An: No RussXWin. It never would have worked between them. And I couldn't do that to Ed… That would have been an awkward scene:

Ed: Hi Winry0 z

Winry: 0.0; uh, hi Ed, um…

Russle: Hello Edward, by the way Winry and I are dating"

Ed: 0.0 …X.X "nooooo"

(alarm clock goes off) eeeeaaahhhh!

Al: What's wrong?!

Ed: 0.o;; "nothing, just a really scary dream"

Oh yeah Disclaimer: repeat after me, Fan FICTION…. Yeah I don't own.

July 22nd 1924

Xenotime

I arrived in Xenotime on a steamy afternoon. It's certainly changed, not at all like how Ed described in his letter. It's changed into a booming farming town. Lots of Lemon trees….

I picked up my bag of tools from on top of the self, slung it over my shoulder, picked up the rest of my luggage and set off. Asking around, I finally found the clients. I found them in a well-to-do house. A young blonde-haired kid answered the door. If I had to guess, he must have been … fourteen? He was

"Ah, Miss Rockbell! You're here! Good!"

"Well, I…"

"Russle hurt his hand… well actually he's about to lose it; the left one. You can fix it right? "

I blanched I didn't think I needed to work with nearly dead tissue. I could only hope the nerves were still intact.

"What happened to it?"

"Tractor accident" the young teen stated simply.

"It's only the hand?"

"Yes, but it's broken in about five- six places."

"How bad is it? Just because it's broken in several places doesn't mean it needs to be replaced… you could still put it in a cast."

This time he merely smiled.

"… True, but there's another reason Russle wanted to see you. "

I was slightly taken aback at this.

--------------------------------

I entered the back room and found the 'patient'.

His hand in truth had been trashed but was also in a cast already. I can't believe this! It was a false alarm?!

"ALRIGHT, WHAT HAPPENED?! I was under the impression you were seriously hurt!"

"Well, I still am… but that's not the only reason."

"Oh really? …"

I glanced back at the younger one. He visibly winced. The older one must have put him up to it. I clenched my jaw in frustration.

"What is this other reason it had better be a good one…. Russle Tringum."

He simply grinned "It is. Trust me."

"I'm not so inclined to do so. I've heard of you from Ed. You like to 'borrow' his identity quite a lot don't you? Plus you lied to me just now."

"Sorry, I promise you will most definitely thank me later. Ed, how is he anyway?"

"I … I don't know."

"You could find out."

"…."

"Well? Miss Rockbell?"

"Right then, your not Ed, but you'll do. 'Trusty' hasn't been used to brain anyone in along time. Right now you're proving yourself stupid enough to be considered worthy…"

I unsheathed the wrench (yes, I brought it alright?) with no intention of smacking him, I just needed to scare him a little. It worked.

"Weknowhowtogettohimbuttheresonlyroomforone!Youwanttoseehimstillright?"

"What do you mean? Don't ell me you sacrificed…"

"We found leftovers of the stone in the underground city our father was working in we figured you would want to know the most."

For a moment, my resolve wavered. I couldn't help but ask: "You mean it? You found him? And Al?"

He bit his lip, hesitating…

"We'll to be precise, we found a way to get to their world, but yeah . But, as far as we can tell we only have enough for one way."

"Is this how you hurt your hand?"

"I'm the liar, not Fletcher. No, I did hurt it in a tractor accident. It'll be fine."

"He said it was broken in five or six places. If he doesn't lie, then it needs to be looked at. Honestly, I'm amazed it's still there."

"…. If you insist."

"I do insist."

"Well, brother, She's got you there."

"Right, well in that case I am in your debt."

"Nonsense. What is this way to 'their world' you were talking about?"

July 24th 1924

Xenotime