Yes, yes, this chapter was also redone like 1 and 2, and now, I'm attempting to get through all the chapters, number 10 is going to be out by tonight hopefully, there's always tomorrow, so don't worry followers, the update is coming.

Unfortunately, the Ling story I'm having a little writers block if anyone has any ideas, I'm always up to some help and suggestions. Thank you all for your reviews :3 I love you all 3 *Does a little wiggle with sparklers, and banners*

Again I don't own Greed, and the other stuff that I obviously don't own, and blada blada blada! Blah!


Chapter III: Reflection


Everything was new...

Nothing was familiar…

Nothing looked familiar.

It was really a whole new experience for her to have this new of beginning…

But maybe this was what she needed.

To have a fresh start.

With new faces to look forward to…


"Ah, there's nothing like a nice cup of fine brandy to get the blood flowing…"

Greed took a small sip from his glass before sighing in satisfaction of the taste, of course mind you, he had a pile of scruffy looking punks that attempted to raise their weapons at the new comers. Especially when they noticed Bido & Elise who were usual from the rest…

"Listen up, you punks, this place from here on out is my pad…If anyone, has a problem with it, they can take it up with me." He said this after the fact that he had revealed his capabilities…

"Nobody? Good, guys, take a chair, relax…Considering the Devil's Nest our new home."

"God he works fast." Dorchetto muttered under his breath dropping his shoulders in disbelief of what just happened.

Yep, he was just that quick at getting what he wanted…

"Hey look at the bright side, we now have food & board now without having to pay for it, sort of…" Martel tried hard to look at the positive, and it seemed to work as the other began to spread out through the bar.

"That, and they were the ones that started it first!" Elise added looking up thoughtfully as she strolled between the snake and pup before they all separated themselves around their new boss.

Martel decided to stand across from Roa who was standing behind the couch that Greed rest upon, and Dorchetto, with Elise tagging along made themselves comfortable on the couch across from the relaxed homunculus.

"Aw, my dog gone feet. It feels so nice to get off them, finally!" Dorchetto leaned back against his cushion, stretching out his arms above his head with a release of a mighty yawn.

"So, Greed, sir. If you don't mind me asking, I've been wondering about something when we were all trapped in that Laboratory…How were you even down there? Were you a prisoner in there as well?" Ulchi leaned down to him asking the question that was now on everyone's mind.

"Actually no. But you're close…I was trapped somewhere near Lab 5 and figured I'd cause a little bit of a disturbance for my pops…"

"You have a father, Greed?" Elise was surprised, was that who created him? It was more or likely a yes.

"Sure do. I have a father, and 6 brothers, so that makes 7 of us. Back when he had first created us all, he told us he needed help obtaining the philosopher stone to become this perfect being he wanted to become. But soon, after a few long boring, agonizing centuries of coming up empty handed, I had my own plans, and had my own ideas in mind for obtaining…"

Suddenly Greed began to travel off when his eyes scanned his crowd of followers and fell upon the wide-eyed Neko who looked almost terrified at what he was speaking about.

He wasn't really sure why she looked that way but it soon became clear when she let the three words escape her lips while in the process of gulping back the lump that was stuck at the bottom of her throat, "The Philosopher stone…" Greed's eyes brightened with interest at her words…Could it be that she had information on the subject?

"You know something about it Elise? Or is it that you need me to explain it to you?" As much as he wasn't being sarcastic about the question, he wanted to see if she would tell him herself without him having to ask.

And just as he thought, the girl's ears twitched to his question before she slightly shifted in her place with uneasiness.

"No. I definitely know what that is. My parents are the top scientists in Central. I meant it when I told you that the first time we met."

Greed cocked his brow at Elise with a somewhat confused look on his face. He was trying to remember the statement she spoke of, & with none to no effort of that, he surely did familiarize with the previous conversation they had on top of the hill after their escape.

"I thought you said they were doctors?" He asked only to get a respond of a roll of the girl's eyes & the small laugh.

"Doctors…Scientists…What's the difference? If they wanted to they could put us all back to normal with that stupid stone that they like to constantly carry around like a fashion statement. It looked like a ruby shard the first time I saw it. It didn't look anything special besides what they did with it."

Everyone was silent.

They were more than intrigued now, they wanted to know more about it, especially Greed who leaned his chin into his hand with his arm prompt up on his knee. "Is that right? So, you've actually seen the philosopher stone?"

The girl nodded without looking at anyone but her hands placed in her lap.

"When did they use it on you? When you were in Lab 5?"

"No. I was…I think I was like-, 5 or 6?"

"Oh, so before the Lab…Do you think you could tell me more about that?" His voice was extremely smooth and gentle, trying to ease it out of her rather than try to force her to tell him.

But he would never have to force her to say it anyways, because she was comfortable with telling it. It wasn't like it was a special secret of hers, "I can really only remember it because it was the only weekend my parents ever got off to come visit me since they left for Central the first day I was born."

Elise paused for a moment trying to recap the best she could, it had been so long since it happened she could only force her brain to push the memories out in order to relive it so she could remember that specific day.

