Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Nadda! Zilch! (Well besides the plot) So don't even try to sue me.

A/N: Once again I apologise for the very long delay but you guys must forgive me. I'm recovering from extremely bad exam results.

Add to that I got my first flame while I was low – which isn't a very nice thing might I add – and I just couldn't update. To tell you guys' the truth I was feeling like giving up on this story after that flame, since every time I'd write Chapter 4 and update it, I'd re-read the flame and delete my chapter.

Miss Dawn Moore, you have successfully accomplished your task of making me feel like utter bull-shit with that flame. I hope you're satisfied since – I'm assuming – that was your motive.

Oh and if you guys really want a great GA story, you must read 'The World Is A Vampire' by Goshikku Sererei. It is by far – at least in my opinion – the best GA fic out here in this fandom.

Chapter 4

Her last day at the Academy wasn't like anyone else's for no one knew she was leaving that evening. Not even her teachers.

The only people who had any knowledge of her departure were her Special Abilities Class, Mr Noda, Mr Narumi, and she figured Persona (since he would surely be in charge of seeing her safely out of the Academy considering it was part of his job).

So to say she was treated like she usually was would be perfectly logical. She was teased like she was every day. Jinno tried to make her life hell. Hotaru was still the cold-hearted person she always was. And Natsume still annoyed her like he always did.

Though the only noticeable difference was that Mikan didn't seem to bother on tiny bit about it.

In fact she seemed to enjoy it in a weird way. Nostalgia, she mused silently while reading a book she'd got from the school library, I know I'm going to miss this in some sadistic way while I'm at Asmestris.

And for the first time since she'd got her summons Mikan's mind pondered on the war she was soon going to be fighting in. She'd try to keep her thoughts away from it by thinking about re-uniting with her loved ones but couldn't anymore. She couldn't delay the thoughts from coming into her minds.

She was going to fight in a war. It was a war. A huge one at that. And she would be surrounded by death soon, part of it caused by her hands. She was an Alchemist and a solider. She was the best Eraser the Military had. She'd killed before – albeit at a very young age – but she'd done it. Many times. She was supposed to be used to it, but yet part of her still hadn't gotten over the feeling of taking a life away.

It always made her feel less humane than she already did.

Roy Mustang's words echoed clearly in her head.

What we do may be for the regulation of peace and greater glory of Asmestris, but still taking a life is taking a life. War is still war. And death will always remain death. And nothing can ever change that. Nothing can ever make the feeling of snuffing a life out ever go away. No matter what, you've still ended someone's life, don't ever forget that. You've ended a future they could've had, and are the reason for the grief of those left behind. Who ever it is dead on the floor might have been you in different circumstances. Never forget the feeling of guilt when you are ordered to kill; that's what will keep you human. They were ordered dead, and you're the one that killed them. In the end it all boils down to that.

A light shudder went down her spine. Mustang was right, at the end of the day, no matter what, she was still a killer. She would always have blood on her hands. And nothing she did would ever change that.

She sighed and closed her book. She couldn't afford to be depressed at a time like this when she had a war to fight coming up! She had to steel her heart against it. She'd have enough time to mope when the war was over.

Though her silent prayers that this war would witness the least amount of bloodshed – if not none – didn't stop.

Dusk was approaching soon, she mused as she ran about in her room doing some last minute packing. It had always been symbolical for her, ever since she was five.

Dusk meant that the day's death was soon approaching. It reminded her that no matter what, she couldn't die. Even if her soul was inside The Gate it wouldn't matter, since she was a half-homunculus she'd just regenerate and live again.

The day could die. She on the other hand was immortal. After a certain age, her body wouldn't age. She cursed to live forever and watch as everyone she loved died.

A tiny sigh left her lips as she watched the sun set. Shaking herself from her thoughts she resumed packing once again. She had no time for thoughts like this. Looking around her room to see if she had left anything behind her eyes fell on the photo frames on her one-star room dresser. Pictures of her and Hotaru. Ones she had no need for, after all Hotaru said that they weren't even friends after all. So if Hotaru didn't bother there was no need for her to. Her eyes scanned the room seeing a few other things from her other so-called friends who had done nothing but mistreat her which she had decided to leave behind. She guessed the Academy would take care of them.

She picked up her photo album of the time she had spent in the Academy consisting only of happy memories, (Meaning only pictures of her Special Abilities Class, Kaname, Yuu, Ruka, Anna, Nonoko, Narumi-sensei, and a few select others.) and put it in her knapsack.

That was the last of her things.

Three quick, sharp, hollow knocks sounded on her door, her family's signature way of knocking.

