Chapter Two
The next morning I made sure that I was ready by 6:00am. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. Almost as soon as I had finished getting ready, the door opened. Colonel Mustang entered his office along with a woman with blonde hair.
"Areku," said Mustang, "this is First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye. She will be teaching you how to use firearms."
I nodded. Now I knew what the Colonel's "better solution" was, and I was excited. I had always wanted to learn how to use firearms.
"Well," said Mustang, "what do you say?"
"I would be honored to be your student Lieutenant Hawkeye," I said, saluting her in proper military fashion.
"Are you ready then?" Asked Riza.
"Yes."
"Well then I don't see why we shouldn't start today. Don't you agree Colonel?" said Riza.
"Yes," said Mustang. "I don't see why not. She only has one month to prepare for the Alchemy Exam. The quicker we start, the better."
Riza nodded. "Let's get going then, shall we?"
I nodded and followed her out the door. Colonel Mustang looked satisfied as we left. I couldn't help but wonder if this was part of his plan. Actually, I knew it was part of his plan. My aunt had told me about the Colonel. It was kind of scary, but in some ways I was like him.
Soon Riza and I arrived at an indoor room designed for target practice. She handed me a small black pistol. I moved it around in my hand. I had long been awaiting this moment.
"Okay," said Lieutenant Hawkeye, "hold it like this and..." She held her pistol with one hand and aimed it at the center of the target and pulled the trigger. She hit her mark exactly.
"Okay, now you try," said Riza.
I held up the gun and aimed it at the center of the target like Riza had. I was a bit unsure of my aim, but I kept the gun still and pulled the trigger. I also hit my mark.
I was astonished. This had been my first time even firing a gun and I had hit my target in the exact center.
"Seems like you're a natural," said Riza. "Why don't you fire off a few more rounds."
I nodded. I knew that she wanted to see if my first shot had just been a stroke of luck.
It wasn't. Every bullet that I fired hit its mark. Riza looked surprised, but also proud. "You remind me of myself when I first started using firearms."
I took that as a compliment. After all, Colonel Mustang had asked her to teach me, and the Colonel would not have brought a mediocre shooter to teach me. He wanted me to be the best I could possibly be for the military if I became a State Alchemist. He would also score points with the higher-ups for "discovering" me if I was good. I knew that it was Roy Mustang's ambition to become Führer of Amestris. Somehow though, I felt that this wasn't only for his benefit. Colonel Mustang's personality wasn't that cut and dry- I could tell somehow.
My long brown hair fell over my green-brown eyes, and I blew it out of my eyes without really thinking. I thought about my brother, which I did a lot. As his sister, I couldn't help it. Especially now that he was gone. I had been over ten years older than him. He was only four when he was murdered by Scar. I had just turned fifteen the previous week.
I saw Riza look at the clock on the wall out of the corner of my eye. "We should get going," said Riza.
I nodded. "Oh," I said, "here's your gun back." I held out the pistol.
"Keep it," she said, "you never know when you'll need it."
She was right. I pocketed the pistol. "Thanks."
She nodded. "We should get back to Central Command. Colonel Mustang is probably wondering where we are. We've been gone longer than I thought."
We left. Central Command was only about a half an hour away by foot.
I could feel the pistol in my pocket as Riza and I made our way back to Central Command. The pistol was a reminder of the Alchemy Exam next month.
Soon I found myself in Mustang's office with Riza.
"So," said Mustang, "how did it go?"
"Good sir," said Hawkeye. "She's a natural.
"A natural, huh?" said Roy. "Looks like you really may be of use to the military after all. I guess I was right about you, Loyal. Don't disappoint me."
"I won't sir," I said, saluting him.
"If you don't mind, Lieutenant, I would like you to continue training her," said Roy.
His question was more of a demand, but Riza didn't seem to notice or care. "Yes sir," she replied quickly.
"Dismissed," said Colonel Mustang.
I looked at him, confused. I had thought that he would have invited me to stay in his office another night. Apparently not. I gathered up my suitcase as Riza left.
I saluted Mustang, who looked frustrated. I didn't blame him for not inviting me to stay in his office for another night. Something was apparently bothering him and he probably needed some time alone.
"Thank you for allowing me to stay here sir," I said. I turned to leave, but before I had a chance to open the door, Mustang spoke.
"I have been informed today that three more alchemists have been killed in the past few days," he said.
My eyes widened. Roy looked up from his desk. "Are you sure that this is what you want?"
I paused but nodded quickly. "Yes sir."
"Very well then."
I opened the door and walked out. I began to close the door behind me, but turned around before the door was completely shut. I saw Mustang's hand covering his eyes and forehead in frustration.
"Why is this happening?" I heard him mutter.
