"Tell me!" A punch smashed into the bald priest's swelling face, blood spewing from his mouth each time the furious thirteen year old's fist made contact. She breathed her fire, letting it feed on his flesh, smothering it into ash. "Tell me what you know!" She punched him again, hard enough to dent his skull and smash his teeth in, just what the old fool deserved.
A sickening laugh trailed out of her mouth, she held a crooked smile as she played with him, burning and deforming him more than necessary. His shrill and ear-splitting screams made her excited, made her crave more of his blood. She cared no more for answers and explanations. No. Leeza wanted to hear the fat man sing!
"SING PIGGY!"
"LEEZA, STOP!"
She felt something foreign touch her extended flames and pull back just as sudden from its touch, howling in pain from the intense heat it produced. Unfortunately, she couldn't find thrill from that all too familiar pained voice, one she lived with in Resembool, one she looked up to, and the one she had in front of her that very moment with her terrifying blue flames cooking him.
"NOOOO!" She threw herself onto her brother and tried to fan them away. Her chest tightened when she saw that nothing was working, the fire wasn't going anywhere. What once was bringing her sickening pleasure was accumulating bone chilling horror, all because of her…
Ed's body was burning alive, a piercing scream was all she could listen to as she watched him turn to charcoal before her very eyes.
Paralyzed, clenching her own hair.
"N-NO! NO! I DIDN'T DO THIS!" Leeza scooted away from both bodies, eyes still on her brother's. She didn't do it intentionally!
'It was an accident!' She told herself.
'No…you did this...'
'No! I-it was all an accident! I didn't mean to kill anyone!'
'Now that's a lie...what about the priest over there? Weren't you having fun?'
'I wasn't!' She screamed at the demented voice. It knew nothing of her. 'Don't listen...'
'Oh! But you must! I will forever be in your thoughts as your true feelings of delivering pain to others, to find your victim's screams as a delicacy. After all...'
The entire world turned white. The church of Liore disappearing with her victims as well. A figure appeared right in front of her, one she was all too familiar with...
'I. Am. You!' The Gate of Truth appeared before her with its doors open and hands reaching out for her. Leeza screamed as they latched onto her like before, dragging her along the pure white world and into theirs, darkness closing in on her as the doors closed.
"NOOO!"
She woke up screaming, her arms lashing out to grab ahold of anything. Hands grabbed her shoulders, pushing her back down into her bed, but she jerked at the touched as she pushed them away, her eyes still latched shut refusing to fully register anything.
"Sister! Sister! Relax!"
She was panting heavily, her forehead drenched in her own sweat. She felt her hands feverishly grab onto warm blankets she found herself on top of and reluctantly allowing her body to relax. Slowly opening her eyes to see her brothers' concerned faces, her heart still racing at an unsteady beat with fright however.
Her mind subconsciously lingered back into the dream, the haunting darkness, the flames, and worse of all the guilt. She gripped her head tightly, pulling strands of hair in the process. Leeza was safe now, away from Truth; she would not go back there, never again! She breathed in and out, calming her heart rate and trying to slowly escape her torturous mind, but it wasn't effective enough. 'I need a distraction.' She brought back her attention to her siblings in front of her.
Gold and red stared at blue. The brothers watched their sister, waiting for her to make a move, however she only could look at them. Leeza did not know what to do. She wasn't expecting them to be with her at all...but they were. Her eyes landed on Al and traveled at a slow pace to Ed, landing on his bandaged hand. Her eyes widened in recognition, the guilt welling up at full force. Ed immediately noticed and hid his hand behind his back, but a second too late.
Leeza rolled to her side to face the other side of the room. Tears pricked by the corners of her eyes, but she wiped them away with her sleeve. She didn't deserve to cry. She wasn't the victim in her rampage, the priest was...so was her brother. Leeza clenched her hands into fists and buried her head deeper into the mattress. She didn't deserve their forgiveness. Not Ed's for inflicting damage upon his only flesh arm or Al's for his possible anger of harming his only family. Nothing.