"It was after dinner, my parents were inside getting the remainder of their things, telling me that it would be another couple years before they come home, because of some great research they had been improving on, so I went outside to go play out on a dam that some beavers made over by my house. Little did I realize how long it was there for, and the entire thing collapsed under my feet. I beat myself up pretty bad because of it and when the ambulance finally came to rescue me, I was already fine, but it was because of that stone…I…"

She gulped back remembering the feel of the logs collapsing on top of her, smashing the side of her face against it weight…And then a twitch jolted throughout her right arm remembering well of the tiny log that punctured her chest, missing her heart by mere inches, "I-,…I almost died. I had eternally injured myself from not being careful, and when I passed out from the lack of, well damn near everything, my dad pulled out the stone. It glowed like the sun, healing me almost instantly. When I came to, I was already back at home in bed, and my parents-, they left back to Central…"

It seemed Elise was coming back to reality by the time she was finished & hardened her gaze ahead, before she smiled, more amused than hurt…Who knows, maybe it was in her genes to laugh at pain, like her parents…

"I don't know why they even bothered to save me that day. I hadn't seen them since then, and when they came after 13 years, they sent me to Central with them. I had a gut feeling something was wrong. I must've been just one big giant experiment to them my whole life. Heh, some parents." Elise couldn't help it, she spat down at the floor with venom at even the thought of her so called parents. Those two had never once acted like parents to say the least, and they were never around to be one, so how could they earn that title with such disrespect for their only child?

It hurt.

Deep down, it hurt the girl to know that her own mother & father used her, her whole life. But it did more than just hurt. A jolt of rage shivered down her spine at the thought of their faces, which unfortunately for the others, could definitely sense instinctively just by looking at her, ears that fell back with irritation.

"Yeah…Some parents…" Greed's voice caused the kitten's ear to perk up & her eyes to slowly make their way up to his dragon lit ones. He gazing at her, sympathizing with her a little when he took in her story, enticed by the information she gave him.

Suddenly, the homunculus gave an unusual smirk in her direction, still staring her down they way he was as if he had been pondering about something.

It was making Ellie uneasy as she tried to look away, embarrassed to feel the tingling sensation of her face start to tint the tip of her nose under the pressure of his gaze.

Why does he keep smiling at me like that?

Just then, Martel put her hand over the girl's shoulder causing Elise to look up at the snake woman above her now, smiling down at her, confidently, "Don't sweat it, kid. When we become stronger, we'll beat down the Military and your parents for what they did to us-, to all of us."

Elise tried hard to smile back, "Okay, but first someone's going to have to teach me to take down a whole army in order for me to want to go against the entire Military to get to my parents, it would be suicide to do it now. Like you said Greed." She referred to their conversation back on the mountain side in Central.

"Well of course, now that would be suicidal wouldn't it? But you just wait and see Ellie, we'll get'em." The blonde woman assured giving her biggest smile she could give to make the panther feel better.

Surely, it worked, "Yeah. Soon enough, right? I guess patience is a virtue, sort of speak." Elise tried not to smile as she rolled her eyes away from Martel who was causing her to curl her lips, "God what I wouldn't give to kick their asses now…"

Yeah, she was trying really hard not to smile at the thought, but it was too late. The smiles were becoming infectious.

"Whoa…Look out, pussy cat's more eager than we are." Dorchetto laughed taunting Elise as he flicked her tail with his fingers, getting everyone else to snicker around him except the panther herself who had turned completely beat red at the pup announcing her the 'P' word.

"Shut up, Dorchetto!" Elise blushed so hard her fist jerked in his general direction knocking Dorchetto straight over the other side of the couch onto his back.

He landed with a muffled thud and a grumbled groan.

"Ow…My head…"

Everyone had their eyes nearly bonking out of their skulls when they saw what happened between the two within just seconds of each other…He was there one minute and boom!

He Vanished…

"Whoa…! Nice shot Elise, where'd you learn how to hit like that?"

While the other were completely awed in astonishment, Greed was cracking the hell up from start to finish. He even had to grab his side from hurting from the laughter.

"Indeed, I thought you only knew enough to defend yourself, but this? No, correction, that?" He pointed to Dorchetto still laughing, "Ha ha! That was absolutely priceless!"

"I…I didn't know-, I could…" Elise could only jumble over her sentences looking down at herself as if she was someone different.

Like her body wasn't her own, but it was! It was all too much to take in all at once, since she didn't know whether to be utterly surprised and happy or utterly surprised and freaked out!

And everyone in that bar was a witness to her new found strength.

Suddenly the groan coming from Dorchetto behind the couch caught wind of Elise's boggled mind and brought her attention to the spiraling eyed pup still laying sprawled out on the floor.

"Oh jeez! Dorchetto! I'm so, so sorry! I didn't mean it honest! I-It was out of reflex!"

"Ah he's fine, he's taken worse than you punch to the face, right Doro?"

