September 13th, 1960

"What a beautiful morning!" Edward grinned as he stepped out onto the porch of the little inn and stretched.

"When did you get so cheerful?" Alphonse asked with a sardonic chuckle as he joined him.

"A good night's sleep, a tasty breakfast, and a day of nothing particular planned ahead of me," Ed turned to Al as if he were nuts. "It's been so long since I had a day like this. I'm going to enjoy it."

Al nodded. "Sounds good to me." They had both slept in – a rare treat – and enjoyed the hearty country breakfast served this morning. "The lady who runs the dining room said there's a country market here on the weekends in good weather."

"Well it doesn't get nicer than this," Ed agreed. The sun was up, the grass was still dewy from last night's peaceful rainstorm, and the air was warm but the breeze was cool. The leaves were just starting to hint at changing colors. "Let's have a look around."

The market was in the little town square, a large area paved with old-fashioned paving stones and with a small fountain tinkling away merrily in the middle, though it could not be heard over the pleasantly excited murmur of sellers and shoppers.

There were a couple dozen outdoor stalls set up in the market selling everything from produce to home-made house goods and artwork. There was one stall selling home-made earthenware jugs, mugs, and vases, all glazed in beautiful colorful patterns. Another boasted little items made from silver and beads to decorate people or the home alike.

Ed paused by one stall that was selling elaborate hand-stitched quilts, his eyes drawn by one that had a complex pattern with a primarily black and red design on a white background. It stood out even amongst the colored quilts. "These are incredible."

The old woman who had clearly made them beamed at the praise.

"I didn't know you liked quilting," Alphonse peered over Ed's shoulder. "It is beautiful though. I bet Elicia and Gracia would love to see these."

"It's hard not to appreciate the things people can make with their hands," Ed admitted with a shrug and a smile. "I mean, look how close to perfection an artist can make a work, and without alchemy. It's all skill and talent."

When they walked away a couple of minutes later, Ed had the quilt in question carefully bundled and under his arm.

"I don't think it'll match your bedroom suite, Ed," Al teased as they paused beside one of the fresh produce stands, absolutely overflowing with the late-season berries and a variety of other fruits and vegetables.

"Who says I'm sharing with Winry?" Ed smirked. "This is for me."

"I guess you're never too old for a special blanket huh?" Al laughed.

Ed wasn't flustered in the slightest. "Never gonna happen."

What a lousy morning. Tore grimaced as he opened his eyes and rubbed the gunk out of them. He had tipped over during the night, and he felt clammy from lying on the damp leaves and grass underneath him. He had a crick in his neck, and his stomach felt like it was eating away at his spine. I haven't been this hungry since I was eleven. Emitting an audible groan, Tore crawled out from under the fallen log's arch and stretched. Popping came from all sorts of joints he hadn't realized could do so.

The sun was out, glaring down brightly as if it hadn't spent the entire night storming. Tore glared up at it and fervently wished for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. His wet clothing made him shiver as a cool breeze chased away the warmth for a moment. Stupid outdoors. How could anyone enjoy this? At least campers usually took tents and sleeping bags and cooking supplies.

Tore bent down beside an indented rock that held a couple of inches of water and slaked his thirst with several handfuls of the stuff. Then he looked up again. The sun could tell him where East was! Hazarding a guess, Tore thought he might have drifted some during the night. Either way, at least he would head in the right direction. These woods had to end eventually. Right?

Tore found he made much better progress by daylight and, after a couple of hours, he was dry again, heading the right direction, and he was sure he had covered several miles. Surely they wouldn't have dumped him out too far from civilization right?

The forest was, Tore had to admit, kind of pretty in daylight. The trees were just starting to turn colors and the rustling of the wind through them was peaceful. He spotted a deer as he paused by a brook for a drink himself, and birds twittered in the trees. He didn't see any obvious signs of predators, but Tore figured as long as the edible animals felt safe, he was not likely in any danger.

The forest turned into a clearing so suddenly that Tore almost stumbled over his own feet as he smacked into a large bush that suddenly had his full attention. It was a blueberry bush almost as tall as he was! It seemed that a break was definitely in order.

