Disclaimer: I believe you all are well aware of this, but just incase you are somewhat delusional, I'll tell you that I… do…not… own… this … anime! There, I hope you understand now!

A/N: Well, here you go people. The next chapter has arrived! Hope you enjoy it! I'll talk to you more at the end… buh bye!

He's Taken?

Russell's POV

I gasp in surprise as Mustang-san bursts from the principal's office. His shirt is nearly completely torn off and his face is flushed, but from what I can only imagine. I stare through the open door in bafflement at Envy-sama. Along one side of his handsome face is a scarlet hand print, and he continues to glare after Mustang-san as the said teacher pulls on his shirt correctly while hastily striding down the hall.

'What is going on? Are they… lovers? But… but he said that he… loved Ed. How? Why? … What the hell's going on?'

Quickly fleeing the scene, I rush down the deserted halls towards the nurse's office. Bursting through the open doorway, I race to Edward's bedside. Then, stopping abruptly, I try to catch my breath and tell him what's going on, at the same time. This proved to be very difficult because all I manage to get out is, "Ed, it's Mustang-san, something's wrong. He was…"

Ed's POV

As Russell continues to speak rapidly I stare in shock at him. Whatever he has just said went in one ear and out the other. All I could catch was, 'Mustang-san… wrong.'

"Russell? RUSSELL? What did you just say? Please… don't talk so fast, my head is still spinning," I whine.

Russell completely stops talking and his eyes lose their frantic fire. He slowly reaches over and gently grabs my face in both of his slightly trembling hands.

"Russell," I whisper in confusion.

"Edward… I think Mustang-san and Envy-sama are… together," he admits.

His coal-like eyes quickly glance away as my own widen in utter disbelief. 'Together…together… tog…' That one word echoes precariously through my tumultuous mind. Calming my frantic breathing, I ask, "what… gave you that idea?"

He nervously licks his lips and releases my face from his cold grasp. As he tries to turn away I desperately clutch at his arm and plead again for answers. Sighing in defeat, he sits down on the edge of my sterilized bed and glances at me.

"Ed… I went to the Principal's office, I forgot why, but as I was about to knock, Mustang-san came hurtling out of the room and ran smack into me," he ceases abruptly to take a breath and I wait silently.

But I'm soon frustrated so I encourage him to continue, "and?"

He continues shakily, "And his shirt was peeled half off of him and his lips looked like they had been bruised. When I looked into Envy-sama's office, he was staring after Mustang-san, and his face had a hand print on it. He was watching Mustang-san depart with… lust, kind of like a male lion after his lioness, who is in-heat."

"Thanks for the lovely simile," I reply gruffly.

"Sorry."

I fall backwards onto my pillow and throw my arm across my eyes. "Oh God… what should I do?" Although I ask this question of Him I don't expect an answer. There's an old country song called, 'Unanswered Prayers,' I don't much listen to country, but this song just popped into my head. My situation seems to resemble the singers. 'Am I not to have the man I love? Will I regret giving up on him? Or will I, like the singer, find a greater lover and be thankful for His unanswered prayers?'

I feel Russell's cold fingers pull my arm away from my face, and as his troubled raven eyes flit across my face I am compelled to ask the forbidden question. "Russell… you love me, right?"

His eyes jump to connect with mine before hastily running away again. "Y…yes," he stutters as a blush paints his cheeks.

"Then why?" I breathe deeply before continuing. I have to know why he's going to release me, why he's letting me go without a fight. "Why are you helping me with Mustang-san? Why don't you fight for me? Russell,… I don't understand."

He looks down at me with saddened eyes before replying. "Edward… would it do me any good? I know you're in love with Mustang-san, not me. I realize this, and I know that fighting for you would only hurt you. When… you love someone, I mean really love someone, you have to consider what is best for them. You have to put their needs above your own. That's why I'll let you go. That's why I want you to find happiness with Mustang-san, but you'll never be able to have that future if you don't fight for it. Work for it. Strive for it. You're up against a whole world of people who will tell you that what you're doing is wrong. That you are sinning. That God will send you to hell, but, Edward,… if God is so great then why should he condemn someone for following their heart… where ever it may lead them? Never doubt yourself. Never doubt your feelings for him… they are true, I know."

I stare, mouth agape, in absolute wonder at my best friend. I retort sarcastically, "You've thought about this a lot, haven't you?" I smile reassuringly at him. "And you said I should be a poet. HA! I think you have more talent; that was pretty deep."

"Yes… well, what can I say?" He rubs the back of his head in pleasured embarrassment.

The previously frozen atmosphere is swiftly melted away as our childish laughter vibrates off the outer walls. Quickly becoming serious again, just with more hope and less depression, I honestly say, "Russell… thank you. I know what I have to do now."

"Do you now," questions Russell in English with a sorry attempt at an American accent.

"Russell, shove it. Can we go home now? I'd like to go see Mustang-san after school later today."

"Sure deal. I gotta run by my classroom to get my stuff, but I'll meet ya back at the apartment."

"OI! I gotta go back to Mustang-san's room. I left me stuff there. Phooey! Why is the world against me? Waaaaaaaaa!" I fake crying and pouting until Russell turns and pushes himself up awful close to my face.

Seductively he whispers in my ear, "My dear, if you don't cease your tears I just may be overcome with a desire to comfort you… by any means necessary."

I gulp in slight fear, but I'd lying if I said that his little show hadn't attracted me at all.

"Ok! I'm done! Just don't hurt me!"

As he pulls away he grins at me and ruffles my already messy hair, "Retard." With that said, he exits the still room, and I soon follow.

