A/N: did it cross your minds that Riza is in the hands of the man who killed the Roy from across the gate? And what happened after the glass in Hawthorne's hand shattered? Haha! Things are going down and it's up to you to connect the dots.

Somebody's on the right path! Thank you very much to ratnalaurentina and mushimio29 for reading and sparing me again another of their lovely reviews. I just love people like them. . . I would also like to thank those who are reading this, added RoH to their faves/alerts, miraculously added me as a favourite author, and those who accidentally clicked this story. Thank you! Yes, yes, I know. I need major improvement and that this fic is in dire need of professional help. Doing this on my own is hard and occasionally I'm not even sure what the heck I'm doing so if you know anyone who is willing to help, they're more than welcome.

Disclaimer: it's kinda tiring having to repeat this again and again when it's so darn obvious… but here it goes: I do not own Fullmetal alchemist and any of its characters. Just the OCs you find here and the pathetic plot.


"She betrayed us

For our own sake."


She was silent for a good ten seconds before answering him in an uncertain voice, "What do you mean? Are you saying you know me better than I do myself?"

He expected the reaction but he kept a calm face. Roy Mustang knew Riza Hawkeye like the back of his hand and her alternate was pretty much transparent to him by then. The only thing that she showed whenever the Roy-from-the-other-world was concerned was disdain but for some reason, the look in her eyes contradicted it on the other hand. He understood her need to turn away from reality because he himself did it at least once back then. By now, anyone smart enough could tell that truth can be cruel and this Riza's "truth" might have been too painful for her that she went all the way to twisting it. It wasn't good. Roy had to make her accept it or she'd be fooling herself forever. He could only hope she'd take the bait.

And to take she did.

"Let me ask you. Why did you protect him? Was it your own choice?"

"Yes. It was a path I chose for myself. I protected him because… because I believed in his dream and he was worth it," she hastily added, "back then."

"And why was he worth it when he just "betrayed" you in the end?"

"He was a good, smart man with a pure heart. At least that's what he was until he met the Fuhrer. He changed." Her expression was growing angry as she spoke, "He deserted me."

"Then what did you do?" he pressed quickly.

"I—" she couldn't possibly say she deserted him too. "I wanted to kill him. He was no longer the man I knew. He threw everything we worked for all for that bastard."

"Did you used trust his judgement?"

"Well, yes. Always." Her responses became uncertain, completely unsure of where he was going at, "Though he never really shared what goes through his head, his plans always have a purpose."

Got you. "Then has it ever occurred to you that he might have had a better reason as to why he fired you?" he was just sitting there, questioning her yet she felt like an animal close to being cornered; a moth attempting to outsmart the flame.

"Of course! He just told me he doesn't need me there anymore!" she fired at him in an attempt to save her resolve that was breaking under pressure. But he wasn't buying it. Instead, he was using her words against her. With what she had told him, it was like she had given him the gun to shoot her down. She was the cause of her own downfall.

"There! He had said. Out of the politics! He didn't want you stuck in something that will get you in danger, don't you see?" his voice was certainly rising as he reprimanded her. He'll even shout it if it would make her understand. But his tone lowered as he whispered to her very slowly, "He did that to protect you. And you know that all along."

Her unfocused eyes slowly met his soft ones. For a moment, she looked lost. However she refused to budge. Yet.

Shadow's eyes narrowed as she bared her teeth angrily. "How do you know? It's not like you understand!" she had stood from her seat and had her hands slammed against his desk. The action showed rage but all Roy saw was a lady torn between confusion and anguish, seeking for something that was once lost.

It irritated her that his gentle demeanor was not intimidated in the slightest. His eyes remained soft as he answered her in the same soft way. "Because I understand what he's doing and I did the same to protect someone I love."

Riza inhaled deeply, eyes closed as if she was nearly breaking. It pained Roy to see that withering expression on her face, especially now that she was another embodiment of Hawkeye. He had seen that look on his lieutenant a few times back then. He was the only soul Riza had allowed herself to be seen in that state. She has been his pillar of comfort and power yet he realized too late how a weak tower of strength he had been for her. But there, in front of him was another version of her. Alone, her own source of life long gone. Only able to go on because of a nicely woven lie that will eventually crack one day. And that one day might be that very day.

