^*A/N: SO before you read this, make sure you go back to chapter 3 and re-read it. I made some CRUCIAL changes that greatly affected the storyline. You would be slightly confused if you didn't go back and read it… For those of you, who did read it, this chapter is where I change my plan about trying to keep with the story line… now I'm basically keeping the ideas of the story line and substituting my information. I mean, the BIG things will still be same, but some smaller things will be different. It's my fanfic I think I can do that. ENJOY chapter 4 and let your pants get some air; you don't know how much they will appreciate it.

Thanks for reviewing, although I would like to see more, yes I know, I'm a greedy bitch, but hey, who isn't at some point in their life?

*~* I finally got a beta reader so hopefully my chapters won't be so horrible about their grammar, now she didn't read this one, but she will in the near future! Thank you TheBaysQueen! MY FMA buddy! :)

**MonsterlyFiction :)

Warnings: The usual, nothing extraordinary.

Disclaimer: I plead the 5th… Is that right? Umm I plead the I-Don't-Own-Anything?…. Not right either? OH well.

Chapter 4:

"Fullmetal and Nature are not to leave Eastern Command. Now that Scar is after them, we cannot risk anything." Kagome let a breath out as she finished reading the letter, angrily handing to Ed from her hospital bed. "Great were on house arrest." Ed sighed.

"Yea… but at least you get released today." Kagome sighed lightly.

"I suppose so…" Just as she finished the nurse came in and handed her papers, telling her she could get dressed and leave when ever. Kagome nodded and stood, heading for the changing screen set up in the corner. Before she went behind it she sent a glare at the brothers, mainly Edward. "No looking."

Ed blushed. "W-what? Do you think I'm that much of a pervert?" He screeched. Al just laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his metal neck.

"I doubt that's what she meant brother…"

"Nope, that's exactly what I meant." She said from behind the screen, calling the brothers attention back to it. The outline of her form could be seen through the screen and Ed turned his back towards it, as to resist temptation.

Only after a moment Kagome emerged in her usual garb. Ed resisted the urge to frown at her, only now did he notice the healing cuts and gashes along her arms and legs. A pang of guilt went through him as he turned to the door.

"Come on guys lets go." Kagome adjusted the bandages that adorned her ribs before jogging to catch up with him. She hit him on the head. "What was that for?"

"Just because I'm out of the hospital, doesn't mean I'm completely healed, I have to keep my ribs wrapped up and what not. Don't make me run for unnecessary reasons." Al giggled at Ed's defeated look. Ed rubbed the back of his neck.

"Oh yea, sorry." Kagome smiled at him.

"No worries. Are we going to stop at the mess hall for lunch?" Ed nodded.

"Yea, I'm a little hungry too." He said, staring off at the hall in front of them. People greeted them, congratulating Kagome on getting out of the hospital as they passed. She politely thanked them, secretly wondering how they even heard about her recent hospitalization.

She looked over to Ed and sighed. Ever since she told him everything about her past life he got even more distant, like he is constantly thinking about something.

Kagome decided to pick up a light conversation with Al, which was going well, until Ed spoke up. "Where here, see you in a bit Al." Al nodded and walked off; Kagome always wondered what he did when they went to eat. Ed opened the door hating the way it always shut noisily. It let out a ring that went over the conversations, effectively making everyone glance their way for a moment.

Ed and Kagome did their best to ignore the stares as they went through the line. They walked to an open table; Ed took his seat, watching as Kagome carefully sat down across from him. Kagome took a slow deep breath, really hating how every excessive movement she did pained her.

They ate in near silence, Kagome really hated this, what did she say that made him so distant? When she was just about to snap, Maes joined them, giving Kagome a bear hug.

"Oh! I'm so happy you're out of the hospital! Alicia was starting to miss you and her face kept doing the cutes things!" He rambled on, oblivious to the fact that Kagome was trying to make him stop.

