Alex Armstrong strolled down the street accompaning one depressed pheonix slayer. Ranma's mood had begun to rise as he walked through the simple town. He had been listening to the major's stories of Ed and Al and their missions for the state. He had gotten past the creepy sparkles and was enjoying the Strong arm alchemist's company. "I tell you, I had never met such a stubborn young man before. Always out to prove something, at least from what I could tell."

Ranma could't help but chuckle, "I guess that is where Ed and I are really alike. One thing I heard always stuck with me. True power is the strenght to stand on one's own. I always wanted to be the best so I wouldn't need pops or anyone else. The power to make them all realize that they woul never touch me, and leave me alone."

The major looked at Ranma, "If they all avoided you, then wouldn't you be lonely?"

Ranma gave a cold laugh, "Lonely? Alex, Everyone I knew wanted my head on a pike or a ring on their finger. Only Kasumi and a local doctor actually treated me like a human being! Everyday it was me fighting off people wanting my head, dodging molesters, avoiding poison, and trying to keep by sanity! Besides if no one is close to me, then there isn't anybody hurt when someone finally gets the lucky shot in."

Alex followed the Irrate martial artist as he went into a coat shop. Their discussion continued for a while after Ranma bought a black coat similar to Ed's only a couple sizes larger. Ranma had mellowed out and relaxed untill The ground suddenly had him in a bear hug. Ranma looked aroud to find Ed, Winry and a distrought Kasumi. He began so struggle in his bonds. The stone hand held fast. Ed was now infront of Ranma, "Quit fighting Ranma. Just hear us out OK?"

Ranma gave an incredulious look, then played the only move he had, the Umi-sen-Ken. He never told Ed about being able to turn invisible, and hoped Ed would think he escaped. But there was a glaring flaw in his plan, the one person that actually knew about the move. The one person who was suddenly holding an evil wrench. "Ranma, You can't fool me with the invisible trick."

Ranma faded into view with a worried expression, "Kasumi um, what do you plan on doing with that wrench?"

Her face was scunched into a cute little frown that became a smile. "Nothing,if you listen,"

Ranma looked at the gathered crowd, "I'll listen, but can we do this somewhere without the audience?"

Ed and Winry looked around and noticed the crowd. Armstrong quickly stepped in and began to disperse the crowd claiming military business and that their was nothing to see there. He then lifted up Ranma, stone bindings and all, and moved him into the nearby park. Ranma gave a grunt as he landed. Kasumi was about to speak when Ranma interupted, "Before we start this whole discussion, can someone get me out of this thing? I won't run, promise."

Ed and Winry dragged the major away to give Kasumi some privacy. Said Tendo female began to get nervous about what she was attempting. Ranma struggled slightly against the transmuted bindings when Kasumi began to pout "Ranma, why have you been avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?"

Ranma heard that and began to babble, "No! You didn't do nothing wrong Kasumi. You never done anything but be nice to me. Don't pout over me, I ain't worth it!"

"But, Ranma you are,"

"I am so sorry please forgive... Huh? Kasumi, why?"

"I just don't know Ranma. Everyone never paid me any mind except you. You listened to me, helped me even when I didn't ask for it. You where there when no one else was Ranma. And I well,"

Ranma was stunned by the confession, Kasumi, wanted him. No obligation, just reciprocated kindness and maybe even love? His mind denied the possibility of it all, but he ignored it I got nothing to lose and everything to gain, "Kasumi, I wanted to say the same but, I just kept thinking that you deserved better than me. I'm no good to anyone,"

Ranma was suddenly aware as Kasumi flicked him on the forehead, "That will be enogh of that Ranma. Do you understand me?"

Ranma nodded slowly, placating kasumi so nothing would happen to him. Ed returned a moment later and let Ranma out. Ranma fell to the ground with a thud. He rose and brushed off his new coat before he faced Kassumi, "All this over little old me, hope it's worth it for you Kasumi."

She smiled happily at Ranma, "To me it is. How about we go and eat? I missed lunch,"

Ed laughed, "Your rubbing off on her Ranma. I expected that from you."

As they were leaving Ranma froze. Something was not right, someone nearby wasn't... HUMAN. It felt almost human but it was, fake? He looked around and spied an attractive woman in a black dress and a bald man in black. She was looking at him like an animal would at something it didn't understand.Ranma mearly shrugged it off, why bother with something that wasn't attacking?

Lust Watched the young man with a most curious look, to her eyes this boy gave off such power. He appeared to be nothing more than an average human. But since when is anyone around Edward Elric normal? She would find out later if he would become an obsticle in their way for the stone. Gluttony was wondering if he could eat now.

