Rebound

Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist… no matter how much I may want to.

A/N: I actually originally wrote this as my own story with all my own made up characters and so forth, but I really wanted people to read it so I had to change the characters to actual anime people so that I could post it here, although I did still keep some OCs. I chose Fullmetal Alchemist just because I think that the characters would make the plot all that more thrilling… so I hope you like it cause I worked really hard to develop it. Have fun reading!

Arrival

As I stepped off the plane into the bustling crowd at the airport's terminal I ran to the nearest stable object and jumped on top of it. Standing on the tips of my toes I am just barely able to look over the heads of the other people to search for that familiar face. Thousands of citizens returning home and hundreds of eager tourists pushed their ways past me. Off to my right I see somebody flash in and out of my peripheral vision. Swinging my head around to see who is making a fool out of himself I'm greeted with the pleasant sight of the face I've been looking for. My best friend, Russel Tringham, is jumping up and down and waving his arms wildly, trying to get my attention.

"RUSSEL!" I shout over the crowd's heads to let him know that I've seen him. Trudging my way through the crowded part I finally make it to his side. Grasping his hand and pulling him in for a quick hug I laugh as we see each other for the first time in two years.

"Ed! It's great to see you. I can't believe you're actually here. Ahh, man, this is gonna be great!" Russel is glowing with pleasure and laughing loudly while passerbyers look on with mixed emotions.

The two of us keep receiving irritated glances from the older Japanese civilians in the airport. 'I have to keep in mind that I'm in Japan now. People don't hug here, especially two guys… unless they're queer. We are being a little loud as well.'

Slapping me on the back, Russel turns around and leads me through the numerous halls to the belt that has my luggage circulating on it. He grabs my big green army bag, while I grab my smaller black athletics bag. Swinging it onto my shoulder and hefting my backpack into place we push open the clear glass doors and walk out into the cool ebony night.

"Wow! Tokyo's even prettier at night than Seattle is," I murmur.

"Hmm? Yeah… I guess. You know, but once you get used to it it loses its fascination."

"I doubt it… A city is more like a living creature than anything else. Every time you stop to look at it it changes. The seasons, the weather, the people… so many factors effect the city, and it changes to accommodate the situation." I dreamily stare up at the towering buildings while the huge signs flash advertisements at me.

Russel punches me in the arm and smirks down at me. "I swear, you should write a novel or something, you're pretty poetic… I guess you're right about Tokyo though."

A light smile crosses my face as I continue to observe the night. I close my eyes and listen to the voice of Tokyo. I hear the swift sound of cars as they slide through the coils of streets, and the pitter-patter of tiny raindrops as they fall on the stationary vehicles in the parking lot. I love hanging out with Russel; we can just stand in silence and not feel uncomfortable at all.

"So, which is Tokyo?" His voice breaks through my tranquil thoughts.

I open my eyes and glance sideways at him, "What?"

"Is Tokyo a man or a woman? Creatures are usually either male or female," he replies calmly.

"Hmm… At night it'd have to be a beautiful woman. A mysterious dancing woman, always shifting, always changing." I smile to myself as I imagine the woman in her dark clothing, body whispering to the night as she whisks through the back alleys and wooded parks.

"Only a woman at night," Russel inquires.

Laughing softly I explain, "Yeah… during the day it'd be a man. Loud and boisterous. Bold and adventurous. The city's completely full of obvious life during the day… Women are more secretive. They are full of so much more energy and spirit than the male sex, but they choose to hide it, while men on the other hand flaunt their strength and stamina."

I fall silent as my thoughts fade away. Russel and I stand silently for a few more minutes before we set off down the cold concrete sidewalks. When we arrive at his apartment complex it's already past midnight. We drag our tired bodies up the three flights of stairs to his room on the top floor of the building. When Russel pulls out the keys to his room I notice the small orange basketball that I gave him two years ago when he returned to Japan from America, where he had been staying as a foreign exchange student for a year and where we had met, swinging from the metal chain on his key ring.

"You've still got that," I ask as I lightly reach out to touch the little ball.

Smiling down fondly at it he replies, "Of course, it was the only good thing you ever gave me."

I grin at him as he opens the door and I follow him into his messy room.

"What about my friendship?"

Laughing outright he retorts, "HA! Friendship? Who needs that?"

I feign depression as he punches me in the arm, but my sad state quickly evaporates as I see the bunk bed that we are to share for the next two school years.

"We can actually get some sleep now cause tomorrow's Monday and everyone here has crashed after their 'relaxing' weekend. All the students that attend this school live in the five apartment buildings on the campus, and like I said, they're dead asleep now."

"We should be too. I'm completely worn out, which one's mine?"

Russel grabs a pillow off the floor and tosses it to me before answering, "Top."

Stripping myself of my shirt and pants I swing up into the top bunk, totally neglecting the wooden stairs. "Aight. 'Night." Pulling the covers up over my head I instantly fall asleep.

A/N: Well, how's the first chapter? The second chappie will have some basketball action and you'll meet a few new characters, then, in the third chapter you'll meet THE AWESOME HOTTY OF THIS STORY! Thanks for reading so far and I hope that you'll keep it up cause more will be coming soon. I'm reading the 6th Harry Potter right now, so I'm alternating between typing up this story and reading. And pretty soon, starting Aug. 1st I've got marching band practice every day, ARG IT'S TOO HOT FOR PRACTICE! Anybody, play in a band? I play flute, woo hoo, go me! (grin) Oh by the way, a good book that you should read if you wanna is The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan, she also wrote The Joy Luck Club, but I didn't read that book I just saw the movie, which was awesome! Anyways, review me so I'll know whether you like it or not. Later peoples!