Bo.

I found the highest roof to settle onto and remained there until the sun had set. The starry sky in this part of Amestris was pretty just not as pretty as in Resembool. This rooftop was still one of the greatest places I found to cool off. I felt like I could connect more with my older stray brother. He would always aimlessly wander around at night to ease his pain. I was lost right now that I did not know what to do. I do not know how many times I had cried since the beginning of this trip with the Elric brothers. I cried way more than when I watched them on television. I felt so helpless. I felt unworthy to pursue this journey any farther.

"There you are," I heard a familiar slightly annoyed voice call out from behind.

I turned myself slightly to look into his big golden eyes. Edward's eyes were interestingly golden, and he had to be the only one that I had ever seen with that shade of color. His eyes had this fiery and vibrant quality to them that mirrored his personality.

I replied with my silence, and turned back to the sky. I was not worthy to be in his company. I just kept on pilling up the sins as time went by. I was so helpless that it hurt. My chest was tightening. Just there, I felt the blond's arms surrounding me from behind. His action left me dumbfounded. It was unlike his innate nature. He was not the type to show care. At least, that was not the way he showed care.

"You are making me turn hugs into some habit, Bo," he said. I did not know if he meant it as a joke or as annoyance.

I did not even know how to reply to him. I kept my eyes on the sky.

"Alphonse told us all what happened. You have shaken him up pretty badly. Major Armstrong and him are pretty worried about you, because you ran off on us," he said. "I thought that you'd be somewhere around the house just like the other night. I got to admit that I'm not that bad at finding you."

I wondered if Edward was worried about me too. I wanted him to be worried about me too.

I pulled away from his embrace. I was not worthy of his attention. And, I needed space. I stopped denying the fact that I killed someone. I was barely accepting my unjustifiable action. I felt disgusting. I knew that even a good warm shower would not be able to cleanse me.

Edward sat by my side. He was looking completely serious. We remained there in silence. I was quietly crying. He was unreadable.

"I told you many times that you have to move forward. Given the situations, I knew that it was the right answer. It was the only logical answer. You learn, you grow, you move forward. That's how Al and I have been living our lives since that day." He broke the silence.

I, finally, had the courage to look at him. I mustered it all to retort. "I killed someone, Edward. How am I supposed to move forward when I just stabbed someone to his death? Even if it was in self-defense, the end is still the same. I'm all dirty now. I'm the lowest of lowest. I'm pathetic."

"一度だけ 一度だけ (Just for one more time, one more time)
最後の言葉の意味 (I want to ask for the meaning)
聞いてみたかった (of your last words)
あと少し もう少し(A little more, just a little more time)
真昼の白い夢に(I want to be embraced by)
抱かれてたかった(that innocent dream of midday)"

"So, you are going to let that bring you down, Bailey? Nothing justifies murder, but Al told me that when you had the chance to kill that woman, you didn't. Even if you knew fair well what your orders were, you didn't. You killed that man in order to save your life. It's not like you wanted to kill the man." He held my shoulders and made sure that I look at him. "I still know that you are a good person. I don't accept murder, but…you get this only exception. Listen to me, Bailey. I'm only saying this once, so you better listen. You are a strong. You care about others. You are kind. Don't let things get to you, because I'm by your side." I could not believe that he complimented me. "Al and I are by your side. I trusted you with Al, and you risked your life for him. It means I can trust from now on. You're not alone, so if you ever there's anything…you can come to me."

His entire speech was similar to the one Lieutenant Ross told him at the hospital. He was telling me to trust him. He told me that he was there for me.

"Don't you forget that, idiot," he sighed. "We should hurry back, before supper gets cold."

I stood up, and looked at him from behind as he left. There was something that I noticed. He…actually grew up on me. I meant that as in height. Nate mentioned it once that he was one foot taller than Ed, so it meant that Ed was 4'11" back at Resembool. I am 5'4". Why did it feel like I could give him a 5'2" at best? Why did I even notice this detail?

"Hey, dummy, can't you walk faster? I had to look for you instead of eating," he said in his usual annoyed self.

"Right, right," I answered back.

The following morning, Edward decided that it was time for us to head back to Central with one pit-stop at Rush Valley, because he totally destroyed his automail. Winry was going to demolish him. Central meant that I was going to see Nathan again after an entire month since we left. In my heart, I hoped that he managed to save Hughes, but a feeling was telling me otherwise. Edward, after telling me what Major Armstrong told him, said that we had been warned to dig a little deeper. Alphonse also pointed out that the Fuhrer's surprising visit was another message.

Author's Note: Good news, next chapter, Nathan's back. More good news, my winter break is on the 19th. Even more good news, I've got the complete outline of the Nathan's new arc. I really want you to anticipate this (if you like my story and all). I missed him. The fact that it's also prettyangsty, because he experienced first hand Hughes's murder makes me even happier.

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