OoOoOoO
The train ride was uneventful. Not one word came out of their sister. She simply gazed out the window, watching the scenery of nature go by. On their way to board the train she noticed that they weren't at Liore anymore, like she had suspected. Instead, Ed and Al had decided to take a rest stop at the city of New Optain for her to recuperate properly in a nice and quiet environment rather than on the train with its occasional bumps along the track and filled with pedestrians.
Nobody bothered to confront the lone shadow even in the most crowded on areas. Not with those dead, defeated eyes. Even when the brothers would try to cheer her up the only thing that stared back at them was broken blue eyes.
Eventually they had to depart, taking the train ride back to Eastern Command.
Al brought up many topics to discuss from the philosopher's stone to some childhood memories with Ed joining in and prompting Leeza to join in. Nevertheless, she kept her mouth shut tight and gave them slight movement of her head to signify that she was listening. Ed concurred up the courage to rest a hand on hers as reassurance.
Unfortunately Leeza hadn't taken it as he had hoped. Her entire body shook violently and she immediately snatched hers away, her eyes wide with panic. The first sign of life in a while. Her hand was tightly held by her chest and refused to move even an inch away, her eyes fearfully trained on the floor. Ed gasped and mentally cursed at himself for making such a foolish move. He immediately apologized and watched Leeza relax herself bit by bit until she was the same as before, with occasional glances at them, terrified that they would dare to try again.
Even when they finally arrived to their destination from the days long ride, she kept quiet and followed them from behind, head downcast.
Ed and Al shared a look, knowing what the other was thinking. As much as they wanted to help their little sister through it all, to pull her out of her despair, they knew they couldn't truly help her. There was so much that they could do and yet the most important factors of Leeza's life were the ones that made them feel useless. They weren't adopted, they didn't unlock powers that bared questions with no answers, and they never killed someone. Why was it that when Leeza needed her big brothers the most was when they were completely useless?
The three solemnly walked up the stairs and down several long hallways to reach the Elric's commanding officer's office. As they got closer, all Leeza could feel is dread. The report was unavoidable as it was a requirement after every long mission they went to. What will she say? What should she leave out? Obviously she wanted to keep Cornello's death discreet, but would it be possible? Mustang somehow knew where they were and what had transpired anywhere the three were involved in. Leeza's face grew pale at the sudden realization. Did that mean that he was aware of it now?
She roughly shook her head. Even if he didn't know, Mustang would discover her crime when the events didn't add up. Leeza was gone for a while chasing a dog for some woman they hardly even knew, in the end finding a stupid key and photo that had changed her life in the worst of ways.
She was going to be court martialed for sure. But the more she thought about it the more it seemed more appealing. She would be away from everyone unable to hurt them. Never to smell burning flesh again. A smell that she has yet to get rid of.
Leeza halted her steps and lifted her downcast eyes in time to see her oldest brother begin to turn the doorknob.
"Leeza?" The gloved hand left the knob and rested on Ed's side. He peered at her from over his shoulder, what only stared back at her were dim blue eyes. Ones that have once held so much life. She appeared almost like a walking corpse ready to collapse at any moment. This unsettled him and glancing briefly at Alphonse he can tell he was feeling the same. She looked so vulnerable, broken, struggling, and worse to anyone of the military a foolish alchemist that was in way over her head. They were naïve to believe it would be fine by the time they returned to Eastern Command.
"Sister…." Alphonse breathed. Maybe they could report back another day.
They could possibly gain some more Intel for the philosopher's stone on a later date. Right now what concerned him most of all was his youngest sibling.
"I'll just go down to order for a new radio, then."
The door was pushed open and a young soldier with short, spiky, black hair poked his head out. He pressed his glasses closer to his face as he caught sight of the Elrics.
"Hey! Edward, Alphonse, and Leeza! It's good to see you three!" The man saluted them in greetings.
"Sergeant Fuery! It's been awhile, huh." Ed rigidly waved, quickly composing himself.
"Sure has been Ed. Without you guys around the office is pretty quiet, but we've been getting by." Fuery merrily replied. "The team's going to be happy to see the Fullmetal Alchemist and Shadow...Sir?"