An hour later, Tore didn't think he could manage to eat another berry. Handfuls had done their job, and he was surprisingly full. His first meal in almost a day, it also made him drowsy. Not that Tore wanted to stop. He wanted to get out of the forest soon. So looking up at the sky, figuring east again though the sun was higher, he kept walking.

Tore was beginning to enjoy himself, not that he really wanted to admit it. He was lucky to have found berries and water, that he hadn't spent the night under the full force of the drenching rain.

Everything was starting to look up until he stopped to relieve himself against a tree. In retrospect, Tore should have noticed the hole in the bottom of the old tree. If he had, he would not have angered the sleeping opossum inside it.

"Shit!" He leapt backwards, not yet finished, as the giant rat-looking creature shot out of the tree, snapping angrily. Tore scrambled back, trying to do up his fly, and tripped backwards, sprawling into the leaves and a sticker-bush behind him.

The opossum grabbed the first thing it's teeth could latch onto which, fortunately, was Tore's jeans. He yanked hard, getting to his feet as fast as he could, trying to shake the thing off!

"Ouch!" Teeth met skin. "Get off me…you stupid…. beast!" Tore spun his leg around and brought the opossum into a full hard connect with the tree.

The grouchy animal let go and fell, shaken to the ground. As it shook its head and started to stand again Tore took off like a shot! He ran for a couple of minutes before he sagged against a younger, very alive, tree, his lungs screaming for air from pelting full out instead of trying to rate himself. His leg hurt and when he looked down at the holes in his pants, he saw blood edging them.

Tore found a safe place to sit down – after checking three times – and examined the wound. It was a small bite really, painful as it had been for pointy teeth. Still, it would need cleaning. Tore had nothing for it though. All he could do was wait until he found more water and wash it, then give the area a good scrub and some disinfectant when he got back to civilization. Tore pushed his pant leg back down and kept walking.

If my leg falls off, Fullmetal, I'm blaming you.

Ethan was awakened from dozing in the van that belonged to the hospital as it rattled to a stop in front of the building. Home at last! Another long haul, but at least he had two whole days off after this one – an unexpected surprise! It was one he intended to take advantage of. He was looking forward to spending that time with Lia. Wasn't she going to be surprised!

Or perhaps he was, he revised the statement as he spotted her sitting outside the hospital waiting for him. Ethan knew he hadn't been able to tell her what time he would be back, or even necessarily the day. She had fantastic timing! As soon as the van pulled to a stop he waved a goodbye to the other doctor on the call with him and grabbed his overnight bag and bounded out of the vehicle.

Lia met him halfway between the curb and where she had been sitting. Ethan was momentarily thrown off balance as she fell into his arms and hugged him tight. Grinning, he kissed her forehead. "I missed you too, beautiful," he chuckled, tilting her chin with one finger so he could kiss her better. He stopped when he saw her expression. Were those tears? "Lia…what…what's wrong?" A thousand ideas sprang to mind at once. Had something happened to family and she had received word while he was gone? Was someone ill; injured; dead?

She shook her head and smiled weakly then. "No it's…it's nothing. I just missed you."

But Ethan was not convinced. "You've never cried when we saw each other before," he pointed out softly.

Lia seemed to have realized that he wasn't going to be dissuaded. "Not here…please."

"Sure." Ethan would talk anywhere she wanted. "Where do you want to go? I'm famished; maybe the tea shop?" He knew she liked the place.

Lia jumped so suddenly she almost jumped out of his arm as they turned to walk down the street. "No… I'd rather not."

This was too bizarre. Ethan did not press the issue however. Instead he ducked into a little local restaurant just across from the hospital. He could get something here and be fine. As soon as they had seated and he had ordered, he gathered Lia's hands in his across the table. "Okay. What's going on? Is there bad news from home?"

Lia's eyes went briefly wide. "No! That's not it."

"Then what is?" Ethan asked, smiling gently. He wanted her to know he wasn't upset with her, just worried!

Lia avoided meeting his eyes for a moment before looking up. "Ethan I… you love me right?"

What? "Well of course I do," Ethan blurted immediately, surprised she even looked like she might question that! "Have I done something to hurt you?" Damn! If he had, he'd never forgive himself. He tried so hard. But maybe…No no, don't panic. He did that too often.

