Chapter 4

Hey there! Long time no see! I'm so sorry for the loooong hiatus but school comes first. But without further adu, I give you chapter 4 of Blue-Fire Alchemist!

Ruri

It was late into the night, the sky lit dimly by the few stars it could muster in the moonless night. Besides the train's whistle, it was an otherwise quiet night. The train that was bound for Reona had only crossed the Eastern Border. Ruri had barely gotten sleep due to the bumpy train ride and couldn't wait until she checked into an inn as soon as she got there. Even an attendant had been intimidated by her blood-shot eyes when she'd offered her something to drink. She rested her face against the window and took in the starry night.

"Approaching the Reona Train Station." said a woman on the P.A, "Prepare to unboard."

Ruri looked out and surely, just ahead was the platform and train station. Sitting back in her seat, she sighed and waited until the train came to a stop. Grabbing her belongings, she made her way to the exit and hopped down onto the platform.

"So this is Reona." she said to herself as she looked around.

From what she could observe, Reona was a mid-sized town. It was bigger than Resembool that was for sure but she would have plenty of time to explore once she got some rest. After a little bit of wandering and searching the city, Ruri was finally pointed in the direction of the Inn. She'd thanked the kind elderly man who helped her in her weary plight.

The words on the sign read 'REONA INN' and she almost sung to the heavens as she rushed inside. The Innkeeper was a bit startled to see the girl run in and kiss the ground like some crazy person. The young alchemist stood to her feet and bowed in respect for her silly actions.

"Will you be staying with us, young lady?"

Ruri nodded her head quickly. "Yes ma'am." she answered, "I'll need a room for about three nights please."

The Innkeeper nodded. "That'll be a room for three nights?" she questioned, "That'll be 7500 cenz."

Ruri reached for her wallet and gave her the money as well as her name for the log. The Innkeeper made sure everything was correct before handing over the key.

"Just let me know if you need anything Ms Elric." she said, "My name is Aina."

'I guess I should probably try to call Dad.' she thought. "Do you have a phone I could use, Ms. Aina?"

The young lady nodded, pulling a telephone from behind the counter. "Here you are."

Ruri nodded in thanks before picking up the reciever and dialing the desired numbers. The ring echoed in her ears until the line picked up.

"Elric Residence." said a voice.

She couldn't help but smile. "Daddy." she said, "Daddy its me, Ruri."

There was an odd silence on the other end and it made Ruri a bit nervous. Was something wrong? She gripped the reciever and put her ear closer. A sigh of relief was heard.

"I'm so glad you're safe." said Edward, "Have you reached Reona yet?"

Ruri nodded. "Yeah, I just got here a few minutes ago and I've already checked into an inn."

There was no reply, instead some shuffling before a higher pitched voice answered her.

"Thats great, sweetheart!" came the voice of her mother.

"M-mom?" she said in surprise.

Where did her father go? She laughed to herself. If she knew her mother, she knew that he probably had a wrench embedded in his skull. "How is everything?"

"Everything is great." she said, "I've..."

She prattled on about her trip there and how horrible the train ride had been...Her parent's fighting over the phone made her feel better. After a few more minutes, her mother bid her goodnight and she was left on the line with her father..

"Be careful Ruri." he said, "You understand and if anything happens..."

Ruri nodded. "I know Daddy." she replied, "I'll come home and give up as an alchemist."

With those words said, she bid her father goodnight and hung up the phone. His words would always haunt her and she could never dream of giving up what she spent years training to do. But if was her father's wish, she would do her best to grant it.

Fuhrer's Mansion

Riza sat up quickly in bed, startled from sleep by a nightmare of Ishval. She sat on the edge of the bed, looking over at the clock to see that it was three in the morning. She sighed before getting up and walking downstairs. Once she reached the kitchen, she put a pot of coffee on to brew and sat at the table.

'What was that dream?' she thought, 'Was it trying to tell me something?'

Roy, who had followed her, put a hand on her shoulders before kissing her cheek and wrapping his arms around her neck.

"Something bothering you?" he questioned.

