I seriously debated writing the seventh episode down, the Nina one, but decided not too. One so I woulnd't put myself through that because it's so sad and secondly while I like the way I've integrated my character I need to start writing more from my head then just copying.
"Could you please check again ma'am I know that we made a reservation." Al requested. The hotel lobby receptionist sighed opening the file again for the guest and reservation list.
"Name again." She said rudely.
"Sayla Hosner or try Edward or Alphonse Elric." He replied. She scanned down with her finger her eyes lighting for a moment.
"Yeah you guys HAD a reservation." She said turning the book so Al could see and pointing at it with a slender finger. "Unfortunately you weren't here before five in the afternoon so we had to give it away to someone else." She stated smugly closing the book quickly and replacing it behind her.
"But that wasn't our fault!" Al protested. "Our train was delayed besides Sayla called you guys and she was told it wouldn't be problem, that you'd keep our rooms!" The woman simply shrugged with an uncaring smirk on her face.
"Well sorry buddy but I don't know anything about that." She replied taking out a nail file going to work on her nails. Alphonse sighed glancing back at Edward and Sayla. For nearly three weeks they had trudged through forest to find a small town where supposedly the philosopher's stone was being forged but again nothing. There was always nothing, for the past two years. It always started with one of them reading something or hearing from someone that somewhere the stone was out there. They would get excited and board the first train out most times for days on end to be dropped off in the middle of nowhere only too find after a lot of trouble on their parts that it wasn't true, it was always just a rumor. Then they would get depressed and mope around for about two hours, three tops before they'd swear that next time would be different; next time they'd find it. As Al took in the sight of his weary older brother and 'sister' he couldn't help but feel guilty. They were dirty almost beyond recognition grime smothered their faces as dark circles lingered under their eyes. Clothes were torn and just as filthy as their occupants as they sat in a chair curled up against each other eyes already closed. Alphonse would never get tired or feel the ache they felt in their limbs. Alphonse hated them in a sense for putting themselves through this hell each and every time but still he couldn't help but admire them as well for their determination, strength and smiles through the pain.
"Is there any rooms available? Please, we'll take anything." Al said turning his attention back to the receptionist. She rolled her eyes and groaned mumbling to herself as she took out the book again.
"Only one but it's a single with a queen sized bed." She stated blowing on one of her nails as she filed it.
"We'll take it." Al said. "How much?"
"Eight hundred sens a night." She replied. Al took out some money from the small pouch he carried and dropped it on the desk.
"Sold." He said as she placed it in the cash box and grabbed for the key thrusting it at him.
"Room three sixty-eight." She said still more fascinated with her grooming.
"Thanks." Al said grabbing it and hurrying over to his companions. He took hold of Ed's shoulder and gently shook it.
"Brother, hey brother come on." He said softly. Ed opened his eyes wide looking around before stretching emitting a loud yawn.
"Where we goin' Al?" He asked apparently still half asleep.
"To our room." Al said. Ed nodded yawning again and poked Sayla in the arm.
"Get up, we're being relocated." He said. Sayla moaned slapping his hand away.
"Leave me alone!" She hollered repositioning herself in the chair.
"Fine stay, see if I give a damn but I'm going to bed." Ed said staggering off in a direction he didn't even know. Al sighed picking Sayla up.
"You really wouldn't have left her out there would you brother?" Al asked as he handed Edward the key.
"Right now I really could care less." Ed stated rubbing his eyes. "I just want a shower and bed."
"Oh uh brother there's something you should know." Al said as they stopped in front of the door. Ed put the key in the lock and turned it stepping into the room.
"What's that Al?" He asked flicking on the light taking off his coat tossing it in a corner.
"Well, you see…" Al began but was interrupted.
"Wow! Look at this bed is gigantic, man am I gonna sleep good tonight!" Ed said flopping down on the bed and snuggling the pillows.
"You have to share." Al said. Ed looked at him and smirked.
"Sure I'll share with you if you wanna lay down Alphonse." He replied. Al shook his head.
"No not with me brother." Al said glancing down at Sayla whom was sound asleep in his arms. Ed followed his gaze as the cold realization hit him.
"I can't sleep in the same bed as Sayla? Wha…What happened to her room?" Ed asked frantically sleep temporarily forgotten.
"Our room's were given away and this was the only one they had left." Al explained. Ed stared at his sleeping friend and gulped. Sayla had become his commanding officer once she had been promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel as per Colonel Mustangs ruling but she was more than that to him, so much more. She was his comrade, his ally, his friend, his sister and of course the love of his life. Every time they happened bump hands or on the occasion heads it was nothing short of magic. Her warmth excited his senses only making her more desirable to him affirming the fact in his mind that they would be together romantically one day but that was while they were conscious. They had slept in the same room together but never in the same bed. Would it be awkward? What happened if his hand touched something that was off limits? Would she be angry? Or would she welcome it? The sudden thought flashed through his mind with such intensity he could feel the heat resonating off of his cheeks as his ears burned.