"Uh…..Is everything alright?" He muttered, taking note of Leezas appearance. Something was amiss she wasn't staring at anything even though she was looking in his direction. Her eyes a bit unfocused. They seemed too familiar but he couldn't place why.
"Hey, Sergeant!" Ed's voice boomed along the hallway (a little louder than expected) but it still grabbed the young man's attention.
"Where were you on your way to before you saw us?" The golden-haired alchemist asked. Fuery only looked at him skeptically but went along with it anyway. Briefly peering at the little shadow, his concern for her growing as he has yet to receive any reaction.
"I was heading down to send an order for a new radio. I've been trying to fix the one I'm currently possessing but its seen better days."
"No problem! I can fix it up for you right now!" Ed boasted as he marched into the office. "Oh, thank you sir!" Fuery, surprised, followed after him.
Leeza ruggedly followed the clanking of metal not too far behind her.
Entering the room. Leeza seemed to ignore everyone inside, past the team that she's gotten to know during her three years in the military, and just headed to the door of her superior. Everyone surprised into silence as she moved passed them. Feeling a cold chill run pass them as they watched her. She ignored the surprised look the Colonel and found herself a seat on one of the two black leathery couches, her eyes never once leaving the floor.
Before Mustang could question her behavior, Ed and Al joined the two. Al sat next to his sister and Ed on the other couch, casually crossing his legs and resting his arms on the sofa back. For a moment, the room was silent. Mustang stared at his company, but mostly to the youngest as something was nagging at him. The question was why?
He would know if her hair wasn't covering her face. Unable to see the blank, dead look.
"You think you can ask for our report now and cease your staring at my sister, Colonel?" Ed said, voice calm but edged with annoyance. The said person looked at Ed, responding with a smirk as if nothing occurred.
"Fullmetal, if you answer to me like that I'm might just end up believing you don't like me."
"I thought I made that pretty clear every time we meet." He spat while the other gave a light chuckle.
"Back to the topic at hand," Mustang leaned forward, his elbows resting on his desk, fingers interlocked. "I received a bit of intel on what transpired out there. I just need you three to confirm it for me through your report."
"...Fine. What do want to know?"
"Well for starters, was the lead a dead end?"
"...Yeah. It was a fake that whole time. Going there ended up becoming a waste of our time."
"If that's true, then what gave you the audacity to cause such heavy damage on their cherished temple? That's money being spent there Fullmetal, lots of paperwork too."
Ed rolled his eyes. "It's not like it was our intention. This was simply another mission gone wrong." He laid out casually. Mustang released a heavy sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"That doesn't mean you can cause more paperwork for me to stress over with, Fullmetal." He pointed out, annoyance apparent in his voice. "It's one thing to have the building destroyed until it's nothing but rubble, but to set it on fire as well?" The silence was broken by a chocked gasp that has escaped Leeza's lips. She burnt down the temple? Why didn't she know this? Better yet, if anyone was to blame for setting the place on fire, it would be her wouldn't it? Before Leeza fainted she had uncontrollably let her flames loose on, not only the priest, but everywhere she went as well. Yet, now that she thought about it, did Ed set the fire to cover up her mistake?
"Shadow..." Leeza's head jerked unconsciously but refused to look in his direction. "Did you not know about this?"
"She was with me!" Leeza swirled her head to Al, surprised for his sudden outburst. "Sister was helping me protect one of the civilians there, so we didn't see brother cause the arson!" She felt grateful for his cover story, sealing the gap that she found herself in. However, why is it that when they save her does she still feel pathetic? The answer always hit her in the face right away; she killed someone. No amount of help could change that, wanted or not. Mustang was still not convinced though as he still sensed something amiss.
"The two of you did not see it after?" He questioned. Al quickly shook his head. "N-no sir! We left before it got worse!" Mustang sighed, visibly more irritated than before.
"Alphonse, I'm glad that you are helping with the report, but I need Shadow to add in too."
"Why?" Ed defensively asked. "I can report everything to you by myself. Leeza doesn't h-."
