A thin sheet and homemade patchwork quilt slid down from it's place on a middle sized bed, sinking to the stained wooden floor of the room above the bakery shop. Sunlight crept it's way through the paneless window, shadowed by transparent lavender curtains. That sound... A small child quietly reached his small hands up to the edge of the cot where the teenage beauty lay, sleeping. The toddler blinked at her before pulling himself onto the matress. Wrapping his fingers around the girl's tanned wrist, he tried to shake the girl awake.

"Rose!" his voice drew out, "Wake up time!"

Rose simply shook her head sleepily, and turned her body around, curling up into a ball. The frustrated five year old pinched the strap of her nightgown impatiently trying to awaken her again, but only succeded in pulling it down over her arm. The boy clasped his fingers to his mouth apologetically.

"Oops... I sorry Rose. I didn' mean to!"

The boisterous child had finally succeeded in waking her. Her mahogany eyes stood half open as she pulled her drooping slip back up. A yawn escaped her mouth shortly before she sat up, clasping her face. Her dark brown hair with hot pink bangs sat disheveled on her head. Her hands stretched the nightgown down over her legs. The boy hopped back down from the bed, and now stood where the young woman's long, slender legs hung off the edge of the matress. He gave her a weird childish smile and waited for her to say something.

"... come play with me outside."

"Nmm...mmm." Rose shook her head, it still being in her hands."

The tot's expression turned sympathetic now as he jumped back onto the bed. He then put a small warm hand to her clamy forehead.

"Are you feelin' well?"

"...I'm fine Kota..." she lied with a fake smile.

"Please go wait for me with mom okay? I have to get dressed and run a fewerrands."

He nodded an hugged the girl who in return embraced him tightly. As the kid skipped down the stairs, she tried to wake herself fully, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Still tired, she made her way to the bathroom adjacent to her room, taking the towel from the chair pushed into her desk. The bathroom door closed, and every morning activities ensued. Teeth brushing. She glanced into the mirror a couple of times while rinsing. She couldn't get much sleep while those words kept running over and over again through her head, even while unconscious. "You've got a good set of legs there Rose. Get up and use them."

The last words he said to me before he left... What the hell did he mean?

The young girl hurled her tooth brush at the mirror in frustration before falling to the floor, sniffling, on the verge of tears. She would have cried had her adopted mother knocked on the door.

"Rose? You okay in there?"

"I'm fine mom." she lied again, rubing her eyes, before standing up.

I've got to stop thinking about him..

The shower water was warm now. Rose pulled the gown over her head, hopping in in an instant, trying to get used to the warmth overcoming her body. She closed her eyes as the messy hair fell limp down past her shoulders. Rose became pensive as she grabbed the bottle of soap blankmindedly, and began lathering her entire body. Then she just stood there while cleansing water wash the suds away from her frame. The sleep disappeared from her eyes though she still felt exhausted. An attractive girl even when miserable. And miserable she was, for more last words flew through her head.

"You know Rose, brother was only trying to help..."

Damn alchemists...

"Alright mom I'm going to out to run a few errands, I'll be back by dinner" Rose yelled, carrying her basket full of bread out of the bakery."

"Be careful out there", her mom returned."

She stepped away from the door, and began walking down the road towards the cemetery, thinking about not necessarily anything, and at the same time, everything. The streets of Mirage City were paved with marble stone and fountains streamed water everywhere. The only thing Carmello did right was make this city wealthy, she thought, as she unmindedly returned the greetings of those who she knew waved. The sky seemed a clear blue, and there were no clouds in the sky, but the closer she moved towards the cemetery, the more ominous the surroundings seemed, the place of mourning being right behind that damned church. Of course to cover up Ed and Al's detective work, they hired some look-a-like to take Carmello's place. This building held so many bad memories, yet she kept walking towards it. Shrouded in fog now, Rose remained undeterred as she kept along the path to Cain's only living memory; the tombstone lying in the middle of an open space, covered in flowers mostly set there by herself. She kneeled down by the tombstone determined not to shed any tears this time. Closing her eyes and placing the basket beside the stone, she decided to communicate through thoughts, in a prayer like position.

…This is goodbye… The stress of remembering you is too great. I know we'll meet again another day, but this is so long for now. Cain.

