Chapter 23: Return

Alphonse finally gets to go home! But what will he see when gets there??

"You can go home today, Mr. Elric."

 

The next day around three was when the nurse came in to tell me I would be discharged in a few hours. I nod, and she gives me a flirtacious smile and leaves. I smile back, but when shes gone all I feel is tremendous guilt, shame, and sadness. Koda's words were harsh, even though they were true. I feel myself blushing.

 

I'm married Al.

 

God, what was I thinking?! Dreaming like that...I was disgusted with myself. And it wasn't like I could talk to anyone about it. Brother was certainly out of the question. One word about the content of my dreams and he'd have my head on a platter. And Koda...well, she already knew, and that didn't work out very well for me. I blush when I think of telling Ayumi. I didn't know why, but for some reason, telling her didn't feel right...

 

Brother walked in my room with Koda in tow. I didn't look her in the eye, and tried to focus my gaze on Brother. "Hey Al! What's good?" he asked with a bright smile. I smile back and shrug. "Well, I get to go home in a few hours. The nurse says I'm all better."

 

At the sound of this, Brother grins. "Yeah? I'm so glad to hear that! Finally! I won't have to come back to this room anymore..." he said, trailing off and staring at the room around him. Koda gives me a weak smile. "Good," she says stalely. I blush and mumble a quick "Yeah."

 

Brother sits on the chair next to my bed. "So, Ayumi said she was going to be late. Apparently Kaen had her do some chores or something--I don't know, I zoned out towards the middle of the conversation," he admitted, and for a moment he sounded almost proud of his short attention span. I give him a strange look, and he merely shrugs.

 

At this, Koda chimes in. "She said nothing of chores, Edward, she said that her car was acting up and Kaen was helping. Where do you get chores from that?" she asked, and again Brother shrugs. I feel a slight pang of dissapointment. Ahh, I kinda wanted her to help me get home. Oh well. That's okay.

 

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"You okay, Al?"

 

Brother drives me home in his car. Koda sits quietly in the passanger seat, looking as if the seatbelt is making it hard to breathe. I've been looking out the window this entire time, waiting to get home. Koda's words and my dreams are continuing to tug at my concious, but I can't say anything. So instead, I fake a smile and meet Brother's gaze in the car mirror. "Oh yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit tired is all."

 

It takes awhile, but the car finally pulls into my driveway and for the first time in a few days I catch a glimpse of my apartment. There's a garden outside, and I can tell my flowers have been neglected. The rims of the petals are crunchy and brown. I gaze at my door, and am releaved to see the lock still in place. Good. No one has tried to break in.

 

Brother steps out and assists Koda in exiting the car. She takes his hand and steps out while Brother comes around and helps me get out.

 

"Hey you guys!!"

 

All of us turn around. Someone from the house next door is yelling at us. They're waving their arms around and smiling wide. Brother grins. "Hey you!" he shouts while Koda politely waves back. I don't understand. After all, I don't normally go out of my way to converse with my neighbors. So how do they know them?

 

The person comes closer, and I cover my eyes from the overly bright sunlight. When my eyes are shaded, I don't expect what I see.

 

Ayumi is on the other side of the hedge.

I blush.

Oh my God.

Ayumi is my next door neighbor.

Author's Note

TWIST! YEAHYUH! >:D

Reviews

[Angie Diane♥&hea..]

OMG! I love the plot twist. It's awkward to have the girl you should like as a neighbor. I would have died if I had a crush and he lived next to me. I really liked this chapter. I'm glad that Edward was being worried!!! Can't wait to read on. Thanks for sharing.

[Ace D Portgas]

What a plot twist! Didnt see that coming at all lol...This chapter was very descriptive, I could see the car ride home in my head and how Al was feeling...This story has been great!

[State of Grace]

Wow who would have guessed it! XD She's been living next to him this whole time!!

[MadeCheaply]

Dare I say it...

Ayumi is the...

GIRL NEXT DOOR

[Rae]

Finally after 22 chapters, he gets to go home! ^^ And he finds out that Ayumi is his neighbor. Nice twist, by the way. :D