"Where am I?" Kirina asked.

Her voice echoed in the vast emptiness. It was nothing but a white blur. She stood there and didn't dare to move.

"Kimiya," a voice said.

Kirina turned and saw a girl her age. The girl was a brunette and was missing one arm. Kirina knew who she was.

"Yasuko?"

Yasuko nodded. "It's been a while."

"Yeah, like thirteen years. So, where are we?"

Yasuko laughed. "Believe it or not, but this is the inside of your mind."

Kirina made a face. "Huh?"

"The inside of your mind. I guess you're kinda wondering what I'm doing here. I'm here to make sure you chose the right, path, Kimi."

"And what is the right path?"

"Well, tell me what you want to do first?"

Kirina stared at the ground. "That's the funny thing, Yasuko. I don't know. I mean, the only reason I became a State Alchemist was to search for Mr. Marcoh and those homunculi. But now things have spiraled out of control. Three homunculi nearly killed Ed and just to get the secret ingredient for the Celestial Stone." Kirina blinked and stared at the ground, watching the red tears fall to the blank ground. "So many people hurt because of me. Sometimes, I wish I were dead. I wish it had been me that had been shot, not my parents."

Yasuko walked over to her and hugged her. "Don't be stupid. Have you ever seen a parent grieve over their child? Have you ever seen such despair?"

"I could've looked in a mirror to see despair. Look at me, Yasuko. I'm a mess. I have these scars on my arms and legs, metal toes, and a metal back."

"Don't cry, Kimi. I think the real reason you're crying is because you feel this is your entire fault."

Kirina wriggled out of Yasuko's grasp and shoved her, scowling. "Thanks for restating the obvious! Anyway, if you want to help me choose they right path, I've already decided. I want to stay here."

Yasuko's cornflower blue eyes widened. "Here?"

"There's nothing here that can hurt me. It's quiet and bright and comfortable---"

"Like the inside of a nuthouse!"

"I don't care. I don't want to be hurt anymore."

Yasuko pushed Kirina and---SMACK!

Kirina looked up at her with wide eyes. Her cheek was bright red and hurt to touch. "What'd you do that for!"

"Because you were being an idiot!" Yasuko snapped, her eyes resembling a furious sea that was overflowing with water and threatening to spill.

"I don't care! Yasuko, I don't want to be hurt anymore."

"And you think I do? You think I like having this reminder."

"Reminder?" Kirina stared at Yasuko's empty sleeve. "Did you---No, you didn't. You don't mean to tell me that you---"

Yasuko stared at the ground. "I did."

"But the Celestial Stone!"

"I wouldn't dare use it. I only know basic alchemy, Kimi. If you're a flower in full bloom, I'm the seed that has barely been planted. Here's another reason for you to go back."

The whiteness faded a little and produced several pictures. Ed, Al, Marcoh, Armstrong, Mustang, Winry, Pinako, Khumeia, her father---everyone Kirina had known and loved.

"My friends," Kirina whispered with wide eyes. "My family."

With no warning, Kirina started crying. Nothing would stop her from crying now.

She felt Yasuko's arms on her shoulders as she whispered, "Go back. Go back. You can turn around and go back."

"It's not too late?"

"It's never too late. I should know. I am from Beyond the Door after all."

My favorite chapter of all the regressions. Why? As the old saying goes: That's for me to know and you to find out. And what Yasuko said at the end will make a lot more sense later on (or maybe it won't. I forget. I also forgot that I should be studying!)