AN: Merry Christmas for everyone because I doubt I will upload again until January. This one is shorter than the last chapters but I felt I ended it at the right moment. Thanks for the wonderful reviews, they made me smile! Oh and a Happy New Year too~

He dashed through every street corner, avoiding civilians and police patrols. Shou threw anything in his path behind him to slow down his pursuer for even a small fraction of a delay would be worth the risk. He could hear the enraged golden-haired boy clap his hands and slamming them to the ground to push aside the obstacles in his path.

'How is he still able to keep up?'

Shou was going to get caught by that brat if he didn't do something! Why couldn't he understand? The potential for a scientific breakthrough was within his grasp! Why wasn't that no one could see what he envisioned! It was all those brats' faults! Those stupid prodigies! How dare they look down on him! How dare they s-

He cried out in surprise as he avoided the slab of concrete protruding from a building and crashing very close to where he had been, his palms now scraped and sore. He muttered a curse at his foolishness for assuming that he would be able to slip away easily. The eldest Elric showed no promise of giving up...and neither would he.

Quickly, he grabbed a pebble and hastily drew on the ground while ignoring how much his hand was trembling. He was still short of breath and his body ached with exhaustion, but the overwhelming fear of being caught before he has anything to show to for the state certification exam pushed him to move forward. He just needed to get rid of the one on his tail and maybe just maybe he could get to Nina and finish what he had started.

"There's no point in trying to escape Tucker!" There he stood, Edward at the far end of the alleyway, his shadow looming over the crouched man. "I won't let you get away!"

Shou felt the golden glare on him, could feel the boy's anger radiating off him but he had it in check. Edward narrowed his eyes as a warning that even if he wasn't attacking him now, he would go for the assault if Shou gave him a reason to.

"I'm warning you...if you don't come willingly, then I won't hesitate to drag you back."

He bit back his rage and fear took charge. He didn't want his license revoked! He spent so much devotion to his work to just lose it now! "I refuse to go back with you with nothing to show for it! How is it that you, someone who's very much like me, doesn't see the opportunity at hand to show the military how close we are to new discoveries! Tell me Fullmetal Alchemist, how is that so?"

Edward's eyes now burned bright at his accusation of being one and the same. He quickly clapped his hands together, blue static wildly flashing. Shou knew he struck a nerve...but what good did it matter...all he needed was the boy to use his alchemy...

"I warned you to never mix my actions with yours!"

The ground broke apart and charged at him in spikes. Shou remained where he was as the threat neared and it felt as if time had slowed, though he could still feel the sweat dripping down his forehead and stinging his eyes, his glasses fogging, and muscles tensing. Still, he waited for it to come closer until...NOW!

He pressed his palms on his own circle and slab of concrete moved upwards to intervene with the incoming attack. He felt his muscles relax as he sighed with relief and without waiting another second, ran as far as he could from where he could hear the frustrated cries of the young alchemist.

His panting grew louder and his speed was diminishing the further down he went through the alley ways. But…

Shou glimpsed over his shoulder. No sign of the boy anywhere, he had lost him!

He turned the corner and hid behind a dumpster as a necessary precaution, waiting for anything to happen...The clouds overhead grew darker and the roar of thunder sounded throughout the empty alleyway. The longer he hid the more secure and relieved he felt from his accomplished escape. Now he just needed to return to his lab, or rather, find his daughter.

Regardless, he would need to move now for the longer he waited; the more military officers would be searching the streets for him. He rose his head upwards to stare at the grayish clouds. 'Ah yes. Avoid the rain too.'

He rose and brushed the debris off his clothes before heading in search of an escape route. Shou turned many corners and for a moment believed that he had gotten himself lost. That now he was surely doomed for not paying attention on what paths he took. Shou felt a drop fall on his cheek, then two, three, before he lost count to how many when it poured altogether. The rain crashed and lightning crackled but he trudged through the storm wanting, hoping, for a way out! Then, just then, he felt his heart skip a beat. From taking a left turn he was met with a light shining at the end of the way.

"Finally…" Maybe now his bad luck would end. This was proof of it!

Shou headed to the exit, practically skipped the rest of the way. He wished he could see the Fullmetal's face when he realized he evaded everyone thrown his way, how pathetic he would be.

Oh how he would want to see that now!

Buried in his inner amusement and distracted by his given freedom, he had no time to react to being forcefully held against the wall by his throat, feet dangling and in no way near the ground. Shou choked from the rough treatment as he opened his eyes to see his attacker expecting it to be Edward Elric.

