The Legend of Shiranui
(Kurama Love Story)
Chapter. 19
The Elric Brothers

It had only been a couple of days since Shuichi had given me my first kiss, and I had to admit, practically every time I was around him, I couldn't seem to look him in the eye, and every little touch between him, and I sent hot shivers of pleasure rippling through my entire body. Yet, even despite the passionate moment we shared, I felt as if nothing at all had changed between us, like we were still the way we were before he kissed me. I really wanted to talk to him, and at least, tell him how I felt, but, every time I tried, or even thought about it, I would get scared, and back down, and at this point, I'm pretty sure he already knew something was on my mind.

'What am I gonna do?' I thought, as I laid on the couch, Sno resting on my stomach. Yusuke`, Kuwabara, Shuichi, and the girls had all decided to go shopping for groceries, leaving me home alone yet again. "Aw, man!" I half-yelled, as I sat up, startling Sno, who had been resting on my stomach, causing him to jump haphazardly onto the floor. He looked up at me, and barked, tilting his head to the side. Feeling frustrated, I decided to go out for a walk, in an attempt to clear my head, and maybe rid myself of all these confusing feelings I had felt. I quickly grabbed a pen, and a piece of paper off the table in the living room, and left a note for Shuichi, and the others, so they wouldn't worry when they came back, and found me missing. I then grabbed Sno's leash, and collar that Keiko, and the girls got him, and headed out.

'I don't know. I just feel so confused, yet, at the same time, empty.' I thought, as Sno, and I walked through town. Suddenly, I bumped into something cold, and hard, falling backward, and landing on my butt. "Ow!" I maoned, placing a hand on my forehead, Sno immediately coming to my side, as if to make sure I was ok. "Oh! I'm sorry, Miss! That was totally my fault! Are you ok? Here, let me help you up." Came a young, and unfamiliar voice. I felt a strong, warm hand gently grip my arm, and help me up. "No, it's ok. I wasn't watching where I was going, it was my fault, I'm sorry." I replied, as I turned to see a strange-looking suit of armor standing before me...All. By. Itself. I stifled a gasp, as the sight before me slightly terrified me. "Who, or what are you?!" I half-yelled, as I took Sno in my arms, and held him close to me. "O-Oh! Please, don't be scared! My name's Alphonse, Alphonse Elric, and I know what you're thinking, but, if you'll just let me explain, I think things'll all make sense." The suit of armor, Alphonse, replied, as he proceeded to walk in the direction of the park. To be completely honest, I really wasn't sure if I could trust this thing, I mean, it was a walking suit of armor! 'He doesn't seem like a bad being, whatever he is.' I thought, as I watched him walk away. "Are you coming?" Came his voice again, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Um, yes, I'm coming." I answered, following him.

Once we were at the park, Alphonse, and I sat down under a cherry blossom tree, Sno hopping into my lap, as I turned my gaze to Alphonse, waiting for him to speak. "So, Alphonse...How did you come to look like that?" I asked, causing him to turn, and look at me. "Well..." Alphonse proceeded to explain to me every detail of how he came to be a suit of armor, and let me just say, his story is still one of the saddest, and most harrowing tales I've ever heard to this day. As it turns out, Alphonse was not alone in his suffering, his older brother, Edward Elric, lost his arm, and leg during the incident, as well. "So, you're Mom got sick, and she died. And when she passed away, you, and your older brother attempted to use something called alchemy to bring her back...But, in the process, you lost your body, and your brother lost his arm, and leg, and now, the both of you live like this. Alphonse...To hear your story...You must be so sad." I replied, as I wrapped my arms around his metallic neck, and hugged him, two, small tears streaking down my face. "Well, I won't lie to you, having this body...While the memory of how I came to be this way is sad, I try to look on the bright side, and stay positive, I mean, at least, I'm still alive, and at least, I'm still able to be with my big brother, so, it's not all that bad." Alphonse answered. "Well, Alphonse, my name's Ammy. And even though I may've just met you, just know that I'm here for you." I replied, as I extended my hand out to him. Alphonse took my hand, and lightly shook it, a smile coming to my face as he did.

