(A/N: Here's chapter twenty two! Enjoy! I'm sorry this chapter took so long. I've been really busy lately. And I also I wanted to make the chapter feel...right. No matter how many times go over it, it felt...awkward. Why did it feel awkward? Well, you'll find out why later.

Konohamaya Uzumaki: Thanks for the review! Haha! I think that's one of reasons Hughes is so amusing. He's impeccable timing to ruin moments.

sacke: Thanks for reviewing! Well, I wouldn't have to say to get ready for some major spoilers to FMAB then, do I? But if you prefer to finish the anime before continuing to read an further, I understand.

CrazyWill71: Thanks for the review! I haven't thought about that. But seeing how the story is going to end [ending is planned already] Al would have no need for gigai because he'll already recovered his real body by then.)

Aiding the Enemy

It has been five days since the dinner party with the Hughes, and as promised, Sheska finished copying Dr. Marcoh's research notes over the Philosopher's notes. Wow! Orihime was amazed by the older woman's talent. She was able to make an exact duplicate of the doctor's notes. Being able to fully memorize everything really is an amazing talent!

The problem now was… Now that Edward and Alphonse locked themselves in a room located in the Central Library, Orihime was completely bored. There was nothing for her to do until the brothers finish decoding the notes.

Maybe she should find somewhere to train. But where could she? She didn't know the city well, only being here for a few days. She could easily get lost. And she can't train out in the open, too many bystanders in the way.

"I guess, I could hang out with Hughes and his family for a while," Orihime thought to herself. She quickly shook her head from those thoughts. Mr. Hughes is a very busy man. He is in the military, after all. She shouldn't intrude on him like that.

When the ginger haired girl closes her eyes and concentrates, she could feel Ichigo's spiritual pressure burning faintly yet strongly. That caused a small yearning smile to grace her lips and her cheeks to flush a light shade of pink. Even thinking about the orange haired substitute Soul Reaper was enough to make her heart race.

She let out a sad sigh. She hasn't begun to figure out a way home. And frankly, she didn't know how to start. All she's been doing was hoping for Mr. Urahara would invent a way to open a portal to this world that would lead her to her own. That's practically all she could do. Just sit and wait for her friends to come rescue her. As much as Orihime felt like she was being a burden to them, it couldn't be helped. The auburn haired girl didn't have the first clue to return home. She doesn't even understand how she got here in the first place. She wasn't a scientist like Edward and Alphonse, so any ideas or theories alluded her.

Just then Orihime felt a familiar spiritual pressure. It was same clustered one she felt months ago, more specifically when they were attacked by the homunculi. That means Lust and Gluttony were nearby!

The ginger haired girl was immediately pondering her options. Should she go to the Central Library and tell Ed and Al that the homunculi are nearby? But another question rang inside her head… What were they doing here in the first place? Were they still after her? She remembered Lust mentioning that she was a sacrifice among sacrifices, whatever that means.

Subconsciously, her legs began moving towards the source of the spirit energy. She was quickly picking up pace when she felt the energy became more intense. There was obviously a battle going on, and she had to get there quick before any gets hurt, or worse killed!

Orihime eventually came upon a very busy street where source of where she felt the homunculi, but as her grays eyes scanned the area, she couldn't spot them anywhere. How was that possible? She could clearly feel their spirit energy. Were they wearing some sort of invisibility cloak?

She searched every nook and cranny she could of think of, even searching places they might be hiding in, despite the strange looks she was receiving which were easy enough to ignore, however, she still wasn't having any luck.

"Where could they be?" the auburn haired girl thought to herself, coming at a lost. She was absolutely positive she felt Lust's and Gluttony's spiritual pressures in this area. Suddenly, she felt their energies spike and a small tremor under her feet.

Wait… Under her feet? She glanced down towards the ground. Could they be...underground? It was a possibility. It would explain why she felt them, but couldn't see them.

The problem is… How would she be able get underground. She could blow up a hole on the ground, however, that would attract too much unwanted attention and cause a huge ruckus.

Orihime wandered around, hoping to spot something that would lead her in the sewers. Soon, her eyes landed on a manhole cover.

