LCA: -comes out from behind a door- Hello? -Silence- … I see… Uhm… Hi. -waves- I know you all think I died… in a sense I did… Let's call this part of my life 'rawr' in which a lot of unneeded crap happens. Doesn't that sound nice?

There. I said it. I also took a long time on break so I could sort it out and now it's all just more confusing. Notice that it's just me right now? Yeah. That's because stuff came up.

-shifts nervously- Soo…. Yeah….. Hmm… Oh right the story! It's really messed up this time. But no I still don't own the characters… or anything like that. I only own the stuff I buy legally… like pins and posters. So ENJOY!

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Chapter 4

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"Blahblahblah"

Thinking

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Edward sat down at the dinner table with his brother and started to eat what had been made. He was in the middle of cutting up his food when he just froze. 'Go out' with Roy? He shook his head and looked down at his food. No no no… He'd said go out with a few of the others… So this couldn't mean… "GAH!" Slamming his things down on the table he

"Brother? Are you feeling alright?"

Realizing where he was he blushed. "Y-yeah… I'm fine Al. I'm just not that hungry. I'll be in my room if you need me." Edward quickly excused himself from the table and practically ran to his room.

Crap. Crap crap crap crap crap! That damned colonel and his stupid words… Gah! He jumped onto his bed and buried his face in a pillow. WHY IS IT I CAN ONLY THINK OF THAT DAMN TEST?! He brought his head up and sighed. He turned so he faced his computer and groaned. "The root of all these problems…"

"The root of what problems brother?"

He looked up to see his brother standing in the doorway. "I was worried when you didn't eat anything… Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing Al. Just thinking about stuff."

"Can I help?"

"Nah… It's no big deal. … Hey… Uhm… during the holiday… I think I'm going to spend it with some of the officers here. Is that okay with you? I mean… Will you be alright by yourself?"

"Oh! Y-yes! Actually Winry called and was wondering if we could go back over the holiday… Just for a day or so. But I can tell her you have plans!"

"Oh… Why don't you go visit? I'm going to stay here. Give my best to everyone alright?" He grinned at his brother. This would be the first time they spent some time apart in a while. "You could use a break anyway."

"Alright. But I'll be back as soon as I can."

"No need to rush. I have a feeling I'll be just fine. After all it's been a while."

"If you're sure…"

"Yeah. It's fine. Go get ready. I'll see you off tomorrow."

"Thank you brother!" with that Al was out of the room leaving Edward to his thoughts.

The blonde placed his head back down no the pillow. What the Hell am I doing now?

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What the Hell was I thinking? Damn Maes and his damn confusing words. Now I've all but done it. Edward will think I'm some sort of creepy pervert. Dammit. "Damn damn damn damn damn…" He hit his head with the palm of his hand. Letting out a sigh he slumped back into the chair he was sitting in. He'd gone straight home after the scene at Edward Elric's house. He sighed again as he thought about it.

He probably will say no… But at least he won't quit, yet. I have until he finds that damn stone to convince him to stay. He closed his eyes and slumped further in the chair. But now he'll probably avoid me.

"Sitting here won't do me any good. After all… He probably won't respond and think it was a joke…" saying this he stood from the chair. "I need a shower…" he thought aloud and headed toward the bathroom. He muttered curses under his breath all the way.

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The next day Edward woke up and got ready. Today was March 15th and the day his brother would be returning home without him.

"Are you sure about this brother? I could always stay here with you-" his words cut off by his brother's.

"Don't worry so much Al. I'll be fine. Make sure to say hi to everyone and don't let anyone get away with calling me short while I'm gone. Okay?" Ed went to the train's gate. "Now hurry up or you'll miss your train!"

"Oh, thank you so much brother!" Al lifted his brother from the ground in a hug before departing for his train.

Watching the train pull away from the station Ed couldn't help but feel a little alone. It's for the best though. He should get to have some fun too.

He turned and started his walk home. It sure will be quiet… Maybe I should call Mustang and tell him I can come… Thoughts started to pile up in his head on the way home.

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Roy awoke to the sound of his phone going off. Groggily he got up to go answer it. "Hello?"

