Time for Chapter 10! Whoa! I hit the double digits already! _ I feel so awkwardly old for some reason! Ah, the years are catching up to me and everyone thinks I'm 4-5 years older than I am…my boss asked me if I was married….you know how old I am? 19. I'm 19. He thought I was 24. 24 years old? I should just tell people I'm 22 and married, I could pull it off apparently. SIGH!
Disclaimer: I don't own Full Metal Alchemist, I only own my OCs! Thank you all for reading! Sorry this section is long as well, but it's either long chapters or an overkill of chapters and I think longer chapters sound better!
The plan was going into effect and Roy felt himself gaining troubles breathing. After Seve was exposed then his hopes were that the military would correct its wrongs and hopefully trap him and then the homunculus's plan would be shut down, whatever that plan was. Roy also hoped that once Seve was locked up that he would interrogate him and maybe learn what he plan had been. Mustang smirked to himself, not to mention he had gotten a call from Kitten, which meant that she was okay and obviously was missing him.
"Was that really Kitsumi-san?" Havoc asked as they walked down the hall. Riza was alongside them as they made their way quickly towards the large mess hall. They could already hear the loud chatter of all the officers lining up for the most popular meal.
"Why yes it was, she seemed worried about me, of course she couldn't stand being away from me for such a long period of time." Mustang stated and started laughing to himself. Riza and Havoc shook their heads sadly; he was always so full of himself when it came to the matters of women, mainly Kitten.
"Are you sure that's why she called? You didn't give her much of a chance to explain herself, sir." Riza stated, cutting through Roy's laughter. He stopped and looked over at her.
"Well, I'll find out later. She said she'd be calling back. Then I can explain things to her." Roy replied.
"I think you are expecting this to go over more smoothly than it really will." Havoc stated under his breath so no one would hear, even though no one was really in the hallway to listen to them. Roy waved his hand at Havoc.
"Either way I plan on getting a-hold of Kitten again today." He retorted. Havoc and Riza shrugged. They knew it wasn't wise to argue the point with him; he wasn't going to listen anyways. They should be focusing on the subject at hand at the moment, it was more important than Mustang's love life with Kitten.
"We have to hurry, I'm sure Seve is already in the kitchen." Riza whispered harshly as they neared the large mess hall doors. Havoc nodded furiously, to be honest he was already a little nervous that their plan might backfire they hadn't had a lot of time to think things through. In addition Havoc wasn't sure Roy really knew what he was doing when he was messing around with the stove, Roy didn't strike Havoc as a man who knew a lot about cooking or stoves. Roy had assured them that he knew what he was doing since he was experienced with fire and the sorts. Havoc was forced to believe him, plus he didn't want to be in charge of messing with the stove and Riza didn't seem to want to do it either. The group of three finally reached the doors and slipped inside the mess hall. There was already a line of people waiting for the food to be served. They were looking into the kitchen window. Many people had heard that Seve would be helping to cook that day. It was a big deal since normally superior officers weren't seen doing things like that, since the chefs were one of the lowest ranked, well they weren't even actually ranked in the military. People were snickering and whispering about the situation. Roy, Riza, and havoc tried to get in closer so they could get a good look and make sure that he was using the right stove. Havoc had listened in one night and assured them that he would be using that stove but they just wanted to make sure. Roy didn't want any innocent person to die at the expense of a homunculi. To everyone's relief only Seve was near the modified stove. The chef on the next stove explained briefly how to turn it on, since it wasn't on. A few people in the mess hall giggled at the scene. Roy held his breath along with Riza and Havoc.
"Well here I go!" He chuckled and reached out towards the knob. He turned it quickly and suddenly the stove exploded, fire shooting out in a stream and engulfing Seve in its deadly flames. Everyone screamed and began to panic. The chefs were rushing towards the extinguisher while someone out in the mess hall pulled the fire alarm. Seve wailed as the flames boiled his skin off his body in a gruesome way. One of the chefs turned away and vomited on the tile floor. The flames went out as the sprinkler system turned on, sending a rain down on everyone in the mess hall. Barely anyone had fled, they were all rooted in place in shock. The fire was out now but Seve was dead, a pile of ashes on the floor. Suddenly there was a crackling sound and the chefs gasped. The pile of ash morphed and bones began assembling as tendons and muscles leaked out of bones and wrapped around them. Soon after that skin followed and then the homunculus was left standing there wearing his normal all black outfit. He sighed loudly and cracked his newly formed neck.
