A/N: Wow I can't believe I'm up to 21 chapters! I really didn't think this story would go very far…or have a plot for that matter. Anyways thank you so much for your reviews and such; you've all made me a happy person. And now that the angsty, scary and mean part is over we can all be happy again! Hooray!

A giant thunder and lightning storm went on as I typed this…I kept pressing the word letters every time lightning struck =_=;;;

The cat like Alchemist

Ch. 21

"…And after the third stop you take a left at…Are you listening?!" Edward shouted.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah take a left. I got this Ed! Sheesh." Max said waving her hand dismissively.

A vein popped in Edward's head. "Coming from the girl with no sense of direction!"

Max thought for a moment. Well, he did have a point. Edward sighed and quickly scribbled the directions to her destination, down. He handed the piece of paper to her and she took it reading it over.

"And make sure you get off at the THIRD stop! Otherwise, if you go too far you'll half to stay on the train for another 4 hours."

"…right." Max replied, trying to decode Ed's horrible handwriting. Holding the sheet of paper up to the sun, overdramatically to prove a point. She looked up at the two. "So how long do you think it'll be 'till you're back?"

"Huh? Oh well, I'd say…four…five days." Edward said. 'If we hurry…' He thought.

Max nodded. It was going to be a long fivedays… but she could manage! She didn't NEED those two to survive!

Max smiled. "Well, don't make me wait too long…" She said with little enthusiasm. "…Or at least get me something on your way back…Oh, and can you say 'hi' to big brother for me?" She asked hopefully.

Edward groaned. "Fine…"

Max smiled. "Thanks!" She gave each of them a quick hug before she prepared herself to get on the train. She didn't want to, but Ed had insisted earlier that she should go and they'd report back to Central.

She stepped onto the train and waved at them, they waved back. "See you guys soon… and if not…"

"Hm?"

"See you later!" Max smiled and laughed as she went inside the train. Ed watched her leave and then the train slowly departed the station. Leaving an empty feeling.

"So, what now Ed? Our train doesn't leave for another hour…" Alphonse asked.

Edward shrugged. "…wait."

Meanwhile~

Max watched the world rush past her as she looked out the window. She sighed and looked at the empty seats in front of her. Damn, she already missed them!

Max sighed, then her eyes widened as if she just realized something. "Hm… This would be the first time I'm really on my own…" A small smirk grew on her face.

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Two days later~

Max got off the train hurriedly. Damn, she never wanted to see another sundae ever again! Max groaned as her stomach growled a little, apparently not happy with what she ate. Max looked up. The first thing she noticed was that it was hot. Very hot…extremely uncomfortably hot. Where the heck did Ed send her to?!

Max dragged her feet through a busy town while holding Ed's directions in one of her hands and her suit case in the other. "Damn, it's hot…ok so I make a left at the…large… restaurant?" Max looked up from the paper and stopped walking. Somehow, she had entered a clothing store. "...Huh?"

Meanwhile~

Ed sat up in his seat in the military car, on his way to see Mustang with Al.

"What is it, Ed?" Alphonse asked, curious of his elder brother's stiffness.

Ed relaxed backed into his seat. "For some reason…I think a kid is lost or something…"

Al would've given a confused look if he could of.

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"Gah! It's hopeless!" Max shouted while throwing her arms up in the air in frustration and was received odd looks from bystanders. "I'll never find this place! I'm gonna die out here in this heat! Ed you're such a jerk for letting me die like this!" Max comically slumped over, leaning on a building. Max must've circled the whole town at least four times by now! She even asked for directions twice! Why did the roads keep moving on her?!

She looked at the crumpled piece of paper, miserably and read the title of the building she was supposed to arrive at. "How am I supposed to know where this is? I've been in Central all my life." She mumbled as she looked up from the paper.

She read the name off of the building in front of her. Huh, it was identical to the one on the paper. Wait… Max looked from the words in the directions on the one on the sign about six times before a wide smile formed on her lips. She rushed towards the building happily. "I knew I'd find it!" She said pleased with her sense of direction…and maybe luck.

Max walked up to the store and knocked on the door. She waited a good minute afterwards, but when no one came she knocked harder. Again no reply. She pounded even harder for about a minute before she realized that there was a 'Sorry we're closed' sign in the window. Max gloomed, a dark cloud surrounded her as she slid down the door onto her knees, one arm stretched out towards the cursed sign. "I AM going to die here…aren't I?"

