Well, I couldn't help it. I had to write another chapter. Even though I only had a couple reviewers, I have to give them another chapter. So here it is. It's slow at first, but it'll get better. I promise. Please read.
Perfection Replaces Perfection
"Damn it," General Haruko swore as he pounded his fist on his desk. "How could I have been so stupid? Why did I think that monster was finished? How could he possibly still be at it?"
Even though he had Roderick Hawkeye behind bars, more of his men had died-no, had been assassinated.
Haruko had the report of David Carlton's death in front of him, along with three others. All had the same trademark death: A bullet hole through the front of the skull between the eyebrows. The shot couldn't have been cleaner. No bullet shells were found, but the bullet was that of Roderick Hawkeye's VSS sniper gun. The only problem was that Roderick had been in an iron cell well before the first assassination.
"There's no possible way he could be doing this behind bars. He's locked up tight, and even if he could get out, his hand his too smashed up to do anything anyways. But how?" Haruko had witnessed Roderick's capture. He tried to escape, but he had to be taken alive. The Flame Alchemist had used his fire to burn Roderick's hand when he pulled a gun. Now he would probably never shoot a gun again. That made Haruko easy, but it still didn't calm him completely.
Along with the death reports there was a kill-list that had been confiscated from Roderick. It had all the names of men that he knew worked for the State Military, but his name wasn't on there. The only thing missing was the dates and times of deaths. What is Roderick thinking? Is he insane? He's ours, and yet he insists on continuing this onslaught. Does he have a partner working on the outside for him? Damn you, Roderick. When will it end? He didn't waste anytime. He needed answers now. He only hoped Roderick would listen to reason.
Roderick was sitting in the visiting room in handcuffs when Haruko entered. Roderick was wearing the traditional gray jail suit that all prisoners got. The once strong, masculine man had grown thin and frail, and his blonde hair, which was usually pulled back into a clean ponytail, was now a mess of straw on his head. His eyes were bloodshot, but he wore the biggest smirk when he saw the general step into the room.
"Well, Haruko," Roderick said in a low, raspy voice, "it looks like you are doing better than I am on the outside, but I bet your brain and conscience hasn't let you have peace of mind, has it?" Haruko sat down as his prisoner stifled a laugh.
"Yes, its all fun for you, but this is a serious matter."
"No, general. It's all a game, one, big game in which you must try to find and stop my assassin." So I was right, Haruko said to himself. There is another assassin.
"Who has taken your place?"
"So you figured it out, but you must be thinking who has become so good as to stand next to the master himself. The kills were copied exactly down to the little detail, from the VSS bullet to the cleanest hit between the eyebrows. Who could possibly imitate my kills to the finest detail?"
"Enough riddles, Roderick. End this madness now. Tell me who your killer is and who the next target will be." Roderick shook his head as he clicked his tongue.
"What fun would it be if I told you? I am not a spoiler. There is a reason why there are no times with those names. That list you have there has every man that is to die, but you will not know when they will die. To make it more interesting, all the names are scrambled." Haruko couldn't help but gasp. How could a man be so sick and twisted? "I've seemed to shock you once again. You will not be able to save the men you once worked with… unless…"
"Unless what?" Roderick's grin grew when he saw he had Haruko's full attention. "Name it, and I'll let my superiors know. I'm sure we can work out a deal." Roderick frowned as he lifted his right hand.
"My hand is completely useless now. I will never be the assassin I was before that damn Mustang destroyed it. I might as well chop it up. But I have heard some cheerful news. The guards have been talking about a new technique that could bring my hand back to full use. It's better than automail, and you get to keep your hand. I know you have the resources to make my hand new again. Do that and I'll call off my lap dog."
"You're insane if you think I would do that. My superiors would never allow it." Roderick got up and moved to the back of the room. After a few seconds, a guard came in to escort him back to his cell.
"Then we have nothing to discuss, general. Just remember this: 'Perfection has replaced perfection. The fruit of my veins has been nurtured to make the best wine, and it will only get better with experience and age. It will not spoil, and I shall pour it and drink until the blood rushes underneath my feet.' Quite poetic, don't you think?" Haruko was left standing as Roderick's shrill laugh filled the hallways of the prison.
"What did he mean by that? Was it another riddle, or was he just trying to scare me?" Haruko couldn't let this go on any longer. He had to stop Roderick and his partner. He couldn't give the killer his hand back. If he did, the massacre would never end. There was only one sure way to stop Roderick for good. Haruko quickly ran to the end of the hallway and dialed the operator. "Hello, operator. Connect me with Roy Mustang in Eastern Headquarters."
Phew! That was exhausting. I hope you guys are starting to get the picture. I know it's still slow as I said before, but it'll get better. I promise. Please review so I can keep writing. Thanks and cya.
