Author's notes- Hey peoples! Welcome to Chapter Four! I really hope you enjoy this one. In today's installment, Kuro-buro goes to Carmen's apartment to try to apologize for the "lustful little bitch" thing. Let me just say that it ain't gonna be pretty lol.

*Note from KCH33*- For any of you that think Kurogane and Carmen have a "thing" for each other, that's totally not the case. In this series, she views him as a big brother figure, and if any of you have read CV's other story, Tsubasa Alchemist(If you haven't, you should!), and thought the same thing, she views him as a father figure in that series. CV and I felt that it needed to be mentioned, and we are truly sorry if we ruined your fangirl dreams. Feel free to keep fantasizing like any fangirl does, but it's just not happening in this series. CV is the creator of these series, and she is a supporter of the Yaoi of Kurogane and Fai. (CV: HELLZ YEAH I AM! But I also like KuroTomoyo, so PLEASE don't try to get me into you're little Yaoi fan clubs, Kay?) Again we apologize.

BTW! I, KawaiiChibiHime33, am in Morocco right now! I'm going to Spain tomorrow, but I'm still editing away for you guys! X-3 *'Kay, I'm done.*

WAAAAAH! I MISS HER! Anyway, February VK has past already. But it was fun, 'cause KCH33 (that's my nickname for KawaiiChibiHime33, if you didn't already know that) and I went skiing for four days! *Happy dance*. Now that my hyper moment is over, let us proceed with the chapter! This means that someone is talking on the phone.

~Chapter Four~

I switched off the TV and curled up on the couch in the den, pulling the old Afghan blanket up to my chin. I picked up another remote and the fake fireplace roared to life, giving off some light to the dark room. My eyes looked at the bright screen of my cell phone as I checked the time. 1:15 PM

I hadn't been going to school since what happened in chorus on Monday. I had no intention to go back either. Not when that thick-headed bastard was there. I still couldn't believe that he had said something like that to me. I was just asking him a simple question for God's sake!

Sarah had questioned why I was home early when she had gotten home from school. I had lied and told her that we had an early release, and I had forgotten to tell her about it. I had then told her on Tuesday and Wednesday that I had taken a shortcut home from school. Fortunately, she had believed me. But, I knew that I couldn't keep the real reason from her forever.

I rolled off the couch and dragged myself into the kitchen. I picked up the home phone on the counter and dialed the school number. I waited for a few seconds as I listened to it ring.

"Amestris Middle School, how may I help you?"

"Hello. Um, I'm calling to dismiss my sister from school today."

"What's her name?"

"Sarah Vega. I'm her older sister, Carmen Vega."

"Wait one moment please."

When she confirmed that I could come pick her up, I thanked her and hung up the phone. I ran a brush through my hair to get the tangles out and put it up in a ponytail. I put on my jean jacket and grabbed my phone and car keys. I walked out to the parking lot, the warm afternoon breeze blowing around strands of my hair.

My sister was surprised to see me when she came down to the office with her things. She followed me to my truck, situating herself in the passenger's seat before closing the door and pulling on her seat belt.

"Are we going somewhere Carmen?" she asked me, looking up with those curious brown eyes.

"No. There's something that I need to talk to you about," I explained, keeping my eyes to the windshield as I pulled out of the school parking lot and headed down the street.

A look of confusion came over Sarah's face. "Couldn't this have waited until after I got out of school?" she asked. I sensed an edge of annoyance in her tone. Sarah is a straight A student, and she hates missing school unless she gets dismissed to go somewhere fun.

I heaved a sigh. "No, this couldn't wait till after school, Sarah."

88888

This was going to be so incredibly awkward for him. He was going to be surrounded by people, who right now absolutely hated his guts for what he had done to their friend.

Halle-friggin'-lujah.

To his surprise, Tomoyo grabbed him by his wrist and dragged him into an empty room as soon as he came through the door. She let go of him and turned to look at her friend, her gentle, amethyst doe eyes now as black and cold as thunderclouds. "Kurogane...Youou...Suwa." she said slowly, her tone furious.

The raven flinched. He knew that when Tomoyo used his entire full name, she was beyond pissed at him.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU! HOW COULD YOU USE THAT WORD AGAINST SOMEONE WHO YOU BARELY EVEN KNOW!" she shrieked, blasting his eardrums. For such a small girl, she sure had some lungs. It's always the small ones that fool you.

Kurogane held up his hands in surrender before his friend could get her hands on a trumpet and smack him over the head with it out of her anger. He slowly lowered them when the rage eased slightly from the raven haired girl's eyes.

"Look, I realized what I did was the wrong thing to do. I don't even know why I said it in the first place to tell you the truth," his crotch gave a sudden throb of pain as the memory of the brunette driving her foot into it came back to him. He then became serious. "Do you know where Carmen lives? I need to apologize to her."

Tomoyo was silent for a few moments. "I am planning to drive over to her house after school. She has tons of make-up work to do, and Winry doesn't want her falling behind. You can come with me then. But don't expect that she'll forgive you that easily."