Max didn't react when she felt someone tap her shoulder slightly. "Um, excuse me miss, are you alright?"

Max looked up to the stranger, tears comically flowing without end. "I'm going to die here…" She mumbled.

"Pardon?!"

"The shop's closed…" She said pointing to the sign.

"Um… well, if you're that desperate I can ask the boss for a favor real quick…"

Max's mood did a complete 180° "Really?! You'd do that?!" She said hopefully.

"Uh…sure. Let me just go get the boss." He said. "My name's Mason by the way."

Max smiled. "Mine's Max. Nice to meet you! And thank you so much!" She said.

"No problem! You must really like the meat here…" He said unlocking the door and hading inside while Max waited patiently outside. Mason shouted as he went deeper into the shop. "Hey, boss! You have a fan of yours waiting out back!"

Max heard a low voice. "Fan?"

Max's eyes widened as far as they could while her mouth was half way open stuck between the smile she wore only a second ago and the fearful look she wore now. She froze as she watched a man in a bloody apron and knife that's only purpose was to lacerate meat. Yes, Max fainted as she saw a gigantic man come out of a little butcher shop in Dublith, her last thoughts 'Where the hell did you send me to Ed?!'

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Max jolted upwards sending a thin blanket flying half way across the room. 'Damn it! Is someone trying to kill me through massive heat or something?!' She thought. She looked around; it didn't look like she was outside the butcher shop anymore. It was a small room; it had a couch where she was currently sitting at, a window and a closed door. Her suitcase was lying right beside the door, she got up and opened it to check and see if everything was there and not stolen or anything.

When everything was in check she opened the wooden door. She looked around; it certainly looked like a butcher shop…knives, meat, blood, fat, sink half filled with dishes. Yep. She was in the right place…with the gigantic butcher man. Now Max could see why the two Elrics were scared every time she tried to ask them about their teacher. He was... intimidating...

She turned a corner and something blocked her path. She was about ten feet away from the man she saw earlier, except without the bloody apron and knife, instead he was holding a tray with a cup of…tea?

Max froze, not sure what to do next.

The man looked at her and started to walk towards a room. "Good you're up. Izumi has been waiting for you…you're a friend of the Elrics, right?"

It took Max a moment to gather her courage. "Ye-e-e-e-s…" Yep. She had bravery alright. She followed the Man to meet this 'Izumi person.'

Max walked into a room where a woman was laying in a bed reading a cooking book. Max tried to comb down her bed head with her fingers and pulled on her hat further onto her head, trying to make herself presentable, however it didn't work so well. The woman had dark hair and eyes; she looked just a bit pale and had a kind but intimidating face.

"So, you're Max." Izumi began,

"Ye-e-e-s… and you're Izumi?" Max said. Max felt like she was visiting a sick person, she didn't want to get too close…

"Yes. So I hear you're a friend of my apprentices, Edward and Alphonse Elric?"

"Yah-wait…YOU'RE Ed and Al's teacher? Not…him?" Max said slightly pointing at the two people. She froze when she looked at the man.

"That's right. That's my husband, Sig."

Max looked up at Sig and held out her and cautiously. "Nice t-to meet you?"

Sig grabbed her hand and shook it, causing Max to freeze until he let go.

"Don't worry…" Izumi said getting up from her bed then giving a slap on her husband's back so hard it would've knock Max to the ground, However Sig didn't even flinch. "He wouldn't hurt a soul."

"…Are you sure you're well enough to get up?" He asked.

"Yes, I'm feeling better today." Izumi replied. She turned to Max. "Would you like something to eat?" She asked with a smile.

Max smiled "Yes, please."

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Izumi was a wonderful cook! Max was able eat everything and her stomach felt better now that something other than ice cream was in it. 'I should learn how to cook…maybe Ed and Al would like it!' Max thought.

Izumi began to collect the dishes and bring them over to the sink. Max stood up. "Please, let me do it. Um, you treated me to such a nice meal I should at least clean up…"

Izumi looked a little surprised. "Well, if you insist…" Max nodded and smiled as she began to clean the dishes.

Half an hour later~

"…I see so Edward sent you here." Izumi said taking a sip from her tea.