"When she received her state certification, she accepted all regulations that followed." He faced Leeza, still unable to see her face. But he couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that caved in his stomach. Something was starting to piece together in his mind but he need to make sure that he wasn't going by guesses.
With a frown he returned to look at the eldest Elric, taking note at the rigged posture he possessed at the moment. Something he took notice of when he first walked in even when he tried to hide it with acting all relaxed.
"Continue" Mustang grunted.
"Biological Alchemy," Ed stated mildly, "we came to see if you know where we can gain Intel about it. After the priest informed us of using a stone to create chimeras, it made me realize that we don't know much in that field. Even if it was a fake, knowing more could help us in our search."
"Bio-Alchemy, huh..." Mustang rose from his seat and strolled to a nearby bookshelf that was filled with various files rather than books and began going through some.
"What are you -?"
"Is this...yes. This is the one..."
He returned to his desk and opened a file he pulled out. He pointed to the small picture on the left side. "This is Shou Tucker, the life sewing alchemist. His research trends on chimeras, so learning from him would be just your cup of tea."
"Cup of tea?" Confused Al turned to Ed, but was left unanswered when his brother simply shrugged it off. 'How rude.'
"I can introduce you to him if you would like." Mustang added.
The brothers nodded their heads, but Leeza did absolutely nothing, only kept her eyes to the floor. Mustang despised how she was acting, it brought a foul taste in his mouth. The behavior...it was just too familiar! He's had enough and from the looks of it they were just planning to leave his office without informing him about Shadow's aloof behavior. And as their Superior he was not going to allow it. He teared his eyes away from his youngest subordinate and marched out of his office to where the rest of his team were.
"First Lieutenant Hawkeye." He called. The only woman of the five stood, saluting the Colonel. "Sir."
He needed time away for a moment. Enough for him to recollect himself before confronting the young girl. Mustang did not need to inform his lieutenant of the matter either, they knew that both had noticed the odd behavior she was displaying and he needed to fix it. "I need you to remain with Shadow here until I return from introducing Fullmetal to Tucker."
"Very well, sir."
"Hey, hold on!" Ed planted himself in front of Mustang, face flushed in anger. "Who said anything about my sister staying here alone?" The room went hush as they turned to watch the arrogant teen go against his commanding officer; this always happened between the two as part of their association with each other. But everyone knew that it was different this time. Ed glared at him while Al lingered in Mustang's office and stood in front of Leeza as if he was shielding her from everyone. Both of them didn't want her to stay away from their side, especially now that she's in dire stress. The only indications that she was aware of what was going on around her was by her hand tightly clutching the armrest, her knuckles turning white; any tighter and her nails would tear through the leather. They need to be there for her as the only family they have.
"Fullmetal, relax. I just need to speak with Shadow a little while longer to generate a complete report from her. I can't have your word on the matter alone; she's required to give one of her own alongside yours." Mustang met Ed's scowl with his own. "It has been this way all the time and it's no different."
"I think you should just listen to him chief." A tall and blond haired man approached them, an unlit cigarette held between his lips. A tuft of his hair wildly spiked in all directions and over his eyes. The man held his voice calm and reassuring. "You wouldn't want the Colonel to have you court martialed would you?" He asked half-jokingly.
The young alchemist let out a harsh laugh. "I would rather take the risk rather than leave my sister alone with a womanizer, Havoc."
The soldier held up his hands in surrender and moved a few paces away. Ed's eyes travelled around the room, daring anyone to speak up. He felt someone grab his shoulder and give it a gentle squeeze.
"Your sister won't be alone with the Colonel if that is what you are worried about Edward," Riza smiled warmly at the boy. "If I'm with her the entire time, would it put your mind more at ease?"
He wanted to refuse. Tell everyone to let them deal with their problems on their own like they've done all their lives. For some reason though, he could never be mad at the First Lieutenant. Those brown eyes held nothing but comfort and kindness to him, something he couldn't just turn away because Ed knew that he could trust her. He could trust anyone in that room undoubtedly. He turned to look at his sister's small, broken stature, balled his hands into fists and turned his head around after a slight hesitation.