"Well this will certainly cause some problems now won't it. Oh bother." Seve stated and smirked. His purple eyes flashed and his hair color had changed as well, now it was white and cut short, framing his face. He didn't seem that bothered by the current situation. A new type of panic broke out in the mess hall.
"What the fuck?" One of chefs shouted and pointed at him in shock.
"H-He came to life!" A girl out in the crowd gasped.
"He's immortal?"
"Did people know about this?"
"Have they been hiding things from us?"
"What kind of monster is Mr. Betrug!"
"Oh good lord! I think I'm going to be sick!" The frantic shouts began to erupt from the mess hall and kitchen. Roy couldn't help but smile to himself, he had been right and everything was going according to plan. Seve sighed again and walked out from the kitchen. Everyone quickly screamed and moved away from him, no one wanted to be near the monster. People were shivering and shaking and the sprinkler system was still raining down on them. Everyone ignored the alarm as it started going off around them. More people were now coming into the mess hall and looked at the monster in shock, they didn't understand what was going on.
"Oh come now people! You are making this troublesome. Isn't it wonderful the military has immortal members? I mean look how perfect I am!" Seve announced and flung his arms open and spun around on his feet. He laughed loudly and then stopped and his eyes narrowed. "I'm much than you humans." He stated in a dark voice. A few women in the crowd screamed. Suddenly there was a loud 'slam' as another set of doors was thrown open. Everyone turned and gasped as the Furhrer walked into the mess hall. Everyone soon went silent and watched as he walked slowly to the center of the room near Seve.
"Ah! There you are! I was wondering when you'd get here!" Seve complained and rubbed a hand through his hair. Bradley sighed and looked over at the homunculus standing in the middle of the mess hall.
"Envy, what are you doing? Exposing yourself to the humans like this?" Bradley stated, although he didn't look as angry as expected. A collective gasp erupted from the room.
"Ah, but it wasn't my fault I swear! The oven exploded." Envy stated, he liked being called by his true name instead of the stupid human name he had received. He hated being treated like a human.
"I see." Bradley stated and then turned towards the crowd. A few people flinched away. Roy, Havoc, and Riza narrowed their gazes, something was defiantly wrong with this situation. 'I thought the Fuhrer was in on this, I just had a bad feeling the whole time.' Riza thought to herself. She could tell something bad was about to happen. Bradley's sharp eyes scanned the crowd, a few people adverted their gaze, not wanting to look him directly in the eyes.
"What you going to tell them?" Envy asked, people turned to look at him. Bradley didn't turn to look at Envy, instead he kept looking out at the crowd.
"I didn't want to be pushed to this limit, but it seems that a careless error has exposed a valuable secret. Of course as you see our secret is the creation of homunculi, they would be the perfect soldier since they are nearly impossible to kill so I suggest that you all go along with my plans, there is no point of going against something so superior. Why rebel when you can join us and fight alongside the evolved form of humans?" Bradley stated with a confident speech, his eyes were hard and stern. A few people nodded in agreement, not wanting to start anything.
"That thing isn't a human at all and it isn't even close!" Someone shouted.
"Why would I want to follow a monster like that?" Another person added. More people started raising their voices in opposition while others tried to defend the homunculi. It was already starting to form into a rebellion, right in the middle of the mess hall.
"Throw that man out of office! Over run him!" Someone shouted loudly. "We shouldn't follow a man who creates monsters and disregards human life!" The same man added to his declaration. Bradley frowned deeply at this statement. He had hoped that people would fear Envy and go along calmly, but that didn't seem to be the case. 'I hate this ignorant and headstrong humans. It would be better just to whip them off the face of this country and create new and better humans from scratch. That would be a much more desirable world.' Bradley thought to himself as he frowned at the crowd, he could feel the anger growing inside of him. Regardless of how angry he got he knew that he couldn't reveal his secret or else the rebellion would escalate even faster than it already was.
"Well, well. This isn't too good." Envy sighed and shrugged. He approached the Fuhrer to further himself from the crowd whose anger was growing by the second. Bradley nodded stiffly. 'We will have to move ahead faster with our plans.' He thought bitterly.
"I expect you all to make the proper choices regarding this matter, for I am not stepping down." Bradley remarked and then turned to leave, he motioned for Envy to follow. Envy turned sharply and followed behind the Fuhrer as he left the mess hall. After he was gone the room erupted into mass chaos as everyone started shouting about what to do.
"The media needs to know about this!"
"Someone needs to let the people know!"
"What are they planning to do with those monsters?"
"Do they want to get rid of humans or something!"
"Oh God! Don't say that!"
