[AHHH i actually squeed outloud on this one. I cant stop smiling. OH and i was having a heart attack, the S key on my laptop almost broke!!!]
I grew nervous as he realized I was acting flustered.
"Oh, I uhm.." My voice shivered as I fanned myself.
I looked to the door.
"I'm sorry, we can open it again.." I made my way towards the door again, my kimono still oepn when i was stopped in my tracks... his arms around me. I stopped and looked over at my shoulder at him.
"Ed..ward.." My heart throbbed in my chest; not only was I not wearing anything under my kimono, he had his arms around me as well, my kimono shut. I started to sweat even more.
"Y..youre crazy..." I said, closing my eyes. I almost choked, not believeing at what he had just said.
"I... have a feeling you don't know what love is..." The room was somewhat dark from my shutting the door. I closed my eyes softly and laid a sweaty palm over the top of his hand, which gripped his other in his embrace.

((XDDDD LOL Don't die on me I'd hate to have to bring you back! X33 I like my arm...and leg. LOL))

"Maybe...but then would you care to explain...why I can't leave you alone? Even though it was going to hurt both of us..I couldn't bring myself to ever watch you walk away..I hated it when I made you sad or angry with me...All I want to do is make you smile." He turned his head to face outward over her shoulder and sighed.
"I don't ever want to leave you alone...not anymore."

[IM GONNA CRYYY ITS SOO GOOOOOD]
I closed my eyes as my breathing regulated.
"I..don't know... Ive.. been trying so hard to avoid you after you didnt catch a hint a few weeks ago...I just figured you weren't interested... then I figured youre just gonna leave me anyway...so I didnt wanna be heartbroken.."
I sighed deeply and tightened my sweaty grip over his hand.
"I.. just want to make you smile too.. i don't like hurting you... but I thought before.. that If I hurt you.. you'd stay away..so we..wouldn't end up like this...but you'll have to leave me sometime... you have a life to get back to.. and a little brother who needs you.."

((XDDD NUU Nu crying either! Happy face, Happy face! X3))

He chuckled, and then nodded.
"I guess I was too busy thinking things through to see the forest for the trees....you know?" He squeezed her palm in response and sighed heavily.
"Even if you'd hacked my other arm and leg off that I wouldn't be able to stay away from you. Al won't always need me..and you won't always have school...we'll both have lives that we'll have to do something with...I'm willing to wait that long."

"I guess... but you've been so concerned for your own lives that you dont have time for...love. And dont you still have a chimera, and Scar to track down??" I tried my hardest to change the subject.. it was getting.. awkward and I was still baking, even more now that he was holding me.
I quirked an eyebrow and pulled from his grasp, closing my kimono with my hands and turned to face him.
"Ed.. don't waste your life on someone like me.. I.. don't deserve someone like you.." I tucked my hair behind my ear and looked shyly into his eyes over the rim of my glasses.
"I could never hurt you.. I could never even think of taking your other arm and leg.. I have one year of school left... and Alphonse.. is rather attached to you... I can't take you away from him.. I'm not worth it.." My stomach grumbeld loudly and I blushed, looking down at it.
"hey, i wasn't talking to you.." I said, pointing at my gut.
"We.. really... should find Al, what if something happened to him?"

((Last one Q_Q Gomen))

"That's all military work...I doubt Scar will come after me once I've resigned my post...I won't be a State Alchemist anymore." He smiled then blinked in surprise as Shiba ducked away from him.
"Shiba.." He started to say something when a loud sound burst from the door, Al stood there, holding what seemed like a basket of food in his arms, and his face set sternly looking at the both of them.
"Enough!" He said firmly.
"Shiba! That's not true at all! I'm not going to hide anymore! I want to see the end of all our planning! Kiri said that you wern't as sure about your feelings for Ed, and we tried our hardest to bring you two together! It's not fair to either of you for you to be alone! You both like each other, so why is it so hard for you to say it? To accpet the fact that it may just work out!?" His face fell and he looked pleadingly between the two.
"So please...don't let Kiri's work be in vain...she wanted you two to be happy...that's all."

My eyes pleaded with him.
"Edward, its a job, you can't just quit?! Roy and the others need you... youre the Fullmetal-" I cut myself off....realizing that he was no longer 'fullmetal.'
I looked around then found his eyes...they seemed sad all of a sudden and I went to reply to him when Al burst in. I gripped my kimono tight, not wanting him to get the wrong idea.
"Alphonse! Are you alright?" he seemed a bit distressed as he burst in. I listened to him closely... my face growing sad as he spoke of our deceased friend and her hopes for me... for us.
"Al...I'm...sorry.." I looked to Edward, my eyes filling with sadness.. at the thought of Kiri's last wish. This was kind of awkward to talk about our.. relationship with Ed's little brother... he was probably feeling like the third wheel and he most likely felt odd in the room with us, knowing what Kiri had told him.