"Brother after everything you've gone through lately I don't want to see you sleeping on the floor. You deserve a warm, comfortable bed. Please just deal with it at least for my sake." Al said placing Sayla down on the bed next to Edward. He stared at her for a moment realizing that even covered in dirt and pine tree resin she was still gorgeous. Ed nodded knowing that as long as he was comfortable it would make Alphonse happy.
"Good. I'll go get a wash cloth so I can at least clean her face and hands." Al said walking towards the bath room. Ed sat up untying his hair and running his hands through the greasy strands allowing them to hang messily in his face. He glanced back at her as Al came out with a damp cloth.
"I'm gonna wash up." Ed said going into the bathroom. The hot water kissed his scared flesh like a blessing from an angel. He groaned as the kinks the auto-mail caused in his back ceased to a dull roar as he reached for the soap working it into lather across his chest. He smiled recalling the happiness in Al's voice when Ed relented. Aside from finding the stone Al's happiness was their number one priority especially Sayla whom doted on Alphonse as if he were a baby which was what she actually sometimes called him. Ed in turn called him the spoiled baby but it didn't seem to upset his brother in any way shape or form. He enjoyed the attention that Sayla lavished upon him and Ed was eternally grateful that he wasn't the only person who cared so deeply for Al but he couldn't help but feel jealous as Sayla held his hand or gently kissed Al's 'cheek'. Touches and kisses that Al couldn't feel that Edward would have killed to receive but he kept it to himself knowing that one day Sayla would see the looks of longing on his face and hear the words of love that he masked behind common conversation, one day she would realize how much she meant to him. Ed shut off the water and stepped out of the tub wiping a towel quickly across his body stepping back into his blue shorts deciding to sleep shirtless. He walked into the room and nearly toppled over.
"Al! You took her clothes off?" Ed practically shrieked.
"Only her shirt and pants! See she's still decent, I couldn't let her sleep in those filthy clothes anymore!" He retorted bringing a finger to his lips in a hushing gesture. Ed gulped as he broke out into a cold sweat.
'Okay so now we're both just in our underwear but its okay because we're just friends. I can do this, I can do this.' Ed thought closing his eyes tightly for a moment before letting out a breath of air and climbed into bed next to her. She was facing him her eyes twitching underneath their lids as she dreamed. Her mouth was slightly parted allowing warm air to escape in soft wisps. Ed made his way under the covers as his hand reached out gently to brush a strand of hair off her cheek.
"Night Al." Ed said.
"Good night brother." Al said sitting in a corner of the room where he could stare out the window. Edward edged slightly closer to Sayla feeling the warmth of her skin as it seeped into the blankets and fell into a deep sleep.
Edward ran over to his mother proudly showing her what he had created.
"Ed where…did you get that from?" She asked taking the small figurine in her hand and examined it.
"I made it." Ed said proudly. She looked at him for a second before looking over the metal horse again.
"Made it? How?" She asked.
"With alchemy!" Edward exclaimed. His mother looked at him slightly shocked before her face broke into a smile.
"With out a doubt you are you're father's son." She said placing down the laundry basket next to her.
"I have to go to Winry's to fix some of her toys that got broke." He said. The sky suddenly turned dark and overcast causing him to advert his attention to it.
"Too bad you couldn't fix me." His mother said. Ed glanced back up at her as her sweet smile turned to a wicked one as blood spewed from it and smeared down her dress. Edward backed away as her dead eyes stared back at him.
"Why couldn't you bring me back Edward? Why?" She asked reaching out an icy hand to him. Ed tripped and fell on the ground unable to move as panic took hold of him. Tears cascaded down his face as he shut his eyes tightly.
"Edward, Edward….Edward, Ed….Edward….Ed"
Edward sat bolt upright in bed with a scream. He clutched his chest as he panted loudly.
:"Ed are you okay? You started to thrash around and cry." Sayla said kneeling on the bed next to him. Edward continued to pant as he took in his surroundings, the hotel room.
"It was…so…." He began.
"A dream Edward; it was only a dream." Sayla said. Ed stared at her for a moment before bursting into tears. He buried his face in his hands sobbing loudly distantly he felt Sayla's arms wrap around him.
"It hurt's so much." He choked out.
