Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ A Forgotten Memory ❯ Chapter 3: Apologies ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist. If I did, then I would be really rich already.

Chapter 3: Apologies
By: LadyRiona

It had been about a week since Isabel's sudden return into his life. They'd gone back to Rizenbul two days after reuniting. The three-day train ride was spent with the four young adults reminiscing. When Isabel had been sleeping, and Al had been caught up in his thoughts, Ed and Winry had sat and talked late into the night, like they used to. One of the two nights, Winry had fallen asleep on his shoulder. It had surprised Ed at first, and he'd questioned how they had ended up on the same bench. But after a few minutes of panicking, he'd accepted the fact that she was very much asleep and comfortable on his left shoulder.

 

When he'd woken the next morning, just before Winry, Ed had found he'd wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Immediately, he'd pulled out of the strange-to-him embrace and pretended to stretch when Al looked at him. Seconds later, Winry's eyes had fluttered open and she'd caught herself from falling against Edward again. About twenty minutes afterwards, everyone had realized Isabel was awake and had been for the past half hour.

 

Upon arriving in Rizenbul, the eldest Elric had requested to walk around for a while. She had said she would go alone, but Winry had volunteered to go with her. Ed didn't remember them ever being the best of friends, but if Winry wanted a do over, then he was willing for her to have it. The two girls had been out for at least two hours before Auntie Pinako had rung the dinner bell. A few minutes later, they had come back to the house. They were both unscarred and didn't have any evidence of having tried to kill each other, so Ed assumed that they had talked and laughed and become friends.

 

After later questioning of both girls, and the stories being the same, his assumptions had been correct. While Winry had been the one to talk the most, Isabel didn't seem bothered. In fact, Winry had only talked around one of the two hours Ed guessed from how much she had told him. Isabel had only answered with a few words. It bothered him a little, but hopefully she could return to her previous disposition of passionate enthusiasm about everything. He supposed that's how she had been before…that day.

 

Over the passed few days, things had progressed about the same. Ed and Al would train, Winry and Isabel would watch. They would all occasionally go on walks, or in smaller groups, or just by themselves. But Isabel was the only one consistent with going on walks daily. Winry would join her sometimes, more often than the boys. But on days when Winry was busy, either Ed or Al would accompany her. Whenever they went with Isabel, she would go to a specific spot.

 

It was the big tree near the fence between Winry's house and the old site of the Elric house. Isabel would sit down for a few minutes and stare off into the distance. Then she would stand up and search the area for something unknown to whoever was with her. When she was through looking in the tall grass, she would walk a little bit further to the ashes of her childhood home and brood there. After that, she would start to head back to the house but ask whoever was there if they wanted to walk someplace. If Isabel was anything, it was considerate.

 

Other than walking and training, they each spent time doing things on their own and things together. A lot of things had become the norm for them. Only occasionally in the few days they'd been in Rizenbul would their daily schedule be altered.

 

But presently, Edward was stalking through the halls, late at night. Al was deep in thought, Winry had gone to bed a little early, and Auntie had been asleep for the past few hours. There was only one more person he wasn't sure about, but had been a little too skittish to bother at first. Now, he was bored and restless. The company of someone he was almost afraid to talk to was better than no company at all.

 

When he knocked on the door to hers and Winry's room, he rolled his eyes. If she were asleep, he would probably wake her up. The women in his family were light sleepers, at least their mother had been. He was tempted to run back to his and Al's room and just toss and turn until he fell asleep.

 

Just as he was about to do that, he heard a response from within. “Come in,” Isabel called, sounding muffled through the wood.

 

Ed contemplated a moment before opening the door. As he walked in, he saw a smile on his sister's face.

 

“Someone is up late,” she remarked when he was closer. Isabel put her book down and took her reading glasses off. In a gesture that seemed to be automatic, she tangled the glasses' arms in her hair.

 

He smirked a bit. “I'm not the only one. When did you start having to wear glasses?” he asked her.

 

She thought a moment. “When I started doing independent civilian jobs for the military, I had to go through a physical. They detected some slight astigmatism, but nothing major. So they just gave me glasses for when I was reviewing things and wished me luck when I was going to fight,” Isabel explained.

 

Edward nodded a little and sat on the edge of her bed.

 

“Didn't our father have glasses?” she asked.

 

He looked at her piercingly then glared at the floor. “It doesn't matter if he did or not,” he growled.

 

Isabel started a sentence, but quickly cut herself off. “Oh,” she said instead, understanding. “Well.” She cleared her throat, if a little uncomfortably. “Have you read this book yet?” She held up the leather bound book.

 

Ed read the title to himself and nodded. “Al and I read that one when we were younger and we were trying to learn more alchemy,” he told her. “Since then, I've maybe read it one or two more times to see if we missed anything.”

 

“It has notes on human transmutation,” she said. “Is that why you've read it so much?”

 

He looked at her again, but less harshly this time. His expression was slightly bored and jaded. “That was a bigger part of the reason.”

 

“Are you going to try again?” she asked.

 

Ed didn't want to answer her. It wasn't really her business if he and Al were going to try to transmute their mother again. She hadn't been there the first time, so why should it concern her if there was a second time? He sighed.

 

It did concern her. Ed took his frustration, the same feelings against his father, and pushed them away. Even though Isabel had left before the failed transmutation, they'd shared the same mother. He couldn't push her away like that. She was his sister, after all. She deserved to know.

 

As he was about to answer her, she spoke first. “It's fine,” Isabel told him. Then she just looked at him. He would have spoken, but words had deserted him. Her piercing gaze was so intent, so assessing, he found it hard not to squirm. But somehow, Ed managed to sit on the edge of the bed, surveying her half of Winry's room. He looked at Winry and sighed again.

