Almost didn't think I would get this out this weekend but I did it! Even though I've been out for Spring Break I keep getting distracted and not writing. This week my high school band went to competition...and we did bad. :( I'm kinda bummed about it. Reviews for this chapter will make me feel better though. :)

Thanks goes to Roku for editing this!

Chapter 10

(-Kayla-)

We walked through the morning crowds of Central, leaving a quaint café where we had eaten a late breakfast. I didn't feel safe at all, despite the reassuring presences of the brothers. You'd think I'd feel different but no, it made me nervous. As if someone in the crowds would pop out at any minute and point their finger at me and broadcast that I was a chimera, that I didn't belong here or with Al and Ed.

I shook my head. That was just silly. Thoughts like that were only going to worry and distract me. I had to stay focused on the task at hand.

Even while thinking that new thoughts flooded my mind, thoughts of the conversation I had with Al this morning. It astounded me at how much him and his brother had been through in their short lives. Their lives had been normal until their mother had passed away. While she lived, Ed and Al were happy. I compared their childhood with mine and wondered how my life would have been if one of my parents kept me and raised me lovingly. Would I have been happier, even if it were for a few short years? Or was it better that I had never tied myself down to someone only to lose them? I wondered how different the brothers would have been if they had begun with no mother as I had. They wouldn't have been weighed down by the loss of their mother. Then again, they never would have experienced that kind of love and acceptance either. They never would have been apart of a true family.

I nodded to myself and decided that, yes, it would be better to have someone in my life that close to me, even if I lost them all too soon. As I looked at the brothers in front of me I was certain that they would agree. They wouldn't have traded those years with their mother for anything, just as I would hate to never know Serah. I had someone I cared for deeply. My friend. My sister. Serah. That's why I had to find her. I originally thought that all I had was the bond I shared with her and that's all I would ever have. But in having Serah in my life I had gained so much more than her friendship. She gave me a new perspective, one that I hadn't realized I had until yesterday. I knew that Serah was a good person but I had believed her to be the only one. My search for her had brought me to the Elrics, two people who were just as good as Serah. I wouldn't have seen this had I not met Serah in that horrible hell.

Doubt stubbornly lingered within my heart. I wouldn't go so far as to say I trusted Al and Ed with my life. I'm not even sure what we were to each other. Friends? The word sounded foreign to me. I had only ever applied that to Serah, never knowing a real friendship before her. But maybe in time, if I could overcome my fear of trusting people, I could see them that way. I wanted to, desperately so. I wanted to know that there were other people I could trust. It would take me awhile, but maybe soon, it could happen. With them walking by me, I felt the start of a new beginning. Hopefully, one for the better.

"Are you okay, Kayla?" Al brought me out of my thoughts.

I smiled at him, the action coming uneasily to my lips, "I'm just nervous is all. I'm not used to be around so many people and acting so…normal. I'm just out of my comfort zone is all."

Al laughed softly, "I understand. Brother's like that with people all the time."

"What are you saying about me?" Ed asked angrily over his shoulder.

"Just that you're antisocial."

"I'm not antisocial."

Al gave him a pointed look.

Ed ruffled at his stare, "Well I'm not! Just because I'm wary of people doesn't mean I'm antisocial."

"I think you're just paranoid. You're going to have to learn one day that not everyone is out to get you."

"It's not paranoia. I'm just careful is all."

I blinked at them, having a déjà vu moment. Ed and Al's conversation sounded exactly like the conversations I had with myself in my mind all the time. I always told myself that I wasn't paranoid, just cautious, but sometimes I'd question myself.

I smiled and this time, it was genuine. It broadened into a grin when they began bickering about miscellaneous things. The more time I spent with Al and Ed the more I-

A smell drifted past me and my nostrils flared in response. Forgetting my surroundings, I tuned my sense of smell onto the familiar scent. I had smelled it before, but where…?

"Kayla?" Ed's voice came to me.

My eyes wandered in a daze to see him and Al were looking at me strangely. I had stopped walking without even realizing it and now they were curious as to what had caught my attention.

"I smell something." I told them as I sniffed the air, trying to catch the scent again.

"Smell? I don't smell anything." Ed said, confused.

"But Kayla's senses are more heightened than yours." Al informed him.

"Oh yeah." he slapped his head at his forgetfulness. "So what do you smell, Kayla?"

