Disclaimer: I don't think I own Fullmetal Alchemist… and neither do you. But just a word of warning, if you are somehow under the false impression that I am the creator of this amazing anime then you might want to start seeing a shrink… or just use that dusty unused brain of yours! Hee hee, I insulted you! ……. (runs with arms over head) "AHH, I'm sorry… kinda…. Just don't hurt me!"

Bring on Basketball

I immediately snap awake when I hear the bed creak as someone climbs up the wooden ladder to the top bunk, where I am feigning sleep. I feel a weight settle on my stomach as Russel prepares himself to wake me up in the 'traditional manner.'

My eyelids fly back to reveal sunset orbs as I grab his strong shoulders and pull him down while rolling over, trying to get on top. Completely neglecting the fact that we're in a bunk bed I end up rolling us both off the edge. We land with a dull thud on the floor and I'm only stunned for a second before we continue wrestling. After several minutes of playing around I'm victorious. Jumping up and shouting I run through our apartment and raid the kitchen. Grabbing bowls and spoons we quickly sit down to have a good old American breakfast, consisting of that delicious dry cereal, Fruit Loops, and a glass of orange juice. I absolutely refuse to drink milk with my cereal… nasty substance that it is and all, but Russel doesn't share my hatred of the creamy liquid and has drowned his Fruit Loops, successfully grossing me out.

We hastily throw on our practice shorts and T-shirts for try-outs for the basketball team this morning. Slinging our athletics bag, with our school books in them, over our shoulders we step out into the cool dawn air. Three other guys join us as we walk the two blocks to our high school. After being introduced to them I learn that their names are Hito, Saki, and Chiro. I'm thankful that they're still half asleep cause this fact hinders them from asking me an abundance of questions, which I'm sure I'm going to get soon enough.

As we enter the air-conditioned gymnasium I get the first look at my new school. The gym floors' wood gleams from an extensive waxing, and the air smells of freshly cut pine. Twenty other boys are lined up against the wall of the gym, waiting for the coach to arrive so that we could begin our try-outs.

All was silent as the majority of us shut our eyes to get a few more minutes of rest before the day begins. Suddenly, the doors swing open and bang against the wooden walls as our coach arrogantly strides through them.

Stopping in front of us and turning to address the whole group, he shouts, "ATTENTION!"

We all instantly snap our heads up to look slightly above our coach's head and we tense up our bodies and place our arms straight down at our sides. 'How military influenced is this place,' runs through my wide-awake mind. After standing like that for a few seconds the coach nods in approval and a slight smile appears on his face.

"Relax."

We all loosen up and lean back against the wall again. I glance sideways at Russel and he grins at me.

"You ready for this," he questions.

Smirking, I reply, "Hnn.. Of course."

Falling silent again we listen carefully as the coach introduces himself. "Hello, ladies. My name is Havoc, and you'll either call me Coach, Havoc-sensei, or His Regal Highness. If you address me in any other manner that doesn't suit my almighty approval I will have your butt whipped and removed from the team." At this point he stops and smiles wickedly at us. "That is if you make the team."

Havoc then pulled a ring of keys out of his deep pocket and unlocked the storage room. Pulling out a basketball from the depths within, he split us up into two equal teams.

Russel and I ended up on separate teams, but that was cool with us. At least this way we could show off each other's skills. Pulling off our t-shirts, we replace them with the jersey representing our team.

Russel and I took the first position. Crouching down we got ready for Coach Havoc to throw the ball up so that we could fight to knock it towards our own team. Looking at Russel I notice that his face has become menacing. I can feel my own muscles in my face tense, and my demeanor becomes serious. This always happens before a game. If it wasn't Russel across from me I'd be taunting the player from the other team in hopes of infuriating and successfully distracting him. My thoughts return to the game at the slight movement of Havoc's hand as he raises the whistle to his lips.

'Go!' That thought screamed through my mind. I jumped up and snatched the ball from the air, throwing it towards an open member of my team, I run down the court towards the basket.

I swiftly dodge the guy guarding me, I think his name is Wrath, he's pretty good. The instant I move to the left so does he, it's as if he's reading my moves as I think of them. 'I can't shake this kid! What the hell is he, my friggin' shadow? Damn, Fury's stuck, I need to get clear!'

Quickly acting I twist around Wrath and rush towards the north basket. "I'm OPEN," I shout. Fury hastily launches the burnt orange ball towards me. I have to speed up some to catch it. Sprinting down the hard wooden court I prepare myself for the lay-up I'm planning to do. I see Russel streaking towards me from the other end of the field to intercept me.

"Greed, get him," I order across the other players' heads.

Changing my plan mid-step as I see a member of the other team standing underneath the basket, I charge forward. 'I'm going for it!' I smile widely as I tense all my muscles and jump onto the boy's shoulder, using it as a springboard to give me more air. I feel like I'm flying, even as I see the boy's face beneath me twist in surprise and a bit of pain. As the basket comes into reach I slam-dunk the leather ball down into the nylon net.

The whistle blows and the game is over. As we tiredly walk off the court I hear friends whisper to each other. "Did you see that dunk? That was totally awesome! I can't believe he used that boy as a springboard!"

"Yeah, but that Russel kid, damn he's good too. I couldn't keep up with him, and he just barely missed stopping the new kid, Edward, was that his name?"

"hmm.. Yeah, I think so."

I grin at Russel as he walks up to me and together we enter the locker rooms and jump into corresponding showers. When we're finished we quickly pull on our school uniforms and sling our athletics/book bags over our shoulders.

As soon as the bell rings the halls come alive. The school becomes an ant hill as numerous students enter the halls to go to second period. Girls, and a couple of fruity guys, were stopped over here talking about boyfriends and what they did the weekend before. Thugs over there pushed people out of the way and knocked books and binders to the floor while running off and laughing the entire time. The smaller kids of the school had to meekly make their way through the bustling bodies, while their taller peers stopped to let them through… that is, if they even saw them. And some just walked with their heads down, trying to get to class as fast as possible without being stopped or noticed.

Russel and I parted ways as I ran off hastily, with a bit of remembered directions from him, in the direction of my first class, other than athletics.

A/N: Ok, second chapter is secured and I only have 10 chapters left of Harry Potter 6 to read, but I just can't sit still for very long. So, this is my plan: read a chapter with the music on low, so as not to distract me too much, then, get up and walk around the house several times with the music blaring. Next, read another chapter, then look up some doujinshi and then it's back to the beginning. I'm getting there slowly, but surely and I still have two books and a packet to do before school starts in 3 weeks… oh well, no worries.

Umm, I played basketball when I was in like 6th grade and although we got first place in our tournament I really don't remember all that much about the sport so you'll have to bear with me. I'd look up info. But I'm just too darned lazy. And by the way, I HIGHLY disagree with Ed about milk. I absolutely LOVE that stuff, in fact I get in trouble all the time for running around drinking it when it's not breakfast time…oh well it's not a big crime. I think that Havoc being all high and mighty was just the thing I needed to create to give myself a laugh, so sorry if you don't like it. I can't change your mind, and I'm not gonna go back and change my story. His part in the story is already finished anyway, but after this story I might MIGHT make a story with him and his favorite basketball player, Fury. Anyways, hope you've like it so far, next chapter's got the awesome hottness of Roy! Later, my silly little peoples!