hello all! i could have updated earlier, butthought i'd give you guys some time to swallow the last chapter. course, then i just forgot about you all completely. JUST KIDDING! anyway, finally hauled my lazy ass around to ruin- i mean, uh- write the next chapter. but before we start...

A. FMA is NOT MINE

B. Edward Elric is NOT MINE (except in my dreams)

C. Aka IS MINE!

D. if you don'tC the connection between A and B, i'll have to get D and E to F you up.

(i stole that from a friend. NOT MEANT TO SCARE YOU. but did it work?)

Recap- Using Aka's tracker, the Elrics barged into the apartment where she was kidnapped to save her. But then Vharley turned a gun on Ed, telling Aka to give him her bandana. When she took it off, her hair fell down and Ed finally realized the truth.

-----Part 14-Forgiveness, or Hate?-----

You vaguely heard a gasp from Vharley, but kept your eyes locked on Ed's face. Your stare was full of guilt and sadness. Ed stared back, but you couldn't read it. No, maybe you could. You saw shock, of course. You'd expected that one. And you definitely saw pain. But you couldn't tell if he was angry, happy or something in-between. You only broke away your gaze when Vharley began to speak.

"Heh heh...so that's why you hid yourself. And here I thought you were just a coward...imagine! The military hiring a bratty little girl!" He said. Numbly, you realized that he had called you 'little,' but knew that you didn't really care. You just glared at Vharley. He smirked, looking amused by your actions.

"Now now, don't get cranky. I was only stating the obvious. Is that why you were given the pocket watch? Because the military felt sorry for the wittle baby? Or do they not know the truth either?"

"They don't know." You said flatly in your real voice, avoiding Ed's gaze. You couldn't look at him right now. You knew that you should, but right now you just couldn't.

Focusing on Vharley, you tried to think of a way out of this. Then, you got a quick idea.

"Does that really change anything for you?" You asked, trying to buy time. Vharley chuckled.

"I suppose it doesn't, but it is rather interesting."

"Maybe to you, but it means- meant everything to me." You said. You were speaking the truth, but you were also trying to advert Vharley's gaze from your hands.

"Well, to me it means nothing." Vharley said, "And it doesn't change anything. So hurry up and give me your bandana. It's even more special now. Walk over here and hand it to me. And be quick about it. Otherwise..." Vharley waved the gun, which was still pointed at Ed. Gritting your teeth, you marched over to where Vharley was standing and held the bandana out to him.

"You see? That wasn't so-ARGH!" As Vharley touched the bandana, he was shocked by the electricity you'd woven into it. His body jerked in random directions, his eyes wide.

Kneeing him in the stomach, you ripped the gun out of his hands and threw it in the air, wasting it with your lightning. Vharley's eyes went dull and he fell to the floor, unconscious. Bending over him, you took back your pocket watch and re-secured it to your belt.

Slowly, you turned to look at Ed, who had been staring the whole time.

"Ed..." You said, but no other words came. Numbly, you heard Al's voice explaining the situation to some people who'd come to investigate the noise. You and Ed just stood there until Al came walking up.

"Some of the men who live here have agreed to take those guys to jail." He waited for a reaction, but got none. Sighing, he continued quietly, "We should probably order a hotel room or something...I saw one at the other end of the street..." The three of you stood in silence for a while. Then, closing his eyes, Ed turned abruptly and left the apartment room.

"Ed!" you yelled, and started to follow. But you stopped and mid-step and fell back, watching his red jacket whip out of sight.

"Aka...?" Al asked quietly. You looked at the ground.

"Just go. I'll...I'll catch up." You said softly. Al lingered for a bit longer before leaving the apartment.

Ed's POV-
"Ed!" Aka yelled, her voice strange and foreign to you. You knew she wanted you to come back, but you also knew she wouldn't follow you if you didn't. Or would she?

Was his-her personality fake too? Does the Aka I know even exsist? It was all just too confusing. The guy you'd spent the last month calling your best friend- was a girl? How could it have happened? How could it be true?

"Ed!" You heard again, but it wasn't Aka calling this time. Glancing back, you saw Al running to catch up with you. You stopped, but didn't look at him when he approached.

"Brother, let's go to the hotel." He said softly. Not thinking of anything better to do, you nodded and let Al lead you down the street. The hotel you entered was kind of loud, but you didn't really hear it. Something was wrong with your ears. You kept hearing the same things over and over.

"Ed...I'm sorry..." Aka's voice kept saying.

You felt a tap on your shoulder and realized that Al had finished ordering the room. Following him up the stairs, you went inside the room and threw yourself on the bed. Rolling to your side, you stared at the wall.

"Ed...?" You heard Al's voice ask from behind you. You stayed silent or a while before saying, "You knew, didn't you?" Al got quiet for a bit. Then-

"Yes. I did know." Sitting up, you turned your head to look at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?" You asked, but not in an angry way.

"It...it wasn't my job to tell you. Aka had to. She was going to." Al said.

"When? The day we got our bodies back?" You demanded. Now you were angry. How could Aka and Al known all along and not told you?

"He- argh she could have told me before! So why didn't she?" Al didn't answer. Getting annoyed, you stood up and walked to the door.

"Brother-"

"I'm going to go eat or something, I'll be back in a while." You snapped, before pulling the door open and slamming it behind you.

Aka's POV-
You had no idea where you were. After leaving that damn apartment, you hadn't been able to go the hotel. Knowing Ed was there...

So you'd just started wandering around town. Now you couldn't even tell if you were still in Iselia.