"Then tell me… what is this anger I feel?" her voice was definitely shaking.

He looked at her ruefully. "I don't have to tell you. You keep saying he betrayed you but what I read in your eyes is "I betrayed him." And you couldn't forgive yourself."

"I still can't." she added in a whisper.

"Then you should." He barked in a rather hard tone this time. He could feel it in his gut that only he, if not his other counterpart, could make it clear to her. "Start now. Learn to forgive yourself."

"I couldn't protect him… He was dead. Dead! Because I failed him." she sank down on the floor, tears escaping her blurry eyes, "I was the one who should have died."

Roy stood and kneeled beside her, officially uncertain of what to do next. He looked around and remembered that his men were still with them, watching the exchange with sincere sympathetic faces. They caught his eyes and instead of receiving help, all he understood from their stares were, "Well, Mustang, only you can comfort her. We'll leave to give you two some space."

Traitorous back-up! If the situation wasn't so dramatic, his jaw would have fallen to the ground. They were probably thinking that they were being helpful by leaving them as Roy watched them silently slip from the room. But when his gaze drifted back to the woman with tears in her eyes, he could not help but admire her. Even in her defeated state, she refused any comfort knowing the only person to be able to save her then was gone. Can't I do anything else? Roy thought helplessly.

"No matter what I say, it will not change the fact that he's gone. But keep in mind that you are still alive for a reason." He began softly, reaching in his pocket for a clean handkerchief, "So you can't die. He did that to protect you. From something… something that he may have discovered."

She ignored the cloth being given to her. "Protecting people from the truth is another way of shutting them out." She muttered disdainfully.

"Then find out what that truth is." He pressed in a more serious way, "You're the only one who can continue where he has ended."

Riza's auburn eyes gazed at him as if weighing his words. Unexpectedly, she took the handkerchief from his hand. He felt relieved for it was a good sign. She stood straight up and rubbed her face with frustration. When he had stood too, she turned to him with a rather annoyed face.

"Damn you."


A whole day had passed and Noa witnessed a lot of things within it. Riza was gone and she had no idea where or what the lady was doing. She could only hope that her business with the man the other day was going smoothly. However, with Ed and Al still there, Noa thought that the odds weren't very much in favor with her.

She glanced at the window and bit her lip, trying to still her racing her heart. The sun was setting. It was not going to be good for her. The brothers would be back from the library any minute now and when they do, they'd surely find it suspicious that Hawkeye wasn't seen any time since that morning. And what excuse did she have? "Oh, I locked her up in her room." Well, hell. The woman is a soldier. With a smart brain. A kick-ass resolve. And a gun. What could a shiny doorknob do against it? "She's taking her time in the toilet." Now that's plain genius. Who in their right mind spends half a day in a toilet?

If she had the colorful language that Ed and some other people spoke in times of pandemonium, right now was the perfect time for her to use it. She chuckled weakly, the continuous stomping of her foot betraying the supposed stress-free laughter. Riza had told her she would be needing her help. Aside from keeping her whereabouts a secret, she needed to make them present when the aristocrat sends them back. But when would that happen? Surely Riza was smart enough to know that her maximum time was a day before the Elrics find out she had left. And when they did, her security would be put on first priority instead of the search and it would put her plan in total jeopardy. But now the sun had virtually disappeared from the horizon, time running out, and there was still no sign of Riza. She had no idea how they could possibly get in contact by then. She needed to talk to Riza. But how could they get in contact when . . .

. . . The phone began to ring. The phone! It must be her! The former gypsy stared at the vibrating gadget four feet away from her, feeling somewhat foolish. In a flash, she stood by it and carefully lifted it to her ear.

She was met by silence. But someone was definitely holding the other line.

"Hello?" Noa spoke uncertainly.

