It has been one tense week for me since I took the state alchemist exam, ever since I have been waiting for the letter that will either say I failed or as Ed keeps saying I'll pass. Once he said "I'll kill them if they don't accept you" he really believes in me, and so does Alphonse and Sakura. Sakura was now officially the flame alchemist of the house.

I woke one day remembering that it had been officially a week since the test, that meant the results came in today. My stomach knotted up, I looked at the clock and saw that it was 3 AM. I tried to go back to sleep but I couldn't, I tried harder but the more I concentrated the more I... Wanted to wet myself? I went to the bathroom then downstairs to get some water and ponder ways to make myself sleep. Maybe I can read for a while, but I don't know about any books I'd get bored with, I finished my water and just when I was tipping the cups contents into my mouth.

"..Raven?" I got so startled that I had to spit my water out in the sink. I turned around to see a very tired Ed, looking at me in confusion and a sort of shock. "...Ed! Jeeze you scared the crap out of me! Don't do that again." I said wiping my mouth. Ed came closer to me, closer than I have ever been to him besides the hugging. I looked into his eyes and my heart began to race, he put his hand on my shoulder and said "You should get some sleep, you might get sick" He had a very concerned look in his eyes as he stared into mine, his eyes looked as if they were pure gold.

Ed smiled, I was still speechless "...Well are ya gonna go to bed or just stand here with a blank look on your face?" he said playfully. "..Oh! Right uh, straight to bed heh heh!" my face was glowing red, and I could tell Ed noticed. He smiled at me again and headed back upstairs, I followed him. Something about that encounter with Ed fully relaxed me, the moment I laid down I fell asleep. As I slept, all I could think about was his eyes. I could see them vividly in my mind. Then my mind traveled back to the time when I fought with Naroh and was willing to die for Ed.

Then it hit me, I have never done that before. I have never been willing to give up my life for someone not nearly as much as I did that day. I think that he may be more to me than just a body guard, Wait, he IS more than a body guard to me, but he doesn't know it. Or does he? He's' always so kind to me, does he like me? He isn't the kind of person that would act fake towards someone, he'd make it very obvious that he wasn't enjoying himself, but then again, "You may think you know everything about someone, but then one day they may do something totally different that they never did before" That quote was from a story I had read when I was 11, I don't even remember the story.

When I got up, I realized that I had slept in, luckily not to much. I went downstairs still thinking about the earlier events with Ed. But honestly, how many people has he given that look before That's when I realized that he really doesn't give many people that look. "Afternoon sleepy head!" Sakura said to me "Are ya hungry?" I rubbed my eyes and said "...Sure" Sakura turned around "Good!" She looked at me for a moment sort of examining me "What?" I said to her. Sakura giggled "...Up late huh? Why exactly?" My mind crossed what happened with Ed "...I woke up in the middle of the night, that's all" Sakura grinned "Y'know you can tell me. The boys are in the back room, they won't be able to here anything, and I won't tell anyone" Sakura got me, besides my mom, she could read me like a bill-board. "Alright fine..." I sat down and took a deep breath "...When I woke up last night..." And I told her what had happened, Sakura gave me an understanding look and said "...You're in love with him..." My face turned red "THAT IS NOT TRUE!" I yelled so loud Al and Ed probably heard it. "Sshh! Do you WANT Ed to hear this?" Sakura whispered loudly. I blushed "...I am not in..Lo." I couldn't say it, "Yeah you say that now, but I am pretty sure that Ed is beginning to like you as well..." I looked at her in disbelief. "..How would YOU know"

She smiled, "...Lets just say, me and Al talk a lot more about this than you two will ever know" I blushed SAKURA IS GABBING TO AL ABOUT ME POSSIBLY BEING IN- never mind, what's the most that's gonna happen...Ed will know how I feel?...Oh crap. Sakura giggled as if she heard what I just thought. "...I promise I won't tell Al about any of this, and if Al does find out, he won't tell Ed." I sat there looking at the floor for a moment "...There's just one thing I have to say, last night something about Ed's eyes did something to me. I went straight to sleep after he talked to me, and his eyes..." I stared off into the other room at the thought of how I felt "...They're enchanting aren't they," Sakura said "...Yeah, you are soooo love him" I was about to yell out again but I decided not to. If I did feel that way it would explain a lot.