Ranma was having difficulty shaking off the feeling he got from those two in thhe park. He kept looking back and over his shoulder, wondering he was imagining things. He was hoping that he wasn't, then Kasumi wouldn't be holding his hand right now as they walked down the street. It was nagging at him, screaming from the deep recesses of his mind that those two were bad. "Ed, I think my senses are a bit off or I felt something, not human but human. I don't know how else to explain it."
Ed turned to ranma with an almost panicked look, "Did you see what it was?"

"A woman in a black dress with long dark hair and a short bald guy in a black suit. They looked normal I guess, but they seemed wrong to me."

Ed began to get paranoid, "Keep an eye out for us Ranma, They are bad news,"

Ranma nodded as he walked closer to Kasumi. She noticed and mover closer as well. Ranma couldn't help but smile slightly and he expanded his senses to find anything not human. Armstrong brought up the rear of the 'little' group. Ed was contemplating what he could do. He could deal with Sloth, Wrath, and Lust. He knew their weak point. He had no clue how to get at Envy or gluttony. He didn't Even know if their were any more! He was getting fustrated.

Later that evening, the Humuculi gathered and discussed what to do. "Lust, you and Gluttony saw this person. Do you think he could get in the way?"

Lust looked over at Sloth, "I don't know, he appears to be an average human. He doesn't look like an alchemist. But knowing Full metal we can't be sure."

Envy frowned, "Let's just kill him and let gluttony eat the body?"

Gluttony grinned at the thought. He began to chat to him self, "Food for me?"

They ignored the talking stomach and tried to figure out what to do until the master told them.

Back at the temporary base a.k.a. the hotel Ranma sat alone, pondering the events of the day. Kasumi was running in his head since dinner. He told himself he wouldn't get attached, that he wouldn't get Kasumi involved. Too bad that he never took into account Kasumi's feelings. He let out a deep breath as he wondered what he was going to do. He was free. For the first time ever, he was free of the rivals and engagements, until Ed and Winry poked their noses in. I know they mean well, and I am grateful but couldn't they at least have waited till we got settled here? he mumbled in his head. He was drawn from his musing when a knock echoed from the door. "Yea?" came his tired call.

"It's Roy Mustang, I came with some news for you and your lady friend,"

Ranma Raised an eyebrow, "She ain't here, but come on in,"

Roy entered briefly, "I'll be quick. The Fuer sent his personal ok with some papers for you to fill out. The basic name, age, height, ect. All he wants is to meet you personally. Don't ask me, My specalty is fire, not mindreading."

"Thank you Roy, I'll hand Kasumi hers in the morning. I wasn't aware that someone of your rank handled paperwork."

Roy hung his head, "The higher you go, the more paperwork you have to do. That is the way the world works."

Ranma laughed at the statement and said farewell to the military officer. He looked at the papers with a bored look. "I'll deal with them in the morning. I always hated filling out forms."

Kasumi layed in bed as her mind danced circles in her skull. She had dropped her burden of the Tendo home and just left. "No more cleaning and cooking for everyone. Ranma is with me, and that is all that matters. Winry said I get my first lesson tomorrow on the train, but why on a train?"

The thought lingered as she sliped into dream filled sleep.

Morning broke over the small town as the Military was packing up. Ranma was up and helping, lifting the heavy boxes with ease like Armstrong. when asked why, he simply said he had nothing else to do. Soon, it was a challenge between the major and Ranma. Eveyone watched as this small 17 year old kid was keeping up with the massive mountian known as the Strong Arm alchemist. They had barely broke a sweat when Roy showed up and asked in a loud voice why a civilian was doing more work than the military. Ranma let out a laugh as he set a large crate in the truck, "Sorry Roy, me and Armstrong were having a bit of fun,"

"By packing up and moving excavation equipment?"

The Major set his box down, "It is something between us fighters sir."

Roy shook his head, "What ever, Just be careful with the crates that have the red stones in them."

Ranma looked ath the red crystal like stone they had carved up and packed up, "Hey Major, what is with the rocks anyway? looks like quartz to me,"

Armstrong hefted two more crates, "They give us alchemist a boost, allowing us to ignore some rules like Edward Elric. Roy wouldn't need a circle or a spark, he could just start an inferno a will,"

Ranma frowned, "Seems like cheating to me, but that is just my opinion,"

Arstrong gave a laugh laugh, "I can see where your coming from. I never saw the use for them. Then again I am a bit more physical that the others. They specalize in creating raging fires and making anything into bombs."

Ranma shrugged it off. People and their choices he would never understand. He continued to pack until someone called out to him. He turned to the voice and saw Winry. Hh walked towart the oncomeing automail mechanic, "Morning Winry,"

"Ranma, why wern't you at breakfast? What are you doing out here?"

Ranma looked sheepishly, "I got up to train then I ended up helping the major. Is it really that time already?"

Winry nodded, "Yep, we ate without you,"

Ranma looked like he had been struck by a telephone pole. "Why?"