"...Al."
"Brother?"
"Come on... we're going with the Colonel bastard." He had to restrain himself from turning around to his sister whom still has yet to move from the couch. It was moments like these that he longed to have a human form so he can comfort her, help her in any way he can. Al looked ready to argue, to insist on him staying as well but a single voice stopped him.
"Go..." Leeza's voice was cracked and hoarse, not yet recovered from her ear-splitting screams. Regardless, her hair covered her face enabling him unable to see her expression, the vulnerable look that was beginning to appear from her broken walls ready to crumble at any given moment.
"Go." She repeated to her armored brother, more commanding this time. He only continued to stare for a few seconds for what felt like minutes, before Al only looked away downcast, past the group, and out into the halls with Ed and Mustang following his lead.
Leeza remained in the same spot on the couch and didn't move a muscle when she heard the door close and the sound of one sitting beside her.
OoOoOoO
Silence. That's all there was in Mustang's office for the entire time he was away. It was silent during the ride to the Tucker's residence, on the way back to headquarters, and it was still in the very same state when he returned.
Right now he stood in the front of his door. Everyone had left to their homes after their long day of work, all but his Lieutenant and youngest subordinate. Mustang didn't expect to arrive later in the evening but the conversation he had with Shou Tucker took up most of his time. He didn't blame the man because it was necessary for the Elrics to gain access to his library, one that he or the brothers would have to inform Leeza of later.
He cleared his mind and pushed the door open. 'Now is not the time for that.'
Inside he saw Riza by his desk shifting his paperwork into organized piles. Hearing him enter she stopped what she was doing and respectfully saluted him.
"Colonel Sir, everything has been in order during your absence. Everyone has left for today and some paperwork was delivered for you to sign."
"How have things been in here?" Riza rested her hand to her side, her facial expression sterner than it already was.
"Sir..." There was no need to answer because it was right in front of them. Leeza made the man feel as if he had only been gone for just a minute instead of hours. She did not move one inch, frozen as if in a trance.
Mustang composed himself, pushed away the growing feeling of dread inside of his stomach and took a seat on the opposite couch with his Lieutenant beside Leeza. He cleared his throat, hoping to gain the young girl's attention.
"Shadow." No response. Her face remained to be covered by her hair.
"Shadow." He was going to call her a third time till he slowly saw her lift her eyes towards him. Mustang couldn't stop the surging despair that coursed through him when he gazed into those eyes. They were the same eyes he has seen countless of times from other solders to himself. Her face remained blank as she continued to stare at him. She was too young to have those eyes. Too young to have shed blood. He rubbed his left temple; he didn't know if he could help even, as this has happened to him and it took him a very long time to get out of it. He couldn't imagine how much longer it would be for her. Somewhere in the back of his mind he couldn't help feeling like he has failed her. He was supposed to look out for his subordinates, and yet here he was staring at a broken thirteen year old. It took a while for him to get over the sheer sight of carnage of his past too...he still has to suppress them even now.
'Please help her sir...She has not spoken since we left Liore and Brother and I just want to see her smile again...'
The words Al told to him before he returned came to him suddenly.
'I know that you are aware that my sister is not in the greatest state right now. My brother wouldn't ask you to do anything, but right now she's with you. Therefore...could you try to help her?'
He couldn't stand to see her like this. The brothers most likely feeling it more so. This time he needed to pay back the debt with his involvement. Nevertheless, but it wasn't long until a grim frown plastered onto his face.
"Shadow...who was it that you killed?" Well he has never been one to be settle. And that was beside the point he was going to release her of her broken state. And the only way to do that was to present her the problem and work from there. Nothing would be solved with avoiding the problem. If it worked for Ed it could work for her.
Instantly, Leeza's eyes widening immensely and she began to shake. Her hands balling into fist as her walls began to crumble.
"It's true then." Riza breathed as she stared at Leeza with a look of regret and anguish. After all, she understood what it felt like after someone's first kill. They both did and to know that someone at the age of thirteen had to go through with it...but she was so young.
'I killed someone.'
