Chapter Eight: Delayed
Later in the year, Kitani and I were almost done with our training. Our minds and body regularly exercised, we were quite strong. Though, Mizumi still had bouts of coughing, we continued. My attitude toward her had changed a little since the night when she told me about her past. For some reason, I wanted to tell her more of mine, but, I just couldn't. Our lives continued, and we were almost ready to return home. I walked outside; it was a day before our return.
And it was raining, hard.
Slowly, I walked out there, in a t-shirt and shorts, and tipped my head up. The rain ran down my back, and some drops landed in my eyes, causing me to squint. It was cold, but it felt good. Soon, my clothes started to sag, and my hair started to cling to my back. Sighing, I walked down the road, toward the inner part of the town. "I never did get to adventure around here..." I muttered my voice slightly shaky as I heard a crack of lightning. The cold overcame me, and I crawled into a diner. A bell announcing my presence. Three heads looked up, one chef, a waitress, and a customer. Sighing, I lugged my feet over to the bar, and took a seat.
My cold head hit the counter, and the waitress lifted my hair with her pen. "You ok? You're all wet?" she asked me, in a rough deep voice. I lifted my head up and smiled, "I'm ok...just tired." I replied, my head hitting the counter once again. The waitress laughed, "Ok, one hot chocolate, and slice of cake, coming up." she hollered. She walked around the bar, and sat next to me, "So you're Mizumi's student?" she asked, my head shot up and I looked at her, "How did you know?" The kind lady laughed, "There was a rumor, that she had taken on another student. Possibly two." she said, "Is the rumor true?" I nodded, my hair falling in my face as I did, "Yes, me and my sister." She smiled, and got the cake and the hot chocolate.
I had eaten the cake, and was now slowly sipping my hot chocolate. The waitress had now introduced herself as Manny. "The cake and drink is on me." she said as I finished my hot chocolate, my mouth cracked a smile, "Thank you." I said bowing. Soon I began to leave, but she caught my by the sleeve, "Good luck." she added, "Mizumi may be tough, but she has a strong heart." I smiled, "Thanks, and good luck to you and this diner."
Mizumi was standing in front of the door, "Where have you been?" she asked, her voice stern. "Uh...well...I was out in the rain, and I got hungry. So I went to the diner by the road." I replied, Mizumi relaxed and beckoned for me to come in. Once inside, she draped a towel over my shoulders, and I lay down on the couch. Slowly slipping off to sleep.
I came down with a cold the next day, and was coughing quite a bit. Teacher had suggested that I not train today, but I insisted. With a slight fear of my over- exerting myself, I let Mizumi teach Kitani more self defense, while I read up on more alchemy. Kitani tired easier than me, and was soon done in a few hours. She wobbled inside for some water, and to chat with Max. My nose was stuffed into a book, of Human Transmutation that I had brought when we came. I was sitting under a tree, in the shade, coughing every once and a while. Mizumi came and sat down, looked at what I was reading, then frowned.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, not meeting my eyes, "Ok." I replied, closing my book and looking up to the sky. "I can't wait to get home...I bet Charlie misses me..." I muttered, Mizumi sighed, "You ever miss your parents?" she asked. My head nodded slowly, "They left...without telling me why." I said, "The only explanation I got was that they left because of the war...but I don't believe them..." Teacher frowned and wrapped her arm around me, "Your parents were good people. They were always helping people, and doing things that benefited the community." she said, "But it was unfortunate that they had to go because of the war." I pushed away from her.
"That's not true! It couldn't be the war! Why were the men so rough with them!" I yelled, staring at her, anger in my eyes, wanting answers. "Why! Why did they leave!" my voice rose, then cracked, "Why did they just leave us...two girls...all alone..." My legs collapsed, and my eyes began to well, I fought back the tears, and Mizumi stood up. She slowly placed a hand on my back, and began to rub it. My memory flashed, 'Mom...'
Dinner that night was unusually silent, but Mizumi soon broke the silence with a cough, and began to speak. "So, you guys are going back tomorrow?" she said, Kitani nodded, but then Mizumi asked, "But, is Kira well enough?" I fumed, "Yes! I'm well enough!" I yelled standing up, "I'm as strong as an Ox!" Kitani giggled, and Max smiled, Mizumi finally smiling as well.
I began coughing, and sat down.
We continued our dinner, ending with cake. And conversations, mostly about what we missed and were happy to return to at home. Mizumi finally joined in, with a quick passing word, but then was silent once again. Max talked about how he came to meet Mizumi, and how different she was back then. Kitani talked about how she was going to be happy to see Charlie once again, I agreed with her, then began to think about him. I wandered if his automail business was going well, or if he was doing well physically. My hopes got up, and I stared at the ceiling, drifting into my fantasies, and leaving my reality behind.