 

They'd been through so much, but one of the more recent and memorable things had been three years ago. The “Barry the Chopper” incident; that had been a scarring, but significant changing point for him. What he'd experienced then had been a fear he'd never felt before. He could only imagine what Winry had felt. A little before that had been his stay with Shou Tucker and Nina. Ed shivered as the image of the chimera Nina and Alexander had been attacked his memory. Then the stain on the alleyway wall - that would forever haunt him.

 

When he looked at Isabel again, she had a look of sadness in her eyes. “What have you seen over the years, little brother?” she asked quietly. “What has disturbed you?” Her voice was so soft, so full of understanding and a want to know that he couldn't help but feel the need to tell her.

 

But Ed squared his shoulders and looked at the floor. “Nothing I can't get over,” he told her. It was halfway a lie, but he didn't want anyone's help.

 

“Edward,” she sighed. Isabel reached out and touched his arm. He wanted to draw back, to pull away from her touch, but he couldn't. Something kept him where he was. “Please tell me. I know you have seen things that no one should ever have to see. I know they've hurt you and scarred you, just like your human arm is scarred. What happened?”

 

Ed looked at his left arm. Since he only had his sleeveless shirt on now, the light marks were open to the public. He cleared his throat and gave in. “About three years ago, Al and I helped capture a serial killer. He was known as `Barry the Chopper' after the case had been settled. One day, he kidnapped Winry and I went after her. He knocked me out and took my arm. After a while, I got free and tried to save Winry. But he knocked me down and tried to kill me.” His hand started to shake as the memories came back so clear and fresh.

 

“Oh, Edward,” Isabel whispered. “I'm so sorry.”

 

He shrugged helplessly, just how he had felt back in Central. “A little after that, I got free and almost killed him, but Al stopped me. The police and Al showed up just in time, I guess.” Ed let out a heavy breath.

 

“What else?”

 

After a look heavenward, he turned his gaze to Isabel. “Why do you want to know these things? Haven't you read about them in reports?” he asked her painfully.

 

She nodded. “I have. But I want to know what you think about them.”

 

He grumbled a little and pulled his bare feet up onto the bed. “A few weeks before that, when I'd just become a State Alchemist,” he began, fingering the chain of his watch, “Al and I were staying with a man named Shou Tucker. He was known as the Sewing Life Alchemist, as you probably know.”

 

“I, ah, knew his wife before…” she trailed off.

 

Ed nodded. “Well, we arrived shortly after the incident with Nina's chimera. All we saw was the blood on the wall.” His throat tightened painfully, but he forced back the tears. He could have stopped there, he knew, but he just felt like he had to keep going. “I tried to reconstruct her, I really did. But…but Colonel Mustang said that it was impossible to bring her back. She had already lost her life, it was useless trying to bring her back.” He scoffed. “I know that already.” When Ed looked at Isabel, her eyes were sad and she couldn't face him. “What is it?”

 

She swallowed. “I was there,” she whispered. “I was there that afternoon. I saw you.” Isabel took a steadying breath.

 

Ed took his own steadying breath, but for another reason entirely. He folded his arms across his chest and looked away from her. “Why…. Then why didn't you say anything to us?” he growled. “Didn't you recognize us?”

 

“I did,” she murmured.

 

“Why didn't you come to us then?” His voice rose a little and Winry stirred on the other side of the room.

 

Isabel sniffed a little, fighting back tears now. “I was scared, Edward.” Then she looked up at him with a slight glare. “Can you honestly tell me now that you wouldn't dismiss me as easily as you had when you first saw me six months ago?” she countered.

 

He seemed a little taken aback by that. But nevertheless, ready with a comeback. “I was younger then; I may have remembered you quicker! But I guess we'll never know now.”

 

“Well, forgive me for fearing what has already happened, Ed,” Isabel replied in a hissing whisper.

 

“And what's that?” His tone was reckless and nonchalant. It was amazing how quickly one could change attitudes, just from a few spoken words.

 

“Your rejection,” she said lowly. “Now get out, since you know my greatest fear.” If looks were able to kill, Ed would have been six feet under from the glare he was receiving from Isabel.

 

But he conceded her statement and retreated the room silently. Although her order had been fiercely delivered with an equally fierce gaze, he hadn't missed the tears in her eyes behind the careful façade. Ed refused to feel remorse, though. If he gave in now, he would never overcome what he was feeling now. But just what was he feeling? Ed thought a moment as he stepped into his and Al's room.

 

Pent up frustration, mostly, but he felt a little confused. What did he have to feel confused about? Was he confused about himself, the military, Isabel, his goal? He didn't know, but Isabel was probably one of the main reasons he was feeling this way.

 

He was very happy to be with her again, but she brought so many feeling with her, good and bad. Along his travels, Al had often told him to take the bad with the good. But why should he have to take more when he'd given only a little? It wasn't equivalently exchanged that way. But if that's how the world was going to be, then so be it. He couldn't change anything, especially how the world was reacting at present.

 

With a great sigh, Ed threw himself on his bed. Why couldn't things be simple for once in his life? Was he to be forever tortured with these difficult situations?

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isabel shut her book with a snap. Her eyes were narrowed as she stared over the book at the wall. It'd been fifteen minutes since Ed had left her, and she still hadn't been able to get back into her book. The little bean (though he wasn't much shorter than she) had to come, enjoy a halfway normal conversation with her, and then blow up in her face about one comment. That left her with a scattered attention span and a misplaced role of interest. Darn the boy! She should squash him.

 

But she sighed. That was no good. It would be childish to fight her brother over an argument. Besides, she was supposed to be setting a good example, right? How could she if she was challenging him over a little fight? If anything, she'd be setting one of those examples that people shouldn't follow. Just thinking about how stupid it would have been almost made her gag.