There was silence for five minutes before Rose's brown eyes slowly opened again and picked up her basket and one lone daisy to put in her hair before heading out. The two men guarding the gates to the garden of death closed the gate behind her when she left, on the verge of tears still holding them back. Outside the cemetery was a gray stone wall surrounding it. Rose turned around to survey her surroundings once more before she wiped her moist eyes and continued on her way to her next errand. Feeling relieved when the sun and blue sky escaped from behind the fog covering them, something gleamed from the left. She saw it with the corner of her eye. With nothing better to do at the moment, the young girl decided to investigate.

There it is again.

She followed the light slowly until she caught up with the source. By then she wished she hadn't. It was that metallic pocket watch. Clearly round shaped with a picture of what seemed to be a lion on the front, with a chain connecting it to the wearer's belt. Rose stopped dead in her tracks and her basket dropped, spilling all of her food. Her eyes widened and her lower lip quivered a bit. Tears were forming below her eyes and she couldn't stop them. The figure in the wake unaware of the wrong he'd commited, by being an alchemist, and being at the wrong place at the wrong time. He slept unconscious against the wall of a building, shrouded in all black.

No… not again.

"You… what are you doing here! Stupid alchemists ruined my life… What are you here for? Trying to find another life to destroy? Huh?

The figure clothed in a black cloak, a jacket, some wrinkled jeans and a headband wouldn't answer; he seemed to be sleeping, but a once dormant rage had released itself from Rose and she couldn't control herself. Her countenance had faded, and she had no forgiveness for these alchemists. After he didn't answer her two other times, she walked towards him and shook him violently. She didn't care how old he was, or who he was for that matter. All she knew was that she hated state alchemists. After hitting his head on the wall of a building he was leaning against. The young man finally started to stir a bit, rubbing the bruise on the back of his head with a gloved hand.

"Ow."

Rose stepped back a little regaining her composure, realizing what she did was stupid. This person hadn't done anything to her. It was the residue of hatred... The young man brought his head out of the shadows and stood up, his eyes still closed stretching his arms. His skin was of light brown complexion like hers. His hair was jet black and his face was gentle when it displayed any emotion at all.

"Mm. Sorry miss, but I have nothing to do with the jerks you say ruined your life, so don't lump me in with them."

"I apologize, I couldn't stop myself… Are you hurt—"

"On the other hand, you are strong for a girl…"

He finally opened his golden- brown eyes and gave a small smile, before putting his hands in his pocket. They both for a few seconds gazed at each other's attractiveness before the young man spoke again.

"Wow. You're pretty" he stated non-chalantly, embarrassing her. "What's your name beautiful?"

"Rosaline" she stuttured, looking down as he towered over her.

"I'll call you Rose alright?"

She nodded as he stepped closer towards her.

"So how old are you anyway?"

"Fifteen."

"Hm? Fifteen. Thought you were at least seventeen… Oh well."

As soon as he was right in front of her, he placed a hand on her chin, tipping it upwards to observe her face. Rose, too surprised, was unable to step away. There was something warm about his touch…

Tears… I don't know what that's all about. I'll fix it.

With two fingers, the nameless young man traced the trail of dried tears on Rose's glowing face, seeing the streaks disappear as he did so. Next, he gently touched the daisy in her soft brown hair. For a second electricity crackled before in the place of the small yellow flower, ironically appeared a pure white rose. He stepped back satisfied with his work and took his hand from her chin. She fell towards him losing her balance and stumbled into his arms. She found herself missing the warm touch when he put her back on her feet. It made her feel… safe.

"Be at peace Rose" was the last thing he said before putting her back on her feet and starting to walk off. She stood dazed in place, and when she finally noticed that he was gone, regretted she hadn't asked his name.

Back at home, Rose played with the white petals of the rose she found in her hair shortly after the encounter with the strange alchemist. Her mind stayed occupied on that moment all day. She hated alchemists so much, but what about him... She couldn't understand how her opinion which at first was so firm, could so easily be swayed by a stranger. She gently touched her finger tips to her cheek, feeling the warmth pent up inside. She was even blushing. How...

Tbc

ill put more up once i get at least five reviews alright? tell me how im doing, so i can edit the other chapters before i put them up. thx

Tai the Darkwind Alchemist