"Is that you, Noa?" the voice was unrecognizable but feminine.

She swallowed. Should she say yes? "Who is this?"

Suddenly, the voice shifted to something more familiar. A voice that set Noa's haywire nerves at ease. "Noa, are you alone? It's me."

The girl was certain her own face was grinning widely at the table in front of her, "Yes! I'm alone. But they should be back any time. Are you alright?"

"Yes. I don't think he has any intention to harm me though but I'm always on guard." It would seem that Riza had changed her voice as a precaution when Noa answered the phone. It would be risky if someone else were to answer it. The sniper's tone grew serious as her voice fluently whispered on Noa's ear. "Listen carefully. When they arrive, I want you to tell them to go back to the alley where they first found me. You saw it had glowed and that they have to see it. Go with them but you have to make sure that at least one of them has their blood fall on the circle, do you understand? Their blood is necessary in order to activate it or else nothing will happen. When it glows, you have to—"

"We're here!"

Noa felt her heart skip a beat. Judging from the sudden silence from the other line, Riza must have felt the danger too.

Footsteps thumped at wooden floor in a distance too close for Noa's liking. If it hadn't been for the wall separating the threshold and the living room, they would have already been busted. But the wall could only save her for a few seconds. Five footsteps before all else could fail. She held her breath. Merely Riza's hurried yet calm enunciation kept her from dropping the phone.

"Noa, you are talking to one of Gracia's customers. . ."

Step . . . step . . . step . . . . .

". . . Do not panic and be cheerful just as how an employee should sound when talking to a customer. . ."

Step. . .

". . . It's just a harmless talk. . ."

. . . Step. . .

"Hey, Noa –" The barrier between them that was the wall ended and Edward Elric found himself looking at the smiling face of Noa, looking so happy as she spoke to someone on the phone.

"I really wish the flowers are ready soon, Dear!" a high-pitched voice coming from the phone shouted, successfully drowning out Ed's sentence. Noa glanced at him apologetically that he and Al could only assume she was talking to a customer from the flower shop. Nodding in understanding, he and his brother walked past her after greeting her.

"Yes, you can come get them early tomorrow morning." She played along, eyeing the two until the tail of Alphonse's coat disappeared from view. She allowed herself a sigh of relief. That was close.

"They're gone." She whispered so low that the receiver was the only one able to hear.

"I still need you to keep the façade to be sure. But you really should just listen closely. Once the blood reaches the circle, it will open and when it does, they'll surely ask you to fetch me. That's the right time to drop the act. Don't give them the chance to leave. Push them inside it. And then it will be over." Clear, abrupt, and straight to the point, Noa mentally memorized the lady's instructions. Whatever else Hawkeye was planning, she had no idea. She could only wonder if her mind-reading ability would work through telephones.

"Now Noa, after I say good-bye, you will put down this phone and tell them to go there. That is when you will have to do the rest of what I told you. Bring a knife just in case. Do. You. Understand?" her tone demanded quick but confident action.

"Yes . . ."

Riza must have heard the nervousness which crept in Noa's reply for there was a pause on her end before she assured the girl in a calming character, unexpectedly switching from the swift tone she used. "Don't worry. I will be there."

She opened her mouth to say something but Hawkeye had quickly given her the signal. "Good bye."

The other line went dead. Albeit a little shaken, Noa put the phone down and gathered her thoughts. That was it.

She turned around to find Edward watching her from his seat, causing her to inhale sharply. The blonde raised an eyebrow at her reaction so she simply gave him a small smile to tell she was fine.

"Who was that?" he asked, sounding utterly clueless.

"Just a customer." She replied coolly, hoping the clever alchemist didn't notice the twitch of her hands

"Oh." He murmured as he drank in his mug. Just then, Al walked down the stairs looking puzzled.

He noticed! Noa thought. But she doesn't have time to panic. A plan was given to her.

"Where's the Lieutenant?"

The dreaded question. But she countered it easily. "She's with Gracia. She said she wanted to see the shop."