Bingo!

She just found her way in. She just have to sneak in it without being spotted by onlookers.

The ginger haired girl crawled into the alleyway that was the closest to the sewer opening, yet remained unspotted by the bypassers. She waited patiently for the street to clear up for the most part. It's a good thing it didn't really seem that busy compared to others.

As soon as the coast was clear, Orihime rushed over to the manhole cover. She had to do this fast before more bystanders suddenly appeared. She instinctively called out Tsubaki. The fiery sprite instantly destroyed the covering. Hurriedly, she jumped inside, using Santen Kesshun to break her fall.

Ignoring the putrid smell of the sewers, the auburn haired girl bravely marched forward, keeping her guard up. She never knows what she may find in here.

Scar was in the middle of an intense battle with two strange creatures. They looked human, but they were clearly were not. First of the woman had nails that she could instantly grow into long, sharp claws on a whim, which could pierce through anything. And the fat one, seemed to possess super speed and strength beyond more than the average human. Not to mention they both had incredible regenerative powers.

He wiped the blood that was dripping on the side of his face. It was a problem because it was obscuring his vision.

The fat one suddenly appeared right before his eyes, open impossibly wide, a gleeful smile in his beady eyes.

"Tasty Ishvalan!" Gluttony gurgled, ready to chuck out of Scar's arm. Although, the State Alchemist killer swiftly retracted his arm, placing his right arm on the pudgy homunculus's face, red alchemic sparks flying, completely destroying it.

The dark skinned man grunted in annoyance as Gluttony simply regenerated once more. He felt long, sharp claws reaching out towards him as he quickly dodged them, but managed to scratch him across the shoulder, tearing his yellow jacket.

Lust graciously made her presence known behind the malicious looking Gluttony. Her purple eyes glared menacingly at the injured Ishvalan. "Just give up, little Ishvalan," she spoke in a silky yet icy voice. "There's no place for you to run."

With a gleeful, hungry smile, Gluttony lunge for him once again, arms outstretched, ready to grab at him if he tried to run.

Scar ducked under the fat homunculus sloppy movements, and shot his arm out, making him explode from the inside out, blood gushing out of him. Gluttony limply into the goey water of the sewers with a loud splash.

The Ishvalan didn't have time to relax though as Lust came at him with her Ultimate Spear. He was barely able to dodge them as his long nails roughly grazed his right cheeks. Getting close to her would be very difficult. He had to find a way to avoid those crazy long and sharp claws of hers while trying to get close enough to blow her brains out.

What Scar failed to realize was that Lust was using only one hand. She decided to up the ante and her other hand produced an additional five long, deadly claws.

The Ishvalan grunted in pain as Lust managed to pierce him through his left shoulder and multiple areas around his chest. He coughed out blood. He was hoping she didn't hit a vital organ. Before he had time to process, Lust's claws thrusted into his torso and abdomen. Blood was oozing out of his body in small, rushing sprinkles of red streams.

He was beginning to lose vision fast. Was this it? Was he going to die?

Even though the thought dying reached him, for some reason he wasn't scared by it. Why should he be? If he died now, he'll finally be reunited with his fallen Ishvalan brethren. It would be dream come true to have his reunion with his older brother and all his Ishvalan friends.

The last thing he noticed before he completely blacked out was a strangely familiar orange triangular shield blocking Lust's next blow that was intending to finish off his miserable existence.

Scar felt an odd sensation coursing through his body. Was this how death feels? This odd, peaceful, calming sensation. No… It wasn't. It's too relaxing, too serene, and too warm for him to be at the doors of death. Then what was it?

And besides the smell of unclean, polluted water reached his nose, meaning he must still be in the sewers.

The Ishvalan stirred a bit, willing his eyes open.

"Oh, he's waking up."

"It's about time. I don't know how much more I could take. Stupid woman putting us on damn guard duty."

"Tsubaki!"

Scar could hear voices, but they were so unfamiliar to him. But judging by the sound, one was obviously a male and the other was a woman.

He heard a different female sigh tiredly before speaking. "Tsubaki is such a ruffian."