He sighed and moved to the table, setting the basket down and taking over Ed's old pillow. Edward sighed with a shrug of his shoulders and an apologetic smile to Shiba, took his other seat.
"Shiba...I...I eavesdropped..on most of your converstation...and..." He paused, hanging his head and folding his hands tight into his lap.
"I can't seem to come up with a reason why you keep belittling yourself like you do. You warned me against falling in love if I didn't want to be hurt, but what are you doing to yourself? Running away from things isn't going to help, and neither is saying that you're less than what you are." He looked hard at Edward, who had averted his gaze to an oblique corner of the room.
"And neither, Edward, is scaring her like you probably did! That was stupid of you."
"Well, what the hell was I supposed to do?"
"You're hopeless, nevermind."

I still stood, I turned my back to the 2 boys who sat. I sighed deeply, tightening the grip on my kimono.
"Alphonse..." I turned around and looked sternly into his eyes.
"Al... I've always told myself, throughout my whole life, that i'd never fall in love, in fear of being hurt, or hurting the one I love. There's.. just no way it would work out between us.." I glanced over at Ed, then back to Al.
"You need him more than I do... plus, between my school time and artwork, i'd never have time for a companion. I could never make anyone happy.." I slid the door open to the spring and slid it silently behind me. I stopped and looked up at the sky, I was looking for an answer... a way out... anything.. I closed my eyes and removed my kimono and went into the hot water, back facing the door. I looked at my reflection in the water- the running water had stopped and it was silent; only the songs of happy birds surrounded the area. I sighed deeply and looked at my palms.
"This.. is what I had hoped for.. why am I avoiding him...?" I muttered to myself.

Edward sighed and reached for a hunk of bread and looked at Al, blinking.
"What?"
"You're not going to go after her?"
"Why? I don't know what to tell her."
"Idiot. You're supposed to go comfort her...do I have to tell you everything?"
"Well, how am I supposed to do that!?"
"Obviously, I do. Look," Al stood and grabbed up Edward's coat.
"I'm not going to guide you through this Ed, you're going to have to figure it out on your own...and if you can't....then you don't deserve her." He jerked the jacket on and stepped out again, having eaten on his way up to the room. He headed down and out of the buliding, wanting to walk around the city for a while.
"I don't know what I'm going to do with him....tell me...would you still be in there? Yelling at him to get his act together?" He stopped to watch a cloud roll by.
"Or would you have raced after Shiba?"

I lowered my head and slid my body down in the water, so only my head was out. I looked back up into the afternoon sky and was lost in a long train of thought. How was Scar doing? Had the Colonel figured out all my secrets? Will Scar ever be at peace? If Ed really did leave the military, would he really leave him alone? What should I paint next? Where will I go after this stay at the beautiful place? Will i be alone? Is Al mad at me?
I sighed deeply. I thought about going to Risembool, but it would be a long trip, and I felt bad enough making Al worry so much.. Kiri, why would you tell him so much? Why... why does Alphonse care so much? I was never used to this sibling rivalry; I was an only child after all, and I could never figure out why siblings would argue and fight all the time.
Then Ed's face flashed in my mind, I shook my head and closed my eyes.
"It.. can never be." I yawned and relaxed my body under the water. It grew silent again.

((Gomen, I've been having to listen to a lesson. XP New project today))

Edward sighed and lay back along the cool floor. Al was right...that was the sad thing...and what made it worse....was that he still didn't know how to fix things..Alchemy, he knew, couldn't mend a heart.
"Crap...."

Alphonse sighed and leaned on his hand, under the tree was cool and shady, a perfect place to think, he smiled remembering how it hadn't been too long before now, that he'd waited right here for Shiba, as armor. He looked over at her school and wondered. What was the problem? He'd been skulking around in the shadows trying to shove those two together, and now...it was like they just wanted to run farther away.
"What am I going to do?" He sighed.

[its okay ^-^]
I sighed and stood in the water and walked out, drying myself off. i heard a door slam from the inside, maybe they left? Wrapping the towel around myself, I picked up my kimono and slung it over my arm and opened the door. I did't see anyone... not even Ed. I walked forward, in a daze and tripped over something, I flew to the floor, the towel coming loose.
"Ow.." I looked over... I tripped over Edward's foot... I blushed and scurried to my feet, trying to close my towel, I kept my eyes from his and left my kimono on the floor as I walked off towards the bathroom, I paused, my back facing him.
"Edward..is Al mad at us?" I said softly. I smelled of lavender and I stared at the bathroom door.

((XDD I got my card box and back up on Flickr if you want to see.))

