The Flower Princess and the Alchemist

by BloodPokemon101

"How can you bypass the laws of Equivalent Exchange without a Philosopher's Stone?" "I don't think my powers have anything to do with alchemy." After fighting a Hollow, Orihime mysteriously finds herself in the world of FMA. With the meeting of the Elric brothers, she is tossed into another adventure with joy, heartbreak, and romance along the way.

50. The Stage Where a New Leaf Blows

(A/N: Here's chapter fifty! Wow! I hit the fiftieth chapter milestone! Hooray! Well, enjoy the chapter!

Simply Christian: Thanks for the reviewing! Actually... Let me correct you on that. All those Ichigo/Rukia moments... Kubo had nothing to do with that. When it came to the anime, he basically gave Studio Perriot [I believe that's the anime industry that worked on the Bleach anime, if I remember] free reign on the shipping and ship tease moments. Trust me, I read the Bleach manga, at least, four or five times, and there is a lot of Ichigo/Orihime moments in Substitute Shinigami and Soul Society arcs. All those Ichigo/Orihime moments were cut out of the anime because the staff of the anime were not Ichigo/Orihime fans. They were Ichigo/Rukia fans, which is why a lot of filler Ichigo/Rukia moments that were not there in the manga were added to the anime. So, Kubo never did drift towards Ichigo/Rukia. It may seem that way, but that's only because the anime staff were huge Ichigo/Rukia fans. Plus, Rukia was his first character, and was originally going to be the main protagonist. I forget the reason why Ichigo became the main character instead. All I can speculate is that, given that Bleach is shonen anime/manga that came in the earlier 2000s, I guess that just have to have a hotblooded teenage male protagonist. Now, it also makes me wonder, if part of the reason the staff is delaying doing the final arc of Bleach is because it ended with Ichigo/Orihime being the official couple instead of Ichigo/Rukia? And now they are trying to plead with Kubo to change the endgame pairing in the anime. It's a bit of stretch, but, hey, it isn't the first time an endgame pairing was changed between the manga and the anime. That's one of my disappointments with Bleach. It didn't explore the lives of new souls adjusting to living in the Soul Society. As if Orihime writing Hughes's letter. Sort of. No. I want to say there are some parts that Hughes had a her wear of blindfold when ghostwriting. Believe me, from experience, it's a very, very difficult task, but not impossible. Ed's feelings for Orihime were on of those parts. Although, Orihime does have some suspicion about the military. After all, she knows King Bradley may be half homunculus or something. However, she isn't one to automatically jump to the conclusion of 'all homunculus are bad' like all the other characters and OCs in FMA fanfics are. Especially since she knows from firsthand experience that every lifeform can be good or bad. There are good and bad humans, good and bad Soul Reapers, and good and bad Hollows/Arrancars. Who is to say that there aren't good and bad homunculus? She isn't going to be racist by stating/thinking along the lines of 'oh, you aren't human? Then you must be irredeemably evil'. The reason Orihime is still doubting she's in love with Ed is because she isn't sure if her love for him is really love. I mean, her attraction to him may purely be physical. She often talks about how much she wants to kiss him, and how she enjoys him patting her head. It makes her question does she just like kissing Ed [i.e. where the physical attraction comes from], or does she honestly and truly love him? Plus, she's confused because her love for Ed feels different from her love for Ichigo. It makes her question what is true love? Is her feelings for Ichigo what love really feels like? Or is her budding love for Ed true love? Mind you, of course people can love various people differently. Even in the romantic sense. This is just Orihime's conflicted feelings on how love is supposed to...well...feel. That's why she wants to test herself to if her affection for Ed is more than just/not just physical attraction.

TheEmeraldMage: Thanks for the review! Yeah, it does to her. Just by the mere fact that she's always waking up to someone saying 'good morning' to her and 'goodnight' when she goes to bed. And she always have breakfast, lunch, and dinner with Ed, Al, Winry, and Nina like family. No more sad, empty apartment and her by her lonesome. At least, for now.

LightJakRises: Thanks for reviewing! Yeah, that was my problem. Though, unlike Kushi, Kubo straight up said he wasn't interested in romance. So, I can admire it for that instead of trying and butchering it like Kushi did. Oh, I wasn't talk about Ed as the main protagonist genre. I was talking in general. You always see prodigies like Ed in the main cast, especially as a rival kind of character. Though I see your point.)

---

The Stage Where a New Leaf Blows

Morgan found himself naked and covered in sweat. He had woken up from a wondrous, blissful dream. A dream where Orihime asked him out.

She was wearing a beautiful, flowing, white dress. She would greet him with that coyly shy smile of hers. He would start the day simple yet elegant. Girls like to be romanced, right? After a nice, relaxing dinner, he would take her to a love hotel.

It was there he would claim her as his. The minute the doors were closed, he would pin her to the wall like a savage beast, and capture her lips in a hungry, lustful kiss. His hands would become impatient and restless, eagerly feeling her velvety soft, creamy delicate, magnificently irresistible skin through her dress. A delightful moan would escape from her. It was the most beautiful sound the blond haired mod soul has ever heard!

He would very agonizingly slowly unzip her dress as if it was unwrapping a divine gift from heaven, letting it gracefully pool around her, hitting the floor with a soft 'rustle'. He took a minute to admire her beautiful, sexy body. He studied her like an exquisite sculpture.

Yellow underwear… Nice.

Morgan licked his lips, lewdly. His green eyes oozed with lust.

God, she was beautiful! The most stunningly alluring, beguilingly sexy woman he has ever seen! She was an absolute goddess!

His pants became unbearably tight.

A shy blush of embarrassment would etch across Orihime's face. "Stop staring. It's embarrassing," she would quietly mutter in that bashfully demure voice of hers.

The blond mod soul grinned, victoriously. He had successfully seduced her!

He reached his hand out, and gently caressed her hair. She was so innocent and pure. She was untouched, and he was about to be her first. How lucky was he?!

"Don't worry, my beautiful Orihime," Morgan purred in her ear, seductively. "I'll treat you wonderfully. I'll make sure this is the night you will never forget." After that, he pulled her into another passionate, sultry make out session.

He led her to the bed and laid her down, gently. He kissed, touched, and caressed her all over. Her delicious moans and lovely, melodious cries of pleasure were music to his ears. He watched as her face scrunched up in ecstasy with a triumphant grin. She was so, so damn beautiful! The look of shy embarrassment on her countenance was marvelously astounding.

Yes, yes, Orihime! Don't be shy! She should release all her pent up carnal desires. Morgan would happily and graciously drink it all in.

It was his personal mission to give her the most amazing night of her life. A night so astoundingly wonderful that she becomes readily addicted to it and him. A night so stupendously fantastic that she would completely forget about her supposedly blond haired twerp of a boyfriend.

Morgan removed the last bits of their clothing, and tossed them in random parts of the room. Finally! Finally, he bedded her all night long. Her mellifluously sensual moans filled the room, much to his gleefully twisted sense of smug pride and hedonistic joy. He'd start off slow, loving, and gentle, but, after a few rounds, he would become more passionate, rough, wild, and feral, taking her like a man drunk on cocaine. It became less about him making sweet, genuine love to her, and more about him having his way with the busty beauty.

Even if she was tired, he would keep going at it, giving her no time to rest. Why should he when he's been waiting for this moment since he first laid eyes on her?! Women are meant to serve him, and be dominated by him, after all. They are delectable tools used to fulfill his sexual desires. That hasn't changed. He would use her hot, drop dead gorgeous body until he was satisfied. And even then he won't stop. She was the greatest prize he's ever feasted on!

He did her on the bed, on the floor, on the couch, against the wall, on the table, on the kitchen counter, in the bathroom, anywhere he could take that smoking hot body of hers. And in any position he could think of. He wildly rocked her world. He greatly desired to imprint her with his scent, so everyone would know he claimed her. He wanted this whole hotel room to be covered from top to bottom with the stench of their deed.

Morgan was determined to make this night last as long as he possibly could! Orihime was his! All his!

A dark, perverted grin etched across Morgan's lips. A magnificent dream indeed. One of the many, many scenarios where he becomes her very first. A dream, which would someday become a reality.

He glanced around and discerned that he was in an unfamiliar room. Judging by the positioning of the sun via the window, it was only mid afternoon. He felt the overly recognizable sensation of warm, naked flesh snuggled up against them. He gazed down at the sight of some blonde haired broad pressed against him. She had a very pleased and euphorically satisfied smile on her face. Her skinny, slightly tanned legs were secured around his waist and an arm was stretched across his toned chest where her head laid comfortably on his chest.

Now, he remembered what happened. This woman was his seventh conquest. After forcing himself on and murdering three different women, he found that his libido for Orihime still held strong. Those hussies simply couldn't fulfill his sexual appetite. Being mindful that escapades would eventually be discovered and bring the police and military into a frenzy, he wisely foresaw that it was best to cease his senseless killing spree. Besides, he realized it was kind of pointless to release most of his pent up violently vengeful frustrations on unrelated people. He should be taking it out on that blond haired brat who dared to lay his filthy hands on his goddess!

Going the more sensible route, he seduced and slept with several more women. With all his coitus flings, he must've tired himself out.

The blond mod soul heard groggy noises coming from below him. The blonde woman stirred herself awake. Her torpid eyes opened to reveal light blue orbs underneath. When her light blue gaze landed on him, noticing Morgan was awake as well, she offered him a tired yet sultry smile.

