Disclaimer: As always, I own none of what exists in the Naruto or FullMetal Alchemist worlds. I only semi-own the girls brought in (and totally own the general plot). The girls are loosely based, and by now "loosely" is definitely the key word, on friends of mine, though considering how much they have changed over the course of the story, they are hardly who they are now.
Author's Note: I'm not getting to update this as often as I wanted. Graduate school is hectic, especially with a job tossed into the mix (and interns to babysit). I finally got the time to finish up this chapter today, though I've written bits and pieces of future snippets - possible scenes that may become deleted scenes depending on how things play out once I get to them. I've got some good world suggestions, though - some I've heard of, some I haven't - but one particular review by Shuri Kuranpointed out a possible concern that I'd like to address, saying, "So basically, if I want to feel the epicness, I have to start watching all the major animes..."
I apologize, Shuri Kuran, if I have made you feel that way in the least. My aim for this (part of the challenge to myself) is to write each world in a way that would allow a reader to understand it, even if they have never encountered it before. I won't be limiting the world to anime, after all. I have ideas for some books or live-action television series as well that might make appearances - or general fandoms, so to speak. I do not want to alienate readers by leaving out details that they don't understand due to not knowing the world portrayed, so if at any point I am not clear enough in my description of a world, please do let me know and I will do my best to remedy the mistake and add clarity. It is good practice for me for when I am creating my own new worlds in the future, since I aspire to be a novelist. So, thank you, Shuri Kuran. I had not thought of explaining that aspect of this undertaking, and had not realized that it would possibly be a problem.
I would like to thank everyone for their input and patience. As I've said before, I do not want to ever completely abandon this tale, though it may take me some time to see it through. As you'll soon see, this chapter starts off with a different point of view, though I did not put the name as part of the chapter title block. You'll know who it is shortly, though. I hope it does not cause too much confusion, but my choice of details and information given is, well, deliberate to keep readers guessing and asking questions (the good kind, at least, I hope). Anyway, I think I've rambled enough. Hope you enjoy it!
-o-o-o-
Chapter 2: Three Weeks
Just say now you've touched me.
Say all that I'm feeling won't come undone.
Just say in this darkness
That you'll be here when the morning comes.
-o-o-o-
It has been three weeks since the dimensional rifts stopped. Three weeks of peace. Three weeks of silence. Three weeks of sorrow. We are still taking account of the damage to the village. The number of dead and missing slowly rises with each passing day. Civilians work side by side with shinobi to clear the rubble of the village and surrounding area. It is oddly heartwarming to see, and even more so to witness shinobi from Konoha and Suna operate in smooth tandem.
I still cannot get used to the Akatsuki presence, however.
As I pause for a water break, I watch Tsunade wander down the street, flanked by a somber Gaara and oddly regal Nagato – or, rather, his so-called "God Path." Tsunade has a map in her hands and motions left and right from time to time to indicate buildings and roads that still need renovations. Desperate times make friends of enemies, I suppose.
"KAKASHI, MY ETERNAL RIVAL!" I successfully resist the urge to flinch at Gai's abrupt appearance at my side. "THE VILLAGE IS LOOKING MUCH LIVELIER, IS IT NOT?"
I grunt and rise from my crouch. When I turn to resume working, Gai catches my elbow and speaks in a lower decibel, thankfully.
"You must not despair, Kakashi. The girls will return. The silence is a sign that they succeeded, no doubt. They will not remain away for long. They are likely searching for those that were taken." He gives a sharp nod, as if that is the ultimate answer to everything. "Indeed. That must be it."
I do not meet his gaze as I tug my elbow from his grasp. "The others, maybe, but Ashley is dead."
"You cannot know that for certain."
When I remain silent, he takes a breath to continue, but I body flicker away before he can lecture me further about not giving up hope. I have heard that speech too many times from too many people over the past few weeks, and it does not help my disposition at all. They are all wrong. They just do not know it yet.
I retreat to my apartment and a warm bottle of sake instead of returning to work. No one will miss me. There are plenty of people to help out without me dampening the mood further than it already is. The others have hope that their friends and loved ones will be returned to them. I know differently. Ashley is dead.
