Hello my beloved readers, It's Ruroni Angel-chan and Mak-kun here with another chapter:Looks around: Mak-kun? Mak-kun where the bloody hell are you? :hands On hips:

AAHHCCOOO:Mak-kun slumps into view wearing PJs, a robe, and carrying a large handful of tissues: I'm Ear Wuwonee-san 'translation I'm here Ruroni-san'

Eeewww... Mak-kun... Are you sick:Ruroni puts about two feet between herself and Mak-kun:

Ets, wust a senus enfecton 'Its just a sinus infection' I'll be fene en a few vays 'I'll be fine in a few days' :Blows nose loudly:

:Ruroni goes into 'Mother-mode': Than what on earth are you doing up? Get your snot covered face back into that bed! I'll be in to check on you in a few minutes, and I'll bring you something to help clear that nose.

:Mak Nods dumbly and waddles towards the bed in the corner of the room. Ruroni stops him: Don't take those filthy things to bed with you! throw them away first. :Mak throws away the tissues:

Well it seems my editor is sick... :Glaces over her shoulder to see Mak climbing in bed: At least he went over this chapter before he let those germs get him. I guess I'll be the one who gives you the four one one this time.

I've finally Found the joys of Youtube and a new site lovely Syldoran-chan gave me, it's called IDKWTF dot com. I've been watching the FMA episodes none stop for the past few weeks ( I have to stop for school and sleep) And boy do I feel it. Pops back Most of this week I've gotten an average of five hours of sleep, and I don't function well with out those full eight hours. I don't know how many of you like song-fics, But I was watching some of the sadder Music videos when I wrote this so I added bits and pieces of one song into this. I just don't remember which... (NOT A GOOD SIGN)

Well, that's all I have time for, I better go check on Mak-kun now... :Walks away and accidently steps on a tissue, it sticks to her foot: Eeewwww! Mak-kun, I told you to throw away your tissues!

Remember, Read, Review and enjoy.

Riza was surprised the next week, when she received yet another letter from the Alchemist. This time she did not wait to open it.

Lt. Hawkeye-

I've seen my first dead body. I know that's a bad way to start a letter but I can think of nothing else. I could stop looking at it. It was a child, no older then one of my cousins. A little girl, her mother held her lifeless body and screamed at us. She swore at us, calling us murders and cursing the air we breathed. Genz pulled me away. He told me not to look, that the woman had lost her mind. But I couldn't help it, I turned back to watch as I was dragged away.

Then the woman did something I'll never forget. As long as I live forget the empty feeling as I watched her pull a gun. The other men turned to her then; they thought she was a suicide attack. They pulled their guns and aimed but the woman didn't turn the gun at us. She placed the barrel to her temple. Her eyes traveled over all of us, before she screamed again. Genz told me later that I screamed as the woman pulled the trigger. But I don't remember anything after the woman screamed. Nothing… I don't know if she and her child were left in that road to be picked off by the vultures, or if they were shown any respect at all. I just remember that woman's scream… It seemed to last forever. Even now I hear it in my ears.

Riza, I don't know why I'm here, anymore. What good can I do for these people? I'm an alchemist, I could rebuild their homes, but then they'd have places to hide while they shoot at my friends. I could bring water out of the ground for them, but then some soldier might poison it. Every thought I have to help them can back fire on me; it could end up with me or my friends dead. I feel lost.

My birthday was yesterday, the others found out about it, they tried to celebrate. They made a cake out of travel bisects and tried to put candles in it, but the cake ignited and all that was left was a hundred blackened pieces of bread. I'm seventeen today, and I feel years older, and much smaller. I don't know how I'm going to survive this war, and a small part of me, the part that knows what happened to that woman, doesn't want to.

Riza, I don't know any more. I don't know anything. I feel so empty, I feel like I'm walking blind. Like I'm walking on glass. I'm so tired. I'm so empty. I'm so cold. I'm so lost…I just want to stop and lay down

Dalka Hesperus

Riza stared at the single piece of paper, the graceful writing that lied of the pain in the letter. She flipped it over looking for something happy about the letter, some P.S. that said Dalka was feeling better, that she wasn't depressed. Instead there was a picture, it was ruff, odd, and a figure leaned against an angel statue. The figure was covered by a cloak, but that didn't hide the fact that something seemed so wrong about it. It was so dark, the figure slumped against the statue, a small bundle in its arms, a dark stain down one side of the white cloak, and more of the same stain over the cold stone statue. Riza new what it was, the blood in her face drained. Next to it read, Lost in the darkness, hoping for a sign, instead there's only silence, can't you hear my screams? Turn away from the light. I just need to know whatever has happened; the truth will free my soul.

