I see….. Everyone has noticed the pattern have they? laughs sadistically well then, how I would hate to break it….

coughs

Don't own, don't sue.

VOTE FOR PAIRINGS

i'm partial to either Scar/Ed or Mustang/Ed. others are okay, so how about people give me what they think as the main couple should be?

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Ed jolted and without thinking, shoved Scar away. "not this! Not by you, not again!"

Covering half his face with his gloved hand, Ed tugged on his bangs with a air of hopelessness. "Envy, Mustang, you…. And gods know who else." Ed sighed and looked up at Scar. "that only makes things harder Scar. You know it too."

Scar stared at Ed with guarded eyes.

"I'm not- it's just-" Ed growled in frustration. "I don't know. All I know is that this is confusing to me!" rolling his eyes, Ed lowered his hands and stared at the soft but durable white material. "I really hate this."

Flexing his fingers, Ed's shoulders slumped.

"damn it. I don't know what to do, what to believe anymore." Ed straightened and then slowly started for the end of the bridge. "perhaps I wasn't supposed to follow any rules, anyone. Not believe in anything." Ed blinked as he looked up at the star filled night.

"we got through everything relying only on ourselves- Al and I." Ed said his brother's name fondly. "I wonder why my father did this to us. Started all of this." Ed could sense Scar's confusion.

"he left to pursue the stone. But didn't return despite all of our letters for him to."

Ed sighed. "perhaps we started all of this for more then just the philosopher's stone. Maybe…" Ed trailed off and didn't finish his sentence.

" I don't know." Ed sighed and shook his head.

Scar finally spoke.

"give me two days. I have a way for you to not kill my people. However, it may risk some dogs lives."

Ed turned to look at Scar. "what? What are you talking about?"

Scar stepped over so he stood side by side to Ed. "just trust me Ed. I know I'm your enemy. However, you're not on the side of the Fuhrer." Ed looked at Scar with narrowed eyes. "your going to kill them, aren't you?"

Scar shook his head and slowly moved his eyes to the city. "your going to go to Diablo. And do as your ordered." Ed's eyes widened and flew to Scar's face. "just listen Edward." Ed took a few deep breaths and eventually nodded.

"you will go to Diablo. You will blow up the city. But you will not kill anyone of Ishbalen blood." . "but… how?" Scar started to run his hand over Ed's head, smoothing his hair back.

Scar pulled him back slightly and stared him in the eye. "leave the rest to me." Ed's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "what?" "I shall not give details, in case they attempt to find the plan out. I shall leave tonight, and you shall stay here and rest."

Ed's muscles tensed as he stared at Scar in the eye. "you won't have to kill anyone Edward." Ed's shoulders slightly relaxed, but he was still wary. "just trust me." Ed studied Scar intently, he narrowed his eyes at the small smirk on Scar's face. "your so somber little Edward. It truly is not like you."

Scar walked off without another word.

Ed blinked, he then slowly walked down the road back to his hotel.

There was nothing he could do at the moment. He didn't really want to trust Scar, even after their…. 'moment', but he didn't want to say anything. A little chance was better then none at not having to kill off a whole city.

The last city of Ishbalens.

-----------------meanwhile!---------------

Al jolted as he worked his alchemy into the ground, making several stone made root like structures erupt and kill off some chimeras.

"Al!" Al nodded as he looked to see Winry and Pinako running toward the remains of his house. "I'll meet up with you guys there!" Winry nodded and Al slowly turned and slid into a defensive position. One he used when sparring with Al.

Several chimeras jumped towards him, and Al was ready to fight back. But a large white flash and a explosion caught the chimeras in mid air.

Lowering his hand from shielding his eyes, Al looked around.

"who's there?"

Al jumped when a heavy hand fell onto his shoulder. Looking up, he came face to…. Well shoulder with his father.

"what the…. Dad?"

Jumping away from the hand- and the man, Al looked warily up at his father. "what are you doing here now. Why are you here?" Hohenheim stared down at his son through his glasses. "better question. Where is Edward, Alphonse?" Al bit his lower lip and worried it.

"I don't know right now. I assume the capital."

Hohenheim's eyes narrowed. He glanced over the hills towards Pinako's burning house and gave a tiny sigh. "damn it. I needed to speak with Edward." Al looked suspicious.

"why?"

Hohenheim looked back down at Al. "nothing horrible Alphonse. I swear it." Al still looked suspicious.