The sun has begun to turn the sky to fire by the time I stagger from my kitchen to my room and collapse on the bed. I stare at the ceiling for a time, grateful that the sake has fogged my thoughts so that my mind does not reel so quickly down into despair. Then again, some might argue that the sake only quickens that process.
With a heavy sigh, I roll over to my side to stare at the photographs on my bedside table. There are three, and I study each in turn. My students: Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. My genin team: Minato, Rin, and Obito. I reach for the third and run my fingers down the red-brown frame. It was taken shortly before the mission that killed Obito, and though he is in the background, he is not the focus of the photograph. I am, alongside the young woman with rich brown hair pulled up in something like a top knot.
Maiko, she called herself. I can almost hear her cheery laugh as she pounced on me from behind, eliciting a rare expression of surprise that one of her companions, Yuuki, had managed to capture on film. Obito and Rin chat with Sumiko, another of Maiko's friends, over one of my shoulders, and I can barely make out Minato lingering in the background with Yaiba, the fourth of Maiko's mix-matched team.
That day was the last time I heard Maiko laugh so freely. She fell on the same day as Obito. I never expected to hear that laugh again . . . until I met Ashley, and now Ashley is gone and I never told her the truth that I have only just begun to fully realize.
Ashley and Maiko are one and the same, but Maiko is dead. I saw her die. Ashley is never coming back to me.
-o-o-o-
Silence finds distance,
And the distance will see us falter.
Violent condition
Of a heart that always shames love.
-o-o-o-
The icy wind bites at my cheeks and throws thick clumps of snow into my face. I cannot see more than three feet in front of me, which is certainly disconcerting. I pull the heavy, fur-lined trench coat I filched from the military storehouse in North City closer around myself and glance back at Maes. He bends forward against the blizzard and struggles through the thigh-deep snow, an identical trench coat wrapped firmly around his lean form. Snow catches in his glasses and he lifts an arm to wipe them clear, though another round of snowflakes makes the action moot.
He squints up at me. "I can't see anything in this! Are we still on the road?"
I peer through the snow and stray hair swept from under my hood but see no markers for the path. My thoughts flicker to the Elric brothers in a similar situation and I scowl. Staying on the road is certainly easier said than done in this weather.
Maes trudges closer and starts in surprise. "How are you walking on top of the snow? You can't be that light!"
My gaze drops to my feet, held above the thick snow by a thin layer of chakra. Luckily, the theory of how to manipulate whatever energy I now hold within me is the same between worlds. It is certainly saving me from fighting the snow banks alongside Maes, though it exposes the entirety of my frame to the blistering winds.
I crouch close to him, my back to the wind in hopes to shield both of our faces from the brunt of the harsh cold. "Do you remember what I told you about chakra?"
Maes nods. "Yeah, that spiritual energy stuff?"
"And physical, yes. Well, by focusing it into my feet, it can allow me to, well, defy gravity from time to time. I can walk on water, loose sand, and snow as easily as solid ground. I could even run up a vertical wall or across a ceiling if I so chose."
"Are you sure you can't teach me that?"
I chuckle. "Unfortunately, no. It isn't like alchemy. You have to start young or you really can't do anything about it. Even then, no one here has internal chakra." I pat my stomach. "So it's out of reach for you. Sorry."
Maes wipes his face and tugs his scarf higher over his nose and mouth. "Eh. I had to ask." He shakes himself. "We need to keep moving before I get stuck here in one place."
I nod, straighten, and turn, only to find myself staring up at a hulking shadow amidst the falling snow. The roar of a chainsaw makes my stomach sink. The chainsaw arm lifts, and I shift my feet wider apart. "Maes! Down!"
I can only hope that he obeys my command as the chainsaw falls. With gritted teeth, I lift my gloved hands and grab a hold of the safe, protective covering, the teeth of the whirling saw bare inches from my face. The impact makes the snow immediately around me explode upward as the energy at my feet fights to keep them stable. The wind shifts and I can see my uniformed opponent, who looks stunned at the sight of me.
His look of surprise shifts to an amused sneer. "I didn't realize Drachma had fallen so low as to recruit little girlies to their cause. That must be some automail you've got under there, though. But no matter. I'll tear it apart!"
