After about ten minutes later, the sky really opened up, and it started to pour. She was still out there, letting the rain wash over her skin, and now that her bangs were wet they nearly touched her eyes. She never realized how much she loved the way her toes grew numb when she was cold enough. She blinked. She could see her breath, and the sun was trying to fights its way out from behind the clouds. She was completely drenched by then, but she didn't care.
The rain was thundering in her ears, so she didn't hear the door open. She did hear it close, and she heard Ed call, "Kairi! You're going to get a cold! Come inside!" And she obediantly turned and followed him into her house. He took her hand when she got to the top step and led her inside, closing the door behind him.
"What were you doing?"
She didn't say anything for a minute. "It's raining." As if that really explained it, but he didn't ask again. Leading her up the stairs, he took her into the bathroom and wrapped a towel around her.
"You're cold."
"I'm fine," she replied monotonously. "Stop worrying about me."
He wrapped both arms around her waist, pressing his forehead against her's. "You make it hard not to." A half smile crossed her lips and she rested her head on his shoulder, and he didn't seem to mind that the front of his shirt was getting a bit damp.
She walked downstairs, her fingers interlaced with his, and sat on the floor. He sat next to her, their backs against the coffee table, and followed her hazel eyes to the window. It was still pouring outside, and the wind was whipping around some straggly trees in the distance around. The gray skies cast shadows across the living room floor, and the sun had obviously lost its battle with the clouds.
"Where's Al at?"
"Probably spying on us."
"But he's such an angelic little guy."
"He's actually just a year younger than you."
"Oh."
There was silence for a few minutes, and then Ed asked, "So where do you want to go after we leave?"
She paused, resting her head on his strong shoulder, her eyes closed. "Find someone who wants to buy this house. Get a new one. Then find my brother."
"You have no idea where he is. Or what he even looks like by now."
"I know," she sighed. "It's a lost cause. But I have to try, don't I?"
"I guess you do." He paused. "Where do you plan on staying while you get your living arrangements worked out.
"Izumi's, if she'll have me. I hope Wrath's alright." Her brows creased slightly with concern, and her hazel eyes seemed distant, locked on the window, watching the rain. "I love the rain."
"I kinda noticed. You're pretty soaked."
She glanced at the kitchen doorway, then called, "Quit hiding, Al. I can tell you're there."
Al walked out sheepishly and sat on the couch. "Sorry."
She laughed lightly. "Uh-huh."
"It's really boring around here," Ed announced.
"Fix the TV," she replied.
"What's wrong with it?" Al asked.
"Something with the wiring, maybe? I don't know."
Ed didn't even bother to get up and look at it. "I have a friend you'll probably want to meet. Her name's Winry; I think you'd like her."
Sting. "Can't wait." There was that Winry girl again. The rain beat on the window even more violently, and she announced, "The last time it rained like this here was a week before my mom died. She had to run outside and get her book from under the orange tree." Her announcement was met with silence. "I'm going to go put the pictures away. I want to keep some of them."
She got up and left before Ed could tell her otherwise.
Once she was upstairs, she took the only picture of her brother and clutched it in one hand while she set the box of pictures back in the closet and closed the door. She tried not to look at it; she didn't want to worry anymore.
And as soon as she closed the door to her parents' room, what should catch her eye but the lightswitch next to it? She flicked it on, and it offered dim light. A shadow was cast across her arm by something inside it. She squinted. It's still there? Amazed, she held the picture in one hand and used her other to support herself while she climbed over the rail. After making sure she had a firm footing, she held onto the banister with one hand and reached for the pen that was inside the light fixture; she'd gotten mad at her father once and had thrown his favorite pen into it because he was working too much.
She was reaching, reaching, reaching... she almost had it... it was right there! Less than a centimeter away from her fingers. Just a little further! And that was when she lost her footing, and she felt the falling sensation in her stomach just before she landed in the arms of Edward Elric. The photo had slipped out of her hand, and it fluttered lightly to the ground.
There was silence for a moment.
"What are you doing?" Ed finally asked, setting her on the ground.
"Huh? Nothing," she picked up the photo from the floor and Ed glanced at it before he led her back into the room.
"You're a little too clumsy for your own good," he said it kindly.
"I know," she sighed, sitting next to him on the floor.
They didn't say anything for what felt like hours, but the silence was not uncomfortable. Finally, Al turned to Kairi and asked, "If you're life was a book, what would you call it?"
She raised an eyebrow. "The Story of My Life."
"That's creative," Ed smiled.
"I know," she kissed his cheek, and Al stifled his echoe-y laughter.
For now, they were at peace.
It's over. =[= I'm kinda happy and sad at the same time. =[ but I have another sequel planned out, and I don't know if I'm even gonna bother writing it. but whateverr. =] thanks to evryone who stuck with the story. review. 3