"We should start a resistance against this!"
"Were all the wars recently so they could test these monsters? Has everything been a lie?" The questions were ringing around the room loudly as people began arguing with each other over what was the right thing to do.
"We should start a resistance!" Mustang shouted loudly over everyone else in a bellowing voice. People started to quiet when they heard a superior officer shout about a resistance. Riza and Havoc stood close to Roy. "There is obviously something going on and it is our duty to expose it, even if it means going against our superiors. They have been hiding the existence of such creatures and even employing them in the military alongside us. There must be something going on under the scenes that we aren't aware of." Roy explained to the crowd. A few people left quickly, not wanting to a be a part of the resistance against the strongest military power in the world; while others left the building to tell the press about what was going on. Soon things would be getting ugly once the papers were released and it spread by word of mouth. A battle would erupt within the military pitting them against themselves, some wanting everything revealed and others wanting to be a part of the homunculi and liking the idea of immortal soldiers.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kitten sighed and walked over towards the bar, but was quickly deterred by a large group of people who started dancing in front of her. Kitten attempted the get around them and different conversations started filling her ears, one caught her by surprise.
"So do you have any kids?"
"Well I did, but now I'm alone."
"Yeah they grow up pretty fast, but your kid was lucky to have such a skilled alchemic doctor as a parent!"
"I suppose, but I had to leave so early, and travel consumed my life."
"What was his name, your kid?"
"I had an adorable little girl actually, her name was Kitsumi but everyone called her Kitten!"
"That sounds so nice, I wish I saw my kids more."
"Yeah, I know. But ah, it's getting late I should head home."
"See you Mister."
Kitten blinked a few times and then shoved her way through the crowd. 'That had to be him! The doctor! That was his voice! I KNOW it! I can remember it a little and not to mention, who else has a kid named Kitsumi who is nick-named Kitten! Although I guess it's a tad creepy he calls me his child, but that's not the issue right now! Where is he! By the bar? I have to find him and make sure! Oh god!' Kitten's mind starting racing again and she completely forgot about Central, now her mind was filled with completing her goals. She finally pushed her way through the crowd and caught a glance of him from the side profile; he didn't see her.
"It's him." Kitten whispered under her breath and she couldn't inhale again.
Kitten felt her head swimming and she slowly opened her eyes. A blinding white light greeted her, forcing her to squeeze her eyes tightly shut. She blinked furiously trying to get used to the light.
"Ah! You are finally awake!" She heard a man's voice and turned her head to the side. A man was sitting in a chair at a desk not too far away from the medical table she was laying on.
"Am I complete? I'm alive?" Kitten questioned in a raspy voice. Once she spoke she realized that she really wanted to drink a glass of water.
"Yes. It is done." He answered with a warm smile. It reminded her of deceased father and Kitten looked away for a moment. The experiment was complete and she was still alive, she knew when she entered this experiment that there was only a 43% chance of survival.
"Could I have some water, please?" Kitten asked, turning to look at him again.
"Of course!" The doctor replied and fetched her a glass. He handed to her and she gripped it in an unsure manner. Her body felt slightly foreign to her. Everything seemed to move differently and her sight seemed different along with all her other senses.
"Thank you." Kitten breathed and started drinking.
Kitten pushed people out of her way as she tried to hurry through the club. The doctor was nearing the side exit. She was nearly there, he was only a few feet away. Kitten reached out and tried to grab his sleeve right as he was exiting out the heavy black door, but before her fingers could touch the grey fabric of his shirt someone grabbed her wrist and tugged her back. 'SHIT! THAT WAS HIM! WHO GRABBED ME? I'LL KILL THE FUCKER!' Kitten roared in her mind. She tore her wrist from the person's grasp and spun on her heels. Her mouth opened and her eyes widened and suddenly her anger turned to fear. Standing in front of her was Greed, and he was reaching for her again. 'How'd he even get in here? He is like a monster! Oh, I don't want to know.' Kitten thought and then kicked him straight in the gut before he could grab her again. He went flying into the main group of people, knocking a few guys over. People shouted at him in anger and a few panicked slightly at being bumped. Kitten turned and bolted from the club using the same side door the doctor used. The air outside was cooler than the sticky air in the club, it felt refreshing on her face but Kitten didn't have time to appreciate the feeling. Kitten looked up the alleyway and saw the doctor walking; he was nearing the end and was about to take a turn. Kitten ran forward a few steps.
"WAI—" She started to but then it felt like a truck ran her over from behind and she went face first into the cement. She felt her face get cut as she slammed into the ground and she swore under her breath.