"Do-, Don't call me that…And hey, even if that were true, it still hurt!" He spat tiredly at his companion Martel, who only laughed coming to help her friend as well to the rescue.

"You stand right?"

"Yeah." With a simple hand she lifted him up and went followed one another back to their spots, as they resumed their conversation…

Or at least that's Elise thought when she turned back to meet Greed's face with a pondering look in his eyes and a hand at his chin; yeah, he was definitely cooking something up in that brain of his, she could feel it…

"Roa, Martel, Dorchetto…I have a question for all of you, actually, now that you are all one being with your animal sides, do you gain their agilities? Besides the fact of higher animal instincts, I mean…" He was most curious, the sound of his voice spoke it, & they all looked at one another.

"Well, sure!" It made Elise giggle softly when they called announced it in unison, but it faded when she looked over to her boss again, really beginning to wonder where he was going with this theory of his…

I throw a punch and he asked them a funny question like that? What do you have in store for me.. Mr. Greed? She thought sarcastically.

Just then, their boss smiled wider & threw up his hands closing his eyes in the process before slapping his thighs to lift himself up off the couch, grabbing the kitten by her hand, only to cause Elise to tense up a little when he lifted her to her feet as well.

She stared up at him questionably, only to watch blankly as he hummed a chuckle on that stupid, handsome face of his.

"Uh, sir…? What're-,"

"Oi, buddy!" Greed abruptly turned to call out to one of the previous punks from earlier, who apparently was trying to make a break for the exit. "Ahh! Y-Ye-Yes,-Yes!"

"You got a back yard or some enormous basement downstairs in this place? And you better answer truthfully."

At the question he asked of the man, Elise could only widen her eyes as her new ears & tail spike up in alert.

He wanted to fight her? Really?

"Are you insane? I'm not going to fight you!"

"Hush babe…"

This time, Elise's left ear twitched with annoyance. For one, he attempted to silence & two, for calling her babe.

She had to start showing a fang or two the more annoyed she felt about his actions towards, whether he meant it in a cooing manner or not, she found it rude, but yet before she could protest against it, her boss began to lead her towards a door that led even further down into the cellars, or…Whatever it was, Elise could really tell yet, since it was just a pair of stairs she was descending down & it wasn't exactly easy to see…

If only she had a match or something…

"Don't question, just trust me. I have an idea." Was what he complied finally to her, "Come on, it'll be fun, & interesting. You, see I have this, hypothesis, & I want to see if it fits with what I've come up with. If you don't mind."

Elise was unnerved by this, since she didn't know what to expect, but she had a feeling that it couldn't have been anything too bad…

Then he finally mentioned, "You'll learn more about your new abilities if my thesis is correct, who knows may it'll be ones that you'll be able to control."

She wasn't sure what to think yet, but she continued to listen, "You're part feline right?"

"Yeah…A panther."

"Then you should have the same kind of taste, smell, sense, speed, & killing instincts just like it."

It finally hit her, "So, you-, want to see what I can do?"

"Bingo! You got it. Oh, and even if you were to say no to it, you really have no choice." The answer only made her brow raise, "Oh?"

"You see, I technically own you now, do I not? You made a promise to stay at my side when I released you and your friends from Lab 5..." He trailed off letting Elise get a glimpse of the whole picture, then when they finally entered the large room, Greed turned himself around to face the firm expression of the girl.

From what he could see in her eyes, she definitely remembered the promise, but then again she had really nothing against it. She never intended on voting against it, in fact she was interested as well in the idea of learning about her new body.

I mean, on a pro side of things, this new body of hers had new special powers that she withheld all thanks to that panther she couldn't save…And if she could at least do anything for that poor animal, it was accept what she was now…

A chimera.

"I want…" She stopped herself for a minute before licking her lips to see the sudden cocked brow on the Avarice's face, "I want to learn…And didn't forget…Besides…I do have my own goals…remember?"

With that Elise just smirked softly back at him, getting Greed to do the same as he gave an approved nod and placed his hands on his hips, hunching over a little in the kitten's direction.

"Alright then! So, Elise the Great…Let's see what you got! Now, how shall we test this theory of ours…?"

He trailed his eyes to one of the other chimeras standing in front of the door, & just like before, when he picked the opponent, a smirked brushed against his face…

"How about Roa? You up for a little sparing match?" The ox didn't refuse the offer & merely nodded as he lifted his slug hammer into grip.

"Yes sir."

"Uh, if you don't mind me asking, when did you start carrying around a hammer like that?" Elise asked nervously curious more or less.

He isn't really going to use that thing on me is he? Oh god, what did I just get myself into? Damn it, damn it, damn it! I hate it when I don't analyze situations over like this!

"I made it; you just noticed it until now?"

Elise could only laugh softly, & blush out of embarrassment while she looked up at her current opponent innocently with her hands hanging by their pinky's behind her back.

At that point all she could think of saying was, "Heh, s-sorry."

"Alright, let's get started."

Oh god, who was she kidding? She was scared shitless at the thought of Roa smashing her head with that massive weapon of his. How was she suppose to dodge that thing, & by a trained ex-military soldier?