"That should be alright." Ed supposed, relaxing on his seat, "Knowing Miss Gracia, she wouldn't let Lt. Hawkeye wander off on her own."

"That reminds me. You have to go back to the circle. I saw it glow when I passed the alley on my way to the market. It was the same when the noble showed it to us. The light disappeared instantly."

"What!" Ed shouted as he leapt from his seat. The brothers exchanged one look and ran outside.

Somewhat relieved that everything was going well, Noa made to go after them but stopped upon remembering one of Hawkeye's errands. She rushed to the kitchen and grabbed a small knife before following them, shutting the door with a crash.


Lamp posts aligning the street did little to give light for the passage in which they had turned. The corner was a dead end. Barely half the junction had the faintest sign of illumination and the rest was cloaked in shadows. It would be a mystery where gleams of light could possibly shine within that darkness. However, those beams of radiance could only be the rays of hope of people who needed it to alight their way back to their true homes. A trace that there was a hope to return to their homeland.

That night, three silhouettes appeared within that alley looking in between hopeful and desperate. The night was still and misty, muteness bounding throughout the streets. Two blonde heads approached the ominous insignia drawn upon cold ground. Its markings were still fresh as if it was newly imprinted . . . with hints of dry blood. Yet the three knew it had been untouched for weeks.

"There is something missing. The only object which we still don't know is the key to opening this." Edward explained as he circled the ring of symbols on the ground, investigating. Alphonse remained silent next to him, deep in thought.

"Blood." Noa offered like she'd known it all along.

The brothers looked at her, not expecting that she would know anything about a transmutation circle. The older Elric's eyes widened. "You're right! It could work. The blood will serve as the channel with which we could connect our gate from our world and then we can go through it!" as he enlightened, Noa could see them growing more and more excited. "I accidentally activated the circle Eckhart used back then. I completely forgot it! There must have been blood on my hands when I touched it!"

"It's basically human transmutation, then. But brother, what do we sacrifice?" Al admonished warily.

At this, Edward's expression contorted to one of analysing critical situations. "The blood might be enough. But if not, it can be risky."

"You have to try." She suggested without pressure.

"I guess so. . ." Before the former alchemist could realize that he had no instrument to draw blood, Noa gave him the knife she'd been holding. He muttered thanks, suddenly finding it atrociously fishy that something was up with the girl. But the moment his blood touched the circle, the thought was immediately forgotten as beams of light shone from it.

The brothers were astonished as they stared at the glowing ground in disbelief. The light didn't die unlike what they had seen back then which lasted for only ten seconds. It further proved that the portal was indeed activating this time.

It was then when it struck Ed that it might be their only chance of activating it before they lose it forever. Noa took a step behind him. Panicked, he turned to face her but her serene expression never changed.

"Hurry! We have to jump in there NOW! We have to get Lt. Hawkeye!"

She made no move to leave. "You should go!" Noa cried behind him, "This is what she wanted . . . what we wanted for you both." Then she pushed them in the circle.

The last thing she saw as the light swallowed them both was Ed's wide eyes, realizing just what she meant before everything disappeared.

A blast of blinding light erupted before her. Seconds after, Noa slowly opened her eyes, venturing to see what happened. Her body relaxed yet her mind was racing. She stood motionless for a long moment as she took in her surroundings.

Darkness.

The street was desolate of anyone apart from her. Everything was still and nothing was out of place. The night was peaceful. Edward and Alphonse Elric were gone. And Riza Hawkeye was nowhere to be seen.

With a heavy heart, she's aware that she was utterly alone again.

She glanced around in the hope to see the familiar blonde lady that left just the other night. She saw nothing but the lone street light and her own shadow. The sky was still the jet black abyss that it is when the wanderer went back to her empty abode.

Farewells were always bitter-sweet. It was something she had known for a long time.


Up in a tower a few blocks away, Riza Hawkeye watched the solitary figure of a girl walking dejectedly down the street.

"It's finished." She declared.

Misanagi turned up several feet behind her, impassive. Vera was sitting close to Riza, also watching by the window.