"I will make you mine." The voice seethed into her ear and she felt her body shiver.
"Not like this you won't!" Kitten growled into the cement and pushed against him, trying to force herself to her feet.
"SHIT!" Ed swore. In the front of the club the other homunculus came.
"We need to take them down! Something must have happened to Kitten!" Al shouted and punched Wrath in the face, sending him flipping backwards and slamming into the pavement. While Wrath was pushing himself up Ed clapped his hands together and slammed them into the pavement, sending a large spike shooting out of the ground. It speared through Wrath. He wailed in pain and squirmed; but it did nothing except spear him further. He roared in anger.
"YOU CAN'T STOP US!" Wrath screamed as blood bubbled out of his mouth and splashed onto the sidewalk mixing with the blood of the bouncers. The shouts of the two men altered the Elric brother's of the situation; they had been asking people about the doctor a block or two down.
"SHUT UP!" Ed shouted back at the squirming homunculus.
"Leave him brother! We need to find Kitten!" Al said and then they heard the sounds of struggle coming from the side alley over the music.
"There!" Ed half-shouted and started running towards the alley with Al jogging after him. They turned to corner and saw Kitten drop kick Greed square in the face, sending him flying into a dumpster. The crash echoed through the alley.
"Kitten!" Al shouted. She turned and gave a half smile to the brothers.
"Could you take care of Greed? I need to follow someone!" Kitten said and before waiting for a reply she took off down the alleyway in the other direction.
"Wait! Kitten! What happened?" Ed shouted after her but no reply came. Greed growled and jumped from the ruins of the dumpster he began to take off after Kitten but Al quickly drew a circle and a hand morphed out of the cement and wrapped around him, stopping him in his tracks. He made animalistic hisses and tried to escape the concrete.
"We won't let you take Kitten!" Al stated and stood back up. Greed struggled even harder against the bindings and cracks began to form. Ed readied himself, transmuting his auto mail arm into a blade.
Kitten ran all the way down the alley and took the same turn she saw the doctor making. She hoped that she didn't loose him after Greed distracted her from her goals. She sped around the corner, nearly running into a garbage can, and spied him taking a turn onto the main street. She knew that she'd never find him in such a huge crowd of people. 'I CAN'T LOOSE HIM NOW!' Her mind screamed and Kitten took off down the alley, using all of her powers to propel her forward with inhuman speed.
"WAIT!" Kitten screamed towards him. He didn't turn around. "DOCTOR!" She added and picked up the pace, he had stopped and she was catching up. Kitten skidded to a stop just as he turned around to look at her in confusion. Kitten took a deep breath and looked up at him.
"Can I help you miss?" He asked, looking her over. She didn't look sick in any way.
"W-Were you the one in the club saying you had a daughter named Kitten?" Kitten asked, searching his eyes for any sort of clue that this was the man she had been looking for.
"Yes?" He replied, still confused as to where this conversation was leading him.
"My name is Kitsumi Nakahara, Kitten." She stated and stared at him seriously. She wanted to make sure he knew that she wasn't joking about this fact. He blinked at her a few times and then his eyes widened and then he threw his arms wide open.
"MY CHILD!" He screamed and wrapped his arms around her, pulling Kitten in for a massive bear hug. She wasn't expecting to get a reaction quite like that, but then again she had been slightly surprised when she heard him call her his daughter. She stayed completely still in his embrace as he squeezed her tighter. He released her and Kitten tripped back a few steps, she knew that if she was human that she would have bruised, without a doubt.
"So, it really is you?" Kitten said, she was still so shocked that she found him in such a place. She was starting to get discouraged.
"Yes Kitten dear! Come with me! Let's sit and reminisce about the past! It has been such a long time! Oh you should have talked to your father more often! Papa got lonely after you started going on so many missions!" He ranted and put a hand on her back and began to push her out onto the sidewalk, across the street, and into a small park full of benches. He picked out one by the fountain and steered her towards it. He sat down and patted the metal bars, which created a seat next to him. Kitten sat down heavily and stared over at him. She was still in slight disbelief that she had found him so easily. He turned to look at her too and Kitten leaned back a bit and opened her eyes wider.
"So tell me ALL about yourself! What have you been doing?" he asked with a huge smile on his face.
"Still in the military working for—" She started to answer but he quickly cut her off with another question.
"Have you made many new friends?"
"Well, uh, yeah! Lots of alchem—"
"Is the military the same as it was back when I was there."