"If you're trying to mentally block it, it's not going to work." His eyes softened. "It never does, and it's why we want to help you."
Leeza could only stare at him still trembling. She killed someone. That's all that has kept repeating in her mind like a broken record. Blood was now on her hands she saw it every time she stared at them. Her hand was trembling as it clutched a ball of her shirt underneath her jacket. She squeezed her eyes shut tight, refusing to look at them.
'I killed someone.'
All of a sudden, she felt someone grab her shoulders and she panicked. She blindly screamed and savagely tried to rip those hands off of her, but all she caused was the grip to tighten on her. She didn't want to be touched. Better yet, no one to be near her. Nobody could get burned by her flames if they are away because she was having trouble containing it. Even now the urge to burst into flames was flowing through her body, a desire to incinerate whatever was terrifying her...and she didn't know if she could hold back forever.
One of the hands moved and instead gently nudged her head up by her chin. "Shadow...Leeza...look at me."
'I killed someone.'
Sapphire orbs opened to look at the black ones of her superior. "It upsets me that you don't trust anyone to help you when there's plenty of people here that would like me, the first lieutenant, and your brothers."
Leeza winced at the mention of her brothers. Feeling more despair wash over her. After all, she did feel the burden of keeping secrets from Ed and Al when they tell each other everything. She should've been able to rely on them for this...but she didn't.
"It's understandable that the most burden of taking a life is taking its toll on you, but it doesn't mean that you are the only one that has. The military has its fair share of brutality too, so yours doesn't m-"
"But...you haven't killed anyone in cold-blooded rage, have you?" Her voice sounded feeble and far away, but she had finally spoken.
'I killed someone.'
"How did you do it?" Mustang questioned, continuing the urgency of the matter. However, the girl held her tongue, refusing to answer his question.
"Was it with your fire abilities?"
Leeza had forgotten that Riza was in the room listening and comprehending the matter herself. She visibly flinched at the mention of her flames, confirming the lieutenant's suspicions. "Incineration?"
She grimly nodded. "You couldn't recognize who it was. The body...the body was cooked and had melted away his flesh, but yo-you could still hear it sizzle." Leeza chocked in fright of the uncertainty of what they were thinking. She swallowed back the vomit that was crawling up her throat. Just thinking about it made her stomach churn.
'I killed someone.'
"That's understandable."
Colonel released her and returned to his seat.
"I've done my fair share of incineration too. It's never easy, but sometimes you must do it because you're ordered to, even if you don't agree with their reasoning."
"Did you ever kill in blind rage?" Leeza blurted out. Mustang just stared for a moment, finally shaking his head. "I wasn't even thinking! I-I just did it like I wasn't in control of my own body!"
"No." He answered, tone still serious.
"Then, how can you understand what I'm going through? You don't know anything!" She didn't mean to ask with such venom in each word she shouted, but she could feel the anguish eating at her as her eyes watered. How could she have done something so unspeakable?
'I killed someone.'
Mustang took a shaking breath, taking a glance at the Lieutenant he could say that this was too nostalgic. The blind desperation, the anguish seeing the young thirteen year old it was like looking into a mirror.
"When a person burns, the body lipids are dispersed into the air and your lips get sticky from the fat if it's nearby." He took out his signature white gloves that red patterned transmutation circles sketched on it. "I may not know how it is, but I am knowledgeable of burning corpses. Shadow..." Leeza has never seen someone look so grim while smiling. His eyes betrayed the death and destruction that has tortured him for years. The countless screaming of victims and the lingering smell of their life being taken away from them.
Her chest tightened even more and tears trailed down her cheek.
'I killed someone.'
Everyone knew who he was, the Flame Alchemist and also famously known as the Hero of Ishval. Leeza's knowledge on the war was very little since it happened when she was far too young, but his actions had him praised and envied by many, promoted too. But at huge price forever to be hunted by the countless blood shed he has spilled. She wasn't alone, this was something the Colonel understood far more then she could imagine.