He could only see his face, his dark skinned face with sunglasses concealing his eyes and his very noticeable large scar shaped as an X that ran down his forehead and past his eyes. The newcomer said not one word, only watched the man struggle in his grip. Shou on the other hand couldn't help but shudder and squirm from his gaze before his body paralyzed in fear. Just who is he? He felt himself being scrutinized, but did nothing to stop him hoping that this was all he wanted to do before he let him go and left. Unfortunately somewhere deep down he knew that wasn't the case.

The stranger eyed him for a few moments longer, before his deep booming voice interrupted the silence hanging in the air.

"Are you Shou Tucker?" It wasn't a question. He knew who Shou was. The trembling man grabbed at the arm holding his throat and attempted to pry the strong fingers away.

"I-I don't know who you are, b-but you should let me go...the military wouldn't like to hear about you harming their own!" The hand clasped tighter, his breathing now hitched and desperate.

"I have no care for what the military has to think for I have come to you on god's orders."

"E-excuse me? What...are yo-?"

"For alchemists who have strayed from the path of god-" He let Shou fall to the ground and the said man decided to try to run away again. He needed seconds to escape...but the stranger needed only one.

His hand was planted on Shou's face and immediately red alchemic light resounded throughout the alley, accompanying the thunder and lightning. Blood splattered along the walls and fell on the man's face and clothes, but he did nothing to show his disgust nor attempted to clean himself. He dropped the corpse on the ground and walked away from the scene.

"-must die."

OoOoOoO

The three stood outside in the pouring rain as soldiers ran around for collective evidence. They charged into the house and into the lab, dragging out all the harbored chimeras and sealed bags of his research notes. Leeza knew that when they were done it would be a hassle to clean the muddy boot prints from the floors. Not that it would matter to her anyways. When Mustang and Hawkeye arrived, Al left Leeza and Nina to give them a quick rundown.

Nina stood close holding her hand with tears smearing down her face. Leeza knew she deserved better than this after seeing her father morph into an unrecognizable person and after strangers charging into her home taking things with them. That included Alexander. She had to hold Nina back as she cried out for him watching the solders take her precious dog away, the last shred of her family.

Now that Shou was gone, there was no way of caring for him. Thus the military took custody. Leeza didn't want to know what they would do to him.

Leeza hugged her from behind still holding on to her just in case she decided to run after the car that took Alexander away.

"...Why did daddy do this?" Leeza hesitated, staring at the top of her head, wanting to give her an answer that she would understand and yet…

"I don't know Nina." She breathed. What can she say?

Nina stared at the ground, not pleased with her answer. "Daddy had told me you were special. He said you would be able to help him pass his test. But he then hurt big sister." More tears rolled down her cheeks and she couldn't keep her voice under control any longer.

"Big s-sister wa-was in p-ain and...w-hy? Why daddy?" And what's what she kept repeating over and over again. Till her knees buckled and fell the floor.

Leeza pulled her tightly and petted her head comfortingly. Nina sagged in her arms, her cries growing louder in volume. That's how they were under the pouring rain. Their hair were dripping wet including their clothes and still Leeza held the little girl, who turned around to face her, and offered her shoulder to cry on.

Al watched Hawkeye approach them with an umbrella and stayed by their side as her way of comfort. It was times like these that made Al want his body so that he could share their sadness and be able to vent with them rather than watching. He could voice out his words of love and sympathy, but they were empty like his tin can of a body.

Mustang carried his own shield from the rainfall and joined Al to watch his youngest subordinate.

"I can't believe this happened." He balled his hands into fists. "Apologies for this to fall upon your sister when she has enough already." Al just nodded so Mustang continued. "The lieutenant had made a remark on this being the work of the devil. I couldn't agree more but we state alchemists are human weapons of the military that have to be ready to be mobilized when the order is given, ready to stain our hands. This is just one of the many examples of how our actions are not that different to Tucker's."

"Th-that's not true. We would never hurt another human being like he did." Al denied his remarks, defending himself and his little sister and older brother. They would never use someone like that!

"I know that Alphonse, but it is a hardship we all must withstand to continue on your path. The only thing to do is to keep moving forward. Remember that." They watched Hawkeye guide the girls to their automobile and entering the passenger seat herself. They were ready to go and were waiting for them. Al was going to join his sister but was stopped by the Colonel.

"Right now may be the worst time to ask, but I need to know what happened exactly to take a course of action. Shadow seems to need more time before reporting to me, so I wanted to ask if you would be willing to. This would just be written down as a voluntary witness account of course."