The odds were stacking against her quickly, but Elise never said a word about giving in…Something inside her wouldn't let her back down just yet…

"Right…So should I go first then?" She inquired.

"Whatever makes you comfortable, Miss Elise."

"Okay, Here I go…" Her voice trailed off with a gentle cord with unsettled nerves that were resurfacing themselves within the kitten's stomach.

Everyone watched in suspense, awaiting for Elise's to make the move, but regrettably, she only looked like she was getting stuck in her thoughts as she stared down at her feet.

Her long, dark raven hair was the only thing to cover her eyes from the world, so no one else could really see what she could've been thinking…

In the true reality, Elise was concentrating all of her energy on her strongest traits so far…

Instinct…

It was the main branch that all animals survived on.

She listened to surroundings with her animalistic ears, tasting & smelling the mildew and spiky scent of the paint that had been dried to the walls…

The smell almost resembled something close to a permanent marker, and they way it suffocated her, it was as if someone marker every single wall down to the last rat hole in the corners.

Then she finally opened her eyes…

Her sight had progressively grown over the last couple of days…She had better than 20/20 vision.

And it was then, her senses mesh together into one ultimate instinct that surpassed even her animal instinct…

What could it have been she was feeling?

"Alright, Elise, you've had enough time preparing, hurry up and-," Dorchetto was about to say more from the patience growing thin of the constant silence, but nothing more really need to be said when they all notice the sudden excitement dwelling within the Panther's glowing green eyes…

Her pupils were the size of a dime, nearly covering up the once beautiful iris's she once carried with consciousness…

Her lips licked the thirst of anxieties starting to rise in her chest. The next thing was the unexpected…

Elise bent down to crouch like the panther she was one with, & swiftly pushed herself in Roa's direction at light speed…

Roa's eyes widened at the advance, not really expecting her to move so quickly, but who was…?

Everyone was baffled at the stand still the two started out with when Elise somersaulted over Roa's head suddenly catching him off guard for a short second…

Fortunately, Roa was not a man to be taken lightly, Elise was very aware that Roa was dangerous himself if he needed to be, her sense could taste it…

Strange, no?

It didn't just stopped there, her sense kept heightening till she could feel her nails getting longer the more she continued to feel her body rising with a sudden urge to jump all over the place…

She felt like she was on some kind of super high the way she was attacking him.

She never expected her body to know what it was doing while fighting, but in the state Elise was in, all her body knew was it wanted to live…It wanted to fight to survive.

And in the eyes of the others, it was beginning to scare them… Frighten them even…

Except for that one person who had expected this from the very beginning…

He knew it because he knew what she was…

Elise was what they called a perfect chimera…

Of course, just like all the chimeras here, they too were successful experiments and were known as 'perfected' chimeras.

But Elise was not just perfected…She was perfect. She was the one that had the most advanced skills and honed them within a matter of a day and a half, after of being made.

Greed was no seeing her developments with just in this one sparing match, that the more she heightened her sense, the more she could control her movements, and with the extra training she had practice over the years before hand, everything would have her improve her abilities…

And better yet, help her understand herself finally.

It's just what I had thought…Incredible…Simply incredible. Greed was already grinning to himself by the time the two chimeras had pulled part for a breather.

Elise especially, apparently.

She was oddly getting excited the more she continued to fight for her first time…

This wasn't exactly the type of training she had really spoke of so fondly earlier, but none the less, after only a few moments, she was beginning to come to terms of everything she just did…

"Oh, wow…" Her heart was pounding rapidly against her chest when she came back to her regular senses…

She was actually surprised she didn't loose control like she felt that she would at one point, how she didn't, she wasn't sure, but it didn't bother her now.

"What just happened?" She asked herself more than anything, but Greed just smirked as he stepped forward a little…

"I think your alternate instincts just kicked in…"

"You mean my instincts?" Greed chuckled softly, almost creating goose bumps down the chimeras neck, even though he was completely on the other side of the room in front of her…

"No, these instincts are more improved, more heightened then even animal instincts…It had no name yet, but that's because the scientist at the Lab's hadn't really come up with a name for it yet, at least that's what I've heard…"

Elise was surprised, but understood and looked to Greed straightening her back as she turned to him, "So, you're saying by pure instincts alone, I was able to do all those attacks, that quick & that skillful without any consciousness of doing so?"

"You got it doll. You're a very smart girl, you know that?" She blushed unwillingly, but looked away before it worsened only getting another chuckle out of her boss because of it.

Damn him for having that effect on her! She didn't like that he could merely make her stomach turn with just a few gazes and stares…Wait, why was she feeling her stomach do this!

"I guess…Thanks…" She finally muttered as she looked down at herself for a moment.

All the things aside, Elise was to say the least, baffled. She was expected her abilities to be somewhat intriguing, but she never thought she would be able to move like an acrobat!

It felt amazing! Her mind was boggled to her own being!

"Do you wish to continue, Miss Elise?"