"Maes, please, let go…" She said, trying not to cry from the pain. Apparently he didn't he hear because he just kept rambling on about his wonderful daughter.

"Lieutenant-Colonel! Put Higurashi down, she's still injured if I'm not mistaken." Only now did the trio notice that everything was silent in the room. Maes gently set Kagome back on her feet with an apology and stood at attention. Kagome grabbed the table for a second, recollecting her breath before looking up, and instantly standing straight at the sight. Bradley smiled, waving his hand dismissively.

"At ease, no need for that here." They relaxed and Kagome absently wrapped an arm around her sore ribs. Everyone in the mess hall was watching the scene unfold.

"Fuhrer Bradley. To what do we own this honor?" Maes said, glancing over to Kagome with an apologetic look. The Fuhrer took a step forward, smiling at Kagome.

"Well, I came to see how the newest State Alchemist was doing. It's not every day that someone walks away from a fight with Scar, adorning only cuts and few broken ribs. In fact, one of our finest fell, while you still live." Kagome inched slightly closer to Ed; she got an uneasy feeling about this man. Kagome laughed nervously, placing a hand on the back of her neck.

"I really would have been a goner if Ed and Colonel Mustang didn't get there when they did." She half lied. Bradley gave a somewhat hearty laugh and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Well, we are glad that they got there in time. We wouldn't want to lose another great alchemist." He paused before slowly walking past them. When he was just next to Kagome he whispered something. "Not everyone can come back from the dead." Her face drained of color as he waved goodbye to everyone, his 'body guards' following closely behind. She stood there, fear coursing through her veins. The doors slammed with a noisy bang and Ed walked in front of Kagome, facing her as he tried to get her attention.

"Kagome… What's wrong?" He demanded when she snapped out of her trance. She grabbed his hand and pulled him close, whispering in his ear.

"He knows Ed. The Fuhrer knows that I died… this isn't good." She said, Ed didn't like how her voice was laced with fear and doom. "If he knows then there is no telling what they could do to me. They could lock me up, keep me for experiments, torture me for information, anything. Ed I don't know what to do… I-I'm… scared." Ed felt a drop hit his shoulder; he didn't have to look to tell that she was using him to help hide her tears from the people in the cafeteria. Ed sighed, taking her hand and quickly leading her from the room. Once outside of the room Kagome let her tears fall.

Ed pulled her into his embrace, surprising her for a moment before she hesitantly wrapped her arms around him. He reached an unsure hand up and gently stroked her hair, hoping it would calm her down a little.

"Kagome… Look, we will just have to play it by ear. We don't even know if they do plan to do anything. When and if they come, we will deal with it. Don't be afraid, we will be there for you." Kagome laid her head on his shoulder, taking as deep a breath as she could with her injury. She closed her eyes, a slightly dreamy feeling washing over her. What was it about Ed that made her like that?

"Thank you…" She whispered, not wanting to let go of him, but knowing that she would have to anyway. "For everything…" Just as she was about to pull away, the door to the mess hall slammed open, startling the couple apart. Maes stood there with a knowing smile on his face.

"I just knew it!" He gloated. Ed and Kagome immediately went on the defensive.

"Know what? There is nothing to know!" Kagome shouted above Ed's denying words.

"Maes just hummed and walked down the hall. "Sure… that's why you guys were holding each other. Don't worry, I won't tell the Colonel, like I want to be there when that happens." He turned a corner, leaving Kagome and Ed to blush at each other awkwardly.

"I-I need to go finish eating."

"I need to go find Al." They both said at the same time, before nodding and walking past each other, going in the opposite directions. Kagome went back into the dining hall, and found with a relieved sigh that no one threw away her food. She sat down and put her head on her hands, her elbows resting on the table.