"ROY! I can't believe you're still asleep! You should be up and about by now!"

"Nghh… What do you want Hughes?"

"Is that anyway to greet someone this early in the morning? After all I have some interesting news you may want to hear…"

Interesting news? … Hm…. "What is it?"

"Well! I heard that a certain little blonde alchemist is home alone this weekend."

"Ed? Why would he be home alone? He's probably already left for home with Al."

"So you'd think. But I heard that early this morning little Edward sent his brother home… alone."

"……Okay… I'll bite… What's this have to do with me?"

"Roy! I thought you'd be happy! Little Edward home alone. That's got to mean he's going to come with us all on St. Patrick's Day!"

"I doubt that."

"Ah well, we'll just find out then won't we? You're still up for it right?"

"Yeah yeah, I'll be there. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to bed."

"Wait! I haven't even told you about my little girl! Did you know-" Roy hung up the phone.

"Alone huh?... Hmm…" Roy shrugged it off and was headed back to bed when the phone rang again. Irritated he picked it up, "Hughes if you're calling just to tell me about your little angel I don't want to hear it this early!"

There was silence on the other end. "…Uhm… Colonel Mustang?"

Roy froze. That wasn't Hughes' voice… That was Ed.

"Hello?"

"…I'm here FullMetal. What can I do for you?"

"Oh. Uhm… I'm just calling to say I'll go with you guys on the holiday. But I can't drink, the whole underage thing…"

There was awkward silence for a bit. "Good. That's great FullMetal."

"So… where will we all be?"

"Probably at a bar at first. Should I pick you up?"

"Y-yeah. That'd be fine."

The awkwardness grew between them. Even on the phone neither was sure of the other's emotion toward the situation.

"I'll stop by your house some time on the 17th. Probably in the evening. Is that alright?"

"Yeah. Okay… I'll see you then?"

"Right."

Neither hung up the phone right away and there was simply silence. Finally Roy placed the phone back on its hooks. He just stared at the phone for a bit before heading back to bed. It really was a bad day to get up. He was already exhausted.

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Ed just stared at the phone after Roy had hung up, listening to the 'beep… beep… beep' noises. He slowly lowered the phone back onto its hooks. I can't believe… I'm going drinking………with Mustang.

He felt all sorts of emotions stir within him. What do I do now? Maybe I should just call him back and say I can't go… "Gah." His shoulders slumped and he walked to the kitchen to make himself some lunch.

That night Ed had the worst sleep he'd had in his life. He tossed and turned all night long before he fell out of bed with a 'thump' at 3 am. "Nggghhnnn…" Slowly he made his was back into bed looking over at the clock.

"This is all his fault…" with his eyes still closed he wrapped the blankets around him. "And that stupid site and his stupid smirk and stupid aura and stupid stupid…" He continued to mumble as he drifted off to sleep.

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Ed's Dream

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"What the Hell? Where am I?" He turned about and could only see what seemed to be the office. Taking a step forward he found the floor was sand, as if the office had been placed in the middle of a desert. "What?!" his foot was starting to sink.

"GAH!! Leggo!!" He clapped his hands together and placed them on the floor in hopes of freeing himself, to no avail. In fact, his hands started to sink along with his feet. "AHhhh!!" He struggled to break free only to be sucked down more. "THIS SUCKS!!"

"Heh… Need a hand FullMetal?"

Looking up to see who was laughing at him in a time like this only to see the person he was sure was the blame for this, Roy Mustang. Ed could only glare at him as his body began to sink farther down. "This is somehow YOUR fault isn't it?!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about FullMetal."

"Why the hell aren't YOU sinking?!!"

"Because I don't feel like sinking. It would all be rather inconvenient."

"That doesn't even make sense! Get me out of this NOW!"

"Now now… No need to yell FullMetal. After all, aren't you a little curious about what's on the other side?"

"I'll be dead is what! No one lives without air! Get me out NOW!!"

"Just relax FullMetal. Go with it." And with that Roy sank down through the sand.

"Get back here you bastard!" Ed had sunk all the way to his shoulder by this time. "Damn it. What am I suppose to do? Wait here and accept death?"

"Now there's an idea."