Who were these people? What did they want with him?

The man huffed. "How long does it take that damn woman to deliver food to that Fullmetal brat?"

Fullmetal? As in the Fullmetal Alchemist?

Anger, rage swell within the Ishvalan like an erupting volcano. Within seconds, his blood red eyes shot up. It looked like he was inside some sort of orange dome.

His mind too occupied with hatred to fully take in his surroundings. This was his chance to kill the Fullmetal Alchemist after his last failed attempt.

As soon as his head hit the dome, he hissed in slight pain as a small burning sensation hit him.

"Careful! You shouldn't move. You aren't completely healed yet."

He glanced over to see a small...fairy? Scar glared at the creature. Was this a hallucination? Or was this another one of those human looking creatures tricks?

Then he remembered the fairy's words. Healed? He looked down at his chest, and to his shock and amazement, his wounds were completely gone, no scars, as if they never existed in the first place.

But that was utterly impossible. He was sure he was punctured full of holes by Lust's inhumanly sharp nails. Was he healed by...alchemy? Even saying the word was enough to make his blood boil. Alchemy was a sin against God. His laws, his creations, everything God stood for, Alchemy defies it all.

So…? Was he saved by an alchemist?! The thought of it made Scar's rage increase tenfold. In a blink of an eye, his right arm shot out, ready to blast the dome into smithereens.

"You shouldn't do that," a familiar feminine voice cut in, momentarily stopping him from destroying his orange prison.

Blood red eyes shot towards a familiar looking auburn haired teenage girl with big, round gray eyes. Those fairies from earlier were nowhere in sight, but the Ishvalan ignored that for now to contrentate on the girl standing before him.

Why did that girl look so familiar? As if he's seen her before?

(FLASHBACK)

Suddenly, a stream of bright orange light shot at the dark skinned man, causing him to jump back, preventing him from delivering a killing blow on Edward.

"Edward! Alphonse! Are you guys okay?!"

All three of them turned towards the sound of the feminine voice to see an auburn haired girl approaching the scene.

"Orihime?!" Alphonse exclaimed, shocked.

"What the hell are you doing?! Get out of here! It's dangerous!" Edward yelled, angrily, most likely born from worry over the girl's safety.

Orihime stood in front of him, protectively. "Then let me be selfish and protect you two of my own volition."

She glanced behind her and vaguely and her eyes widened for a fraction of a second at Edward's missing right arm and Alphonse's half destroyed body. They were more injured than she perceived they'll be.

"Girl, you should listen to the boy and run away," the man hissed. "If you interfere, I would not spare you from God's wrath."

She gave the assailant a half smile. "Sorry, but I can't do that. I can't leave my friends here to be killed by you!"

"Don't be stupid, Orihime!" Ed shouted. "He'll kill you!"

She took an involuntary step forward, staring the man down. "Then I'd just have to make sure he doesn't." A golden stream dug itself in the ground a couple of inches in front of Edward going about two meters in length. "Edward, please look after your brother. I'll make sure he doesn't took one step across this line."

"So…?" The man glared at the ginger haired girl through his sunglasses. "You are planning to protect the Fullmetal Alchemist?"

"I said before, I won't let you hurt my friends!" Orihime reiterated, determinedly.

"Koten Zanshun…," Orihime whispered, hoarsely. On command, Tsubaki zipped straight towards the dark skinned man, unexpectedly cutting him across his left arm, leaving a large gash in his wake.

The man turned towards her, his eyes glaring daggers. If looks could kill, she'd be dead ten times over. "You just don't know when to give up, girl," he sneered, angrily at her. "I'm surprised you're still standing. I was sure I killed you."

Orihime smiled weakly. "You can't destroy what you can't see," she wheezed out, a trickle of blood pouring from her lips.

The man observed her weakened form, calmly. "Why do you insist on getting in my way?"

"It's simple really," she bemused. "I gave my word, I won't let you step one foot across that line!"

"Such an audacious woman you are," the man hissed.

"Thank you," she smiled through the pain. "I learned that from a certain someone. But I should ask you the same thing, why are you so determined to kill Edward?" she questioned, seriously.