"what happened to you, anyways? Your body, splitting up from Ed. Your sudden distrust of your own father." Hohenheim didn't sound furious. He just sounded curious.

"last time you were here-" Hohenheim's eyes narrowed once more. "we will not speak of that Alphonse. The past is just that- the past." Al bit his lip again. "well, besides that… I'm just worried about brother."

Hohenheim slowly nodded and gave a weary sigh. "don't worry about him. He's strong enough." Hohenheim took his glasses off and cleaned them with a cloth from his coat pocket. Putting them back on, he moved to Al's side, facing the opposite direction.

"Alphonse." Al looked up and blinked in confusion as his father's hand rested on the top of his head. "your almost as tall as me. Not like Edward." Al gave a weak grin as he looked up at his rather tall father.

"I know you can handle the remaining chimera. I know you can, so I'm off to find Edward." Al gave a nod for his answer, then squeaked when Hohenheim started down the road with his hands in his pockets.

Stopping, Hohenheim waited.

"tell Ed…. That we're…. I'm waiting for him to come home."

Hohenheim nodded and slowly walked off towards the river and mountains. A shortcut to the desert- Hohenheim knew his son would be there.

Al looked at his father's retreating figure, then turned and hurried to where Pinako and Winry were waiting for him. "find him dad. For his sake, and mine."

-----------------------------------the next morning- yet again another trade off in POV-------------------

Scar walked slowly down the sandy roads. It was beyond hot, no water or vegetation was visible. But, Scar watched as many females, males and children ran or walked down the streets. They all wore thick clothes despite the heat. And everyone was of Ishbal blood. Crimson eyes were everywhere, and tanned brown skin was prominent.

Posted every few tens of yards, military men carried either guns or alchemic symbols on their gloves, shirts, hands, bracelets… anywhere. Depending on their type of skill. All waiting to attack and maul a Ishbalen to death. They were sweating though, it was obvious they were disgruntled with the heat.

Wearing his trademark sunglasses and outfit, Scar kept his head angled to the ground just right. So the cross shaped scar wouldn't be seen. His hands were in his pockets, making him look like some average Ishbalen. Scar's hate for the military, and their dogs grew. His eyes narrowed at the sneering faces, decked out in dark blue. How he hated them all….

Scar's heart twisted. He had never truly felt anything in his heart, for no one. But he felt something for Ed. He knew he did. But he didn't know what the emotion was. However, Scar knew he couldn't, no wouldn't let Ed down. Not Edward. Not the one that trusted him- albeit the slightest. Scar's eye flickered again. No one had ever trusted him before. He wouldn't betray that trust.

He knew he had to do this, he had to save Ed. Scar's eyes softened a fraction. Ed wasn't some dog. He was…. Well Ed. Scar looked up and saw that at last he reached the Ishbalen leader's house. Walking inside, Scar looked around. It was shadowed in the house. "welcome." Scar looked over, to see Rose's bastard son and several other figures. "you sent that you wanted to talk with us?" Scar nodded and leaned against the wall. "you're to evacuate all the Ishbalen people in this town." right to the point. He had no time to waste.

"what!" the raised voice stirred the babe in a Ishbalha worshipper's arms. "your kidding! We have no where to go! This is the safest place!" Scar shifted and his eyes narrowed. "by noon tomorrow, there will be nothing left of this 'safe haven'." eyes widened. "no! this can't happen again!" Scar straightened and his bloody eyes swept over everyone in the room. "the military is sending their dog to do the dirty work. We must get everyone out of here."

"we shall get everyone out of here." a man jumped to his feet, his eyes wide. "this is our home! We can't abandon it for some prank!" Scar's eyes narrowed angrily. "what if it isn't a prank, that devil Daemon will follow through on his threats. Then we will all be killed." the man's eyes closed and his hands clenched. "fine. We shall start evacuating tonight. We'll go to the desert, where we can easily loose those military bastards." the woman with Rose's child stood up. The child was more of a toddler now The other man grabbed her arm to keep her steady. "be careful my lady." Scar looked out the window, it was already dark out.

Moving to the door, Scar looked over his shoulder. "don't get caught. I did not come here to fail." Scar disappeared outside…

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Sorry for the short update. This is basically a in-between chapter that I thought you guys would've enjoyed.

Yeah, Ed's with everyone. Who would of thought. (I didn't)

Review, I thrive on them.