88888

We stopped at a fast-food restaurant to split some fries because

A.) I had eaten lunch at 12:00 and I was starving.

and

B.) I was trying to take the slowest amount of time possible to get back to the apartment.

When we finally did arrive though, I knew I had to step up to the plate and tell Sarah what happened. The only thing I didn't expect when I got to the apartment door was seeing Tomoyo there.

With Kurogane.

My anger boiled again as I marched up to Tomoyo and right past her, not even looking at Kurogane, to unlock the door. Sarah approached the heavy-aired situation cautiously.

"Tomoyo! What a surprise! I would have given you a warm welcome if you didn't bring that mass of idiocy here with you." I sneered coldly as I wrestled with the lock of my door.

"Hey, now that's not fair," I heard the annoying voice of Kurogane say.

I managed to get the door unlocked as I swung it open with a bang that could have risen the dead from their slumber. I rocketed into the living room with Tomoyo and Kurogane in tow as I screamed "I'll tell you what's not fair! The fact that-"

"Carmen!" Tomoyo cut me off.

I stopped as she gestured with her head towards the front door. We all looked to see Sarah standing in the doorway with her backpack and jacket looking completely confused and awkward.

My anger melted slightly when I saw my sister's expression. I didn't blame her for being confused. If these two hadn't gotten here before us, I could of at least explained to her what was going on. I looked away from the two expectant faces looking to me to do something.

"Tomoyo," I whispered dryly to her, "take Sarah down to the den. Make sure she does her homework."

"But, Carmen I - !" she began to protest.

"Now," I said harshly, "please."

She nodded in understanding. "Come on, Sarah," she said kindly, opening her arms towards Sarah like an adult trying to get a shy child in a kindergarden class to join the group in an activity. Sarah openly went towards Tomoyo's outstretched arms, and Tomoyo guided her down the hall, leaving Kurogane and I in an awkward, and incredibly tense silence.

I waited until Tomoyo and Sarah shut the door to the den before I turned back to the raven. "What the hell do you want? You have some nerve coming here and expecting me to talk to you." I hissed venomously at him.

Kurogane, who seemed too stupid to even feel threatened by my furious tone, said "I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry that I called you...well, you know. And I know that you're not going to forgive me right now-''

"Damn straight I'm not going to forgive you!" I growled cutting him off. "You think that by just saying 'I'm sorry' it's going to make it all right again? Well it's not. You called me that name, and there is nothing you can ever do to take it back. I didn't know that you wanted to be alone, okay? I just wanted to be a nice person and try to talk to you, but you had to shoot your mouth off. Now if you would be so kind and get your ass out of my house, I promise that you won't end up on the floor again like last time." I then turned on my heel and stalked toward the kitchen, expecting him to leave. To my irritation, he followed me.

"I thought I just told you to get the hell out of my house!" I hissed without turning my head. I seriously felt like I was a mother talking to a disobedient five-year-old. I slammed the kitchen door in his face in an attempt to make him leave, but he just came right in.

"I'm not leaving." he said finally stopping in the doorway. I turned my back on him. Why couldn't he just see that I didn't want to talk to him? Couldn't he tell that I was still angry about what he did?

"I don't give a shit. I told you to get out. Thanks for acting like you care and coming here with Tomoyo for your protection, but I'm not changing my mind. I despise people like you. You're nothing but a thick-headed asshole who will grow old and die without anyone but your one friend to morn your passing." I snapped.

"That's why I'm here to apologies!'' the raven growled, growing more frustrated by the minute. "You can hate me if you want, and I don't blame you. But why can't you just accept my apology and realize that I didn't-" he stopped in mid-sentence.

My whole body was shaking. Tears were welling up in my eyes and running in hot trails down my face. I was glad that my back was toward him so that he couldn't see me cry.

"Carmen?" I heard his footsteps as he started coming into the kitchen.

"Just go," I hissed, trying to keep my voice from cracking. "Go get Tomoyo and get the hell out of my house. I don't anything to do with you."

"Carmen, I just-"

"I said go!" and then in a smaller voice, "Please."

It seemed like forever until I heard him leave the kitchen. I stood there as I listened to him open the door to the den and tell Tomoyo that they were leaving. When the front door finally clicked shut, I slowly sunk to the floor. A limp hand covered my eyes as I let the tears come forth, each one splashing onto the wooden floor.

I then felt a small hand on my shoulder. I looked up to lock my eyes with Sarah's concerned gaze.

"Carmen, what happened? Did he hurt you?" she asked in a scared voice.

I wanted to answer, but the lump that had formed in my throat refused to let me get the words out. More tears ran down my cheeks.

Sarah got down on her knees and cradled my head against her chest. The same thing I did for her when she was little, crying out for our parents. I cried and cried, just letting her hold me.

"He didn't hurt me," I managed to choke out, "but, I never want to see that bastard again!"

Post notes- Poor Carmen-chan. So, what now? She completely hates Kurogane now, so where's this story line going to go? You'll have to find out in chapter Five! Byyyyeee!

Your friend,

Carmen Veiga.