Hi everyone, Pandoru here.
To start off, you don't have to worry, I'm not ditching the story (you know how much work I've put into this thing?!) I don't even have writers block actually, it's just been time. Since I was Homeschooled I'm experiencing my first traditional finals ever here at college and yes, it is the murder everyone says it is. Instead of putting up another "Chapter out on blah-blah date" thing in the summary, I wanted to let you guys in on what's happening a little more. So, recap:

1) Don't worry, this story is still up an running

2) I've got lots of ideas I'm working on, it's just free time to write it down that hasn't been coming.

Hopefully I'll have the chapter out on Sunday, I'm nearly done with it already. Also, my work load will be decreasing next semester and I get a long break, so updates should return to a schedule soon (though I can't say that's a promise.)
I'm really sorry about all this, especially my continual changing of the update date. Thank you all so much for being patient and I promise I'll have the next chapter up as soon as I can.

And now, since we're not allowed to make whole chapters an author's note, I write you all a vignette.


"Y'know, there are easier ways to kill yourself." Greed stated from his spot paused in front of the kitchen table, on a day near the end of the school year.

"You offering any suggestions?" The unkempt teenager muttered up at him, prying her eyes away from some thick textbook written entirely in Xingesse. Mary's trait of usually caring somewhat about how she looked had been completely abandoned by the side of an all-nighter road by then. She was back to looking like an insomniac panda that hadn't bothered to shower in a little too long.

"Of course not, you're not getting out of working for me that easy, kid." Mary sent up a half hearted glare, one that sort of said 'I'd be flipping you off it I had any energy at all' that made the homunculus chuckle. The next thing she did was groan out whatever motivation she had left and dropped her face into the book. "Damn, half-pint, you ever think about just dropping out?" Greed asked. He didn't know how things looked to the teen but it sure didn't seem like school was worth what she kept putting herself through.

"Every f-cking day." She murmured straight into the pages, not even bothering to turn her head.

"Then what's stopping ya?"

"I'd have to spend all day with you guys." Mary said it so flat, without missing a single beat, that Greed thought he hadn't heard her right till she peeled herself out of the book a little and he saw the worn out smirk on her face.

"Wha-...always a second to be a little jackass, huh?"
Her response of giving a solitary giggle and sitting back up gave Greed the bad feeling that the kid actually got her energy from being a brat. All her past actions considered, though, that would explain to him.


That totally wasn't based on my current situation at all, nope, nope. Anyway, I hope that gave you a little laugh.

I don't know if you're reading this but shout out to guest reviewer Not Important: Dang, I really wish I could respond to you in a PM because you don't know how hella flattered that review made me. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it, it was really just what I needed right then. Hope you keep liking the story!

As said before, next update hopefully on Sunday the 7th, most of my projects and tests will have been over by then. Hope you're all having good holiday seasons so far and sorry and thank you again.

~Pandoru