 

She turned on her side, smirking at her own foolishness.

 

“Isabel?” Winry's voice was quiet in the dark room.

 

“Yeah?” Since she was facing Winry already, Isabel figured she'd at least look at her while they were talking.

 

“Why were you fighting with Ed?” Winry wanted to know.

 

Isabel grinned a little more and propped her head up on her hand. “Because he's a bean and I told him that I'd seen him and Al about three years ago in Central,” she said casually.

 

“You're not much taller than he is,” Winry pointed out. Isabel scowled. “So you shouldn't really have room to comment about his height.”

 

Isabel turned onto her back and sighed. “Well, I'm older than he is, and at least a little taller.” Was this going to turn into a `my horse is bigger than his' with Winry? Why was she even defending him?

 

“How old are you? I've forgotten,” Winry asked.

 

“I'll be eighteen in about two weeks,” Isabel said. She folded her hands behind her head and stared up at the ceiling.

 

Wow, it had been a while, she mused. She'd been gone about ten years. From that day six months ago, it had been about nine and a half years. That entire time, she'd never really thought of her home in Rizenbul. Of course, there had been reports about a boy with a metal arm and leg and his brother always in a suit of armor. Isabel wasn't stupid. Along with those notes that she came across, she'd seen “Rizenbul,” “Fullmetal,” and “Elric brothers” listed in it, mainly in the reference sheet she always carried. She'd known the Fullmetal Alchemist had been Edward. Though the reports had said the armored person had been an Alphonse Elric, she hadn't been able to say why he'd been in the armor then.

 

But she knew now.

 

Their failed human transmutation cost them more than the equivalent trade had taken, she thought. In Isabel's opinion, the failed body transmutation should have resulted in the foolish person's life to be taken away and then some. Her brother's had gotten off relatively easy. Al had lost his entire body and Ed his leg for their failure. But it may have had something to do with their willpower. Al was easily influenced by his brother and wasn't so strong. Ed was hotheaded and stubborn. No one could really make him change his mind once it was made up. Maybe because Ed's will was so strong was why he only lost one leg? Al, on the other hand…

 

Isabel sighed. She was tired; her eyes were drooping more and more and her body screamed for sleep. However, her mind was reeling with thoughts about her past and her brother's pasts. She wanted to sleep, wanted to taste sweet oblivion. It was almost in her reach, she could almost touch it. But just as her fingers brushed the surface, a nagging thought plagued her suddenly.

 

She sat up and gasped. Why had that thought surfaced? Hadn't she buried it away a long time ago? For it to suddenly surface once more startled her. Isabel didn't want to think about that! She'd forced herself to forget it then for a reason. She had no use for such disturbing notions.

 

“Isabel, are you all right?” Winry asked.

 

When she came to reality, Isabel found she was gripping the bed sheets tightly. Her breath was ragged and came in gasps. She wiped the feverish sweat coming down her brow. Isabel swallowed the lump in her throat and took a deep breath to finally calm herself.

 

“Yeah,” she said. “Yeah, I'm fine.”

 

When she looked out the window, the sun was starting to peek over the hills. Apparently, she had fallen asleep and not realized it. It wasn't strange for her to be thinking, fall asleep to a dreamless night, and wake up to continue on that same thought. It just meant that something was bothering her. So she forced that bothersome thought to the back of her head.

 

Isabel yawned quietly. Apparently, Winry had gone back to sleep. Well, the eldest Elric was awake now; she may as well stay awake. So she slipped out of bed and over to Winry's dresser. The girl was younger by at least a year, but her clothes were bigger. However, they were the only things Isabel could wear right now. Unless she wanted to steal a pair of Ed's pants and wear a baggy shirt of Winry's. Isabel stopped at the door and blinked. Her brother's pants would be highly uncomfortable and very tight on her.

 

That was just disturbing.

 

She shook her head and continued outside. True, Riza had taken her shopping for clothes, but it really wasn't Isabel's style to let people do things for her like that. The first lieutenant hadn't expected anything in return. It didn't go along with equivalent trade. Needless to say, Isabel had only accepted two outfits. One was what she'd worn when the Elrics had been reunited and the other was a red tank top and a long pair of shorts. But now she had one of Winry's tighter shirts and a pair of short, loose shorts on to shower in.

 

Isabel never really had a chance to develop modesty working with the military; there had never been too many people around when she did what she had to. But in Rizenbul, there were plenty of people awake at dawn. It just didn't sit right with her to shower in nothing when the shower was outside.

 

Her shower was a routine and quickly done. She reached for her towel and dried her hair. It took a bit to get her blonde locks to stop dripping since her hair was a little on the thick side. But once that was achieved, she made double time in drying the rest of her off. After a quick look around, she stripped the soaked tank top off and snatched up the short sleeve shirt from the nearby tree branch. The same went for her shorts.

 

When she was dressed in dry clothes, Isabel felt ten times better. But there was another problem she had; what was she going to do until the people in her house woke up? Pinako would be up in maybe another hour, but the person Isabel wanted to talk to would be asleep well into the morning.

 

She sighed and started back around the house. The sun was now making its great entrance to the world. Isabel had to smile at it before continuing inside. But as the door swung shut behind her, a sudden flood of memories hit her.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You keep looking at me strangely,” Isabel said. Her words seemed to bring Ed out of his thoughts.

 

“Sorry,” he mumbled and looked away somewhere else.

 

“It's fine.” She smiled at him and continued with her thoughts.