"It's okay, you're safe. It wasn't real Ed, it wasn't real." She soothed placing her face against his head as he buried his face into her chest. His warm tears welled against chest and falling down into her training bra.
"It's…my fault." He moaned. "Every thing is my fault."
"No it's not. You can't take the blame or guilt for everything Edward you have to learn to share the burden." Sayla replied.
"Why burden someone else with my problems? It's bad enough I got you involved in all of this, if I had known I never would have…"
"Problems? I don't see any problems." Sayla said.
"Yeah right." Ed said regaining himself somewhat.
"There aren't any, besides I'm only here for the train ride." She said giving him a final tight embrace before holding him out to her at arm's length. "All better?" She asked. Ed nodded his head once smiling softly at her.
"Yeah." He said hoping that everything he was feeling for her in that moment she could read in his eyes but as usual she simply smiled nodded and went to shower. Ed laid down on the bed bringing the blankets up over his head. One day she'd notice him, they'd be together. He pictured living with Sayla in Resembool after they restored Al's body, speaking of Al…Ed stood up and knocked on the bathroom door as the water started.
"Whaaat?" Sayla asked annoyed.
"Where's my brother?" He asked.
"He went for a walk. Said he needed some air." She replied.
"Oh." He said.
"Why?" Sayla asked.
"No reason, I just noticed he wasn't here is all." Ed replied.
"Don't worry, he said he wouldn't be long." She said.
"Nah, I'm not worried. Al can definitely take care of himself." After both had showered and changed into cleaner clothes they decided to seek out Alphonse instead of having him go to them. Ed and Sayla walked down the street's of Atioke city, which was nothing more than an oversized town, stopping to look at shops or sidewalk merchants simply chatting as they usually did. Sayla covered her eyes and smiled waving enthusiastically. Ed followed her gaze seeing Al was well but something was wrong. He wasn't waving back. Sayla realized this too quickly and soon both were rushing to his side.
"Al are you okay?" Ed asked. Al only drew his knee's closer to his chest.
"Alphonse what's wrong sweetie?" Sayla asked placing a hand over one of his. Al let out a sob that nearly made his entire body convulse.
"Freak!" A voice yelled out from across the street. Ed and Sayla looked in the direction and saw three kids, two boys and one girl, pointing and laughing at them.
"Aw, how sweet his freaky friends are here to play with him." The girl yelled laughing.
"Nah, their probably his tamers come to take him back to the freak show!" One of the boys stated.
"Why don't you come over here and say that to our faces!" Ed shouted clenching a fist at them.
"OOOO! You sure are tough for a midget!" The girl yelled. Ed growled in an animalistic way but was held back by Sayla.
"Leave it be Ed. Come on let's get Alphonse back to the hotel." She said.
"Hey baby forget about them and come chill with us." The other boy said.
"Yeah we can make it worth your while." The other replied.
"You couldn't pay me enough to hang with you losers!" Sayla shouted back trying to get Al to stand. "Come on, its okay Al. The quicker we get out of here the quicker there isn't any blood shed." She said glancing over at Edward whom was seeing nothing but red.
"Loser? Look at you, where'd you buy your clothes at a second hand yard sale." The girl shouted.
"My clothes may be worn but at least I don't dress like a prostitute." Sayla retorted. The girl clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.
"You gonna take that from her?" One of the guys said.
"Hell no! Listen up bitch, you, the dwarf and dumpster need to get out of here, now!" The girl yelled. Sayla let go of Alphonse's hand and her hold on Edward.
"That's it! I'm tired of listening to you insult them!" Sayla said running across the street her fists bared. Before the girl knew what hit her she was on the ground her lip split.
"Come on let's go bitch!" Sayla shouted ready to land another blow.
"What's going on here?" A man's voice said from behind. The girl jumped up quickly running to his side.
"Daddy, that girl she attacked me!" The girl stated. The man, whom was a police officer, looked at his daughter.
"Daddy, oh doesn't that just freakin' figure!" Sayla said tossing her hands into the air. "Look she was harassing us! My friends were…."
"Save it." He said grabbing Sayla by the arm roughly and handcuffing her hands behind her back.
"Hey wait! You can't arrest her, she's a state alchemist!" Ed shouted running across the street.
"Listen kid I don't care if she's the presidents daughter okay? No one fights on my streets, right princess?" He asked turning towards his daughter. The girl nodded smiling smugly.
"That's right daddy." She replied.
"Ed call Roy. Tell him what's going on." Sayla said. "And take my pocket watch too. I don't want anything to happen to it." She said. Ed nodded taking the watch out of her pants pocket.
"Hang in there Sayla and we'll fix this." Ed said facing her.
"I know you will Ed." She said before being hauled off to jail.