Edward sighed as she left, and ran a hand through his hair.
"Nice one Ed...real nice..." He was going for a walk.

I'm not toying with you..if I was would I be hiding?....would I be ALIVE!? Alphonse shuddered in his armor prison and moved further into the back alleys, not wanting to meet Mustang's clear and frightening stare when he found him.

::Entering the town a few blocks away from the commotion, I entered a nearby ramen shop and looked around. Men...but all overweight. I grimaced and left, entering a pawn shop next door. The owner grinned as I walked in, hiding something behind his back.
"What can I help you with, young lady?"
I smiled at him; rather tall, but husky man I responded.
"Hello, I'm an artist at the local college and I need a male nude model... would you be willing to pose for me for a few hours back in my room? Ill pay you, of course."
His eyes lit up; she was sent from heaven.
"You betcha!" He grabbed his coat and keys and walked beside her, slipping what he hid into his pocket.
"Let me just close up shop here and we'll be on our way."
I smiled "Oh thanks so much...not many men are willing to pose! Youre wonderful!"
He grinned, his gray eyes masked by his black bangs. His face was a bit scruffy but I didnt mind, it was more of a challenge.
"Anything for a pretty paying lady..." he slammed the door shut and walked close beside me.


With a snap of his fingers, the a trashcan nearby flung into the alley where Al hid.
"COME OUT!"::

No sooner than he'd exited the Hotel...Edward let out a groan seeing the flare and the explosion that sent a small figure flying into the air.
"Great....there's Mustang...already? Geeze...you'd think it'd take him longer than that to get out here." He sighed and shook his head...time to pay the piper he supposed.

Alphonse let out an 'EEP' and slowly made his way to the front of the alley he'd ducked into.
"Oh..Colonel...there you are...I was wondering if you'd been caught in that crowd." Hoping it'd happened was more like it..but it wouldn't have been smart to say that out loud.

::I entered the hotel, the man following me. I made polite conversation.
"So, whats your name?"
I opened my hotel room door, holding my breath, hoping Ed left. I entered the dark room, flicking on the light.

He grinned, glad to have scared the cat out of its hiding spot.
"Now now...tell me where I can find Ed or I'll have you locked up for defying a military officer." He stated at him sternly, and walked towards him slowly.::

Alphonse took a step back.
"I told you I don't know where he is...Honest." He really didn't know he assumed he was still back at the hotel with Shiba...and prayed that he was coming to help him.

"Now, now, Colonel, why would you want to go and imprision a civillian? He didn't do anything." Edward stepped out from a side street, scratching his head with a sigh.
"Edward!"
"Geeze Al, I let you out on your own for five minutes and you're already in trouble, what am I going to do with you?" He chuckled, then turned twin wasps to Mustang.
"You've been looking for me, right? Why drag Al into it? What is it that you want? He knew that it wasn't smart to bait Mustang like he was, but he wasn't in the mood for anything that the Colonel wanted out of him...that whole ordeal with Shiba had been too much.

::I sat down at my easel and the man walked past me and took off his shirt.
"The name's Niko. Nice to meet 'cha" he continued to undress, not even being shy. I was glad... I had no connection with him, so this felt right.
Finally nude, he sat up on the chair and looked to me.
"So, how do you want me to pose? What's my payment for this?"
I walked up to him and looked him over, putting my hand on my chin.
"Tilt your head like this.. and tilt your shoulders like this..your legs like this.." I was positioning him physically and he smiled, and started to get aroused. I groaned.
"Unless you can keep that for the next 4 hours, I suggest you stop thinking dirty.."
He let out a chuckle and nodded, sitting still.
I walked back to my easel and began to sketch him.
"Depending how well you pose and how still you stay, Ill pay you handsomely" I kept focused as we spoke.
"So...how old are you?" I tried to make polite conversation- the silence was awkward.

Mustang grinned and let his hands fall at his side.
"Oh Edward...there you are...come with me. We need to have a small chat...." He motioned his finger to come forward and glared at Al.
"YOU stay here.." He was a bit pissed from being yanked around and he crossed his arms, waiting for Ed.::

Edward quirked his eyebrow and crossed his arms.
"Anything you have to say, you can say in front of Al, I'm not in the best mood Mustang, so just tell me what the hell you're here for." He smiled.
"Or maybe I can guess....it's about the escape of the prisoner, isn't it? Too bad, she's long gone, and not likely to come back. There you have it, so long and have a nice day....come on Al." He turned to his brother and grabbed his arm, dragging him along. He wasn't about to spend another second there talking to anyone...not while he wanted to alternately pound his face into a wall, and kill something.