Riza put her clenched hands to her forehead in frustration. "How?" she whispered.

The fuhrer grew even more suspicious as he listened to her words. It was apparent when she unbuttoned her shirt and slid it off her back so that her tattoo showed.

"How is it that Ruri learned Flame alchemy when the secret is inscribed on my back?"

Roy stared at the emblem on her back, remembering the promise he'd made to both her and her father. Then that same question ran through his mind. How in the world had Ruri been able to use Flame alchemy if she hadn't known the secret? Or even been taught to procure such a talent?

"That's a good question." he said, "Interesting."

Riza fixed her her shirt before going to pour them some coffee. "There's also one other thing though." she said, "The way she transmutes is odd as well."

"You're right." he agreed, "The way she claps her hands the way Full-Metal used to and my way of transmuting..."

Just what was going on here?

Reona

Later that morning, Ruri rolled over, her eyes meeting the bright sun. She winced before moving to sit up and drag herself out of bed. From there it was to the bathroom for a hot shower to wake herself up.

'Your mission starts today.' she reminded herself, ' Your first mission as a state alchemist and to the Fuhrer.'

She relished in the steamy water hitting her clammy skin and removing the sleep from her eyes. Once she was done, she brushed her teeth and hair. Then she got dressed in a black and white halter that left her midriff bare, black jeans and her boots. Grabbing her jacket and watch, she left for the lobby.

On her way down, she came across a few people and she'd questioned them about the mysterious happenings. Some were struck with fear and refused to answer her or they gave their answer in hushed tones.

"Is something wrong?" came a voice.

Ruri looked up to see Aina who was sweeping the lobby. "Has anything out of the ordinary happened lately?"

There was a flicker of emotion in the woman's eyes and she seemed frightened as she stared at Ruri.

"Ms. Aina?"

Aina grabbed Ruri by the hand and pulled her behind the desk and into her office, locking the door.

"We're not allowed to speak of such things in the open." she whispered, "Rumor is that there's a strange gang using one of the taverns here as their base of operations. From what I've heard its some anti-faction against the military."

"I understand." Ruri said, "Is there anything else?"

Aina shook her head. "That's all I can tell you, Ms. Elric." she said as she shooed her out of the room, " For your sake you won't look into any of it."

Resembool [Elric Residence]

Edward had holed himself up in the confines of his study. He was staring at the cluttered desk of his daughter, his little girl. Before she'd left, she had been studying different transmutation circles. As he looked through the various arrays, he found something that made his blood run cold. His hand shook as he reached to pick up the paper, his golden orbs full of disbelief. The picture scribbled on the paper was the portal of truth, a memory that would never leave him as it was burned into his being. Then he noticed that there were some notes scribbled in the corner and read them aloud.

"I saw this in my dream again." he read, "I hadn't committed the taboo so i don't understand why this keeps happening. Its so strange yet it feels so familiar but one thing does bother me. Before my dream ended, that thing or "truth" as its called, asked me a question.

It said, "Are you Edward Elric's daughter?"

But before I could respond, i was knocked out of my dream and back into reality as I woke up."

'Is this what she meant by the danger that surrounded her?' he thought.

The notes ended there and Edward was in so much shock that he hadn't heard his wife call out to him. "Edward?"

The former alchemist hurried to turn around and face his wife, who had her toolbox thrown over her shoulder. "Making some house calls?"

The automail engineer nodded. "Yeah." she answered, "Edelin and I are going out to central for a little bit but we should be back before dark...What are you reading?"

Edward put the paper down and smiled sheepishly, hoping not to worry his wife. "Oh, just some old notes I found." he said, "Nothing to worry about."

Winry nodded slowly, hoping really she had nothing to worry about. Her husband had been a bit distant since Ruri left even it was only yesterday so she was a little worried.

"Sure you don't want to come with us?" Winry asked, "It might help take your mind off of Ruri."

Edward sighed. "It couldn't hurt." he said, "I want to pay Roy a visit."

Maybe The fuhrer could offer his opinion on this sudden and bone-chilling information. What was the meaning behind all of this?