I heard the front door close, it was Ed getting the mail. He looked through it with little interest until he flipped to one. Ed grinned and looked at me, "...Is that it..?" I said nervously. Ed nodded, I got another knot in my stomach. I stood up and he handed me the letter, this was it the determination if I was to become a state alchemist. I opened the letter and read it, "...It says they want me to go to central today." I continued reading, they didn't tell me if I passed or not. "Hmph... I guess they want to reject me in person." Ed put his hand on my shoulder and said "...Well how soon do they want you to come?" I looked back at the paper and said "No specific time, I'll just go now..." I turned around and went into the living room. Ed followed me, I grabbed and put on my shoes and jacket. "Can we go with?" Sakura asked intently. I looked at Ed, he shrugged "...Yeah, you guys can go with." Sakura hadn't been out of the house besides the back yard in a while and the same for Al, it would be good for all of us to get out of the house.

When we got to Central, I went into the office while Ed, Al, and Sakura waited outside the door. After a few minutes I came out with a blank look on my face, Ed stood up and said "Did you get accepted?" I remained quiet. I turned to him still with the blank look "I...Passed" when I said passed I lifted my right hand and let dangle a Military watch with a big smile on my face. Sakura gasped then ran up to me "Yay! You did it! Go girl!" she squeezed the breath out of me. "Congratulations! We knew you could do it!" Al said to me. Sakura finally let go of me, and I looked to Ed. He smiled "Nice job..." I smiled back "Uh, high five?" I said as I lifted up my left hand. "...Sure." He lifted his right hand and hit it against mine. "YEAH HIGH FIVE!!!!" Sakura attacked me and hit my hand so hard I nearly fell over. When I got my balance again I gave Al a high five. In my head I was doing a jig, YEAH BOOYA!!! WOOHOO!!! EAT THAT. I couldn't believe it, I passed and I am now a state alchemist. Ed grabbed my watch from me "Hmm...Its different from mine...Smaller..." I snatched it back from him and said "It's better if its small it matches me...Besides you can't expect ALL of them to be the same." Ed pulled his out and held it next to mine. He was right, his was larger and the chain was different. Ed shrugged and put his away, I did the same. I couldn't be happier then I was then.

Beyond that point I was going to continue my research which I found out has been observed and studied by many people before me. Some people called it "The Unknown Alchemy" or my personal favorite "Shiranai Ougonjutsu" I found out that in 1905 the same thing happened with the reality altering only that person died two seconds after he conducted the transmutation due to an explosion. The cause was the alchemy for some reason reacting to certain chemicals and substances being mixed together often either causing large explosions, sudden death to the user, or the strangest one reality altering. There had been restricted books on the subject that I got access to fortunately. They were written in 1806 and 1807 telling about a very early alchemist who encountered this result. The effects theorized were reality altering, and sudden death. These books I later found were written by the alchemist's friends. Then I found a pattern, 1805, 1905, and it happened to me in 2005. The books written that dated back to 1905 theorized of the reality altering effect that happened in 1805 (As it turned out his name was Christopher Eiselstien) may have been a loop of alchemists getting this result.

