Havoc leaned back in the plastic seat, nibbling the insides of his cheeks and wishing for a cigarette. Not for the first time, he cursed his superior officers who decided that he would be the best "bait" available. Absently, he picked up the newspaper from the table and glanced over the headline he'd already read over hundreds of times by now.
EASTERN KILLER STILL AT LARGE – MILITARY GIVING UP?
Havoc refused a scowl at the paper, knowing he had to appear as apathetic to these killings as normal civilians. Instead, he skimmed the passage below the boastful headline, picking out the words he'd already memorized since his briefing the previous night. "Eastern killings… four victims… blonde hair… blue eyes… male… near the train station… killer still free…"
He stood and folded the paper neatly, placing it on the table. He'd been sitting outside the small café, nursing a cup of coffee for almost twenty minutes now, listening to the whistling of trains leaving and arriving; playing the part of "unsuspecting civilian" was beginning to get on his nerves a bit, but he complied. Better the killer go after someone with some experience in fighting than some real civilian. He laid a few sens on the table for whatever soul happened to clear away his cup and took his leave. He'd probably have more luck tomorrow – hanging out at the café everyday for the past five days was sure to catch someone's attention. Hopefully the someone behind all the murders.
The noontime sun shone directly on him, warming the top of his head almost unbearably and he began to walk down the street, heading towards a small bookshop just before the train station gates. He ducked just inside the door, cool shade falling over him and picked up a random book. He lazily flipped a few pages, skimming over what he belatedly realized was some medieval romance, and repressed a shudder when he felt a pair of eyes on him. Havoc looked up and smiled at a pretty young woman who was watching him tough thick, dark bangs. She smiled back sweetly and, looking around to see no one but the salesperson behind the counter, approached Havoc, adjusting the brown coat she wore over her clothes.
"Hello, sir," she greeted, looking up into his eyes.
Havoc bit the inside of his lips at the way her black eyes swam and shimmered in the vague light that made its way within the store. "Hello, madam." She was really pretty. "How are you this day?"
She laughed and brushed her bangs away from her face. "You sound so sweet." She looked him in the eye again and sighed wistfully. "You have blue eyes. I wish I had blue eyes – they're so exotic looking."
Havoc reached up and gently touched his cheekbone. "They're not that special. No difference between mine and, say, yours."
The woman looked away and covered her eyes with one hand. "Ah, I hate my eyes." Her bangs fell back into her eyes. "And my hair." Havoc laughed softly and she smiled. "So, do you have a name, or are you just going to hit on me, sweet stranger?"
Havoc placed the book back on the shelf and extended his now-free hand. "I'm Stan. And you, madam?"
"Marissa." She placed her hand in his and giggled as he bent over to kiss her knuckles.
"Such an honor to meet you, Marissa." A train whistle blew loudly, announcing an arrival, and Havoc released Marissa. "I'm afraid that that's my signal to leave. Will I see you again, Marissa?"
Her eyes sparkled as she smiled. "Of course we will, Stan. I'll be sure to find your exotic eyes once again."
Havoc gave a sweeping, elaborate bow and turned to leave, heading to the train station. He would hang out there for a few minutes before heading "home" to a small apartment complex several blocks down. He hoped that he would run into the killer some time soon – he was tired of waiting and he wanted to go back to his house.
He passed by the gates, heading into the throng of people disembarking the latest train arrival. He pushed past the people, grouchy from being in such close quarters and desperate for fresh air and space, and worked his way over to a bench, collapsing in it and looking as though he were waiting for someone. His fingers absently reached for his pocket and twitched, grasping nothing until he realized that he didn't have his cigarettes with him. He groaned and sprawled out on the bench, eyes lazily flicking over each of the arrivals.
A young woman with two children tugging at her skirts, begging to go home. An elderly couple helping each other out to the more-open air of East City. A couple of raggy teens that looked like runaways and possible pickpockets. A few adults, possibly only a little older than him, with suits and briefcases.
He was about to close his eyes, when there came a yelp, barely audible over the chatter of people. He himself wouldn't have noticed it in the first place, if the young teen hadn't fallen flat on his face in front of him, shoved possibly by some other the other children. Havoc quickly kneeled by the child, shaking one of his shoulders gently.
"You ok, kid?" he asked over the din of noise.
The teen grunted and pushed himself to his hands and knees, messy blonde hair falling into his face. "Watashi kara todomaru beki de aru…" he mumbled. Havoc blinked helplessly and the child repeated in English, "You should stay away from me…"
Havoc shook his head. "I want to help you." He pulled the kid to his feet and watched as he adjusted the huge, black jacket draped over his body.
"Does that even fit?" Havoc questioned lightly, a small smile on his face as he attempted conversation.