::He smiled, staying still.
"Im 23. How about you?"
I drew on,
"Im 18"
He smiled.
"You a virgin?"
I stopped drawing and stared at him.
"Thats none of your business... its very impolite to ask someone that you know.."
He grinned.
"I'll take that as a yes.."
I rolled my eyes and ignored him, painting on.

Mustang took a good long stare down at Ed and folded his arms.
"Yes, it is about the homonculous...I hear rumors that you assisted in her escape. Is there any reason I shouldn't lock you up for good this time, Edward? Assisting an escape is a crime you know." He towered over him and sighed, keeping his eyes locked with his::

Golden eyes turned to meet Mustang's dark ones.
"Of course there is...and she's waiting for me to get back." He smiled wearily and looked down the street ahead of him.
"I know..that the Homunculi are the ones that we;ve fought for a long time...but...this one was diffrent..if you could have just seen her..talked with her, you'd have seen that for yourself." Alphonse nodded in agreement.
"She..it was like she was really Human...with a soul and everything, even after I sold her out to the Military..she..she forgave me."

::He gritted his teeth.
"WINRY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!" he growled, slamming his heel into the ground.
"Edward.." He rubbed his eyes. "You know what the Homonculus are capable of..just look at Fuhrer Bradly and how we betrayed us... none of them can be trusted... and did you forget Hughes? Will you let his death be overshadowed because of a 'nice' homoncoulus... Elecia won't forget that... for all her life..." He closed his eyes, taking a moment of silence for his fallen comrade.

Finished with one color, I paused, scratching up my arms and poured out more paints.
He grinned, stretching out his bare legs, a crack echoed in the room. I looked to him.
"Do you need a break? Im sorry, I forgot to ask..."
He smiled and got back to position. "Not at all..the sooner youre done your painting, the sooner I get my payment, right?"
I sighed and nodded. God forbid if any man saw the art in painting nudes...

"What?" Edward turned with a confused gaze.
"No..Winry isn't--" He stopped and slapped his forehead.
Shiba.
Shiba HATES Military.
Shiba has a secret to hide.
Mustang.
Mustang, COLONEL Mustang.
Military.
Can't find out about Shiba.
Can't find out about Shiba's secret.
"You...You're right..she doesn't." He looked away and locked his jaw.
"...Fine..she's told me that she wants to come back sometime..she may do it soon..wait for her here then..then you'll see..." He sighed.
"And no...I didn't forget Brigadier General Hughes...how could I?" He turned back to Mustang and glared.
"So don't make it out like I have."

::He groaned, leaning his weight onto one foot and sighed.
"Then why bring up Winry at all, Ed? You know you dont have the balls to tell her how u feel.." he grinned and pulled off his glove and looked over his nails.
"I actually feel kind of bad for that girl... she's such a sweet person, and takes care of your damaged body all the time.. yet you leave her time after time... leaving her hanging..not knowing if you'll return...or return her feelings...immature..." he let out a tch and about faced.
"When the homonculus show up, Ill be in the Holiday Inn at the edge of town. Armstrong will be joining me...so dont disappoint me Edward...if she isn't in custody within a week from today, youre going to go look for her. The we'll take actions from there..." He pulled his glove back on and ran his hand over his sleek black hair and waved back, not turning around.
"I'm counting on you two.."

A few hours had passed and i sat back, wiping the sweat from my brow. Finally... not what i had hoped to hand in... but it was a male.
He smiled and walked beside me, pressing his body to mine.
"Ohh, you captured me very well..." He put his arm on my shoulder.
I smiled "Thanks...im getting better at portraits.."
He grinned and went behind me, pulling my hair to one side and pressed his lips to my neck. I jumped and turned around.
"HEY! What are you doing?"
He smiled and picked up the painting.
"I want my payment...Or ill tear this..." He seemed to pull the knife out of nowhere and held it to my canvas. My eyes widened and I stood, motionless and dumbstruck, not knowing what to respond. Lose my innocence to an ass for art...or lose a whole days worth of a painting that i didnt even like but had to hand in anyway....::

((And this lovies is when the calvary rides in =3))
"Mustang.." Edward growled out, while Alphonse held him back.
"Let it go Edward..we can't dissapoint her." Ed let out a begrudged sigh and jerked out of his brother's grasp.
"Fine." He turned and headed back to the hotel..he had to warn Shiba about Mustang...he didn't want them to find her.

