All righty then! A new chapter for this story! I had a three-day weekend and I didn't even know it till it was practically half over so I had lots of time too type up chapters! But of course there is that little factor where I ether forget to or decide I'm gonna be lazy and put it off. That last one usually ends up not so good cause then I get this back up thing where I'm focusing on just one story and neglecting all the others and blah dee blah blah that kinda thing…ok…well here's the next chapter…hee hee hee hell hath no fury like a womans' scorn…(evil laugh with lighting and scary music).

Oh, one last thing…I realized that I spelled the little girls name two different ways, 'Ally' and 'Alley' well…heh…it's 'Ally', it was late and I wasn't focused (heh, when am I ever!). Say, can anyone guess why I gave the little girl the name 'Ally'? What about Carmon? Why did I name alter!Winry 'Carmon'? (Ok, I ask that cause I don't know why I called her Carmon, so perhaps there's a reason I'm just not seeing.)


Chapter Three: The Opposite Gender is a Confusing Species

The water was hot and peaceful, if it weren't for the fact that I was also washing my clothes I probably would have fallen asleep and drown. When I was satisfied with how clean my clothes were, I got out and set them on a nearby rock. To hang ones' clothes in the trees, ment risking never seeing them again. I didn't like having to get out of the water for such a trivial chore as drying clothes, but I was happy to return to it.

With everything that has happened recently, I was glad to get away, my entire body was aching and, even though I'm not the biggest believer, god knows I needed a good soak. I mulled around in the hot water before sitting down on the floor of the spring; the water came up to my shoulders, which wasn't too bad. I reached a sore arm up and pulled out the band that was holding my hair back in a high ponytail. I hadn't realized just how long I let my hair get; it had been a while from the last time I checked. It was about down to the middle of my back, at the longest point anyway, I quickly ran my fingers through it to get all the itches and kinks out.

I then dunked my head under the water; the warm rush was refreshing. I was glad I was able to hold my breath for such long periods of time, I could thank my odd little change for that. Bringing my head above the water again and wiping the water out of my eyes I gazed around through the steam. My mind had wondered back to that lady, Carmon, and the little girl that was with her. It bothered me slightly that she had her face, and yet, she wasn't her. That little girl looked oddly familiar too, not that it mattered now anyway, I was rid of them and on my own again…just the way I like it.

"Feh…" I glanced over at my clothes, they should be dry by now, at least I hoped so. I made my way over to the edge of the spring and looked around; it was a habit to check to make sure nobody was around, though it was pointless considering I was in the middle of nowhere. I took one step out of the water when the snap of a twig caught my attention, I turned my head slightly to try and hear it again.

'Snap'

Narrowing my eyes I waited for who or whatever was making that noise to show itself, nothing. It was quite vexing, if it was an enemy then they'd have me at a disadvantage, I really didn't like being in that situation. Finally the brush just in front of me, a good three or four feet, rustled and somebody stepped out.

"You just wait there Ally, I'll make sure it's…" they stopped. I was starting to think, if there were gods, they sure had a sick, twisted, horrible sense of humor, "safe…"

It was Carmon, clearly she must have made her way here thinking I had just brushed off her suggestion. She was just starring blankly; it was giving me the creeps.

"What?" I hissed, she quickly turned a bright red and shook her head, the next thing I know a tree branch hit me square in the face knocking me back in the water.

"What are you doing here?" Carmon demanded. My only response was to stay submerged in the water just enough so my nose was above it, she still looked flustered. I didn't see why she was so upset, she was the one who suggested I come here, and also she shouldn't be sneaking around like that.

"Well?"
"What does it look like I'm doing!" I snapped, I sensed it was safe enough to have my head above water, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Ally said she wanted to take a bath and I knew these where the only hot springs in the area." She replied crossing her arms and turning around, "But if you're here then I think she can wait."

"Don't bother, I was leaving anyway…" I started for the edge again, slowly and with great caution.

"Don't! Move!" she hissed.

"Well do you expect me to sit in here all night?"

"Just wait a moment," Carmon walked back into the brush for a moment, when she came back. She had a very serious look on her face; I remember that face and it left a rather sinking sick feeling in my stomach.

