I CURSE YOU COLLEGE…and slight writer's block on this story. And on to my second semester I go!

And the next chapter of ST, of course.

---

When Roy gave the English quizzes back to his students, the first one to leap up waving her paper in the air and cheering was Mikan Sakura.

Hotaru was quick to burst her friend's bubble – or at least, try to keep her from doing anything rash. "You only got seven out of ten." Hotaru's paper showed a perfect ten with "Great job!" written beside the score.

"But it's higher than most of my quizzes! Aren't you happy for me?" asked Mikan, sinking back into her chair and still grinning from ear to ear. "I'm happy for you too – you're really good!"

With a sigh and a small smile, Hotaru admitted, "Yes, Mikan."

"Seven out of ten is pretty good, Mikan!" Yuu added.

"What did you get, Yuu?"

"I got everything! I can't believe it!"

"Wow, that's really amazing! You and Hotaru got perfect scores!"

Roy couldn't help beaming as well as his students went over their quiz results – with the exception of a precious few who chose to keep quiet and let their faces speak for themselves. "I'm glad everyone managed to pass," he said, twirling his faithful golden pen in one hand. "Looks like we're all ready for the next lesson, aren't we? We're through with verbs…and now we're going to discuss…"

Everyone hurriedly scrambled to keep their quiz papers and bring out notebooks, pens and pencils. As Ruka brought out his and his pet rabbit sniffed at his new pencil, he noticed that Natsume was not as excited – not that it was anything new. His quiz paper was now crammed into his pocket.

But Ruka wasn't the only one concerned with Natsume. Somewhere outside the classroom, Persona lurked nearby, surveying Natsume through his mask. Still, even though his business was with the boy of the fire Alice, he couldn't help watch the teacher with the fire Alice as well. They were different, Persona noted. And Roy Mustang was also different – as in, different from the other faculty, and something about him didn't seem exactly right.

He could've sworn that Roy glanced his way, and Persona ducked behind a tree. Maybe he should have chosen a green disguise instead, but then again, he just wouldn't look as intimidating when he looked like a plant.

Natsume had told Persona that he wasn't fond of that bigheaded bastard of a substitute teacher…and yet, although the boy didn't seem to take any interest in whatever lesson they were discussing, he was also watching Roy, in the same way Persona shifted his gaze from Natsume to Roy and back again.

A very interesting character indeed, thought Persona, stroking his chin. I wouldn't be surprised if Natsume happened to be somehow related to Roy besides being his student.

Then he abandoned his spying spot, disappearing quickly into a grove of trees.

---

"Come in."

Even though it had been several days since Hughes took over Roy's position temporarily, Riza still somehow expected Roy's voice instead of Hughes' as she knocked on the door of the office. She entered, and indeed there was the lieutenant colonel, looking at a few photos which he pocketed as she placed the necessary paperwork on his desk.

"Sir, these are the new documents on the situation in the West," she said. "If I may ask, have you heard from the Colonel?"

The disgusted expression that briefly crossed Hughes' face as he flipped through the papers changed into one of amused concern. "Oh, Lieutenant, you're always worried about Roy, aren't you?" He began to chuckle and Riza felt her cheeks burn.

"Well, we aren't very familiar with that part of the East he's been assigned to."

"Which is why we're gathering up more information so we can keep track and warn him of anything that may endanger him, Lieutenant Hawkeye, and I'm sure he can't just call everyday, as he works all week; teaching kids during weekdays and recording grades on weekends. And besides, the Alice Academy seems quite safe, with many guards who won't let just anyone in. Their security's tighter than a drum."

Riza nodded in agreement. "True, sir…but we just can't be sure."

"You're not alone; we're all quite worried," said Hughes. "But the Colonel would slap us with those gloves of his if he finds out we're slacking off work just because we're scared for him, you know that. After all, I bet he's actually having fun. I would have fun too, if I were surrounded by all those kids…"

He pulled out a photo from his pocket. "I already have fun even with only one kid around! Look at this new dress Gracia bought for Elysia last week! I think she has great taste – both of them, I mean! Elysia loved it so much that she wants to wear it again – "

The phone rang, and Hughes had to put his gushing on hold to answer. With an extremely businesslike tone so very unlike the one he reserved for bragging about his family, he said, "East Headquarters, Hughes speaking. How may I help you?"

"You may help me by telling me what's happening over there, Maes."

The lieutenant colonel chuckled, which was enough for Riza to know who was on the line.

"Oh, Roy, don't you worry about us. Everything's going well, as if you were never gone. And yes, Ed will be submitting his report soon – "

He was interrupted when the door opened, and the Fullmetal Alchemist walked in on cue, his footsteps alternating with clanking ones that obviously belonged to his younger brother.

"Hey, Lieutenant Colonel, here's the report you wanted!" Ed announced. Then he paused, Al almost colliding with him. "Don't forget our deal though," he said with a wink, passing on the sheets of paper to Riza, who stretched out a hand and handed them to Hughes, who continued talking as he went over the report.

"And just like that, he came in here and handed in the report! Hah, maybe they should keep me here at East HQ!"

The Elrics – or at least, Ed – chuckled, and Riza was the only one who could hear Hughes add softly, "Which leaves you to take my post in Central…you'll be rising faster through the ranks than a cork in water!"

"Hughes, is that Mustang on the line again?" asked Ed suddenly, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, you want to talk to him? Hold on a sec, Roy…"

"No," retorted the older Elric, as though Hughes had told him to go grow an extra head. "But tell him that he's better off staying at that Alice Academy than being here and being obnoxious. Maybe he could put his god-complex to good use there and find people who'll actually listen to him."