'If that wasn't the most awkward thing… do I like Ed?' Her thoughts were flying around her head like no one's business, trying to comprehend the whole situation. Kagome thought Ed was just trying to comfort her, but what if it was actually something else? Something more than that? She groaned as she brushed her bangs from her eyes and moved to eat. She enjoyed a peaceful meal of just listening to her thoughts until someone sat across from her. She raised an eyebrow at the young man.

"What do you want?" Kagome asked almost rudely. She did have to say, most of the military people where just stuck up bastards and she was lucky enough to find the only ones who weren't.

"You are defiantly not as cheery as they say." He replied, taking a bite of his meal. Kagome glared at the man, who she had to admit, wasn't too bad looking.

"Well, sorry if I'm not the most 'cheery' person as I was made up to be. Now that that is settled, you can leave." She ran a hand through her obsidian hair, hoping he would just go away already. She shifted in her seat, relieving some pressure on her ribs. She sighed, looking up the boy who refused to leave as he ate. "I suppose if you're going to stay here, then we might as well introduce ourselves. I'm Kagome Higurashi, but I'm pretty sure you already knew that." She said with a dejected sigh, she really didn't like how her fame spread before she could stop it.

He flashed her a dashing smile. "I'm Rick Syrit, otherwise known as the Iced Alchemist." Kagome raised another eyebrow at his name. He chuckled a bit, moving his fork through his potatoes. "My demonstration involved ice, and I guess I came off as a little cold to them, so they thought it would suit." He said a bit sarcastically. Kagome smiled a little, think about how he and Mustangs abilities are completely opposite; she wondered who would win in a fight…

"I like your name. It has an interesting ring to it." His charming smile was placed back on his face and Kagome couldn't help but let her cheeks become a little colored from the fact that it was directed at her. Only now did she realize that his eyes were of the lightest, sweetest honey, deep pools that just invited a person in. How could someone think him cold with those eyes? "S-so, why did you come some sit here?" She asked, looking down at her food to escape his intense gaze.

"I thought you were interesting, and I heard stories, so I decided to come see for myself." He said simply, straight to the point. Kagome met his eyes again, this time narrowing them.

"What stories?" She asked. He smirked, and leaned in a bit, getting closer to her so he could whisper in her ear.

"I do not think you even want to know, miko." Kagome's eyes widened as she pulled back to stare at him. She ran through the list off people who would know about that. Only one was left that would call her that.

"Sesshomaru?" She whispered, disbelieving the whole situation. She was happy, happy to see Sesshomaru, what an odd world she came to live in.

"Are you just going to gawk at me like that?" He said taking another bite.

"I-I'm sorry, it's just weird, I have never been happy to see you before. It's a new feeling, that's all." The corners of his lips twitched, Kagome thought that was weird, he must have gotten softer over the years, less cold. That reminded her.

"Who else is still alive?" She asked, not really wanting to know the answer.

"A few demons still live today. The wolf leader, Kouga, Ayame his mate and their children." Kagome didn't know if this would be a sore subject, but she had to know.

"What happened with Rin?" A quick flash of pain flashed across his features, but it vanished as quickly as it came.

"She married a human and passed away peacefully of old age." Kagome cast her eyes down.

"I'm sorry…"

"Why? She lived a happy life." He didn't seem to remorse anything, he actually looked happy knowing that she's peaceful now in this time of war.

"Oh. Well, how about you?" She looked into his eyes, searching for anything. "How did you end up here anyway?"

"400 years is a long time in human years, so I decided to try different thing, test the waters as you say. This human life I decided to enlist in the military, see how it is like." Kagome couldn't help but chuckle, bringing a raised eyebrow from the taiyoukai in disguise.

"You would choose this?"

"It was either live in hiding as a Youkai Lord, or be able to get out disguised as a human, which one would you choose?"

"I see that, but why enlist in the military to be a military dog?"

"Why did you do it?" Kagome gave a small sigh.

"I'll tell you what I told the interviewers. I really have no idea why. Maybe it was that I had nothing left, so why not start a new life?" She twirled her peas around her plate, absently making a smiley face.