"Hey, hot stuff. You know, I had a great time," she grinned, flirtatiously, tracing a pattern on his bare chest with her slim finger, suggestively.

Morgan merely grunted, having lost interest. The woman had served her usefulness. Ritsuko and Kyuko were probably wondering where he was. They were supposed to meet up somewhere to discuss strategy. He'll probably get an ear full from that battle hungry witch.

The woman pouted at his lack of response. Was he ignoring her? And after the wonderful time they had in bed? Well, she would simply have to get him interested again.

She leaned forward, deliberately making absolutely sure that he could feel her soft, naked chest pressed against his. She wasn't really a well endowed woman. Not like that red haired tramp in the fashion magazine. She bets the girl shamelessly seduces men with those cow udders of hers. That was the only logical reason she was able to appear on the cover of a very famous fashion mag. She's not all that great. Hmph! She probably slept with the head publisher of the Central Times Fashion magazine to get on the front page.

Conversely, her bust was a decent size, nonetheless. They were not big, but too small either. They were of average size. She was a fairly attractive woman, if she does say so herself. Heh. If they let some stuck up, no named brat be the star, maybe she should try modeling since they apparently accept any pretty girl into the gig. And who has red hair anyway? That is the most disgustingly ugly hair color. Did she dye her hair? If so, she sure knows how to choose the absolute hideously unattractive of choices.

The blonde woman should just forget that scarlet woman, and purely focus on the task at hand.

She planted kisses alongside his chest and neck with the sole purpose of getting him back in the mood. Her small, dainty, lightly tanned hand slithered downward with obvious sexual intentions in mind.

She was a rather stressed out single mom. Her kids won't be home for a little while longer. She needed this. She hasn't had a handsome, charming hunk of a man this damn good in bed in such a long time. Not since her husband passed. Let's just say she's a very lonely woman who's been starved for passion.

Morgan bit back a pleasure filled groan. Damn, this woman's ministrations were working. He could feel himself becoming more and more aroused by the minute. He smirked. Fuck! He wouldn't be able to resist this lovely specimen of a woman any longer. Not like he had much resistance in the first place.

Screw this! Kyuko and Ritsuko can wait for him for another hour or so.

He aggressively flipped the blonde haired woman over on her back, fiercely planted a kiss on her lips, forcing his tongue inside her mouth. The woman moaned, softly, and eagerly responded to the kiss with equal fervor. Their tongues were engaged in an intense battle.

While they were locked in a lustful, fierce kiss, their idle hands eagerly groped their naked flesh aggressively ardent, determined to stimulate one another for another round of their raunchy dance in the sheets. Moments later, the shamelessly pleasing sounds of moaning and groaning followed by the rough rustling of bed sheets filled the bedroom as the two, wantonly horny, licentious lovers were lost in the titillatingly torrid throes of intensely lasciviously carnal desire.

---

The reverberations of melancholic sighs could be heard in the northeastern section of the library.

Edward reread the same for about the twentieth time. His left elbow was propped on the table with his gloved hand pressed under his chin. He wore a forlorn expression on his facial features. He could concentrate on the book he was supposed to be reading. Not when Orihime's dejected appearance kept popping into his head.

Earlier, before they all left to do whatever business they have for today, he called out to her. He wanted to ask her why she looked so sad and upset. But she dodged him by stating that there was some sale on an ingredient she wanted to use for tonight's dinner. It was an obvious excuse, but he couldn't call her out on it because he could not confirm if her pretext was an actual truth or a believable lie.

He just wished there was some way to figure out what was going on inside that head of hers. He never believed in mind readers, fortune tellers, or other physics. They were all smooth talking, conniving con artists who scam unassumingly naive, stupidly simple minded, innocuously unsuspecting people out of their money with their bullshitting nonsense. However, at this moment, he sure wished he was a mind reader, then maybe he could understand Orihime a little bit better.

When the blond alchemist recalled the kiss, he resisted the urge to bang his head against the table. What if the auburn haired healer was upset because she thought he was taking advantage of her in her distressed state? Idiot! All he was trying to do was comfort her and cheer her up. He held his head between his hands, producing a low, miserably shameful groan from his mouth. He was really a freaking idiot!

"It's not just Amelia. You were in danger because of me. Like the time with mod souls, and the time with the incident with Reo… You were only in danger because you were with me, Eddie!"

Orihime's woefully distraught observations to Edward's came to his mind. Was she troubled because she still blames herself for these incidents? He tried assuring her that him getting hurt wasn't in any way her fault. Guess, it didn't stick. His auburn haired friend was the type of person to be harder on herself than others. She was too gentle and kind for her own good.

He sighed, melancholically. But that's one of the things he really admires about her.

"What's wrong, brother?" Alphonse asked, concerned when he heard his older brother sigh. Ever since they left, Ed has been unfocused. He's barely read two books since they got here, and they have been at the library for a couple of hours now. That wasn't like him. "You have been reading that same page for half an hour now," he observed, worriedly. They were here attempting to research bio alchemy or soul manipulation, or seek information on Hollows, hopefully waiting for Liza to show up.

The elder Elric sighed again, turning his book and setting it down flat in a way that still marked the page he left off at. He contemplated for a second if he should confess to Al that he was worried about Orihime. If he did anything to upset her. However, that would require him to admit that he kissed her. For the second time. And he was not ready to discuss his love life.

He wasn't even sure what he should call his relationship with the healer at this point. She was his friend. That's for sure. Yet, labeling her as a mere friend didn't seem right. Then what should he call her? His girlfriend?

The blond alchemist hurriedly snatched the book he was reading off the table, and used it to conceal his reddening face. He can't let his younger brother see him blushing. That would give away his thoughts.

But Orihime? His girlfriend?

The notion of Orihime being his girlfriend brought a sensation of giddy embarrassment to him. If someone asked him if Orihime was his girlfriend, he'd explode with an abashed fluster and vehemently deny being in any sort of romantic relationship with her. It's not that he would be appallingly mortified being with her. In truth, he would never admit to himself and definitely not to anyone else, but he...would not mind...being...Orihime's...b-b-boyfriend. Secretly, he would be extremely happy, if he was. His heart would pound with joyful elation. Being with her made him so awkwardly nervous yet gleefully excited at the same time.

Conversely, he dejectedly knew the auburn haired healer would not feel the same way. After all, her heart belongs to Ichigo. She made it perfectly clear how deeply in love she is with the guy. Reflecting on it, constantly caused his heart to ache in sorrowful pain and harrowingly jealousy.

Then why did she kiss him? Why did he kiss her?

The blond haired alchemist set his book down, groaning, hopelessly perplexed. He slouched forward, arms stretched out in front of him, overwrought with agitation. Thinking about all this makes him feel incredibly anxious and uneasy. He vaguely heard his armored brother's concerned calls, but could barely hear them through the pounding of his heart against his ear. Or he was just too despondent to respond.

Orihime keeps sending him all these mixed signals. One minute, she's looking at him with cordial care and affable warmth, then the next, she's giving him the nearly same eyes she usually only reserves for Ichigo. Eyes full of intense affection and venerably admiration. Just more mild and subtle. The devotion isn't there. The undeniably huge comparison between her feelings for Ichigo and her feelings for him was that she loved Ichigo.

He just...doesn't understand. What are her true feelings for him? Urgh, he wished he understood women better. Granted, it could be his insecurities and jealousy negatively affecting his thoughts. Or maybe he's wistfully hoping for something that was never there. Sigh, he really was a hopeless idiot.

When she gazed at him, she looked so happy yet so sad. Was it because he kissed her? Because he took advantage of her in her vulnerable state? Was that why she was quick to get away from him? She wanted space because she was upset with him?

Shit, the blond alchemist royally fucked up. And after Orihime was so distraught about the distressing picture and the annoying gossip about him and her being a couple. Damn, hormones. He has to make it up to her. But how?

"Nice to see you here again, Al. Who is your friend?"

Edward heard a silky smooth, somewhat gentle and soft female's voice that wasn't too high or too low that he didn't recognize.

"Hi, Liza!" Alphonse piped up, happily. "This is my brother, Ed."

"Hmm, he looks depressed."

"I'm not depressed," Ed grumbled, lifting his head up to see the woman more clearly. She had long, blonde hair that reached to the middle of her back, and lime green eyes. He studied her, So, this was the woman Al was talking about. The woman who was apprising him on Hollows, the supernatural, and a society of superpowered humans.

Liza Patterson.

Liza bent over, slightly until she was almost at eye level with him. A teasing smirk plastered her wintry pale complexion. "Oh? Could have fooled me with that gloomy impression I'm getting from you."

She casually took a seat next to Al. She propped her elbows on the table and placed her chin beneath the palms of her hands. That sly smirk was still etched on her face. "So, what's gotcha down, kid? Girlfriend problems?"

Edward's face reddened immediately at the uncannily accurate assumption. "No!" he instantly denied, vehemently. Perhaps, a little too hastily.

Even Al quickly noticed Ed's response. "Did brother get into a fight with Orihime?" he thought with an inward, breathless sigh of disappointment. He internally shook his head at the notion because it was implausible once he properly ruminated about it. Edward and Orihime weren't like Edward and Winry. He rarely saw his brother getting into a prolonged argument with Orihime. Maybe Ed did something to upset Orihime? His older brother seriously has no tact whatsoever.