Max gloomed. "I'm so sorry! I thought Ed told you I was coming over or something! I wouldn't have barged in like I did."

"It's no trouble. You can stay here as long as you like." See said with a smile.

"Thank you so much!" She said again. "Ed said it would only be a few days…"

A week later…

Max wasn't sure what to do… Ed and Al haven't even called and it wasn't like she knew their numbers. She called her older brother every night after Izumi and Sig went to sleep, to say goodnight. But Big brother wouldn't say where they were. She was starting to get mad! Max wasn't the type of person who'd wait for someone for very long. The only reason she wasn't pissed right now was because Miss Izumi was so nice!

Izumi was like a big sister! She was awesome! Izumi would show her how to cook different things, how to make her hair all shiny and pretty (even though she never took off her hat) Max liked hanging out with her, since she never got to see her actual sisters anymore and big brother was...well, big brother. He didn't understand some things 'cause he was just useless like that.

Max sighed as she looked out the window. She missed Ed and Al. Max heard the phones ring and then Izumi started yelling. Max at first flinched away at Izumi's volume but then tried to listen to what she was saying. Mostly something it was about idiots and foolish apprentices. Wait, those must have been Ed and Al! Max ran up to Izumi.

"Is it Ed and Al? Is it?" Max asked happily. Izumi's face softened and she nodded, handing the phones over to her. Max's smile took up most of her face. Izumi left to the other room.

"Ed? Al? Are you there?"

"Max, hey, how's it going?" Edward asked.

"Good! Good, how 'bout you?"

"Fine, Mustang's riding my ass about the reports though."

Max just shrugged. "…So when are you two coming to pick me up?" Max heard Ed sigh.

"Max…Me and Al-"

"Al and I." Max corrected with a laugh, just to be snooty.

"…AL AND I…are going on a like trip…we should be back soon."

"…how soon?"

"Soon enough. Don't worry, we'll come back."

"…I know that…But I'm not the waiting type…I'm not patient, Ed."

Ed was silent, not knowing how to answer her.

"Well…hurry back soon…bye Ed."

"Max, wait-"

Click.

Max sighed…what was she going to do? Well, she could last another few days…

Three Months Later…

Max answered the phone to the store. Izumi had let Max run it every now and then to distract her from her boredom. Max was actually pretty good with the customers. "Izumi's Butchery, how can I help you?" Max felt like a secretary sometimes…

"…Hey, Max."

"Edward?"

"Yeah, listen…Me and Al are at the train station right outside of Dublith…No need to inform teacher though! Just say you're coming back to see us! We're done with out trip so we're going back to Central with you!"

"…"

"Max?"

"…Edward…" Max's voice dripped with anger and annoyance. "…Do you know long you fucking kept me waiting here for your sorry ass?" Not that Max minded staying with Izumi and Sig.

Edward froze. Max had been hanging out with Izumi for far too long…her tone was… deadly.

"I'll see you at the station, Ed…bye."

Edward heard the phone click and froze. He thought that was what her reaction was going to be…

Max said her good byes and gave both Sig and Izumi a hug before she left. Max smiled and began to drift towards the station. Izumi just watched her as she disappeared.

"…She's not a normal girl…" She stated simply. Sig nodded. Izumi smiled, she had known Max was a state alchemist. However, Max was not her apprentice, and she couldn't scold her for it. Izumi was amazed her low her alchemy skill was, there was no way she could've been working for the state on her own… she must have something important to do. Izumi decided to help her, if she was going to travel with her idiot apprentices…she would need to be stronger…and a better cooker. Alchemy WAS 'born in the kitchen.'

Max smiled to herself as she walked down to the train station, Izumi was so nice! She had given her so many food recipes and tips! Ed and Al would have to try them later…if their jaws worked after she hit them. No way was she going to let this slide! Ed couldn't expect her to not be pissed after leaving her ALONE for three months! Max felt her blood boil; she couldn't tell if it was from the scorching heat or from her own anger. She didn't see the townsfolk she grew to know, slowly backing away from her.

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Ed and Al waited for Max, on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Max was going to KILL them! Of course she would be mad, but they were sent on a mission from the fuehrer himself! What could they do?! Not only that, but the mission was crawling with chimeras…it was dangerous and Max probably wouldn't be able to…adjust to her surroundings.