It might've taken the kitten a minute to answer, but after a moment of regaining herself, Elise smiled back, this time with confidence finally surfacing to her once gloomy expression, "Yeah…I-, I think I am… Let's do this!"

On the side lines, Greed was becoming more and more ecstatic with the girl's new found power. To her incredible strength to her lightening fast speed…Shit it was more than lightening…It was light speed, no joke!

But still it pondered over & over again in his mind about this…

If she thinks its this easy now…I wonder what she would think if she was at her best… How great would her instincts be if she hit her limit…? He smiled at his thoughts falling deeper into this woman…

Not was she a Perfect Chimera, but she was a real looker…

Her hair looked as soft as silk, & a black as a raven's feathers. It flowed gracefully past her waist when she dropped kick & twist her hips to throw another heavy strike to Roa, who stumbled to the side of her counter attack.

Her eyes were the brightest shade of an emerald green that when they targeted an enemy on sight, they would surely grow even deeper shade never seen in a woman before.

Her skin was nothing but the vibrant, fair, peachy milk it look, but the only thing Greed could really wonder was how soft & smooth it must've felt…

He wished mentally to himself that, that would happen eventually; only time would tell if there would be anything among that manner of interest, but the bare pondering of it made the Avarice chuckle at himself.

Little did he realize that Dorchetto and Martel had hear it and turned their eyes to him, "Something up?"

"Maybe. Only time will tell." The two were more curious now, still looking at Greed as if he had more to say; soon they began to wonder what the man could've possibly been thinking.

Unfortunately, their curiosity would never be answered once Roa & Elise's sparing came to a screeching halt. Elise released a loud painful gasp when she felt the first blow of Roa's slug hammer.

This was also another first for her to have ever felt a brutal bruising & out winded pain. She couldn't even comprehend how painful the strike was when it happened, it hurt just that much…

But even though it was mind-numbing, Elise began to wonder if she hadn't fully recovered from Lab 5 when her body began to hurt uncontrollably. It was getting too much to breath….Her lungs were hurting. Her chest felt broken…

Shit…I think I over did it… She thought with tear filled eyes….

"Ellie, you alright? You gonna live?" Greed asked almost to simple for Elise taste, he almost sound like he was relax; was he not worried about her?

All she could finally breathe out clutching her chest softly, was, "I hope so…"

She breathed in one last time, slowly but surely feeling the pain & the burning sensation of broken ribs ease itself…Disappearing altogether.

"Mmmm…" She hummed in her lungs, as deep as she could for the most part trying to fix her mistake, but still she felt nothing…

Her pain felt numb now… Like it wasn't even there…

Elise was confused now. At first the pain started to get worse, then lessened, & then numbed itself completely till the pain completely disappeared…

What was she going to make of it. Was her body going into shock because of the attack?

Without another question to mind, Elise finally lifted herself up slowly from the ground, while everyone watched her in confusion and most of all, astonishment…

She was healed, and replenished strangely enough.

"H-How are you able to stand after that?" Almost everyone's eyes were bulging out of their heads, including Greed…

He hadn't expected her to regenerate…

Like him, a homunculus…

"I don't know…I think so, my ribs stopped hurting…" Elise was only relieved at the fact that she was okay, but she wondered somewhat if she should've been acting different to the realization that she just healed herself…

Should she have been freaking out? Even a little maybe?

Nope, instead she looked herself over in awe, noticing that her scratches and wounds from even Lab 5 had somewhat disappeared, "Well, ain't that just the bees knees…" She muttered the words softly, but loud for the others to hear her as she stared herself up and down in awe, "Did-, did I just heal myself for real? This isn't some kind hallucination I'm having, or some good morphine I'm taking some how, is it?"

At this, Elise looked to everyone circling her seeing that they too had seen the miracle before their eyes, but Greed, once again, was the only to bellow a with laughter when he rejoiced in the second discovery, and ran his hand over his face as he began to relax with softer chuckles.

"Oh, this is too much! An enhanced Chimera that can regenerate & move faster the speed of light! What will Central think of next?"

"Regenerate...?"Even though her astonishment was in the form of a question, Elise only knew that a whole new opportunity and confidence had planted itself deep within herself knowing this.

She had a new path opened up to her to get back at those bastards in Central now… But what was even more astonishing was how amazing it was to watch her body perform such wonders like this…

It was seeing a magic trick a kid for the very first time!

"Cool!" Was all she could exclaimed with a big grinning smile plastered across her face, "Guess I better start training more then, yeah?"

At first, no one said anything, but when the silence left up, the only thing that echoed throughout the room was the sound of everyone's laughter.

"What a champ you are…" Greed added before stepping forward to pat the kitten's head.

It felt strange having him pet her head like a cat, but yet some part of her gave into the light petting behind her ears…

Must be my kitty instincts! She cried out in embarrassed, mentally to herself each time he stroked his finger tips over that one spot.

"Well then, how about a drink? I'm feeling a little parched from watching you two fight."

