"I missed you so much, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo cried as if she had been starved. "I even brought a costume with me, just in case!" She took her friend's hands and stared sincerely into her eyes. Meanwhile, Ed was talking to the Colonel.

"Please let us take him with us to Resembool!" he pleaded, refering to Loyalty who was currently stealing the cigarette from Jean Havoc's mouth, "We could learn so much about the homonculi and maybe even begin to sway them to the side of the military!"

Roy sighed, steepling his fingers, "Edward-kun, I know you mean well, but we don't know his true intentions. A homonculus is a homonculus after all."

Ed sighed as Jean fought with Loyalty before watching his beloved addiction fly through the open window.

"I know, Colonel! What if you send someone from the military to keep an eye on him?" Al proposed. Ed brightened.

"Who would go, though?" Roy asked a little louder than he was speaking before. Alex stood up imediately, his shirt, once again, going mysteriously missing.

"Allow me to escort them to Resembool! I've done it before and I am familiar with the roads!" He exclaimed, alternately flexing. Roy looked to the Elric brothers who shook their heads vigurously.

"I can't, I've got reports to file," Riza added. Maes stood up.

"I'll take them, sir! I've been meaning to get a break from all this boring paperwork! It's getting me so depressed!" he said, emphasizing his words a little too much. After a few seconds, Roy realized in horror that Maes was probably the their best bet. Even Ed cringed as similar thoughts went through his own head.

"All right..." he sighed, "You'll leave in the morning."

--

"How are you?" Sakura asked that evening in an empty dorm as everyone fluffed pillows and laid down.

"Good night everyone!" called Al. Everyone gave acknowledging noises or murmurs. Sakura looked back to Syaoran to continue their conversation.

"I can't move my legs," he tried to state as if it were nothing, but Sakura could tell he was scared to death. She rested her cheek on his chest, and sighed. He was filled with wires and sensors and gadgets, but to Sakura, he was completely empty without the comforting sound of his heart. She hated this silence more than any sound in the world.

"I'm so sorry!" she cried softly, "I bet you wished I let you die. To not have to go through this pain. "To--" she was silenced by his hand on her mouth.

"I'm happy you brought me back," he replied, "I would glady live in this body a thousand times, as long as I get to be with you."

"Syaoran-kun..."

"I don't care what I look like, or if I can feel anything, or if I have a beating heart. It means absolutely nothing as long as you're with me." He picked up her hands, "Please do me a favor, okay?"

Sakura could only nod through her tears.

"I want you to tell me how things feel. Cry when you're in pain and I'll cry with you. Laugh when something tickles and I'll laugh with you. Eat your favorite foods and tell me how good they taste! Pick a flower and tell me how beautiful it smells. Breathe the fresh air I can't. Do that for me, please?"

Sakura leaned in, her lips brushing briefly across his own. He was expecting his stomach to flutter like a trapped bird, to feel the tips of his ears burn with blush, but he was almost dissapointed to feel nothing like that, "I'll do it all and more," she whispered before really kissing him on the forehead.

He reached for the switch behind his ear, "Goodnight, Sakura." he flicked it down as his eyes slowly closed.

--

It wasn't a long walk at all to Resembool and the weather was pleasant and crisp. The trees along the hlls were begining to shed their summer green color to trade it in for golds, reds, and oranges.

"Beautiful," breathed Maes as the remote town filled his gaze.

"Resembool in fall is always my favorite place," said Al nostalgically. He looked down to the region of his stomach, "Are you all right in there?" He asked Syaoran who was sitting inside his armor. He had lost all movent below his neck and was having trouble even sitting upright.

"Yeah," Syaoran's voice echoed back. Tiredness was the best way to describe this feeling, or lack thereof. He felt sluggish, but not lethargic. He didn't feel drowsy or disoriented, in fact his mind was very alert. It just seemed to take more energy to move at all. He was used to a body with reflexes and instincts. This one needed constant mental baby-sitting.

It wasn't long before the, now large, band of travelers could see a small yellow house. Out in the front yard was a large wooden sign reading "AUTO MAIL"

"Is that Rockbell-san's house?" Sakura asked as they got closer and closer. Ed nodded.

"Yep," he said happily, resting his arms above his head. Just as he spoke, a black and white dog came barreling up to them. A grin spread across Ed's face as he knelt down to greet the pooch.

"Den!" he cried happily as the dog coated his face in slime, ignoring the pain of being trampled to the dirt by an automail paw.

"Den! Stop eating Ed!" cried a young female voice from a blond girl who was running up to them.

"I'm so glad you all came to visit! It's a nice surprise to see you too, Hughes-san!" Winry exclaimed happily after she sent Den back to the house, "But I don't believe I've met you!"

"It's very nice to meet you. I'm Sakura Kinomoto," Sakura introduced, bowing, "Elric-kun talks about you all the time."

Ed's cheeks pinked slightly, "Only about how you're my mechanic and friend and stuff!" he defended, waving his arms. Winry continued to look at the group of newcomers after Sakura and Tomoyo had introduced themselves and frowned when she came to Loyalty.

"Ed, that's..." she began, looking at the marking on his abdomen.

"It's all right, Winry-chan," Maes assured her, "This one isn't like the ones you hear Edward-kun and Alphonse-kun talk about."

"Still..." she trailed off as she watched Al take of the chestplate of his armor.

"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura cried as she rushed over. Syaoran was completely lifeless as he laid against the inside of Al. His eyes were slowly opening and closing. Winry was practically in tears of joy as she rushed over.

"Ohmygoodnessisthatthelatestoflatesttechnologytheysmoothlydesignedfordecadestolookandactandfeeljustlikehumanswiththemostadvancedartificialintelligenceprogramintheworld! You bought a persocom, Ed!" Winry cried in one breath, practically squeezing Syaoran.

"Let me go!" his pitiful cry was muffled under Winry's chest. Stars were practically errupting in her eyes, her face was red with happiness.

"CAN I TAKE IT APART!"