Yay, I've updated!!! -cheers- Sorry for the wait, but I just got inspiration (thank you Auntie!!!) So, whoot!

Disclaimer: If I had a nickel for everytime I've said this...I'd have alot of spare change. -.-;; Well, here's for another nickel! I don't own FMA.

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Sunlight was twinkling gently though the bright green leaves of the forest. The river ran fast, splashing merrily against the rough, gray rocks. Ed was sitting on a large one, dressed in a black suit; the one he had worn for Al's funeral. Small bits of chalk lay near his feet. He was staring darkly at the river, muttering to himself as he attempted to draw a circle.

A loud banging sound broke through the tranquility. Ed yelped at the noise, scrambling to his feet. "Ayumi!"

Ayumi looked at him, sighing and pushing her hair out of her face. She was holding a gun in her other hand, hiving it aimed far off at a tree, five holes already cleanly shot into it. "Okay, I'll stop..I only wanted to empty it anyway." She said under her breath.

He was staring at the gun with slight disgust. "...how many are left?"

She blinked, glancing down at it. "Probably two or three." She walked over to sit next to him on the rock, leaning back to back on him. "Are you okay now?"

He looked down at the river again. "...I just can't believe she's gone too...and it was all my fault..."

She stared at him questionaly. "What?"

"I should've...I've known her all my life and I was to blind to see what was wrong with her...she was waiting for us..." He choked on the last word, trailing off.

"Don't blame yourself. I couldn't tell myself. She just hid it too well." She replied in an anxious tone.

He shook his head. "No...no, I killed her. I killed her, just like I killed Al...and...the Colonel..."

"Stop it Ed, you didn't kill anyone!" Ayumi snapped.

"I killed hell of alot of people, and you did too!" Him yelling made her wince. "Ed..."

"Every single soldier we had to shoot, or use alchemy to injure them, all of it killed them! They're all dead because of me! I killed Winry, I killed Al, I killed Mustang, I did it!" He stood up, glowering at her. "I killed them all, okay?? I'm the murderer! I ruined their lives! I should've died! ...he shouldn't have saved me..."

She looked up at him, her eyes sad. "Roy died only to save your life. It wasn't your fault." She whispered, standing up as well. "Which reminds me...we got an invite. So tommorow, we have to go to Central...for the...his funeral." She sighed. "There's been alot of those lately..."

He twitched, staring down at the ground. "I can't."

"You're going." She said over him. "You have to at least pay your respects...thank him or something."

"Wasn't it enough that I went to Winry's..."

She shrugged. "I'm going to pack now. Coming?"

"I'll stay." He said quickly, sitting on the rock again. She shrugged, walking off. He watched her go, making sure she was out of sight before turning back to the rubbed out drawings on the rock.

"...alchemy." He whispered, picking up the chalk and slowly drawing a transmutation circle. He stared at it when finished. "...equivalence." He stared up at the sky. "It was all a lie, wasn't it...what do I get, after losing my friends and family? Pain...?" He looked at the circle again.

"She was right...there is no equivalence..." He touched the circle, completely intending to activate it, but something stopped him. He glared down at it. "All of it...your fault." He said, pounding his fist on the circle before rubbing furiously on it with the side of his fist.

"I want them back! You took them from me! Why did I ever deserve it?! I was happy! I needed them! I want them back! I want them! Give them back to me, please!" He started to yell, rubbing harder and harder on the rough surface.

"Take me instead!" He didn't know when, but he was bleeding, the smudged out chalk turning pick and mucky. He stopped, staring down at what he did. And broke down in tears.

-

Ayumi shut her suitcase, sighing. This war really messed things up.She glanced at a picture frame on the floor, surrounded by shards of broken glass. A picture of three little kids, all smiling up at the camera. A large slash in the picture ripped two of the kid's faces apart.

"...Ed?" She whispered, kneeling down to peer closely at the picture, confirming that it was a picture of Ed, Al and Winry. "..." She picked it up, taking it with her as she went to the phone and dialing quickly.

"Hello?"

"Hi Eli, it's Ayumi." She responded calmly, despite what she had found.

"Hi Ayumi. How are you?"

"Good. Hey, since Roy's funeral tommorow and all...well, Ed and I are going to Central. You think we can stay at your place?"

"Of course Ayumi. Do you want two seperate rooms?"

She laughed. "I knew you were gonna say that. I dunno, I'm okay with it, but with Ed..."

"Yeah...how's he been holding up? I'm worried about him."

She groaned inwardly, wishing she hadn't brought up the subject."...I think he's getting worse. Because...a few days ago, Winry died." She said quietly.

"Oh no! How could have that happened! How did she die?" Her voice sounded strained.

Ayumi started curling the cord of the phone around her finger, staring at the wall. "...she hung herself." She whispered.

"Oh no. She killed herself...why?: She was speaking in a hushed voice now.

She sighed."I'm not exactly sure. She left a note-Ed never saw it of course, I hid it from him- but she was upset that Pinako died, and she wanted Ed and Al to cheer her up and...well..."

"Poor Ed. Two losses, so close together. Winry must have finally reached her limit. She was in love with Al after all. And how are you holding up Ayumi?"

She twitched. "I'm fine...just scared for Ed. It's like he's going to vanish from me any day now...What if he needs help? The doctors said it was temporary but..."

"It's an omen Ayumi. Doctors don't realize how close those three were. Take care of him Ayumi. I fear he's hurting more then we realize."

"...okay. How's things at your end? You feeling okay after...Roy died?" She twitched again after hearing Eli sniffle.

"I've been...coping. It's so painful to be working at the office and him not being there too."

"...sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned it." She sighed again.

It's okay Ayumi..." Another sniffle before continuing. "I just need some time that's all."

"Yeah..." She trailed off, hearing the door creak open. "Oh...that's probably Ed, I better go." She said quickly.

"Okay. I'll get your rooms ready. I'll fix two just in case."

'Kay."

"Take care of yourself Ayumi. Give Ed my love and tell him to be careful."

"I will. Bye."

"Bye."

She put the phone down just as Ed slowly walked into the room, holding his hand close to his chest, which was smudged with red. "Who was that...?"

"Ed, what happened to your hand?" Ayumi asked, rushing over to inspect the damage.

He pulled away. "I fell. Who was on the phone?"

"Doesn't look like you fell. Skin's all shredded over." She muttered suspiciously.

"I scrapped it on the rock when I fell. Who were you talking to?"

"Eli. I was asking if we could stay at her house since we can't go to mine." She answered darkly, looking around for something to wrap his hand in.

"I'm not going." Ed said firmly.

"Ed, we already talked about this. You're going." She said, glaring at him. "And if you don't, fine, I'll leave you here."

"No! Don't..."

"Then I guess you'll have to come, don't you? It'll be fine, okay?" Ayumi said with a smile, pefore looking at his hand again. "I'm going to get bandages..." She muttered, walking off.

He frowned, drawing his hand to his chest again. "...never wanted...to...say goodbye..."

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Yay for the longest chapter so far! X3 ...man, I can't think of anything to say. ;-; So um...please review!