"I hit the nail on the head, didn't I?" she remarked, gleefully playful.

"No, you didn't!" he barked, heatedly, being mindful to be quiet because they were in a library. "And how do you know it's about a girl?"

She scoffed. "You have that same despondently hopeless look all guys have when moping about their crush."

The blond boy glared at her. "You are really annoying, you know that?" he snarled, irritably.

The blonde woman whistled, airily. "Wow. Someone's a grouch."

"Uh, don't mind my brother," Alphonse interjected, trying to cut the conversation short before things got messy. "He's in a bad mood, I guess."

Liza hummed, almost silently before turning her attention towards the suit of armor. "So, this is your brother, Al?" she gestured at Ed. "The one who apparently survived a Hollow attack?"

Ed perked up at the mention of Hollows. He sat him up straighter, golden eyes narrowed at her. "You really do know something about Hollows?" he quizzed. "Tell me everything you know about them."

The blonde haired woman frowned. "Quite demanding, aren't you?" She stared at the blond boy. Hard. Perhaps she said too much yesterday. She merely told the armored boy because she loves the look on people's faces when she speaks about creepy ghost stories and ominous folklores for her own self amusement. Since he was an alchemist, she didn't think he would actually take her seriously, nor did she believe his brother was really attacked by a Hollow.

This was a mistake on her part. These boys were only ordinary humans. They shouldn't stick their noses into something where it doesn't belong. Are they asking for a death wish?!

She had momentarily forgotten about how inquisitively agog alchemists could be. An intriguing aspect she found entertainingly admirable, and super annoying. Once they find something of interest, they are not liable to let it go until they dissect every nook and cranny, leaving no trace of an answer unturned. They're the living incarnation of curiosity killed the cat.

She faced Al. "Everything I told you yesterday was I all know about these 'demonic entities'." She figured she'd play it cool, and don't do anything to incite their interest into Hollows further. There was no need to tell them anymore, especially two kids with no spiritual powers. She expertly feigned an apologetic look. "Sorry that I can't be of much help."

Alphonse deflated a bit. "No, that's okay. Thanks for telling all you know, Miss Liza." He tilted his helmet head, quizzically at her. "Are you doing more research on them then?"

Liza sheepishly scratched the side of her chin. "I guess you could say that. But I'm more interested in your brother."

She had that eerily avidity smile that instantly put Ed on edge. She was staring at him like he was a fascinating specimen she was ridiculously eager to cross examine.

"So, you are the brother who was attacked by a Hollow?" she inquired, smiling up at him with a mischievously frightening cat grin.

"Yeah?" Edward responded, hesitantly. Something about the way she spoke to him sent a slightly cold shiver down his spine.

He could already imagine her in an old classic horror story where a character sees a flash of lightning behind a haunted house, showcasing that there is something very wrong with the house. They enter the house anyway, despite all obvious signals and warnings to stay away. They entered several rooms until they came upon an eerily spooky, dispassionate monochrome room. Only a stray candlelight or two would be lit, giving it a foreboding glow.

Liza would be there next to a creepy piano playing ominous music wearing a disquietingly dark, alarmingly eldritch outfit. She would have the most sinister smile he has ever seen plastered on her countenance. With her hair raising, black book in hand, she would read and recite creepy ghost stories and spooky folktales to her unfortunate victims.

He involuntarily shivered. A very unnerving and disturbing image. The picture didn't really set much of a good impression of her in his mind.

The blonde woman leaned, uncomfortably close to him, invading his personal bubble. She began scrutinizing him, and Ed could feel his blond brow beginning to twitch in annoyance.

"What?" he finally hissed, roughly, ultimately fed up with being stared at for so long.

She shook her head. "I just do not see it," she frowned. Whether it was in disappointment or disbelief, Ed wasn't sure. "Why would a Hollow target you? From what I can see, you are nothing but an ordinary human."

A tick mark formed in the corner of Fullmetal's forehead. "Why does that sound like an insult?"

Liza waved her hands in front of her face in appeasement. "No, nothing like that. It's just… Hmmm…" She took a moment to climb out of her chair, and rounded the table. She got up all close and personal to the blond alchemist's face, causing a shiver of discomfort to run down his spine and him to bend his body backward a little.

"...What is it?" he questioned her, defensively, wondering what she was planning on doing.

Liza examined him very intimately...by poking and probing his face and upper body, much to his chagrin.

"Hey!" Ed protested, feeling both bothered and perturbed at the woman's overt lack of discretion to his being. "What are you doing?"

"Uh? Miss Liza?" Al called out, uncertain. He could sense the raising anger coming from his brother.

"I was right. You are nothing but an average human male," the blonde woman began mumbling to herself, ignoring the blond boy's indignant cries of discomfit. "Average face. Average hair. Average features. There's nothing really extraordinary or remarkable to speak of here."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ed growled, offended. This woman was really getting on his nerves. Once again...he was ignored. Liza quietly continued to mumble to herself. The elder Elric shot a glare at his younger brother as if blaming him for his current, disconcerting predicament.

Alphonse waved his hands in front of him in a sheepishly apologetic manner, indicating to his older brother that he had no idea this was going to happen. The blond alchemist grunted in anger.

"The only thing I could discern about you is that you are an alchemist with below average height," the blonde woman hummed, thoughtfully in confusion. "Nothing really special from what I can tell."

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SMALL?!" Edward exploded, inflamed, jumping from his seat, incredibly incensed. His heavily enraged outburst caused everyone within the vicinity to turned their heads towards the commotion with various looks of surprise, annoyance, and displeasure.

"Brother…! Calm down!" Alphonse wailed in obvious embarrassment.

Lime green eyes stared up at him, unbothered. "You're really not that mature, are you?" she remarked, unimpressed.

"Look, lady! If you are trying to pick a fight, just say so!" he yelled, angrily.

"Oh? You're a hotheaded one, aren't you?" Liza responded, cheekily.

Ed began seething in frustrated anger.

"Sorry, sorry," she apologized, lightheartedly chuckling to herself, mirthful. "You are just so easy to tease, Ed. You're a cute, little boy."

"Don't call me little!" he growled, vexed.

Liza crawled back into her seat next to Al.

"What the hell was that about?" Ed demanded, not liking how she examined, studied, and probed him like he was some sort of interesting test subject.

"Was there any meaning in studying my brother like that, Miss Liza?" Al asked, curiously.

"As I already explained before, it's rare for an ordinary human to survive a Hollow attack," the blonde woman replied. "I'm simply wondering why a Hollow would attack you in the first place. Pardon my rudeness, I'm very curious." She took out a small notepad and a pen from the right pocket of her blue slacks. "Do you know anybody who has recently died in the last several years?" she questioned, glancing at the two of them.

Edward scowled with suppressed anger and the upper half of his face darkened, considerably, and Alphonse's glowing, red orbs began to dim a little bit in sorrow.

"No," he finally answered, roughly in an almost aggressive tone. She was pressing against a very touchy subject. The boys were still reeling over Hughes's death.

Liza hummed, jotting down the elder Elric's answer on her notebook. She remained oblivious to the uneasy, tetchy tension in the air, too caught up in her musing theories of what could have caused Edward to attract a Hollow. The death of a loved one appeared to be out of the realm of possibilities. Was it merely a coincidence? Was it simply at the wrong place at the wrong time, ignorantly invading the Hollow's territory? She needed to cross out all other probabilities before reaching that conclusion.

Her lime green eyes gazed at the older brother with a serious glint. "Before you were attacked, what were you feeling at that particular moment?"

Golden eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why do you want to know?" He didn't like how this woman was prying into his life. First casually asking about the death of a dear friend without any careful consideration or thoughtful discreetness to how they were feeling, then blatantly questioning him on how felt that day.

"Rage. Hatred. Despair. Grief. Sorrow. Remorse. Jealousy. Resentment. Fear. It's implied in myths and legends that strong negative emotions tend to attract these 'demon entities'," she answered, honestly. "Although, they do tend to devour humans, they often find humans with hearts consumed with darkness and evil to be the most appetizing." She leaned forward, expectantly with an almost taunting smirk. "So, what kind of impure, dark thoughts did you have at the time, Ed?"

Ed glared, hatefully at her. Something about the way she spoke, all smugly knowingly and stuff, felt like an attack on his person. Like she was deliberately trying to rile him up.

The memories of his dreadful time as Amelia's captive came rushing back to him in an agonizing torrent of bitter disgust and perfervid disrelish. The way she came onto him and fed off his pain, made his brother and friends suffer, and severely hurt Orihime like the sadistic witch she is, caused his blood to boil in wrathful rage.

However, before that, he recalled how hurt and jealous he was of Ichigo for having a piece of Orihime's heart. The illusion of Orihime and Ichigo kissing brought unfathomable levels of crazed jealousy, heartbreaking anguish, and distressing despair. It felt as if someone had mercilessly ripped his heart out. The white hot vice of intense hurt and severe pain clutched at his chest, nearly suffocating him. He never thought he'd be subjected to such searing emotional torment. He never knew this type of emotional agony existed!

The hurt and jealousy he felt were so excruciatingly torturous, he desperately wished for Orihime to forget about Ichigo. To erase Ichigo from her memories. His logic was that if she forgot about Ichigo, then she would stay with him. There would be no reason for her to leave him. Nobody would take her away from him.

