Alphonse could have cried. He shot Edward a look that screamed 'help meeeee' but his brother shrugged and waved him on.
"I hate you." He whispered.
"Love you too Al, love you too." Al was grabbed again by that hideously strong arm and all but flew out of the building.
Edward walked out on his own accord and smiled at the Lieutenant.
"If you're going to the Colonel's I guess so." He smiled and hopped into the passengers seat.
((Last one 'night!))

[LOL another scene I wanna draw... XD I see it so clearly. Gnight]

She smiled and nodded, sitting in the drivers seat. She forgot to take the ring off her right hand and did so and quickly as possible, hoping he wouldn't see it.
"Uhm, so, I hear rumors you and Al are back to normal." She started the car and headed off towards Central Headquarters.
"Im happy for the both of you, you know. We all are."

Edward sighed, leaning against the door, and smiled.
"Yeah......that little Water Sprite did us a huge favor....I just wish we could have repaid her..." He looked back to Hawkeye.
"You know?"
He shook his head clearing his thoughts and coughed.
"So..ah...how's the Colonel been lately? Still chasing Scar?"...or still stalking him?

[GLOMPAGE] dont even wanna know how my internship went HMMM??

She nodded, her smile faded, remembering her brutal death.
"I understand, she only wished to be human, and live with Shiba, like a sister."
She sighed, parking out front of headquarters. She turned off the car and climbed out.
"Colonial has had a few new projects come in, which he needs your help for Ed. Scar hasnt been spotted since Risembool, we dont know where he is as of now. Where is Shiba? How's Winry?"

The sun began to set in North City and after painting my second one, I finsihed up for the night and went to the barkeeper.
"May I go?"
He luaghed and handed me an envelope.
"Of course, here you are, and heres a bottle of water, on the house. See yah tomorrow night, Shiba." I bowed and took the envelope and left, carrying the two paintings under my arm. A guy rushed out and waved to me.
"Hey, I just watched oyu do that last painting, may I buy it from you?"
I quirked an eyebrow, thinking it was a joke.
"Youre kidding right? You wanna buy MY art?"
He nodded, smiling, cigarette hanging from his lip.
"Nape your proce, M'lady."
I shrugged and looked to the painting, it was a blocky, and heavy stroked sunsut, not my usual style.
"I donno... 50 bucks?"
He laughed and handed me a wad of bills and took the painting.
"You deserve more than that. Keep the change,a nd I hope to see that demo again." He walked off, happily grinning at the work, I didnt really care for. I counted the money he had given me- 500$! I squeaked and ran off.

((Of course! XDDD You started today huh? How'd your first day go?))

"Baaaaahhhhhh..." Edward sighed.
"And here I thought I'd just have paperwork to take care of.." He smiled.
"Shiba's back in North City...we ahh....we kind of decided that that was best for right now, but I promised her I'd come see her soon. Winry's well...a little....sad about a few things, but other than that, she's still flinging wrenches at my head like normal."

She laughed.
"Of course you have paperwork to do, but he has a side job for you to help him with."
She headed up the steps.
"Oh woman probelms huh? Roy said you had a thing for this teal-haired girl. I dont blae you, she is cute. As for Winry... shell get over it. If anything, shell probably fall for Al, if hes human again, im sure he loks just like you."
She held the door open for him.
"After you, Sir."

[well, hes publishing this book for halloween, and he asked me, and the 2 other girls to do an art that will be put in it. It has to be horror, so im doing a vampire eating some eyeballs, LOL./ then he asked me if I wanted to do a short horror comic for the book as well. I agreed, and if he approves and its done on time, it will get published in his horror anthology being put on shelves october of 08!!!]

"Crap...better go see what it is huh?" He said falling in step behind her.
Edward flushed pink.
"H-HE SAID WHAT!?" He looked away quickly and coughed, trying to keep his composure.
"Pssh, leave it up to a blabbermouth like the Colonel to go spreading my interests around..." But he couldn't help but smile...yeah, Shiba was cute.....if anything she was REALLY cute.
"Huh...you really think so?" He queried, cocking his head.
"Never figured Winry for the 'Al' type." He sighed and stepped past her and into the buliding.

((OMG REALLY!? >.< Lucki!! UBER LUCKI!!! GAAHHH!!!! *glomps* I'm so hapy for you!!! I lok forward to seeing it on shelves!))

She smiled and nodded, closing the door behind him.
"He was happy to see you found and interest, especially i a girl. He hopes oyu will foight harder in his military now that you have someone to go home to and protect."
She laughed, stopping in front of the colonials door.
"Things change over time, and now that your brother is human and matured, im sure she has her eyes on him. Go on in; he's waiting."