He rips his saw-arm from my grasp and lunges forward. I shift sideways, a kunai materializing in my tingling right hand. In our brief standoff, I had a good look at the base of the saw, and if I can aim this strike just right, I might be able to shut it down. My hand snaps out and I am rewarded with the sound of shredding metal.
To my horror, however, it is my kunai that is shredded, not his saw. I curse under my breath and dart backwards before he can bring the saw back around to bear.
"What? You thought a little knife would be enough to beat me? Ha!"
He stomps forward, but a shape jumps between us through the snow, arms spread. Maes shouts above the wind and roar of the chainsaw. "Wait! We're not Drachma spies! I am Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes from Central Command! We've come to speak with Major General Armstrong!"
"If you're not spies, then why are you skulking through the snow?"
I scowl. "We're not skulking. We got caught in the blizzard."
"But that doesn't change the fact that you attacked me."
"You attacked me first!"
"Enough!"
All three of us still at the female shout from somewhere above us. I tear my gaze from the bear-like man to look in that direction. That voice can only belong to one person.
"Bring them inside. I will determine myself if they are spies or not."
The great man grunts and powers down his chainsaw automail arm. With a scowl, he jerks his head behind him. "Well, you heard the Major General. Get inside." He turns and tromps through the snow.
Maes glances up at me, shrugs, and follows him. I do the same, and after only a few steps, a dark gray wall looms through the flurry of white. I had never understood how the Elric brothers had missed the massive structure so close in front of their noses, but now I know. In a blizzard like that, it can hide rather easily.
We retreat into the relative warmth of the inside of the wall and, as the two men – more once the gun-toting guards we had missed in the snow enter behind us – stomp the snow from their boots, I take Maes's arm. "This is where I leave you."
He jolts and snaps his gaze to me. "What? You're leaving me alone up here?"
I smile. "You can handle yourself. Armstrong is an honorable woman. So long as you work hard, you'll be safe." I glance toward the bear-man, who is scowling down in our direction. "Tell her as much as you deem fit, but I'd advise you discourage any immediate action. That might only get people killed. The boss – or one of your friends – will get in touch with you when it's time. Just keep your head down, alright?"
"What are you two whispering about, eh?"
Maes gives a faint nod and smile. "It has been a pleasure. I owe you my life."
I shrug as I step away from him. "Meh. It's my job. See ya'round." I snap him a salute and release the chakra-energy that holds me together so that I dissolve into a flurry of violet sparks.
"I'm Yaiba, and this is Maiko, Yuuki, and Sumiko." I motion to Ashley, Kaitlyn, and Jowan in turn as I rattle off the first normal-for-this-world-sounding names that come to mind. A part of me notices Ashley still slightly at the one I came up with for her, and I file it off to address later.
The sunshine blonde glances between us and nods, an open smile on his face. "It is a pleasure to meet you, ladies. I believe you have already been introduced to my minions, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin." He puts a hand on the boys' shoulders. "Thank you for assisting them, by the way. I am Minato."
I open my eyes to watch the green hills roll past outside the train window as the memories of my final clone settle into my mind. They made it to Briggs safely. Good. In the distance, I can see Central City grow. We will be arriving at the station in a matter of minutes. I stretch and my back pops a few times.
It has been three weeks since I rescued Maes from Envy. Once I escaped Central City as Scar, I ditched my third clone and disguise and circled north to meet Maes and the remaining clone. We managed to patch up his shoulder enough to keep him from dying and began the long trek to North City and the impenetrable wall of Fort Briggs. I knew, if anywhere, Maes would be safe with Olivier Armstrong.
We stopped at a small, out-of-the-way hospital to get his shoulder treated by a proper doctor. I did not trust myself to heal it when I knew so little about such intensive medical jutsu. We were able to locate a doctor smart enough not to ask any questions, though an illusion around Maes to make him look less like himself certainly helped.
Once we reached North City and Maes was well on his way to Briggs, a fresh clone at his side, I doubled back toward Central City. If Truth wants me to make a splash, then I have to poke at the heart of the hornet nest: Father.