 

She'd been sitting on the porch for about an hour after Ed brought her leftover stew. He'd left shortly after their conversation, but Isabel had been arranging some thoughts. It felt strange to be home again after so long. Even though things hadn't really changed, everything felt so different. The people didn't remember her very well and the surrounding area felt so unfamiliar to her. She wasn't sure she would become accustomed to it all, or if she'd even be here long enough to adjust. She didn't even know if she wanted to.

 

Suddenly, Ed put his metal hand on the porch. The noise was enough to bring her to the present. “It's just…you've been gone so long,” he began. “I don't really remember you that much. It's a little…weird, I guess.” Ed shrugged.

 

Isabel smirked at him. “What a thing to tell you older sister, you don't remember her,” she chuckled.

 

“Well it's true,” he retorted. “And if it hurts, then that means it's a good truth.” He looked at her defiantly, daring her to argue.

 

“I never said it hurt to consider it, I just said it was an audacious thing to tell me. Who knows how I would respond,” she said easily. “But anyway, I remember you and Al. You probably don't remember me because I was always caught up in a book or telling you what to do. No one really wants to remember a bossy older sister.” She winked at him.

 

Ed rolled his eyes. “Well, I'm going to go shower. I feel dirty still from training earlier. Grassy and sweaty,” he told her and stood up.

 

“All right. We don't want a stinky Ed.” She smiled up at him and stood as well. “I think I'm going to talk to Al.” They both headed inside. Isabel found Al in the living room, studying some book. She smiled and walked over to him. “Hey, little brother,” she said and sat down on the couch.

 

He looked up at her and probably would have smiled if he were capable. “Hello, Sister,” he replied and set his book down.

 

“How are you?” she asked.

 

Al paused a moment. That's right; he didn't really feel so that question didn't really apply, even though it was polite. She was about to disregard it when he replied. “I'm okay,” he said, albeit hesitantly.

 

“Good.” That had been embarrassing. “What were you reading?”

 

He lifted the book up to her. “Just a little bit of geography,” he told her.

 

“That's right; since you and Ed are normally out somewhere, you guys never really finished school, huh?” she said. “Just learning things when you can.”

 

“Right. And I probably couldn't in this body,” Al said and looked down at his armor.

 

Isabel cleared her throat a little. Okay, maybe talking to Al wasn't as easy as she thought it would be.

 

“Did you finish school?” he asked her.

 

She smiled again. “Yes, I did. Under the military's instruction, though, so it's a little biased in comparison to something here in Rizenbul.”

 

“How is it biased?” Al wanted to know.

 

“Um…well, I just learned a lot of different things that you would have learned here. In Rizenbul, I probably wouldn't have gotten a very good education since it's country out here, and women are normally sewing or those `feminine' things. But, in Central, I learned the same stuff a boy would have learned so I could have an equal advantage as men. So, I guess you could put it I have more of a masculine education in contrast to how Rizenbul would have had me learn.”

 

He nodded. “I see.”

 

“I bet you and Ed are geniuses when it comes to science and chemistry,” Isabel said, grinning. “What with your alchemy studies and all.” Al nodded. “Who taught you guys alchemy so well?”

 

Al paused and probably would have paled if he could have. “Uh…she is a…wonderful, young woman who is very strict and very influential,” he said hesitantly.

 

Isabel smirked. “In other words, she's scary as anything and very violent?” She laughed.

 

“You shouldn't say things like that about Sensei,” Al said quickly.

 

“She's not here, Alphonse. Don't worry. And Ed told me earlier that if the truth hurts, it's probably a good truth.” She chuckled a little. “So, what's her name?”

 

“Izumi Curtis. She lives in Dublith,” Al said.

 

Isabel nodded and leaned her head back on the couch. Winry walked in and was about to sit next to Isabel when she spotted the shining object not too far from the eldest Elric. The younger girl's eyes widened considerably and sparkles could be seen in her blue orbs. Her hands were quick as lightening as she snatched up Ed's pocket watch. She began rattling off about the custom craftsmanship when Isabel looked at the spot Al had previously been in. But obviously, the boy had retreated long before Winry's monologue.

 

“Um, is that such a good idea?” Isabel asked, but Winry was oblivious.

 

The girl looked over her shoulder and with narrowed eyes. “Ed,” she cooed.

 

Isabel sighed and stood up. “All right, but he probably won't be happy. I'm going to find Al.” And she did just that, fearing the moment when she would hear Ed screaming at Winry for dismantling his pocket watch. Although it was a sign of his being a dog of the military, it did hold certain advantages, such as getting into the Central Library. But other than that, it was extra weight in his pocket, literally. Still, the State Alchemists that Isabel knew treasured their watches and wouldn't give them up after having them for over a week.

 

Maybe it was the shininess of the watch?

 

Isabel shrugged and found Al sitting in the library. He was enamored in another book. She figured she wouldn't bother him since he seemed to be enjoying himself. Instead, she would go outside and find Ed to tell him what Winry was up to. Maybe that would spare a little shouting. She hoped. If not, then it would fuel the flame, which that was something Isabel didn't want.

 

When she went outside, it was too late. Winry had just turned the corner to where the shower was. She looked like an ashamed child that had found out something she didn't want to. But maybe that was the truth from what Isabel heard.

 

“I saw inside it,” Winry was saying and held out the pocket watch. What was in the watch?

 

Ed's reaction could only be described as shock mixed with surprise. He took in a deep breath. “There are things…” He unconsciously checked himself for his watch, even though he knew it wasn't there.

 

“Sorry. I'm sorry.” Winry's voice quivered as she apologized. Isabel could tell she was genuinely sorry and not just saying it to escape Ed's wrath.

 

He glared ahead, but he seemed to be feeling something other than anger. “I haven't even shown it to Al,” he said softly and looked away. Isabel could tell he was thinking from his expression. It was a little distant, and his eyes were absent.