"Roy you bastard get me out of this at once!"

"I am not Roy."

Ed looked about as best he could and finally looked up. To this his eyes widened. "You gotta be joking…"

"This is no joke."

"Great. Why does it have to be you? Brilliant."

"You should just go with it Alchemist."

"Gah. Death has to be better than this." With that he was sucked down all the way to his chin.

"If that is what you want then why not just see what's on the other side?" With that they too vanished beneath the sand.

"This so sucks." Slowly his head sinks beneath the sand.

"Ed?"

Looking up Ed saw Winry standing next to him.

"Do you need a hand Ed?"

Ed tried greatly to say 'yes' but couldn't because his mouth was covered by sand. He looked to her with pleading eyes.

"Ed?"

He sank further in the sand.

"Alright Ed. If you want to stay in that sand by all means. Good Bye Edward." With that she too vanished beneath the sand.

Edward's eyes closed as he was brought completely under the sand.

Drip… Drip… Drip…

"Ahhhhh!!!" He was falling. Fast. As if he were incased in a drop of water.

Sploosh!

"Nnghhh…Where am I now?" he grumbled while rubbing his eyes, he looked around only to see darkness. "Eh? I can talk?"

"Oh good. You decided to come. I was almost certain you'd leave with that girl. I'm glad you decided to come here instead."

He turned around to come face to face with Roy. He just glared at him. "Where the hell am I? Let me go home."

"You don't recognize this place Edward?"

Looking around it seemed as though he'd been transported back to his home. "…"

"Yes? It's beautiful isn't it?"

"This is my home…"

"So it would seem."

Just then his brother ran by. Reaching out to touch him his hand passed through the suit of armor.

"Al…"

His brother seemed happy as he ran with Winry through the fields towards her house. It was as if they couldn't see him.

The scene was suddenly dark again.

"Interesting…"

"…What the hell's going on?"

Suddenly it was as if Edward had been sent to another world. "Wha?" He spun around to look for Roy. All he saw was a forest. Or at least he thought it was a forest, but the trees were different colors.

"Where are you, you bastard?!"

"Where are you? When are you?"

"What?" Looking around Ed noticed a cat. "…"

"What you search for is far past here. Can you find it?"

"… 'what I search for'? What is that?"

"Can you find it?"

"How can I find it if I don't know what it is?!"

"You'll see young Edward." The cat vanished into thin air.

"What?! How'd you know my name? I'm so confused!" Sitting down on a log he rested his head in his hands. "Where am I?"

"Why you're here of course. Where else would you be?"

His head shot up at the voice. "Y-you're-"

"I am simply me. And you are simply you. And what you seek is simply him."

"What?"

"Don't give up." With that the person turned into a moth and flew away.

"This place is crazy…"

"You think this is bad? Just think what will happen if you don't find what you need to find."

"And what per say is that?" the blonde looked around for a moment in search for the owner of the voice. "Where are you?"

"Down here! You really must hurry along now."

Ed couldn't help but stare. A flower. A TALKING flower. "Right. This is weird enough for me." He stood up and looked around. "But which way to go…"

"Just follow what you think is right young alchemist."

"Great." With that he walked off deeper into the forest. He passed by many weird sights. He could have sworn he'd saw bears playing hockey and toys playing with people. After what seemed like forever he came across a small house. "It's gotta be better than this forest…" He slowly approached the door. "Hello?" He tapped on the door. "Is anyone home?"

"Go away. I'm very busy and no one is here! Now be gone!"

Edward stood there bewildered. He blinked and was about to knock on the door again.

"I said be gone! What you seek is not here!"

"……Alright then… Could you perhaps tell me where to go from here?"

"Off my step!"

"…This sucks." With that he departed from the house back into the woods. He walked and walked. "I'm thirsty… I wonder if I can transmute something into juice here…"

"Come this way young wanderer."

"Eh? What now?" He followed the voice to a large lake.

"Take a drink from my waters young wanderer."

"Oddly… I don't really trust talking anything that tells me to eat or drink of it."

Out of the water a form appeared. It was a woman clad in classical Japanese attire. "I am not the water itself. I am a nymph that lives in these waters. If you are thirsty you must drink of this water."