"Alchemists twist God's creation into something profound and grotesque," the scarred man sneered. She could hear the hate, bitterness, and anger in his voice. "As long as there are creators like them, then there must also be destroyers."

Gray eyes glared at the man long and hard, gauging his posture, the sound of his voice, and even his reaction. Then they softened into something akin to pity.

"Oh… I see… I understand. You're lonely." It wasn't a question. It was a fact. An undeniable, irrefutable fact.

The man's glare darkened at the notion. "Watch what you say, girl!"

She ignored his threat. "Yeah… It sucks to be alone, doesn't it? However, going around and killing people isn't going to stave off your loneliness! Even if you were to kill me or Edward or Alphonse, there would be other people after you, ready to take your life out of vengeance. But you… You have no one. No one who would miss you. No one who would mourn you. And no one to avenge you when you die. Yes… You are nothing but a puddle of water that strangers step on the street without sparing a second glance. So knowing this miserable, grief stricken truth, you want to die. That explains why you target State Alchemists. Not only are they the source of your pain, you're hoping they'd end it, too." Her eyes regarded the raging man before her, sympathetically. "What a sad, lonely, pitiful man you are."

The scarred man had enough of the girl's nonsense! He was practically twitching in fury and rage. He'll end her now to shut up that impudent mouth of hers.

Orihime collapsed on the ground, coughing out blood. She was too weak and damaged to move as the man came charging at her in a fit of blind rage.

Okay… So maybe arousing him in her weakened state wasn't the best idea, if she can't even get up to defend herself.

"Orihime!" Edward shouted, fearfully. "Run! Hurry!"

"Brother's right!" Alphonse yelled, worried that the man would seriously kill her this time. "Run away! He'll kill you for sure this time!"

If only she could. She was too weak to move. And even she could, she wouldn't leave the boys here to die. They were her friends!

Suddenly, out of the blue, a gun shoot sounded out, saving the ginger haired girl from the dark skinned man's wrath.

Hazy, gray eyes glanced around to see people in military uniforms surrounding the area. Looks like she was saved. The adrenaline that was keeping her awake was slowly fading away. Orihime only registered the sound of someone shouting her name before she completely blacked out.

(END OF FLASHBACK)

"You!" Scar hissed out in rage.

Orihime didn't seem the least bit afraid of the dark skinned man's angry, venomous outburst. She almost expected that kind of reaction. "You shouldn't move," she spoke gently as if she wasn't trying to anger the man in front of unnecessarily.

With hate filled snarl erupting from his mouth, Scar's arm right arm shot out. He was going to kill this girl! He was going to kill the girl that protected the Fullmetal Alchemist, and humiliated him with mere words. Words so potent and sharp, it bleed through him without the use of a sword. And the one she read through him and his actions as if she knew him, made him even more furious. No one can understand the actions of an Ishvalan, except for God or another Ishvalan!

The red alchemic spark of his hand erupted across the dome, but to his utter surprise, nothing happened. The orange oval shaped shield was completely intact.

"You shouldn't do that. How else would I be able to heal you?" the ginger haired girl scolded him, lightly.

"Heal? Is this some sort of alchemy?" he asked, although, anger still seeped through his voice.

The girl tilted her head, looking a bit sheepish. "It isn't alchemy, but yeah. Now, just give me a few more minutes."

Scar glared at the girl, red eyes glowing with distrust. "Why are you doing this? Why help me? You're with the military, aren't you?"

Orihime kept a straight face. "Eddie's with the military. I'm not. So I have no orders to capture you and take you into custody, if that's what you're thinking."

"But why help me?" he growled, not understanding the girl's logic. "We are enemies!"

The auburn haired girl's next actions left him dumbfounded. Was she giggling? He didn't know whether to feel furious or shocked, so he just stared at the girl.

"You are not the first person that tried to kill me or one of my friends, believe me," Orihime answered in between fits of giggles. She calmed down, shaking her head. "And I don't want us to be enemies. I want us to me friends."

Scar looked at her skeptically. "Friends?" This was such a strange girl. What person decides to be friends with a serial killer, especially the one that almost murdered said person the last time they met?