"--l I know what I'm doing, just leave it to me..." Edward turned the key in the lock and poked his head inside, hoping that he wasn't dis-- He stopped, eyes wide and unbelieving.
"Shiba?" He squeaked.
"What's...what.." He moved inside and stood there.
"I think you'd better go now pal." He said at last.

[XD Ed saves the day.."]
My eyes widened as Ed entered the room; I heard a tear and a malicious laugh. Dropping the canvas, the guy took up his clothes and something else I couldn't make out and ran out of the door, pulling on his boxers.
My eyes were frozen to the carved painting... I fell to my knees, motionless and mouth ajar.
I looked to my hands and clenched them, I looked to the floor and hid my eyes and anger.
My heart raced... I was so close to having a great painting..alchemy was no good on repairing art...I've tried it... I sniffeld.
"Edward...why.." I whispered. I jerked my head up and stared to him angrily.
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT? My..painting... I was willing to give him what he wanted... My painting was beautiful...This... is why I hate men so much... never see art as an innocent thing..just a way to have their way with us girls... thats why.." I sniffed, pausing for a moment, "Thats why I paint women all the time... the girls at school are easy and get male models anytime they please... I..need to be more like them..." My hands shook with anger and sadness all at once. I looked to the floor again and sobbed.::

He just stood there, he wanted so badly to run after the bastard and make him pay for what he'd done..but there wasn't any time for that.
"Shiba...listen...your painting...is going to have to wait..I want you to get out of here, get out of town altogether...go someplace that's safe..Mustang...I just want you to stay safe...and out of Military's hands."
He moved beside her and placed his hand gently on her shoulder.
"Don't think that way..Shiba...it's not going to make a bit of diffrence what you do to get your models..if it destroys what you've worked hard to obtain with your art...Equivalent Exchange..I still hold by it..now please..you've got to get packed."

::I wiped my face on my arm and stood silently, pushing his hand off my shoulder.
"So you want me to go away?! Fine..." This was most likely about me wanting to paint him nude...I had an urge to bite my tongue at that moment..but I was no coward. I knew I shouldn't have let him undress...it did change things between us... I did find it hard to look into his amber eyes...I couldn't help but see him differently now...I walked over to where my backpack was and froze. It was gone. I gritted my teeth. My photos..money... secrets... diary...my brush...under garments... amongst other things.. were in that backpack. I Made a fist and stormed up to the torn painting and I had at it, ripping it with so much anger, I let out grunts and groans as it got harder to tear... I just cried harder, keeling on the floor in a distraught despair I couldn't handle.
I wasted my day.
Lost my chance with Ed.
He was now pushing me away..to be alone again..
I lost my precious memories...
My hairbrush...
I looked up to him, my eyes streaming.
"Im going... dont worry.." I looked back down to the floor and picked up my wet, but clean brushes, and tossed them into my bag. I stood and closed the paint jars and tossed them into the bag and collapsed my fold up easel and tucked it away.
I gathered my things, pulling on my shoes and gloves. My face was stiff and red from being so upset. I turned around.
"Goodbye Fullmetal..I knew this day would come.. but I didn't know it'd be so soon.." I walked slowly towards the door, not looking back at him.::

Edward rose and watched her pack, feeling both relief and a heavyweighted heart at the same time. He wanted Shiba to leave yes, but it was for her own good..or so he thought..Mustang wouldn't give her any quarter if he knew what she could do. He hung his head when she began to rip at her canvas, destroying what was left of her painting, and leaving the peices along the hard wooden floor.
He only turned away when he saw her crying, if he let that stop him from letting her go..then he would merely be putting her in more danger..and that was something that he really didn't want.
Once she was gone, he fell to his knees and his head hung lower.
"Brother..."
"Go on Al....I've got some thinking to do." With a nod, Alphonse left as well.

