Hime: Annoucement! It's Valentine's Day!
Emi: Why're you so happy? You were along with ten others saying this holiday sucks.
Hime: Yes. Yes it does suck. But I bet some readers like it.
Emi: Oh, I know! You're happy because you got a gift from-
Hime: And now on to the story. And thanks for the reviews!
-X-
Chapter 9
Tarin's P.O.V.
'What in the…?' The minute I opened the door I felt the urge that I wanted to go crawl under a rock or die on the spot; or just do both. One thing was that Taylor and Lynn had made it here, but apparently there was a predicament. Taylor was hiding behind Jean, having a good strong grip on his arm from my view. Lynn was in the middle of the room holding up a gun (something I've told her not to do). Then there was Ed and Al looking terrified holding one another. After taking in the scenario I finally stepped in. "What is going on out here?"
"Rin!" Taylor cried, running over and hid behind me and Roy. "Rin, we came here so we could meet the Alchemist you were talking about. I asked to see him then that boy over there came up to me saying that was him. Then I said that he was shorter than I expected and he exploded at me. I tried to apologize but he tried to get that big guy in the armor to get me. So I hid behind Lieutenant Havoc."
"All… right. Lynn what's your excuse?"
"What does it look like? I'm gonna shoot 'em. If they want Taylor then they have to get through me first."
I sighed. "Ed, Al, this is my younger sister Taylor and our friend Cathelynn. You two, those are the Elric brothers. The big one with the armor is Alphonse and the shrimp with him is Edward, also known as the Fullmetal Alchemist." I glanced at Lynn and she made a face at me. "Put the gun away. You're just scaring them is all."
She hesitated but the gradually put the firearm down. "All right, but if they do anything suspicious I'll be waiting."
"Whatever." I then pulled Taylor and started to drag her over to the Elric's. "Now Taylor, be nice to them and don't go all psycho on them." I waited for her to say something but she didn't. She just stood there and looked at the two. "What now, Tayl? I thought you'd be happy to meet him."
She looked at me a little confused. "It's just, are you sure that the big one isn't it. I mean the metal suit fits the name. But the other one just looks a bit… you know… smaller and younger."
"WHO-ARE-YOU-CALLING-" He shut up after I punch him in the head. "Why'd you do that?" He was mad until I pointed to Taylor; she was scared of him again. "Oh, uh. I'm sorry Taylor. I just don't like it when people call me small or short. So, let's start over okay?" He held out his hand to her. She looked at it before taking it and shaking his hand.
"That's one down, now its Al's turn." I saw Al stick his hand out to Taylor. She slowly shook his armored hand as well. "See now we are all friends here. Now you guys go get aquatinted and such 'til I'm finished here. Now shoo."
They walked out of the office to somewhere else. When I noticed Lynn leaving she looked upset. That may not be a good sign.
"I can hardly believe you got Ed to be calm and he only just met you." Riza came next to me. "And when did you get a gun for Lynn?"
I evaded the question. "Excuse me, Colonel. Where's the rest of that paperwork you wanted me to sign. Never mind I'll just take the stack off your desk. Thanks." I ran over to his desk, took the papers, and went back to working. But not before hearing Riza yelling at Roy. Something about doing his own paperwork.
-No one's P.O.V.-
"So you guys came all the way here to follow Tarin while she's working?"
"That's about some of it." Taylor replied.
"Man, that's a waste." Ed alleged.
The four were walking around the city since there was nothing better to do. The brothers decided to show Taylor and Lynn the sites so they'll be more familiar with things.
"When are we going to get somewhere fun?" Lynn growled through clenched teeth. Lynn didn't want to be walking around. Especially with the Elric's. For some reason she just didn't like them that much or was on edge. Either way, she kept a sharp eye on them both. "Are you guys planning to take us somewhere that will capture our interest?"
Taylor thumped her on the head. "Lynn, stop being rude. They've agreed to show us around out of gratitude and look how you're acting."
"Like I treat every other person I don't get along with." She had a point though; she does treat a few people bad. "Anyway I don't wanna be escorted by the 'Shrimp-metal Alchemist'."
Ed immediately flinched and stopped walking. Slowing turned around and faced the girls. "What did you… just call me?"
"A… Shrimp. Unless you're deaf and want me to repeat it?"
"Well those are big words coming from someone who's shorter."
Truth being told Cathelynn was shorter than Ed. As they glared each other right in face the tension around the group started to thicken. Al and Taylor tried to calm the tension but it didn't work.
"Well Ed, I just gotta know something. Which is stupider: your height or that strand of hair that's sticking up on your head? What, is it suppose to make you seem taller?"
