So. I got a lot of games when summer started so I've been busy with that. I can't believe it, I finished two games before I started writing this chapter. I don't know whether that means I'm good at games or bad at writing. Well, why not both?

Well, repeating the whole dang story would be really boring, wouldn't it? I haven't watched Haruhi, but Endless Eight comes into mind... So! I've decided to break the monotony a bit. Hopefully, later chapters will be more dramatic and interesting.

Remember, if you don't review, then I won't know how to fix the story :)

Maybe, one day, an actual mirror will appear in this story xD (Names are the hardest.)

Damn it, I'm going the wrong way.

On most Fridays, Roy would walk along the streets in search of flower vendors. Then, with roses or daisies or daffodils in hand, he would head off to Madame Christmas' bar, pretending to meet his 'date' there who would give him information on the higher-ups in the military. But today, he had forgotten, and set off back home through the alleyways of the city. The buildings in the alley were dark and tightly spaced, but they offered a pleasant solitude that Roy usually sought out after work.

The problem was, he knew everything about the higher-ups already. The importance of learning more about their plans had faded. And as much as he loved his 'sisters', it was just tiring to sit and listen to them ramble on. So he occasionally forgot to do his usual routine and took the more quiet route instead.

And now, he was taking the wrong way yet again. But after his initial annoyance at himself, he started to enjoy the quiet and dark path.

After a few silent moments, he started to hear other noises up ahead, and, out of slight curiosity, decided to check it out. He arrived upon a couple of men- well, not so much men as strong-looking teenagers, chatting it up in another alleyway. One was laughing raucously, while the other was, oddly enough, leaning on what looked like a wooden plank.

Delinquents, Roy decided. While he usually regarded those types with distaste, he decided to break the monotony a bit and watch them. As long as they didn't notice him, he'd be fine.

The two boys started walking along, and Roy followed along close behind, driven by both the desire to experience something new and the childish feeling that he was being a spy. Judging from their conversation, they had been out that night just walking around the city. The plank was apparently for protection, though it seemed that the plank didn't have any blood on it, so it probably hadn't been used.

They encountered a woman who was walking along. One of the men, Trey, as evidenced by his partner, started to try smooth-talking her. She gave a few polite smiles before quickly excusing herself and walking away. Trey yelled after her, but didn't take off in pursuit. Roy couldn't help but smirk. He had been in the same situation a few times himself.

A while later, Roy realized that the other guy's name was Rock. An odd name, probably a nickname. Certainly not common around the city. Rock and Trey mostly talked about work, people, and 'those stupid cars the military drive around' (Roy took a bit of offense at the last one.) They talked in the style of men that you'd expect to be hanging around a jail, and Roy was enjoying every minute of it.

"...Sir?"

He hoped the two boys didn't hear his considerably unmanly shriek as he whirled around to face his assistant.

"Ri- Lieutenant! What the hell are you doing?"

"Following you. I forgot something at work, actually, but this seems more important."

Roy frowned. "That's invading my privacy, you know."

"And you're not invading their privacy?"

"The chick has a point." Trey was walking towards them, and Rock was scowling at them. Obviously, his shriek had not gone unnoticed. "What were you doing following us, military man?"

"How do you know I'm in the military?"

"'Cause your fancy pocket watch is showing."

Sensing the danger, Roy grabbed the watch and held it up. "Do you know what this pocket watch is for?"

"I thought all you military guys got one."

"No. You see, pocket watches are only given to State Alchemists like myself. Every one of us is given a name related to our alchemy. And do you know what they call me? The Flame Alchemist. So I suggest you start backing off or..."

Then, two things happened at once. One, Roy noticed that Rock wasn't there anymore. Two, he heard a slam behind his head. He turned around to see Rock standing behind him, plank held in hands, smirking over an unconscious lieutenant.

He walked behind us while I was talking?

In a split second, he watched Rock raise the plank above him, and then it came crashing down over Roy's head.