Edward was half asleep when he awoke with a start to something tripping over him, he snapped his eyes open and quickly closed them again as he saw Shiba coming out of the bath. He jerked up and faced the opposite wall from her and kept his head down.
"A-Al? Mad? If he is it's because of me...it's nothing you've done Shiba...I don't know..."

[XDD I love it!!!!!I want one >.>]
I looked over at him.
"I'm sorry I woke you..please, excuse me." I went into the bathroom, picking up my backpack on the way in.

After about 10 minutes, I came out, fully dressed in my normal garb.

"I'm going out for a little while... I'll see ya later.." I muttered to him, slinging my back pack over my shoulder and walked towards the door, pausing on the way out.
"Im..sorry." I said aloud to him and quickly slipped out of the room.
I sighed, and leaned my back against the door of our room and looked up at the hallway light, letting out a long sigh.

((XDD At least now you get to see his face. Gomen, Last one for now, working on a headache...blast it all, I feel the worst during Fall and Winter. XP))

"Oh, it's alright...wasn't really asleep." He shook his head and stared at the wall ahead of him. He felt a little awkward about the way he'd acted before, and didn't want to make it any worse for him or Shiba.
He turned as she headed out, missing her completely as the door shut firmly behind her.
"Huh? Wai--" But it was too late, he let his hand fall from where he'd reached out to her, and sighed.
"What's she got to be sorry for?"

[same for me, i have some work in plaster to do *le sigh* OH and when you say "the way he acted before" do you mean when he spoke intimately with her, and embraced her?
feel better... i carry a bottle of aspirin with me always, you should too.]
I heard him talk aloud and I rubbed my eyes and muttered to myself:
"For just showing up in your life Ed.." I walked down the long hallway and out into the harsh light. I had to stop at school and get my ArtBin, full of my paints. When I'm upset or uneasy.. I just want to paint. I didn't know what I was going to paint... but I just needed to get rid of some feelings I had botteled up, and painting was the way to do it for me.

I headed towards the school, waving to a few people who I knew in the town.
As I approached, I saw Al sitting under the oak tree in front of the building. I decided to pretend not to see him, and headed for the school's entrance, pulling my id from my back pack. I his my eyes under my bangs from him.

((Yeah, that's what I meant. Asprin or Tylenol..something to make my head not feel like it's going to explode. XD))

Edward rolled back to sit cross-legged and stared confused at the door.
"I just don't understand her...what does she want? Blood?"

Alphonse was studying his palms as they lay curled in his lap. He sighed and looked up, leaning his head back against the treebark. Maybe later he'd go down to the creek where all of them had met for the first time...but for now..He needed a stretch. He rose, feeling his leg tingle since it'd went to sleep, and he moved it around a few times before sticking his hands into his pockets and walking around.

((Oh! I got your Birthday Present up! Go look on FlickR X33))

[AHHHH I LOVE IT!!! I HAVE TO PRINT IT!!! XD THANKIES SO MUCH <3 I FEEL SO LUFFED!!! Noones ever drawn for me before...other than my boyfriend... XD That mustve taken forever!!! Thats Kiri, Right?? (i thought it was supposed to me, i had to read it like 3 times XD I LOVE Ed's facial expressions XDXDXDXDD *ish dieing of happiness*]
(anyway back to the rp LOL XD whens ur b-day, so i can prepare??)
I came out of the building, artbin in one hand and 2 canvas' under another arm. I looked around, and sighed, seeing Al, I waved to him and started to come his way.
"..hey Al.." I said quietly.
"I';m sorry if I hurt your feelings somehow earlier..." I put my artbin in my other hand and wrapped my free arm over his shoulder, my canvas under my left arm, artbin in left hand.

((XDDDD Mission: Acomplished. That's sad that no one ever draws for you, it didn't take that long, about...8 hours for all of the pages. X3 I'm too poor so that's usually what people get for b-days and such. May 29, but youdon't need to worry about it. X3))

Alphonse jerked his head up when he heard his name.
"Oh Shiba.." He smiled weakly and shook his head.
"No, don't wory about it...it's...probably my own fault anyway...I..I should have let you two be...that's all...I guess I needed some time to think about it." He glanced down.
"Oh? Are you going to paint something?" He blushed a bit as she wrapped her arm around him, and he perked up.
"Hey Shiba...can I watch this time?I promise I'll be quiet, but...I don't think I've ever seen you work before."

