Author's Note:

Hello loves, glad to see you liked the first chapter enough to come back for more!

I'd like to point something out randomly- I got the idea for the "lights" Kaori sees from Brotherhood, actually. Remember how Lan Fan and Ling Yao can see people's chi? Kind of the same thing, but with colors I guess. It's a Xingese thing I guess.

Well, enough rambling; please review when you finish! :D

LOSGAP =D

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Thunder rumbled ominously in the distance and Kaori sighed, shouldering her suitcase. Storms always reminded her of that night; they made her empty eye sockets ache.

Instead of going for eye-patches, she had opted to have her eyelids sewn shut- her eyes were naturally squinty anyway, there was little difference now. Only on close inspection could you see her eyes were closed.

She didn't usually think about what she looked like to others though; she must have been more nervous about today then she had thought.

Lights were all around her- she was dumbstruck by the amount of people here, and was grateful for the open spaces around her- she had brought a cane today, just until she became accustomed to her surroundings, but now she wondered if she would need it.

"Can I help you?" A pale yellow light asked; a woman. Women tended to have softer colors then men.

"Yes, I'd like an enlistment form." Kaori said, resting her hand on the desk and testing the materials in it; wood, maple to be exact, with the many ingredients of paint- she could tell how large it was and how many drawers there were in it, and how many papers there were inside. She filed this information away for later use to build her mental map of the ground floor of Central.

"Sure!" The woman said happily, and there was a sound of rustling. Kaori watched the light as it bent over, apparently rummaging through drawers- lights didn't have human shapes, merely shapeless forms floating in the never-ending darkness, but she could tell when they moved.

"Here you are." Kaori reached out, her fingers groping air until she found the paper. Concern sparked off the secretary and she spoke. "Miss, are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Kaori smiled at her. "But could you help me fill this out? I can't see." She said, and immediately picked up on tension from the woman. "Are you sure you want to enlist then?" The woman asked, sounding confused. "No offense ma'am, but a blind soldier would be… oh!"

She gasped as Kaori clapped her hands and swathed her in darkness, destroying the light particles within a few feet around them. "Now you are a blind soldier as well." Kaori said, smiling sweetly, even though she knew the secretary couldn't see it. "You see, I'm an alchemist, but I'd like to work for the State." She explained, clapping her hands again and repairing the molecules.

"I see." The frightened woman whispered. "All right; I'll help you." Her voice shook a bit- Kaori felt a bit guilty for scaring her, but she wasn't about to stop her quest for adventure because of manners.

OOO

After filling out the form, she was told she would report back in three months for the State Alchemy Exam; apparently this was a big deal, because she was highly advised to study extensively and to bring all her research with her.

That may be a problem- what research? She doubted she could impress the examiners by telling them what color they were. She would have to think of something else besides just blinding them as well; just one impressive feat may not be enough. Alchemists from around the country were going to be competing against her for one or two select spots in the army- Kaori was young, and confident though, and plunged into her studies eagerly; the libraries here were extensive, though since of course she could not read she would pay someone to read to her- usually children looking for a few easy sens, or in some cases young men eager to do something for her in return for a drink.

The latter was never very favorable though, as once they found out she was blind they automatically labeled her "defenseless" and usually tried to take advantage of her- she certainly got a lot of self-defense practice in at least.

OOO

The time of the State Alchemy Exam rolled around and Kaori found that the part she would like most was the written exam- unable to neither read nor write, she requested assistance.

"Why should we give you special treatment?" A dull brown light demanded. "Everyone else here takes it the exact same way!"

He gasped when Kaori blinded him. "Can you take the exam under these circumstances?" Kaori asked coolly. The brown light sputtered a response and Kaori released him from his blindness. A young soldier was assigned to be her "scribe" and she was to take it in a closed off room so that the other alchemists would not be disturbed.

She sat at the table, twirling her thumbs idly as she waited, pitying the poor sap who would have to read to the blind girl- a well of self-pity swelled in her but she shook it off quickly when the door creaked open.

She was struck immediately by the light. It was the brightest one she had ever seen; as bright orange as a lick of flame, radiating heat and light, it captivated her. It reminded her of the sun. She hadn't realized how much she missed it.