There was a loud boom, and a door opened. A tall, short haired man walked into a large room. Hauling behind him what looked like a girl, in hand cuffs, and a leopard on a leash. As light filled the room, you could see a large circle, with strange symbols drawn upon it, with chalk. The girl struggled as she was dragged into the middle of the large circle, along with the leopard. Slowly, the man chained her and the leopard there, the girl screamed and struggling to get free frantically. Cursing, the man took out a shot with a long needle. He jabbed it into her arm, and injected the liquid. The girl calmed down, and seemed to be sleeping. Laughing, the man walked to the edge of the circle, kneeling down. "Experiment 24, human with animal." he said, placing his hands on the circle. Glowing blue, the circle swirled, the girl and the leopard being engulfed in the light. In the dark corner of the room, a voice screamed, "No! Don't!" Only a little light reached that part of the room, but as the light grew bigger from the circle, you could see a girl, hunched over. Bleeding from a stub on her right leg, "You'll kill her!" she screamed. The light began to die, and a form was sitting now in the middle of the circle. It looked more like a monster, a cross breed between a cat and a human. But whatever it was, it lay, lifeless. "No...you didn't...NO!" the girl in the corner screamed, the guy began to snicker, as he stood up.
He slowly walked over to the lifeless body, and kicked it. "Worthless piece of shit...couldn't even survive!" he yelled, taking out a book and a pencil. "Experiment number 24, failed." Sighing, he walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The small girl, her stub bleeding, crawled over to what was left of the girl. A crimson trail she left behind her, slowly, she flung her body onto the girl's. "How could I let this happen...I'm so sorry..." she whispered, now holding what was left of her leg. "I'm so sorry...Kitani..."
Chapter Nine: Welcome Back
Mizumi looked at me, smiling lightly, not letting her emotions get the best of them. Max had Kitani in a bear hug, Kitani beaming widely, "I'll miss you so much!" Kitani squealed, hugging Max almost as tight as he was hugging her. I smiled, 'We're going back...' my brain raced with thoughts, Kitani finally tapped me on the back, and I snapped out of my pondering state. She pointed to Mizumi, who was holding out her hand, a necklace dangling from it, I was surprised as a noticed the symbol. "Nicolas Flamel?" I muttered, taking the necklace and dangling it in front of my face, Mizumi nodded, "For strength...and courage...but mostly for hope." Then, our teacher did something I never expected; she walked up to me, and squeezed me in a small hug. I smiled as she let go, and nodded. "Time to go." I muttered, grabbing my bag, and Kitani's. Mizumi waved as we left her house, Max wrapping her arm around her. Kitani and I walked toward the train station, teacher and Max re-entering their little house.
Steam flowed around outside the window of the train car, Kitani was asleep on the table, but I remained awake, clutching the necklace. 'Why did she give me this... ?' I wandered, 'What use can it be...except for decoration?' I sighed, and fastened the clasp as it was around my neck. The necklace was unusually heavy, but I didn't let it weigh me down, lifting up my head I stared out of the window. Trees, mountains, and meadows rolled by us, my hair fell in my face as the landscape lolled me to sleep.
Tears stained my face, as I pressed my face against a warm body; it lay lifeless, not breathing. It was dark in the room, and the body that my face was on was slowly surcomming to rigor. My ears picked up a cackling far away, coming from behind a door. Then another voice, "Fariba! Fariba! Anyone off for Fariba!" it hollered, I jerked up, waking up from my dream. Kitani looked at me weird, out bags in her hands, "Why are you crying sister?" she asked shyly, unsure if she would upset me. Pressing my hand to my cheek, I frowned, "Nothing..." I muttered, standing up, "It's nothing..."
My sister walked out of the train station, my footsteps following her close behind. She turned around, and looked at me, "Are you sure you're ok? Did teacher say something?" she asked in a concerned voice, "You're starting to worry me." A smile cracked my face, "I'm fine!" I yelled, running up to her and grabbing her hand, "Just trying to build up the excitement!" Kitani giggled and pulled away from my grasp, she ran ahead and we chased each other to Charlie's.
At first, we didn't recognize Charlie's house. It was huge! Bigger then before! And it had a sign on it, reading 'Automail Service'. I beamed, and we walked up to the door, "Here it goes." I sighed knocking twice. First, no one answered, but then, an annoyed Charlie came to the door, "I told you Sam, we can't do the surgery!" he yelled, not even looking at us. "Erm..." Kitani muttered, lifting a finger, Charlie looked up, and his eyes grew wide. "K-kira?" he stuttered, "Is that...you?" he asked, I nodded, and Charlie walked forward, placing a hand on my face. "You...have changed so much..." he said stroking my face, then picking up my hair, "And your hair...it's so long." in disbelief, he looked at me. "Kira..." he then muttered, hugging me tightly, "I can't believe it's you...it's been so long..." his voice cracked.
After a long reunion, Charlie took me and Kitani inside, to show us around. "Yeah, my job is really important to this town, people need automail, and come here." he said, pointing to the operation room, and his workshop. I nodded to every one, happy to be back in my old town. Everything seemed the same...but yet, some things were different. Charlie was different, he had strong arms, an intelligent face, and his shaggy brown hair now tied in a pony tail. I couldn't take my eyes off him, and froze, as him and Kitani walked on.
