CC ch 10
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Thoughts were racing inside Ed's head on his way to work today. Ok, stay calm stay calm…what ever you do...just—STAY—CALM!
"AGHH! How am I suppose to 'stay calm' when Winry's coming over today?!" he yelled and ripped his hair out.
Just this morning, Al had received a phone call from Resembool. Winry was coming over and you guessed it, she doesn't know about the mission or party or relationship---NO they don't have one!
~ FLASHBACK ~
Ed was scarfing down three plates of breakfast while Al was chatting on the phone. Ed had returned the maid's outfit back to it's owner just this morning. (Al had convinced him not to burn it.) Now he was in his usual red coat and tight black pants.
"So, since I'll be out for this month, is it okay if Winry stays at your apartment?" Pinako said from the other line, "She capable of taking care of herself, but you know how lonely she gets."
Al stiffened. "U-Um…I'm sorry, but we don't have any room at our a-apartment..."
"Then can she stay at the military dorms? I heard that they have a lot of room there for soldiers." She told him.
Even worse. Al thought.
"Okay then…when do we pick her up…?" Al couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Today at 5:00. I'm sorry if this is last-minute." She answered.
Al was half-listening, but he heard the words 'Today' and 'five', so he knew when and where.
After he hung up, he looked at the phone. He ran into the kitchen and yelled "HEEEEELP!" WINRY'S COMING OVER!"
~ END FLASHBACK ~
This is so stupid. The problem isn't me, it's Winry…dammit I know she likes me…and what am I going to tell Roy?! Oh lord—I mean mangos—help me! Ed nervously stepped into Roy's office.
But when he opened the door, he got something totally unexpected.
Everyone except Roy who was paralyzed by shock rushed over to Ed.
"Ohmygod, Ed. You need to hear this!" Kain exclaimed and tried to push his way through the crowd.
It was hard to hear since everyone was busy fighting and arguing. But they caught Ed's attention, so he listened carefully.
"While you were at the party yesterday---" Hughes began seriously, shoving Kain to the left.
Breda kicked Hughes in the face and jumped in. "We began our research on who sent you that letter---"
"…and so we traced the mail back to where it was send---" Ross added.
Fuery jumped on top of her. "And the only person who wasn't there that day---"
"---was RIZA!" Havoc exploded.
It took five seconds for Ed's brain to create a sensible response.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"
Roy raised his hammer and slammed it onto his desk. "Order, Order! Order in the office!"
Everyone continued what they were doing and ignored him.
"I said…SHUT UP!" he screamed into the microphone. This time he got everyone's attention, as they all froze in place.
He cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. "We have gathered here today, to finally solve this stupid mystery. As we all may or may not know, Ed got a letter addressed to him telling him to cross dress as a girl and go to grade school---"
"-cough- —high school." Ed whispered next to him.
Roy nodded. "Err…high school to research some information about the homunculus. Now, we accuse Riza Hawkeye of sending this particular letter."
In the background, they could hear Havoc snickering loudly.
"What are you finding so amusing, Jean?" Roy asked boldly. Everyone turned to look at him.
Havoc dropped to the grounds and laughed hysterically. "I-It's just that –kekekehe-…you sound funny...-hehehkeke- when you talk all 'smart like'---KeHAAHAAAHAAHAA!" He continued laughing but climbed back into his seat.
"And now we begin the case." Roy announced, ignoring Havoc's comment.
"The court calls Kain to the stand." Roy said pointing to Kain. Everyone watched as he got out of his seat. "OoooOooo! Somebody's in trooouble." Hughes taunted.
Kain walked up slowly. "Erm...sir, not that this is any of my business, but if you are the court, why would you call yourself the court?"
"Anyways…" Ed cut in, "I'll be asking the questions." He took out a random notebook and opened it.
Ed walked back and forth, reading the questions on the notebook. "Ok…where were you on the morning of December 18th at 12 o'clock midnight?"
"What does that have to do with me?" Kain asked. "And it's July!"
"Psst. Fullmetal, you're reading it the wrong way." Roy whispered.
Ed scratched his head. "Oh…um then, who's your secret crush?"
"What kind of question is that?!" Kain yelled.
Ed shook his head. "I'm the one asking the questions so ANSWER IT!"
"Well…I—" he began.
"GUILTY!!" Ed yelled and pulled the lever and opened the trapdoor underneath him as he fell into a black hole.