It was too late to go and buy land and start making my home. I simply created a tent with the grasses, like at Winrys and went inside. By candle light I counted... 245$ from working and 500$ from the painting. I was well on my way for the amount I would need for the land purchase.

Edward turned just before he crossed the threshold.
"Heh, if he thinks he's getting anymore out of me than he's been getting, the colonel is getting his hopes up, I'm not risking any more than I have to, just for that reason." His cocky attitude died.
"I do have to come home...I do have to protect Shiba....so I'm not going to do anything that will jepordize that." He turned with a smile to Riza.
"We share the same conviction Lieutenant....just.....not the same way." With that he was gone.
"Colonel?" He said stopping before the large desk.
"I see you're still alive. Pity." He smirked like his old cocky self...no way he'd let the Colonel see any side of him that wasn't sardonic.....not in uniform anyway.

[sorry i didnt respond, yeah he didnt even really wanna mention the comic partto me since its such a short deadline, but its 6 pages... i think I can do it. I already have 4 thumbnails, that he approved and said go for it. So i gotta draw 'em big... get some reference shots... ink 'em then scan 'em...color in photoshop...print from nice printers, llike Kinkos... and have 'em in to him for the book XD]

She shrugged.
"Then you may be the one he lets go then." She said simply.
She sighed at his comment, turning her head away to hide the pink in her cheeks. the door shut and she was now dismissed for he day. The pulled the ring back out and slipped it back on her finger; it sparkled like his eyes and she only smiled to herself in a dreamy daze.

He was staring out the window, didn't make a sound for a while.
"Sit. I have a serious matter to discuss with you." He about faced and sighed, sitting down and sipping his coffee again.
"Didnt bring Shiba in here with you? Go get her if shes waiting in the lobby."

((COOLIE!!! *Glomps again*))

Edward cocked an eyebrow, but took his seat nonetheless.
"Shiba's not here, she's in North City, she's still got school remember?" He stared hard at the Colonel.
"What's this 'serious matter' about? I don't think I've seen you like this in a while."

He sighed and shuffled though some papers on his desk.
"Damn... well, she has summer break, I was sure she'd be with you." He ran a bare hand though his sleek black hair and rested his chin on the palm of his hand. She stared at Edward.
"Do you have the Philosophers stone?" he asked simply.

"She went back to find work I guess." He cocked his head again, and shook it.
"No, we used it up becoming Human. Why?" He thought back to that night and wondered what Mustang could want with a Philosopher's Stone anyway.

((>.< I really don't know what I did with it after they got their bodies back >.< I've been reading but can't find anything))

[im pretty sure Ed was right there when he said they used it up. no worries.]

"You guess? You dont just let a girl like that run off on her own..." He said, with a low voice.
"She could get hurt...picked up by some weirdo..kidnapped. What do you have in store for your future anyway?"
He sighed, leanging back in his chair and putting his hands behind hsi head.
"We...have this expierement see...and I wanted to see if Shiba...could bring it back to life." He said simply.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose with a sigh.
"Look, we decided this was for the best, she's working and going to school, and I'm going to go meet up with her as soon as I'm done here. That alright with you?"Edward's eyes narrowed.
"Dammit Colonel NO!" He stood to his feet.
"Shiba is not a sideshow! Neither is she your personal 'pet'! I'd figure you'd let her be after that whole incident at the outpost! I didn't figure you'd stoop this low though." He snorted.
"I think we're done here. Good Day Colonel, I'm sure I have a lot of paperwork to contend with."

She shot a narrow glance to him.
"Cute."
He was brought back by Ed's outburst and he stood, quickly, slamming a hand on the desk.
"I never said she was a sideshow, she has a gift, Elric, a gift none of us has! Shes not a pet either! I know that girl has the power to bring things back to life. With some red water and the fake stones, I know she can do it! [Ed doed NOT know she can revive, remember.] Aren't you even interested in seeing what i want to bring back to life Edward?" His eyes narrowed.
"Think of the possibilities she can do... if this works... Alecia could have a father again." He said in a low tone, hiding his eyes.

((X3 nope forgot))

Edward clenched his fists....his human fists and glared hard at Mustang.
"I don't care what you thought, you want to know what I think about reviving the dead?" He jerked off his coat and showed Mustang the scar that ran down his arm.
"I THINK I SPENT OVER FIVE YEARS WITH A HUNK OF METAL ATTACHED TO MY ARM, AND IF YOU THINK I'M GOING TO ALLOW SHIBA TO TRY IT YOU CAN FORGET IT!" He turned away with a sneer.
"Besides, what does she have that any other Alchemist doesn't? With Stones and Water, any alchemist could do what you ask."