 

“I'm sorry,” Winry said again.

 

Ed sighed and his shoulders drooped more. “It's unmanly of me to carry something to warn me and show my determination,” he mumbled. He looked elsewhere again, finding his previous place of gazing to be unsatisfactory. Or maybe he saw something that reminded him of his past.

 

“Ed,” Winry began. She didn't want to hear any of this; it was obvious in her voice. But there was no stopping Ed when it came to his explaining something.

 

“But still,” Ed carried on, “we have no parents or a home to go back to. We have to keep moving forward.” Why did that sound familiar to Isabel? Hadn't she heard that before, somewhere? Those words of wisdom seemed like something and adult would say rather than a stubborn fifteen-year-old boy.

 

But Winry didn't appear moved by his speech. She snapped. “Why?! Why? You do have a home! You have Auntie…and me!” she shouted and tensed up. Her hands clenched at her sides.

 

Ed was unaffected by the sudden outburst. Isabel was still leaning back a little from the blast. “Stupid.” He looked away again. “Why do you have to cry?” Isabel could tell that, if he had allowed himself, Ed would have gone to comfort her. But that wasn't something he seemed capable of.

 

Winry looked to the side. “Since you brothers won't cry, I'm crying in your place.” The two stood in silence, Winry with tears in her eyes and streaming down her cheeks, and Ed just standing where he was. Isabel slowly stepped back from the scene so it wouldn't be obvious she had eavesdropped.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When she came back to reality, she was still standing in the kitchen just inside the doorway. She was back in Rizenbul, in Pinako's house. Everyone else was still asleep, the house was still quiet, and the sun was still working on its ascent. The only difference was that Isabel really wanted to talk to Ed now, to apologize. Apologize for what? She didn't know. Maybe for never talking to him, even when she'd known who he was in the military. Maybe for their argument from last night. Or, just maybe for leaving so long ago, without saying goodbye.

 

Isabel shook her head and started walking again. She went up the stairs and passed down the hall silently. Noises came from Winry's room, so Isabel assumed that the younger girl was waking up or was already awake. The Elric girl opened the door to her brothers' room and only found Al looking out the window. Ed was not in the room.

 

“Al,” Isabel said quietly. The hollow suit of armor turned to look at her. “Where's Ed?”

 

“He was studying last night and didn't come back, so he must have fallen asleep there,” Al replied after a quick look around.

 

“All right. Thank you, Alphonse,” Isabel smiled. She turned and continued down the hall. When she reached the room she was looking for, she paused. She really wanted to apologize to him, but how would she start? Should she just apologize straight off or dance around it for a little while before jumping to the punch? With a sigh, she started to walk into the library/study, but stopped. The moment she looked around, she had to quiet herself. She had decided to just apologize to him about the argument, but that idea flew away. She just couldn't disturb the peace she saw. As she was admiring the gentle serenity around Ed, she heard Winry coming down the hall.

 

“Winry,” she whispered, stepping back into the hall again. Winry looked up from the ground. “Come here.” Isabel motioned her in with her hand.

 

Winry's brow furrowed together in confusion, then her face relaxed when she saw Ed. “Aw,” she said quietly. “He looks so….”

 

“Quiet,” Isabel finished and grinned a bit.

 

Edward Elric, the boy who was forced to grow up early and never seemed to mind, the boy with boundless amounts of energy, was slumped against his desk, asleep. His pen was still in his hand, too. There were a few papers around him, and a couple pictures set out. His head was cushioned on his arm and he looked quite comfortable how he was.

 

“I suppose we should wake him up and let him go lay down on the bed or someplace other than the desk,” Isabel said and started to take a step forward.

 

Winry reached out and grabbed Isabel's arm. There was a peculiar look in the younger girl's eye. “Wait.” They held eye contact for a moment before Isabel understood. She nodded and Winry walked over to Ed. She looked down at him and smiled. He looked so innocent, like he used to when they were younger, before all of the mess that had happened. When his mother had been alive. Winry had done her best to help them through their mourning, but they'd buried themselves in alchemy and then gone off with their sensei to train. When they had returned, the two boys Winry had grown up with had been pushed to the back of their minds. It'd taken her a while to accustom herself to their new and strange habits they'd acquired with their teacher, but she had to accompany them.

 

Now, she had to take care of them again, but they had a lot more problems now than when they were ten and eleven. Ed was sixteen, and Al was almost fifteen. She would be sixteen soon, and she'd catch up with Ed. But their ages didn't really matter as much as maturity. The brothers had surpassed most boys their age since they'd grown up so early in their life. So much had been thrust upon their shoulders that they'd had no choice but to take it and deal with it, little by little.

 

But this was Winry's one chance to help them, and she would in any way possible.

 

Winry reached down and brushed his long bangs away from his cheek. Unintentionally, her fingertips brushed his skin, and she was able to finally feel how smooth it really was. But before she had any time to revel in the sensation, Ed's eyes slowly opened. He must have sensed it was only she to wake him up because he shut his eyes again.

 

“Winry,” he mumbled. “What is it?”

 

She smiled to herself. Even when he was only half awake, his tone of voice could still be exasperating. But that's what she loved about him. “Don't you want to move, Ed? The desk can't be as comfortable as your bed or a couch,” she said and placed her hand on his shoulder.

 

Slowly, Ed took in a breath and sat up. He tried to rub his hand against his mouth subtly, in case of drool, and Winry couldn't help but smile a little on the outside. “I guess,” he murmured sleepily.

 

“Come on,” she said and took a little step back. “I'll walk you so you won't fall asleep again on the way.”

 

“I don't need an escort,” he growled, swaying.

 

Winry rolled her eyes. “Look, you're already about to fall off your feet. Now be quiet so you won't wake up Grandma,” she ordered.