"No," Lia replied. "I just… oh this is silly," she twitched, clearly exasperated, and started babbling. "It's just that Kimo said all these terrible about how a lot of the people around here don't think you're capable of commitment! And that you're just not the type and I'm wasting my time waiting and…"

"Whoa whoa!" Ethan held up one hand. "Slow down! Kimo said all this?" Something uncomfortable wriggled in his stomach. He had counted Kimo a friend since the first day they'd all met. They hung out together, played cards, talked…. "Why did it even come up?" He just couldn't imagine this scenario. What the hell?

Lia's face went red. "Kimo… he, well he kissed me."

Ethan finally understood what it meant to see red. Jealousy wasn't green. It was definitely red. It was several seconds before he realized he had stood bolt upright, knocking over his glass of water. "What do you mean he kissed you?"

"We were grading papers and he just… he did it," Lia's voice faltered. She was staring up at him with a little fear in her eyes. "He… apparently he's …interested…."

"I get that," Ethan replied through gritted teeth. He had a slim hold of his temper, but he really didn't want to keep it. Someone had touched Lia… kissed his Lia. Wait! But…"Did you kiss him back?" The thought brought him up short. What if Lia was upset because she was interested in someone else?

"No," Lia almost shouted! "I got mad and stormed out. I just…the things he said Ethan. They were so… so unexpected. I mean, I've been wondering for two days how many people really think…I just…." She faltered.

Two days. For two days Lia had been suffering, trying to make heads or tails of a bunch of hogwash. Ethan was half way to the door before he heard Lia behind him and felt her hands firmly on his arm. "Ethan! Where are you going?"

"To talk to Kimo," Ethan replied, refraining from jerking out of her grip.

"Oh Ethan no… it's not that big a deal," Lia begged. "He knows I'm not interested. He just doesn't see things the way we do. A lot of folks here don't…you know that!"

Ethan paused, turned, and removed her hands from his arm with a firm but gentle hand. "Then he can tell me straight to my face why he thinks it's all right to make moves on you when I'm not around." He nearly ran out the door. "Keep my food warm. This won't take long!"
He could not remember ever being so incensed before, but Ethan could never before remember having anyone dare say a word that might besmirch his honor or Lia's like this. His ability to commit to anything had never been called into question. Driven, determined, loyal…. When the hell had having goals made him uncommitted to the woman who supported his decisions and he hers?

Ethan had no conscious awareness of where he was, but he knew where Kimo usually hung out after work. His footsteps took him to the tea shop they had only so recently avoided. There, sitting with a couple of their other local buddies, Kimo was drinking tea and playing cards like nothing was going on. ::Akisa!:: Ethan strode across the room at full speed.

Kimo jumped and turned in his chair, eyes wide; startled, but he did not look surprised. ::Elric,:: he replied neutrally. ::You're back! How'd it go?::

::This isn't about small talk,:: Ethan stopped over the chair, looming as much as his height would allow. It wasn't much, but with Kimo sitting, and the people of this region usually no taller than Ethan and often shorter, it had the effect he wanted. ::This is about you touching my girl!::

Almost everyone in the place – about fifteen people all told – were staring at them both now. The usual crowd, Ethan knew most of them. Right now, he ignored them.

Kimo swallowed, then seemed to gather himself. ::I don't see how it's an issue,:: he responded calmly. ::Lia made her own opinions very clear on the matter.::

::I know that,:: Ethan replied. :What I want to know is what gave you the gall to think you had the right to make a move in the first place?:: His fists were clenched. He tried to unclench them. It didn't work. ::Lia is mine!::

::Well then maybe you should start acting like she's yours:: Kimo replied, standing up slowly, casually. ::You're hardly around, and you say you've known each other since childhood, been together for over four years, and you haven't even proposed. Nor does it look like you're planning to. You don't talk about it. Around here, that makes a girl as available as any other. All I did was make a move to see if she was interested.::

::I was fairly certain we had made it clear that we came here together,:: Ethan replied with a startling snarl. ::Our personal life is none of your affair.::

::Funny,:: Kimo smiled slightly. ::That's what Lia said. But if that's how you both feel, why don't you just ask her and get married and get it over with instead of living in separate buildings and almost entirely separate lives that barely seem to overlap? I see more of her than you do.::

That was exactly why they weren't married yet. Lia understood that Ethan wanted to get a more regular life schedule before making that commitment. Or so she had always said. But then if that was the case, why had she been crying? At least she'd defended them. Or so he took Kimo's meaning. ::Keep away from her outside work then,:: he couldn't help growling.