"I don't know…it smells familiar…but…" I murmured. When I caught a whiff of the scent again I followed it. My mind barely registered the brothers trailing after me. I was so focused on this one scent. As I wandered down a street, the smell became stronger and so did my memory.

"Serah!" I gasped as I placed the scent. It had taken me longer to recognize because of how long it had been since I'd seen her last. Now that I was closer I could definitely tell that the smell belonged to her.

I picked up my pace and ran down the street, not caring about the people I bumped into in my haste to find her. I turned a corner into an alley at top speed, the scent becoming increasingly clearer. It was her! She was here! I had finally found her!

I turned another corner and came to a stop as a dead end met me. My eyes darted around frantically. My nose told me that she was here and yet my eyes told me otherwise. How could that be?

The brothers caught up to me, Ed panting as he said, "What's the rush?"

"Serah." I answered quietly.

They walked ahead of me and looked around at the walls and overflowing trash bins.

"No one's here." Al stated.

"But I smelled her."

"Maybe you smelled wrong." Ed suggested.

I shook my head, "No, it's definitely her. I can still smell her." I let my nose lead me to where the smell was strongest. I crouched down by the corner and upon closer inspection I could see dark splotches on the concrete. Surprising Ed and Al, I leaned down and sniffed. I caught a different scent mixed in with hers and couldn't place it. Then I caught a strong coppery smell that made me flinch back.

"What?" the boys asked simultaneously.

"It's blood." I told them. "Serah's blood. It's a couple days old I think, but it's definitely hers."

"Can you track it?" Ed asked.

"Possibly." I answered truthfully. I followed the smell to the neighboring building, an old apartment building with boarded windows. One of the windows had broken boards and dried blood on the sill. Without a word, I jumped inside. I heard Ed come inside as well and Al's clunky footsteps after. It actually surprised me that Al had fit through the window with his bulk armor.

I led them to the other side of the building where another window had been broken. I hopped through it and into another alley. Serah had come through here, along with that other strange scent. I paced down the alley and it opened up to a street. I continued to follow it for a long time. Many minutes passed as I searched. Al and Ed remained silent, allowing me to work in peace.

Eventually, I made it to the end of the trail. We arrived at a bench on a random street. Serah's scent clung to the wood of the bench. I stood there, staring at it.

"This is where it ends. She must have rested here for awhile. But after that, I can't tell which direction she went in. It's like the smell just…stops. " I told them in a sorrowful voice. Finding Serah's scent had brought me a spark of hope and determination. But now that the trail had ended I was lost once again.

Al's large hand rested on my shoulder. I looked up into the glowing orbs in his helmet as he said, "We'll find her."

"But I'm back to square one."

"I wouldn't say that. You've found proof that she was here. You're closer to finding her. She could be nearby."

I hesitated, not wanting to renew the hope so easily. I finally gave in and nodded at his words.

"I wonder why she was bleeding." Ed commented.

"I'm not sure. It could be from when she encountered Scar." I had battled Scar so I knew just how dangerous he could be. Serah was a better fighter than me but if he could have gotten the upper hand somehow he could have seriously wounded her. I only had his word that she had escaped to go on. That and the reassurance that we had not found her body. I shivered at the thought.

"There's something else too." I told them as I sniffed the air again. "Someone else was here."

"Was it Scar?" Ed asked.

"No." I answered definitely. "I fought him and I would remember his scent. This isn't him. I noticed it where we first found Serah's blood too."

"Maybe someone else was with her." Al guessed.

I shook my head. "This smell is fresh. It's as if someone else found her trail too and followed it like we did. The scent isn't familiar but there's something to it. Something that's not…"

"Not what?"

"…human."

(-Serah-)

Serah lingered in the library for hours doing her least favorite activity: reading. She loathed it, but until she could find an easier more exciting method she was stuck with books.

After uncovering the information about chimeras and needing what was called the Philosopher's Stone to reverse the conversion, Serah had searched through more books about chimeras. A few of them suggested the same thing but most of them claimed that the stone wasn't even real. That made Serah frown. Stubborn as always, Serah sought more information. She found references in one book about the Sewing-Life Alchemist. Apparently, he had been the closest to creating the perfect chimera. Years ago he had made one that talked but died shortly after. Despite this, maybe he had found some way to reverse the transmutation.