 

Ed was happy to comply since he was still tired.

 

Isabel watched from the shadows of the hall as they two walked towards Ed and Al's room. She followed them, just out of an older sister's curiosity. When she caught up with them and peeked in, Ed was lying on his back, his arms folded beneath his head. Winry was sitting in a chair next to the bed.

 

“What did you dream of?” she was asking.

 

Ed went on to explain his dream to her about what Isabel had just remembered. It only made her a little uneasy that the same memory had gone on in his head, as well. Maybe she should bring that up later in the morning when he was more awake. Even now, when she'd been up for at least two hours Isabel couldn't process it as well as she would have liked.

But, at the moment, all she could do was wait. It wasn't like she could walk into the room and interrupt his conversation with Winry. Those two liked each other so much but both were oblivious to the other's feelings. It was kind of funny. So Isabel decided to let them have their moment together and went to sit in the kitchen.

 

When she sat down at the table, she suddenly felt something she hadn't felt in a while.

 

Isabel had been in love before, or at least what she considered love. On one of her missions, she'd helped save a group of people near the border of their neighboring country. Among that group had been him. She didn't want to remember his name, so she didn't. She just remembered his face. He had eyes such a wonderful color of brown that she could just stare into. Even though he had such a piercing glare he could set in his orbs, when he wished, he could gaze as lovingly at her as he wanted.

 

The rest of his face had been just as normal as anyone else's she may have come across, nothing special to distinguish him in a crowd. It had been his eyes that had attracted her first. That had been because she figured he was an ungrateful jerk who hated the military. But that hadn't been it at all.

 

He'd acted cold and aloof at first on their way back to a safe camp for the group, and Isabel hadn't been able to stand it. But, she'd overheard something from one of the other people that he'd lost all of his family. That had made Isabel think again and come at him with a new approach. The next time she tried talking to him, it was with a little sympathy and an edge of understanding. That conversation had set the course for the rest of their short relationship.

 

Over the week that had followed their journey across Amestris, he and Isabel had become such good friends that it surprised her. Normally, she tried to ignore the people she had to escort since they would only be baggage for her. But with him, things had been different. He'd charmed her and exercised the charisma he had an abundance of. She hadn't minded terribly. At night was normally when they stayed up and talked.

 

But, one night was different. Isabel thought he would ask her something personal, something higher than a friend basis. She'd waited by her pallet, near the fire, for him. But something had been there during the night. A group of guerillas had attacked the camp. Two of the seven military officers had been killed, and everyone from the nomadic group that they had been escorting, including him.

 

Isabel had been rendered unconscious and hadn't come to until one of the State Alchemists had woken her. The first thought on her mind had been for him. After looking around frantically, in spite of the remaining military personnel, she had accepted the cold truth that he was indeed gone. After one more desperate attempt to find him, Isabel had come across his body. She'd hurried to him but hadn't dared to touch him, fearing that she would only touch cold, lifeless skin.

 

When she felt like her world had ended, the impossible happened. He'd whispered her name. Isabel had been too shocked to respond at first. But a moment later, she'd reached down and touched his cheek. Cold. And then, after accepting the truth that he wouldn't live, she listened to his final words to her. They still rang clear in her head. It was painful to remember them, but she did anyway.

 

“Keep moving ahead so you can forget your tragedies in your past,” he'd told her. It hadn't been any words of love, nothing extravagant. If she ever told that to someone else, it probably wouldn't move him or her any special amount. But those few words meant so much to Isabel that she would treasure them always, even though they hurt like a good truth.

 

So Isabel had done just what he'd told her. She had kept moving ahead to forget the tragedies. But she didn't consider that a tragedy. It was a loss, yes, but it was also something wonderful. She'd found a part of herself that she'd thought was missing. Even though when he had died, he'd taken something of her with him, he had also given her something else. He had given her joy, despite their circumstances.

 

And that was her story of her first love. It hadn't lasted long, it had probably only been one-sided if she thought of it now, but it had at least meant something to her. She hoped it had meant something to him.

 

Isabel felt a smile set on her lips.

 

“Hey, Sleeping Beauty.”

 

She looked up and saw Ed standing at the table with a plate of food in his hands. He sat down across from her and took a bite of sausage. Isabel smiled and sat up. Apparently, she'd fallen asleep again.

 

“Hey, yourself,” she told him and stretched a little. “What time is it?”

 

He thought a moment before answering, mouth still full. “Probably a little after ten,” he said and continued chewing.

 

She whistled lowly. “I've been out for a while, then,” she mumbled.

 

“You were talking in your sleep,” he said after a few minutes of silence.

 

An embarrassed color flushed Isabel's cheeks. “I did? What did I say?” she dared to ask. When people heard her talk in her sleep, it was usually something that could be used as blackmail against her.

 

But Ed shrugged. “I don't know. It sounded like it was some different language.” Relief replaced embarrassment.

 

And it made sense. She'd been dreaming about him. He didn't speak the same language as she and Ed originally. To make things easier for him, Isabel had spoken in his native tongue, broken as it was. So she had just spoken in that language instead of English, blessedly. So she nodded and let out a relieved sigh. “It probably was,” she agreed.

 

They both fell silent again. It felt awkward for neither of them to say anything, especially the outspoken Edward sitting across from her. Isabel could tell he was still quite upset with her, and she couldn't blame him. She would have felt a little put out, as well, if he'd known who she was and never said anything. She'd have been pissed! So, it was only fair that he was feeling the same way.

 

One quick look at him was enough to confirm he wasn't the happiest person alive at the moment. And it didn't appear that he was going to be the first to talk to her about it, either. So she would have to be the bigger person and do it if they were ever going to apologize to each other.