Could that be the reason the Hollow captured him? Because she sensed the severity of his hurt, pain, and jealousy? Though, even if that were the case, he can't tell this lady that. What goes on in his life, his personal thoughts and feelings were none of her fucking business! Her nosiness is really aggravating him. And the way she acts all annoyingly sly about it gets on his nerves.

"That's none of your damn business!" Edward snarled, aggressively defensive.

She leaned back, looking seemingly unconvinced. "Really? Huh, interesting. You seemed like the type of guy to bear grudges. To hold very strong, pent up resentment. And when it comes to relationships, you'd be the jealous and possessive type. This seems very likely with your personality, Ed."

"Well, you are wrong!" the blond alchemist yelled, assertively. "Can we move on?"

Liza shrugged her shoulders. "Regardless, I do not know much about you, so okay."

"Miss Liza, uh, do Hollows only target people with negative emotions?" Alphonse asked, tentatively, attempting to divert the conversation somewhere else before his brother's umbrage fury and blood pressure skyrocketed any higher.

"Sometimes," she replied, gazing at the suit of armor. She held up three fingers. "Hollows usually attack randomly, but there are three possibilities that a Hollow would target someone specific. One, they sensed their target's powerful, dark emotions." She dropped down one finger. "Two, they are attracted by the target's strong aura. But Ed's presence is so weak, I already eliminated that as a possibility." The aforementioned boy growled in anger at the prospect of feeling insulted again as she dropped a finger. "And lastly, three, a Hollow has a specific preference to what kind of people it likes to devour. Some may go after young people and children. Others may prefer attractive women while there are those who like eating men with dark hair. Similar to how we, humans, have likes and dislikes to the types of foods, snacks, and drinks we enjoy, these 'demonic entities' also have likes and dislikes to the kinds of people they like to feast upon."

"But why do these...monsters eat people in the first place?" Ed questioned, gazing at Liza, intently. The reason Amelia kidnapped him, according to her, was because she relished sucking the life out of attractive, young men. Which meant Liza's explanation hit the nail on the head.

For the first time, the Elric brothers witnessed the blonde woman's impishly playful smile immediately disappear, being replaced with a profoundly, pensively grim frown. She remained motionlessly still. Her eyes dulled, listlessly unexpressive. She was rendered eerily silent. It was almost strangely...unnerving in a way.

The boys glanced at each other, nervously. Did Ed say something wrong? The elder Elric frowned while Al seemed a bit apprehensive. It was just a simple question. What's with the creepy, daunting silence? It was a dreadful, trepidatious question that seriously needed to be answered. If Hollows really do exist, something he was still admittedly iffy about believing, then he needed to know all he can about them. He can't get that image of that bizarrely uncanny, near indistinguishable, abnormally odd shape of a creature that was shimmering like heatwaves. Or the feeling of being mercilessly crushed by some unknown, invisible entity.

The scientific part of him truly wanted to dismiss as nothing more than a figment of his imagination his exceedingly tired, emotionally exhausted mind conjured up. He thought of Amelia as a she demon, and his worn out psyche gave him the perception of an otherworldly monster that fits that description.

On the other hand, no matter how unscientific it seemed, the blond alchemist simply could disregard the pain and agony he felt as he was being crushed and thrown across the room at one point. It was all too real to be a mere figment of his imagination.

Eria called Amelia a Hollow. Or, rather, a woman who made a deal with a Hollow to preserve her youth and beauty. He doesn't understand what she means by a 'Hollow'. That's why needs to find out everything he can. He has encountered an unknown variable, and wants to learn everything he can about it.

"Why do people eat cows, chickens, goats, pigs, fish, and all other sorts of animals?" Liza deadpanned. Her question caught Ed and Al off guard. Her usual cheerily mischievous tone was completely replaced with stoic and robotic inflection. The brothers legitimately wondered if the question was a rhetorical one, or if she was being sarcastic? "It's simply a part of nature. We eat to survive. Nothing more. Nothing less. It is really so bizarrely off putting to know that humans become the prey rather than the predators? Did you think that, when it comes to the food chain, that we are untouchable?"

She laughed under her breath, mirthlessly. "Humans really have become progressively arrogant," she snarked, her voice very low and monotonous. Her voice was so incredibly low in fact that the brothers could barely hear her. They had to slightly lean in and strain their ears to hear the words uttering from her mouth. "You learn alchemy and suddenly think you're gods. You become excessively proud of a new discovery as if you are the first to uncover it. But what you are really doing is stealing the knowledge and hard work of someone else who probably took years to master their own powers, and then having the audacity to claim it as your own like parasitic thieves. All just because you wrote it in a stupid book. Congratulations. Sigh. It's tiresome, really."

Ed and Al stared at her, frozen for a good moment or two. They couldn't fathom what she was saying, but her words sounded viciously biting. At least, to them. She must have some sort of grudge against alchemists. Edward scowled in disdainful displeasure and vigilant wariness at being reminded of a certain Ishvalan serial killer who also had a strong grudge against alchemists. Because of that, experience and instinct told him to keep his guard up around this blonde haired woman. His distrust of the woman was increasing by the minute after his first initial interaction with her. She was beginning to sound way more suspicious than he inceptively believed from Al's description of her and retelling of the conversation they had yesterday.

Alphonse, on the other hand, had a drastically different opinion on the woman than his older, more skeptical, and cynical brother. He was the more sympathetic and compassionate one of the two. And because of that kind hearted sensitivity, he detected a hint of sorrow in her tone. In fact, her eyes looked very pained as if she was gazing at something far away. Something very, very painful must've happened to her in her past. Something that has to do with an alchemist. Once again, he was reminded that despite how great a power alchemy is, that same power could be used to hurt people. The image of the cruel experiment that Shou Tucker did to his daughter, Nina, which nearly succeeded if it wasn't for Orihime's intervention, flashed through his mind.

Liza shook her head, wistfully as if she was ridding her mind of painful memories. The deeply veiled sorrowful glint in her lime green orbs faded away.

"Sorry about that," Liza murmured with a rueful half smile. "Don't mind what I was grumbling about. Anyway… Back to Ed's question…"

She inclined her elbow on the table, sighing, deeply. She rubbed the side of her forehead as if she was emotionally tired. She slanted back in her chair, crossing her arms, and her lime green eyes glancing up at the ceiling. "Nobody knows why these 'demonic entities' eat people. After all, these are speculations, so you should probably take it with a grain of salt. All the information I have gathered on the so called 'demonic entities' are from myths and legends I have gathered and read, so how much of it was true is up for grabs. Her eyes drifted back to him. "Just like the fabled Philosopher's Stone."

Edward and Alphonse stiffened, rigidly. They stared at her in wide eyed horror, the pupils narrowing in shock. The hairs, metaphorical or not, on the backs of their necks stood on ends in an alarming uneasy, alertly perturbed manner. The chilling way she spoke that last sentence almost felt as if she was aware of their...condition, and the reason for their endless quest and search for the stone.

However, that could not be right. They barely know her, and she barely knows them. Right? Were they being too paranoid? Were all these suspiciously unnatural events getting to them? Were they being too jumpy because of their restless fears? Unfortunately, they have been caught off guard by these unnaturally bizarre ordeals. Can anyone really blame them for their uneasy trepidation and dreadful discomposure?

"Huh? So, this is where you've been?"

Ed and Al were slightly at the new, unfamiliar voice. Like highly alert rabbits, they twisted their heads at the newcomer. He was a young man with red hair and brown eyes. He wore a simple, brown t-shirt, black pants, and brown shoes. Was he a friend of Liza Patterson? He claimed to have been looking for her, so he must be an acquaintance of some kind. He seemed rather annoyed at Liza.

However, the minute his eyes landed on them, they slitted into a very dark, viciously hateful glare. His lips curled downward into a nastily loathsome sneer. He directed his attention back on the blonde haired woman, who looked unfazed by his glower.

"Why are you here? With alchemists?"

He spat out the word 'alchemists' with all the venom he could muster. The term was hissed out like it was pure poison in his mouth. The way he addressed them with repulsive disdain and scornful contempt confused the Elric brothers. What did they do to incite this guy's ire?

Edward frowned, deeply. What was this guy's problem? He was glaring at both him and his younger brother as if they were lower than dirt. The scum of the fucking universe. His brown orbs were cold and full of hate. He was picking up some serious Scar vibes from this guy, and it was making him unquietly cautious.

"Aren't you going to answer me, Liza?!" he demanded, impatiently, his anger rising by the second. "What the hell. Are you. Doing. With these. Things?!" he nearly shouted, punctuating every word with thundering irritation, furiously pointing his fingers at Ed and Al, making it obvious what 'things' he was referring to. Alphonse gasped in shock, feeling incredibly hurt. Edward practically shot offendedly enraged daggers at the guy. Unfortunately, their reactions were rudely ignored by the man.

He spoke about them as if they were trash she picked at the side of the road. He addressed the brothers in such a derogatory way that it all but admitted that he doesn't consider them as people. No, to him, they were not beings on his level. They were a subpar species. Alchemists were bloodsucking animals not worth giving a damn. His malevolently cold, spitefully flippant remark was meant to ruthlessly and vindictively degrade and demean them.

