I yawned as I tried to stretch without using my left arm. I grunted in reply when my left arm shimmed itself out of its sling. I sighed as I put it back in the sling. Fortunately I lost feeling completely in the thing so it doesn't hurt anymore. Downside is that it keeps getting out of its holder. Not only was my arm disabled, my head was wrapped with white bandaging. My head would still bleed every now and then, but other than that, my concussion was getting better. I sniffed the air and came in contact with a familiar scent. I half smiled. I recognize that scent. I shifted my attention to the window when the scent knocked on it. I waved with my one good hand.

"Hey," Maes greeted. Edward pulled down the window and rose an eyebrow.

"Lieutenant Colonel," Edward said, somewhat surprised.

"The people at HQ were a little too busy to come down here so I came to see you off instead," Maes explained. The corner of my mouth twitched. Yeah, they were busy alright. Busy doing nothing.

"Yeah, okay," I said, sarcasm tracing my voice.

"But do you mind telling me," Ed started and glared at who was sitting next to him. "What the Major's doing here?" Sparkles bounced off of Armstrong as he grinned the way he always did. I shuddered. That grin reminded me of when I used to stay at his office when Mustang and Aunt Riza had to go to other HQ's.

Maes adjusted his glasses. "He's there for protection. What would happen if Scar came back again? You're in no shape for a fight now, Ed," Maes said. Ed gripped the place where his automail used to be. I looked down at my left arm. Me and Ed are in similar situations. The only thing about Ed is that he can't fight without his arm, while I can still hold my own at least to keep me alive.

"S-Sorry," I managed to choke out. Ed looked up at me. "If my arm wasn't like it is right now I could have easily been your guard. But I can't really protect both you and Alphonse at the moment, let alone myself."

Maes nodded. "Seiren's right. The Major's here to help. Just try to grin and bear it." He glanced at me, sending me an unsaid warning.

Armstrong sighed. "Children can be so stubborn..."

Ed grew an anger mark as he waved his fist in the air. "HEY, SHUT UP! I'M NO CHILD!" Ed shouted and then drew back. "Anyway, are you sure Al made it on board?"

Armstrong nodded. "Of course." I sweat dropped as a sparkle appeared near his head.

"You didn't put him with the sheep did you?" I asked, exasperated.

He nodded again. "I thought he would get lonely all alone," he said, more sparkles appearing much to my displeasure.

Ed grew another anger mark. "MY BROTHER ISN'T SOME KIND OF FARM ANIMAL!" he shouted. I felt my eye twitch for some reason and I turned to Maes.

"Hey, Maes." he turned to me.

"What is it Seiren?" he asked.

"Can you make sure that Mustang gets this letter?" I asked, holding out a folded piece of paper. Maes stared at me for a second before he gave me a reassuring smile. He reached inside the train and took it from my hand. He nodded.

"Sure, if it's for you, no problem," Maes said and then the train's whistle sounded. He smiled as he put up a salute. "Well, there you go. Okay, you guys have a safe trip. Stop by and give me a shout next time you make it to Central," he said.

Both Armstrong and Edward saluted. I waved. "Sorry, I don't do salutes," I said with a half smile.

I watched as Maes became smaller on the horizon. The farther we went, the smaller Central became. I blanched as I realized what that meant. I bit my bottom lip as it processed in my head that this is the first time I've been away from Mustang or Aunt Riza. I shook my head. What will happen if they weren't there to uphold our promise?

I was brought out my thoughts when I heard someone clear their throat. I turned my head quickly to stare back at Edward who coughed again and then motioned towards Armstrong. I rose my eyebrow when I was trying to find out what he meant. My eyes widened a bit when I realized what he was trying to do. I nodded curtly as I turned towards Armstrong.

"Hey, Armstrong?" I asked, my voice seeming more timid than ever. He turned to me.

"What is it, Seiren?" he asked. I had a shiver go up and down my spine. If I lie to him, I know what the consequences will be. An image conjured up in my mind of Armstrong with sparkles surrounding his entire body as he shouted 'IT IS TIME FOR MORE DISCIPLARY LESSONS PASSED DOWN FROM THE ARMSTRONG FAMILY LINE FOR GENERATIONS, SEIREN!' I gulped as I glanced back at Edward. He is so lucky that I can't kill him without getting court marshalled.

I cleared my throat. "A while back, I heard a big bang of metal falling. Can you make sure Alphonse didn't fall over?" I lied.

Armstrong's little lock of blond hair flopped around as he jumped up. "What is it you say! I'LL GO AND MAKE SURE THAT THE YOUNGEST ELRIC IS IN THE MOST RESPECTABLE CONDITION!" and with that, Armstrong stormed off towards the train cart I could only assume is where he was keeping Al.

I turned towards Ed who was smirking. I growled. "If he finds out I was lying, I'm taking you down with me," I said, glaring at the smirking blond.

"Eh, go ahead," Ed dismissed with a wave of his hand.

I rolled my eyes as I crossed my one good arm over my chest. I turned to the side stubbornly, making emphasis of how distraught I'll be when Armstrong eventually finds out. And he WILL find out. "Why'd you want Armstrong out of here anyway?" I asked, curious as to why he made me do that.

"Right," Ed said as he leaned forward, making his scent come closer. My eye twitched as I swallowed. Thank God that my blood lust is lowered for the time being. "Remember that I told you that I'll explain?"

"Explain?" I asked. Then my memory fluttered to the time in the hospital when he told me that he'd explain later. I nodded. "Why don't you want people to know what you're researching?" I asked before he had the chance of speaking.