"Who were those boys?" she turned to the sniper, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"The ones I needed to bring back to their homeland." Was the flat answer. She nodded to Misanagi to tell that their business there was over. After a curt nod, the ninja fled again. With quick steps, Riza descended the stairs while Vera continued with her questions.

"They must be important to you if you had them return and you let yourself get stuck here. You could have gotten back home there if you wanted!"

"I have a deal to keep. And those brothers have loved ones waiting for them." they stepped out the abandoned building and into the quiet night, interrupted now and then by a certain blonde girl's prodding inquiries. She answered rather straight forwardly, having no reason to lie to the girl.

"And you? Don't you have loved ones waiting for you?"

It took her a second to respond. "No. It's not like anyone's waiting for me." Riza didn't like that her claim went out a bit too rough.

The comebacks she received were calm as she scurried beside Riza. Riza didn't need to look around for she could feel Misanagi close by but hidden, as is her style while they travelled back to the Hawthorne mansion.

"What?" Vera cried with an incredulous expression. "Surely there's someone?"

Hawkeye smiled darkly. "I doubt he'd even realize I'm gone."


The day wasn't any less exhausting for Fuhrer-to-be, Roy Mustang. Yet instead of his tired feet dragging him home as it would usually do, he was determinedly jogging to another way with his research notes in hand.

The conversation he'd had with Shadow right after her emotional break down was rather amusing and gratifying all the same. He noted that she was embarrassed at the fact that she actually cried in front of a stranger and she did a pretty lousy job to pretend she wasn't. But right after cursing him, she was back to the severe and sarcastic Riza-from-another-world that he had met –minus the I'll-kill-Roy-Mustang aura. Fortunately, she'd taken his advice even when she wouldn't admit it. With respect to her unyielding spirit, he was forced to admit that he had seen nothing at all.

And she also told him about Hawthorne, the killer of the Roy from her world. He was a noble who was mysterious and cold. She explained to him that Roy had called her; warned her to stay away from Hawthorne because he was a threat to the Fuhrer. And that if the Fuhrer found someone as a threat, he'd want them killed immediately. But no. Instead, she continued business with him. She knew that there was nothing wrong with what Hawthorne was doing. In fact, he knew the truth and it was probably the reason why the leader wanted him killed. He knew too much and with Riza getting caught up in it, she'd be in danger as well. She had told him she'd been too blind back then. Too obsessed in killing Roy as if she could. When she found out Roy was assigned to kill Hawthorne, she was thrilled because she would kill him. And when Mustang appeared in the rain, she was unaware one other person there was clutching a gun. They were out in the rain, Mustang, Hawthorne, and her. She was bewildered as to why Mustang would stand directly in front of his prey but then it didn't matter. Her gun was pointed at him, loaded and ready to go off. One shot to end it all. She was the only one with a gun drawn. But her finger was trembling and she could not understand why it couldn't pull the trigger. She'd killed numerous people without breaking a sweat. Why couldn't she pull it then?

And Mustang, she had gone on and Roy heard melancholy there, a painful past, simmering just below the surface. His alternate from Germany didn't even flinch when a gun was pointed at him. He was simply staring at her as if waiting for the shot. Because he had known she wanted to kill him more than anything.

One gun shot and a body falling on soaked ground.

Hawthorne's gun was smoking as it was pointed to where Mustang once stood.

Riza had only stared at the two men, too stunned to be able to do anything. She remembered falling to her knees, eyes watching crimson rain splatter to the ground. Then she looked at Hawthorne. He simply stood there like an unfeeling statue, grey eyes as cold and empty as rain. Then she had trailed off with her story. All she said after that was Hawthorne couldn't be trusted or her judgment had failed her. That he had a heart of ice. That he'd kill anyone who opposes him. Then she quickly shifted to leaving. He knew they were in good terms now considering she left the office after a biting remark of, "You better find what you're looking for and take good care of her." she said sweetly, "Or I'll kill you."

Not a very promising farewell but he understood what she meant. He sighed. That was what he was doing.