Elsewhere...

"It would seem that she has begun to move..." said a voice, followed by a slight chuckle.

A young man stepped forward, a manic grin on his face. "This is what I've been waiting for. " he said with a crack of his knuckles, "The revenge will be sweet."

"Not just yet." said a young woman, "We need time to form a plan and only then will we be able to go after what we seek."

The younger of the three frowned. "Oh Fun." he said in annoyance, "More waiting."

He smiled though because soon, he could wring the life from that person and send them to damnation.

Central Command [Elicia]

Elicia sat at her desk, staring out of the window. The fuhrer had given her the day off but she'd chosen to stay here rather than leave since she didn't want to worry her mother. She looked at the photograph sitting on her desk. It was of her and Ruri on the day she joined the military and became personal assistant to the fuhrer. Her best friend had only been twelve at the time but instead of practicing her alchemy, she came to central with a bouquet of flowers. It was a good memory and she couldn't wait for her friend to come back so that they could make more. Then she remembered the request she'd made of Fuhrer Mustang as she picked up a picture frame. It held a picture of Ruri after passing her exam.

Flashback

"I have a request, Fuhrer Mustang." she said softly, wringing her hands.

Roy looked at the young woman, his best friend's daughter and Ruri's best friend. She trembled slightly and knew that this wouldn't be just any request. FullMetal's daughter wasn't just any girl and Elicia wasn't just any military officer.

"What is it, Elicia?" he asked, eyes set on her.

Her emerald eyes met his as she looked up at him. "Please don't take this the wrong way..." she said, "But I was hoping that you wouldn't give her any life-threatening missions. I know that such a request might dishonor you as the fuhrer or even your army but please..."

Riza's eyes grew wide but softened. She knew the young woman had taken the death of her father extremely hard as she grew up and that she wouldn't want such a fate to fall upon anyone. Roy clenched a gloved fist, the thought of Maes coming to his mind but her request was a difficult one. He sighed.

"I can't grant that request." he said solemnly.

Elicia bit her lip. "But sir..."

"Major Ruri Elric has made her decision and I'm not in any place to tell her what she can't do." Roy further explained, "I may be her commanding officer and her uncle but those two identities can never mix. Besides, regardless of what I told her, she'd be completely rebellious just as her father was. Ruri Elric chose the path of a soldier."

The young woman before him was silent for a moment before she smiled a small smile. His words somehow made her heart feel lighter. "Thank you, Fuhrer Mustang."

End Flashback

Elicia hugged the picture to her heart. "Be safe Ruri and you better make it back to me."

Ruri

Ruri walked through town, arms behind her head. This might've been a small town but there were quite a few taverns here. How was she supposed to know which one the Innkeeper meant?

She sighed, putting a hand to her chin in thought. "I wonder where I go next."

"Looking for something?" asked a voice.

The amestrian young woman looked up to see a girl just about her age of Ishvalan origin. Her crimson eyes stared into her sapphire ones. Could this girl offer some kind of clue in finding what she was looking for?

"I am." said Ruri, "Why do you ask?"

The young woman motioned for her to follow and went on her way. Ruri hesitated but followed her with caution. For all she knew it could be a trick and there was no telling what could happen. She was led through some of the city's rougher patches, eventually leading them to a run down tavern.

Ruri raised an eyebrow. "What is this?" she questioned, "Some kind of Joke?"

The older woman sighed. "No, I think this is what you've been looking for."

"And how would you know that?" she questioned, taking a stance, "Who are you?"

The Ishvalan girl sighed. "I know this city like back of my hand." she said, "So well that I'd know If Edward Elric's daughter was here."

Ruri could feel her heart pounding in her chest and her adrenaline begin to rise. Who the hell was this girl and how did she know who she was? Even her father?

And there you have it folks! The end to another chapter! Who is this strange girl and what kind of answers will Ruri find in Reona? I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting but School comes first. But I will try my best to give you another chapter and soon! Leave some nice reviews!

Love,

emikoSakura27