"Hey there," The fire said- a man's voice, though she had guessed. "My name's Jean Havoc." She nodded, listening as the chair scraped back as he plopped down in his chair. "Kaori Nakamura." She murmured, realizing he was waiting for her name.

"Xing?" He questioned and she felt a flash of surprise before she nodded. "Half." She explained and he grunted. "Should have guessed by that gorgeous black hair of yours." He said and she started, feeling a light tingle of color spread across her cheeks. Was he flirting with her?

She wondered if he was smiling, and decided it would be best to smile slightly back at him, still a bit shocked. "Now, you have to promise me something," Jean said and she jumped in surprise, waiting for him to continue. "First off, don't kill me for delivering these God-awful questions to you- remember, don't shoot the messenger." He said and Kaori laughed. "Second, you have to let me buy you a drink after this- you'll need it." He said and Kaori grinned. "I'd like that."

"You would?" His voice squeaked with surprise and then he cleared his throat. "I mean, of course you would." He coughed, and there was a scraping sound and the smell of sulfur. The air in the room suddenly smelled of cigarette smoke and she wrinkled her nose in distaste.

He didn't comment on her disgusted look and there was a rustling of papers- she wondered idly if he'd light the test on fire. That would certainly be interesting.

"Let's get this over with."

OOO

"Hey, you ok?" Havoc asked somewhat anxiously as Kaori dropped her head on the desk.

She moaned in response and he chuckled. "I know a few alchemists- they acted the same way after the exam." She grunted in response. "I bet they finished though." She scowled, infuriated with herself. She couldn't believe she hadn't finished! She was barely half way through when Jean told her that the time was up.

"I think I could really use that drink now." She grumbled and Jean laughed. "It's a bit early for drinks though." He pointed out. She lifted her head and sighed. "Fine." She said, standing up. "What time do you want me to pick you up?" He asked as she went for the door.

"Whenever the first pub opens." She said and she wondered if he smiled at her- his voice sounded like it. "Seven then- what hotel you staying at?"

She gave him the hotel's address and said goodbye, closing the door to the blinding bright light.

OOO

"So, what's a pretty girl like you trying to get in the army for?" Havoc asked and Kaori frowned thoughtfully about how to put it, delaying her answer by taking a sip of her martini.

(A/N: Before everyone jumps down my throat about her being underage, I doubt there's drinking laws in Amestris. Besides, if it's like Europe, which would make sense since everyone seems to end up in Germany, then minors are allowed to drink- yes, it's true.)

"I want adventure, I guess." She shrugged. "My life's too quiet back home." She explained. Jean grunted with understanding. "Why'd you join the army?" She asked curiously. "Same as you." He replied and she nodded. "Ah."

They slipped into a comfortable silence. "So, uh, you got a… boyfriend or something back home?" He asked and she nearly choked on her drink. "Unless you count the steer, there aren't very many boys back home." She replied dryly and her answer seemed to please him.

"Oh." He said, hope ringing in his voice. She wondered if he would try something with her tonight, and hoped he didn't- she wasn't the kind of girl who took guys home on the first date.

Is this even a date? She wondered idly, taking another sip of her almost empty sour apple martini. If so, it was her first one. Was it going well? Should she be flirting more?

She was jerked out of her suddenly self-conscious thoughts by his question. "So how do you get around?" He asked curiously. She would have been offended any other time someone asked, but he sounded genuinely curious, not doubtful- some people even thought she faked her blindness.

"I 'see' in my own way." She explained, setting her glass down. "People, animals, plants- they're all lights." She said, then bit her lip, wondering how to explain it so it made sense. "I can feel things, too- like watch." She clapped her hands and he let out a little scream of shock as he was suddenly blinded. "I can do that by playing with the molecules in the air." She explained as she gave him his sight back.

"Geez," He muttered, sounding breathless. "That's really something." She grinned at him. "Thanks."

"How did you go blind anyway? Or were you born this way?" He asked and her smile faded as memories beat her dark wings deep within her mind. "Hey if you don't want to talk about it…" He started quickly, seeing her expression change. "An accident." She said flatly, and he knew better then to press her.