Kazuya hated ordinary humans with a passion! And he hated alchemists even more! Why the fuck was Liza hanging out with these...disgusting cretins?!

She thinned her lips. "Quiet, Kazuya!" Liza shushed, calmly. "We're in the library."

The redheaded man roughly slammed his hands on the table in front of the blonde haired woman, causing it to rattle a bit. "I don't give a flying fuck that we are in a library! Answer the damn question, Liza! Why the hell are you with these weakling beasts?"

She opened her mouth to respond, but someone else beat her to the punch.

"Where the fuck do you get off calling us 'beasts'?! You don't even know us!" Edward yelled, eminently outraged, jumping out of his chair. That drew Kazuya's attention, brown orbs glaring at him, challengingly.

"I don't need to know you to know that you're a couple of leeches, parasitic monsters that would do anything to get your way, even if you have to step over corpses," the red haired man sneered, darkly. "Why would I need to know about a short idiot who doesn't know basic common sense and his subservient trash can of a brother?"

"Who are you calling short?!" Ed fumed, face red with anger, and nostrils flared.

"Trash can…," Al mumbled, gloomily. A dark, gray cloud of melancholic depression hovered over him.

Liza slapped her hand to her forehead, sighing, exasperatedly. This is going to get worse before it becomes anywhere near getting good. This is exactly why she didn't inform Kazuya on where she was going when she left the hotel. Given his temper and animosity towards non spiritually powered people, she knew he wouldn't tolerate her visiting an alchemist for a quick chat. If she had told Kazuya, he'd have adamantly protested against it.

Why? Why is this happening? Why does her idiot companion have to always pick fights with strangers? His hatred and resentment towards alchemists were vastly understandable. There are a great number of people who hold some kind of grudge against alchemists.

In this country, alchemists are figures of righteous hope for the civilians. They were the beacons of light for the future, inspiring new and innovative inventions, technologies, and alchemical arrays that could potentially improve the general populace's lives. 'Alchemy Be Thou for the People'. That was their motto, wasn't it? All they had to do was draw measly, sometimes intricate circles, and clap their hands. Then...boom! With a flash of brilliant light, the assigned task at hand is complete. Whether it be fixing a broken building or a destroyed street, healing wounds or creating drugs to better one's health, or transforming raw materials like rocks, steel, and woods into something desirably helpful and expediently useful for the given situation, it's all done in a few, short moments.

However, behind every light of optimistic hope, there is a shadow of pessimistic despair. People who aren't so idealistic about alchemy. People who greatly abhor alchemy. People who desire to see alchemy destroyed once and for all. Alchemists may be worshipped as, not necessarily gods or divine beings, but as more supreme than non alchemists. Nevertheless, there are people who don't carry the same sentiment. People who despise alchemy so much that they deeply wish for a world without it.

Liza felt something cool and metal tapping her left shoulder to get her attention. It turned out to be Alphonse who was trying to grab it. When her lime green eyes finally landed on him, he pointed a curious finger at her red haired companion.

"Who is that guy?" he asked, tentatively. He came in here, looking for her, right? So, she must know him, correct?

He came into the library rather mildly annoyed, but the minute his brown orbs gazed at him and Ed, the suit of armor detected pure contempt in his eyes. He hadn't seen someone give him eyes like that since their encounter with Scar. Scar was an Ishvalan mass murderer who exclusively targets State Alchemists because of what happened during the Ishvalan Civil War. Unfortunately, in his selfish thirst for revenge, he has no problem deeming innocent people as collateral in his quest for vengeance. That was something both him and his older brother can't stand for.

Being a fellow alchemist, he could empathize with all the other alchemists who have been murdered by the serial killer's hands. He was harming people who have absolutely nothing to do with him or the war. For that, the scarred Ishvalan must be stopped.

This guy...had nearly the same eyes, and that unnerved Alphonse. An icy fury that burned with deep animosity and venomous hostility. The way he coldly calls him and his older brother 'things' and 'beasts' was almost as if he's implying that he doesn't consider alchemists as human beings. As if they weren't people not worth giving a damn. Or irredeemable monsters that do not deserve sympathy or compassion. The armored bonded soul would be lying if he said it didn't hurt.

"Alchemists are not cold hearted, bloodthirsty murderers!" Ed snapped, vehemently, gloved hands balling into tight fists. He was seconds away from clocking the guy in the jaw. Hearing his jaws of this bastard crack would be oh so satisfying.

Al guessed it hurt his brother just as much to have his humanity so maliciously disregarded. That is why he is currently in such a heated argument with the newcomer. He had recently made a crude comment that alchemy is only good for wars and human experimentations. It really hurts to be dehumanized like that.

Normally, Ed wouldn't care what strangers thought about him, looking at the world with nonchalant confidence. Still though, there are some things, lots of things actually, like making any mention about his short stature, for example, that would strike a nerve in Ed, causing his hotheaded brother to angrily lash out. And having his humanity spitefully stomped on, it just seemed too unexpectedly cruel. If the guy didn't, then Al, the more self controlled, younger brother, may have a few words to say.

He had meant people, a handful of people, who initially held great distrust towards his brother, Ed, for being a State Alchemist. It's a widely known fact that people's opinion on State Alchemists tends to be...mixed. There are people who called his older brother an ignorant fool for joining the military, especially after the Ishvalan Civil War, scolding or belittling him for being way over his head. And there are others that hold Edward with much disdain for 'selling his soul to the army' in exchange for the 'special' privileges State Alchemists receive.

For example, the people from Youswell. They detested the military and State Alchemist for the hellish torment First Lieutenant Yoki put them through. They distrusted Ed until his brother convinced them that not everyone in the army was not a corrupt military officer, proving that there are some good people in the army.

This guy...doesn't have the eyes of misunderstood mistrust. He hated alchemists with a passion...for whatever reason. What happened that made him detest alchemists so much? Alphonse wished he knew, so he could understand the man's reasons and judgment on alchemists better.

The man rose a condescending red brow at Ed. "Oh, really? You all seem to get your kicks out of cruel human experimentation. And when the going gets rough, you're quick to point fingers at someone else, and run away with your tail between your legs."

Al leaned closer to Liza, who had remained silent and didn't answer his question. "Who is that guy?" he asked again. "Friend of yours?"

She kept quiet, staring at the verbal fight between Edward and Kazuya with mild frustration.

"Sure, I won't deny that alchemists have made some serious mistakes," he admitted in a quietly resigned tone. He glared at the red haired man with an intense blazing fire in his golden eyes. "But labeling all of us as monsters because of those mistakes is going too far. No matter how much we and others want to deny it, we are only human. It's unreasonably unfair to those of us who are trying to do good with the science. Don't associate all of us in the same category! We are not things! And we are not monsters! We are alchemists! We are human!" he barked, indignantly, fists clenched at his side. "I don't know who you are, but you have no right to treat us like you're superior, you ignorant bastard!"

The red haired man was slightly taken aback by the passionate outburst of a display. Although, that only lasted for about a split second before his face contorted into a scornfully disparaging smile.

"Oh, what was I thinking?" Kazuya sneered in a way that obviously meant he was being sarcastic. This officially mounted his utter lack of sympathy for people he considered not to be in his category. "Then how about 'dog'? You are all a pack of weak, pathetic dogs anyway. You lap up praise like it's your next meal. After all, what's the point of being an alchemist, if you don't get recognition for it? Hell, forbid anyone who doesn't throw a delicious bone your way. If nobody acknowledges your hard work, then you won't get praised. And if you don't get praised, then you can kiss your life goodbye. That's all you alchemists are good for anyway. Being dogs."

"You son of a…!" The blond alchemist gritted his teeth so hard they might crack under pressure. What the hell was this guy's deal? He's so sick of his attitude! He's done nothing but mock and belittle his occupation since he came here. The urge to clock the guy's nose or jaw was becoming greater and greater.

She let out an exasperated sigh of defeat. "Al," she finally spoke. "That is my hotheaded idiot of a friend, Kazuya Hunter." This was not how she thought things would turn. She knows Kazuya harbors contempt for ordinary people and alchemists, but would it kill him to act civilly? Stop picking a fight with every stranger he meets!

"You are in the military, so that's a more fitting label for you, isn't that right, short stuff?" Kazuya claimed, mockingly. "And why should I show any respect to a weakling?"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A WEAK, FLEA SIZED BEANSPROUT?!" the blond alchemist screamed, fumingly livid. He charged at the smug redhead, throwing a ferocious punch in his direction. Unfortunately for him, he was held back by his armored, younger brother.

"Brother! This is a library! You shouldn't fight here!" Alphonse lightly chided his struggling, older brother.

"Kazuya! I don't come here to start another idiotic fight!" Liza reprimanded her red haired friend, icily, placing a hand on his shoulders. "Besides… We have other...problems."

The three boys were caught somewhat by surprise to hear someone clear their throat in a deliberately loud manner. They turned and were met face to face with the library. She had a deceptively sweet smile plastered on her face. However, it was obvious to see signs of extreme anger and annoyance on her countenance.

Now that the verbal fight was temporarily put to a halt, they noticed that most people within the vicinity were staring at them with various expressions. They were highly annoyed to have their reading, study, and quiet time disrupted. Some were stunned surprised at the fight happening before them. Others were understandably scared that the fight might turn physical, meaning it might get them involved.

