Disclaimer: CHECK PROLOGUE!!!! But incase ya don't and I don't want my ass sued…I no own, you no sue!!!!! There I said it…are you happy?!! .

First off I'd like to apologize for the antagonizing long wait!!!! v.v GOMEN NASAI!!!

(hides and ducks down before I can feel the wrath of angry people lead by one of my beta's, Vera-san….NNOOOOOOO!!!! IMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRY!!!

Telephone: ring ring

Mom: hands me phone it's for you (leaves)

Me: yes?

Other person: Hi Tsuki…

Me: Oh hi Stacey! Guess what! very excited

Stacey: Let me guess you finally grew 5 feet tall.

Me: (about to say yes, when realizes what Stacey has said) . NO!!! 'Sides im almost 5 feet (4ft 10 3/8 in)

(goes into a spazz) WHO ARE U CALLING AN ANT SO SMALL THAT WHEN U STEP ON IT, IT DOESN'T DIE BECAUSE IT FITS INSIDE THE SHOE'S GROOVE!!!!!!! .

Stacey: (laughing her ass off)

Me: (silently fuming) -///-

Not short! (pouts)

Stacey:…..

Me: ----

Aaaaaannnnnnnnyyyyyyyyyywwwwwwaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy, IwenttoColonialDriveinOrlandoandiboughtssssoooooooooooooomuchsweets!!!!! (gasps for breath) AAAANNNNNNNNDDDDD igotgreenteapocky,strawberry,andmen'schocolatepocky, aswellassomewintermelonpastecakeandsomeanimestuffandihadsuchablast!!!!!!! n.n (gives large grin)

Stacey say what?

Me: (starts over at a more human pace)

Stacey: cool (sounds a little jealous)

Me: (laughs) don't worry I got you and Kitty some stuff as well!

Stacey: cool! -

Me: -

All: Now on with the fic!

Me: (pops in) oh yea…and please don't forget to review! ONIGAI?!!!! (gives large puppy dog eyes)

(bows) Domo Arigato!!

Chapter 5: Valentine's Day Blues

Edo-kun's P.O.V.

Soon after Halloween had passed, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even New Years quickly followed. To me they were all uneventful…..Thanksgiving-objective: hide and avoid Roy and drown in my angst. I mean, what could I possibly be thankful for anyway?!!! Then came Christmas, augh! I never really had much of Christmas in the past with it just being Al and me, but at least we had each other, now I just couldn't see the point in celebrating a holiday that centered on family. Ha! Family, what a laugh! What family?!!! If someone can see one, please tell me, 'cause I sure as hell can't!

'Sigh.' "Why am I arguing with myself anyway?"

For both Thanksgiving and Christmas, my hiding spot was my salvation, but for New Years….no dice. Roy had discovered my secret haven and brought me out of hiding via instant flames! 'Oh what fun it is to celebrate another damn inferno holiday alone.' I just wanted to burrow under my covers and never come out, but again, my attempts were thwarted by my evil superior.

"KUSO TAISA!!!"

Oh, in case you are wondering, I am lying on my bed right now, idly completing another useless assignment for class. Unfortunately I can't concentrate on this shit right now…I was too busy fuming about the upcoming festivities for, insert shudder here, Valentines Day.

"Valentine's Day" I nearly spat the vile words out of my mouth.

Incase ya couldn't tell, I hated this day with a passion, even before Al….before Al….

I felt a hard lump in my throat as memories of Al resurfaced, first with the happier times, but then they became distorted….Al and me creating animals out of stone, mom's death and our desperation to bring her back, performing the forbidden alchemy, Al's soul being ripped from his body, screaming, Envy and Wrath, Al's boyish smiling face, Al's body lying in a puddle of his own blood, Al laughing with Winry and me, Al's body crumpling to the ground, lifeless….

…it was all too much….my breathing became more haggard and ragged as the memories wouldn't stop their tormenting….

Quickly as I could, I grabbed the nearest hidden blade that I could find…

Slash. Slash. Slash. Slash.

The pain and memories blended and faded together as the blood ran down my arm and numbness overtook me. I sighed in deep relief as the tainted memories faded from my already plague-stricken mind.

I went to get up, but then promptly fell down again. It was at this time that I noticed that the blood just kept flowing…Something was wrong!

I staggered as I tried to stand again. This time I was able to grab hold of the nearby desk with my other arm and steady myself. I gasped and panted in short breaths from the effort to keep standing. My legs wobbled under me…Shit! I must've cut too deeply, the blood started to form a pool around my feet. Fuck! I needed to stop the flow…and Fast!

I looked around me desperately seeking out a strip of material that I could use as a tourniquet….my eyes searching for something, ANYTHING! But to no avail. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of one of my ripped up shirts…I flailed around and….. "almost there….just a little bit further…" Damn…the one, probably the most important time in my life, and I have to be short! Fuck!!!!!

Did I ever mention that I hate being short?!! Well sometimes, it REALLY fucking sucks!!!

Damn! My vision started to go hazy…and I almost succumbed to the blissful darkness, when I heard someone gasp.

Shit! As if it already wasn't bad enough. I exhaled a shaky breath and looked up. Dread filled my entire being in that one single moment. I saw plain black shoes, a black school robe…damn, it's another student. Just fucking great!...and…. "H-Harry?"

The teen looked at me with wide, livid green eyes. It only took him a second before he reacted….well one good thing about this situation is that he knew to take action now, and ask questions later…

He saw what I was reaching for and quickly helped me tightly bandage me up.