"I'll leave as soon as you hand me my clothes, I'm sure it would be more polite." I said, all she did was cross her arms and glare down at me, I wasn't really sure what to do. I sure as hell wasn't getting out with her watching, I may be older and wiser, in some aspects, but that still didn't mean I didn't like my privacy.

"What will it take for you to let us travel with you?" she finally asked. Why didn't I see that coming, she may have her face and similar expressions but this persistence was all Carmons'. I too crossed my arms and replied,

"Nothing, because you're not traveling with me."

"I'm a good shot when it comes to hunting and I can cook."

"So am I and I can cook too, why do you want to travel with me anyway?"

"…" Carmon glared as if the question I asked was either insulting or personal, I couldn't see how it could be personal.

"Bodyguard maybe? From those New Genesis freaks? Listen, I live on my own and I don't take jobs for any reason." I glared back, "Now, could you hand me my clothes so I can leave, besides, you're the one that said Ally wanted to take a bath and if I was here she wouldn't be able too."

"I don't know why, there was just something about you, that and I've seen what you can do. You're just like them, New Genesis, and yet you aren't on their side, you've adapted to the environment. Do you know how hard that is? For someone like me, it would take more then half my lifetime to even learn half the things you do." Carmon explained. I scowled and replied,

"And do you know what I had to go through to be this great rebel environmentally adapted freak? No, I didn't think so. Now unless you have a damn good reason for following me…leave. Me. Alone."

"Isn't there anything I can do that will convince you to let Ally and I tag along?" she asked sitting down near the edge of the spring, rolling up her pant legs and let them soak in the water. Once again that rather sinking feeling in my stomach returned, I had a sneaking suspicion of what she was getting at and it was awkward.

"Like what?"

"Whatever you want…" she replied, she hadn't made eye contact which showed that whatever she was planing was something she really didn't want to do but had to if she wanted to help someone she cared for. It was odd, after all these years I still haven't gotten used to all these senses, I've become terribly good at judging character and reading a persons face. Hell, a person could have a blank look on their face and I'd be able to tell if that person was someone I could trust or not, it was both a useful trait but one that got in the way at times.

This time for example, I could already tell what she was thinking and why she was doing this and it was annoying, flattering…but annoying. Carmon had slid into the water; I had been deep in thought so it took me a few extra seconds to notice.

"What are you doing?" I asked, if she really wanted to travel with me then she should know I hate dealing with wet clothes, it ment they had to dry and I didn't have anything to spare. The thought ran through my mind briefly before she suddenly drew closer and placed one arm around my neck.

"Always by yourself, it must be lonely." She said slowly. Something strange came over me, a memory that wasn't, I reacted by reaching out and lightly tracing the side of her face. Any normal person would not have noticed, but I did, Carmon had flinched slightly at my touch and that brought me back to my senses. I let my hand slip back into the water, she gave me a questioning look as I backed away and feudally reached for my clothes, which were sadly a few feet to far away.

I did this to try and get around what she was implying; it would seem THAT is all anyone in this region ever thinks about. They just assume that because a person lives out on their own, all alone, means that once they find themselves in 'civilization' all they can think about is…well it's not like I haven't thought about it, I just have bigger and better things to be wasting my time on. Finally getting sick of having this topic brought up so often I said,

"You've got nothing I need…leave me alone." Just about to climb out, something cold and sharp was pressed into my neck, "My…I seem to be quite popular…" I added in a surprisingly playful manner. I can easily blame some of those traits I've contracted, but I can reluctantly blame a side of me that I've grown to do my best to seal away.

"You're going to take us with you, got it?" Carmon hissed.

"How long do you plan on keeping me like this?" I replied simply.

"As long as it takes…"

Seeing no way out of this and that if I made any sudden movements I'd find myself dying in the most…embarrassing…manner, I did the first thing that came to mind. I took a quick step back, this caught Carmon off guard, she accidentally lost her grip on the blade she had and that gave me the chance to retaliate by kicking her feet out from under her, she slipped and went under. I jumped out of the water and quickly grabbing my, now dry, pants and put them on before Carmon regained her footing, when she did she looked very angry and was about to climb out after me.

"Wait…you…"

"Leave me alone…" I turned, picking up the rest of my stuff, and was about to leave when little Ally suddenly dashed out of her hiding spot and stopped in front of me, she looked up at me and said,

"Why are you being a meany?"