::Hey, you don't tell me what to do.:: Kimo stepped forward what little space remained between them, getting angry now. ::It's not my fault you don't know how things work around here and you're too much of a coward to stake a real claim.::

Ethan saw his fist before he realized it was moving. Kimo ducked though and brought his own arm up in a block. Then, about the point Ethan realized he had actually struck first they were into a full out brawl! Fortunately the middle of the room was fairly open because as people jumped back, they managed to knock over a minimum of chairs or anything else in the scuffle. Ethan ignored the tiny voice of reason telling him to stop acting like an idiot; the rest of him had a much stronger desire – to make it very clear that anyone who questioned his devotion to the woman he worshipped was going to pay!

Throbbing pain erupted in his head as Kimo's fist connected with his left eye. Ethan felt his fist connect with something around Kimo's midsection and thought he heard something crack and felt something give…a rib maybe?

Then there were hands all over them hauling Ethan backwards. Enough men made it possible, though when they were finally separated he realized there were four men holding him back.

Kimo was glaring at him across the distance, doubled over, but still restrained.

The owner of the shop – a small, stocky, middle aged Xingese woman – stood between them, scowling. ::The next time you boys come in here you will remember your manners! This is outrageous and disgusting. Go home and cool off.::

Ethan felt the worst of his fury fading, though the adrenaline was still pumping. Feeling honestly contrite he nodded. ::Yes, ma'am.::

Kimo did not look at Ethan, but nodded to her as well. They were released. Without looking at Kimo, Ethan turned and walked out of the restaurant.

Lia was standing in the doorway holding a take-out bag with, what Ethan presumed was his food. Her eyes were big, and Ethan had a sinking feeling she had seen at least the end of that. He paused, waiting for her to say something instead of staring at him.

"Oh Ethan!" Lia reached up as if to touch his eye, but paused when Ethan cringed. "That's going to be quite a mark," she sighed.

"How much did you see?" Ethan asked, beginning to feel ashamed as he regained composure. He was breathing deeply, and aches starting told him he was going to have a few bruises from shots he didn't even remember hitting him. If he'd kept his cool the fight would have been much more one sided in his favor; but Ethan also knew that if he had kept his cool the fight wouldn't have happened in the first place.

"Most of it," Lia admitted with humorless quirked lips. "Mister Tamoto told me to go after you and he'd bring the food."

Ethan's stomach sank. "I'm sorry, Lia. I don't know what came… no," he shook his head and cut off. He knew exactly what had come over him. "I don't want you to doubt how I feel. I've never felt anything like this for anyone else. You know that, right?"

The twist of her mouth slipped into a small smile, perhaps amused despite her exasperation. "Well I'd say you just gave a rather violent public display of either deep devotion or ridiculous jealousy."

"Both." Ethan sighed. "I've never lost it before. It was…"

"Invigorating?"

"I was going to say overwhelming," Ethan quipped. She was right though. "I think I've just proven my parentage with spectacular efficiency." His Dad's temper was rather legendary after all.

"Let's go take care of that eye and you can eat this before it gets cold," Lia held up the food. "But you're going to have to apologize to Kimo you know."

"What for?" Ethan balked.

Lia gave him a long-suffering look. "Because one kiss is not enough to ruin a friendship over. He was being honest." Yet she seemed to be at least a little pleased at his righteous anger at the idea of someone doubting his feelings for her.

"Just don't tell me you liked it," Ethan said as he let her lead him away from the shop.

Lia laughed. "Not one bit. Compared to you it was terrible and besides that," she winked back at him, "I've never been fond of ginseng."

Dusk was falling. Tore noticed that it kind of came on all at once. One minute the sun was starting to set, the next the sky was dusty bluish purple and a couple of stars were twinkling merrily away in the sky above him as if laughing at the boy below, who was still slogging through soggy woods with almost no sleep, a once more hungry stomach, and a leg with a clearly infected bite that was beginning to throb with every step.

