Shadow Dreamer 27: Hmm... we'll see. However, it does seem clear that he will strike in the ball. Just wait and see. XD

Fluff Freak: In a way, let's make this obvious unless I place in a very confusing twist.

tear drops of flaming darkness: Yeah, I'll update once in a while but still... I keep getting all these Writer's Blocks... ;;

unexpection: Everyone thinks the same. >. They just don't consider what else I can do. But yes, you are right. Not very eventful in this chapter but this is the prelude to all the stuff I'm planning for later. Yeah, I update fast since I write every chapter I have in my notebook before I type it, send it to Kiyuu-Chan and then I update.

Lt. Hawkeye: Thanks for your comment.

Aurum Potestas Est: Thanks! Yeah, I'll keep updating but then I'll get the occasional stale mates. You actually managed 17,000 something words! O.O

Blackrosewitch: Thanks. I'm honored actually. This is my first time to actually write an FMA fanfic so I'm kind of a novice to this thing.

fullmetalphilospher: Sure, use this fanfic in anyway you want. Even if you want to get rid of some feelings, you can use this. Anyway, yeah I know. But I'll leave that as a mark to tell me that I really need to know more about this anime. XD

Nah, that's alright. Yeah, I do type a lot actually. Ah, the hard work. But I prefer typing than writing with the old fashoined pen. Welcome anyway! So since this is the last review, on with the story!

Chapter 13- Choices

Have you ever been pinned to a corner where you only have two choices, neither you can take? And in the end, you can taste the bitter sensation of sorrow for picking what seems to be the right choice, which required a sacrifice? It led to so much confusion, both making us lose the most important things. Well First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye was pushed to that corner.

"Black Hayate?"

Riza was walking towards her apartment. She came from going through certain shops for a few errands. She decided to give Black Hayate a walk on the way, which she regretted as it made things even slower. There wasn't much to do today so each of them was dismissed early. The dog jumped down from Riza the moment that were already in the apartment building. Riza sighed, knowing that her pet was hungry. He even had a tug-of-war with the butcher for a slab of meat.

She was already busy with other things. Now that the days were flying fast, it was only 1 day and a half left. It seemed to be only 1 day to her actually.

She arrived at her apartment floor when surprisingly Black Hayate skimmed back to his mistress, terrified as if he saw something horrible in the apartment. He trembled in fright.

"What's the matter?" Riza asked.

Black Hayate began stormed out a series of loud barks. They seemed to be like warnings. Riza frowned and laid Black Hayate carefully on the floor. She withdrew her gun and began walking slowly towards her apartment. Black Hayate marched closely with her, whimpering over the rushing coldness.

She swiftly appeared before the door and pointed her gun. Strangely, she found the door open.

She took one step inside. She looked around the dark apartment closely, pointing her gun to each direction. In a split second, she heard the door slam shut. Riza pointed her gun behind to find nothing but the pitch, black darkness. Black Hayate began barking like mad as a hand grabbed Riza. The other, gagging her mouth to prevent her from screaming. Riza gasped, feeling the cold gloved hands slip around her.

"R-Roy?" Riza stammered through her 'gag'. 'Please let it be Roy and his seductions…' she begged in her thoughts.

But she knew. Roy's hands were warm like the flames he conjures. This one was cold like ice… the scent of being dead with the faint scent of blood lingering.

"Sssh… don't even bother… Screaming won't help you." his voice whispered, laughing. It definitely wasn't Roy.

Riza glared and kicked the stalker away from her. She then faced her target and shot two bullets, which ripped across his chest. The stalker collapsed in the floor as Riza immediately switched on the lights and found the bloody corpse in the ground. He wore black clothing; it was definitely the homunculus.

Riza trembled slightly as she placed the homunculus at gunpoint. Nothing. The homunculus just lay still there. Riza lowered her gun down; Big mistake.