"Hey, Al! Alphonse!" Came an unfamiliar voice, as I turned to see a boy with long, blonde hair braided back into a ponytail, black clothing, and a long, red jacket running towards us. "Hey!" Alphonse yelled back. "You know him?" I asked. "Yeah. Ammy meet my brother, Edward Elric-!" "You can call mt Ed." The boy, Edward, interrupted, as he extended a hand out to me. "Ammy." I replied, as I shook his hand. "So, Al, who's your friend?" Ed asked. "This is Ammy. We sort-of bumped into eachother a-little while ago. She got kinda freaked-out when she saw me, so, I sort-of just brought her here, and explained everything. She's fine now, though." Al answered, placing a hand on my back. "Wow. You told her everything, and she didn't freak?" Ed asked, placing his hands on his hips. "Nope. She just listened." Al answered. "Hm." Ed responded, looking dead at me, as if to try, and read me. Suddenly, I heard a small bark, as I lowered my gaze, and found Sno barking at me, his tail wagging against my chest. "Aw! Is that your Dog? He's so cute!" Al replied, reaching a gentle hand down to pet Sno's head. "Yeah, this is Sno, and he's mine." I answered, smiling sweetly. 'It's really sweet of him to notice.' I thought, my heart seeming to swell with happiness. "Can I hold him?" Al asked, reaching his arms out to Sno. "Sure!" I answered, as I gently handed Sno to Al. Sno barked happily, and wagged his tail, curling up in Al's arms. "He sure is sweet." Al replied again, giggling, as Sno licked him. "Yeah, he is." I answered, giggling with him. "Hey, do you guys wanna go somewhere, and get somethin' to eat? I'll pay." Ed replied, grinning at Al, and I, as we jumped at Ed's offer. With that, Ed took Al, and I to a really nice restaurant, where we talked, ate, and got to know eachother better. I can honestly say, that during that lunch with the Elric brothers, I couldn't have been happier, I was having so much fun.

"Hey! Ed, Al! Why don't we take a picture together?" I asked, as I took the two boys by their arms, and led them both to a really nice-looking photo-booth in the restaurant. "Um, sure!" Ed replied, scratching the back of his head. "Ok, 1, 2, 3! Smile!" I half-yelled, as I heard the click of the camera. After we took a picture together, Ed paid for the meal, and we all headed out. By now, it was around 6:00 in the afternoon, I had been out quite literally all day! 'Wow! Time sure flies when you're having fun!' I thought, giggling. "What are you gigglin' about?" Ed asked, placing an arm around my shoulder. "Nothing. I'm just happy. I'm new around here, and I never thought I'd make so many new friends, or have this much fun with anyone." I answered, smiling, carrying Sno in my arms, as I walked with Ed, and Al. "Well, I'm glad you had fun with us." "Yeah, and we had fun hanging-out with you. Do you think we could this more often? I'd like it if we did." Al replied. "I'm not sure. I'll try, though. I'd really like to spend more time with you guys, and maybe even introduce you guys to my friends. I'm actually living with them, and have been for about a month now, I'm sure they would love to meet you guys." I answered. "Cool." Al replied, giving me a thumbs-up. "Yeah, we'd love to meet your friends. I sure hope they're nice." Ed replied, scratching the back of his head. "Don't worry, they are." I answered, smiling sweetly, to reassure him.

"Hey, guys? I should probably get back before it gets dark. I really enjoyed hanging-out with you guys today, I'd really like to do it again sometime." I replied, as I turned to leave. "Well, hang-on now, why don't we come with you?" "Yeah, we'll walk you home." Al replied, as both he, and Ed gave me pleading looks. "Ok." I answered, as I began walking in the direction of Shuichi's house, Ed, and Al tailing me. Before too long, we reached the place I called home, and I gently knocked on the door. "Hey! Where have you been? We were beginning to worry about you!" Keiko replied, as she answered the front door. "I'm sorry, I didn't think I'd be gone so long. I got bored, and decided to go out for a walk, I even took Sno with me." I replied, cradling Sno in my arms, who barked excitedly. "So, that's where he's been. We thought he had gone off somewhere, or had been hiding somewhere in the house. Puu really missed him." Keiko, replied back. "So, who are your new friends?" She asked, as she let Ed, Al, and I in the house. "Oh, I was getting to that." I answered, as I entered the living room where everyone was sitting, talking, and laughing. "Everyone, these are the Elric Brothers, Alphonse, and his older brother Edward, but, I just call them Ed, and Al." I replied, introducing them to everyone, as I released Sno, and allowed him to run around the house. Everyone proceeded to greet them warmly, as the three of us sat on the couch beside eachother, with me in between the two boys.

"So, how did you all meet?" Shuichi asked, grabbing his cup, and taking a sip of tea. "Well, actually, that's kind-of a long story."...