Once the task was over, an awkward silence filled the room…

"Um, please don't tell anyone," was the only thing that I could think of to say…my mind just went blank.

He looked startled, as if he had just been splashed awake by a bucket full of ice-cold water.

He glanced at me as if pondering why I would do such a thing, and for a moment I thought he would voice this unspoken question. But to my relief, he didn't ask. Instead he shot me a look of, was that pity, or sympathy in his eyes?

"No! Don't look at me like that….I just…look I have my reasons ok?" I said nervously and irritated.

"If it makes ya feel any better, I didn't mean to go so deep…"

I looked up to see his expression and I almost missed the look he shot me before it dissolved behind…a mask of apathy…it looked like mine….it hid years of pain…and I could have sworn I saw a look of understanding, before he slowly nodded.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone, unless you go too far again. Deal?"

I nodded numbly as relief washed over me.

He helped me clean up the mess I made and we headed off to class.

I sighed for the…15th? 50th? time that day. Kami-sama, for the life of me, I couldn't focus in class…

My vision kept blurring and my head started to pound. I nearly fainted but I was able to make it look like I was nodding off to sleep…luckily for me it was the most boring class so I wasn't the only one asleep. However, Harry kept giving me worried looks every now and then.

I had mixed feelings on this. First I was annoyed about it, but then I felt a little pleased that at least one person cared about me and that my secret was safe with him.

The rest of the day passed by in a whirlwind of nausea and near blackouts. Needless to say, it sucked!

I can't remember the last time I was wishing for classes to end and dinner to begin. It's not that I was planning on eating; I just wanted classes over so I could sleep it off.

The class started to shuffle around. Hm? "Finally," I sighed as I too stood from my seat to leave the last antagonizing class of the day. Maybe the gods aren't completely pissed at me.

I tried to sneak into the room and flop on my bed, except there was already someone on it. Guess I spoke too soon. Damn.

Roy was there looking like the ever-present stick in his ass just got shoved further in another inch or two.

"What do you want, taisa?" I glared at him tiredly.

His glare faltered and his gaze softened a bit.

"Ed…are you feeling alright? You looked a little pale in class…"

"Yes I'm fine" I replied in a clipped tone. "Now could you please leave, I'm tired, you can bother me later."

Uh oh, maybe I shouldn't have said that, for his head snapped up and his glare was back. Shit. Way to go, me! I just fucked up again! Is there no end to all of this?!

I laughed bitterly. Well there was one way to end it. It would only take a second, too.

I was pulled out of my morbid musings when I heard movement.

Good, he's leaving. Good riddance.

I flopped down unceremoniously onto my bed and promptly fell asleep.

Maybe I should've stayed awake a little bit longer, but I was so exhausted.

Regardless, I found myself rudely awoken to the ominous form looping over me.

You know how I said he looked pissed before? Yeah, well scratch that. That was nothing compared to the wrath he was showing now.

Roy's P.O.V.

I crept back inside once I thought he was asleep. I wanted to do an inspection and dammit, like I was going to let some Hagane no Mame stop me!

I looked at his form and noticed that a piece of gauze was poking out from underneath his long-sleeved shirt. I knew it! But how the hell did he do that?! I thought I had taken away all of his sharp weapons.

Under closer inspection, I realized one major thing. The cut was DEEP! Really deep. The blood was already soaking through the tightly bound and thick gauze. My pulse quickened its pace so fast I'd thought I'd die of a heart attack. I rewrapped his bandages and shook him forcefully awake. Fear and anger fueled my resolve. This had to stop. NOW!

Ed's P.O.V.

Nothing. Darkness. I was swimming in it. Consumed by it. I couldn't see anything at all, but somehow, in a strange and twisted way, it was comforting. Finally I had found peace, even if it was only temporary.

I just wanted to lie there forever.

Did I forget to mention that Kami hated me?

Well he did!

I was rudely shoved awake.

NO!

I could feel the edges of consciousness creeping up on me as I was pulled from my wishful resting place.

"What?!" I grumbled irritably. I blearily peeling my eyes open to throw the best glare I could muster, which was unfortunately not as strong as I would have liked.

My glare faltered as I realized just who it was that had disturbed my slumber.

Oh shit! I was in for it now.

Needless to say, Roy threw a fucking fit! He first started by ranting and raving at me, wildly flailing his hands around with emphasis as if he wanted nothing more than to set me on fire. Eyes burning, His tall form loomed over me like a manifestation of death itself.

I flinched away from him as he tried to grab my arm. I recoiled when he showed me the blood that was soaking through the thick gauze.

His fury was replaced by irritable concern.

"Com'on Ed, let's get you to the infirmary to try and stop the flow of blood."

His grip tightened, leaving me with no room for argument as he dragged me out of the room and passed the dormitory.

He didn't stop until we were there. Madame Pomfrey wouldn't stop fussing once she saw the wound.

She also left no room for explanations as she quickly sealed up the cut and forcefully guided (coughforcedcough) me into a bed.

Looks like I'll be spending the night. Joy.

She gave me something vile that I had to drink.

"Augh." I made a face; it was nasty.

In seconds I could feel the room becoming fuzzy; more distant.

My last lingering thoughts were "Happy Valentine's Day."

A/N: I know I haven't updated in a looooooonnnnnnnngggggggg while, and for that I am deeply sorry! (bows) GOMEN NASAI!!!

But you see, with balancing everything going on with my life so far, it's been very difficult to find time to write this. I am not using this as an excuse, nor do I want any sympathy/pity! I'm just saying this to inform.

Also, this is unedited so if anyone sees any mistakes, please tell me!

Domo Arigato!!