"There is no fighting in the library," the woman's voice drew their attention back to her. Her feigned polite tone was very much strained with thinly veiled aggravation. "May I ask you four to leave." "Take your senseless squabble outside." That last line may not be spoken outwardly, but they could damn well hear it.

---

There the four of them were, dumbly standing outside the library they were just kicked out of. Edward was seething with indignation. Alphonse's shoulders were slumped in embarrassment. Liza was coolly indifferent. Kazuya was impassive about being thrown out.

"It's all your fault we got kicked out," Ed growled, angrily at Kazuya.

The red haired man snorted. "Yeah? And I should care why, shorty?"

"Don't call me short!" Ed yelled, furiously, face red with anger.

Kazuya smirked, smugly, only to let out a loud, painful yelp when his ear was forcibly by Liza.

"Be. Have. Your. Self," the blonde haired hissed, the last of her patience with her companion wearing thin.

"Ow. Ow," he cried out, painfully. "Okay, okay. Let go of me, woman."

She faced the brothers with a slightly apologetic smile. "I'm sorry about my friend's rudeness. He can be quite hotheaded and vulgar." She let go of Kazuya's ear, jabbing her thumb back and ignoring the annoyed look he was shooting at her. "Why don't I take you guys out. My treat. It's the least I could do because of my idiot friend."

"Hey!" Kazuya shouted, indignantly. He clicked his tongue to rein in his temper. Once calmer, he spoke again. "What were you talking with...with...them about?"

"Oh. They wanted to know more about Hollows, and I was simply indulging their curiosity. Nothing more. Besides, I was curious to talk to blond haired alchemists who have an interest in big chested redheads," she responded, teasingly coy.

Edward's face turned a dusty shade of pink at her implication. "Wh-what?" he sputtered as if he couldn't believe what heard. "O-Orihime is not my girlfriend!" he yelled with flusters of anger and embarrassment. Did she read that messed up gossip mag? People really are reading that damn thing.

Truth is...he wouldn't know what to call his current relationship with the auburn haired healer. They kissed, and they haven't confronted each other about it. Were they friends? Or were they an i-i-i-i-item? Just thinking that caused his face to burn with embarrassment.

Alphonse snickered. "Brother. You know you just gave it away. She never mentioned Orihime."

Ed's countenance brightened even more at his blunder being pointed out. "Shut up, Al!" he barked. The boys were ignorant of the redheaded man's dark gaze.

"You were talking to them about Hollows?!" Kazuya whispered, harshly at Liza, making sure the Elrics were out of earshot. "Are you crazy?! You know ordinary humans can't see them, so what's the point? What game are you playing at?"

Liza smiled, cryptically. Seeing that smile, the red haired man narrowed his brown eyes, suspiciously before he tsked, irately. This was a side of her he found truly aggravating. He's known her for a long time, and she's always been a shrewd woman. She always had the habit of teasing people and getting them riled up, especially enjoying their reactions when she tells them spooky and eerie folktales. She also had the tendency to innocently ignore someone's emotions when dealing with topics that interest her.

But this was out of the ordinary, even for her. Why was she talking about ordinary humans, especially alchemists on the subject of Hollows? Doesn't she know alchemists have the annoyingly nasty habit of sticking their noses where it doesn't belong? That's why they die such stupid, pathetic, and avoidable deaths. That nosy trait of theirs is so damn irritating.

Or...maybe it wasn't out of ordinary for Liza. That cryptic smile of hers was so eerie. She was always a mischievous woman. Although, her mischief is mostly playful in nature. But this time...this time that smile was indicating she was going to do something devious and shrewd. It was scary how the blond haired woman could unassumingly switch between cheeky and devious effortlessly, and most people who don't truly know her would be none the wiser.

What was she thinking? Doesn't she understand she's compromising the objective here? He just doesn't get her at all. She was the most annoying woman he had to deal with.

Kazuya grunted, irritably, his feet climbing down the steps, and hands in his pockets. "Well, I'm getting the hell out of here. Being with weaklings, especially alchemists, makes me utterly sick to my stomach," he said, bitterly, already making his way down the street. "Hollows aren't real! Good luck on indulging in your twisted delusions!"

"What the hell is that guy's problem?" Ed growled, glaring at Kazuya's retreating form.

Liza laughed, jovially. "Don't let him get to you. He's as rough as a diamond, but he's a decent person at heart." She patted a grumpy Ed's back, reassuringly. "Let's continue this chat over some food, yeah?"

---

Edward sat by the wall of the cubicle with a plate of spaghetti and a glass of orange juice placed in front of him. They were situated at a local diner not far from the library they were kicked out of, thanks to that redheaded bastard. He wasn't really that hungry since he just ate a couple of hours ago. But hey… Free food. Why would he pass up a free meal?

Strange, Liza didn't even try to offer Al any food, or question why he chose not to eat. However, Ed didn't dwell on it for too long. Besides, hey, at least, he doesn't have to suffer through the awkwardness of explaining why his younger brother doesn't eat. A further reminder of his guilt and determination to return his precious, baby brother to the body he was born in.

"Sorry about the rude comments Kazuya made," Liza began, apologetically.

"Heh. Next time I see him, I'll clock the bastard in the jaw," Ed declared, mouth stuffed full of spaghetti."

"Brother! Manners!" Al reprimanded him.

The blond alchemist rolled his eyes. He grabbed his orange juice, and took a sip, using it to help him swallow down the noodles.

"I only hope your girlfriend won't get upset with you for having dinner with another woman," she expressed, somewhat concerned.

Ed instantly spat out his drink in utter flabbergasted shock, causing the orange liquid to spray all over his armored brother. He stared at the blonde woman with wide eyes and mouth agape, an expression that was carved with an absolutely mortified fluster.

"How many times must I say it?! Orihime and I are not a couple!" the blond alchemist yelled, red faced, using his anger to hide the flames of embarrassment that was rising.

"So, he says," she mentally thought, amusedly, finding his extreme reactions entertaining. Liza had an ulterior motive for digging into the elder Elric's love life. She wanted to gauge the closeness between him and their...person of interest. That girl… She was the same as them. A relationship between an alchemist and a spiritualist...doesn't always end well. And not only because of contrasting viewpoints on how the world and its laws work. Not only that, but people with high spiritual energy very often attract Hollows. If this boy dies by a Hollow attack, it would simply be collateral damage for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. There is also the possibility that his 'lover' could die while fighting a Hollow, and he would be none the wiser.

"Oh?" she feigned surprise, quirking a gracefully thin, blonde brow. "But you have feelings for her, right?"

"N-no, I don't!" Ed denied, hastily. Perhaps a little too fast because she didn't seem all that convinced. "We are just…! She is just a friend!" he backtracked to properly get through the blonde lady's thick skull that his and Orihime's relationship is nothing but platonic, however, there was a hint of sadness and jealousy in his tone that Liza detected with her keen sense of observation. And the way he nearly grumbled that the last part gave away his thoughts on their relationship. They are just friends, he claims. But he secretly doesn't want to be 'just friends'. He is envious of the person who claims his crush's attention.

So, there's some kind of love triangle going on? Interesting.

"Ah. But you want her to look at you. In the same vein, a woman looks at a man, correct?" she smirked, teasingly. "You want to hold her, and give her smooches." She emphasized her point by humorously hugging herself and making soft kissing sounds.

At Ed's flustered and furious glare, she raised her hands, appeasingly. "Sorry. Sorry," she said, sincerely. "I was simply curious. That's all. There have been rumors recently circulating around Central about the Princess of Amestris and the Fullmetal Alchemist being lovers. I was wondering if it's true or not."

"They are being nosy idiots that should mind their own damn business," Edward grumbled, irately. "Stupid magazine." He annoyingly took a bite of his spaghetti.

"So, it isn't true?" she hummed, thoughtfully.

"Course not! How many times do I have to spell it out for you?" the blond alchemist shouted.

Liza smiled, sheepishly. "With all the gossip, the picture in the tabloid magazine, and the rumors about you and…Orihime...doing the deed, I really thought you two were-"

She was interrupted by loud, rough gurgling and coughing sounds. Her lime green gaze landed on the older brother choking on some strands of the spaghetti he had just popped into his mouth. She watched in mild amusement as he cloddishly tried to regain his bearings. His entire face, neck, and ears were darkened into a deep cherry shade of red.

"Huh," Liza mused, mirthfully. "He's so incredibly embarrassed and extremely flustered. Despite being a tough guy with a punk attitude, he has a surprisingly innocent side. It's rather cute." Her eyes landed on Alphonse, who was frozen stiff and stock still from embarrassment, a large blush spreading across his metal face. "Hmm, didn't know a suit of armor could blush."

"ME AND ORIHIME?! WHAT?!" Ed bellowed, staggering nonplussed and horrifyingly dismayed. The ferociousness of his voice was so thunderously loud, it shook the walls of the diner, and could faintly be heard outside, startling nearby passerbyers. His screaming drew everyone's attention to them, however, he ignored it. He was utterly appalled at what Liza was insinuating on what people thought about his relationship with the auburn haired beauty.

A blonde, perplexed brow arched. "Oh? You didn't know? Or realize it yet?"

"Realize what?" Ed asked, somewhat terrified of the answer.

"I'm sure you saw the picture. But did you ever notice the...background?" she questioned, putting extra emphasis on the word 'background', hoping they would catch on to the hidden innuendo.