Taking the lead, Serah snooped through more record's rooms. She finally found one that held the relevant information. She found a long list of past State Alchemists and skimmed through until she uncovered the Sewing-Life Alchemist. As she read through it, she identified Shou Tucker as the alchemist and learned of his research and experiments. Her hands tightened on the papers as she learned that he had not only transmuted his wife into a chimera but had also turned his daughter into one as well. His own daughter! What kind of bastard does that to his own family? Serah felt some sick satisfaction when she read that he had been executed for his crimes.

"Serves him right." Serah hissed at the papers. The whole thing made her nauseous but she continued reading through it. She didn't see a single thing about reversing the creation of a chimera or anything on the Philosopher's Stone. She did, however, find a couple of familiar names. The names themselves stirred her memories but the fact that they were brothers had her remembering the files she had found on the fifth laboratory. The Elric brothers had lived with Tucker for some time and had later discovered his horrible deeds the night he transmuted his daughter and dog together. For the girl's sake, she hoped the Elrics had beat the hell out of him when they found him. It's what she would have done.

Finding nothing else on the matter, she returned the documents to their drawers and left the room. Next, she went back to the rows of books. She hunted for one subject specifically: the Philosopher's Stone. It was her only lead so far on reversing the chimera process. It could be the first step to her becoming human, something she yearned for so desperately that she had even forgotten her original purpose for coming to the library.

She found a book titled "The Sage's Stone". It sounded similar to what she was looking for so she plucked it off the shelf and flipped through the pages. She read the first paragraph as it listed other names for the Sage's Stone, one of them being the Philosopher's Stone. She smiled at having her hunch proved right.

She would have read more but the sound of footsteps coming her way alerted her. She didn't know who or why they were coming this way. All Serah knew was that she wasn't supposed to be here and if she was caught she would have a hell of a time getting out of it.

"Damn it." she whispered to herself. Deciding to skip that hassle, Serah shoved the book back on the shelf and snuck away from the approaching person. She took a roundabout route to the window she had used to gain entry and left the premises.

As she jogged away from the library, she promised herself that she would return to find out more.

(-Kayla-)

"What do you mean 'not human'?" Ed asked with wide eyes.

I shrugged, "Just that it's not human. Human's don't all smell the same of course but they all have a similar…flavor of scent. They all have the same trace in their smells but this smell doesn't have that."

"Then what does it smell like?"

I pondered, "Well, I'm not really sure how to explain it. It's just something…other."

Ed crossed his arms in thought. After a minute, he looked to his brother who nodded slightly. The silent conversation confused me but before I could ask Ed distracted me.

"Can you follow this other scent?"

I frowned, not liking his avoidance, "I can try." I turned my attention to this new smell and let my nose lead me once again. We didn't get very far before the scent faded to a well traveled area. I halted my progress and scanned my surroundings.

"I can't really smell it anymore." I told them. "Too many people have come through here and covered it up."

"We might as well keep going in the same direction." Ed suggested, already moving ahead.

As we walked, I fought to stay clam in the sea of pedestrians. I felt overwhelmed by so many around me. It had my stomach twisting nervously. I inched closer to Al, trying to use him to hide as much of myself as possibly. A couple of people who came close had me jump and reach unconsciously for Al. I stopped myself the first few times. But when I felt the beginning of a switch coming on, my hand latched onto his arm.

Al noticed and looked down at me, "Kayla?"

I struggled to keep my breathing normal. I couldn't lose control. Not here. If I switched in the middle of a crowd like this there's no telling what that side of me would do.

Thankfully, Al caught on to my dilemma and suggested to Ed that we take a break in a nearby diner. Ed asked why and Al simply dragged him into the building. I trailed behind them and as soon as they picked out a booth I excused myself to the restroom. I didn't wait for an answer as I nearly ran in my haste to seclude myself. I entered the restroom and sighed when I found it empty. I went to a sink and washed my face off, being careful to keep my hood up in case someone walked inside

I stared into the eyes of my reflection. That had been way too close for comfort. Usually, I avoided the busy streets and used deserted alleys to travel through the city. I had spent too long this morning around so many people and the sudden onslaught of crowds had almost sent me over the edge. I was a skittish person by nature and having cat instincts only increased this. Big cities had never been nor would ever be my sort of place. I preferred open areas where I didn't feel so suffocated. I had never been overly claustrophobic but spending the last four months of my life in a small cage had changed me.

