Wohoo! 9th chapter here!

– Ah! I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update. I have three projects for school ( I really should be working on them now) and I started babysitting my cousins four days a week (annoying, but it pays well).

– I've been wondering about how "close" I should have Roy and Riza get... I mean, story is only a T, but still...

—

The desert sun bore down mercilessly on the man as he dragged his feet forward. His military had begun the bloody campaign to take this land, Ishbal, and for what? The riches of the sand that stretched for miles? The man laughed bitterly as he sank to his knees and wept. At the end of the war, they had left him here. He had become one of the many soldiers that were unaccounted for and had been easily forgotten. This would be the place of his death.

Cannon bolted upright from his desk and roughly rubbed his eyes. Those had been the worst days of his life, by far. He would make the military pay for what they did to him.

—

When they reached a clearing near the warehouse, Roy reluctantly let go of Riza's hand and got out of the car. "I packed your rifle in the back. I want you to get somewhere high up and monitor the activities outside of the warehouse. We'll rendezvous at this point at 7pm."

"Understood." Riza pulled her rifle out of the back and turned to leave. Roy took hold of her wrist and pulled her back to him. His charcoal eyes were filled with a sincere concern as he drew her forward.

"Please, Riza, stay out of sight."

"I will... only if you promise not to act rashly while investigating."

"Agreed," Roy planted a quick kiss on Riza's lips and said determinedly, "I'll finish that kiss later." Riza held onto him tightly and buried her face in his chest. Whenever she was this close to Roy, Riza felt light a bit headed.

"Roy?"

"Yes, Riza?"

"You meant what you said before... right?" Roy thought for a moment and smiled.

"I said it with every fiber of my being." Riza gripped him tighter as it grew increasingly difficult to breath.

"I... I've always loved you," she tried to stop there, but it was a futile endeavor, "No matter how hard I tried, I could never completely suppress that feeling," Riza buried her face deeper in his jacket so Roy wouldn't see the few tears that had escaped her eyes, "Every time I see you, every time I hear your voice... that feeling comes flooding back. It hurt so badly, but each time I felt that way, I told myself that it could never happen..." Roy forced her tear- stained face out of it's shelter.

"And you were willing to go back to that way of life because of those silly doubts?"

Riza focused her eyes to the ground and said, "Yes." Riza's eyes widened when she felt a tear that was not her own slip down her face.

"I'm so sorry, Riza... I should have realized long ago how important you were to me," he stared into Riza's amber eyes and spoke softly, "I don't ever want you to feel pain like that again."

Their heads inched towards one another as Riza whispered, "I don't think I will..." Their lips met in a long passionate kiss. Riza let out a soft moan as their tongues fought and Roy placed her back against the car. Part of Roy was dying to make love to Riza right then and there. He shook his head and broke the kiss, that was neither the time nor place.

Roy sighed at their inevitable separation. "7 o'clock?" Riza nodded as she retrieved her rifle off of the ground. Roy lightly kissed her forehead and disappeared beyond the horizon.

—

Envy grinned from behind a large oak tree. This development could prove to be extremely helpful to their plans. He frowned and scratched the back of his head. But of corse, before he did anything he would have to get permission from Father...

—

Roy, once again, arrived at the warehouse doors just as Cannon was exiting. Cannon grabbed Roy's arm and stared him straight in the eyes. "If I find out that you had any part in that military dog escaping, I will kill you." Roy pretended to be surprised at the news.

"You mean she got away?" Cannon scowled and released Roy.

"Yes, shortly after you left."

"Sorry, but I don't know a thing..." Cannon nodded and left Roy in the doorway. Roy breathed a sigh of relief and went through the trap door.

—

Riza sat up on top of the two story warehouse on her belly. Her rifle was set and she scanned the area through her scope. Nothing of relevance was happening on the ground. Cannon had already driven off in the direction of Aldeca, and now a few guards were playing cards at the entrance. She frowned and lowered her head from the scope. Riza would much rather be with Roy right now. She wanted to bask in his warmth, to breath his sent, to- Riza snapped out of her thoughts and studied the scene below her. The men had begun loading huge crates into the backs of several trucks. Judging by the number of men it took to carry one crate, Riza concluded that they were full of guns and ammunition. 'They must be prepairing for the sige on Eastern Headquarters...'

Riza'smuscles tensed when she heard a noise from behind. She spun around and her cheek met with Envy's fist. The impact of the blow would have sent Riza flying over the edge of the building if Envy had not grabbed her leg. "Now, now, I can't have you die yet, can I?" Riza thrashed violently in his grasp. Envy kicked her hard in the stomach. "You making this a lot harder then it has to be..." Riza growled angerly and continued to struggle. Envy shook his head and kicked Riza again, full force, in her stomach. She gasped in pain and curled up into a ball. Envy picked Riza up by her wrist. "Let's get going, Lieutenant."

"I think not." Riza bellowed as she shot his wrist. Envy dropped her and cried out in pain.

"You bitch!" Envy yelled as his wound began to heal. Riza sprinted for the side of the building. She stood on the edge and looked at Envy.

"Come on, there's no where for you to go." Riza looked at the ground and gritted her teeth. She took in a deep breath as she let herself tip over the side.

I think I'll leave you right their, a present before I start my projects : ) I have to stop procrastinating on my work...

— Thanks to all of the people who have been reviewing my story. When ever I read a new one I think, 'Okay, now I absolutely have to finish up the next chapter for this wonderful person.' So give me some input and I'll put off my projects a bit moreto work on this : )