"Come in Ed, the door's open." She said and her door creaked open to reveal a slightly short male with long sun-yellow blonde hair, and eyes of the same colour, dressed in black with a brown overcoat, grinning.

"How are you, squirt?" Edward asked.

"Look who's talking. You're not that tall, and you call me a squirt." She said smirking.

As she expected her uncle blew up like he usually did on being called small. "Who're you calling small? So short that you can't distinguish from the grains of dirt? So tiny that I can't be seen behind a sheet of paper?..." he yelled.

"Basically though I never said any of those, I meant you when I said short." Mikan replied after her uncle calmed down picking up her bags and walking out, while her uncle flared up again.

She didn't need to be told that she was an evil niece she thought grinning.

She met no one while she walked down her dorm corridor. And for that she was glad. She didn't fancy the thought of having to explain to people why she was carrying bags full of all her stuff.

She heaved a huge sigh of relief when she made it to the Academy lake (the designated meeting point) without being seen, while Ed followed behind her. She smiled and waved on seeing Roy Mustang's familiar face standing besides a black car – which looked suspiciously like one of the cars reserved for the big-shots in the military in Asmetris. She guessed it was probably one of those.

"How's my sweet little god-daughter?" Mustang asked ruffling Mikan's hair when she hugged him.

"Fine. You?" she asked smiling.

"Still alive. Though I'm not sure for how long since I'm married to your god-mother." He said causing Mikan to giggle. "Anyway we had better get going if we want to reach soon; otherwise my wife will be ready with my coffin." He said shuddering while Mikan laughed harder.

"Come on let's go." Ed said from behind them, "Before that cross-dresser comes back. I hate having to deal with him."

"Yeah. I might probably blow him up if I have to see him again. Seeing the man's face brings back bad memories." Mustang replied.

"Persona?" Mikan asked.

"I think that's his name. Anyway let's get going. If we don't get home in time Winry's promised me I'll have an onslaught of wrenches waiting for me." Edward said. "Come to think of it she's probably waiting for me by the window with a wrench in her hand."

"Let's get going then. I want at least the first day back home to be peaceful." Mikan said as she got into the car followed by Edward.

"And the apocalypse will follow shortly after that." Mustang solemnly added following them.

Mikan let out a soft nostalgic sigh as she cast one last look at the Academy while the car began driving out of the Academy. No matter what she'd still miss the place, the only place she was able to lead a somewhat normal life of a ten year old girl instead of a merciless half-human Alchemist Eraser.

The Next Day.

Natsume sighed as he entered class. Persona had given him an exhausting mission all because he was pissed that some V.I.P student that left the Academy did it earlier than planned so he missed the send-off. The stupid cross-dresser had to interfere in the lives of every student in the Academy.

Flopping down in his seat he took out his manga and began to read waiting for his day's routine to begin with the entry of a certain brunette. However said brunette didn't enter class that morning. In fact they hadn't seen her till lunch. Finally after lunch the class president Yuu asked Narumi during their English class about the brunette.

"Oh didn't she tell you?" Narumi asked confused. "I thought she had. All her Special Abilities classmates know. She told them the moment she got the news." He said, then added, "and me."

"Tell us what?" Anna asked.

"She's left the Academy yesterday evening to study in Germany." Narumi said stunning everyone.

"What do you mean she's left the Academy to study somewhere else?! You guys generally don't allow that!" Sumire said.

"Well, none of the staff know the exact reasons. Actually the rest of the staff only found out today. All we know is that her uncle came and talked to the board of directors and they said yes." Narumi said cautiously awaiting the uproar about to happen in his class. The truth was that he knew the real reason Mikan left. He had a vague idea of who and what she was even before she told him. And he was dead worried about her.

"So she isn't coming back?" he heard a student ask and realised it was her partner Natsume.

"It seems that way. I guess we'll have to find a new partner for you, but unfortunately we don't have anyone new in our grade. You don't mind, do you?" he asked knowing the answer.

"As if I need a partner." The boy replied and Narumi sighed while the rest of the students continued to murmur. He glanced towards Hotaru, who unnoticed by everyone else had gone rigidly stiff in her chair. Mikan's absence from the Academy would affect everyone greatly. He knew it.

Meanwhile the rest of the class was devastated by the news it seemed to affect two people more than it did everyone else. Hotaru bent low over her book, while Natsume went back to reading his manga, both refusing to look anywhere and talk to anyone, and having the exact same thought echoing in their heads.

She's gone! She's actually gone!

A/N: There another chapter done. I hope you guys liked it. And I've stopped accepting flames, so if you flame me, be warned I will find you and send you viruses. Constructive criticism however is always welcomed. I'd like to know how I could improve.

Read and Review.