"Shadow, won't you tell us what really happened?" Riza slowly reached out a hand taking slow careful steps like someone trying to keep an animal from scurrying away. The girl grew tense when someone would touch her, she noticed that earlier when she screamed and tried to squirm out of the Colonel's hold. Liore had affected her in more ways than one. But once she was at arm's length she gentling wrapped her arms around her.
All leeza could do was curl into the warmth given to her, feeling the cold tears run down her cheeks.
"I didn't mean to" she sobbed. "I didn't mean to." She choked and cried, her legs giving out, dropping both the lieutenant and herself. But never once letting go of her arms around her.
'I killed someone.'
The Colonel only kneeled in front of them, placing a gentle hand on top of Leeza's head. This was something she needed to do. Or the guilt will only eat at her and could bring dire consequences in the future. The room was only filled with load sobbing as the girl released her anguish and despair.
'I killed someone.'
OoOoOoO
Al flipped through pages of the book he was reading at a phenomenal pace, completing a book in an hour or two and picking a new one off of the shelves. Going through Tucker's library helped keep him away from distractions, but it didn't really help with all that happened with his little sister.
A few weeks have passed since they had arrived to Central and their time together as a family lessened by day. Ed always had his nose in those books and rarely took a break because he didn't want to waste a moment in gathering information. Al was helping with that of course too, he agreed to research so they could find something of value about bio-alchemy to return to normal once more. Unfortunately, he found himself watching his sister at the far corner of the room, eyes heavy and weary as she forced herself to read a book.
Colonel Mustang got her talking again, but the downside was that she still distanced herself from others, speaking only when spoken to. What's worse, she was having trouble sleeping, always twisting and turning in her covers and waking herself as she screamed. Eventually, she stayed up at night reading and shutting her eyes for three short hours in the morning. The poor girl was working herself to death and yet they were of little help.
The armor sighed, there was no way he could concentrate now.
"Big brother!" A girl much younger than Leeza grabbed his arm, tugging it lightly. "Let's go play!" She giggled in delight as she swayed side to side, smiling brightly.
The little girl has light blue eyes and brown hair tied in two long braids that reached her waist. She had on a pink blouse with a blue jumper over it and brown shoes. Al chuckled at her ability to change the aura in the room in just a second, but now was not the right time. He ruffled her hair.
"Sorry, not right now Nina. We can play later ok?"
"Aww." Nina pouted. She looked to the spot where Leeza was. "Do you think big sister will play with me?"
"Um...I don't think she can. Big sister is pretty busy with all her reading. How about bigger brother?"
"He's sleeping." Nina pointed to the eldest who was in fact asleep, his head was facedown, drool spilling onto the book under him.
"Oh he is, is he?" Al laughed at the sight, Nina following suit. All that was missing was for the house's large white dog Alexander to join the fun and wake the knucklehead up. Leeza though...
"Oh!" Al glanced back down to his youngest company. "Big sister likes to read right?"
"Y-yes." He answered, unsure where this was leading. Nevertheless, his answer seemed to be the right one because Nina's eyes shimmered thrilled at his answer and as quick as she came she left, her footsteps could be heard running up the stairs.
"..."
Al rubbed his head, confused at what just occurred, but shrugged and returned to his book. That is, until she returned right away except...she had a book in her hands. Before he could see where this was leading, he heard his name being called from outside the library.
"Coming!" He shouted back. Al rose to his feet and left his little sister alone with Nina as her company as he carried his snoring brother away with him. If he was going to go to sleep might as well be somewhere comfortable.
"Big sister~!" Nina approached Leeza, oblivious to the immediate buildup of uneasiness in the young alchemist. Thankfully, she stopped a few good paces away, but that didn't mean she would let her guard down.
It was sad really that Leeza kept herself away from others, especially Nina whom simply wanted to play. She would bluntly refused, explaining that she had so much reading to catch up on and the little girl would accept her reasons with her heart deflated of innocent happiness, but would return to normal when her brothers decide to play with her in her place. That's how it's been for the last few weeks there; therefore Leeza couldn't really understand as to why she approached her now.
The little brunette held up her book, a triumphant smile forming on her face. "I got a book for you to read!"
