Chapter 7:

I'MSOFREAKINGLATEFORTHISI'MREALLYSORRY!

Recap: Edward ran into a stupid girl who encountered a dramatic change of character. Then he found the chimera while Tamaki was sitting around like an idiot and then the host club came in and saved the day. If this doesn't make any sense you should probably go back and read the other chapters.

ANYWAY! I love all of your reviews! Thank you so much! Tell me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it's possible to directly reply to a review without PMing someone.

Oh yeah, I just read "An Alchemist at Ouran" and yes, my story is a lot like that one. I'm not going to hate on it or anything because technically, they posted first. So, really, I have no right. Anyway, I think I'll continue with my story, and I'm sorry if the two are similar, but you're just going to have to deal. Also, *spoilers* Edward doesn't go to Xing in mine. (You guys should read that fanfic though, it's pretty awesome)

Disclaimer: OHSHC + FMA/FMAB = NOT MINE

Edward narrowed his eyes; the chimera was huge, over twice his size and weight. Ed didn't let that bother him though. All that mattered was the fight.

The chimera leaped, heading straight for Ed.

Edward dodged quickly and let the chimera fly by him. It was turning as it landed, so as soon as it hit the ground it was in the air again, this time meeting his target. The chimera knocked Ed to the ground, and Ed began to fight back.

The cougar leaned down and growled in Edward's ear:

"You first, alchemist."

The chimera practically spat the last word before rearing up to start tearing into Edward with all his strength. Ed raised his automail arm as his only defense, but just as the chimera was about to strike, Edward found the cougar's weight suddenly lifted off him.

Sitting up he saw that Mori had dealt a powerful kick to the chimera's side, causing it to lurch to the left off of Edward.

Mori's face remained impassive but as he lowered his foot, Ed thought he saw a small glint of satisfaction in his eyes.

Honey simply cheered, "Picking on my friends is a big no-no!"

Ed didn't understand how anyone could make beating up a half human half cougar adorable, but Honey seemed to pull it off with ease.

Edward's attention was switched back to the chimera as it slowly picked itself up from the ground, newfound rage shining in his eyes. With one swift movement, it reared back its head and let out a low howl. Ed was confused; he didn't think cougars could howl, he thought that was reserved for wolves and other canines.

Nonetheless, whatever effect the chimera was going for worked, and his howl was joined by another, and another, and another.

Pretty soon there were over a dozen unseen animals all letting out the same yowl all over the school grounds. Thankfully, all the students had already left for their houses; Edward felt a small wave of relief attempt to swallow his anxiety for a moment, he didn't want any of the students to loose their lives to his fight. It was bad enough the entire host club was there, he didn't need any other extra bodies.

Honey and Mori were definitely capable of handling themselves; he had heard the cousins were masters in martial arts and kendo, and seeing it in person only showed just how powerful they were.

The twins knew that when Honey and Mori were concerned, all they had to do was lay low and wait a few seconds until the fight was over, though this kind of circumstance was different. The twins, Haruhi, Kyoya and a dazed Tamaki all wore worried, frightened, and confused expressions on their faces. It was harder to run away this time when the howls of cougars were coming from all sides, cutting off all exits.

A trap. Ed should've known. The chimera was too smart to just attack Edward head on and not have some kind of backup plan. After all, the cougar had recently escaped from prison and must've known the unique abilities of the state alchemists.

The chimera's howl died down and he brought his hard gaze back down to the hosts and Edward, a sneer smeared across his face, distorting his features.

Ed bit his lip, this was going to be harder then he thought. The only capable fighters of the host club were Honey, Mori, and himself, the four others might have some skill-if any-but otherwise they were currently extra baggage.

Edward didn't have any other time to think about a battle strategy where all seven of them came out alive, as the chimera and all its "friends" attacked as one. Moving like a well-oiled machine.

The main chimera went headfirst for Edward, flying at him with claws extended and teeth bared. At the same time others leaped out of the cover of the trees and launched themselves at the rest of the hosts.

Edward blocked easily in the first attack, but the chimera had the advantage of speed on its side. It retaliated immediately and swiped again, catching Edward on the side of the head before Ed could retaliate. Edward felt warm blood trickle down his head and threaten to seep into his eye, blinking it away irritably, he went on the offense, clapping his hands and slamming them down on the ground. He watched as a fist of dirt erupted from the perfectly trimmed soil and whipped the chimera across the courtyard with one hit.

