-yawns- hey, loyal readers! tis part A of chappie 18...(Kira: cause i'm lazy - and it's taking me forever to finish the chapter, and loyal readers must not wait!!)

and...-shrugs- i'm being lazy today, so read on, loyal readers!!

A single building loomed before the four alchemists, the sign reading 'MEAT' in big letters. On the door, a wreath hung, with an 'OPEN' sign on it.

"We've finally…" Ed began, looking nervous. "Come here…"

"Yup…" Al replied.

"I hope…" Ed looked ready to die. "Master isn't home!!"

"Yup!!" Al looked as hopeful as Ed, despite his armored appearance.

Rei merely watched the two, looking almost amused, while Bella openly laughed at the brothers.

"WELCOME!!" a voice shouted from behind them, and Bella jumped as high as Ed and Al.

A grin flitted across Rei's face, but she didn't bother to help any of them up.

"Come in please," said the man who had come up behind them, a full sack thrown over his shoulder. A headband kept his dark hair back, and he was openly smiling at the three fallen alchemists. "Huh?" he seemed to see Ed. "Aren't you Edward? Long time no see!"

"A-are you Mr. Maison?" Ed stuttered, still startled. "Hello…" The three stood up, and Bella sent a glare at Rei.

"Thanks for helping us up," the Ishbalan muttered. Rei grinned in reply, then looked back at Ed. Bella followed her gaze, and almost laughed out loud.

"Ha ha ha! You're as short as ever!" Maison was patting Ed's head. The face Edward was making was clear; he hated Maison at the moment.

"Who's the guy in the armor? And the two chicks?" Maison seemed to have no 'people skills', as some would call it.

"I'm his little brother, Alphonse!" Al spoke up. Gesturing to the female alchemists, he introduced them. "This is Bella, and that's Angel."

"Are you here to see Izumi?" Maison asked, but didn't wait for an answer. "Wait a minute! I'll go get him!!" As he opened the side door, he continued. "You're just in time. Mr. Izumi just got back from his trip!"

If he just goes on a trip again, that would be great…Al thought fervently.

"Ah! Boss!" Maison walked in. "We got some special guests!"

"Special guests?" a voice said, and Bella's eyes widened. The first they saw of the man was his blade, and Bella jumped. Finally, the giant stepped out, and Bella hid behind Rei. From the look on his face, she could see Ed wished he could hide as well.

"Ah?" the giant said.

"How…" Ed slowly inched behind Al.

"How do you do! Long time no see…" the suit of armor was practically trembling.

The giant towered over the trembling Ed, staring down at him. "……Edward…?"

Ed smiled, sweating.

The giant's eye twitched, and he reached an open palm out…

…to rest it on Ed's head.

"You're here. You've grown!" the giant said.

That hurts…!! Ed winced.

"They are?" the giant turned toward Al, Bella, and Rei.

"Alphonse! Long time no see!"

"Really?" the giant rubbed Al's head too. "You've really grown tall!"

First time someone's rubbed my head since I became a suit of armor… Al thought.

Ed gestured to the girls. "They're Bella and Angel."

"Hmm…" the giant looked at them, but to Bella's relief, did not try to rub their heads. His eyes lingered on them for a while, though, as if seeing something, before turning back to Ed. "What's the matter?"

"I have some questions for Master…" the short alchemist said.

"Then let's go! Maison, look after the shop for a while."

On the way to 'Master's'… -hides- she's evil!
"How is Master?" Ed asked worriedly.

"She's quite healthy, although she's sick at the moment." They arrived at a house, and the giant – who Bella and Rei had learned was called Sig – called into a window. "Hey Izumi, the Elric shorty is here to see you!"

"Ed and Al?" a woman's voice asked.

"Can you get up?" Sig asked.

"Relax!" the voice replied. "I'm feeling find today!"

"Master's not feeling well," Al said worriedly.

"She's probably sleeping," Ed said.

"We're not gonna worsen her condition, are we?" Bella asked worriedly. "I mean, if she's sick…"

A foot flew out the door, knocking Ed back before he could reply. He went flying oh…a few miles (jk!) before stopping, and Al hid.