Leeza blinked. "A-a book?"
"Can you read it to me big sister? Pleeeaaassee?" She held it up for the young alchemist, who took ahold of it after a moment of precaution.
The book was a rather small and brilliant blue hardcover, about the same size as her research journal. What Leeza really found peculiar was that there was no title, yet as she flipped through the pages she noticed that the content was printed on, not handwritten. This would be a minor flaw in the eyes of other folks, maybe her brothers as well, and they would gladly open it up because of their curiosity being peaked. To Leeza something seemed off…..an all too familiar aura.
She gripped it tight. Never again. Never again did she want to tarnish her more and server the bonds she has with her family and friends and military comrades. But...
Nina waited patiently for her answer with her round light-blue eyes exposing her hopefulness and determination. She really wanted Leeza to read to her and in all honesty, she didn't think she could refuse this time because her excuse was that she was reading. And she was asking her to read.
"...I can do one story." She told her. "After that, I need to go back to my current book. Is th-"
"Hooray!" Nina jumped up and down in glee before throwing herself next to Leeza on the floor.
"Can I choose the story to read?"
"S-sure." Leeza scooted a few inches away, placing the book between them as a blockade. Oblivious to her hesitations, Nina dashed through the many pages, her child hand halting on her destination. "This one big sister!"
Nina had chosen a selection that was a short excerpt with no pictures at all and was titled "True Cross Academy." Leeza glanced at Nina, questions forming in her mind. Nina smiled however, she was overly ecstatic to hear her read her a story. Realizing this, Leeza leaned a bit towards the book, beginning to read along the words of the mysterious piece of literature.
"True Cross Academy, a prestigious school for the bright minded and sophisticated children whom have proven themselves worthy of taking part of the glorious benefits that is there to offer. However, hidden away from the mass majority is a much smaller school; a cram school for ones to learn the ways of exorcism."
Leeza tilted her head to the side. Exorcism? Why was this in a children's book? In all honesty, she hardly cared for the subject as nothing in the world she was living in required such petty nonsense. It's all a bunch of superstitions given to fools to believe and conform to their practices.
At one time on their journeys, they had actually encountered travelers offering their services to cleanse the homes of people being tormented by demons, or so they said. They were proven as fakes by none other than her big brother Edward, exposing them for causing the trouble by sneaking into homes and using their alchemy to create figures that used the shadows to impersonate spirits. Besides, never has she encountered a supernatural entity and she doubted she ever would…
"Big sister?" Leeza's eyes travelled back to Nina's worried ones. "Are you ok?"
"Y-yeah." She assured the little one. "Just thinking that's all." Leeza continued from where she left off, pretending she never momentarily paused.
"Trained with the abilities to combat demons, they protect the order and the people. Since it is concealed away from sight, a key is needed to access this part of the world and begin their training."
Leeza's eyes nearly fell out of its sockets when she turned the page. With trembling hands, she reached into her jacket pocket to pull out the golden key she had brought back with her, holding it beside the picture in the book. It was the very same key… From its pentagon shaped bow, to its smooth shaft, to the sharp and refined bit. It was exactly the same. She let out a shaky breath and cursed herself. More and more of this nonsense was happening to her and she had no idea why.
'Why me?'
"Hey! You have the magic key!"
The key was pulled from her grasp and before Leeza could take it back, Nina was already running to the door that her brother had closed when he left. There was no doubt in her mind that the four year old wanted to "go to the other world" like the story had promised, but it was her key! The one thing that had a tie to the very enigma she found herself in the center of! What if she breaks it? What if she loses it because she tripped or something? No! Leeza scrambled up to her feet, chasing the young girl who was now inserting the key into the keyhole, eagerly twisting it before pushing it open.
"Nina!" Her voice trailed after the brunette as she threw herself into the other side, Leeza tumbling after her and into the sudden light.
AN: It took me forever to write this chapter with all the exams I've been forced to take and the constant rewriting I had to do because something did not work in here. So it had to take more than a month for me to finish, but now its here and I wanted to apologize and thank all my readers for having to wait. See you soon!