"Yeah, I saw the background. What about it?" the blond alchemist asked, impatiently.

She stared at him. "Is he being serious?" she thought, incredulously. She glanced at the suit of armor, who's posture radiated confusion. Wow. The Elric brothers were incredible geniuses when it comes to science, math, and alchemy. They were considered prodigies even. However, they surprisingly seem to be ironically stupid on everything else. "How dense can these two brothers be?" She had to wonder if these two brothers were amusingly innocent or hopelessly naive.

"It's a picture of Orihime kissing you on the cheek outside a hotel room," she stressed, trying to get the boys to understand what the picture was alluding to.

"Yes, I know that! So, what's your point?" Edward hissed, getting annoyed by the elusive riddle. Why does she keep beating around the bush? If she has something to say, then say it already!

The blonde woman let out a harsh, exasperated breath. He really is an idiot. "What do men and women do when they are alone? Together?"

A solid minute passed by before golden orbs widened in horrified realization. "You don't mean…?"

"Heh, it seems you finally understand that those pictures are more…let's say...suggestive than what you initially believed. It's not hard to put two and two together, or come up with some rather...interesting assumptions," she explained.

"What the fuck is wrong with people?!" Ed growled, harshly, his tone laced with utter disgust. On the table, his fists were trembling in pure rage. They twisted something completely innocent into something repulsively perverted for their own sick, deluded fantasies. He swore to god that he was going to destroy these magazines! And if anyone dares to hurt Orihime in any way, he was going to kill them!

"People would do anything to satisfy their boredom. And what better way than a nice, juicy gossip," Liza deadpanned, wryly. "Unfortunately, if they have to twist the facts to suit their interests and grab their attention, then so be it. As long as it doesn't affect them, who cares?"

"Well, they should mind their own fucking business, and look for their sick entertainment somewhere else!" the blond alchemist practically snarled, viciously. The image of Orihime desperately clinging to him as she sobbed uncontrollably flashed across his mind. How could he ever forget? He has never seen her so vulnerable and unbelievably frail before. She effectively cried herself to sleep that day.

And he… He was too late to prevent her from suffering. He had failed her. She was hurting so much, she was in so much agonizing torment, and there was nothing he could do about it. He was too slow to stop it. He knew firsthand how utterly painful and mind breakingly torturous those dark illusions were. It was something he'd definitely not want to experience again. To have a person's innermost fears and insecurities mercilessly shoved in their faces was unspeakably cruel. He never felt so helpless and so...violated.

Even now, he still had doubts. However, those nightmares of illusions allowed him to face his jealousy, his fears, his insecurities, and slightly better understand them. It hurt him to witness Orihime kissing Ichigo. It felt like his heart was being torn to shreds. All he felt was nothing but distressing sadness and agonizing despair. He knew now it was all fake. He was fully aware it was, but...that doesn't change the fact that it might come true one day. Would Orihime really choose Ichigo over him? Was this what it means to have doubts about caring for someone who doesn't...care about them...in the same way?

He wasn't sure. Nevertheless, there was one thing he was absolutely sure about. He never wants to see Orihime cry like that again. He clenched his fists, golden eyes glazed over with determination. Never again. It was too painful. He was right. No matter how hurt and jealousy he gets on the subject of Orihime's strong bond with Ichigo, seeing her in a sobbing wreck was much, much worse. He never wants to witness her shedding anguish filled tears like that again!

He won't fail her again! He will protect her!

Alphonse was still confused about what the two were talking about. "What was wrong with the picture?" he asked, puzzled. Other than Orihime kissing his brother's cheek, of course.

"They think me and Orihime were having a love affair, Al," Ed fumed, grounding his teeth together. The incandescent tone in his voice demonstrated how pissed off Ed was.

"They think… No way!" the suit of armor gasped in horror, finally on the same page as his brother and…acquaintance. "Why would people think that?!"

The elder Elric scowled, darkly. "Because they are nosy, disgusting freaks and snooping, perverted stalkers."

"It's possible that they are also jealous," Liza added.

"What do you mean?" the older brother asked. He didn't mean to sound rude. He was just so incredibly wrathfully livid.

"Well, you have a hot, cute girl kissing you on the cheek, Ed. The same girl who is considered the most beautiful woman in the country, according to Central Times Fashion magazine. What guy wouldn't be jealous of that?" she inquired in a subtly patronizing tone. "It's a classic case of being driven by envy to do something horrible. They probably think spreading these bad rumors about you two would get you guys to 'breakup', so that they can have a shot at Orihime."

Her sly speculation caused a red twinge to spread across Edward's cheeks. "Then they need to get it through their delusional heads that I'm not dating Orihime! What's wrong with people assuming a boy and girl can't simply be friends without jumping to idiotic conclusions for their crazy fantasies?" he shouted, exasperatedly to hide his growing embarrassment.

"So…?" the blonde woman drawled out. The intonation in voice caused Ed to glare at her. It was like a warning sign that she was going to say something impishly wicked. That devilish smirk didn't help matters either. "You wouldn't mind if some random guy asked Orihime out? Since you keep insisting that guys are not a couple, then you should be fine with other men dating her, right?"

That earned an immediate response as Edward's left eye twitched. "What?" he said in an uncannily blank way. A reply that was devoid of any and all emotion. A horrifyingly simple word that signified the calm before the storm. "S-say that again," he challenged.

She took that challenge head on with a proud, mischievous grin. "Just picture it… A handsome, cool guy romances Orihime. They go on a nice date together."

As Liza brought in and jokingly described the mental picture, Alphonse nervously glanced at his older brother. His body was trembling with suppressed vexation. His golden orbs are narrowing more and more into slits. A dark aura of jealous rage was emitting from him the more Liza ran her mouth, no doubt picturing it and getting angrier and angrier by the minute. The suit of armor had to wonder… Did Liza get some sort of sadistic enjoyment out of riling his brother up? Ever since they met, she has done nothing but provokes Ed, especially concerning his relationship with Orihime.

Honestly, he was somewhat worried that any second now, his older brother would jump across the table and start strangling her in a furious rage and crazed jealousy. His brother always had that green eyed monster swirling inside him whenever men got extra friendly with Orihime. And the way Liza was intentionally aggravating the blond alchemist with the notion of the auburn haired healer dating another made the soul bonded armor nervous.

At least… Now he knows that...when it comes to romantic relationships...his brother, Edward Elric, is the jealous type.

For quite some time, Al has known about Ed's crush on the auburn haired healer. It wasn't that hard. Despite vehemently denying it, the elder Elric was not really all that subtle about his attraction towards her. His jealousy and irritation of boys flirting with the healer blatantly obvious. Ed had always been fiercely protective of Orihime. And...ever since that incident with Amelia...he has become even more protective of the auburn haired girl. He had to wonder when did this attraction start?

In the beginning, Edward was highly distrustful of the healer, and found her eccentricities incredibly annoying. Though, it wasn't that big a deal. His brother was an absolute jerk, an arrogant, insensitive asshole to nearly everyone, especially to strangers. Her excitable antics regularly irritated Edward. At first.

When the blond alchemist received his first home cooked meal from the auburn haired healer, that's when he began to soften at the idea of having another travelling companion around. Al internally shook his head, mirthfully wry at that. His brother was always suckered for food. The quickest way to Ed's heart, one of the fastest methods to get on his good side was through his stomach.

Probably another thing that caused Ed to warm up to Orihime was because she never once pushed his berserk button. Never once pointed out his height complex. Like most people, the healer was acutely aware of how sensitive the blond alchemist is over his short stature. Unlike most people though, including Al and Winry, she greatly respects that and refuses to press it to taunt and mock him or to prove a point. Could be because she's overly sensitive and polite.

Edward had been a real jerk to Orihime in the beginning. A grade A asshole. Despite Ed warming up to the idea of a third companion sharing in their adventures and exploits, he wasn't completely cordial with her. However, no matter how angry and frustrated he got with her, the healer merely turned the other cheek. Answering Ed's snarky, hotheaded, stubborn, and abrasive attitude with warm and friendly smiles and kind and patient gestures.

It was only when Ed's frustrations with not understanding how her powers worked after she saved Nina's life reached its peak, resulting in him yelling at her and making her cry did Alphonse snap and force Ed to realize how much of a bastard he is being to her with his unfair treatment and accusations. He was used to his brother being a jerk, but that was going too far. He was turning into an ungrateful bastard. The soul bonded armor could completely comprehend and emphasize with his older brother's indignant aggravations with being ignorant of the unknown, however, he does not condone him taking out his disgruntled irritation on her. It was only after the incident with Scar that his feelings for Orihime truly started to change. He was a lot more friendly to her after that.

From the background, he gradually observed them getting closer and closer. Although, while it's obvious that his brother really likes her, Orihime's feelings on the matter...are pretty vague. He wasn't sure if she saw his brother as a mere friend or as someone of romantic interest. Either way, Al was happy. Extremely happy that his brother found someone he was fond of and cared for very deeply. If only Ed could drop his stubborn pride and admit that he's in love with her, especially to himself. He has never seen the blond alchemist look at any girl the way he looks at Orihime. Not even Winry.

"Afterwards," Liza continued to speak in a mock, dreamy manner. "They take a relaxing stroll in the park. They talk and laugh for a bit. Then suddenly he grabs her hands, and stares into her eyes. And then..."

