Hughes...

Goddamn you, you bastard. Why didn't you just mind your own business? Why did you find it necessary to stick your nose so far in that somebody had to kill you for it?!

I don't even know why I'm asking. I know exactly why you did it. You did it for those boys. I don't know why I'm demanding an answer from you. I would've done the same, and you're dead. God, I haven't even told them. I never told them about what's happening in Liore, and I still haven't told them that you died. They deserve to know. God- no. Truth knows that they deserve to know.

But I can't tell them. Not yet. They need to stay focused on their task. They need to get their bodies back.

But they're going to hate me forever if they find out from anyone else but me. Ed will undoubtedly think that I hid your death from he and Al for some nefarious purpose. But if the delay in their knowledge of your death gets them that much further in getting their bodies back, then it will be worth it. Alphonse is too kind for his own good. I know he will say I had a reason, a good reason. But no matter what he will say, Ed will hate me with his whole being. Because I hid your death, and he will blame himself. Then he'll blame me.

Because I should've been able to save you. I should've been able to save you, Maes. I'm so sorry.

Forgive me.