I heard coughing coming from behind the door next to me, and then a string of curses. My curiosity got the best of me, and I cracked open the door. A tall man lay on the bed, blankets tucked in around him, he didn't notice me. Forcefully, he coughed again, this time spitting blood onto his blanket, "Dammit..." he muttered, uncovering himself, revealing an automail arm. Fear and pity welled up inside me, and I shut the door, 'I hope I never have to go through that...' I thought, slumping down the door and staring at the wall.
Charlie's mother had made a delicious meal, but I was quite tired and still recovering from my bout of illness. So I decided to enjoy it upstairs in the guest bedroom. There was a small desk in the corner, with a lamp, so I took out one of my alchemy book, and started on my meat. Charlie walked in a while after I was done, and picked up my plate. He bent over and looked at what I was reading before he left, "What's that?" he asked, "I can't understand it." I chuckled, "It's a book on human transmutation. Not many can understand it." I mused. "Oh..." Charlie mumbled before leaving silently, 'He really cares about me...' I thought to myself, 'He's concerned...' my body tensed, 'But why should he be...? It's just research. Not like I'm going to ever need this info anyway.'
Chapter Ten: A Horrible Dream
Kira slept in her soft bed, finally back at her home. Her red head fanned out around her as she curled up. She twitched as a fly landed on her leg, and swatted it away. It buzzed downstairs, as two men were sneaking up into the house. They whispered to each other, telling about how they were going to get some good ones. The two split up at the top of the stairs, one going into Kira's room, the other into Kitani's. A guy looked at Kira curiously, 'Is this really the strong alchemist?' he wandered slowly flipping her over and binding her hands. Kira suddenly woke up, and kicked the guy in the stomach; he fell backwards as Kira sat on her bed, shocked with fear. He leapt at her as she struggled, kicking and wriggling desperately, "Let me go!" she hissed, the guy sneering as he gagged her with some cloth. An immensely harassed Kira kicked as he flung her over his shoulder and walked out, to see the other guy with
sleeping Kitani in his hands.
With a quick jolt of reality, Kira let out a muffled scream and fell off of the guy's shoulder, her head slamming into the wall, and slumping down, silent. The man cursed and flung her over his shoulder once again, the two walked out, not leaving a trace in the moonlight. Nothing but their voices softly lingering in the air.
I slowly opened my eyes, the searing pain in my head slowly making me close them again. "Damn...stupid...guys...WAIT!" I thought aloud, looking around frantically, "Where's Kitani!" I yelled. A door cracked open, and a tall figure stood in the light, it was incredibly dark in the room, but it was big as well as empty. "Good, you're up. Time to eat, you have a big day ahead!" he bellowed dropping a plate to the floor, sending it clattering. My brown eyes stared up at him, and I said nothing, "Well! Eat it!" he yelled, his anger quickly rising, I lifted up my hands, still bound. He chuckled, and then pulled out a long knife, slicing the ropes. I nodded, and slowly began to
eat, the man left, leaving me in the dark.
Soon, the light came back, a little while after I had finished my food, and I felt drowsy. My head dangled down, me looking at my upper legs, "Well well, she's awake. And has arrived." a man's voice hissed, my head shot up, and I glared at a man with glasses. He grinned, "How are we? Are we ready today?" he asked in a mocking voice, my eyes grew wide with fear, "What are you going to do to me? Kill me? Use me? Please, don't touch my sister! Please!" I screamed at him. The man rushed over to me and grabbed my chin his grin growing into a sneer, "All of those 'requests' will be filled. As long as you don't fight, and you do as we tell you. Oh, and don't even think about running. Because, then, you'll be killed on the spot."
My brown eyes grew even wider, he was serious, I'm in danger.
"So then, are we good now? No running, you do as told?" he asked devilishly, my head hang low, and I nodded slowly, my hopes of finding Kitani again diminishing, the man smiled, "Good...good..." he muttered, walking out of the door and leaving me in the darkness once again.
I had spent at least two days in the dark room, I lost track of time. They continued to drug the food, but soon found out it didn't work, because I refused to eat, or drink. The men resorted to injecting drugs into me, so they had to bind my hands again. My body was ragged; I was unhealthy, and hungry. Nothing seemed to matter to me right now; I wished I would just die. Or they kill me. But I couldn't, once I got hold of a knife, I just couldn't. Somewhere, some place in my heart told me that Kitani was alive. So I had to stay alive, for her, my will though slowly slipping away.
Men continued to enter the room, and disappear once again. On the last time, they blindfolded me, and I heard the clacking of chalk. My heart wrenched as I pondered and relied on one theory, I was going to be a chimera soon. I knew it, and I felt it. Soon I would be changing, in physical make up. Alchemy, why would it turn on me. My life was turning into a horrible dream. And I was just a puppet in it. My arms and legs being controlled by a puppeteer, and even my voice. Which I eventually lost.
The men were becoming angry, and ancey. Soon, they unblindfolded me, and turned on a dim light. It only lit up a little part of the room, but not my corner. Yet, I could see the large transmutation circle in the center of the room, my heart leapt, I'm next…