"Like hell I'm going to let any of that happen!" Edward shouted, hotly, aggressively jumping to his feet, glaring at her, hatefully. His irritation and jealousy were smeared on his face for the whole world to see. "After the hell those bastards put her through, you think I'm going to let some asshole take advantage of Orihime like that?! Besides, Orihime already has enough on her plate! She doesn't need to deal with this crap!"

"Brother! Calm down!" Alphonse exclaimed, tentatively and out of embarrassment at the scene he was making. He nervously glanced around the diner, and felt a bit self conscious with everyone staring at them, startlingly bewildered and fearfully stunned because of Ed's enraged outburst.

The blond alchemist threw his heated glare at Al. "I'm not going to calm the fuck down, Al!" he clamored, blood boiling with seething fury. "You should have seen her." He gritted his teeth, hands tightly balled into shaking fists. His golden eyes glared at the table while his bangs darkly shadowed the upper half of his face. "She was crying," he said, lowly, that wretched image flashed before him. She could try to hide her tears, conceal its presence, but there was no mistake that she was crying moments before he knocked on her door. The slightly puffy, red eyes and dried tears gave it away.

What's more… She wasn't weeping for herself. She was shedding tears for him. She was more upset for him more than anything else, believing she was embarrassing him. Instead of blaming those damn perverted stalkers, she blamed herself for those scandalous photos because she thought she did something that humiliated him. Truly, she was too kind and gentle for her own good. He really didn't deserve someone as considerate as her.

"Those bastards hurt her over something so stupid and petty," Ed seethed. He was so livid that all he could see was red. And Al expected him to calm down? "And you expect me to leave it alone?"

"I know, brother," Al said in a hushed tone, his voice sounding empathetic and worrisome. He understood Ed's incandescent concern over Orihime's plight. It probably hurts to see the girl he likes go through so much humiliation and torment because of a few...rotten eggs. It probably hurts more knowing he was ignorantly helpless to stop it. "But people are staring at us," he reasoned, tentatively, knowing his brother would be beyond furious with strangers eavesdropping and listening in on their private conversation.

Angry, golden orbs glowered at the people staring at them, causing them to recoil in fear and turned their attention away from their table. His glare only darkened at the possibility that some of these people may be responsible for spreading these nasty rumors about Orihime. The blond alchemist let out an angry huff before settling back down in his seat, his food all but almost forgotten.

Liza was amazingly surprised. All the teasing was meant to gauge how much he cares for his auburn haired friend. From the few, short moments of interacting with the blond alchemist, it was easy to observe and scrutinize that he had a crush on her. He was so easy to read, even a monkey could confirm that he likes Orihime. He basically wore his heart on his sleeve, no matter how much he tries to deny it in a typical macho male fashion.

However, she underestimated how big a 'like' it is. She thought it was a small, insignificant crush. Like a little time away from his object of affections, and it'll evaporate into thin air like it was never there in the first place. It wasn't uncommon for teenagers to develop several crushes during their lifetime. Teenagers are very often controlled by their emotions and hormones, after all.

Nevertheless, this caught her off guard. It was so...so unexpected. His anger, his worry, his concern, his protectiveness, his care that goes beyond mere friendship. His feelings for her were not just a shallow, passing crush. He really was truly and genuinely in love with her.

It was...sweet and...admirable. And not within the plan at all.

It was to separate friends. Friends come and go all the time. Unfortunately, tearing apart lovers and/or love interests was a whole different matter.

"Wow. You really worry about her. Care for her. Cherish her," the blonde woman whispered, softly. "You must really like her," she finished, her tone slightly louder and with a sincere smile. She was both filled with heartfelt admiration and, honestly, somewhat jealous.

"Course I do!" Edward paused for a moment, blinking, owlishly when he realized his blunder. When he did, he started sputtering, a red blush crept to his face. "I-I mean I l-like Orihime as a good friend," he stammered. "W-what person doesn't like and care for their friends?"

Yeah? And how many other female friends of his does he go around kissing? Just admit it. There's not a woman in the world he likes more than Orihime.

The voice in his was not helping him right now with its sarcasm. Why couldn't it go away and leave him alone? And why was it agreeing with Liza? It was supposed to be on his side.

"Aww! There's no need to be shy!" she spoke, teasingly.

"Who says I'm shy?" he retorted, but there were still hints of fluster in his tone.

"Brother, you don't sound very convincing," Al inputted, hiding his own snicker of amusement.

"Shut up, Al! Who's side are you on?" Ed shouted, indignantly.

Liza giggled, which resulted in the Fullmetal fixating his glare on her. She simply waved him off.

"You are an amusing boy. Did you know that?" she said between fits of giggles.

"I'm sorry that you find teasing me so amusing," he huffed, sardonically.

"No, no," she replied. "I meant nothing by that. It's just… You're a lot different than what I imagined."

The blond alchemist narrowed his eyes at her. "What did you imagine?" he asked in a dangerously low tone of voice.

She smiled in a way that was somehow wistful and somewhat sad. "You're...different...from the others."

"Different? Different how?" Ed challenged. Was she trying to insult him?

"Brother, she doesn't mean anything bad by it," Alphonse metaphorically sighed, tiredly. Why does his brother have to take offense to every little thing?

"Like hell she does."

"I can see why Orihime likes you."

"Eh?!" was all Edward could dumbly utter out when that statement unexpectedly flew past Liza's lips. He stared at her, wide eyed and frozen. His mouth was slack jawed, showcasing how staggeringly nonplussed and astoundedly flabbergasted. His entire cheeks and ears were flushed a deep crimson red. He was basically a deer in headlights.

"Orihime…? Orihime...likes...me?" he stuttered in utter disbelief, unable to contain his stunned bewilderment.

She smirked, coyly. "Isn't it obvious? Why else would she kiss you on the cheek?" It was rather cute to behold how much his golden orbs lit up with hope.

"B-but a kiss on the cheek could mean anything. Besides, she...she has...someone else," he mumbled as if he was telling himself not to get too hopeful. After all, he was listening to the words of a stranger. It would be rather ridiculous to take her declaration as absolute truth. He shouldn't act and sound like such a lovestruck teenage boy. Orihime likes Ichigo. There's no way she has feelings for him. End of story.

"Perhaps, her feelings for this other man caused her to subconsciously repress her feelings for you," Liza responded, wisely.

"How do you know?" the blond inquired, rudely. He was somewhat fed up with the blonde woman's cheeky nature. She knew nothing about him or Orihime. So how could-

"Call it a woman's intuition," she simply answered. "Trust me. I've seen many accounts of this. The feeling is not unreciprocated." She was surprised he didn't realize it sooner. This kid really was oblivious. Or was it because jealousy, doubt, and insecurity caused him to be oblivious to the fact that his affections for the auburn haired girl were not unrequited? Too scared of too much hopeful wishing, perhaps?

Ed was rendered entirely speechless, his mind reeling with euphoric delight and dumbstruck stupefaction. His brain couldn't form a coherent thought and sentence structure. His dazed mouth opened and closed several times, but any and all words failed to utter from it. He didn't know what to say to that? What could he say? Was it true? Does Orihime have feelings for him, too? His heart pounding inside his chest just by the mere possibility of Orihime liking him in the 'more than friends' kind of way.

The suit of armor stared at his older brother's reddened and thunderstruck expression, and inwardly shook his head, comically frivolous. His brother was so hopeless sometimes. Although, he doesn't blame Ed for being unable to respond properly. After all, fortunately or unfortunately, he was just told his crush may have feelings for him, too, after all this time. No wonder he is stunned shocked with elated happiness. Knowing him, he was probably stewing in the pessimistic notion of wondering if it's true and not, and warning himself not to get too optimistically cheerful about it because it isn't confirmed yet for whether Orihime actually likes him or not. It's all wishful speculation.

He directed his attention to the woman. "Why are you so interested in my brother and Orihime, Miss Liza?" Alphonse questioned, curiously.

Liza smiled, cryptically. "Because I'm interested in seeing the stage where the new leaf blows."

---

(A/N: Here's the end of chapter fifty! Finally! I was planning to finish this chapter a couple of weeks ago, but it kept getting delayed due to...life. Which makes me feel kinda a bad because there is not much going on in this chapter. However, this chapter does imply/foreshadow what's to come in the sequel. So, be prepared for that. Although, I am worried if some conversations and dialogue went smoothly or not.

As for Liza... I tried to make her have the personality of a troll. But not the mean spirited kind. She is genuinely nice. Well, to those who don't get on her bad side. Of course, she's different from Kazuya, who just straight up despises alchemists.

Oh, yeah... I have a deviantart account. Well, I've been having it for years, but never did anything with it since I can't draw to save my life, and I already put all my fanfics on this site. However, I reopened it because now I got spare money to pay artist to draw me pictures of my choosing. For example, I got fanfic scenes turned into a manga like page art style. Well, the fanfic that's been turned into manga art style is 'The Flower Princess and the Alchemist'. But don't worry... Others will be, too. Someday. So, if you interested in checking it out, go 'HinataXKira [yeah, I couldn't change the name without fucking paying for it, which I say no way in hell I'm a paying just to change my username] on DeviantArt.

Well, that's it. Please leave any comments, questions, and suggestions in a review, and thanks for reading!)