Al shrugged metal shoulders, as though in apology, before the two of them left. When the door banged shut behind them, Hughes was back on the phone again, and Riza reorganized some documents on his – or rather, Roy's – desk.

"I'm sure you heard what he said."

---

"Loud and clear, Maes," said Roy, leaning back on his comfortable chair and poring over the syllabus. "I'd like to surprise Fullmetal and everyone else by coming back early, but I don't think that's going to happen, what with this Narumi guy I'm sitting in for still missing in action. I have no idea what he's doing, but hell, that's his business, not mine, and Miss Yamada is the only one who can look into it."

There was a pause on the other end before Hughes spoke again, his voice barely a whisper.

"Be careful out there, all right? I'm sure you know that the Alice Academy is no regular school. For all we know, that's only the tip of the iceberg."

"Since when have you been a worrywart?"

"Who's worrying? I'm just warning you like the kind soul I am. I know you'll take anything they throw at you. And enough of this depressing talk – I wish I could send you these new pictures of Elysia in her new dress – "

"Hughes, you do realize that being a teacher doesn't mean I get more time off. I have exercises to check and colleagues to entertain. Goodbye."

Roy returned the phone to its cradle with more force than was necessary.

"Is there anything wrong?" asked Serina, barely looking up from her crystal ball.

"Not – "

There was a knock on the door. Roy rose to answer it, but Misaki shook his head. As the door swung open before him, there was no sign of anyone. But there were signs of something – that is, several boxes piled up at his feet. There was no mistaking who they were for and from whom they had come, judging from the drawings and scribbles of flames on the cards, some of them dotted with hearts.

Waving Noda over to help him gather the rest, Misaki picked up a chick-shaped box and read the card.

"Roy, I hope you have a sweet tooth, because the middle school girls from the Technical class whipped this up for you; they're egg-shaped chocolates, apparently, and they hatch into chocolate chicks if you keep them warm long enough. I've heard that if you can keep yourself from eating them, they'll develop into full-grown chickens. Here's another one from them…and a box of free Fluff Puffs from someone called Kaira, and…"

"Don't worry, the other Alice types were not about to be outdone by the Technical Types!" crowed Noda, dumping the rest of the boxes on Roy's desk. Misaki followed shortly after before saying something about heading over to the greenhouse, while Noda decided on a trip to the bathroom, which left Roy staring at all the boxes of chocolate and his pen a mere inch away from Hotaru's paper.

As always, without looking at him, Serina remarked, "The girls have taken a liking to you, haven't they, Mr. Mustang?"

Roy selected the smallest box, one that was made in the shape of a bonfire, and opened it. "Want one? They're…ah, Fluff Puffs. I remember. Now how did the middle-school girls find out that I like them?"

"No thank you. You would be surprised," she answered matter-of-factly. "Many students here are extremely innovative and creative, but sometimes they get their priorities mixed up. Oh, and I don't think those are ordinary Fluff Puffs. You would be surprised at what they can do with food."

He nodded, blinking several times as he saw the Fluff Puffs begin to change color, taking on the hues of fire.

"I think I'll keep on checking these papers," he said, replacing the cover, but not before popping one of the fiery treats in his mouth. Serina stifled a smile as his cheeks became pink.

But when she saw him glance out the window, she asked again, "Is there anything wrong?"

Roy shrugged. "For a moment, I thought someone was…well, watching me. Nah, there's nobody out there."

Serina thought it was probably a girl or two – or even ten – peering through the window, but decided to concentrate on her crystal ball. But at the very moment she thought of what could possibly be out there watching their substitute teacher, the hazy image within the ball changed abruptly, and she inched back suddenly, her chair shrieking against the floor.

"Maybe I should ask you what's wrong," he said.

"No, I'm fine…I just thought I saw something, that's all. No need to worry," answered Serina, taking a deep breath and focusing again. Narumi's face once again revealed itself to her.

The other face she had seen was gone.

And once again, everything was quiet between them, save the scratching of Roy's pen on paper after paper. When that was done, he stood up and got his coat.

"I'll take a walk," he said. "Besides, I've taken care of all my classes for today." After seeing Serina nod, he left.

Although it was quite bright, the air was not too warm. A cool, gentle breeze lifted his hair, much like the day he first met Narumi, and he decided to follow a winding path into a forest up north that he had never noticed before. The Alice Academy was indeed big, he knew, and there were many places he had not yet seen or even noticed.

Plus, this was a good chance to see who was watching him – if there was anyone watching him.

The trees loomed before him, as though welcoming him, and he glimpsed what looked like a small house not too far away. But he stopped in his tracks when someone called out to him, a strange, almost haunting lilt, and Roy turned around, his right hand already in his pocket digging for his ignition gloves.

"Roy Mustang, I presume?"

He had never seen such an enigmatic figure before, at least, not since he had first set foot in the Academy. The one who had said his name was clad all in black, concealed his – the voice was definitely male – face with a mask, and was adorned with several silver trinkets, including rings on his fingers and ears. His raven hair, slightly longer than Roy's, was currently being buffeted by a stronger, cooler waft.

"Who are you?" asked the Flame Alchemist cautiously.

"You still don't know who I am? I thought your colleagues have already told you…"

Roy thought for a moment. "Hmm…I remember Serina telling me something about someone called Persona. I assume you're him. Anyway, what do you want?"

"I thought it would be nice to meet the newest celebrity in the Academy…famous, especially with the ladies," Persona drawled, leaning against a tree. "I've heard quite a lot about you, especially from Natsume Hyuuga."

"Really," said Roy, blinking.

"Yes…now then, now that I've met you in person, I must be off. You see, I am a very busy man; that's why you've only seen me today. And I know you're busy too…not only with your classes but also with the military, yes?"

"Yes – "

But Roy found himself talking to a tree instead.