Contrary to what you may or may not believe, I did not fall down a deep, dark, dank hole and disappear off the face of the Earth. I did, however, not only finish my NaNoWriMo novel, but I also entered it in the ABNA contest! After that, I was writing for a county novel contest, so my writing time for FFnet has been greatly reduced…until now. That's right: I'm baaa~ck! :D
So basically, if you haven't read Return, you should go do that first, as this is the sequel. If you wanna just jump on in, then feel free, but I can almost guarantee that you'll be very lost, very soon.
Okay, okay, enough of my rambling; onto the chapter! Man, I missed those words. XD
Chapter One
"Rain!" Allan called, wandering through the trees behind the house. The sun was shining brightly down through the tree foliage, casting shifting shadows across the lush green grass. The house behind him was two stories, the roof red and the windows overlooking the scattered countryside. "Rain!"
"What is it, Al?" a young girl asked, looking down at her younger brother from her perch high up in one of the trees. Her golden eyes glittered in the evening light, locks of equally golden hair falling into her face as she looked down at him. Brushing her hair back, she thought of how she'd have to cut it again soon–it was always so much better when it was short.
"I've been looking everywhere for you," Allan sighed in relief, gazing up at her.
"What is it?" Raihna repeated, shifting on the branch she was precariously crouching on.
"You should come down; you could get hurt," Allan said, sincerely concerned. Raihna smiled slightly to herself; Al was always like that, constantly worrying about others.
Agilely jumping down to her brother's side, she straightened, stretching her arms over her head. Allan watched her for a moment, the shallow wind ruffling his tousled light brown hair. When Raihna turned back to him, his gentle blue eyes were watching her curiously.
"Well?" Raihna prompted. "You were looking for me?"
"I wanted to talk to you before we leave tomorrow," Allan said softly. "I know you're worried, and I am, too."
Raihna paused, giving her brother a steady look. Even though he was only fourteen, a year younger than her, he could be extremely perceptive at times.
"What are you talking about?" she demanded indignantly. "There's no way I'm worried–everything's going to be just fine. And if it isn't, well, it isn't like we can't take care of ourselves or anything."
"That's what I'm worried about," Allan sighed, involuntarily glancing at Raihna's left leg–her automail leg. She stiffened. A few years ago, when they had been visiting some of Father's friends in Briggs, there had been a terrible avalanche accident. She had been with a group of the soldiers when it hit; she didn't really even remember what had happened. One moment the snow had been bearing down on her, the sound like the very Earth was crashing down around her. The next, she had blacked out, and when she woke up, she was surrounded by Father and a bunch of other people she hadn't recognized. She had been one of the few survivors. But she had lost her leg.
"I don't need anyone worrying about me," Raihna snapped. "I can take care of myself just fine!"
"You know that's not what I meant," Allan said tiredly.
"Whatever," Raihna replied tersely. "You'll see, everything will be fine. I'll pass that state alchemist's exam with flying colors."
"You really want to do this?" Allan asked hesitantly.
It was a question she had heard a million times, and her answer was still the same. "Yes."
"But why?" Allan asked, trying hard not to sound like he was being stubborn and annoy his sister again.
"It's just something I decided to do," Raihna retorted. She had heard Father speak of being a state alchemist that traveled over the country all the time–if he could do it, then so could she. Plus, she was getting tired of this place. It was so quiet; too quiet. Everything was peaceful; nothing ever happened. It was enough to get on anyone's nerves, in Raihna's opinion. She wanted to see new places and experience things herself, not just be told about her parents' adventures when they were young. "You don't have to come, you know."
"Of course I'm coming," Allan replied, almost sounding offended. "There's no way I'd let you go alone…But why a state alchemist?"
"Sounds like the easiest way to travel," Raihna answered, shrugging. "Besides, nothing's free in this world, and it pays well."
"You make it sound so easy," Allan sighed.
"Stop being such a kill joy," Raihna said through gritted teeth, irritated. "Look, it's your choice, alright? But just because you don't want to go doesn't mean you should try to keep me from leaving this place."
"Rain, wait!" Allan called as she disappeared back into the thicket of trees. She heard him running past as she hid herself behind an oak, watching him as he went. He looked troubled; she didn't regret what she had said, but she felt a sense of guilt gnawing at her stomach all the same.
"Whatever," she muttered to herself, heading back to the house. Let Al search for her, then; the last place he'd think to look for her would be at home.
Silently stealing up the front steps, she was startled to see Father sitting on the old porch swing. He looked up as he heard her, then smiled. "Rain, you disappeared this morning," Ed told her. "As usual."
"Mornings are the best time of day," Raihna muttered, looking down at her feet. "Everything's so clear and bright…"
"Are you going to miss that?" Ed asked curiously. "Once you leave tomorrow, you won't be able to go into that forest until you return." Raihna shrugged. "Something on your mind?" Another shrug. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Raihna reluctantly sat next to her father on the swing, enjoying the feeling of it swaying under her weight and the sound of the old wood creaking, just like it always had. "Hey, do you think…that I can do it?" she asked, looking at Ed with hope-filled eyes. If she had been talking to anyone else, even Mother, she never would've asked such a question or been so open. But she knew Father would be honest with her, and he had always known just what to say to make her feel better.