He headed to the place where his precious Lieutenant was last seen with one thought in mind: I will find you, Riza. He turned the corner, completely unaware he'd find something else.

Roy was just a mile away from it when a jet of blinding white light shot from his destination. He felt his body freeze as he watched the edges of the circle blaze and as quickly as it shone, it died down. He took another step and didn't find it funny when he couldn't move again. Because there, among the afterglow of the transmutation, were two crumpled bodies lying on top of the other.

He saw blonde hair but it was too early for him to rejoice. The height blew away his initial suspicions. The first thing that came to his mind then left his lips before he found himself staring back to golden eyes. Two pairs of golden eyes.


No wonder his body felt heavy. Alphonse could hear his brother groaning on top of him.

The trip across the gate was too fast that before he realized it, they were already lying on concrete floor. In a very memorable road to top it off. Edward rubbed his head, aware that Al was just under him probably also dizzy after being thrown through an abyss in a mind-blowing speed. Too tired to even move for his brother, Ed laid still before he heard something that killed any doubt in his mind that they might just be in another different dimension in which they didn't belong to.

"Fullmetal . . . ?"


Great. You're the last guy I see in this world yet I don't understand why you of all people should also be the first one we see once we're back.

The sarcasm that the Fullmetal Alchemist was about to say died on his lips when he caught sight of something he'd never dreamed of seeing. Even Al was at a loss of what to say. He could tell his younger brother wanted to comfort the bastard colonel but both of them saw just how beat down the man was. His eyes were distant and the strained smile he kept plastering on lips kept slipping off. Both of them could tell that Mustang was actually glad to find them but it was just a disappointment that Hawkeye wasn't with them. Disappointment was an understatement.

Disappointment didn't even cover the other half of what he was feeling. Right now, Roy was feeling a ridiculous mix of joy that the Elric brothers were back (Of course he cared for them. despite how his relationship with Ed appeared, he had grown a soft spot for them) and an undeniable sense of frustration at his naivety. But there was absolutely no anger. Just the naivety. He was convinced they were with her so he had known that they'd also return with her. It might be selfish of him but it was so natural that the first thing he'd hope to see was her. The thought was proof enough how he craved her presence.

But if they returned without her, he could grudgingly guess the reason. Within those seconds as he rushed and helped the brothers to his apartment, his mind was already crossing out which might not be the reason and before they even arrived, he thought he had it figured out.

Ed was surprised when Mustang didn't start questioning them right after having them seated on a couch in his shabby apartment. Instead, he went straight for his phone and called someone whom they didn't hear. Glancing around, the brothers noted how unkempt the room was. His seemingly untouched kitchen, shoes and coats strewn haphazardly on a corner, and the dusty bookshelves overflowing with books that some were stacked on the floor. Amazingly, it seemed that those certain books were the only ones looking neat so it was safe to assume those were the things that Mustang had spared his time to. For a man who was colonel-promoted-Brigadier general-back-to-being-a-colonel, it wasn't apparent that that small room belonged to someone whose stature was at least one of those, earning more than enough to buy a bigger and cosier flat – and even a mansion.

When he had finished the one-minute call, it was then that Roy started the interrogation. Both Ed and Al were willing enough to speak, knowing if they couldn't bring Hawkeye back then nobody else could. Mustang was their only chance.

He sat down on the sofa in front of them with an attentive air. Staring at them in the eye, he spoke. "Tell me."

The Fullmetal Alchemist nodded. He wasted no time and launched an explanation. "She was with us. And she's still back there. And it's because of her that we're here. There was this noble, you see, and he was the reason she ended up there. He wanted to make a deal with her and because we are here, I can only say she accepted it. Dammit, I should have known she left."

"So she's alive…" Roy whispered. A look of uncertainty was shared by Ed and Al. They had never seen Mustang look so relieved. Almost immediately the relief changed to anxiety. After the first of his fears had been cleared, there came her safety. Fortunately, his voice did not crack with alarm as he asked, "What deal did they have, exactly?"

