When I was eighteen, our neighbor Riza asked Ed and I to watch her dog Black Hayate while she was on her honeymoon with her new husband Roy Mustang, which only lasted a week. We've known her since we were thirteen. She's practically a family member. We agreed to it without hesitation.

Through out the entire time he was a good dog; he listened to us and didn't cause any trouble. On the night before they came back from their trip, I had a run in with a shady group.

The night started off with Ed calling me. "Hey Al, do you mind walking Hayate by yourself tonight?" Anyone would walk his or her dog on a walk once during the day (morning or the afternoon). We took him on a walk twice a day, once in the late morning and once in the early evening.

"I don't mind." It didn't seem like a big deal since we took him to a park that's not to far from the neighborhood. Plus it's a safe area or at least it was safe. "Did something come up?"

"I made plans with Winery tonight and I-."

"You go on that date, leave Hayate with me."

"Thanks Al. I owe you one."

I took him to the park an hour after I feed him. The only lights out there were the dim streetlights. At first things were fine but then everything turned sour the moment I come across a shady looking man who reeked of blood. He had scruffy hair, a lean figure, and wore dirty clothing with a dirty butcher's apron.

Hayate stopped to go to the bathroom not to far from the man (At least around a foot or so). It felt like an hour before Hayate finished while he was doing his business the man was looking at me like he wanted to hunt me down.

The man walked up to me with a wide grin.m"Umm… Can I help you?"

"I was just going to offer you a smoke."

"… No thank you, I don't smoke." Hayate finished. Thank god Hayate only had to pee. I didn't have to stay longer to pick up poop. "I have to go actually." We started walking.

Twenty minutes later Hayate stopped every five minutes to growl at something in the shadows. At first I thought it just a squirrel but after it happened the third time I started to think other wise.

I felt a strong grip on my shoulder on my shoulder. My body froze with fear. The leash snapped, freeing Hayate. He ran behind me and bit the owner of the hand gripping my shoulder.

The hand let go of my shoulder and it's owner screamed in pain. I started running with Black Hayate, not looking back to see who the hand belong to. Then again it wasn't need since I knew it was the man I spoke with earlier. We didn't stop until we reached the apartment she shares with Roy. I called the cops and told them everything. Then I called Ed and told him what I told the police.

"I'm sorry Al."

"You don't need to be sorry. You should thank Hayate when you see him tomorrow."

"Will do. Winry and I can come by if you want."

"I don't want to be the reason your date ends."

"She's worried and wants to make sure you're safe."

"Okay, I'll see you guys in a few minutes."

That was the last time I walked any dog alone at night.