Riza stood quickly. The letter was still in her hand, as she strode into Mustang's office. Without thinking she slammed the letter on to Roy's desk and slapped him. The noise rang out through the office. Roy looked in surprise at the equally surprised Lieutenant. "Lieutenant Hawkeye… Have I done something wrong…? I promise I was doing my work. Riza?"

Hawkeye realized she had started to shake. She searched for a good reason for hitting her commanding officer, there wasn't one. "I'm sorry, sir, I lost my temper. I'm not sure why I took it out on you." She stepped away from the desk feeling confused, for once.

"Riza," Mustang stood walking around the desk, he closed the door that separated his office from the rest of his subordinate's, "What's happened?"

Riza looked away from him seaching for something any thing besides Roy to look at, "It's Dalka… I got this from her today." Riza offered the letter to Roy.

He took it reading quickly, his face paled a little near the end, "Let me guess," he let the paper fall, "You want to go to her?"

Riza found herself nodding.

"No," Roy said flatly.

"Sir, did you see the back?" Riza asked trying to change his mind.

Roy flipped the paper over, "Muph… You still can't go."

"Sir…" Riza started.

"Hawkeye," Roy cut in, "Think about it. This letter is dated two weeks ago, if anything was going to happen it already has. There's no point in you trying to help her, you can't do anything, I'm sorry." Riza gritted her teeth she knew he was right but still… "If you did go what would you accomplish? You'd only show her that you worry, and then she'd become reliant on you to be there every time something scary happened. Children need to learn to stand on their own two feet. Dalka stood up by herself until now; this is just a little fall. I'm sure she's fine…" Riza nodded, he was right, "Do you want me to call down and talk to Sou?"

"No, sir," Riza felt very small, "You're right I don't know what came over me… I apologize for hitting you, Sir."

Roy wrapped an arm around her, putting her head to his shoulder, "I'm worried too, tell me when you get her next letter. I want to know if she's doing better." Riza nodded.

Mak-kun, Just eat the soup:Ruroni Offers a spoon of Chicken Noodle to him:

Ferst off Ib Kan Feeb myselb 'first of I can feed myself' :Mak kun hides his mouth and noise below the covers: Secbenb Ib mont twerst thou. Thou puod ob poesened bat. 'second of I don't trust you. you could have poisoned that' Ban Binallee, Ib seb Ib'd be bine en a bew bays 'and finally I said I'd be fine in a few days'

:Ruroni glares at Mak-kun: In the same order, I know you can feed yourself I'm just trying to help. Next, I didn't make it, my dad did, and if you have a problem with that I can always pour this on your head instead. And finally I know you'll be fine Ijust want to take care of my editor. Who is very important. Now eat. :Mak-kun still avoids the spoon, Ruroni gives him the look: Do I need to ask Helga to hold you down:looks at her odd masculent friend:

Nobe, mot ab all, 'nope, not at all' :Mak-kun sits up: Ib'm Bill mot eabing pour oup. 'I'm still not eating your soup.'

Alright, I hate to have to do this. And I mean really I HATE to do this. :Twists his toe:

AABBB... :Mak-kun yells, and Ruroni shoves the spoon in his mouth.: Hob, Hob, Hob. 'hot, hot, hot'

If you'd eaten it without complaining you wouldn't have burnt your tounge. I'm sure it's already clearing your sinuses.

Bat r u dalking babaut, Boo burnb mdy bounge! 'What are you talking about? You burnt my tounge' :Blinks: Bait Ib Cab breath... Bat's in Bat Buff? 'Wait I can breath... What's in that stuff'

:Shrugg: Chicken brouth, Caugion Tabasco sauce, home made noodles, mixed vegetables.

Bashon Basco Bace? 'Caugion Tabasco Sauce?'

Oh... Hello, didn't notice you guys! Did you already finish reading the chapter? well you know what to do, Review time:Ruroni waves good bye: I hope to see you guys next week.