Not that it matters... You thought sadly. You felt like nothing mattered anymore. Not your identity, not your pocketwatch, not even Virvaine. Stopping, you saw that the area around you looked somewhat familiar. Looking around, you gasped aloud, realizing what it was.

You were in the middle of a farm. The same kind of farm you'd lived on in Trezanga. The house looked different and the crops were in different places, but it was still a farm. Something you hadn't seen since a month ago.

You closed your eyes, trying to picture the farm. It was so similar, the smell of damp earth, the waving of the leaves, you could almost hear Hojo's laughter.

And yet...you opened your eyes. All those things seemed so far away now.

I wonder if I'll ever go back You thought, then rolled your eyes at your own stupidity. Of course not! They think I'm a flippin murderer! Ugh,how did my life get sodamn complicated...Sighing, you sat down next to some sprouting tomatoes (aw crap, now i wanna play harvest moon...must-finish-story-...) and looked up at the stars. (yeah, it's night now. you were in the apartment for a few hours) You tried to recognize some constellations, but could only see Ed's face.

"Dammit!" You said aloud, "Your such an asshole Aka! Ed probably hates you now!" To your surprise, someone answered.

"Is there a reason why he shouldn't?" a voice asked. Whirling around, you saw Ed standing a few feet away, holding a small sack.

"I- I thought you were at the hotel." You stammered. Ed held up the bag.

"Got hungry. Why, did you not want to see me or something?" You looked at the ground.

"I- I didn't think you'd want to see me." Ed sighed and plopped down next to you, turning his face up to the sky. Even now, despite how pissed he probably was at you, you couldn't help but think that he looked really good.

"Right now we need to talk." He declared, "Then I'll decide whether or not I want to see you around. So don't run off until then." You nodded, but then looked at his bag.

"What did you get?" You asked, suddenly curious. In answer, Ed untied the bag and opening it, letting you take a look. Inside, were...peaches. The same kind of peaches you'd eaten when you first met Ed. Your eyes widened and looked into Ed's. He shrugged.

"They didn't have much at the market. These looked pretty good." The two of you sat in silence for a while until Ed said, "You...you can have some...if you want. I know you haven't eaten in a while..."

"Thanks Ed." Reaching inside the bag, you pulled out the peach and started nibbling it.

"Aka, why didn't you- argh." Ed started, but cut himself off and looked away. You rolled your peach in your hands a bit and stared at it.

"I- I wanted to." You said. "I know that's hard to believe, but I really did want to! I- I just...I was scared..." You sensed Ed turn back to look at you, but continued to look at your peach.

"What were you afraid of? That I'd take your pocket watch or something?" He asked. You shook your head sadly.

"No...I'd probably deserve that. I was scared that...that- I was scared that you would hate me!" For the second time in your life, you wanted to cry. You were so sad, but the tears just wouldn't come. You had lied to your best friend and caused him so much pain, just so you wouldn't have to deal with is feelings.

Why the hell was I so selfish? Why couldn't I tell him? You screamed in your mind.

"Aka." Ed suddenly said, interrupting your thoughts. "Look at me." He said, the same way he'd said it when you'd told him you were Ishbalan. Slowly, you turned to see those golden orbs you had come to like so much boring into your red eyes.

"I'll admit." He said, "I'm mad. You're one of the best friends that I've ever had, and you lied to me. Not only that, but you convinced my own brother to lie to me also. Plus all the people in Central that I care about. You lied to them to. I feel like I don't even know who you are anymore."

You felt like you'd been shot. So he does hate me... You thought sadly. If you were ever going to cry, now would probably be the time. But before your eyes even got the chance to water, Ed said something else.

"...But no matter how much lying you did, I don't hate you Aka. I don't think...that I'll ever be able to hate you. Boy or girl." He said slowly. You looked shocked for a few moments.

He...doesn't hate me...? Then, you smiled, "I'm so glad. If you hated me...aw heck- I couldn't live with myself! But...are we- I mean, I know it's asking a lot, but-"

"Yeah, we're still friends." Ed said, smiling back.

Suddenly, you felt something brush your hand. Looking down, you realized that you and Ed had reached for a peach (heh. it rhymes. call me a poet) at the same time. The two of you jerked your hands back, blushing furiously. Ed groaned and smacked his forehead.

"Oh man, all those times during combat practice? Jeez..." You laughed.

"I gotta admit, there were some times that I was glad you didn't know I was a girl."

"Not to many times I hope." Ed said suspiciously. Then, he gave you a faint smile. "On the train, you tried to say something..." You blushed and nodded.

"Yeah, I tried to tell you then, but...I was a wimp. I had to get myself kidnapped before the truth came out." Ed grinned and messed with your hair.

"You're not a wimp." He said, smirking, "An idiot maybe, but not a wimp." You smirked back.

"You're not much yourself Ed."

"What does that mean? ARE YOU CALLIN ME SHORT?" Laughing, you stood up and started running.

"Yeah Ed!" You called back, "I'm surprised your puny brain found me so fast!"

"WHAT? GET BACK HERE YOU COWARD!" Ed yelled, running after you. Running for your life, he chased your all the way back to the hotel.

see? i could've given you acrappy sequel, BUT I DIDN'T! but don't think this is it! this is ONLY THE BEGINING! --------------hey, i just remembered, this is a quote of Eggman's from some Sonic the Hedgehog game. can't remember which, i think it's Sonic Adventure DX

so...yeah, now that i'm done being my weird video-game hobbycough obsession cough cough wheeze i hope you guys liked it!