When he pulled his hand away, Elise stared blankly at him, a little surprised that he was giving such a nice gesture. Well, it wasn't like anyone had ever ask her to hang out with them or anything, so asking something as simple as a drink was nice enough to Elise and with a tint of a discrete blush, nodding, "Sure."

Greed was nothing but pleased, and hummed at her answer as he put out a hand in her direction, "But, before I do, can I clean myself up first? I'm feeling a little-, well-, heh, the clothes say it all." She laughed pointing at her destroyed clothes that she had yet to rid herself of, and got a laugh out of the others as they agreed.

From the way her clothes were torn, bloody, and dirt ridden from the Labratory. It only screamed that she needed a bath.

"Good point. Well, take your pick of the rooms up stairs if you'd like, all of them have showers and their all opened, apparently. I mean, it's not like anyone's picked their rooms yet, so go for it." Greed himself suggested this, having his thumb directed at the door that was the only exit.

"Well I might as well…"

"Alright, in that case, everybody, take 5!" With that said, everyone exited the basement one to two at a time with Elise strolling tiredly behind the pack of comrades. All that training had really consumed the energy out of her and the closer she was getting to the room to forever knight as her own, the sleepier she became.

Lucky for her, the cat took the first room available near the stairs.

cautiously she scanned her eyes over the walls and wooden floor boards of her room. It wasn't too bad, but she though once was finished with it, this dump would become her own zen filled dojo.

And the more of her own space in the world, the more like home it would become…She just knew it, and the thought brought a smile to her face as she lazily look through the semi-empty drawers for any kind of extra clothes she could find…

It wasn't too hard since it was the only tank top and pair of sweats in the whole thing, but none the less, it was a lot better than she was wearing and with a soft yawn of tiredness, Elise bundled up the clothes on the bed before heading into the bathroom with the shut of the door behind her.

The moment the dirt ridden girl stepped into the hot water, it could only be described as indescribable!

Okay, maybe heavenly was the word...

Now, all the while Elise attempted to enjoy her shower, she couldn't help but wonder what she should do next…

Sure, she had a place to stay for the time being, but truthfully the panther was still lost insides like a lost child trying to find her way back from a hellhole known as Lab 5; although she didn't remember much of the operation, she hoped to never remember any of it…Already the thoughts of just entering the place made her cringe, and quickly change the subject to something else…

I have no choice…Even if I could find a way out to make a life on my own, I'll have no choice but to stay here… The thought was slightly grimace when she suddenly remembered the sound of Greed telling her what she was, and where she stood after her promise in her time of need…

Technically I own you now, do I not? His voice chimed in once again from when they were back in the basement.

She had to admit, ever since she had followed this homunculus as her leader, she was really finding it hard to see him as one. There was still so little she knew about him, and yet he knew so much about what she was. And before he could ask her anymore about herself, she needed to know about him first, to gain some kind of trust value for herself.

Her eyes sparkled with a little amusement before turning off the shower and stepping out with a towel wrapped around herself. She walked into her room, standing in front of the dresser's mirror observing her new existence.

First thing she noticed was her eyes...

They were no longer their shade of blue, but a new bright green to relate more to her cat-like features. As she stared at herself, she leaned to get a better look, "Whoa." She was amazed at the color.

Next was her new ears and tail since they were the most apparent, and as she gazed at them, she tilted her head to the side with uncertainty.

She opened up her towel a little, revealing her naked skin to herself until she turned back to her reflection; she wanted to see the furry black tail swaying to one side, almost without control limping sadly as it tried to move normally.

Elise frowned at how tired and dead the tip of the tail looked. She only started to ponder, wondering if she could help curve it out to make the tail more of her own.

She learned before that cats need their tails for balance, just like they need their whiskers lead them through small places, so, since this tail was a part of her, Elise knew that she would have to train it as well in order to hone the skill of controlling it.

Just exactly like a cat needs its tail, she also needed the tail to balance herself.

So, she started by attempting to think of moving it, more than trying to force it to move & within seconds, it moved an inch.

Yes…! Now, come on…Just a little more…I have to believe it's a part of me. It is a part of me. Don't rush it…

The girl's lips formed into a smile with confidence once again; something that was verily rare. She swerved it to the other side of her now, each time she'd move it from left to right, to get it a good start in its motions, and when she finally got the hang of step 1 and 2, she giggled with happiness and triumphant. She then led the tail into her hands and played with it a little, letting the soft fuzzy fury tickle and slither around her arms till it wrapped itself down her leg like a cat's would when rubbing up against something.

Yep, she was a fast learner, alright, and the more she was finding out about herself today, the more confidence she could feel within herself; a confidence she never had and never thought she could muster…But here she was, making committing choices that were neither force or willed, or bad or good to make.

Just then, as she slowly paused and began to start at her dampened reflection again; her cat ears perked up to a sound that she seemed to miss while she was concentrating so hard on trying to get her tail to move .

It was only after a familiar chuckle swarmed the air, did it dawn on Elise that someone was standing in her door way.

She could've sworn she locked it before entering, but apparently that wasn't the case, otherwise Greed wouldn't be the one leaning against her door frame with a lecherous grin painted on his face.