"Where do I start sir?"

"...How about when you stepped in?"

OoOoOoO

The rain added weight to Ed's coat and boots. He had left the gloomy alleyways already and trudged along the sidewalk, ignoring the eyes of fellow pedestrians. He knew he probably looked awful with how he let himself be submerged in rain. This wasn't a day to be happy about. He had gone out of his way to get retribution for his sister and for Nina, along with her departed mother.

Now...now however, he had nothing to show for it! He had let his anger control him and had lost track of where Tucker disappeared to. How could he be so foolish to let him escape him! He was so close too!

"Damn it!"

He stormed into the hotel and climbed up the stairs, not wanting to go see the Colonel because he knew that he would have to give a report and for him to be arriving empty-handed left a bad taste in his mouth. He probably looked like a child having a bit of a tantrum to everyone he passed, but he couldn't care less. They had no idea what had happened.

His stomps began to recede in volume, ceasing abruptly when he reached his door.

Ed stood there, thinking what he would tell Leeza. Or perhaps...he was waiting for a sign of sorts. Dread caved in his stomach and he felt the overwhelming guilt come full force, but he wouldn't hide! Ed would apologize to his little sister and promise to do better next time!

He swallowed a deep shaky breath and gently pushed the door open.

He quietly strolled to the beds, his tightened chest becoming less and less as he reached the sleeping form of his little sister. She looked very peaceful, cocooned in her sheets, the very same way she made a habit of doing when she was little. Her body was facing his direction with her midnight hair spilt all over her pillow and seeing this, Ed was grateful. Leeza deserved a good night's rest. He saw a patch of brown peek out from under the covers. Ed pulled it down a little only choke back a laugh when it was Nina sharing the bed. Her head tucked underneath Leeza's chin. It was pretty adorable actually. Seeing them together however brought more disappointment at him because they had remained together and would wake up to disheartening news.

Behind him, Al slowly approached where he was, taking the same precautions he did. He joined Ed and counted his sister's breathing.

'One...two...three...four…'

Al continued on to give his brother time because he knew (had to know they've been close for many years) that he had failed. Shou Tucker was still on the loose and once again he wanted his body back. He wanted...needed to be able to feel what his siblings did and that way he could be of a much better help.

"Al…" His helmet head turned in response to Ed's whisper. "I lost him...I'm sorry…"

He shook his head, the metal clacking at each turn. "Don't be brother. We'll get him back."

Ed shook his head, his hand gently grasping Leeza's that poked out of her covers. "How long will that be? How much more times do we have to feel utterly useless when it comes to helping our little sister?"

"Brother, we can go out tomorrow and search!" He whispered frantically. "We'll retract your steps and then go a ground search! We can-"

"It's useless…" Ed muttered, his tone coated in sorrow.

"Because no matter what we do we can never atone for our failure in protecting her. My title means nothing nor does our skill in alchemy because we were so close to losing her, so close to losing Nina." Ed clutched the bed's frame with his free hand; a grip so tight that his automail made the wood groan.

"We couldn't because we're humans. Tiny insignificant humans who believed we could be gods and failed completely...just like before."

Al wanted to speak up, deny what he said, but it would only fall on deaf ears. So, he watched his brother's body shake, pretending not to notice the single tear that ran down his cheek.

OoOoOoO

"Geez, you couldn't have maybe made my job a little bit easier? I came all the way down from Central and what do I get? Nothing. You could have at least thought of my needs Roy! Now I won't be able to kiss my little girl tonight."

"Hughes. I'm sure one day away will not kill you."

"Of course it will!"

The black spiky haired man reached into his uniform and leaned into Mustangs face rather comically, a photo between their faces.

"Look at just how cute she is! I tell you she got her looks from her beautiful mother! Oh how I miss them already~"

Hughes rubbed it up and down his cheek and Mustang could practically see hearts floating above his head. He shrugged off the odd behavior of his best friend and tried to maintain his cool composure, addressing him as a Lieutenant Colonel. "We had expected to have him in custody before you arrived, but now that you're here you might as well just help out with the search."

Hughes pushed up his glasses and tucked his treasured photo away, taking the matter seriously (for once). "Looks that way. Do you know when the time he was last seen was?"

"Fullmetal was the last one to see him, but he hasn't reported back to me yet. Most likely when I head back he'll be there."

"Would have been nice to have now, but we can get by without it. For now we'll search wherever we can. Whatever clues we get you will be one of the first to know."