Then he also remembered something else. Something equally important. "What happened the those creatures?"

"The homunculi?" Orihime tilted her head, questionably. "Strangely, they decided to make their leave as soon as I entered the scene." And she knew why. They didn't want to hurt her since she was very important to her. Edward and Alphonse once told her that they needed their sacrifices alive for whatever purpose they are planning. But she kept that part shut from Scar.

"There! You're all done!" the ginger haired girl announced, smiling happily. Her orange glowing dome disappeared.

Scar immediately shot to his feet, glaring down at the kneeling girl, who's bright smile turned into disapproving frown as if she was silently scolding a misbehaving child.

"Are you going to try to kill me?" she questioned. Her words held no anger, surprise, fear, or worry. She asked as if it was a mere common question. Why? Wasn't she scared? Here he was, an alchemist killer, that could blow her brains out any minute if he wishes to.

But was he going to kill her?

A part of him really wanted to. To end her pathetic life right here and now! To eliminate one of the Fullmetal Alchemist's allies.

But something was holding him back, and he didn't know why. Was it because the girl strangely reminded him of two Amestrian doctors that helped to heal the injured Ishvalans, despite them being their enemies?

Orihime smiled when she noticed Scar face relaxed bit. It still held a deep frown, but the anger and hatred in them was gone. That was good. That means he isn't considering to kill her. Good! She didn't want to get into another pointless battle with the man, not when she's trying to befriend him. People should help other people!

Then she remembered the box lunch she brought. "Here!" She held it out towards Scar. Seeing the suspicious she was getting from the dark skinned man, she merely smiled. "It's food. I figured you must be hungry. Don't worry. I didn't poison it." To prove her point, the ginger haired girl unwrapped the pink handkerchief that covered the box. She opened it and took a bite of one of the four sandwiches inside. "See? No poison, at all," she repeated once again after swallowing, holding out the rest of the sandwiches out for him to take.

"I'm not hungry," the Ishvalan said stoically, rejecting the food. The girl seemed a bit disappointed by that, but didn't push any further, holding the lunchbox in her lap.

A few minutes of silence passed.

"So? Are you still going to try to kill Edward?" Orihime asked, sadly.

"He is a State Alchemist, therefore, he is my enemy," Scar answered, bluntly.

"You guys don't have to be enemies!" she protested. "You don't have to kill every State Alchemist! Not all of them are bad people! And besides… Living for revenge… It isn't good for you. It isn't good for anyone," she finished, her voice laced with sadness, her gray eyes holding great sympathy.

The Ishvalan spoke no words, merely glaring at the girl.

"I can understand why you want revenge though," Orihime continued to talk. "State Alchemists took away your family and friends from you. Anybody would want revenge after you've been through."

"Then you agree with me? That all State Alchemist must be destroyed?" Scar inquired.

"No, I don't agree with you!" the auburn haired girl replied, forcibly. "I do not approve of your actions! I would never agree with actions that causes suffering to innocent people! But… I understand why you did it is all I'm saying."

The dark skinned man's red eyes widened slightly in momentary shock. Why does this girl speak like his old master?

"You should...stop killing," she muttered loud enough to for him to hear, almost pleadingly. "Your thirst for revenge isn't making anyone happy, especially not you. Think about the families and friends left in mourning because you took away one of their loved ones. Don't you see? You are doing the same thing the State Alchemist did to you, take away everyone you ever cared about. You are just repeated an endless cycle of pain and bloodshed, and you should stop. Stop killing, you are only making things worse."

Scar stayed unmoving, ignoring the tears that was brimming around the girl's gray eyes. He contemplated her words, words of wisdom and sorrow that definitely sounded similar to what his old master preached to him.

The dark skinned didn't acknowledge her or her continued sobbing as he began walking away. He needed to get out of here before more enemies showed up.

But why she crying in the first place? That thought egged him in the back of his mind. He also vaguely remembered her crying during their last encounter. Was she crying for him? Was she pitying him?

The thought of that made the Ishvalan frown. He didn't need anyone's pity. He would continue his mission to kill every State Alchemist. That's his only goal and purpose in life. Nothing else mattered!

