I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist or Naruto.

Chapter One

Meeting

…

"Ne, Shiro." A young girl's voice, no older than six, rang out within the open, empty space.

"Hmm?"

"Don't you feel lonely by yourself here?"

"Lonely?"

"Because there's only you and me, and when I'm not here, there's no one else."

The outline of a grin showed upon the creature's face.

"Didn't I already tell you? I know all, and I am all. My existence might as well be the whole universe so I don't get lonely."

"… I see."

The girl's eyes drifted across the open space that seemed limitless. It lacked colour (the whole area was dyed in white), objects and even an entrance or an exit. There was nothing there except for her and her friend, Shiro, who also had the same colour scheme as the room. Well, at least he had a dark outline around his body, else he'd be practically invisible.

"Hmm, then do you get bored? There's like nothing here to do or play with. It's all plain here… If it were me, I'd get bored in the first hour. And mama always says that you shouldn't stay inside for too long because you need some fresh air once in a while."

"Heh, I get the occasional visitor. But they certainly don't visit me as often as you. Besides, with you here, your pink hair makes this place a little less plain. And if it's so boring, why do you keep coming back here?"

"Because Shiro is here! You're my friend! I can't leave you here by yourself!" She pouted and tugged at her cherry blossom coloured tresses. "And it's not like I wanted to be born with this hair colour."

Shiro's ever-present grin faltered for a second before returning.

"Hmm, friend…?"

"Yeah! We're… friends, right? Shiro's my first ever friend. People always make fun of my large forehead or hair colour, but Shiro never seems to mind."

She touched her forehead absent-mindedly and remembered the first time she had met Shiro. She wasn't exactly sure on how she had gotten to the white void of space that had nothing else but Shiro there. She was being bullied at the time and had ran away before she stepped onto some circle filled with diagrams drawn within the centre, and a bright light flashed.

Before she knew it, she was standing in front of Shiro, and from then on, she would secretly come and visit him day after day by using the circle. Oddly enough, the weird circle seemed to react to only her, and she was the pretty sure that she was also the only one who could see the circle.

Perhaps it was the strange connection she felt that gave her the urge to visit the strange faceless creature every day and eventually gifting him the nickname of 'Shiro'.

"You're weird. Compared to all the others that I've met, you're the first and probably the only one who'll ever think calling me such a thing."

"Then… we're not friends?" Tears filled green eyes as they lowered sadly towards the ground.

"I didn't say that."

Her head snapped up at that, and she sniffled before wiping away her tears. A big smile bloomed across her face, and it brightened even more when she looked at Shiro.

"Then let's stay friends forever! I'll never abandon Shiro, and since no one really seems to be able to come here, I'll keep coming to visit!"

"Do whatever you want."

Several years passed…

"I passed the exam, Shiro! I'm a kunoichi of the village now!" She squealed whilst jumping up and down happily.

"Congrats, lil' Blossom."

Over the years, Shiro had come up with a nickname for the girl as the frequent visits continued. The long length of time they had shared together only served to strengthen a sort of unnameable bond between the two. Whenever something was troubling the girl, the first person she would consult to about it with would usually, if not always, be Shiro.

"Just don't do anything stupid that'll get yourself killed."

"Sasuke-kun left…" A broken whisper echoed throughout the area.

"I see."

"I couldn't stop him."

"No one else could. Didn't your friend, Naruto, or whatever he was called, fail too?"

A sniffle followed by a small sob.

"But still… I failed a comrade… a friend— one of the very few that I have. Why am I so weak?" She gripped the hem of her shirt tightly and tears stained the fabric.

"It's not your fault, lil' Blossom."

More years passed and a war had started… Time stopped for no one.

"I won't fail. This time, I'll bring him back even if I have to use force." Determination filled her eyes as her voice carried strongly, ringing with conviction.

"You're still thinking about that boy who abandoned your village?"

"Mn," she murmured in agreement. "This time, I won't just rely on Naruto. Crying won't do anything after all, and I've had Tsunade-shishou train me for three years. I can't just keep being a burden to everyone. I'm stronger now compared to before."

"Yeah… I guess you are. Just don't do anything stupid."

"I won't."

Shiro seemed doubtful of that answer.

Rain poured, covering the ground in a layer of water and puddles.

A loud sound, akin to that of a thousand chirping birds, reverberated within the forest. A sharp pain took over her senses as she stared at the hand pierced through her chest. None too gently, the hand retreated and left her falling lifelessly to the ground with a thud.

Her blood seeped from the wound on her chest and painted the water a bloody-pink. She was feeling so cold, and her eyes were beginning to lose focus. Someone was shouting and shaking her. Naruto, she thought, recognising who it was. I'm sorry. Cries were heard throughout the area, but the heavy rain dulled the sound.

"Stay with us!… Sakura!… You… why… Sasuke!… How could… Now she… I… won't forgive…"

She felt herself being placed carefully on the ground, and faintly, she registered the sound of the clashing of metal. She felt something warm pressed against her chest – most likely an iryo-nin trying to heal her wound. But it was too late now. The chances of her surviving such a fatal wound to the chest were slim to none.

Blood was flooding into her lungs, and it was becoming harder to breathe. She hacked and coughed up blood, but it did little to ease the suffocating feeling. Seconds became minutes, and gradually, her eyes lost their light and became dull, followed by the halt of her breathing along with the last beat of her heart.

She had failed again in bringing back Sasuke, and a strong sense of betrayal—she wasn't quite sure towards whom—lingered, leaving a bitter taste even in death.

"Silly little Blossom." A sigh. "Look at what he's done to you."

Groggily, she turned her head on the floor.

"Shiro…" she whispered weakly.

"How are you going to visit me every day now that you're like that?"

"I'm sorry…"

Silence filled the area, and although the girl—no, young woman, as she had grown since then—couldn't see Shiro's expression, she got the feeling that he was sad.

"Guess it can't be helped. I'll be exchanging this life you have now for a new one. It's the only way if you're ever going to be able to continue those visits."

"Ah… sorry I couldn't keep my promise to you, Shiro…"

"Sleep now. Just don't worry about anything. Although you probably won't be worrying about anything at all when you wake up since you won't have your memories."

"Eh…?" she questioned tiredly. Not being able to stay awake for any longer, her eyes closed and she lost consciousness.

A large, grey double door appeared as it swung open loudly, and dark hands crept towards the fallen pinkette. They wrapped around her body and lifted her towards the dark entrance.

"Well, till be meet again. Good-bye, Sakura-chan."

...

A/N:

I'm sorry to those who have already read this previously from my other account. This is a re-upload of the story onto this new account.

To those who have never read this before, three guesses as to who 'Shiro' is xD