When I went into Sensei's room there was a substitute sitting in his seat. I did a double-take, thinking that maybe I was in the wrong room, but after assuring myself that I was indeed in the correct place I hastily collected my things and left. 'Where was Sensei? Is he sick? Maybe that's why he looked so pale. Oh Man, what if he's really ill! What if he's gonna die? My dear Sensei, don't leave me!… Holy Cow! I think I need to lay off the sugar. Chill, Ed, chill, you'll see him soon. Are we ok now? … good. Now, home we go!'

After waiting impatiently for several hours at the apartment I finally made my way to Sensei's home. Standing outside his door once again, I wonder why I'm always waiting for something. Either I'm waiting for someone else to make the first move, or I'm waiting for myself to stoke up enough courage to jump the cliff alone.

Not waiting long enough to knock, I try the door handle and find it unlocked and yielding to my touch. Pushing the door open fully, I cautiously step into the silent home and close the door stealthily behind me. Ceasing all movements, I listen for the tell-tell sound of life. I'm soon rewarded for my efforts as the sweet sound of deep breathing greets my ears. I recognize that state of steady breathing, 'he must be asleep. Perhaps he really was ill.'

A/N: Ha! Guys, that's the second to last chapter. I hope you liked it, I sure did! And we've only got one more chapter left! I'm sad because I'll be leaving all of you awesome people, I love my reviewers soooooo much, but then again, I'll be kinda glad cause then I can focus solely on my new fanfic. It's a Weiss Kruez vampire story, yes it's shonen-ai… eventually. So if you know that anime, or even if you don't, if you wanna read another one of my works look for a story called Lurking in the Dark. I hope it turns out such great readers as this story did! Well, did you guys here about the hurricane that hit New Orleans? It's pretty awful over there, I'm not all that far from there… just like 300 miles, I'm the next state over, to the left. That's right, I'm from TEXAS! Ha! YEE-Ha you guys, no I'm just kidding, we really don't say that here… seriously. Anyways, time for my reviewers responses!

To Reviewers:

You guys are awesome!

Koolmint26: Of course you can keep reading. I love to read depressing stuff, but I don't usually end my stories that way. So keep it up, read read, and review! Thanks a ton!

Mirai Maxwell: Yeah, watch Weiss, and read my fanfic. I'd be soooo incredibly happy if one of my readers from this story read some of my others! No, I'm just kidding, you don't have to! And yeah, I put Envy as the Principal cause one of my friends was going to take my head off if I didn't, and a headless authoress makes a very poor story indeed! Yeah, so I hope you liked that unexpected twist. Thanks!

Anime-phantom: hope I'm not insulting your religion or anything like that. I'm really not for or against the whole 'gay' issue, it's really none of societies business. It is kind of a personal affair, and so … that's just what I think, but thanks for reading my story anyway!

Alchemist X: I was in track for a year, back in 7th grade… that'd be about 4 years ago, and I actually got first place once, all the other times I got about 3rd. I bet you're an awesome runner! Good luck on any competitions. And thanks for reviewing, heck yeah, Roy and Envy are awesome!

RejectedAndLoved: Oh, man, I two year old brother… I pity you. Mine's thirteen so we get along just fine… sometimes… well maybe once or twice in our whole lives, just kidding. They get better, I swear. Older sis, that's awesome, I always wanted an older brother, but I got stuck as the oldest… oh well. I'm glad that I'll never disappoint you and yeah Envy is a guy, but I couldn't figure that out for the LONGEST time! Thanks for the super awesome long review!

Fireprincessalchemist: sorry for leaving you with a cliffy last time, but I think I did it again here too. But just remember that the next chapter is the last one, so then there won't be any more cliffies… (tears start welling up) but I'm really gonna miss you. You do super long reviews and that makes me sooooooooo happy! Thank you soooo much!

The New Shinigami Hikari: Yes, Envy is kinda evil in this story, but that's ok cause I said so. Band nerds! We're all band nerds! Just kidding! Band Rules! Thanks for reviewing!

Purplekittiegurl: Thank you soooo much for telling me where you live. Missouri, huh? I've never been there, but I'd like to… someday. Saxophone is AWESOME! If I didn't play flute, that's what I'd play. Woo hoo! I'll add you to my reviewers band list, there really isn't one but I'll pretend that there is. Thanks for reviewing, thanks so much!

Danielle: Wow! Thanks, one of the best you've ever read? I'm sooo proud! (sniff) I send tons of love and hugs out to you. What a great compliment. THANK YOU SOO MUCH! My characters are better than the originals, omg I don't think I can take all the praise… who am I kidding, BRING IT ON! Pop-rocks ARE awesome, and I haven't had any in such a long time. So I will graciously and greedily except them all from you. Thanks for all the compliments, and thanks for reviewing, I just love you! Bye!

Fading Wind: Maybe this time you didn't read the chapter in really bright sunlight, I'm sure that's bad for your eyes, but heh what isn't? Yeah, I introduced Envy, aren't you happy? Hope you liked this chappie as well! Thanks for the review. By the way, I kinda messed up on my email to you, but you'll figure that out when you read them.

Shin Mao: Sorry, I didn't know it was normal to hug in Japan. It's not that I thought it was like, "Oh hey, they're hugging! Let's kill 'em!' I'm just kidding, I really didn't think about it, sorry if it was stereotypical or anything like that. Thanks for telling me!

Ximperfectlyx: don't worry I won't tell her about her 'hogging' problem. Oh well, I hope she gave you time to read this one too, I'll be looking forward to your review. Thanks a bunches!

Thanks everyone!