When the train hisses to a stop, I stand and tug on the long, brown duster I snagged along the way. It is a bit warm, but it does well to cover up my rather strange attire. Though I know my shinobi gear stands out a bit, I cannot bring myself to part with it. I could just use a henge to hide it, but I do not want to waste any energy for something so small. I have yet to determine the size of my energy reserves in this form – this world – but I do not want to test them.
For all I know, I really am a homunculus, and like the other homunculi, my power comes from souls Truth harvested from the Gate. I doubt that is the case, really, considering I suspect my current state is due to my supposed Kuromira bloodline and not some sort of cruel joke on Truth's part. Still, I do not want to be wasteful.
Central City is considerably warmer than its northern counterpart, though not unbearably so. The air, at least, is blessedly low on humidity. I am not certain if I could stand to wear a long coat if the air was heavy with moisture as well. I suppose I should not be surprised. After all, Edward wears that long red coat everywhere he goes. Then again, he might just have been toughing it out, since he was wearing that coat even in the desert sun. That had to have been miserable.
"Young Lord! Where have you gone off to?!"
I halt near the exit of the station and look toward the source of the shout – the shinobi-esque old man standing on top of one of the trains. I blink at him several times and then trace his movement as he jumps to another train and darts along it. My gaze crosses over and then stops on a second masked figure. I know these two: Fu and Lan Fan, Ling Yao's bodyguards. This means…
From Lan Fan, I easily find Al's massive shape. Ed and Winry stand at his sides. Ed starts to walk my way, chin up and scowl on his face, no doubt dismissing the disappearance of the wayward prince. His brother and best friend slowly follow.
"Young Lord! Where are you?!"
I shake my head and turn to study a map of the city posted on the wall as they approach and pass me. Like everyone else in the station, they pay me no mind and exit the station. I count slowly to five, nod to myself as if I figured something out on the map, and then follow the trio. Ed and Al will lead me right to the military offices.
I am careful to stay out of sight, though the bodyguards that also trail my quarry appear more concerned with locating Ling than noticing a tail. When Winry parts ways outside of the Central Hotel, I hesitate for only a moment before sending a clone after her. Since Hughes is only missing and not dead, there might be someone watching his family. I doubt they would harm Winry, but there is nothing wrong with being careful.
Then, with a deep breath, I move forward to intercept the Elric brothers. As I near, I catch the tail end of their conversation, barely audible over the crowd.
"…about it. Let's give him the information that we've found out first." Ed glances up at his brother, and Al turns to meet his gaze.
"The Homunculi."
Ed nods. "Yeah." He then turns and lifts a hand to shield his eyes as he searches the streets around the square. "The colonel is in the court-martial office, as I recall."
He grins when he finds what he is looking for and drops his arm. "That way."
This is my chance. As Ed shifts his weight to run, I jog the last few steps and raise my voice. "Excuse me!"
Ed almost loses his balance, stumbling the first few steps in surprise at the shout. Al turns my way with a clatter of armor. "Yes, ma'am?"
I smile warmly up at Al. "You two wouldn't happen to be the Elric brothers, would you?"
Ed nods. "Yes, we are."
I fix my gaze on the shorter of the brothers. "So that must make you Edward. It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person. Roy has told me so much about you two." I glance around and lean in as if to impart a secret. "You didn't hear it from me, but he is actually quite fond of you two."
The Fullmetal Alchemist blinks at me several times. "Mustang?" He looks utterly baffled by the thought, but why would he not be? Mustang can be rather rough and cold with the two of them, despite his State Alchemist title.
I nod and straighten. "I'm an old friend of his. I came to visit him once I heard he was transferred close-by, but I'm afraid I don't know my way around the city very well. Directionally challenged, you see." I give a soft, wry laugh. "I was hoping the two of you might be able to direct me?"
Ed bristles and takes a step back, an expression of shock and horror on his face. "What?! Mustang is here?!"
I blink and mentally curse myself. That's right. They did not know that Mustang had come to Central until they saw him and Hawkeye in the court-martial offices. My shinobi training is probably the only reason I'm able to keep the wince from my face and laugh instead. "Oh, dear. You didn't know? I hope I didn't just ruin a surprise he might have planned for you."