"Outside the window..." Kiri smiled as she walked along the back streets, she knew that it hadn't been that long since she left, but there was something she had to make sure of...that she and Scar had done their job and drew the Military away with no repercussions.
"A shooting star streaks..huh?" She rounded a corner and saw the Hotel that they all had stayed in, and Shiba...what was she doing out here with all her things?
"Ane!" She waved happily and ran to her ducking through the crowds that seemed to have just come out of the woodwork.

::I glanced up and saw Kiri coming. I smiled and then froze. I shook my head as she approached and I looked around. A somewhat handsome man was walking my way from the other direction... in the dreaded blue uniform with black hair. He smiled and ran his hand over his hair.
"Well well, hello there. Mind coming with me for a few questions?"
I scowled at him. "What for?"
He grinned and looked at his glove "A little birdie told me youre hiding a few things...so please come with me, okay? Dont struggle or run, or it'll be worse on you.." He had my backpack slung over his shoulder and my eyes widened.
I nodded hesitantly and sent Kiri a cold and worried glare as if to tell her to stop right there. I walked up beside the man in blue and he turned and headed off towards town. My alchemy abilities weren't recovered yet... I had no chance in fighting him or resisting.
"You like coffee?" he asked quietly as we walked.
I nodded silently, keeping my eyes on the ground.
"Well, lets get some..." he pointed to a resturant and smiled at me.::

Her steps halted, not from Shiba's stare..she would have ingnored that anyway, no, but from the blue that seemed to materialize right beside her.
"Ane...." She ducked behind the nearest passerby and watched them as they walked off.
"Oh no.." She muttered.
"You're not getting away that easily." She sped along the ground, weaving her way in and out of people, trying to keep up with Shiba and her companion.

::Entering the shop, he slipped into A booth and called the waitress over.
"Two espresso's please" the waitress nodded and walked off, his eyes followed her as she walked off, her short skirt almost riding up the back of her legs, he grinned to himself, then he sent his dark eyes to meet mine. He rested his chin on his hands; I was pretty suprized to see a military man so calm and relaxed, especially around me...that is..if he knew my secrets.
"So...what type of alchemy are you into?" He said.
I looked up from my twiddling fingers and began to sweat.
"Uhm, you know the usual, basic stuff. Im not as powerful as most, but I get the job done. I mostly use it to gather pigments for my paints.."
He nodded, opening the backpack and pulled out my diary.
"It says in here you revive animals from time to time... 'this true?"
I gritted my teeth and cursed to myself...I wish I hadn't kept a diary, but being alone I had noone to talk to or trust with information like I had bottled up inside.
"Y-yes... only small animals.. but I never knew alchemy couldn't be used in that way....so I don't do if often."
He nodded and the waitress came back and placed the mugs on the table with sugar and creme. He grew silent until she walked off with a bow.
He took a sip of it black.
"Mind showing me how you do it?"
I shifted in my seat and looked around, growing more nervous.
"I..do actually. I dont want to tell anyone, in fear it may be used in the wrong way..."
He smiled.
"Do you know Edward Elric?"
My heart skipped a beat.
"I..do..." I said under a breath.
He grinned, somewhat meniacally, lowing his brows.
"You ever think about getting Al back in his body with your alchemy?"
I shook my head.
"I never want to do it on humans..."
He sat back, setting down his coffee and rubbed his temple.::

Kiri followed behind them, but she didn't notice that she was in turn being followed, Alphonse had seen Mustang approach Shiba, and he knew that it wasn't about cookies for sale. There wasn't much time, he couldn't go back and tell Edward...for one he'd most likely blow up in Mustang's face and get both he and Shiba thrown in jail.
"Kiri!" He hissed.
"Huh? ALPHONSE!?" She turned back and stared.
"What are you doing here?!" He clamped a hand over her mouth and ducked into the alley beside the coffee shop.
"There's no time for that..Shiba's with Mustang." He let go of her face and she nodded.
"Fine...we deal with that first." She moved out into the street and peeked inside through a window.