Scowling I stormed past her, she better not have been watching, she chased after me and tugged on my bag asking,

"Why won't you let us travel with you?"

"Go away."

"Why do you want to be left alone?"
"So I don't have to listen to little girls asking a bunch of annoying questions." I hissed.

"Have you killed anyone before?"

I stopped and glared at her, then glancing up and around I noticed Carmon hadn't followed, what a predicament,

"Yes…now, can I ask you a question?"

"I guess…"

"Why are you wondering off with a stranger?"

"Huh?"

"Me, I'm a stranger, I don't know you and you don't know me. For all you know, I could kill you on the spot and not lose a second of sleep." That would do it, scare her away, then I could be alone again. Ally looked back towards the hot springs, then up at me, then back again, she seemed to be thinking something. She then looked up at me and said,

"Because," she walked up to me and grabbed my hand, "you're a good person and wouldn't do that…"

The look she was giving me was giving me the creeps, and when she let go of my hand it left a strange tingly feeling behind. Huffing, I picked Ally up and brought her back to the springs, much to her own amusement, Ally asked,

"Why do you have long hair? It makes you look like a girl."

"I like it that way, and no it doesn't." I replied, the minute I returned her then I was gone…that's right.

"All right then," she sighed, "Compared to all the men in our village, you're kind of short…why is that?"

"You know what…shut up kid…" I hissed, it was about time, I walked around the all too familiar stone that marked where the springs where and stopped. Ally started bouncing up and down laughing,

"Carmon! Look! I got him to come back!"

I set Ally down and quickly turned around, Carmon was sitting in one of the other springs washing her clothes, she had looked up and glared,

"Well I hope you're happy." She glared.

"What? About coming back? No, I'm not…but she followed me." I replied flatly, still facing the other way.

"No idiot, I mean about my clothes, they're soaking wet now."

"How's that my fault!" I snapped turning around, I got a rather large rock to the face for that and I turned around again, "Damn that hurt, I think I liked you better with the knife…"

"What was that?"

"Shrew…"

"Why you!" Carmon stood up and chucked her soaking wet shirt at my head, I dodged it and it landed on a low tree branch.

"Hey! Hey! What are you doing standing up?"

"Freak! I wouldn't even think of bathing in the open naked, you on the other hand seem to have no sense of dignity…"

"…"

"What? No witty comeback?"

"Do I need one? I think I'll get my point across by not bothering to get the shirt you threw at me, that tree there is eating it." I shrugged turning and starting to walk away.

"Huh!" Sure enough, the tree I just walked by had swallowed the shirt hole, "Wait!"

"What? You can't expect me to get it back now…I'd like to keep what few limbs I have left." I glared, Carmon climbed out of the hot spring, she had been smart enough to have been wairing a towel.

"I didn't bring anything else…"

"Not my problem…"

"Don't you have one?"

"What?"

"In that bag of yours, don't you have…"

"No…" I continued to walk, the more I listened to this lady, the more I was starting to reconsider my choice in company. Ally was following close behind and said,

"Hey mister, what about that one?"

I stopped and looked where she was pointing, she was referring to my shirt and I shook my head replying,

"That's my shirt…" then I noticed the look Ally was giving me, it was really creepy, I know I've seen that look before, "Damn…whatever! If you insist on following me that's your problem, but don't think I'll be protecting you, feeding you, or any of that crap got it."

The two just looked up shocked, I tossed Carmon my shirt then started walking again, I knew right then that I'd regret this later but when that time came then I'd be ready.

-To Be Continued-


Whoa! Major brain malfunction! (Funny buzzing/zappy noises) X.X

Well, anyway, the next chapter will have more New Genesis action! Booyaka! And a few cooler wittle special features I've given Ed, mwa, mwaha, mwhahahaha!

Well anywhozles…IT'S SUMMER VACATION! WHOOOOOHOOOOO! That means I'll have more time for updates and stuff…but then…my mom also got me sighed up for a cool flash animation class in the MTUSYP (Michigan Tech Summer Youth Program), I was in it not last summer but the summer before in a drawing class, it's fun! Oh, and I may be applying for a job…hmm…well anywhozles, updates will be more often (Hopefully), so long as I can get to the library. Review! It's fun for all ages!