As it turns out, he had been watching her this whole time! Watching her literally play with herself in the nude!

After a second of having register this, Elise quickly closed up her towel around herself with a spin and dive for the edge of the bed to hide her half naked form that was clearly a cherry red by the time she could really hide anything from those deviant eyes.

"Oh! Jesus, Greed! Don't you knock?" He merely gave a hearty laugh at seeing the girl bashful reaction to his presents; just like a cat at the first sign of him she scurried away to sheathe herself in comfort, but it was too late for him to really apologize; he'd already seen everything.

And he definitely liked what he saw.

"Can I just say, with all do respect, babe? You got a smoking hot body; it's quite a beauty…" His voice was laced with a slick and somewhat calm as it lingered with almost a luring feeling when he spoke to her.

"Get out! Or what do you want?"

"Nothing, really, I was simply walking by when I noticed the door ajar. I thought the room was up for grabs, but I can see I was wrong."

Elise just blushed even redder if it was possible seeing how his eyes kept trying to take a peek at her curves, and her watered down cleavage that she had yet to cover, "Stop it, Greed."

"Hmm? What?" He asked rather nonchalant, but Elise merely pointed up to his face from where she was knelt down, "I see your eyes trying to look for something, knock if off."

"Oh, my apologies…I couldn't resist." He cooed as he raised up his hands up in defeat, "Oh, I have another proposition for you, Ellie. You want to hear it?"

"Can't it wait?" She cocked a brow questionably just as she turned her back to him & sat her butt on the cold wooden floors beneath her so she could at least put on her attire she found earlier.

"Well, I guess. But I'm already here."

"Eh, I guess so." She muttered jokingly, only to get Greed to smirk at her as he leaned his forearm up against her door frame lifting himself up a little as he placed a hand on his hip.

"Anyways, I wanted to see if you were hungry?" He started, getting Elise attention off the bat, "I'm sure being caged up for long, you gotta be starving for some grub." When he paused he noticed Elise's expression softened as he told her this, and that…

That made him soften his gaze upon her, "Got anything in mind that you might want? Anything your craving, I'm sure the boys can find it when they go out."

It made Elise a little curious about what he said. The boys were going to go get something to eat…With what money?

"Where'd you guys get money to get food?" She asked carefully, making sure not to get too much into his business if that was the case, but Greed just shrugged his shoulders at her with a nonchalant look, "Don't you worry your pretty little head about what I got doll, just tell me what you want."

By the time the panther was done dressing herself, she could only stay in her place on the floor with her hands cupping the caps of her knees while her hair began to cover her face and some of her panted legs.

"Um…I, uh-, Mm…" Her hands balled into fist, disheartened.

Elise wasn't sure how but Greed seemed to notice her fidgeting with herself and her words.

The gentleman that he was, strolled his way into her room slowly, making his way over to her till he was standing a good couple feet from her, stretching his back and neck out far enough to see only the out line of the kitten's lips, and the shadowing of her hair that covered her pretty green eyes…

Well, at least he thought they were pretty, when they were tattered with distress.

Feeling that she was both those now, once again, he sighed and decided to sit down next to her. Now sensing her troubles even more as he noticed her avoiding gaze, but that's okay…

He enjoyed looking at her, capturing all the details in her flawed and unflawed features.

Everything from her lips, to her nose, to her eyes which could darken the sky with how bright her green iris's radiated.

Wait, that's what it was…

Greed realized it was the look in her eyes that caught his attention. That weird look he knew as anguish behind them.

"You alright?" He asked, sounding concerned.

"Mm-,…Mm-hmm." Her button her lip not bothering to look at him as she nodded.

"You sure?" He insisted softly nudging her arm with his own to get her to open up to him.

Not that he really cared whether she did or not, he just felt that she was…Uncomfortable around him, every time he came close…

He didn't want that…

At first, Elise was a little unsure about saying anything, but she figured if he was offering help, she might as well give it a shot.

It couldn't hurt to tell him right? And she didn't want to be rude to him.

He did save her life after all….

"W-Well it may be-,…Something."

"Like?" This was good. She was at least trying to talk to him, but in the process of doing so, she paused looking over to him, parted her lips, and sighed before finally going all the way, "Sorry, I'm-, I'm really not use to people's sincerety. I've never been around anyone long enough for them to ask something, let alone if I'm hungry." The kitten laughed softly, twiddling her index fingers around each other as she told him this, but then she smiled over at him.

This had to have been the first time Greed had ever seen her smile so gently and genuine.

It was, beautiful…It was a beautiful smile that she gave him, at least he thought so.

I hope that's not her last…

He stared down at her with a smile that resembled a smirk, now sensing a ting of sympathy for this Elise girl he was actually talking to.

Most women he talked to he ended up fucking, but this woman, he actually having a full on convesation with her about herself.

Was something wrong with him?

No, it must've been because more humans he knew were social. Humans usually mingled amongst themselves as his Father so blatantly put it to him and his six others siblings…

But this…This was just sad.