"Well Lynn, even without it I'm still much taller then you. Now which is stupider: your height or those little pigtails in your hair?"
After that statement Lynn jumped towards Ed who was just about to defending his self, but was cut off by Taylor. "Hey Lynn, there's a bakery right across the street."
The younger girl stopped in her tracks. "Bakery?" Looking across the street she indeed saw a bakery as told. "Bakery~!" She then ran all the way inside the shop.
"I want you to listen." Taylor turned to Ed and Al but had her focus set on Ed. "I want you to go in there with her and buy her something small and sweet. Got it?"
Ed just looked at her before frowning. "What the hell do I look like going in there and buying her something? She tried to kill me and my brother earlier then picked a fight and now you want me to buy her-"
"Listen Ed. If you don't want Lynn getting all angry each time you and your brother come around then just go do this one thing and she'll be off your back. All right?" She looked at Ed until he gave in, agreed, and walked in after her friend.
"I'm sorry about my brother again."
Taylor looked to the side and saw Al. She had almost forgotten all about him. "Oh that's alright. I'm use to the behaviors like that with Lynn and Rin anyway. No big. I would say sorry for Lynn's behavior but she needs to learn for herself."
"You must take a lot of responsibility, don't you?"
"No, not really. Tarin has been taking care of us for a long time, including our grandparents. She's gone through so much to make sure me and Lynn are taken care of that she forgets about her own self. And that's where I usually step in." She then paused and looked up at Al. "I'm sorry. I'm blathering at about myself and you haven't said anything." She didn't know it but she was blathering again. "So what the story with you and your brother?"
Al then laughed a little. "No it's okay. But with us, brother and I had always loved to do alchemy ever since we were kids. After a few years our mother died of an illness and we didn't take it very well. We started to practice alchemy afterwards so we could get over her death. And then about a few years ago brother decided that he'd become a State Alchemist."
"Oh. It seems like you guys have it pretty hard; losing your mother and all."
"It was hard but after getting some support from our friends we got through."
Taylor smiled. "You really do seem like a good guy Al. I think we all are going to be good friends… But first we should check and make sure Lynn and your brother hasn't killed each other yet." Al nodded and they walked toward the bakery shop. As they were walking something popped in Taylor's mind. "Hey Al, why are wearing that suit of armor? Isn't it hot?"
Al's armor squeaked as he stopped to a halt. He was hesitant, he didn't want to tell Taylor the truth that all there was is the suit. He'd never told anyone about their secret of performing Human Transmutation unless they had already found out somehow. "Uh… I wear it all the time. I wear it for protection."
Taylor just looked him up and down. "Protection, eh?" She then began to walk circles around him, examining him. When she had walked back to the front of him she stopped and was staring directly at the helmet. "How old are you and Ed?"
"Ed's fifteen and I'm fourteen."
"Wow. Big height difference for such a close age; must didn't eat his vegetables as a kid and gave them to you."
"Actually he doesn't drink milk."
"Figures." She whispered. "So can you take off that helmet? I want to see what you look like under there." She began reaching for the helmet but Al stepped out of her reach. "Huh? Al, I just wanna see your face." She tried again but he kept avoiding her. "Stop being such a scaredy-cat. If you have scars or think you're ugly I don't care. Just let me see."
"I'm sorry, but I can't." Al dodged any attempted she made to get at his helmet. "Please Taylor. I don't want people seeing what's under-"
"Hey you guys." Then sound of Lynn's voice came closer to the two. "Ed brought four strawberry tarts; three for me and one for him!" And by the sound of her voice she wasn't angry anymore.
"Ed! I told you something small, not four-" She was stopped when Lynn jumped at her in a hug (maybe because she was hyped from sugar). She then fell to the ground along with Al and Lynn.
Ed then ran over to the scene. "Are you guys all right?" He then helped the girls up to their feet.
Taylor rubbed her sides and brushed the dirt off her clothes. "Yeah, I think so. Al's armor broke our fall. Speaking of which… Al are you-" She ceased as she looked over to him. Her breath was caught in her throat and didn't know what to say. All she did was run away.
Lynn looked confused as to why she ran off like that until looking over to the younger brother. She let out a small gasp but stayed completely still. "Al… Al where's your body?"
-X-
(A/N: It took me forever to write this because I had major writers block. But I had more I wanted to write but forgot my ideas. *bangs head on a mattress* It's more comfortable and less life threatening than a wall. (And less entertaining to watch.) Also very true.
And one more thing. Ready Emi? (No. I don't wanna.) But you're gonna or John's coming. (*gets scared* Ok.)
Hime and Emi: Happy Valentine's Day!)
-X-