"News of you has reached us, my foolish student!" A woman stepped out, her hair in a bunch of tight coils, most held up in a pony tail. "You actually became a dog of the military? Well? YOU BETTER EXPLAIN!!"

"Don't push yourself, Izumi!" Sig held up the dead, bloody mass that once was Ed.

Al attempted to sneak away, but Izumi saw him. "Huh? Who's the walking tin can?"

"Err…um…It's his brother, Alphonse, Master…hahaha…" the tin can backed away slowly.

"Al! How tall you've grown!" she held out her hand to shake his.

"No, Master. I haven't changed much -" Al found gravity spin around as she tossed him over her shoulder.

"Not enough training!" she walked away. "And you two are…?" she glared at Bella and Rei.

"Eep!" Bella hid behind Rei.

With a sigh, Rei looked at Izumi. "I'm Rei, and the baka's Bella," she said, with a slight bow to her head. "Nice to meet you."

"Hmmm…" Izumi inspected them. "I suppose you two are dogs as well?"

"At the moment, yes," Rei replied, meeting Izumi's eyes evenly.

Izumi seemed startled by something as she looked at the girls. With a nod, she turned away.

"Isn't Master supposed to be sick?" Al asked, sitting up.

"What are you saying?!" Izumi span around, her anger back. "This is because you guys came from far away…" Blood spurted out of her mouth, and she and Sig had a 'moment'.

The brothers looked away, as if to comment on the 'nice weather'. Rei sweatdropped and Bella stifled a laugh. When the 'moment' ended, Al spoke up.

"One…one more time!" he said, sweating anxiously.

"Long time no see!" Ed looked ready to run.

"Uh, you guys are here!" Izumi slapped Ed's back hard, causing the midget to fall forward.

A little while later…………

"The Philosopher's Stone?" Izumi asked, looking thoughtful. The four state alchemists, Izumi, and Sig all sat around a small table, drinking tea. (Ember: British tea!!! Kira: …-sweatdrop-)

"We were hoping you'd have some news, master," Ed said, rubbing his hands together in a nervous gesture.

Izumi looked bored. "I'm not interested in stones. Unless you are only researching this legendary item?" She looked annoyed.

"N-no!" Ed waved his arms, looking like a deer caught in headlights. Bella stifled another laugh, biting her lip. "I'm just curious!"

"…" Izumi thought for a moment. "The Philosopher's Stone…"

"Come to think of it," Sig spoke up, "on our travels at Central City, we met an alchemist who was really into stones."

"Oh, that man!" Izumi looked startled. "That's it…I think his name was Hohenheim."

Ed and Al froze, and Rei looked a little interested. Bella, however, just blinked, totally lost.

"What's he like?!" Al burst out, leaning forward.

"He was pretty tall…" Izumi began. "Blond hair, glasses, and kinda modest. I didn't know his age…But he was kinda macho!"

Sig began to fume, and Izumi instantly added, "Really! You're more macho!" as flowers began to grow out of Al's helmet. (If you don't understand, look at the manga…I dunno how else to explain it.)

"Still alive…" Al said, almost disbelievingly.

Izumi looked confused. "You guys know him?"

"He's our…father…" Al said slowly, looking away.

"The one who left home?" Izumi smiled. "That's good, right? Maybe he's still at Central City…"

"THAT BASTARD!!!!!" Ed's fists clenched as he stared at the ground. "I will never ask that bastard for help…!!"

Izumi looked startled at his vehemence, as did Bella. Rei took a sip of her tea, her eyes closed as she listened intently.

"Then…what did father say?" Al asked eagerly. Unlike his brother, he only wanted his father to come home.

"Uh…" Izumi thought for a moment. "He said something about nearly fulfilling his long last dream…He looked pretty happy!"

Later, yet again…

"Ohh…" Mason slurped on his noodles. "There's really such an evil person?"

"I was pretty mad then!" Ed took a bite of his meat.

"So we tricked the Eastern Corps Colonel!" Bella chirped, eating with at least a few manners.

