Ch. 9 Behind the Eyes Lies the Truth

I made it to the Rockbell's house and heard screaming. I got out and dashed inside "Winry, ! Is everything ok!?" I saw Ed lay on the floor and pratically looked dead. Winry held a wrench with blood on it, which I think was Ed's blood. "What happened here?" I asked and Winry growled "This idiot broke his arm for the hundredth time this month!"

"I can see why your mad miss Winry."

"Hey don't take her side. She tried to kill me!" Ed ranted and all I did was look at him. I saw a tall man behind them with Al in a box. Now I was curious. "Why is Al in a box, and who's the giant with the muscles?"

"I am Alex Louis Armstrong the Iron Fist Alchemist."

"Good to meet you Mr. Armstrong. Now about Al. What happened to you?"

"I was shredded to pieces."

"Well that narrows it down." I sighed and looked at Pinako with a warm smile. "Ms. Rockbell will it be any trouble if I stay for just one night."

"That's fine. Just where are you going anyway?"

"Ishval. That's my destination. It's a few miles South east of here. But it will be nightfall before I even get to the boarder."

"I see. You have a long journey don't you. You can take the next room next to Ed and Al's room."

"I don't want to be a bother."

"No bother. Winry, how about you take Ren's things to her room okay dear."

"Ok grandma. Come on Ren this way." Winry gathered my belongings and went upstairs. I followed and entered a little room. I smiled at Winry "Thank you Winry. I'll be going to bed soon. Long journey."

"Come on relax for a while. Like you said it's only a few miles south east from here."

"I don't know Winry. I'm a fidgety person when it comes to staying too long in one place."

"Your just like Ed. Well mostly in the personality department. I don't know if you blow up when people call you short."

"Unlike Ed I don't get mad. I just smile and beat the crud out of them. I don't let my emotions take the best of me." I smiled at Winry and took my Pjs out of the bag and went out the room. "Where's the bathroom I need to take a bath if that's alright?"

"Down the hall and make a left at the second door."

"Thanks Winry." I bowed and left. I followed the directions Winry gave me. I walked to the door and it was closed. I knocked and I didn't hear anything. So I just opened the door and walked in.

Ed's POV

I broke my arm, again, and I came back to Resembool to have Winry fix it up and found myself reunited with Ren. The one girl that I wanted to forget. But what was she doing here? She said she was going to Ishval, but the place was abandoned and destroyed in the war. I need to clear my head.

I went to my room and looked at a couple of books. I need to learn more about alchemy. Reading these books help me relax, but for some reason I just couldn't relax. Knowing that Ren's here is putting me on edge.

I went to the bathroom and just walked in. As I did I saw Ren wrapped around in a towel and we just stared at each other like a deer in headlights. Ren clutched her fist an yelled "HEY EVER HEARD OF KNOCKING!? GET OUT!" She seemed angry so I ran and slammed the door. "What the heck!? How was I supposed to know Ren was in there. Darn it. Okay Ed forget it. It was only an accident. Anyone could have walked in there." I got up and walked outside to get some fresh air.

Ren's POV

After Ed walked in on me I felt my face get hot. Great now I'm both embarrassed and humiliated. Does he know how to knock? Well supposedly not after that little scene.

I got dressed and didn't think about drying my hair. I walked out and went down stairs. "Ms. Rockbell-

"Please, call me Pinako, or Granny if that suits your fancy."

"I'm sorry Pinako."

"Good. Now what did you want dear?"

"Is there anything you need me to do to help with supper."

"Yes. Could you stir the soup."

"Of course." I bowed slightly and went to stir the stew. I smiled as I did and hummed a small song. I began to tap my fingers on my leg to keep the beat.

•••••

Everyone sat around a table and ate. I talked to Armstrong about his experience in war. He went on and on about it and kept on mentioning that I looked familiar and that he couldn't put his finger on it. I shrugged and washed my dish and tried to avoid eye contact with Ed. It was weird that he came here the same day I showed up. It must just be a fluke. Yea a fluke that's all.

As I head up stairs I felt a hand grab my hand. The next thing I knew i was being pulled down the hall and up onto the roof. Then I noticed that it was Ed. "What the heck Ed? Is something wrong?"

"Why are you here?"

"Easy, I just needed a place to stay for the night. Im leaving first thing in the morning. Why is it any concern to you?" I bit my tongue at the last sentence. "Ed I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

"It's ok I understand. You're a loner and people don't really care much of what you do. I should be sorry for prying." He looked sad and his voice sounded hurt. Something was wrong. I could tell. "Ed your not yourself. What happened to you?"

"Scar attacked me and my brother. He was about to kill me. I was close to death." His voice grew dark. My face grew sad and my eyes looked at where his arm should be. "I'm sorry Ed."

"Don't be. I was being stupid."

"I can't argue with that. But still your alive." I smiled cheerfully. He looked at me and pulled me into a hug. I was surprised by this action and hugged back. I felt him clutch onto my shirt. "Ren I've missed you. Since you left I tried to forget you. I couldn't help but to think that you were in danger."

"Ed, you never worry about a lot of people except for Al. Don't you like Winry?"

"Well...yea I like Winry, but something about you I just can't get over." His eyes were full of warmth. I blushed and felt my heart beat faster every second.

Ed's POV

"I couldn't stop thinking about you. When Al asked what you were doing I told him that I didn't know, and that i wished i did." My voice was shaky and I didn't know why. It's like all of my problems melt and I open up more to Ren. She's the type of person that you can just walk up to and just spill everything and she won't judge you. Her eyes are so kind. I felt my hand ungrasp the shirt and let go slowly of Ren. I wanted her to just pull me back to the embrace, but she didn't.

We sat on the roof talking and hours seemed like minutes. "Ren. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure ask away."

"Why are you so strong about finding someone that is already dead. Especially if it could be a trap." I knew it was somewhat harsh, but I wanted to find out what she was doing. Her face grew dark and sad. I felt my heart break. "I-I didn't mean to make you sad or upset."

"No it's ok. I made it this far without having people not ask me what I was doing beside my cousins. Speaking of family I have never seen my mom's side of the family, only my father's. Weird, they say that they're all dead."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Its fine. Now about my journey. I need to know more about my family history. I was left in the dark for too long. Now it's time I got some answers." She sounded so determined. She looked at me with eyes full of warmth and determination. But behind them lies a dark secret. But why? I wanted to ask her, but kept my mouth shut. She looked at me with those same warm eyes. She kissed my forehead and stood up. "I'm off to bed. Goodnight Edward."

"O-okay Ren. Goodnight." I didn't want her to leave, but I won't force her to stay. I reached for her and touched her smooth skin. "Please," I thought "Please turn around so I can see you. Tell me that you want to stay here with me." She didn't and my heart felt as if it stopped. I watched her go back into the house and stayed for a while longer.