"I'm not sure, some things changed like—" once again she was cut off by another question. It seemed like this was going to be a trend. Kitten was right. He continued to fire questions at her but never let her finish a single one, she couldn't even finish replying to what her favorite food or color was; he only let her say the color and then when she started the food he cut her off. Kitten wasn't expecting so many questions. 'Wasn't I the one who was supposed to be asking him all the questions? I mean I have been searching for him for a while! This feels a little funny, with the situations reversed.' Kitten thought as she continued to try to answer his volley of questions that were shooting towards her. Finally he stopped and took a deep breath. Kitten nearly sighed in relief.
"Well I have a question for you doctor." Kitten stated. He turned and smiled at her.
"Yes?"
"How did you escape from the military?" Kitten questioned. She had always wondered, it seemed like every other doctor had died or been silenced some other way. He turned away and looked over at the crowds of people walking down the sidewalk. The streetlights had turned on and washed everyone in a pale yellow glow.
"You really think that the man who found the secret to immortality wouldn't use it on himself?" He stated and then smiled back over at Kitten.
"That explains why you still look the way you did back then." Kitten pondered. "Wait, does that mean that I'll stop aging as well?" She added. The doctor nodded slowly.
"Your cells are programmed through my alchemy to stop aging when you turn 20, so don't expect to get any older." He chuckled. Kitten chuckled lightly and then looked over at the people as well. They sat in silence watching the people as they passed. Kitten could feel the emptiness well up inside of herself as she scanned them with her eyes.
"You can't stand it can you?" He asked after a short while. Kitten sighed to herself and didn't turn to look at him.
"I guess I don't have the desire to live forever, funny isn't it? I mean, isn't it something that people always search for? A way to extend their own lifetime while I've been pondering a way to end mine?" Kitten marveled at her own thoughts. The doctor shook his head.
"It's normal, for someone like yourself. The way you spent your life, how many times you "died", it would drive anyone to want to end the cycle." The doctor replied. "Those people don't know the terror of always living and watching other's die, ah but I'm sure you know how to save people." The doctor stated and looked over at her.
"I know. I've used it before. But for me it has limits, not to mention I can't save the already dead." Kitten stated, still watching the people. A group of children caught her interest.
"Ah, It's amazing what the bodies cells can do when slightly altered with alchemy. Heal injuries, absorb injuries by absorbing and replacing damaged cells, stop the aging process, stop the feeling of pain, give someone a high that lasts forever, and the list goes on." The doctor breathed. It had been his life work to examine and figure out all the secrets of the human body and how to maximize it's potential.
"Don't start explaining, all of that is way over my head." Kitten laughed and waved her hand. The doctor leaned back against the wooden bench and chuckled.
"Well I don't want to give you a headache, but I do have one more question that I've always wanted to ask you." The doctor asked.
"What would that be?" Kitten said and finally turned to look over at the doctor who had made her into who she was today.
"Why did you insist on feeling pain? When you were first finished you had no feeling of pain." The doctor asked.
"I wanted to at least feel a little human, pain allows me to connect to other people." Kitten replied and then something flashed through her head. "Ah! That reminds me! Edward and Alphonse! They are waiting for me to come back, I hope they are all right!" Kitten gasped and jumped quickly to her feet. The doctor stood up confused and looked over at her.
"Who?" He questioned.
"They are my friends, Ed is a state alchemist and they have been traveling with me! There's a homunculus after me, well actually there are a few after me, and we are trying to foil their plans for a second time! Follow me!" Kitten explained briefly and then took off running back towards the alley. The doctor jogged after her. 'Well it sure sounds like her life is exciting and full of adventure. But hearing these things about homunculi bother me quite greatly, what could they be after now? Are they still trying to do what they were plotting back when I was in the military? If they are they must be close to achieving their goals. Kitten would have to get wrapped up in this, but that is to be expected. They need the secrets inside of her to finish their goals, which means when they realize I'm still around they will be after me too. But I can't let my little Kitten fight alone when I know what's going on! I'm going to have to help her regardless!' The doctor thought as he jogged after her. They quickly came back into the alley and skidded to a stop.
"KITTEN!" Ed shouted from where he was locked in combat with Greed. Greed snarled and jumped back. Suddenly a loud and high frequency whistle sounded. The homunculus writhed in pain and then scampered off, leaving only the four of them in the alley. Kitten rubbed her ears in pain. The doctor was looking up at the edge of the building, he saw the man disappear quickly from the rooftops edge. 'Was that who I think it was? He's behind this. If there were homunculi involved I should have known, but I thought he was locked up for life because of his research?' The doctor thought. He kept his mouth shut though, there was no need to tell them yet, he might not pose a threat.