"That idiot!" Izumi sipped on her tea. "If I had that book, I could live easy."

"Kids shouldn't be doing such dangerous stuff!" Sig declared, ripping some meat off of his drumstick with his teeth.

Al sighed. "I would like to live a peaceful life but brother would rather…"

"What!" Edward interrupted, glaring. "Putting all the blame on me!"

"Isn't it true?" Rei commented softly, gracefully sipping her tea like Izumi.

Mason looked surprised. "Out on your travels, you guys must have caused lots of trouble!"

"It doesn't usually happen!" Al assured.

"Yeah!" Ed added. "We witnessed a birth in Rush Valley!"

Bella smiled, "We helped in the delivery too, Izumi!"

"Baka," Rei sighed. "They didn't help at all," she pointed at the brothers.

"We just waited outside the birthing room," Al nodded.

Ed grinned. "Haha! It was smoother than expected too!"

"Only cause me 'n Angel-chan were helping," Bella stuck her tongue out at Edward childishly.

Al and Rei ignored the two, and the tin can added, "Thanks to everyone helping, the mother was saved too."

"It's a child that was blessed by everyone," Rei smiled faintly.

"Yeah," Izumi smiled peacefully. "You four were born like that too. That's why you have to treasure your lives."

"Speaking of which," Ed smiled. "Master, you haven't had kids…"

It was silent, until Mason slapped his hands on the table, standing up. "Edward!!" For a moment, every just stared at him dot-eyed, until he added, "…uuhh…Oh yeah! How's your alchemy coming along? Let's see the fruits of your training!"

"Sure, no problem!" Ed literally glowed, proud to show off his talents. "We've been experimenting ever since we got back!"

"Just as Master said, training our bodies too!" Al added. "Now, we can create large objects!"

"Yeah!" Bella grinned idiotically, randomly adding in stuff as she went.

"Actions speak louder than words," Rei raised an eyebrow at the overly proud Ed.

"Right!" Ed grinned. "Al!" the two walked to the door. Turning back, Ed added, "Master, over here!"

"Ok," Izumi replied. "We're coming!"

Bella skipped along behind the brothers, Rei following just behind her.

"Izumi…" Sig said worriedly.

"Ah," Izumi looked a little startled. "I'm fine! I'm fine!" She smiled at the four alchemists. "Letting these children watch the birth of a new life is a valuable experience!"

Outside

Al drew a transmutation circle in the dust, the lines perfect to avoid mishap. Content with the appearance, Al placed his hands on the circle, a horse springing up out of the dirt.

"Oh!" Izumi said, pleased. "Pretty detailed work!"

"Ok!" Ed grinned. "My turn!" He slapped his hands together. A look of shock and dread flashed across Izumi's face, and he slapped his hands on the dirt near Al's horse. The horse reared up, wings sprouting out of its back.

"Brother's creation should have been more detailed!" Al reprimanded him.

"What!" Ed frowned. "You got a problem with my work?!"

As the two brothers argued, Izumi looked on, a serious expression on her face. Rei's eyebrow rose as she saw the expression on her face.

"You don't need to inscribe a circle to do that?" Izumi asked.

"Huh?" Ed blinked. "Yeah…"

Izumi looked at Al, but Al merely looked confused.

"Ed…"

"Yeah?"

"Unless…" Izumi frowned. "You have seen that thing?"

"Wha…What?" Ed laughed insecurely.

"You have seen it, right?" Izumi's expression was scary.

Ed looked down, his fists clenching. "I've seen it," he admitted.

Off to the side, Rei met Izumi's eyes, gesturing to herself and Bella. "As have we, though, on different occasions."

Bella hid behind Rei again as Izumi's dark glance swept over them. "So that's why you were called a genius," her eyes returned to Ed, "and received the acceptance of the state at such a young age…"

"I'm not a genius," Ed looked down, looking guilty. "I just saw that thing…"

"?" floated above Al's and Sig's heads.

"Master…!" Ed looked up, his eyes pleading for forgiveness.

hehe, cliffy!! i luv cliffys...

Ember-baka's still waiting for a death threat, last i heard...i dunno -shrugs-