Edward allowed himself a small break to smile to himself; it felt good to use alchemy again, to feel that familiar buzz resonate through his body. Edward didn't know how he had survived so long while hardly using it.

Glancing back quickly, Edward checked on how the others were doing.

Honey and Mori were doing a good job of holding the cougars back from the rest of the group, but it went slower than it would have. Ed could tell honey and Mori were more used to fighting other people, as their punches and kicks were aimed in the wrong places, so what would've been a fatal blow either didn't do much or missed entirely.

Ed didn't have time to consider running over and helping them, as the thundering of footfalls made him aware of a much ticked chimera charging toward him.

Gritting his teeth, Edward whirled around and delivered a blow to the chimera's face as it leaped in mid-air, sending it back down to the ground again with a dull thump.

The chimera was resilient though, as it leaped back up and charged again.

Once he got his mind back in focus, Ed could easily spot the huge openings the chimera left as it was attacking. All it seemed to know how to do was run head on and try to attack as best it could. Granted, it could dodge plenty of Ed's attacks, but not all of them.

One could easily tell how enraged the cougar was, it was practically frothing at the mouth.

"You will never understand alchemist." It growled, licking the blood off its nose. "You could never even comprehend the secrets your country is hiding from you."

Edward faltered a little, he didn't expect the cougar to say that, much less make some form of conversation.

"Oh yeah?" Edward taunted, trying to keep a confident air about him, "How would you know? You've spent the last few years in prison."

The cougar made a short wheezing sound, and Edward realized it was laughing.

"I was put in that pit for ten years because of the things I endured, and the things I accomplished."

Ed wouldn't admit it out loud, but the chimera had him curious. He stayed in a tense battle stance as the chimera continued,

"You must already know of the hierarchy that's become our every-day life. The rich do to the poor whatever they wish to do and the poor have to endure it in silence because of their rank."

Edward frowned, "That isn't true." He argued, "All people aren't that cruel."

The cougar's face twisted into a snarl, "The age we live in now is much crueler than you may think."

The chimera leaped without warning, shouting words as it hammered its way over to Edward.

"I was experimented on!" It screeched, "I was treated like a lab rat!"

The chimera launched itself wildly at Ed, knocking him down with more force then Edward thought possible.

"I was put in jail for ten years, for something I didn't do!"

It began clawing frantically, ripping long tears in Edward's jacket. It was all Ed could do to raise his arms in front of his face to protect himself. The wildness in the cougar's movements slowed, and Edward heard a the chimera's voice whisper right next to his ear,

"So then I thought: Why not just kill all the rich? That way the poor don't have to suffer."

Edward quickly thought of a plan as the chimera continued on its insane explanation,

"It would be a world where no one is experimented on! It would e a world of equals! No one would have to die!"

With one fluid movement, Edward grabbed the cougar's head with his right hand and twisted to push the cougar off him. In seconds he was on his feet again, and throwing a punch at the chimera's head.

"You think you can solve the world's problems by killing people?" Edward raised his voice, not even bothering to contain his anger,

"You think you can make everyone equal by destroying rich families? By taking innocent people's lives?"

Edward roundhouse kicked the chimera in the face, sending it rearing backward.

"Those people are dead because you had some fake truth in your mind that you could make everything better!"

The chimera was shifting into human form now, but Edward didn't wait for it, clenching his two fists together and bringing it down hard against the chimera's back.

"Maybe the rich often are ignorant, and weak, and get stupid ideas in their head that only lead to others getting hurt!"

Edward brought down his right hand, making a shallow gash along the cougar's flank,

"And maybe you're right, and Amestris has secrets buried deep! But that gives you no right to take other's lives!"

With one last final punch, the chimera was unconscious, still a cross between cougar and human. Still with that insane look in his eyes. Still a murderer.

Taking a few breaths to steady his racing heart, Edward quickly took a glance behind him to see that Honey and Mori had successfully taken out the other cougars, the rest of the hosts congratulating them.

Edward smiled; at least these guys never seemed to change. It might've just been stupid rich people ignorance, or maybe the host club was actually stronger than they portrayed themselves to be, but it seemed like the seven hosts were like a big family. They looked out for each other. No matter what. Edward felt the familiar pang in his heart when he thought about his own family, but it was quickly matched by a feeling of satisfaction mixed with maybe a little bit of affection. He had come this far, and he would keep going.

Ed was snapped out of his musings as he heard someone slowly clapping from behind him. Turning, he saw Colonel Mustang and his ever-present shadow Riza emerging from the neatly cropped trees.