"He would take us back to our world –which is here- in exchange that she would be with him…"

Mustang didn't need to ask to know what happened next. Everything he had heard made sense, putting the right jigsaw pieces in place. It was Hawkeye's decision and he knew it. But it didn't mean he liked it.

Edward looked at him with disbelieving eyes. As his spoke, his tone mirrored his expression, "Your most loyal subordinate betrayed us." He paused as his words sunk in, "She betrayed us for our own sake."

If she was more than willing then that might not be the only reason she did so, thought Roy. He refrained from clutching his forehead knowing it wouldn't help to cease the pain that started when conclusion after conclusion were unfolding in his head at break-neck speed.

"Colonel, believe me, we told her not to accept and we even had to make sure she stayed back home. But Noa… she was in on it too!" Ed was glowering and his hands were fisted.

Roy recognized the look of self-blame and knew that he had to make himself clear. "Fullmetal, I know you wouldn't let her so you shouldn't blame yourself. It was her decision." The moment the boy raised his head, Roy knew what he was thinking and went on before any of the two could speak, "And don't get me wrong. It's not like I liked her choice. I don't want her -and you two- stuck there. That's why I'm also looking for a way to find her. I assume she's not even thinking about getting herself back here." His last sentence tasted bitter on his tongue.

The brothers were astounded that he was able to deduct that much without them having to say it. They could vaguely wonder if the lieutenant and he shared one mind all along. "But, how did you know she didn't consent to it against her will?" Al asked.

Mustang blinked. But he didn't have time to give a response for there was a knock on his door. Three pairs of eyes turned. "Open it, Ed."

He did as he was told and froze upon seeing who was on the other side of the door.

"Ed…?"

Mustang was expecting the girl to hug Ed as Winry came into view. Al stood and to his and Roy's surprise, it was Ed who made the first move.

His face was certainly burning as he hugged Winry close, finding it suspicious that Al only joined in seconds after him when they could have hugged her at the same time. When they reluctantly pulled away, Roy saw that Winry looked close to crying.

"Idiots! Where have you been?" her voice was brimming with emotion as Ed scratched his head and Al made a short laugh.

"It's nice to see you, Winry!" Al told her pleasantly. Ed snorted; his own kind of agreement.

"I knew you'd return! Are you with Miss Riza?" at her question, the air of joyous reunion decreased and she noticed it. She looked from one face to another, waiting for a reply.

"She refused to come back, Miss Rockbell." It was Roy who answered her. Three pairs of astounded eyes stared at him.

"But… but why?" she sat down, not trusting her legs to keep her up. The brothers sat on either side of her.

He didn't answer and let the boys recount to her the story up until when they ended up back in the streets of Central.

"When Al and I were researching about the circle that took her there, I found it had similar symbols with the one Eckhart used when she opened the gate to what she called Shamballa." Edward stated, turning to Mustang, "She was the one responsible for the invasion months ago in Central. I knew I accidentally activated the circle but I didn't know how. Alchemy doesn't exist there. So I thought it was impossible that that man could have used alchemy without any help from someone who actually understood and can perform alchemy."

"You're saying that his knowledge isn't enough for him to use it there?" the older man contemplated, "That someone else really caused the activation of the circle? But wait a minute… only you two would be able to do it back there. Hawkeye doesn't do alchemy so the question would be how she ended up in another world."

"The noble had said it was an accident that Hawkeye was the one to end up in the circle. Come to think of it, neither he nor Hawkeye can actually use the circle. I know alchemy so it would've been understandable if I were the one to have activated it. But in this case neither of them could perform alchemy so it's a wonder how the circle worked. He has the knowledge but it's impossible for him to do it and Hawkeye isn't even an alchemist so how the hell did the transmutation happen?"

Roy drummed his fingers on his knee, thinking. "How did you get here then?"

Ed and Al stared at him. "Through the circle in which we first found her."

"Surely it didn't activate just like that?"