"What was that noise?" She questioned. No one answered; instead Ed and Al ran over to her.
"Kitten! Are you okay?" Ed asked. He was holding tightly onto his flesh arm, which was bleeding heavily, there were also a few cuts on his face.
"Ed! I'm fine, but look at you! You need to get those wounds treated right away!" Kitten stammered and looked him over. Ed looked the other way.
"I-I'm fine!" He insisted.
"I'll take care of that." The doctor grinned and walked over, he clapped his hands together the same way Ed did and then held them out, placing his palms against Ed's chest. There was a turquoise light and then Ed could feel the skin repairing itself. He blinked in shock a few times and then the doctor was done. "There all better!" He chuckled and removed his hands.
"Whoa!" Kitten and Al chorused at the same time and looked at Ed in surprise, it didn't even look like he had been in a battle at all, except for his torn clothes.
"W-Who are you?" Ed stuttered and pointed at him.
"Brother! Pointing is rude!" Al whispered harshly at his brother.
"Ah! I forgot to introduce myself to you two! You are Kitten's friends correct?" The doctor asked. Ed and Al both nodded quickly in agreement. "Well then, My name is Dr. Dieter Zauberei, also called the Forever Young Alchemist! Oh, and of course you can know me as Kitten's father dearest!" The doctor, Dieter exclaimed.
"W-W-W-W-WHAT? Kitten's FATHER?" Ed nearly shouted.
"O-Oh! I didn't know!" Al squeaked.
"Wait! He's NOT my father! Well, not really! He's just the doctor who "created" me! The one I was looking for! Ed! Stop pointing at him like that!" Kitten ranted all in once sentence and huffed at the end.
"Oh you don't have to be like that Kitten!" Dieter whined and reached over to ruffle her hair playfully. Kitten sighed to herself. Ed made a noise of shock again and blinked rapidly. "Why don't you introduce your friends to me Kitten?" Dieter added with a wide grin.
"I almost forgot! The one pointing in shock is Edward Elric, the Full Metal Alchemist and the suit of armor is Alphonse Elric, Ed's younger brother." Kitten introduced them.
"Hello Dr. Zauberei." Al said and bowed slightly.
"H-Hey." Ed muttered, still slightly shocked by the whole encounter.
"So you used to work for the military right Dr. Zauberei?" Al asked, there was a twinkle in his red eyes. Dieter chuckled to himself.
"Yes, I was. It was quite the job, as I'm sure you are well aware." The doctor responded.
"Well we shouldn't stand around in the alley, let's take Dieter-san back to the hotel." Kitten stated and started walking.
"Oh my daughter, you are always such a go-getter! Always thinking of what's best for us! A hotel would be lovely!" Dieter chuckled and pranced beside her. The two brothers followed unsurely. 'For a nationally ranked military alchemist he seems rather, laid back? I mean this is the guy that found the secret to immortality, created Kitten, and also help create the whole line of assassins that Kitten used to be a part of! He doesn't seem serious at all, or old for that matter! This was not how I pictured him at all!' Ed thought as he walked behind Kitten and Dieter as they chatted about mindless things. Kitten checked them all into the hotel and they hurried to the room where Hans and Winry were waiting in worry. When the door opened Hans quickly bounded over to it and hugged Kitten tightly when she entered the room.
"Whoa!" Kitten exclaimed, slightly shocked by Hans's show of affection.
"Man! I was so worried about you!" He squeaked into her stomach. Kitten chuckled and ruffled Hans's hair lightly.
"Don't worry so much Hans, and on another note, I found the doctor." She stated. Hans jumped back and blinked in shock.
"R-Really!" He stammered. Kitten nodded and walked into the room allowing Dieter, Ed, and Al to enter behind her. Hans stared in awe up at Dieter when he entered the hotel room.
Soon introductions were over and it was decided to discuss a plan of action in the morning since everyone was exhausted. Winry and Kitten slept in one room while Hans and Dieter slept in another. Ed slept on the couch and Al sat beside the couch.