"Then, there is the answer to the question you asked me. We joined for nostalgias sake." He looked over her. "You've certainly grown up miko. I'll give you that." He smirked when she blushed slightly. She leaned forward, once again adjusting her weight for comfort, but she just got inadvertently closer to him.

"And you've gotten less cold. The years have been kind to you, Sesshomaru." He smirked and was just about to say something else when they were interrupted.

"Kagome." She jumped slightly when Ed's cold voice came from behind her. She turned her head.

"You scared me Ed. What do you need?"

"We need to go talk with that pain in the ass cousin of yours." Kagome sighed; she turned in her seat and got up. Turning to Sesshomaru, she gave a small bow of her head.

"It was nice talking to you, Rick." He offered her a smile before standing also, taking her hand and placing a kiss on her knuckles. Sesshomaru was satisfied when he saw the just about death glare on the young blond boys face. Kagome blushed a little, giving him a soft smile. She felt a tug on her arm and turned a glare at Ed, but let it fall when she saw the distant look on his face. She waved goodbye to Sesshomaru as Ed tugged her from the room.

Sesshomaru watched as they left. He ran his fingers through his bangs. 'She always falls for the same person, but at least he seems like he would treat her right.'

(-: ^^

"Ed, what's your deal?" Ed was roughly dragging her down the hall. He didn't stop until he was a good fifty feet down the hall. When he released her she turned an angry glare at him, using the wall for support until she could catch her breath. "Don't ever drag me around like that! I'm not some dog-." She was cut short when Ed placed his hands on either side of her head on the wall. He looked down at the ground, so Kagome couldn't see his face, but she could tell that he was contemplating something. "Ed?"

"Kagome, I have been thinking…"

Kagome couldn't miss the opportunity. "That's something new."

"I'm being serious here!" Kagome stopped and just looked at him. "I realized something when I saw you in there with that guy. I had been thinking over it for a few days, but that was what made up my mind." Kagome studied his eyes, looking for any answer she could.

"What is your mind made up about?" Kagome was surprised to say the least. Ed leaned in and sealed her lips with his. At first she didn't respond out of shock, but she closed her eyes and soon returned his kiss with fervor, placing her hands on his chest. Their lips moved in perfect sync, as if they have been kissing each other for years now. Kagome couldn't believe this was happening, the only other person she kissed was Inuyasha, and that wasn't anywhere near as involved as this. That kiss had been to save Inuyasha, so the fun was taken out of it, but this, this she couldn't describe.

She felt like she was on fire when he finally pulled up for air. They were both breathing heavy as Ed dropped his hands. Kagome brought her hand up to her lips, unsure of what to do, fully leaning against the wall now.

"T-that was… that was… " She honestly couldn't say anything else at the moment. "So, that's what you've been thinking about?"

"Yea, I… I care about you… more than just a friend…" Kagome didn't know how to respond. She stood there for a moment, making Ed regret his choice more and more each second. Ed turned to leave, effectively rejected and feeling like a complete idiot. Just as he took a step, Kagome reached for him, her hand just falling short of his red jacket.

She didn't call him back, or anything else. She just let him walk away, her arm still outstretched as he disappeared into the darkness.

(-: ^^

"Apparently, that Kagome girl is worth our time. Envy said he was there when she 'came back from the dead'. With her and Fullmetal our dreams will become reality." The being called Lust talked to no one in particular as Gluttony finished off his midday snack. She sighed as she heard another bone snap.

'Just keep a good eye on her Envy. She may be more important than Elric.'

^*A/N: Hoped you all loved this chapter! RREEEEvVViiEEEWWW!

*~* For people who aren't familiar with my other stories and how I do things in them. For every chapter I post, I say a song that I was listening to over and over again as I typed the chapter. This time its White Blank Page by Mumford & Sons… Love the song!

**MonsterlyFiction :)