He groaned, bearing his teeth as his frown. he raised his voice.
"DONT YOU THINK I KNOW THAT!? I KNOW THE RISKS EDWARD AND I HAVE WEIGHED THE POSSIBILITIES! That girl, theres something about her, I know it, she can do it. With the states help and resources I know she can do it. [don't forget, she HAS a piece of the stonein her automail foot, but doesnt know it] i dont know how she does it but she does it! Dont you remember when we were fused? I saw her memories... she revived animals, birds, cats and things, that died of unnatural causes. We did the research---"
A door opened and a long pointed ear poked in.
"I hope im not interrupting." He whispered.
"YES YOU ARE, GET OUT!" he said at the top of his lungs. The last thing he wanted Ed to know that Tucker was in on it.

((Yes but he doesn't know that, he's just trying to keep you safe. XDD))

"I DON'T--" Edward whipped around, staring wildly at the long furry appendage.
"Colonel....what...the HELL was that....." He turned around facing Mustang.
"Just what the hell is going on here? You've certainly got a lot of explaining to do before I say anything more Colonel Mustang."
((Last one 'Night!))

[Oh i know, im just reminding you. its been a while since i mentioned her foot or her doing any alchemy like that OHHH ur gettin off/ It was just getting good >.> Oh well, i have ALOT of artwork to work on XDDD Goodnight my dear friend.]

The ear jerked at the yell and slammed the door shut disappearing. Roy stared deeply into Ed's eyes.
"None of your concern, Elric. If you want to work on this project with me, I will tell you everything, but i need you AND Shiba. Its Top Secret work ive been doing for a few weeks and you, Hawkeye and that creature are the only ones who know of it. Im being generous and letting you have the chance to become a legend..."

Edward stood a moment staring at the door.
"I don't want to become a legend." He said simply after a long pause.
"I just want to know what's going on around here for once. But.." He turned.
"Wether or not I join in this....is going to depend on what Shiba has to say....and since I have no clue as to what's going on, you're going to have to ask her that yourself."

[hey, sorry I took so long. Toys R Us doesnt believe in air conditioning and I SMELLED bad... EVERYEONE had to come in to buy a bike today and I had to take them off the racks *screams* How are you XD]

He only sighed and looked at the clock... it was nearing 11 pm. He ran a hand over his hair and looked pleadingly to the boy.
"If I had her power, I'd do it myself... but she...her alchemic power is simply incredible and unexplainable, and I KNOW she can do it... but its getting late, we'll take a trip to North City tomorrow... and see what she's gotta say." He downed the rest of his spiked coffee and turned to face the window in his spinney chair.
"Dont disappoint me, Edward. Im counting on you and her. Think about it, at least." He said in a monotone voice.

((No prob, no prob, I'm working on a anthro art of a fox lady XDD she's looking pretty good so far XDD))

Edward turned taking that as his dismissal, and sighed.
"I'll admit...I'm curious....but as the old saying goes: curiousity killed the cat. I'll see you tomorrow Colonel."
And with that he left, wondering how Al was getting along with the Major.

"Oh for the love of..." Aforementioned prisoner of the Sparkly Alchemist sat..or rather lay, over a park bench.
"Major...." He said.
"Remind me never...and I mean NEVER....go shopping with you again."

[Oh an animal person? Id love to see when its done ^0^ I started sketching out the final layout to my first 3 pages to my comic >.> I need a good female model for reference... and Tim is no good at taking photos of me XD]

He sighed.
"Ive always hated that saying...if it werent for curiosity, our technology wouldnt be how it is today..."
He closed his eyes and stared at his reflection in the window, folding his hands over his mouth, as he left. A few moments later, Riza came in.
"How did it go, sir?"
He smiled and turned around.
"No need for the formalities... were off duty now..." he grinned, standing up and slinking to her. She grimaced and backed away.,
"Not in the office Roy, we could get fired..." He smiled and locked the door.
"What they dont know wont kill them..." He pinned her to the wall and leane din slowly and passionately kissed her. She gave in and swung her arms around him; it had been too long of a day in the building...


Armstrong only beamed with smiles and sparkles and shook his head, patting the boxes beside him.
"Nonsense, we did an excellent job shopping tonight. I think Winry will find you stunning in most of these." He smiled and folded his hands.
"OHHH young love..."

((OO! what kind of references do you need, I'm sure I can sketch some out for you if it's not too complicated. She'll probably be done maybe by the end of this week, that is if I work on her every chance I get..so look for her on Flickr...about Fri?))

Ed paused outside the front of the bulilding, he looked back to where Roy's window was and narrowed his gaze.
"What are you up to Roy?" He murmured to himself.

Alphonse felt as if his legs were going to fall off.
"Says you...I think she's--Hey WAIT WHAT!" He sat upright and looked over at Armstrong.
"W-WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'YOUNG LOVE'????!!!" His face was bright pink at even the thought of what the Major meant.