They talked for another half hour or so before he walked her home, then paused outside the doors of the hotel, uncertainty flickering around him.

"I had fun tonight." Kaori said slowly, more unsure then he was- she guessed he had been on many other dates. "Me too." He agreed quickly.

They stood there awkwardly; Havoc coughed once. "Well, good night then." Kaori said uncomfortably, shifting from foot to foot. Should she kiss him?

Too early. She decided.

"Good night." He said, and she nodded to him before entering the hotel, fully aware of the blush spreading across her cheeks as she hurried up to her room. It was late, and she was tired- the alcohol was making her dizzy as well. She'd have a hangover tomorrow for the second part of the exam- awesome.

OOO

The second part of the exam went… all right, she guessed. She had to sit in a chair, unable to understand the significance of it, and answer a question; why did she want to join the army?

"To serve the people." She had replied- wasn't that the state alchemists' motto, "Be thou for the people"? She thought so- it was probably what they wanted to hear.

And somehow, she made it to the third part of the exam. She and three others (the army must have been desperate for recruits or something, as it seemed to be a rather large amount to her) and they were too somehow impress the judges.

She clapped her hands and tested her surroundings while she waited for her turn; she picked up on the presence of trees, stone and water- her mind whirled as she tried to think of something impressive she could do with them.

She became aware of applause and tested the air again; someone had created an ice sculpture, but she couldn't tell what it looked like, only that it was very large.

Another man grew trees, which impressed the judges even more; her turn came and she stepped forward, clapping her hands.

There were gasps and even a few screams as she swathed the examination area in blackness.

Silently she crept forward, easily finding the other examinees- the blackness did not affect her; she could still see their lights plainly. With neat blows on the back of the neck, she knocked them all unconscious and returned the light particles in the air back to normal.

The judges muttered amongst themselves; she could feel their tension and anxiety. What she had done had clearly rattled them. She felt a flash of anxiety; had scaring them been a bad idea?

But when the other examinees came to the judges relaxed, as did Kaori; they must have been the source of their tension. They had thought she killed them.

Fools. Kaori thought with a little smile.

OOO

She made it. Against all odds, she made it. Jean insisted on taking her out to dinner to celebrate.

She supposed it was their second date, and decided she liked it that he seemed to have an interest in her. She was attracted to him, there was no doubt about that; his bright fire-like light fascinated her, but he was also charming; and, he made her laugh. Not many people could do that.

"So, what do they call you now?" Jean asked and Kaori groaned. "It's so corny." She muttered. "Come on, let's hear it." He prodded and she sighed. "The Midnight Alchemist." She admitted.

"I like it." Jean said. "It's dark, mysterious… like a certain dark-haired beauty I know." She flushed; he was forever calling her things like that. It made her skin tingle pleasantly.

He was silent for a while, and she didn't try to fill the silence, quietly eating her dinner.

"What color am I?" He asked suddenly and she raised her head in surprise. She hesitated for a minute before a playful smirk tugged at her lips. "…I'm not going to tell you." She said.

"Why not?" He demanded. "Is it a girly color? Oh God, I'm not pink, am I?"

"Maybe." She said in a sing-song voice. "I knew it! Oh for the love of- pink?! Really?!"

"No, not really." She snorted, amused by his insecurities. "Then tell me what color I am?" He begged. "Only if you pick up the check." Kaori replied, pushing her empty plate away.

"I was going to do that anyway." He pointed out, and Kaori heard him call for a waiter. There was a few minutes of quiet and he stood up, and Kaori followed his example and left with him.

The rest of the way to her hotel was filled with Havoc pulling random colors out of the air and Kaori telling him he was wrong.

"Well, if I'm not pink, and I'm not purple, I guess I should be happy." He sighed. "Just tell me, is it an ugly color?" He asked when they came to the door of the hotel- she would be moving into the army's corridors the next day.

"No." She said slowly. "It's actually very bright, and very beautiful." She would give the poor man that much.

"Beautiful?" He snorted. "I knew it- I am pink, aren't I?" Kaori laughed then hesitated a moment before she stretched up, her hands landing on his shoulders to gauge his height before she kissed his cheek gently.

"Night." She whispered in his ear before disappearing inside.

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