 

“Edward,” she began quietly. He didn't look at her. He only continued eating his breakfast. This bothered her. Isabel gritted her teeth together and glared.” Edward Elric, please look at me when I'm trying to talk to you,” she growled.

 

He paused briefly before he lifted his eyes. Ed returned her even glower. “Why should I? You've never done anything to deserve the treatment you've received this week. You were gone for nine years, didn't even say anything to Al and me over the past three, and you expect me to be a brother to you immediately?” He muttered a few curses and resumed eating, obviously assuming that she would be quiet.

 

He assumed wrong.

 

Isabel first bit her lip to find her composure. Then she spoke. “I came back,” she said, forcing herself to forget emotion.

 

“What?”

 

She stood. “I came back, Edward, when I could have continued ignoring you and Al. There was no requirement for me to ever see you two again.” Isabel dropped her hands to the table with a little more force than needed.

 

“Why did you come back, then?” Ed asked, just as detached as she.

 

She didn't meet his eyes. Instead, memories of when he had asked her before came. Isabel blocked them out purposefully. “I'm sorry I never spoke to you and Al, and I'm sorry I left so long ago. But since I came back, I think you should at least respect that, if not me, more, Edward.” She started to leave, but at the door, she said dismissively over her shoulder, “I only wanted to apologize about the argument last night, but I'll apologize for this one, too. I don't want to fight with you, Brother.” Then she passed through the door to the living room and went up the stairs. At the top of the steps, Isabel stopped and took a deep breath to calm herself.

 

Why were they always fighting now? There had been very few people in her lifetime that she hadn't gotten along with after getting to know them. She and Winry had never been good friends before this ordeal. But since they were now sharing a room, things had changed considerably. Isabel and Al had talked a bit, but there was still a lot that they didn't know about each other. Or rather, a lot Al didn't know about her. He was very open with his feelings when he felt he could trust a person. Obviously, he trusted easily since there was almost nothing about Alphonse she didn't know. Of course, he'd asked a lot about her past, but Isabel always avoided answering, or answered in as few words as possible. She'd been through so much she'd rather forget and she didn't want Al to be exposed to such things. He was so innocent and naïve, and thusly biased to what he put in the category of good. But despite his innocence, the armored soul had experienced things even she wouldn't want to go through, especially the failed transmutation that had put them in this place. He had told Isabel about what he remembered, in detail. It had terrified her.

 

Ed was the opposite, though. He didn't want to talk about that day, so he wouldn't unless it really struck him. He wouldn't talk about his feelings until they were about to explode within him. He didn't trust anybody, except for Alphonse. Sure, he would talk to Isabel when he felt a need to talk to someone and she was close by. Otherwise, it was up to someone else to start a topic of conversation with him.

 

How could those brothers be so close and yet so different? It was uncanny. Ed was loud and outspoken enough to make up for Al's shy silence. Al was tall enough for both of the brothers. And darn Isabel if Ed's hair wasn't just as long as hers, which was enough for both boys. She shook her head and stopped herself from the comparison of her brothers. She didn't want to think right now.

 

Instead, she walked into the study and picked out a book on the shelf. It wasn't a study book, but a novel she remembered reading earlier in her lifetime. She needed a break from the world. So she went outside with the book and climbed up into a tree. Once situated on a branch, she opened the book to the first page and was immediately entranced.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Edward still sat at the table, glaring at the wall. The nerve she had! Just because she came back didn't mean that he had to accept her! “Respect,” she'd said. “Brother,” she'd called him. She'd even walked out before he had been able to respond! Never mind that he had been too shocked to respond anyway, though! Ed had never been close enough to anyone to argue with, and he and Al rarely ever fought. So it was kind of new for him to have such a heated argument with someone he actually knew. Besides Winry, but that was different…

But did he know Isabel? Yes, he did. The girl frequently talked to him. And even though he was graced with selective hearing, he hadn't been able to block her voice out when he had been busy. So he knew quite a bit concerning her life in the military. But that probably wasn't everything that had happened to her. Ed figured he couldn't ignore her because of the overabundance of charisma they both possessed. And curse his father for being the one they got it from.

 

That brought a dark scowl to his features. He didn't want to think about his father. Every time he did, Ed felt like there had been so much his father had kept from them. Such memories brought bad feelings to Ed and made his stomach feel weird. It felt like something slimy was climbing around inside of him. Essentially, it made him want to throw up whatever was in him.

 

He shook his head, as if to clear those thoughts from his mind. Why did he seem to think of his father after an argument with Isabel? Was it some way to vent the anger and abhorrence he felt towards that man? If that was the case, it wasn't fair to do that to Isabel, morally or equivalently. Everything Ed felt against his father was meant for his father, no one else. If he felt any frustration towards his sister because she left like their father had, then he could figure it out another day. He wasn't in the mood to do that today. What he was in the mood for, though, not even Ed knew.

 

The young adult stood up from the table and took his breakfast bowl to the sink. Maybe Al would train with him for a while. Ed figured could use a diversion about now, so why not get some exercise while he was at it? He was sorely lacking in his physical expertise in comparison to the past few months. The muscle he'd built up was going to turn to mush if he kept neglecting his exercising.

 

So he headed up the stairs towards his and Al's room. On the way, however, was Winry's room. Maybe he would stop in and invite her to watch him and Al train. The idea of a spectator was better by each step he took. When he reached her door and knocked, he heard nothing from within.

 

“Winry, you in there?” he called, leaning his head against the door lightly. Ed knocked again. When he still received no response, he opened the door a little and peeked inside. Empty. Where was the girl? She wasn't working on automail in her usual spot in the equipment room, and it was obvious now that she wasn't working in her room. Where could she be hiding?