"What the heck was that about?" Roy yelled.
"Ed? Hello?! ED!"
"…wake up!"
Ed slowly opened his eyes as he heard Roy calling his name. He winced as he felt the pain from his head.
"What happened?" he asked, looking at Roy.
"Thank mangos you don't have a concussion." Roy sighed of relief. "You fainted after you found out."
Ed sat straight up and stared at everybody, especially Kain. "But…we were in a court and—and…"
Roy put his hand on the blonde's forehead. "Are you sure you don't have a fever?" he asked.
Ed blushed at the touch. "O-Of course not! I'm fine!" he said and got up to sit on the couch, stubbornly as he waited.
"So where is she anyways?" Havoc asked the kernel.
"I'll call her in immediately to sort this out." Roy told him as he turned on the microphone.
Havoc cracked up, again and told him, "Since when have you learned to talk like that?"
Ed was on the couch, twitching slightly. This is just like my dream…Roy yelling on the microphone…Havoc laughing…everyone watching…
"Hellooo? Can I wake up now?" Ed yelled at the roof. "Get me out of here please!" he waved wildly. Everyone looked at him like he just grew two heads.
Feury walked over to him. "This isn't a dream, Ed…"
Riza finished the last of her coffee and walked down the halls. It's been three days already…I guess I'm going to lose the bet after all…
Just then, she heard something echoing in the halls. "Ahem, we're sorry for the interruption, but Riza Hawkeye, please report to Colonial Mustang's office immediately." In the background, she could hear Havoc laughing.
That's strange…she thought, but she hurried over to the office quickly. As soon as the door swung open, she got glares from everyone on the room.
Ed stood up and pointed to her accusingly, "Ok, I might be afraid of your gun, BUT WHY DID YOU SEND ME THAT LETTER?!"
"And why didn't you tell us when Al mentioned it?" Breda added.
Riza quickly realized what they were talking about. She chuckled slightly and sat onto the sofa. "Okay, okay. You caught me. I'll explain."
Everyone crouched around her to let her explain. Ed was watching very closely while Roy had a curious expression on his face.
Riza closed her eyes to concentrate. "See, on the day that I was having my break, right after I was dismissed, the Furer called me to his office." She began.
"What could he want?" Havoc whispered to Hughes. Hughes shrugged.
"At first I thought the colonial was in some kind of trouble, but he told me that this didn't involve the colonial. He handed me the letter and let me read it. And of course I disagreed with his choice of action." She defended and looked at Ed warmly.
Ed shrunk in his spot. He was little embarrassed after accusing her like that when he didn't even know the details.
"But he said that this was serious and well…cross dressing was the safest way possible to invest something like this…and unfortunately, Edward was the only person that…" she hesitated, "…Ere...fit the plan. He also made a bet with me that you guys couldn't solve they mystery it in less than three days." She raised three fingers up.
"And so I bet against him and it was on. We kept it our little secret, until…now." She smiled after looking at everyone's face.
They were either shocked, confused, or both. So many questions dammit! So it was Roy took the chance to bombard her with questions first.
"Why didn't you tell me about this? I'm a colonial and in a higher rank," He huffed.
Riza nodded. "Yes that's true, but I don't really trust that you will keep it a secret and…oh I don't know, maybe tease Edward about it for life. I knew that you wouldn't dare try because you don't know the identity of who even mailed him the letter, so that kept you busy thinking inside of 'other' things."
Roy felt himself unable to form words. So he remained quiet.
Then, Ed recovered from his shock from earlier. "So…you won the bet?"
"No I didn't." She replied, "You guys did find out in less than three days, but you found out it was me, not the Furer and me. So I owe him."
Ed paused to think again. "So you didn't tell us because of a bet and because you didn't want Roy to tease me about it?"
"Yup."
"One last question." Ed stated. "Does this mean that I really have to do this mission? That it's not a fake? Not a joke?"
"One, that's three questions. And two, yes—you really have to do this mission." Riza told him.
Ed looked at her disbelievingly. "You mean—?"
Riza nodded.
"I have to—?"
"Yes."
Ed stared like forever. His body just won't move. It felt numb with shock. I'm…going…to school… he thought as a… girl…
He fell down to his knees and laughed nervously. "TELL ME THIS ISN'T HAPPENING!"