They had a good point, each chemical mixture wasn't even slightly related. Another thing that was really disturbing is the name Eiselstien was the last name of someone Ed knew, I decided to not worry about it too much. I took samples of the calk and the floor where I put the transmutation circle was. It was a mixture of the chalk and whatever was in the wood on the floor. I started writing about the things I had found out so that a century from now, someone may find some use for it if they end up with this problem. The only patterns that have found are the effects and the pattern. The chemicals and substances have all been different. One day I had stayed up so late studying and writing I fell asleep and woke up at 12:32 PM. I had a book in my hand and Ed's coat over me. I looked at the book, then my computer which was on stand by. I decided to go back to reading then I heard a knock at the door "I'll get it!" I yelled, I looked out the blinds and saw a Millitary Policeman What could he possibly want? Hmm...Something's not right I opened the door

"...Urgent letter from Central for Edward Elric" The MP said handing me an envelope. "Uh, right. I'll be sure to give it to him" I said taking the envelope. "..Have a good day ma'am.." The MP said turning to leave. I disliked those words more than I knew, considering that they reminded me of the worst day of my life. Well it wasn't necessarily the worst, I mean that was the day I met Edward and Alphonse Elric! I knew a few girls that would have killed to meet them, literally. I found Ed reading in the back room that was kind of a mini library. He was reading one of my mom's books. "Um, Ed?" Ed didn't answer, I had forgotten that whenever he reads he goes in a different world and isn't in the third dimension anymore. I walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder "...Ed?" "Hmm?" Ed looked over at me as if he didn't expect me to be there. "Wow, you're really into that book aren't you?" Ed looked at the book, the said "Well, it's alright I just sort of zone out whenever I'm reading...Is anything wrong?"

I looked at him for a moment then I remembered why I was there " Uh, no! Well at least I hope not..." I handed him the letter "...It's from Central.." Ed looked concerned now, he took the letter then opened it up. He stood there reading it, I was about to leave the room when Ed said "...It's from the Colonel." I had a feeling that this wasn't good "...He says he needs me and Al to report at North HQ.." Ed's voice sort of became quieter as he read on "...But that can't be right" Ed said to himself but I still heard him "..What isn't right?" I said. Ed folded up the letter and said "...He wants us to go to Northern HQ...But he wants us to leave you and Sakura here and they'll send out guards to protect you guys.." I was pretty shocked "..Must be serious" Ed was still looking down "...No, if he wanted me to protect you then he wouldn't trust MP with your life..." He had a point, there's no telling how many soldiers and MPs are criminals.

"Well I guess your right, but none the less he wants me and Al to leave as soon as we got the letter" Ed said opening the letter back up to check if he remembered right. "..Well I guess you'd better tell Alphonse" I said, Ed still looked worried and reluctant to even leave. "...Don't worry, Sakura can set them on fire and I can at least defend myself, thanks to you" I said walking up to him and putting my hand on his shoulder "..We'll be alright!" I smiled as sweetly as I could at him, attempting to make him feel a bit better. Honestly, what could go wrong? "Well, alright.. Hey doya now where Al is?" Ed said walking over to stand in the doorway. "Uh, I think he's in the back yard with Sakura.." I said, "That was where I saw them last anyway." Ed walked out of the room quickly, but I didn't follow. I sat down on the couch in the room and thought for a moment Ed and Al are leaving? Wow, I think I'm gonna miss them. But that's not a bad thing is it? Nah, they'll be back, besides I'm pretty sure that Mustang didn't say anything about Ed no longer being my body guard, Ed would have made it obvious if that was the case. Subtlety isn't exactly Ed's strong side I giggled slightly at that last thought. Just then I heard Ed and Al's voices but I didn't understand what they were saying until I heard Sakura speak.