 

Oh well, he figured. She would just have to miss out. Ed pulled the door shut and continued down the hallway. It didn't exactly bother him that he couldn't find Winry just after an argument with his sister. It's just that the two girls had been very chummy lately that maybe Isabel was telling Winry the horrible things in Isabel's opinion that Ed was. Then that would definitely earn him a wrench to the head. As if the tool had already been thrown, the young man rubbed his forehead and muttered a curse.

 

“Al, you in there?” Ed asked when he reached their room. It would be his luck for the day if his brother were avoiding him too.

 

But there was a reply from within. “Yes, Brother,” Al said.

 

Ed sighed in relief and opened the door. “Do you feel like the usual?” There was hope in his eyes, and probably his voice. “I'm bored and I've been slacking off.”

 

Al nodded. “Sure.” The suit of armor crossed the room and passed Ed out into the hallway. The older, yet smaller boy sighed a little when he followed.

 

All right, maybe it did bother Ed that he couldn't find Winry. Usually, the girl was right in the middle of things, even if she was working. It was hard not to notice her. When she wasn't being annoyingly adorable she was being surprisingly difficult. Ed pretended to ignore both traits and see her only as Winry. That was all he could afford to see her as. And so what if she was doing something that didn't concern him? It wasn't any of his business, and he couldn't change that. Winry had a life of her own, so she could do whatever she wanted. Ed didn't have to be the center of her attention all the time, did he?

 

If that was the case, why was he fuming when he and Al reached the lakeside?

 

“Brother, are you okay?” Al asked before they started.

 

Ed took a deep breath. “Yeah, I'm fine.” Before Al could argue, the older boy took a running leap at the armor's head.

 

They continued their skirmish with Ed on the offensive for a few minutes before he began to tire a little. He let Al make all of the attacks until he could breathe better. Then his mind began to wander again, back to Winry.

 

Just what was the girl doing? She was so obsessed with automail; why wasn't she working on something that had to do with that? And she wasn't sleeping, either. He hadn't heard her in the kitchen when he and Al had gone outside. Just where could she be? It wasn't like her to suddenly disappear without telling anyone.

 

Maybe she went to her parents' graves?

 

The air was suddenly knocked out of Ed when he came in hard contact with the ground. He looked up at Al. He was positive his younger brother would have been smirking if he'd been able to convey emotion on his metal helmet. Ed reached back and rubbed his sore backside, groaning a little from the sudden pain.

 

“You weren't paying attention, Brother,” Al said observantly.

 

Ed nodded. “Yeah, yeah, I know. I was thinking about something,” he said quietly. With a quiet sigh, he leaned back on the ground.

 

“What were you thinking about?” Al wanted to know.

 

“It's—”

 

Before he could finish, he and Al turned in unison towards the sound of female laughter. There was Winry, standing next to a tree. She was trying her best not to laugh, so obviously the laughter had to be coming from the tree. The tree? A moment later, Isabel appeared but she was upside-down, hanging from a tree branch. Her face was red from laughing and would only become redder as she hung like that.

 

But Ed couldn't bring himself to laugh. He scowled at her. “Your nose is going to start bleeding if you stay like that,” he told her and stood.

 

“I don't care,” Isabel laughed. “That was funny.”

 

He let out a few un-nice words and started towards the tree. Winry wisely retreated over to Al. But on his way to Isabel, he had to pass Winry. Their eyes met for a brief second before a faint red tinted both their cheeks and they continued on their way. Just what Ed needed, a blush for Isabel to comment on.

 

But she didn't. She only looked at him - still upside-down - with a little frustration. What did she have to be frustrated about? While he was analyzing that question, the phone rang in the house and Winry ran to answer it. Al followed her.

 

This was going to kill Ed to say it, but he had no other choice. “Don't hang upside-down right now,” he started reluctantly. He was annoyed enough that he would probably collapse from laughing if she fell.

 

“Why?” she asked.

 

“Just don't. I have a feeling that you'll fall if you don't move.” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked away. Ed couldn't believe he was going to do this! What had possessed him to…to…he couldn't finish the thought even.

 

Isabel pulled herself up on the branch before she dropped to stand in front of him. At least she was the same height as him. He wouldn't have to look up at her while he spoke. “Yes?” she asked haughtily.

 

Then the words ran away to the back of his mind. Had he been about to do that? Yes, he had, and for a good reason, he told himself. He didn't want to fight with Isabel; he wanted to clear things up. With difficulty, he summoned the words back.

 

“I'm…sorry,” he mumbled. “I've been a jerk.” Isabel scoffed a little, but looked as if she would have fallen out of the tree if he hadn't made her get down. When she didn't reply, he got frustrated again. “Aren't you going to say something?”

 

“Why should I? You were the one being a jerk,” she said finally. “I already apologized for not contacting you and Al. And for those two arguments we both started. So I think I've said I'm sorry enough.” Isabel mirrored his stance and folded her arms over her chest. To add emphasis to her attitude, she tilted her nose in the air and looked down at him.

 

Ed fumed again. “Don't look down at me!” he ordered, jumping up and down like he did when someone commented on his height.

 

Isabel grinned and rolled her eyes at him. “You are so predictable, Edward.” She stuck her hand out at him. “Apology accepted for you being a jerk. Don't let it happen again,” she said.

 

It was his turn to roll his eyes, but he shook her hand firmly anyway. He was about to retort when Winry yelled from the house, “Edward, Isabel, you both have a phone call!”

 

They two Elrics exchanged puzzled expressions before jogging to the house. Ed was there first and took the phone from Winry. “Yeah?” he said into the receiver.

 

“Fullmetal,” came a very familiar voice. “I need you and your siblings back in East City as soon as possible.”