"Okay…but if I did, I'd be lying." Hughes said.
"That was a rhetorical question—I mean answer—I MEAN STATEMENT!" Ed roared. His head was so messed up. After that, everyone broke into excitement and chatted loudly.
Riza too out a small piece of paper from her pocket and unfolded it. It was a little wrinkled, but still legible.
She turned to Roy and said, "These are all the details and important information at the school. The Fuhrer alerted the principal there to cut him out of all gym periods because of his automail. And as for the automail, the school will provide long-sleeved tops, gloves, and long socks to cover it. Then Ed will be able to just blend in as a normal freshman."
Roy nodded and examined the sheet. Everything was well hidden and set. This might just work after all.
Riza loaded her gun and shot three bullets to the ceiling to catch everyone's attention. Everyone stopped flat and listened.
"There is just one more problem we need to attend to." She announced. "To made sure that Edward takes care of his identity and keeps from acting like a boy, someone in this group has to go with him as a student too."
Everyone had a wide mouth.
"And no, you don't need to dress up as a girl." She said after five seconds.
Riza turned her head back and forth. Seems like no one wants to go to high school. She couldn't blame them—anyone who messes up their disguise would pay the ultimate price.
"Alright, if no one wants to go, then I will choose for them." She said glaring at each of them.
"Hm…Edward, do you want to choose?" she asked. "Choose anyone of your desire."
Ed blinked and slowly exchanged glances with every one of his teammates.
Feury was gesturing his hand and made an X across his neck while he shook his head frantically.
Hughes pointed to his pictures and have him the 'pick-me-and-I'll-show-you-all-my-albums' look.
Breda was fake coughing and trying to point to Falman.
Havoc was deep in thought. "Maybe I could give it a shot." He said. Everyone's eyes were on him.
"I mean…there must be tons of hot girls in high school. And if I go, then Roy can't. So that means I have them all to myself, without him stealing them!" he pictured himself sitting in a room full of girls and Roy working on paperwork in his office.
"Thinking about a room full of girls without Mustang?" Ed said, annoyed.
Roy thought for a moment. Hold on…if I go to school, then that means…NO PAPERWORK! THIS IS MY BIG CHANCE TO HAVE A VACATION! His eyes lit up.
Roy stepped forward. "No, Havoc. You won't be getting any hot girls because you won't be going."
"What? Then who!?" Havoc asked.
Roy pointed to himself proudly. "ME. I will happily watch over Fullmetal."
"WHAT?" This time, even Riza was shocked. Roy was willing to go to school with his 'so-called' rival? Something's not right…
Havoc shook his head. "No, I called it first, so too bad!"
"But I am your superior, and that means that I am more superior than you and more fit for the job." Roy replied hastily.
"But I'm younger."
"But I look better."
"I will fit in perfectly."
"You smoke for cryin' out loud!"
"So what? A lot of people smoke!"
"Okay, whatever you say, but I still think you'll stick out like a sore thumb."
"So do you!"
"Okay, that's engouh, guys!" Riza tried to calm them down. She pulled the trigger and fired one bullet between the two.
They froze and looked at her. "I will let Edward decide who will go. End of conversation." She said.
Ed didn't look up. He already knew who he wanted to choose, but he was afraid of his reaction. And further more, he couldn't find an excuse to cover for it.
"I-I choose Roy." He stammered aimlessly, hoping that no one would ask.
Falman blinked of confusion. "But why---"
"DON'T QUESTION MY DECISIONS!" he cut him off. "And, I need to talk to you for a second, Roy." He grabbed Roy's hand and fled the room in a hurry.
There was a long pause.
"Is it me, or did he just call him Roy?" Havoc asked.
END CHAPTER
~ Review Replies…:D ~
A love Malfoy as a ferret: thank you very much! I hope you will enjoy this chapter!
Chibi-Elric-Chan: Wow, I've never seen anyone so siked about one of my stories. You made me so happy! I'm gonna finish this just for you!
Kitsune Cupcake: Thanks! I luv writing humor for some reason! Thank you for reviewing and enjoy!!
Gothic Fangirl:…..um okay?
Aubreyvamp: I know! I just luv the whole Miroku Sango thing. It's so cute I wanted to add it in!
Fullmetal LVR: I'll give you chocolate cupcakes! (-cough-title of the story-cough-)
A/N: It's very slight, but my writing style's been getting better...