So they came up with a last minute plan to distract Max. Alphonse came up with the idea, jokingly, however Ed (the idiot) took it seriously.

"Ed, it's never going to work!" Alphonse tried to reason with his seemingly stupid older brother.

"Shut up! We won't know until we try!"

"But Ed-!"

"Shhhhh! She's coming!" Edward said looking up by the entrance of the station. Max wore a determined and…annoyed face. The two jumped when she looked at them. She had such a sweet smile, however the dark an ill-omened, dark cloud surrounding her made them want to run for their lives. Max slowly started to walk towards them and they started to sweat bullets. Max suddenly froze.

'Wait… what's that?' she thought to herself. It was a smell…NOT like the one that smelled like metal. This one…This one smelled like…a fresh plant? Max smiled, joyful. NO! Wait! She was mad, damn it! She was mad! But…but she was so…happy! No! But-!

The two brothers shouted as Max threw her suitcase on the ground and she made a B-line towards them. Edward waved his hands in front of him practically shouting 'no! Don't come over here! Don't hurt me, hurt Al instead!' "Crap it didn't work!"

Max shouted joyfully as she tackled Alphonse, nearly sending both of them flying. He was able to catch his footing at the last second, regaining his balance. Max hugged and held Alphonse, wearing a smile that looked like it was crossed between a cat and Mustang-ish smirk. Ed froze and watched Max hug his younger brother. Maybe…the plan worked?

Earlier...

"You know Max is gonna kill us when we see her." Alphonse said.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. Which is why we're going to distract her with this!" Edward shouted, holding out a plant dramatically.

"Catnip…are you serious?"

"As a heart attack." He replied. "Just put some in your armor."

Cat nip releases a smell that stimulates all 5 senses. Don't take it seriously if you don't want to, just something funny xD And the smell in the previous chapter was NOT catnip. It is still a mystery…

"It won't work!"

"Come on Al!" 'I don't wanna die!'

"Fine!"

Currently~

Max hugged Alphonse with all her might. "Alphonse! I missed you! Did you miss me~?"

"Eh? Uh…well, yeah." Alphonse stuttered, trying to find an answer. Edward snickered at his distressed brother, which earned Max's attention. She half jumped off of Alphonse and tackled Edward. However since Ed wasn't a 7 foot tall suit of armor, he fell over.

"Gah! Max, what the hell?!" Edward shouted.

Max looked down at the blond that was under her. She frowned sadly. "Wha~? Ed's not happy to see me? Am I no good~?"

Ed froze then pushed her off by her shoulder. "You're fine, just get off."

Max pouted. "Hnnn…Ed's no fun!" Alphonse caught her attention by making a slight movement and she half tackled him once more. Max nuzzled her face against Al's armor. "Al~ where are we going now? Huh? Where?"

"Um…Well… uh- we were gonna go out to Central real quick, then if you're up to it, see someone in Eastern City."

"Sounds fun! I get to see big brother! Yay! Let's go! Let's go!" She shouted happily.

"The train will be here in a half hour! Be Patient!" Edward shouted.

"What?! Why'd you call me here so early?!" Max groaned. Not that she didn't want to see the two.

"You usually get completely lost on you're way here!" Ed snapped.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…" Max said, as if she just heard of something that she never knew existed. A few minutes passed when Max declared that she was bored.

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The 'powers' from the catnip wore off after 5 minutes later. Luckily for Ed, Max just didn't feel angry towards him or his brother. Ed couldn't help breathe a sigh of relief when Max fell asleep. Alphonse had carried her onto the train when it came to the deserted station.

Al gently set the worn-out girl down in her seat and she leaned towards the window by her. After the train started on its course, it jerked, making Max lean over farther so her hat fell off. Ed laughed as Alphonse picked up her hat and glanced at Max's tired face. She was so peaceful looking when she was sleeping. That's when he noticed something.

"Hey, Ed. Did you know that Max has a tattoo?"

"Huh?" Edward said sending his attention from the window to his brother.

"Yeah, it's at the top of her neck, '148'." He said pointing to the back of is helmet where the tattoo would be.

Edward crooked his head to get a better view at Max's tattoo and sure enough he read the numbers '148'. "Huh, wonder why she got that."

Alphonse shrugged. Max stirred in her sleep and then slightly smiled. Happy she was back with the two of them.