"Heh, just kidding." Riza's eyes widened when she heard a voice behind her. She turned but her gun was kicked out of her hand. He quickly pinned Riza down and placed himself on top, forcing his lips deep on hers and his tongue roughly tried to protrude her mouth. Riza's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at a pair of bullet holes across his chest. How could he still be alive?

But then a growl was heard and the sin yelled in pain. He broke the kiss; Riza was dragging herself backwards sweating in sudden fright. God, why did she feel this scared? She could not remember a time when fear struck her like this. The taste of bitter copper-like blood remained in her mouth.

Obsession glared at Black Hayate who was biting his foot as hard as it could. He grimaced and kicked the small creature mercilessly. Black Hayate was slammed hard on the wall, sliding down, limp and unconscious. Riza rushed for her pet's aid and pulled him close.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Riza asked the sin, summoning her courage as she did so.

"Call me Obsession, nothing else. And what do I want? Your body and soul, that's all." He replied with a grin. Riza's eyes widened in shock from hearing the sin's desires.

"I know everything about you. Don't you remember me?" Riza shot confused looks at him. Is he mad? How can she remember him when she doesn't even know him? He made a laugh.

"Of course. You don't remember. How mutual, even since your boyfriend", Obsession said this with pure spite, "Killed me. I was reborn of course and now I can have my revenge." He made a malicious smile.

Riza stood there lost for words. She knew Roy killed many, especially during the Ishbal War. But this man couldn't be from Ishbal, right? If he was, he should be teaming up with Scar or something.

"I know everything about you. I see you every time you walk to work and home, whenever you feed that wretched thing," The sin stole disgusted glances at the unconscious animal, "When you sleep every night, when you kiss Mustang." He paused, the anger and jealousy already filling him.

"I haven't gone soft. Killing ex-fellow military officers is a personal enjoyment. Ask Mustang and he'll tell you how much fun I had with him." he smirked.

Riza continued staring at him. Did she hear him right or were her ears betraying her? 'Ex-fellow military officers'? And what did he mean? Riza frowned. Was that the reason why she found Roy beaten up and lying half dead there?

"I'll do you a favor. You have a ball this Friday." Obsession threw an envelope to Riza who caught it.

"And I'm going to give you two choices: A, Be with me, leave Mustang or you can take B, If you resist A, I'll kill him for you." he grinned. Riza made a small flinch.

"Choice is yours, Riza. If you really love him, then it's obvious which choice you should take." He said, opening one of the apartment windows but not before he gave her one more forced kiss.

"You've got until the ball." He jumped out, leaving Riza alone. Riza slowly and picked up an unconscious Black Hayate. She laid him on his bed and Riza walked out. Riza began staring at her reflection in a hanging mirror across the living room. Her face looked pale and nervous.

"Oh God…" the phrase escaped her lips in a small whimper. She slid down against a wall still holding the invitation, which has small creases pressed on it.

She could almost stifle a cry. She loved the colonel. But can she still hold on to him even with this burden? The choices led to no other options and she had to pick only one, her or Roy? The phone suddenly rang and Riza slowly picked it up.

"Hello?" her voice almost shook.

"Riza, it's Roy."

Riza was silent and stunned from the sound of Roy's voice.

"Riza?"

"… Yes Taisa?"

"Riza, are you going to the ball this Friday?"

"…" She didn't know what to reply. Should she say yes? Or should she say no? Either way, both could result to her lover's death.

"Riza?"

"… Yes Taisa. I'm coming."

"Riza, are you okay? You're trembling."
Riza was stunned again. He shouldn't know…

"No, I'm alright, Taisa. I need to go. I'm really busy."

"Okay Riza. I love you."

"… I love you too, Roy."

Exchanges of goodbye were made and Riza placed the phone down. She slugged to a dark corner and sat there.

'That's right, Roy. I do love you.' Riza thought with a deep saddened expression. What should she do?

AN: Yeah! I overcame this Writer's Block. So please leave a review or else... SUFFER THE WRATH OF ARMSTRONG'S POSES! XD (evil laugh)