[^-^ My friend Amanda gave me the Fullemtal Alchemist Movie, special edition!!! XD now I dont knwo what Ill have Vic sign this weekend!! *head explodes with happiness* and yesh ill do something for juu, may i ask what you colored it with?? Its so unique, and now I know what the updated Kiri looks like <3]
My gaze grew soft as I looked to him; he was 17, but so mature for his age, and yet still acted so young, and like a protective little brother.
"I know what you were doing. You and Kiri had this planned from the start, and..I can't thank you two enough for bringing us closer together. But..you must realize... you two will be surely going soon, and I wont be able to come with you guys forever you know..." i sighed deeply and looked into his blue eyes, released my grip on his shoulder and rubbed his hair.
"Love.. is more complicated than you think, especially when it comes to your dense brother and my shy and flirty attitude." I winked at him.
"Youre so sweet, you know that Al?" I sighed, and put the artbin back in my other hand and looked up at the sky.
"Kiri.. brought us all together..." I closed my eyes half way then looked back to him.
"I'm... feeling a little frustrated, and lost, and a little sad too. I don't keep a diary anymore...so when I need to get some feelings out, I paint. I don't mind if you watch... I just have to decide what to paint..thats all. I'm not all that good with scenery... I enjoy painting people most." I smiled at him warmly, then looked at my blank 9x12 canvas.
"I..had always hoped Edward would sit still long enough for me to get him on canvas, but he's so fidgety, I don't think he'd do it.. and the awkwardness of last time..." I wasn't sure if Al knew about last time, but I'm sure Kiri had filled him im.

((I did it with Photoshop, X33 Meh favorite program.Yeah, she's went through a lot of changes...I don't even want to look at that last one I sent you...it's sooo BAAADDDD!!! *blushy* Joo really don't have to worry about it...I'm just glad that it made you giggle. XDD))

"I know...but...it's still not fair..." He closed one eye as she ruffled his hair.
"Love..is a lot more complicated than I thought...Ed's not just dense...I think the name 'Fullmetal' came from his thick head. He's so stubborn!" He 'humphed' and crossed his arms.
"Moron." He fell silent and nodded.
"I don't mind waiting...I was just about to head back towards the creek, want to come with me? Maybe you'll find some inspiration." He smiled and tugged her arm.
"Come on. Even if you don't find anything, the frsh air will be good for you."

[do you use the tablet?? I love photoshop too XD Have you seen my comic? I have a FMA comic on there too...
[FMA Comic]
[Ed Chibi]
[Ed and Al Copic (published)]

I looked to him and adjusted the weight of the art box in my hand and smiled.
"Al, I know it's not fair... thats why i dont think it's fair for us to fall more in love with one another when we both know it will never work out. Our.. herats will just be more broken when you two have to leave East City...And you're right... he is very stubborn." i nodded in agreement then looked to the horizion; the sun was setting.
"yeah! I think I figured out what I wanna paint, c'mon!" I jerked my head to the side and began my sprint towards the creek...full of memories.

Getting there, I quickly opened my artbin and took my coat off, throwing it to the side and pulling on my smock. I kept the painting in my lap and analyzed the image in front of me and started a quick sketch.

((Q_Q No, I don't have a tablet..yet..X3 I scan my art into it. X3 WHAHAHAHAH!!! I've been lookign for that all day! *runs off to go read comic* WHAHA!!))

Alphonse crashed through the bushes and finally stopped only when he'd reached the clearing where it seemed that every other day, Shiba, Ed, Kiri and he had made camp and enjoyed laughs, fish, and the warmth of a fire. He clasped his hands behind his back and smiled as Shia set up her canvas and began sketching.
"It's going to get cold here in a bit, I'm going to go look for some wood, I'll start a fire before it gets too dark alright?" He waved and headed off into the trees. He'd come back later and check on her.

Edward was restless...he'd spent the past half hour in the hot spring, and hadn't even eaten since Shiba and Alphonse left...he needed some time to sort things out...but so far..nothing was making any more sense than it had a few hours before.
"What am I missing here!" He groaned as he lay back on the floor, he'd dressed, and had done everything to go out, save for his shoes...they still rested by the door.
"I'm as lost as when I first started..."

[I dun like the tablet... *hides from Wacom Co.* I scan mine in then thats how I work on it in there >.> Im glad you liked it ^-^ i may just upload my DBZ comic, just for you.]

I looked to him and nodded.
"I'll be here, no hurry." I pulled out a palette and started to mix the paint quickly; The sun was about to touch the water, if I wanted to paint the sunset, i'd have to hurry. I began...stroke after stroke, quicker then I was usually, but I felt alot better as I went on. I thought of old times... the logs were still where we had left them... I glanced up at the one Al and Kiri had sat on.. it seemed only like yesterday... and I shed a tear, it fell onto my canvas. I smiled and rubbed it into the paint as I went on, working on painting the quickly setting sun. I wondered what ed was doing now, and shrugged.
He probably doesn't even care Ive been gone for so long.. I frowned and continued to paint, more fierce with my strokes as I thought of him.