Edward's eyes widened, "C-colonel? What the hell are you doing here?"

Roy used his trademark smirk and replied casually,

"Since you were taking too long for my standards in this mission the lieutenant and I decided to come and help you, but you seem to be one step ahead this time around. Although it really shouldn't have taken this long for you to find your chimera and detain it, or do you wear that watch of yours just to complete your distorted fashion statement?"

Not even a minute, and the colonel was already pissing a certain short tempered alchemist off.

"Well I would've had more time to look if you didn't make me go to this stupid school!"

The colonel just half-smiled and turned his head to the side observing Edward's friends with a look of mild interest.

"It seems you've made some friends Fullmetal."

Edward gritted his teeth, how could that colonel take this all without any confusion whatsoever? He was so. Freaking. Irritating.

Before Edward could launch into a full fledged one-sided yelling match, the host had walked up behind him.

They were all looking shocked and more than a little confused, but still somehow managed to formally introduce themselves.

The colonel returned the formality in surprisingly fluent Japanese, then turned back to the chimera,

"We should probably take this back to Amestris. Lieutenant Hawkeye."

"Yes sir."

The lieutenant turned stiffly and began calling for a clean up team, making sure the chimera was secure before watching over it cautiously.

A tap on the shoulder made Edward turn, and he realized Kyoya was staring at him expectantly.

"What?"

"Edward, who are these people?"

Edward glanced up at his superior, and with a barely noticeable nod from the colonel, Ed sighed.

"This might take awhile…"

After the clean up team had had the chimera safely contained and Edward got some treatment for his injuries, the host club, Edward, the colonel, and lieutenant Hawkeye had sat down in music room three with a cup of tea and had a long talk.

Most of it was Edward trying to explain his status in the military, but he had to give the floor to Mustang since he just didn't have the patience for telling long boring stories that he didn't think had a point anyway.

Lieutenant Hawkeye mostly just sat there, taking it all in with an impressive poker face, occasionally adding in little important tidbits that the Colonel and Edward missed.

The host listened intently. Tamaki was eating it all up, and kept interrupting to the point where Ed had to karate chop his head in annoyance. The twins were like Tamaki, but less intense. Mori and Hawkeye seemed to have an ongoing private staring contest, and Honey leaned in a little too close for comfort and offered hugs when not necessary. Kyoya wrote everything down in his ledger, and Haruhi seemed confused at the whole concept of alchemy bit, but otherwise totally accepted everything else without a second thought.

The day was almost over when everything was explained, and Edward had next to no patience left. For anything.

When the host club finally let him go home, he unlocked the door to his apartment and stepped inside, not bothering to turn on the light switch. He tripped over a few bits of furniture, and then made his way over to the fridge for a snack before bed.

That was when he heard the sound.

A slight scuffle towards the sound of his room. His head shot up, the memory of the chimera still fresh in his mind.

He gritted his teeth and looked to the side. He knew it wasn't the Colonel or the lieutenant; they were both staying at a nearby hotel.

Closing the fridge slowly, Edward walked quietly toward his room, every ounce of him on guard. He had a brief vision of the chimera sneaking into his apartment and ripping his throat out while he slept, but shook it away irritably. Whatever it was, it wasn't the chimera.

`Edward wrenched the door open had to let his eyes adjust to the light bursting out of the room, but when his eyes finally focused, he froze at what he saw.

"Oh, hi brother."

"Al!"

Not even caring anymore, Edward ran up without hesitation and gave his little brother a huge hug.

"Al, what the hell are you doing here?"

If Alphonse could smile, he would have. "I came with colonel mustang and Lieutenant Hawkeye, they said I could."

Edward was grinning from ear to ear, "It's good to see you again, Al."

A/N: OMG I FINALLY POSTED! Funny, I'm not dead.

After about two and a half months, I finally came back to this and started writing. The beginning of this is good, the last bit is too fast though. (I really should start editing.)

I take back that comment I said last chapter about people waiting months until they update, because now I'm a hypocrite. You have my sincerest apologies.

Oh yeah, and Edward quit. Yeah, I would've fired him anyway (lie) I mean, he always hit me on the head all the time (true). In any case, he quit. Caput. Gone. No more. He got too fed up with me being his boss, so he left to find the philosiphers stone. So, you guys all have to deal with this random stunt double being Edward!

Stunt-double-that-doesn't-really-do-anything-because-Edward-pulls-off-all-his-own-stunts: Yay.

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Hope you all enjoyed! This is Shadow, signing out.