I don't want to spend another night out here. It was the only thought that kept Tore going. He would find Fullmetal and the True Soul Alchemist tonight, or at least some kind of town or a house or something! He wouldn't let himself think otherwise. Giving up was not an option, though his body was tired. Tore had always considered himself in pretty good shape. He could keep up with the rigorous workouts and drills Edward always came up with after all. He was surprisingly good at some of the sports they made them do in school too. But this, this took an entirely different type of endurance.

The emotional drain was taking its toll as much as the physical. Tore's dreamless sleep the night before had not been restful.

Maybe if he just kept towards that bright yellow star poking through the trees on the eastern horizon. Then…wait… star? Tore blinked in the fast-sinking dim. That looked like a light! He picked up the pace. Soon there were more lights. I did it! Take that Fullmetal! Hah! Tore broke into a jog, regardless of his leg. The end was in sight at last!

Then he burst through the trees and found himself standing in an empty green beside a village; Rosewood if he was lucky. Tore looked around, and frowned for a moment. Most of the town was North of him. Well, at least he hadn't drifted as terribly as he might have. He couldn't be expected to hit the town square on right?

Tore turned and, forcing himself not to limp, headed up along the edge of town. He had a hunch his Teacher would be expecting him. The Swan Inn…that's what Fullmetal had said right?

His hunch was right. Ten minutes later Tore came upon the low-fenced back garden of what looked like a bed and breakfast. Sitting comfortably in the rocking chairs on the back porch with a large pitcher of – he guessed – iced tea, were the two alchemists. Edward grinned and saluted him with his glass. "Congratulations. It only took you twenty-two hours to go about fifteen miles."

Tore felt his face flush with irritation more than pleasure at the statement. "Hey, I got here."

"Yeah, you did," Fullmetal smiled – genuinely as far as Tore could tell. "Care to tell me what the point of this was?"

"I figured you'd finally tell me," Tore growled. He had a few ideas, but he didn't feel like sharing at the moment.

Eyebrows arched; Fullmetal shrugged. "If you got nothing out of it, we can always drop you off somewhere else and try this again."

Then again…. "Well, it's about how important priorities are to… to survival I guess. To living?" Tore hoped he was on the right track here. "Some things are more critical than others."

Edward looked at his brother. "What do you say? Good enough."

"I think so," Alphonse smiled. "It's certainly a more articulate answer than the one we gave Izumi for One is All, All is One."

"Then let's go in and have dinner," Fullmetal stood up as Tore came through the garden gate and joined them. "There's a room for you upstairs and a bath waiting. Clean up and then come on down to the dining room and eat."

The idea of a hot bath and a real meal lifted Tore's mood considerably. "Yes, Sir!"

Tore didn't realize he was limping on the stairs until a minute later when Fullmetal gave him a concerned glance. "Are you okay?"

Tore nodded. "Yeah um….an opossum bit me."

Both of the men stopped dead.

"An opossum?" True Soul looked at him in shock. "How did that happen?"

"Oh…" Tore fidgeted. "I guess I…pissed him off…somehow."

September 18th, 1960

"Did you really urinate on an opossum?" Charisa asked, failing to stifle a chuckle.

Tore groaned. "Yes, alright? It's not that funny. Can we drop it now?" He looked back down at the half-page of history essay on the paper in front of him. They were both sitting at the Elric's living room table doing homework. Tore was glad to be back at the house, but he was still grounded.

"Sorry," Charisa smiled, bending back over her mostly finished essay that she was currently going over for grammatical mistakes. She might not be the worst brainiac in school, but Tore knew that the mind under that long. silky red hair was sharper than most. "I know that can't have been easy. Does your leg feel better?" It was their first study-night since Tore's little adventure that weekend.

"Some thanks," Tore sighed, and smiled back. "We got disinfectant on it right off and it's fine now." He just couldn't stay mad at Charisa for long no matter how irritated he was. She was his best friend. She was also, he had never been afraid to admit to himself, damned good looking! He could watch her for hours when they worked together; her big eyes gazing intently at the work in front of her, hair framing that perfect face; those lips that just screamed to be kissed.

