are you being spastic?" Naruto asked around his mouthful of noodles. "You've been weird all morning."

"Don't talk with your mouth full, brat," Kedit chastised absently. She calmly slurped some of her ramen and chewed it slowly, deliberately, just to make the child wait. "I'm trying to find the perfect place."

Naruto pushed his bowl aside and signaled for a new one. "Miso, please." Then he faced his aunt. "For what?"

Kedit paused, seeming to look a little unsure as Naruto was handed his fifth bowl of ramen, and finally spoke softly, "A wedding."

Naruto, in the middle of slurping hot noodles, coughed and choked and almost, he claimed later, died if Kedit hadn't whacked him on the back with enough force to almost send him to the ground. "What was that for, brat?!" Kedit cried as Naruto continued to gag.

Naruto grabbed the napkin the chef had shoved in his face and proceeded to cough up a few noodles. Then he glared at the Fox sitting next to him, shouting, "If you're going to surprise the hell out of me, wait until I'm done, baba!"

"Damnit, brat," Kedit shrieked, glad she and Naruto were the only people in the restaurant. "I should smack you again – don't call me that!"

"Baba, baba, baba!" Naruto yelped as Kedit hit him again on the side of the head. "Besides, who would marry you, you abusive, mean, unlady-like, brash, vulgar, old woman Fox?"

Kedit kicked Naruto's chair out from under him, dropping Naruto to the floor. She contemplated kicking him, but instead turned back to her food, deciding to eat it before it got too cold. "If you must know, Jean-dono proposed to me last night."

Naruto stopped his wave of cursing and blinked up owlishly at Kedit who was blushing hotly. "But you don't have a ring on."

"Jean-dono." She busied her mouth with her ramen when the word came out like a squeak. Naruto pulled himself back into his seat and looked at his aunt in amazement as she swallowed and continued. "Jean-dono said he'd use his next check to buy me a ring." She glanced sidelong at Naruto, eyes and cheeks almost the same color. "Where'd you learn about the ring, anyway?"

Naruto frowned as a wave of homesickness washed over him suddenly. "Iruka-niisan took me to the movies a few times when I was little. One of them was a romance."

Silence befell them, broken only by Naruto slurping his noodles loudly. Kedit looked at her first half-empty bowl and then at the four empty ones next to Naruto. With a quiet sigh, she placed a hand comfortingly on the top of the child's head, smiling as he murmured a soft noise of contentment.


This chapter was actually rahter fun to write. I'm glad I could get it out before what I'm sure is going to be a two-month-at-least dry spell from me. Gah, stupid life gets in my way -.-

Anyway, I own neither FMA nor Naruto. So, till next time!