"…I'm outta here." He turned and walked away leaving the water nymph behind. "This place is crazier than Maes."

So once again the alchemist found himself walking. He approached an opening. "I wonder what weird thing will come talk to me now. Telling me I have to find something that I don't know what is."

"You do indeed know. You just have yet to figure it out."

"What?" He glared at the owner of the voice. It was a man with brown hair sitting on a rock in normal clothes.

"No need to glare. Goodness."

"…You look normal… Are you normal? Can you tell me where I am? Or what I'm supposed to be looking for? Can you help me?"

"Ah ha ha… I am indeed normal. I can not answer those for you. You must figure it out on your own." The man frowned slightly as if in thought. "Though I do feel it's a tad unfair to you."

"Yes! Help me please!!"

"Very well, you must travel to a place where what you seek is. It will not be too far yet not too close. You must find it soon before it is too late." He smiled back at the alchemist.

"Can't ANYONE give me a straight forward answer in this place!?"

"Have faith young Edward. You'll find it soon enough." With that a white dragon came and took the man away.

"WHAT WAY DO I GO?" He called as the man was carried away.

"Go Where It Seems RIGHT."

"…Same thing the flower said…" He stood in the clearing trying to think. His feet started to move on their own. "What?!" They kept moving until he was at a rather odd looking building.

Ed tilted his head in hopes that would make it seem any better, but it didn't. "What kind of place is this?"

"Welcome Edward. Please. Come in."

His legs were moving on their own again. As soon as he'd walked past the doors they shut behind him. He was surrounded by darkness again. "Where-"

Blinding lights flash on. "'Are you?' Why Edward, you are here. Where else would you be?"

"………I was so right. IT IS YOUR FAULT!!"

"Not really. In fact this is just what happened. One thing led to another… and well…"

"Cut the crap Roy! Get me back home now!"

"But then you'll never know what you came all this way for…"

"I don't care! I wanna go home now!"

"Very well…" Roy snapped his fingers and the house, the forest, the world all vanished. "Happy?"

"Am I home yet?"

"Silly, you never left."

"What?"

"And the thing you were searching for so badly… interesting really…"

"What?"

"Was me."

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Edward sat straight up in bed. "WHAT?!" He was breathing heavily and his heart was racing. Looking around he found himself in his room. He wiped his forehead. He was covered in a cold sweat. "…That was the weirdest dream ever… I need a shower."

What on earth was that dream? He shook his head and sighed. He got out of bed and headed towards the bathroom to clean up. I'm sure today will suck.

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Roy on the other hand had a wonderful night of sleep. It was rather strange but his dreams were all very relaxing and happy. Not that he minded, but it was still strange. He was almost certain that a small blonde had made it into his dreams too.

I'll have to keep that to myself… If either Ed or Hughes found out I'm sure that one of them would kill me. He got out of bed and went to get ready for the day. After all there was only one more day until St. Patrick's Day and he was very excited.

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LCA: TADA!!!! Wasn't that fun?! -beams- I thought so. In fact I think I must be a scatter brain, 'cause in Ed's dream there were a lot of different manga references. It was weird. It's like what would happen if I was allowed to drink and read manga. Yep yep.

Oh the insanity!! But that's the end of this chapter. I think next chapter I'll actually try to get the holiday in, seeing as how it's now been a year since I started this fanfiction. Ah well stuff happens.

Also if anyone reads this anymore, thanks for reading!

Can you figure out what other manga/anime are in my messed up little world? Can you? I'd be surprised if you got them right. And yeah, one of them was Alice in Wonderland, but just 'cause I couldn't help myself! I think of that story when weird things happen. And some pretty weird stuff happens.

So if you would all be really nice, I'd like you to leave a comment? Please? Oh and if you know if it lets me post um…….. More uhm…. 'graphic' things and scenes please tell me. -coughlemoncough- I'd love to know 'cause it's been forever since I've read the rules. I don't think it has a problem so long as I rate the story 'R' and have a warning right? 'Kay good. 'Cause it's gonna get REALLY Yaoiful in later chapters. Teehee!

Please Review and Comment! -grins-