Fifth chapter, I think this is the best way to bring in the New Year, watching Death Note marathon while typing up Fan Fiction, too bad every day can't be like this.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist

"Oh wow, this is amazing!" exclaimed the blue-eyed girl as she lifted RanFans automail out of the case it was in. "This parts messed up a little but the overall work is just amazing, the shoulders been modified so that it won't put any strain on the forearm when the blade comes out of the elbow and the wrist had been set up so-"

RanFan stopped listening, mainly because she couldn't understand what Winry was saying. Nonetheless she was somewhat relieved the young automail mechanic had finally stopped crying after the Elric brothers had come in. She had pulled them into a death gripping hug until Alphonse's stomach started growling and he was allowed into the kitchen to devour everything in sight.

"Anyway, you might want to get out of those clothes for the time being."

"Huh?" said RanFan

"Your clothes, you should change."

She looked down at her black uniform, with the metal plate over the chest and the metal armor covering her right arm, the iron spikes on her knuckles and shoes; she could see how her outfit might not be appropriate in a normal household.

"But I didn't bring anything else." She realized out loud.

"It's fine; you can borrow some of my clothes." Replied Winry happily, leading her upstairs. "You can just pick out anything you want" She said pointing to the closet before leaving the room.

RanFan looked at her choices, in all it was a pretty broad selection, but everything seemed very colorful and revealing not at all like her black combat uniform that she had been wearing since becoming a guard. After much consideration she ended up wearing black pants, a red and black shirt with long sleeves to cover her armless shoulder. She kept her own shoes that she could strap a kunai to but removed the spikes that went across the front of them.

As she was going back down the stairs she heard Winry say "-I can do a little maintenance on it, but for it to be fully repaired she's going to have to go back to the person who created it, and just from watching her movements I think she should go back to her rehabilitation; how long was she in rehab last time?"

"About six months I think." Ling replied.

"WHAT!?" Shrieked Winry as she half-walked half-ran to the stairwell RanFan was standing by. "That arm is a piece of art, if you weren't serious about rehab of course it would be in this condition and-"

"Miss Winry." Said Ling softly grabbing the young blonds shoulder "I'm sorry, it was my fault, all of it.

He left the room, leaving RanFan and Winry in silence, finally RanFan said "I'm sorry about the condition of the arm; I should have taken better care of it." Her voice was reduced to a whisper as muttered another apology and fell into a nearby chair staring at the mangled arm in the case.

"RanFan, what happened?"

"More than I can say, more than I know."

"Tell me what you do know, please."

Ling started walking after he ran out of the house, not really going anywhere just trying to get away from the guilt that surrounded him. He walked until he found himself on top of a hill, in front of the charred remains of a house; he looked at it for a second and turned to leave before he heard someone say- "Prince Yao?"

He turned to find lieutenant Hawkeye standing on the other side of the destroyed house staring at him questionably.

"Oh, Miss Hawkeye, what are you doing here?" he asked

"I just wanted to walk and I guess I just ended up here." She said circling the burned house and approaching Ling

"Oh, do you know whose house this is?"

"It's the Elric brothers."

"What happened to it?

"From what I've heard they burned it down themselves."

"Why" he asked angrily "why when they could have a home to return to why would they-."

"They say it's so that they can't go back, but I think it's because they wanted to escape some of the guilt they had left there."

"Must be nice to be able to get rid of guilt." said Ling without thinking.

"Yes, it would be, but as those brothers know, hiding the source won't stop it from coming, only time and action will."

Ling thought of Fuu, his sacrifice of life, of RanFan and her arm, of the journey through this foreign country, of avarice that dominated his soul.

"Maybe we can never run away from guilt, but we can strive for forgiveness, from those who were hurt and ourselves."

"-and I don't even know if I'll be able to get back to Xing now." RanFan finished, staring at the ground her remaining are clenched in a tight fist.

Winry said nothing as she finished hearing RanFans tragic tale, what really amazed her was that RanFan was able to relive that entire experience without shedding a single tear.

"RanFan, do you blame Ling for any of that."

"What?! No, I could never fault young master, if anything it was my fault and-"

"Why do you guys always try to shoulder the burden alone?"

"What?" said RanFan confused.

"oh, sorry, it's just Ed and Al used to blame themselves for everything that had gone wrong, and what was wrong was that they individually tried to carry the weight by themselves and for awhile that drove a wedge between them. I can't help but see that in you guys."

"I see."

"A great man once told me that some people speak through their action more easily than words, but I think those people still understand when someone says something, so why not talk to him.

"I'm sorry, for everything."

"Why do you blame yourself, it was for a goal we both shared."

"Is that goal still there, can we still reach it."

"If we can each carry the burden together we can."

"Then the goal still exists, and we will reach it."

Not the best so far.

Question: should we spend another chapter in Resembool or find RanFans Mechanic.

Read and Review please