"Do what?" Ed asked placidly.
"Pass the state alchemist exam," Raihna clarified, fidgeting uncomfortably.
"Of course," Ed said proudly. "After all, I taught you almost everything you know."
"But you didn't teach me everything you know," Raihna muttered mutinously. "You still never told me how to transmute things just by clapping my hands, like you do."
"And hopefully I'll never have to," Ed replied firmly. "You'll be fine without that; you've perfected your own style of alchemy. It wouldn't mean anything to try and copy mine. The same goes for Al, too."
"I guess," Raihna mumbled, swinging her legs back and forth on the swing, back and forth, back and forth… "Why did Al say he'd come with me when he doesn't really want to leave Resembool?"
"Because he cares about you very much," Ed answered, staring off into the distant hills. "You should know he wouldn't have let you go alone."
"He's such an idiot," Raihna scowled. "Why doesn't he just do what he wants to instead of following me around like he's my keeper?"
"Don't insult your brother," Ed told her sternly. "He's doing what he feels is right; that's all."
Raihna was silent as she stared sulkily out at the places surrounding their house. There was a house or two some distance away, their only neighbors; beyond them, the graveyard was just visible. She had learned awhile ago not to mention it too much to her parents; Father's brother's death still seemed to affect him deeply, as well as his friend's, Rina's. Mother would become just as depressed.
"Any advice for after that?" she sighed after a moment. "If I pass that test, I don't know when I'll be coming back."
"That's fine," Ed murmured, though his eyes were sad. "I know you don't like it here."
"It…it isn't that I hate Resembool, I mean, I love it, I really do," Raihna said, twirling her hair absently around her finger. "It's just…not where I want to be right now. I want to be doing something fun and adventurous, like you used to. I want to find my own purpose…and it isn't here."
There was a long pause before Father replied again. "Your mother is still upset that you decided to try and become a state alchemist."
"I know," Raihna sighed. "But it can't be helped."
"Ed, it's time for dinner!" a faint voice called from inside the house. Father stood up slowly, giving Raihna a long look that she couldn't read.
"Just be careful," he murmured to her very quietly. "Being a state alchemist isn't all fun and games. You must never let your guard down, and you can't always trust everyone around you. Even in the military, there were…corrupted officials."
Raihna vaguely recalled a story she had heard from her youth about the old Fuhrer; how he had been an enemy, disguised as a fearless leader. She nodded briskly, standing up after her father.
"Why don't you go find Al and tell him dinner's ready?" Ed suggested. "He was looking for you earlier, so he might still be in the forest." As Raihna turned to leave the porch and find her brother, she pressed her lips together tightly to suppress her feelings of anger towards him. Who was he to think she was weak? To question why she was finally picking her own path in life?
"Hey, Al, dinner's ready!" she called as she reached the edge of the trees. Silence. "Look, I'm sorry I left you earlier, so just come out, okay?" For a long moment, nothing happened; then Al slowly came from around one of the trees, a sullen look on his face.
"Well, let's get back home, then," Raihna said briskly, striding purposefully back to the house.
"Wait a minute," Allan called after her. "How can you just leave like that?"
"By turning around and putting one foot in front of the other, then the next, then the next…" For some reason Raihna felt that Al was not amused by her answer.
"Geez, if you didn't lose your temper so easily all the time…" Allan muttered, following after her.
"I do not!" Raihna declared hotly, then paused. "Not all the time; just most of it."
"You know what I mean," Allan replied, rolling his eyes.
Raihna loved Al; he was the sweetest, most sensitive person she knew–not that she knew that many people–but sometimes he could get on her nerves like no one else, especially with his concern of every little thing. However, now was not one of those times. In fact, right now, she was beginning to feel a little spark of respect for her little brother; he was finally beginning to defend himself in an argument.
"Then why don't you just say what's bothering you and get on with it?" Raihna asked.
"What's bothering me is you," Allan said angrily. "I only came to talk to you earlier because I thought you needed some cheering up, and then you just left!"
"I left because–!" Because what? Because he thought she was weak? "Because I didn't want to talk," she finished lamely. She scowled sourly at him before turning on her heel and heading back once more. "Dinner will get cold if you just stand out here," she added when Al made no move to follow her.
He sighed, but he didn't look or sound angry anymore.
"You're not very good at staying mad for long," Raihna teased him.
"Yeah? Well neither are you," Allan retorted playfully, running to catch up to her.
"Hey now," Raihna said, ruffling his hair fondly. "If you think that, you don't know me very well."
As the two siblings continued to tease each other, the sun began to set, making the pale white house seem as though it was dyed in orange. The door shut with a resolute click behind them as they went to join their parents for one last dinner together before they left, not sure when they'd return.
Bluuuurgh. That was a terrible ending. But I really don't know how to fix it up right now, so it shall stay as is. –nods–
Actually, I was debating on doing this sequel; I just finished reading Pandora Hearts (a freaking AMAZING manga, trust me) and I didn't really have any ideas for a sequel in the first place, but I felt compelled to do it. So…sorry if it's crap.
On another note, I'm uploading this just as the second episode of FMA Brotherhood is showing! XD Once again, sorry for the long AN. ^.^'
Please review~! :D