I'M BAAAAACK! And I want to say I'm sorry to everyone who's been so patient waiting for the next chapter (like you had a choice...just kidding). I was banned from the Internet for a week, and so I couldn't get on for a while. I'll try to update Alchemy of the Soul and Fullmetal Eds too, because I have a really great idea for what happens to the bad guys there. Anyways, enjoy!

(PS: Raven's POV)

It wasn't too bad a day; service at the diner was busier than usual, so I found myself waiting on three or four tables at a time. Problem was, trying to jot down notes on alchemy in between orders wasn't easy, and it was difficult not to mess up in one area if you got too involved in the other.

"Hey Raven, what's that?" asked Lauren, one of the people I worked with.

"Oh, this?" I said, pointing down at the scribbled-on paper, covered in shaky handwriting and odd-looking symbols. "These are just notes on alchemy. My friend Josh and I are working on something...it's...involved,"

"It sure looks it," she said. "I mean, I tried it once, but there's just so many things I didn't get. I just gave up trying with it, ya know?"

"I've only got the basics, and I know how you feel," I replied as I took a plate with two orders on it over to their respective tables. I reached the first table without much trouble, giving a 'this was your order, right?' just in case I got the two mixed up.

"No, you got it right,"

"Okay, thanks," I quickly made my way to the second table, trying to figure different formulas in my head at the same time. So that girl from the other day said she was...a homunculus? Didn't Ed and Al say those were impossible to make? But if her regeneration comes from a source, like a Philosopher's Stone, then perhaps we can use-

"WHOA!"

The next thing I knew, I was lying on my back, covered in omelet and juice, and I felt a sharp pain in my left hand.

"Hey, are you alright?" asked a girl, who was supposed to be my second order.

"No...yes...no, it - it was my fault," I muttered. "I was...I was distracted,"

"How distracted were you? I mean...whoa, is that glass in your hand?"

"Huh...WHAT?"

"Yikes, that looks rough. Man, you fail, you fail all the way...sorry, I sound like a jerk," she laughed. The girl came over to me and helped me to my feet - and that's when I realized my glasses had fallen off I could see that she was wearing a long black trench-coat, and that her hair was tied up, but not much else from where she stood. But then she crouched down and came in closer. When I could somewhat make out her face (she was close enough for me to see), and that's when I realized who she was...

"No..." I whispered. "...you're...you're..."

She saw my expression, and immediately gave me the same look. We recognized one another, though I'd only seen her once.

"You're that chick who shanked me with a paper knife!" she exclaimed. That's when she realized that, by now, most occupants of the diner had turned their attention to us.

"Oops...did I just say that out loud?"

"Yes, you did,"

Her face flushed bright red, and then she instantly leaped to the side to tackle someone's legs.

"Heh, heh...yeah, I don't think so pal!" she snapped, holding something in her hands. Then she hobbled on her knees over to me.

"Here's your glasses," she said, smiling nervously. The man she'd just knocked over was audibly moaning from the fall - I just prayed he didn't land in glass.

"Thanks," I said, giving her a confused look.

"Hey, I just saved that dude's life, and mine. You're frickin' scary when you get those broken."

"Please try not to shout. People are staring,"

"I'm not shouting, I'm just hammy,"

I sighed. "I know you - you're the girl who tried to kill Joshua that night,"

"I don't want to kill him," she pouted. "Didn't you hear me? I said I wanted to torture him every chance I get. Killing would be too kind,"

I flinched, but regained a serious tone. "What are you doing here, anyway? What are you up to this time?"

She scowled. "Really? You think we homunculi are all just a bunch of crazy idiots who go on killing sprees and blow up buildings just for fun? 'What am I up to?' Brunch! That's it!"

"Nothing else?"

"Nothing," she said, getting more aggravated. There was a moment of silence before she looked me up and down and said, a little friendlier "You might wanna get that cleaned up,"

"Y-yeah,"

"I'll help,"

"I'm fine,"

"Too bad," With that, she was grabbing me by the arm and heading straight into the bathroom. Together we got the egg off my shirt and out of my hair as best as we could.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked. "I thought you held a grudge against me and Josh,"

"I've got nothing against you personally," she explained. "I was only attacking you because you were in my way. It's your boyfriend I'm after, not-"

"Josh isn't my boyfriend," I corrected.

"Well...you live with him, don't you?"

"Yes," Wait, how would she know that?

"I mean like, really, you guys are like a couple; and he's pretty ..." she trailed off before correcting herself "not that bad...you know, he's alright and stuff. Like, okay. Yeah. And you're like, gorgeous,"

I raised an eyebrow. Did she really mean to say that...what was she saying? Did she find me attractive, and that's why she targeted Joshua? No...that was a bit extreme, but it wouldn't totally surprise...

"No! I mean, you're cute! Gah! Like, you're also not bad. I mean that in a totally heterosexual way! Really!"

"...Um..."

"You're cute, but I mean that in a straight way. And the glasses are cute too. And you're uh...yeah,"

"Oh, okay,"

Her eyes narrowed. "You were thinking that, weren't you?"

"Thinking what?"

"Hey, are you two okay out there?" Lauren asked as she stepped out of the bathroom stall. As she saw us just standing there at the sinks, and what we'd just said, her jaw dropped.

"Um..."

"Don't ask!" groaned Vengeance.

I flushed, and she facepalmed. And then, I did too.

Okay, there it is. XD I had fun with this chapter, can you tell? I wanted this to be longer, but I was strapped for time. Don't worry though, part 2 is on its way! :D