::I fidgeted even more... I caught myself holding my breath... I looked at the coffee...I didn't have much of an appetite for it right now.
He lowered his head to meet my eyes.
"If you know Ed...then you must know something about the homoncoulus he assisted in releasing. Am I right?"
My heart pounded and I shook my head
"Homoncuclus? what in the world is that?"
He slammed his hand on the table, I jumped.
"DONT PLAY GAMES WITH ME! I know you were with Ed and Al when she escaped..." I picked up his spoon and trirled it in his fingers and looked to me.
"What makes you think I can't throw the three of you in jail, hm? I'm not naiieve, I respect Ed but he broke the law...and you are breaking the laws of equivalent exchange. Theres something wrong with the picture of someone like you being able to roam the streets freely."
I gulped and nodded.
"May i ask a favor?"
He nodded.
"School is done in two weeks.. then its summer break. May I finish school...then Ill do what you ask? It was my parents wish for me to complete school."
He sighed and pulled a device from his pocket. It looked like a bracelet and he placed it on the table.
"I want you to wear this, so you don't run away. It will alert me if Alchemy is used on it, so dont try to get it off once on. It will also let me know if you leave the city...so dont try anything.."
I nodded and put out my wrist. He took off his glove with his teeth and then looked at my gloved hands. He pulled off my gloves and I tried to hide my palms from him...but failed.
He sighed. "I read about this...didn't know it looked this bad..." He rolled her hand over and put the bracelet on, locking it into place tight against my skin.
I looked shyly up to him.
"May I leave?"
He nodded, closing his eyes and handed me my backpack and diary.
"I suggest you get rid of things you dont want anyone knowing anything about."
I nodded and slipped out of the booth and rushed out of the door of the resturant.

He watched me leave and sighed, laying his chin on his hand.
"Hughes..." he sighed, and finished his coffee.::

Kiri and Alphonse ducked out of sight as they saw Shiba rise to leave. Without a moment's hesitation, Kiri leapt up after her.
"No wait! Kiri!" Alphonse let his hand drop from where he'd made a grab for her arm, and missed.
"Now would be a good time to tell Edward..." He sighed as she got further and further from him, then shaking his head, he started back to the hotel.
"Ane!" Kiri reached out to grab her friend's arm.
"What was all that about?" Her voice was quiet and concerned.

"Damnit!" Edward slammed his fist into the arm of the chair that the Elric's bag sat in as he flitered through some things.
"What's Mustang thinking!? What's Shiba thinking! I told her to get out of town for that very reason."
"The Colonel caught her before she could make it twenty feet from the hotel door."
"He must have had me followed then...to have caught up wih her that quickly." He ground his teeth and clenched his fist.
"Al...you know that this doesn't bode well for any of us right?"
"Of course."
"Just making sure...I'd hate for you to get thrown in jail and then decide that was the time to start blaming me for things."
"I've been doing that for a while." Alphonse laughed and looked out a window to the street.
"What a mess."

::I looked to Kiri who clenched my arm and I looked to her sternly.
"Kiri...you need to run away and never come back here.. that guy I was talking with...was looking for you. Hes not too happy about you escaping....get out of here and dont come back...I dont want you to be hurt for anything." I pulled away from her and began to walk...to where...the creek, i thought, was the best place to hide...actually, the woods that was near the creek would be best. I nodded, the sun began to set. I had wondered if that man I spoke with was the Colonel Ed had been referring to all the time. I shrugged. It didn't matter. I couldn't leave now, I was bound to this city by this bracelet. I gritted my teeth and thought of ways to enjoy my time while I was still free...for the next 2 weeks. I thought it best not to go back to the hotel... Ed seemed angry with me.. and maybe that was the best thing..I sighed and walked on::

Kiri stood there.
"But..but why?" She set her face and followed after Shiba.
"Ane, this is all my fault isn't it?" She fell back a moment, then caught back up.
"I thought something like this might've happened..that's why I came back..to check up on you..and now..." She fell silent and looked at her palms.
"I am...or because I am..which is the reason for his hatred...I may never know.." Kiri narrowed her eyes and looked back once, and only once.
"But I'm not going to run."


"Where could they have gotten to!?" Edward looked back and forth from Al's shoulders, trying to see a glimpse of blue or yellow from his perch.
"I don't see them anywhere Ed."
"Just keep looking...we've got to find out what Mustang wanted."
"I'm sorry brother...I should have listened better."
"Don't worry about it..right now let's focus on finding Shiba and the Sprite."