All her life, she had been shunned and labeled as strange because of her parents, but in all that time…Could not even one aquaintance walk up to her and say so much as even a hello?

What kind of small hick town was she living in?

Some humans, were truly rotten to their own kind and with the way Elise looked, it almost came off as if she was remembering something.

Was she having a reoccurring memory…?

Greed had to wonder in hopes to find out more about this odd girl sitting next to him, "You know, it's not nice to leave people sitting in the dark about you're thinking.."

"Sorry. It was, just so lonely back when I was a kid. All I ever wanted was a person to talk to, they didn't exactly have to be a friend, although that would've been nice, heh. As pathetic as that sounds, I guess having a little company wouldn't have hurt."

When she stopped she looked over at the Avarice seeing a very odd expression on his face. One that she couldn't read. It was in between hurt & pondering, but she couldn't tell. She didn't want to assume anything, so she looked away thinking she said something wrong.

"Sorry. I swear I'm not trying to use you as an emotional crutch or anything." She rubbed her arms of the goosebumps from the frosted air chilling her room and smiled at him again with a soft chuckle, so soft Greed almost didn't hear it, "I just want…To say, um-, thank you…" Her heart felt oddly sore, and her cheeks immediately tingled again when she said those two words.

Her eyes shifted away at her gratitude towards him, and stared down blankly at her bare feet that were somewhat being covered by her tail, all while the Avarice was left to wonder her with curious eyes.

He had been, if not for the second time, told thank you from his subordinates; but this time since it was coming from Elise herself, it was felt nice for Greed to hear something like that.

Not like he'd say something about it out loud, but still, the sensation stayed whether he wanted it to or not, and with a rub of his head, he let out a 'che', "Don't mention it, kid. Any who, foods on me, so how about some meat for that kitty cat side of yours? Huh, bet it'd appreciate that." Elise could only bend her back more, leaning forward with an even wider, brighter smile than before.

"Yes, sir. Thank you, again." She nodded happily.

"Don't call me that…Just call me Greed. I don't like it when a woman calls me so formal; especially my own subordinate." The way he sounded & the way he rubbed his head with embarrassment made Elise laugh a little, but as she laughed her teeth began to chatter from the winter chill that finally freezed her body to the bone.

"You cold?"

"Mm-Hmm." She admitted shyly.

"Well, why didn't you say so? You know you have a fireplace in here right?"

"Wha-, Huh?"

The panther blinked her eyes at him before she started to search the room, finding the fireplace not even 6 feet away from her.

How did I not notice that before? Elise snorted smacking her forehead before hearing Greed shift himself off the floor.

"Wait here." He instructed before disappearing down the hallway towards the bar downstairs leaving Elise to sit up looking over her mattress to await his return.

It seemed like it was taking forever the longer he took getting back, but Elise did what she was told, and stayed put; although she was starting to get a little uncomfortable with her ass printed on the floor, so she moved her position to the bed, letting her legs stretch out freely when she sat down with a plop.

It was then Greed had returned & this time with a log tightly gripped in his hand. It didn't take him long to start the fire to warm her room and after setting up the fire's safety gate, the light of the flames warmly light up her darkened room with a more claming feel to it.

"How's that?"

"Better…" She nodded gratefully. "You didn't have to do that you know…"

As much as Greed knew she could've done it herself, he could only grace her with a smirk and over walk over to her to place his right hand over her head, and patted it.

When he did this, Elise didn't pull away, or smack his hand like he would've expected; instead, she felt less uneasy about his approach, not like before when she was intimidated.

"Yeah…Well…"

Greed regrettably pulled his hand away from the girl & began to walk towards the exit throwing a hand into his pocket while the other waved back at her. "Get some rest Ellie..The boys should be back soon."

With that, he closed the door behind him without another word, but even though the door divided them, it never stopped the Avaricious from letting go of the knob. Thinking about the girl and her reaction to him.

The whole time he was with her, he couldn't do anything, but take in everything that just happened between them; starting from her beautiful curved form to the innocent persona she gave off. She may have had a bite to her, but he could tell, she had a very gentle side to her when she let down her walls of confinement.

Greed could tell she was a keeper…

She had spunk, attitude, skills, smarts, and above all, under all that fire, she free spirited as a wild horse, just as scared and weary as one, too.

But he couldn't blame her for that, she had been alone and one her own her whole life with the suspicions that she was probably an experiment from the very start of her birth. He could feel nothing but what felt like sympathy, since he too knew what it was like to be closed off from the world, to be locked away only to be serving under some else's order.

She sure was a lot like him…

The thought made Greed chuckle to himself as he released the door knob, taking one last look at the soundless room before heading off to un claimed room, right next door to hers.

Yep, these new addition of henchmen or comrades, or whatever they were to him would certainly keep him entertained.


Next - Chapter IV: Singing In the Rain

There are a lot of fears we all can't face.

Stage fright was one of Elise's fears…

When the others push the Panther into singing…

Elise, Really doesn't know what to make of it.

Why was she the one to get caught singing in the shower?