Hans sat up in his bed and looked around. It was around 2 am according to the alarm clock on the bedside table. He could feel his stomach flipping in nervousness as he looked around the room. The doctor that Kitten had been looking for was sound asleep in the bed not too far away from Hans. Hans reached under his pillow and carefully pulled out a letter, which he gripped tightly in his small hands. He didn't want to risk waking anyone out so he didn't make any noises as he slipped out of the bed. He was still wearing his street clothes as he tip toed away from the comfort of the twin hotel bed. Hans quietly inched the door to the main room open and peeked out through a small crack. Edward was snoring lightly from where he was laying on the couch. Al was sitting on the other side, facing away from Hans, it didn't seem like he was moving at all. Hans then pulled another note from his pocket and looked down at it, sadness filled his features but he quickly shook it off. Hans tossed the note on his bed and then retreated back into the bedroom. He didn't know if Al was actually sleeping so Hans thought it was safer to sneak out his bedroom window. He carefully worked the lock so it was silent as it unlocked the window, then he carefully pushed it up, inch by inch. Finally Hans had silently opened the window enough so he could slip out into the night air. He stole one last glance back at the doctor to make sure he was still asleep before slipping out the window into the silent and breezy night, a small bag gripped tightly in his hands.
Hans sat in the hotel room on the couch; Winry was in the chair next to him. They sat in awkward silence, neither one wanting to start a conversation. Winry was worried about the brothers, and she also couldn't help but be slightly jealous of Kitten. Hans on the other hand was preoccupied with thoughts on the philosopher's stone and what he would have to go through to create it, he was also worried about Kitten and the people that were after her. Hans told himself that he would have to make sure to help her after he created the stone and finished what he set out to do. Hans was getting a little fidgety just sitting still and quiet in the hotel room. He pushed himself to his feet and Winry turned to look at him.
"What's up?" She questioned in a rather soft voice.
"Oh, I'm a little tired of sitting. I'm going to walk out and buy some water and snacks from a street vendor near the hotel. Do you want anything Miss?" Hans lied and looked over at the blonde girl. The girl blinked a few times and then looked away, it seemed like she was thinking.
"I think I'm fine, I'll just stay here." She uttered, not looking back at him. Hans nodded and then left the hotel room; it felt good to be out in the hallway. He could hear some chatter from other rooms; it was better than that awkward silence. Someone came around the corner in front of him and stopped in the middle of the hall, it was an older man in his late 30's or early 40's, Hans couldn't quite tell.
"Excuse me." Hans said as he went to brush past the man to continue down the hall.
"The Philosopher's stone." The man stated in a firm voice. Hans stopped abruptly, rooted to the spot. He turned slowly, looking at the man's back.
"W-What did you say?" Hans stammered in shock, he could feel his heart skip a beat at the mention of what he wanted to create.
"I know all about it, and much more. I know who you are and I can help you more than those people." The man in the hall stated and turned around to face Hans. Hans stared up at the man, still shocked, he didn't know what to say or do. The man realized Hans wasn't going to say anything so he continued. "If you join us, we can help you get what you want, you know that they won't accept the truth of the stone, it would be better for you to come with us." The man added. Hans kept staring at him in disbelief and shock.
"W-Who are you?" Hans finally asked after his silence.
"The Damned." The man replied and couldn't help but smile a little. Hans gaped in shock about what he heard. He remembered that name from before, he was the guy that trapped Greed in that circle, he was the alchemist.
"You work with the homunculus!" Hans exclaimed and took a few steps back away from the man.
"Correct, but that isn't a bad thing. They will help you get what you want, as long as you help them in return, not a bad deal is it? We will set up the whole circle for you, and then you can make your wish come true." The Damned explained gently, he couldn't let this fail. He was instructed to persuade this kid to join them. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. Hans twitched slightly but didn't back up anymore, he was eying the letter and running the man's words through his head.
"What's in that?" Hans questioned, still looking at the plain white envelope.
"Why, this is a letter for you. Read it, and then make your choice, and I hope that it is the right one, for your and your wish's sake." The Damned said and held out the envelope to the boy in front of him. Hans reached out, then paused, then continued his reach and grabbed the envelope. It had his name scrawled on the front in messy handwriting. Hans looked at the envelope for a while and then looked up but The Damned was already gone. Hans spun around, looking up and down the hallway, but he was nowhere to be found. Hans sighed and looked back down at the paper, he wondered what was inside. Hans looked up the hallway in the direction of the hotel room, he wondered if it was a good idea to read the letter in there with Winry present, he decided to go sit outside on a bench and pour over it's contents away from her possible prying eyes. Hans hurried down the rest of the hallway with the letter clutched in his hands. 'Maybe now I'll be able to move ahead sooner than planned! I wonder if everyone would get mad at me? But I have to read this letter first, I shouldn't be planning to just join them! I mean, I'd be going against Kitten and her friends! But my wish, it is more important.' Hans thought as he exited the hotel and sat on a bench that was against the side of the building.