Ed's hands curl into fists and a vein throbs on the side of his forehead. Curious. I'm not sure I've actually seen that happen before. "Oh, it is not a problem," he says through gritted teeth. "I'm sure there is nothing like that."
"We were actually heading to meet a friend of ours at the court-martial office," Al interjects, fanning his brother with his massive hands. "We would be happy to take you with us. Lieutenant Colonel Hughes is a close friend of Colonel Mustang's as well. He'll probably know where to find him for you."
My smile widens. Of course Al would be so polite. I was counting on it, even with my mistake. "That would be very kind of you. Thank you both." I blink as if realizing something. "Oh! My manners. I never introduced myself. I'm Katie."
Ed regains himself and nods to me. "Nice to meet you. I'm Ed, and this is my little brother Al." He tosses a thumb in the suit of armor's direction. "But you knew that already, I'm guessing."
I smile and bob my head. "Yes, but it is good to be introduced anyway." I look between the two of them. "Well, then. Shall we?"
Al straightens. "Of course. This way."
With that, we're off. I chat idly with them along the way, ensuring that the topic remained on Central City by asking as many questions as I could think of about shopping, living areas, food, entertainment. I easily play off the "small town girl shell-shocked by the big city" act, and the boys are more than eager to tell me all sorts of things about the city. They even segue from time to time into tales of their adventures that fill in the entire walk. They seem to almost forget the fact that Mustang is now in town, which is perfectly fine by me.
I smile and nod along with their account of some small adventure that I don't recall from the manga or either anime and wrack my brain for what Mustang is doing right now. He's going to a council meeting, I recall, so he won't be there when we arrive. Then again, he might. Originally, Ed and Al were supposed to run the whole way from the hotel to the offices, but this time, we have walked slowly and idly along the way. It is possible that we'll catch him coming out of the meeting. I certainly hope I'm so lucky.
It takes all of my self-control to ignore the phone booth where Hughes almost died as we pass it in the park. If anyone is watching us, it would not be good for me to react to the location. That would be undoubtedly suspicious.
My luck appears to be holding. As we approach the court-martial building, Mustang and Hawkeye exit.
"There he is. Oy! Mustang!" Ed darts forward to meet them, with Al and I following more slowly.
"Fullmetal." Mustang smiles slightly at him.
"Colonel, what are you doing here?" Ed must not have fully believed me. Ah, well. He'll hear it straight from the horse's mouth in a moment, no pun intended.
"I was assigned to Central last month. What about you? What brings you here today?"
Ed rocks back on his heels and shrugs. "Just a little information gathering." He looks back toward Al and me. "Oh, and we found –"
"Colonel Mustang, I presume." I stop just behind Ed, pleased to see that my use of the exact same first words I spoke to him over the phone has the expected result.
Mustang stiffens and sucks in a sharp breath. "You…"
I smile thinly and ignore Ed's confused and then suspicious looks. "If you're not busy, I'd like to have a few words with you."
The Flame Alchemist's jaw tightens in frustration. "I have a council meeting to attend to, but as soon as that is done, I'll be more than happy to entertain you."
"Wonderful. Shall we wait for you in the Central Hotel?" I glance to Ed and then back. "These two need to hear what I have to say as well."
"That will be acceptable." Mustang moves forward as if to brush past me, but stops at my shoulder and drops his voice. "Is he safe?"
"He's in strong arms, if cold hands."
Mustang shoots me a calculating look, and I smile smoothly in return. He grunts. "Come, Hawkeye. We'll be late."
She eyes me as well as they sweep past and on to their meeting. I turn to watch them go, still ignoring the blend of confusion, annoyance, and anger aimed at my back. When I hear Ed take a breath to speak, I beat him to it. "I won't answer any of your questions here. The walls have eyes and ears that I don't trust in the least. Too much sin for my tastes."
-o-o-o-
Just say it's over, all we've become.
Just say that it's time to lessen the sum,
To tear down the bridge and build a divide,
Erase all the memories drawn inside.
-Sleepthief ("Just Say It")