Ed went silent. It flashed by quickly, but I managed to decipher it since I'm used to speed. He had balled his hand into a fist and then released it, thinking I wouldn't notice. What's so stressful about whatever he's researching? Ed sighed deeply, as he sat up straight and looked me in the eye. "I'm researching the Philsopher's Stone."

My eyes widened as wide as saucers and my heart seemed like it flipped over itself. "WHAT?" I screamed and jumped up from my seat. I ended up jumping way to high than normal and roughly hit the top of my head on the baggage rack. I yelped in pain as my head hit the hard wood. I landed on my feet as I cradled my now sore head. I heard a crack and I looked up in horror.

The baggage rack gave way and the duffle bag I was carrying had started falling down. "Crap!" I yelled as I tried to run away, but to no avail. I tripped over Ed's automail foot and ended up falling flat on my face. My duffle bag came crashing down onto my stitched up back and I suffered more pain.

"Ow..." I moaned in pain as I shoved my bag off of me. I sat up and glared at the blond. "Why the hell did you trip me?" I demanded, seeing as to I had more injuries than when I started. He shrugged which made me fume. Does he actually like to piss people off?

"Seiren?"

I looked up quickly, heat rising to my face when I saw the towering figure. I stuttered, trying to figure out what to say. "Armstrong!" I said, addressing him. "What...What are you doing, uh, back here?" I asked nervously.

"What are you doing on the floor?" he asked back, making my face flush.

"Uh, well, um, you see..." I trailed off, trying to explain my now on the floor position.

"She fell. And it seems her duffle bag is just as clumsy as she is too," Ed replied. At that comment, I scowled but forced on a smile to try and fool Armstrong.

"Yeah...seems as it is," I said slowly and glared back in Ed's direction. "It was almost like something tripped me." At that comment, Ed's cheeks had a tint of pink go on them and he looked away out the window.

Armstrong just shook his head.

XoXoXoXoXoXoXoXo

I stared out the window, seeing the stars and lights of homes fly past in a mirage of colors. I tried to take my mind off of the earlier, but it just coming straight back down to the point. It was starting to annoy me how much those two words bothered me. They seemed so distant, so far out of reach.

I looked at the boy in front of me, contemplating what will become of him. I shook my head. He was so foolish to be thinking of such impossible realities. It kind of sickened me. Just hearing him say the words is mocking all of those who actually and truly went after the damned stone.

"Seiren, are you okay?" Armstrong asked.

I turned to him, startled a bit at his voice. "Huh, oh, me? Y-Yeah, I'm fine," I tried to say. Armstrong just stared at me with a knowing look. I sighed. "Is it really that obvious?" I asked.

Armstrong shook his head. "You put on a good act, Seiren," he said. "But you don't have to act as much around me, you know."

I sighed in relief as I eased my muscles and dropped back into my initial speech. "Did you know of this?" I asked incredulously.

Armstrong nodded grimly. "So he told you?"

"Told me? He's just said two words: Philosopher's Stone," I said defiantly. Armstrong's face lined with dissagreement but I ignored it. I looked over at Edward who was sleeping the night away. I smiled mournfully. "But I do admre his courage."

"Courage? In what ways?" Armstrong asked. I didn't look at him, but kept looking at Ed. I knew he didn't want anyone to discover his secret. I just shook my head.

"The way he would go to any measures to obtain his objective. He even sacrificed his own childhood to get what he wanted," I said and then closed my eyes. "It's actually quite selfish if you think about it."

"I don't think he's selfish at all," Armstrong said.

"How so?"

"He's doing whatever it takes to ensure his brother gets what he had lost," Armstrong said. I turned to him.

"How much do you know?" I asked.

"Not much. I only know that he is in the military researching the Philosopher's Stone to regain what he and his brother had lost. That's all," he replied.

"Oh," I said simply. I gazed back at Edward who had shifted in his sleep. Is that why he joined the military? For his brother's sake? Watching him sleep made him seem, well, like his age. His face was so peaceful, like he hadn't a care in the world. When he's awake, he seems so much older. So much wiser like he had seen the worst and knows what to avoid. But when he's asleep he seems like a typical fifteen year old boy.

Now that I thought about it, everything he had done so far was for others. The time when I had tripped in the cafe, he made sure I didn't fall. The way he sacrificed his own life to get Al's soul and bound it to the armor so he would live. The miles of research he had done to find more about the Philosopher's Stone. The way he stopped researching and played with Nina. The way he didn't run away when he could have been killed by Scar.

Everything he has ever done has been for others. I was just too dumb to figure it out.

'Alchemists be thou for the people.'

I smiled for the first time ever since the Nina incident. Ed has that worked down to a science. Armstrong looked at me in confusion. I looked up at him. "What?" I asked.

"That's the first time I've seen you smile, Seiren," Armstrong said.

I blinked my eyes. "Please, I must have smiled at least once before."

Armstrong shook his head. "No. This is the first I've seen you smile for two years."

My eyes widened as I looked down at my hands. "Really?" I asked. I scowled. "They are rubbing off on me..."

Armstrong put a hand on my shoulder. "Maybe that's not such a bad thing."

I looked up at him. Not a bad thing?

What the hell is he talking about?

BN: Hello everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but here's the chapter. I left a few drops of hints on Seiren, if you haven't noticed. ;) I hope this shines some light on how her character really is.

Until next Chap! =:D