As I rinsed my face off again, I wondered if I could ever overcome these fears.

(-Al-)

"Mind explaining what that was all about?" Ed asked Al.

"What what was all about?"

Ed nodded in the direction Kayla had run off to, "What's up with her? And why'd you want to take a break all of a sudden?"

Al fidgeted under his brother's gaze. He distracted himself by tearing a napkin up delicately, "Kayla's a bit overwhelmed by all of this. She's been through a lot. I don't think she trusts people very easily, not after the fifth laboratory. And being around so many people in the crowds was getting to her." Al recalled how she had stopped him, grabbed his arm, and looked up to him with pleading eyes. The fear in her was obvious and Al thought the best thing for her would be to go somewhere less crowded.

Ed nodded but said, "I understand, but she's going to have to get used to it somehow, now that she's free."

"She just needs time." Al defended her. "I don't even think she trusts us fully."

Ed nodded again. Then a small smirk lifted his lips, "But you'll be there for her, won't you Al?"

He tilted his head to the side, "What do you mean, Brother? Of course I will. We both will."

Ed shook his head, "Yes, but differently."

Still confused, Al asked, "What are you saying?"

"You've got to admit Al, she's the perfect girl for you. What with your obsession with cats and all."

Understanding dawned on him and Al would have blushed if he had his body, "Brother!"

Ed laughed, "It's okay, Al. I was only teasing you. Anyway, we should move on to more pressing matters."

"Like what?"

"That scent Kayla mentioned, the one she said wasn't human. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Al nodded, "I think so, though there could be two possibilities."

Ed nodded as well, "Then we're on the same page. Whoever, or whatever Kayla smelled, it could be another chimera."

"Or a homunculus." Al finished for him.

"It's more than likely another chimera but we can't rule out the chance of it being one of the Homunculi. After all, they were at the fifth laboratory too. I don't know what they would want with Kayla's friend though."

They sat at the table in silence for a while, letting the sounds of the other patrons surround them. Al broke into Ed's thoughts by saying, "It's still a little unbelievable."

Ed snapped his head to him, "What is?"

"I never thought I'd see a chimera as perfectly blended as Kayla. And from what she's told me, Serah is an even more perfect chimera. Not even Nina was…" Al trailed off, not wanting to go in that painful direction.

Ed's eyes softened, "Yeah, I know what you mean." Then he laughed bitterly, "It's only taken the military three more years to create the perfect chimera. But I wonder how many people have died in the process."

"How's it going, boys?" A cheery voice startled them out of their serious conversation.

Al and Ed looked up and gasped, "Lieutenant Colonel Hughes!"

"Hey!" the man gave them a little wave and pulled up a chair from a nearby table to sit at the end of their table. "So what brings you guys here?"

"Oh, we were…" Al looked for an excuse but came up with none. They trusted Maes but Kayla was not something they could discuss with him because of his position in the military.

"We were just taking a break from our newest mission." Ed explained smoothly. "And you?"

Maes smiled. "I'm on my lunch break right now and since this place is close to work I come here sometimes. The food here's pretty good but nothing can compare to my beautiful Gracia's cooking! Speaking of which, I have some new photos of her and Elysia! Would you like to see them?"

"NO!" Ed and Al shouted in their rush to stop him.

Maes pouted, "Aw, you guys are no fun. It's probably for the best though. I should be getting back to the office after I pick up some food." He stood up and put his chair back in its spot. He went to leave and stopped himself, "Oh! I nearly forgot! You guys haven't been over in a while. Gracia and I would like it if you came and had dinner with us sometime. I know Elysia would love to see her big brothers again!"

"Heh, we'll try to sometime." Ed promised.

"I'll hold you to it." Maes smirked and left to buy his food and leave.

After the Lt. Colonel had gone, Ed and Al sighed in relief.

"Good thing Kayla didn't come out while he was here." Al said.

"Yeah, but I wonder what's taking her so long."

As if on cue, a commotion was heard coming from the women's restroom.

Hm, I wonder what's going on there? Seriously, I don't even know what happened there. I'm gonna need to come up with something. *sigh*

See ya in two weeks! ...I hope.