But even as I told himself that, Scar didn't hear the same firm, steadfast vindication in his voice as he normally did.

(A/N: That's the end of chapter twenty two! I hoped you enjoyed it! This was mainly just a talk between Orihime and Scar. Honestly, it went on longer than I thought, but my only two worries are… I hope it's believable, and I hope Scar isn't OOC. How can you make someone so stoic, so full of hatred and anger...be friendly? As friendly as you can make one? Or simply not itching to kill someone he was intended to kill the first chance he gets? But I would say it's a start of an odd friendship. The question is… Would Edward and Alphonse approve if they found out Orihime was helping an enemy?

Well, that's all. Leave any comments, questions, or suggestions in a review, and thanks for reading!

This is a challenge if anyone's willing to do it. Lately, I have really been into genderbent versions of Naruto and Hinata, but unfortunately, there's no stories [no good stories] where Naruto is girl and Hinata is guy. I've really come to like the masculine girl/feminine boy pairing. I've rewatched most Naruto/Hinata moments and they've been...kind of cute, but imagining them in a gender reversal [you know, Naruto a girl and Hinata a boy] makes it downright adorable! Is it weird? Is it weird to think like that?

Anyway, I want to make a challenge... A crossover challenge seeing as I am still in my FMA phase thanks to this story. A Naruto/Fullmetal Alchemist crossover fanfic.

The premise is simple Naruto [or whatever you want to call her] is Edward's and Alphonse's adopted older sister that had to leave Resembool to return back to Konoha at a young age. Of course, her leaving takes place after their dad leaves and before their mother dies of illness. Now once everything is settled Naruto decides to head back to Amestris to see how her two younger brothers are doing. But would they be happy to see her after she'd disappeared for so long and without telling them why?

There that's the main summary of the premise. And here are some rules.

1) The timeline of Naruto takes place after the Fourth Great Shinobi World War. So after chapter 699 of Naruto, but before chapter 700. Even before the Last. You know what? Fuck the Last! It was a terrible movie! Not because it was a Naruto/Hinata movie [I wouldn't be asking for this challenge if it is, but because...the moon crashing the earth aside, the whole thing was just a pointless love triangle between Naruto/Hinata/Toneri [the villain of the movie]. Like really, Kishi? We already know Naruto and Hinata end up together thanks to chapter 700? Do we really need to love triangle? Even if it is to show how Naruto and Hinata fall in love, why a love triangle? Anything but a love triangle! Maybe show them hanging out together, then Naruto suddenly realizing everything Hinata has done for him and falls in love with her, he confesses to her and they end up together. I don't know. Something along the lines of that. Sorry for my rambling. As for the FMA timeline, I was thinking the beginning, maybe before Ed and Al head out to Dublith to meet their teacher, but that's your choice. Do whatever you want with the timeline. And it doesn't matter what FMA version you follow, 2003 or Brotherhood, either one is fine. You can even mix and match both versions if you want.

2) Pairings... Well, obviously I want this to be a Naruto/Hinata story, but genderbent. So, fem-Naruto/male-Hinata. No other characters have to switched genders unless you want them too. Besides that anything goes for pairings. You can make it canon from both sides, crossover pairings, or whatever. Just no yuri or yaoi. Nothing against homos... It's just... Why make the characters gay when they are clearly straight? It doesn't make any sense. But if a character is shown not in a relationship with anyone or their sexual preferences are unknown, go ahead and make them gay, just try to make it believable, okay? Don't want the romance overpowering the story.

3) No harem! This is straightforward! Simple! NO HAREMS! Okay? Got it? Good!

4) Oh, and no dark Naruto or evil Naruto or dojutsu Naruto or whatever. Naruto is still the same as he is [or she is, in this case] in canon. I never got those story! Dark Naruto is no different than canon Sasuke. It makes no goddamn sense!

Well, that's all I could think of. So anyway wants to do this challenge, go ahead and PM me. I would to hear your ideas and read the story you come up with. Hmm, maybe I should start making fem-Naruto/male-Hinata pairing a thing, but I don't know how to start.)