"Well, no. We had to use… our…" Ed trailed off as it hit him, "Blood…"

"Our blood was the key!" Al exclaimed suddenly, "Because even when we couldn't perform alchemy, we were still alchemists! And maybe it's in our… I dunno, blood?"

"Yeah!" Ed agreed enthusiastically, "And when we found the Lieutenant, she was all… bloody too."

"Metaphorically speaking, that is possible. But the question remains: Hawkeye isn't an alchemist so her blood shouldn't have anything to do with it. Without the knowledge, how did the circle activate?" Mustang scrutinized.

Silence. They knew he was right. One needed the knowledge and should be an alchemist in order to be able to use a transmutation circle. They had never seen Hawkeye do alchemy. Unless…

"What if she is?" Winry commented offhandedly. When three wide-eyed men stared at her, she felt herself shrink and the need to defend herself kicked in, "I-I mean, she's a smart woman! It's not impossible for someone as intelligent and brave as her to learn it… I think."

Mustang didn't sweat when it was his turn to be stared at. Because everyone within that room knew he was the one closest to Hawkeye. He closed his eyes as they waited for him to speak. "I have no idea." Come to think of it, it wasn't impossible that she may have decided to learn it. Most probably around the time that he was up north. Because if not, he would have noticed it. But why? She has no reason to want to use alchemy. She did tell him once that she wouldn't need alchemy to kick his ass. Maybe she wanted to create something. No, she could have asked another alchemist to do it for her. Or maybe she wanted to find something? When he thought about other reasons as to why one would want to learn alchemy, he remembered that the Elric brothers had wanted to see someone again. To resurrect someone. He didn't like the feeling that he was getting. Who would Hawkeye want to resurrect? He recalled unwanted memories.

Her promise to protect him. The venomous words he had told her during Hughes' death that he didn't mean. And her question back then…

Colonel, do you mind losing a subordinate in exchange of being with a friend again?

He had answered her with an angered and shocked yell of "Are you stupid?" He had told her human transmutation would never work, emphasizing that her life wasn't worth Hughes'. Though he didn't tell her he couldn't lose her. He felt something within him shatter. She must have taken him the wrong way.

"Oh yeah, I wanted to ask," Al said, "How did she wind up holding a bomb?"

Roy felt his stomach knot. He knew without a doubt it was his fault. Everything bad that had happened to her was because of him. It was one of the reasons he had resolved to going in the snowy mountains alone, thinking she'd at least be free from the danger because of protecting him. She was supposed to forget about him. That she had anything to do with the bastard that he was. But upon his return, who was it that stuck to his side until the very end? And who was it that left alone to fight heroically on an unreachable place? Who was it that made the biggest miscalculation of his life? And who almost died protecting who?

The answers to those had been killing him. And he blamed himself every single day that she wasn't there. It was his entire fucking fault.

"It was my fault. She was fighting with me until I left her to fight with you guys. And she was down there, holding down a damn bomb that should have killed us if it wasn't for her." he quietly replied, leaning forward to rest his forehead within his entwined fingers, concealing half of his face.

The three young adults didn't say anything. They were aware that only Hawkeye herself would be the only one to convince him otherwise. But now that they were close to grasping the answer to bringing her back, they couldn't let him lose hope.

"Wait, who was it that she made a deal with? A noble was it?" Roy asked all of a sudden, urgency in his voice. Why was it that he couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more with the anonymous dealer?

Ed did not mention the name earlier for he thought that it was of much less importance. He just could not understand that the name seemed to alarm Mustang. It wasn't like he actually knew him, right?

"Yeah. He said his name is Hawthorne."

But upon seeing the man's expression, Ed had to be mistaken. He could only watch in bewilderment as Roy paled more and more until he was sure all the blood in his body had left him.


A/N: THAT was longer than I'd hoped 0_o. I can't say I'm proud of the way I wrote this chapter. *sigh* better luck next time. But damn, Roy and Shadow's argument was really hard to write. How to make her admit was a brain buster. And I had no one to even beta read this! I'm so sorry for myself. Thanks for reading and please leave a review!