The kid hugged the jacket desperately, the body of it dragging on the ground and the sleeve trailing past his fingertips, the little blue dolphins on the cuffs dancing around his hands. "I like it…"
Havoc pulled back and looked at the kid. "If you're sure you're ok…"
The child looked up and watched Havoc with eyes like shimmering sapphires. Havoc was sure that if he looked away now, he'd never see the same shade anywhere else in the world. "Don' worry 'bout me," he stated, despite the tremble in his voice. Without waiting for Havoc to say anything more, he ducked away and pushed past a group of teens lounging by a route map. Havoc frowned and was about to sigh and turn away when he saw Marissa suddenly appear beside the boy. She cupped his cheek in one hand and smiled down at him, saying something before leading him away.
Havoc took his bottom lip in his teeth. The way the kid had been acting, it didn't seem like he'd been waiting for someone. And Marissa hadn't shown any sort of need to go to the station before. He sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets, fingering the concealed gun to make sure it was there and sauntered off after the beauty and child.
Oh what beautiful, beautiful, precious eyes he had…
Not pure blue, but with greens and purples mixed in – completely exotic and never seen before in this lifetime.
She wanted them.
She wanted them badly.
Naruto stood stiffly beside the woman. First he'd attempted to make the blonde man understand that it was dangerous to be around him, and now this woman wouldn't listen to him either. He opened his mouth to warn her again, when she took his arm in her hand and dragged him with her, into an alley behind a bookstore. She slammed him up against the wall and caressed his cheek, pressing her face close to his and staring into his eyes.
"So beautiful," she crooned.
"S-stay away…" Naruto whined. She was so close; his stomach was churning; was he going to end up hurting her…?
She dug her hands into his hair and grinned. "So soft and pretty."
"P-please!" His eyes shimmered with tears and she slammed him against the wall again. "Watashi ha kizutsuke tai to omowa nai…" he mumbled, but she couldn't understand.
"I couldn't wait for you like the others. I want them. I want them now," she growled. She reached into her jacked and pulled out a long fillet knife, the tip shimming dangerously as she held it above her head.
"Give them to me!" she screamed, the knife plummeting towards Naruto's head.
The blonde whimpered and closed his eyes, fighting against the red chakra that was attempting to build up as a shield under his skin. This was his just reward…
"Stop!" a voice cried and then there was a loud sound that hurt Naruto's ears. The woman shrieked and dropped the knife, clutching at her arm, which was now bleeding. The woman turned angrily on her heel, but a male and a female, both in blue uniforms, were already upon her, putting handcuffs on her and speaking loudly and gruffly to her.
"Are you all right, kid?" came the voice again, and Naruto looked up to see the same man from the train station looking down at him, worry evident in his eyes.
Naruto whimpered softly. The man had stopped fate from extracting its vengeance upon him. Now he was doomed to life and would possibly end up hurting someone again. His stomach ached horribly and he opened his mouth to say something, but instead, darkness took aver and he collapsed, never hearing the shocked cries of the man calling for medical help.
He awoke in a hospital, dazed and slightly confused, stomach still churning, but less agitated. The blue-uniformed woman was standing beside his bed, and she smiled when she saw that he was awake.
"Are you all right?" she asked softly, and he nodded, looking shyly into her brown eyes. "That's good. My name is Riza Hawkeye. Can you answer a few questions for me?"
"Watashi wo naze tasuke tai to omou ka?" Naruto mumbled, looking away from her. Without giving her time to react, he continued softly, "I'll do what I can…"
"What is your name?" the woman asked, seemingly not noticing his Japanese.
"Uzu-" He frowned, remembering the English way of introduction. "Naruto Uzumaki."
Riza nodded and wrote the name down on a pad of paper she was holding. "Now, can you tell me about the woman who attacked you?"
Naruto nibbled his lip. His stomach was hurting again, and he was sure it was because of the Kyuubi's anger at being attacked. "She took me from the station. She said I was pretty. She wanted my… my eyes. Kanojo ha kami no ishi wo shi te i ta…"
The woman nodded and wrote down his words, frowning softly. "Thank you. If you have anything else, then tell the doctor and he will alert me." She then left and, as she walked out the door, he saw her stop and talk to the blonde man that had talked to him at the train station. Again his stomach churned, but it wasn't as intense, it was peaceful, almost, and he suddenly felt the need to thank the man.
Naruto bit his lips and shut his eyes tight. Why should he thank the man? He'd almost been destroyed – no longer a threat to anyone. But now, he could hurt anyone at any time. How could he thank someone for allowing him to live?
Again, the red chakra attempted to soothe him, but he refused it, instead allowing it to burn in his stomach, until the Fox gave up.
Sorry this was so late, but I had two choices to make, and this ended up being the best one. And as for the Japanese, I'm not sure if it's entirely correct – I had to use two translators for it (one to get the Japanese and the other to put it in romaji), but whatever. I don't own FMA or Naruto, so, till next time!