Not that Tore had ever had that pleasure. Right now, thanks to Fullmetal, he wasn't getting any of that pleasure right now with any girl!

"Well it sounds like it was a good experience," Charisa replied, still scanning her paper.

"Good?" Tore snorted, admiration vanishing. "It was nuts! I mean, there has to be a better way to do things than leaving me entirely on my own in the woods. It could have been worse than a giant fanged rodent!"

Charisa looked up, her smile fading. "You don't get it do you?"

"Get what?" Tore asked. "That he enjoys making me work my ass off and jump at his every command?"

"Being grounded, the trip… do you understand why Mr. Elric does these things at all?" Charisa asked, her eyes flashing slightly, but her tone still perfectly reasonable. "He cares what happens to you, Terrence. You asked him to be your Teacher, and that's what he's doing. Did you think alchemy was all transmutations?"

She was the only person Tore would let get away with calling him by his first name. "What do you know about alchemy?"

"I've been watching you practice for long enough," Charisa countered easily, unruffled. "Life's not that simple. You should know that better than even I do. He's just trying to make sure you use what common sense is in that thick skull of yours and don't close off your options before realizing it's already too late."

"I'm not doing anything stupid," Tore objected, a little sullenly. "I'm passing school. I'm doing my studies. What's wrong with having a life?"

"That is life," Charisa pointed at him with her pen as if he had just said a point she had been planning to make. "Everything we do right now sets up or ends options we'll have later, and we don't have any way to know for sure what's going to happen tomorrow. Pays to be smart now don't you think?" She clearly meant more than book smart too. Tore understood the need to be street wise.

Tore smirked. "You should be a lawyer."

"That is the idea."

"True, true," Tore looked back down at his paper. "But it's not like I'm the only guy who ever stayed out late on a date."

"Given the company you're keeping, I don't think the hour is Mr. Elric's primary concern." There was an odd note in Charisa's voice; disapproval likely. Closest friends as they might be, she had expressed, once, clearly how much she thought his taste in girls was abysmal. After that though, she had not said much on the subject.

"Like you haven't been out late yourself," Tore retorted. He wasn't particularly fond of most of the guys Charisa went out with either. She was gorgeous, smart, talented, and popular… well off. Charisa naturally drew the attention of every guy in school and, somehow, she always seemed to be going out with one whom Tore would rather have had the chance to beat up in sparring practice than have to smile at across the table at lunch some days.

"Not without telling my folks first." Charisa seemed to have an answer for everything didn't she? "And at least my taste doesn't run towards girls who'd kiss a dog if it knew how to flirt."

"They're not all like that!" Tore set his own pen down and glared across the table. Okay, a couple of them were, but that didn't bug him. He didn't like them for their loyalty. "I happen to have fantastic taste in women."

"Name one," Charisa looked back at him with an even gaze, "One girl you like who isn't praying she'll be the first girl to worm her way into your pants."

The word came out without Tore thinking about it. "You."

For once, the ever-ready Miss Charisa Breda had a moment of pause. Tore couldn't decide if she was furious or inordinately pleased as she looked back down at her paper for a moment. Was she going to laugh, yell, what? The silence made him feel very uncomfortable.

Finally, Charisa looked up at him again. "I wondered if you'd ever say it."

That wasn't the answer Tore had been expecting. Okay, so he hadn't really been expecting one in particular. "You knew?"

"Given how you glare at my boyfriends… I guessed," Charisa admitted. "I know you that well."

If there was anyone who did it was her. Tore nodded, and now he felt slightly embarrassed for his earlier flare of temper. "Yeah, I guess so." Well, with that out of the way, could it hurt to take the risk he'd avoided, trying not to ruin their existing closeness? "So then… if I say… did what you and Fullmetal are saying I should…. Would you go out with me?" An amused but genuinely happy smile appeared on Charisa's face. "When you're not grounded anymore… I'll consider it."

Author's note: Finished!

And there you have it, my one and only piece of real 'bathroom' humor in all of my FMA fan fiction. ;) And it has nothing to do with an actual bathroom. Personally, I feel a little sorry for the opossum. ;)

I hope you all enjoyed this one! The next one's longer again. Promise! Dramatic too!