"...Will you at least have time to eat lunch?" I went out of the back room into the hallway. Just then Ed ran past me saying "...No, it's pretty urgent that we go there." Ed grabbed one of his boots and began putting it on. Al then said "..Sorry," Ed got his last boot on and went to get his coat. "..Well, good luck boys!" I said. "E-Ed won't you need to pack anything?" Ed looked to me and smiled very warmly "..Nah, Northern HQ isn't that far from here, so I'll be fine." Ed's warm smile made me sweat, luckily not visibly. Pulling on his coat Ed said "...I contacted Central and they said they'll send over the soldiers in 30 minutes." Ed opened the door, but he seemed reluctant to leave. He turned and said "You two take care...And don't get your selves in trouble, girls like you have a knack for that kinda thing.." I smiled at this, "Don't worry, we'll try our best.." Sakura walked up next to me and said "Yeah! And if anyone messes with us I'll just set them on fire!" We all sort of giggled then Al said "Yeah that should distract them long enough for you guys to get away." Ed turned towards the door again "...Ready, Al?" Ed said. Al nodded "Mm-hmm!" The two boys turned to us, "..Well, bye for now!" I said "You guys take care too, Ed is a trouble magnet so just be careful..." I was expecting a 'What's that supposed to mean!' from Ed but it never came. "...We will.." Al said. They both went out the door and I said "Uh, don't you want us to send you guys off?" Ed looked at me for a moment, and then said "..No, you guys should stay here those soldiers are gonna be here any minute. Thanks for the offer though!" They walked down the street, I felt sort of sad and worried that something might happen to them. Those two are tough, I doubt they'll get killed. Ed and Al are almost unstoppable, but sometimes they get lucky. Let's just hope they won't need that luck.

Sakura and I decided to sort of spar a bit in the back yard. We heard a sound behind us when Sakura was about to pretend to hit me with fire. I got a serious knot in my stomach, something wasn't right. Sakura began staring at me terrified trying to speak but couldn't. That's when I realized that she wasn't staring at me. I looked behind me thru the corner of my eye and saw a man with a sword getting ready to slice me in half. I ran foreword fearing that he would hit me but he didn't. "Your fast aren't you.." the man said "...Who are you and what the hell do you want?" I said, Goddammit not again man! I swear Ed is rubbing off on me I thought to myself. "..That's big words comin' from a cute little girl like you" The man said. I glared at him "As cute and little as I may be, I'm not a wimp." I was ready to do another lance transmutation like the one I did in the fight with Naroh. What the hell is with these psychos! I thought again. "Well since you asked I guess it's appropriate for you to know who's' gonna kill you. My name is Shinji. The reason why I'm here is to eliminate the both of you."

Sakura grabbed onto my arm in fear, I remained calm "Oh? And why do you want to kill two innocent little girls, Are you doing it cause you want to? Or are you working for someone...?" I said. Shinji grinned, "Well since you want to know so badly, yes I'm working for someone. All of this, the letter from central, your boyfriend havin' to leave was all just a setup to kill all four of you" I got angry "First of all he's NOT my boyfriend! And second of all-" I clapped my hands together and made a spear again this time made of metal. "-Its gonna take more than that to beat us!" Sakura pulled on her gloves from Roy that so happened to be in her pocket and prepared to set anyone who came near on fire. "Hmm..I wonder if Anora is getting this much resistance." Said Shinji quietly. I heard what he said even if he didn't want me to, suddenly I realized that we were surrounded by "soldiers" probably ready to kill us.

"If Anora is trying to kill Ed then your answer is yes, and she may be getting extra." I said. The soldiers looked like a bunch of hungry cats ready to pounce and kill us like mice. "You boys take the little one, the big one's mine" He got his sword ready and charged at me. I dogged his first attack and swung the back of my spear hitting him in the back, he fell to the ground. Sakura got completely surrounded by the "soldiers" who were easily fought away from her with two snaps. "You like that spear don't you." Shinji said to me. I stood up strait holding the spear in my left hand and said "Well I guess they better make my Allias 'The silver spear alchemist!" Shinji got up again so fast I barley saw him. I moved to the left but that was something I shouldn't have done "RAVEN!!!!!" Sakura screamed. I felt cold metal flow thru my left shoulder like a knife thru butter. I moved my right hand to feel my shoulder, and it was gone. I looked to Shinji's sword that was now covered in blood. I looked at my hand and saw it was covered as well. Fearfully I looked down at the ground and there was a pool of blood...with my left arm laying in it. I fell over from the loss of blood and the last thing I remembered was hearing Sakura scream and a flash of red light.

To be continued...

End Chapter Five