"All right," Izumi replied, releasing Edward's legs. "But that doesn't mean you're getting out of explaining my stuffing your face, Elric!" She turned to lead them into the house. "And your brother arrived while you and your friends were picking up Yukina and this Yusei kid. He's worried sick and hasn't stopped fidgeting since I told him about the fiasco the other day."

Kyle looked at Edward. "You've got a brother...?" She asked, afraid of what to expect after seeing what Edward was like.

Edward nodded. "Yeah, he's a year younger than me." He replied.

Al came terroing out of the house."bother,yukina your both okay!",He said grabbing them both into a hug.

Jack stared his face wied and shocked,looking nervous.

Yusei smiled."hey Al..."

Kyle had a similar look on her face. "What the hell....?" She asked. Crow on the other hand was acting perfectly normal.

"No...air...can't...breathe......" Edward gasped.

Yukina smiled some."Al....l-lossen up",she said softly.

Al blinked and set them down."sorry brother,yukina....ae you two okay?",he said looking worried.

Yukina nodded."yes Al were okay,no worries"

Jack looked to Ed."hes your younger brother? are you 100% sure of that? hes way taller then you are...."

Edward blew his cork. Again. As usual.

"WHO'REYOUCALLINGSOSHOREHECAN'TLOOKINAMIRRORWITHOU TATEN-FOOTLADDER!?!?!?!?!?!" He raged.

"Wow." Crow and Kyle said in unison.

Jack stood back."take it esasy",he said hideing behind Yukina.

Yukina stared at Jack then looked to Ed."ed ... look gfood!",she said pointing

Edward was ignoring her. He pointed at Jack, murder on his mind. "You......Will....DIEEEEE!!!!!!" He shouted, launching himself at Jack. He was stopped by a stone wall in his face. "What the hell was that for?!?"

"Your temper hasn't changed at all." Izumi said in slightly angry exasperation. "Enough trying to kill people over your short complex!"

"Yes ma'am!" Edward squeaked.

Crow looked at Jack. "And you tell me to get a backbone." He said smugly. "And here you are hiding behind Yukina after pissing off a runt. This time he got Edward's foot flying at his head.

"SHUT THE HELL UP YOU ORANGE-HAIRED MORON BEFORE I TRANSMUTE YOUR ASS INTO A TEACUP!!!!!" Edward shouted.

Yukina growled her eye twitching."EWADS SHUT THE HELL UP AND GET INSIDE!"

Yusie jumped slightly at Yukina.

Jack grolwed."shut up crow"

"All of you grow up and get inside!" Izumi barked.

"Wow. What'd you do to piss her off, Ed?" Kyle asked.

"How the hell should I know?!" Edward replied.

Yukina went inside calmly and sat down.

Al looked to Ed."come on brother...."

Jack and Yuse both enterd quitely.

"All right already," Edward grumbled. "I'm still not sitting anywhere near that maniac madwoman."

"Seriously, Ed. How can she be that bad? She seems nice enough to me." Kyle said as they entered the house and sat down at the dinner table.

"You didn't have her for a teacher." Edward replied.

Yusei looked around."Mrs.Izumi,you have a wonderfull home",he said kindly.

Yukina smiled."and whatever your cooking smells great!"

Al looked nervous."teacher ... can i go do some house work while you guys eat?"

Jack blinked."you not hungry?"

"Thank you, Yusei." Izumi said. "And the help would be appreciated Al. At least one of you two has a good head on their shoulders."

"Uhm....." Even Edward was awkward about the question.

"That is weird. I mean, with a body that big don't you get hungry easy?" Kyle asked.

"Or hot." Crow said, knocking on Al's armor. He froze when he heard the light punch echo as if the armor was empty.

Al jumped some and looked to Izumi with worry.

Yukina smiled some."here i'll help set the table",she said getting up to grab the dishes and such.

Jack and Yusei both looked at Al."it ... echoed?"

"Yeah..." Crow said a little unsteadily.

"Ed, please don't tell me your little brother's a ghost." Kyle said.

Edward on the other hand wasn't listening too well. His mind was racing. Hoshit...how am I gonna explain to them why Al's stuck in a suit of armor? He was thinking.

Al sghed."Ed ... w-we should tell them",he said softly.

Yukina looked from the itchen sadly towards Al.

Edward nodded. "Yeah um.....how can I put this...." He said scratching his chin, trying ot figure out a way to explain without giving too much away. The last thing he wanted to do was force his baby brother to relive the night they'd tried bringing their mother back, and failed. It was mostly his own fault anyway.

Al stayed quite then siad."im not a ghost but im not all that here",he said softly.

"Al..." Edward said quietly, looking at his little brother with worry on his face. Kyle reached over and placed a hand on Edward's.

"Ed, you can tell us what happened." She said kindly. "We've all been through the ringer."

"Yeah, bud." Crow said. "We've all had some kind of loss here, and maybe more than a few secrets."

Edward looked at them all and nodded. He then followed with the explanation of why he and Al were stuck where they were. Why Ed was a state alchemist. Why Al was a soul trapped in a suit of armor. And how he felt it was his fault, and that he'd literally give his life to keep his brother safe. The entire time the entire house was dead silent, including the kitchen, erasing any doubt that Izumi was listening in.

Yusei stared un aw."wow",was all h was able to say.

Jack was silent ,not nowing what to say

Crow for once ws silent as well. It was Kyle who first broke the silence.

"Whoah....and you two have been shouldering this entire burden yourselves this entire time?" She asked quietly. Edward nodded. "My god...."

"You don't need to pity either of us. It was my fault anyway." Edward replied.

Al looked to him."brother,its wasnt,i didnt try to stop you,im to blame too"

"Don't say that Al," Edward replied. "I'm the one who convinced you to go through with it."

Al shook his head."yes,but i wanted to see mom again as well...."

Kyle looked at the two brothers with sympathy in her eyes. She then noticed the look Yusei had on his face. "Yusei, what's up?" She asked.