The letter had only told him where to meet the alchemist again, and then he could leave with him to their residence, where he would learn everything he needed to know about the stone, homunculi, and how to bring people back to life. Hans landed on the grass under his window and breathed in the fresh night air. Hans took off running down the sidewalk, as fast as he could. 'I need to get away from the hotel just in case someone wakes up! I can't have them stopping me! I like them all but I can't let them hold me back.' Hans kept running, he slowed to a jog as the hotel was lost from view, then finally to a walking pace. He opened the letter again to check the meeting place that was written on the paper. A park in front of the train station, Hans hurried to the location, it was almost the time written on the paper as well. 2:45 pm. Finally the park came into view, it was empty except for one man sitting in a metal bench with his back to Hans. 'It's him! That must be The Damned! I wonder if he will explain everything to me now!' Hans thought excitedly. He jogged to the bench. As Hans approached The Damned stood and turned around, a smile was on his face.
"I see you decided to come, Hans." The Damned stated gently, still wearing his smile. Everything was going according to plan, he didn't tell anyone and no one had followed him either.
"Of course, my wish is the most important." Hans replied.
"That's what I want to hear." The Damned grinned. "You can't complete a wish if you aren't willing to dedicate everything to it and make it your top priority." He added. Hans nodded in agreement.
"So, how are you going to help me to achieve my dreams?" Hans asked as he moved closer to the elder alchemist.
"We have already secured a location with enough sacrifices for the stone. That is where we are living for the moments, making sure that the conditions are right to create the stone. Also we will make the circle for you, as well as educate you in the needed knowledge to make the transmutation work perfectly. It may take a few days to finish all of this, but in the end you will get your stone." The Damned explained, still leaving out some details, he had to make sure Hans was going to join them. Hans listened carefully, his eyes shined as he took in the information.
"How do I bring people back to life? Will I have to make homunculi?" Hans asked another question.
"Yes. I can help you create those and the stone you create will give them new life. That is what you must do." The Damned answered again, his smile grew. He was certain that Hans would be on their side, he couldn't pass up this chance.
"He will come back?" Hans uttered.
"If you work hard enough." The Damned urged him. Hans looked into The Damned's eyes, trying to find a hint of lie, but couldn't detect anything. Hans then looked over his shoulder, where his old group was sound asleep not even knowing what was happening. Hans took in a long and deep breath before turning back around to face the alchemist in front of him.
"I'll join you. I have to join you." Hans declared, his gaze was serious and he looked hardened with his resolve. The Damned smiled and then pointed to the train that had just came into the station behind him.
"They let us catch our ride, my friend." The Damned said and turned to walk up the marble steps of the station. Hans tripped after him, he could feel his heart beat rise in his chest as he followed the man onto the train. The Damned picked their seats and sat down heavily, he was relieved now that his job was complete. Hans sat down gingerly across from him and quickly stared out the window even though he couldn't see much of anything in the darkness outside. 'I can't believe it. I left them, I betrayed them, I abandoned them, and all of this is for my own desires. I don't even care if it's wrong; this is what I swore I'd do! I'll make it so that horrible day never occurred! I will sink to the lowest levels to make this work, I already told myself that I was willing to do anything and I won't change that now! Still, I can't help but be a little scared, I'm going to the place where all those homunculi are living. They seem so dangerous, but if they are on my side then that means that they will be protecting me! Protecting me from who though? Kitten? Edward? Alphonse? That new doctor, Dieter? Would they really come and attack me? Would they try to kill me for what I want to do? Would that stop me from achieving my wish? NO! I won't let anyone stop me! That's why I'm joining with The Damned and the homunculi! I will make everything work in the end!' Hans thought, his heart rate was still higher than normal as he thought of everything that could happen. His worry soon faded and all he could think of was the end result and how marvelous it would be. He smiled to himself as he looked out the window at the darkness. The Damned watched him silently. 'Such a small child with such determination, he will surely fall into madness over the course of a few days.' The Damned thought. The train lurked before pulling out of the station, taking Hans to his new home and ever closer to gaining back what he had lost.
Chapter 10 is DONE! More shall be posted soon! Sorry about the giant gap between Chap 9 and 10. I was doing so well for a while! T_T Then summer hit, I got a JOB (2 actually) And a booth at a convention and all my free time was like 'BYE JAS! I HATE YOU! HAVE FUN DYING AT A DESK ALL SUMMER! BWA HAHAHAHA' and that's pretty much what happened. Well…ENJOY! And Have a nice summer!