"You have my thanks Hughes."

Hughes chuckled softly, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. Then, just like that, his smile fell away...his face now stern, completely contrasting from his normal easy going attitude. Before Mustang could ask him about his change of attitude, he averted his attention back to the cars.

"Major Armstrong! Could you join us here for a moment?"

A large and very muscular man approached them, his bald head reflecting the sun rays hitting, a single curly blonde strand of hair rested upon it and a blonde mustache to match it. Major Armstrong towered over the two, but he saluted Mustang and Hughes as any respectful soldier would do. Hughes nodded to Armstrong and turned back to Mustang.

"There is another reason as to why we came Roy."

Mustang watched his best friend intently for a moment he would crack a joke or make another comment about his lovely family. No, the man was serious and that's what unnerved him; he could never predict what was about to come out of his mouth.

"And...for what other reason would that be?" He dared ask, knowing full well he would have been told either way.

"Sir," Armstrong whispered to avoid anyone to overhear, urgency edged in his voice. "...There's a serial killer on the loose. One who targets state alchemists."

"Are you serious!?" Mustang apologized for his outburst when he caught questioning looks from the other officers. Lowering his voice he continued, "Who in their right mind would be after state alchemists?" He hissed. "And why have I been notified about this just now?"

"This year he has killed a total of five alchemists in central and a total of ten overall in the country. I'm kind of baffled that you haven't heard a thing about this." Mustang cupped his chin, a frown plastered on his face.

"Now that I think about it I have heard a few rumors around," he mused. "I've never heard a name though...do know of it?"

"We don't know his name, but we have been calling the crook by Scar." Armstrong formed an X with his fingers over his forehead. "There is no information on his background either. We only have eye witness reports of a large x-shaped scar on his forehead."

Hughes tirelessly raked his fingers through his hair. "A guy this tough has been causing us trouble for a long time. I've even heard he even killed old man Grand."

"B-brigadier General Grand, the Iron-Blooded Alchemist? That's almost near impossible! He's a military martial arts expert!"

"That's exactly my point. The man's dangerous…"

"How did he even kill the man?"

"He-" There was a sudden scream and within seconds, an officer tumbled out from behind a building, a hand around his mouth. Mustang, Hughes, and Armstrong strode quickly to the shaken man who was now hunched on his knees, emptying his stomach.

"Sir!" Armstrong rested a comforting hand on the man's shoulder. "Are you alright?"

He weakly shook his head, face turning a shade of green.

"What happened?" Armstrong pushed.

The officer took several heavy breaths and then brought his eyes to the Major's, his attention to him only and now to the other higher officials watching them earnestly. "I-I think I f-found him...Shou...Shou Tucker…I found his body..."

OoOoOoO

The door shut closed, waking her up from her kind slumber. Leeza needed the longest nap after recounting everything to Al and her superior in the car ride. Leeza wanted to tell her brothers her about her little adventure. But how can she possibly tell them about it without sounding bat shit insane. For one thing all she has is her memories, no solid evidence but that blasted key and even then it's not enough. She could show them the place, she was sure the key would work again but what if that causes something horrible to happen? For that Leeza only squinted at the door, listening to pair of footsteps she recognized make their way out and lessening the further they were.

"Oh...they left…" Leeza's head nestled back into her pillow and tried to get some more shuteye. She'll come up with some way or another. It was only her brothers who walked out, nothing else that urgent.

"They left!?" She scrambled out of bed and threw her jacket over her shoulder. They couldn't leave her alone, not yet! Rough hands grabbed her shoulders as she barged out of the hotel room and gently pushed her back.

"Whoa there little chief! Where do you think you're going?"

"Havoc!" Leeza angrily pulled back. "What are you doing?"

Havoc blocked her from the exit while holding his hands out as a sign of peace. "Just trying to do my job. Besides, I asked you a question first." Leeza edged forward and was forced to pull back again; he was not letting her out that easily.

"I'm trying to go to my brothers and you're in my way!" She growled back. Leeza respected the cigarette loving man, how he followed the Colonel's goal of becoming Fuhrer and was one of his few trusted subordinates. Havoc was reliable, that much she knew for a fact, but now...now when she needed to go was the Colonel's orders getting in her way. The one where Havoc needed to babysit her.

"Sorry Shadow...just doing my job." He replied nonchalantly.

"W-well then stop doing it!"

"Can't do that either."

"Havoc! Please! My brothers! I-I need to be with them!" His eyes soften at Leeza's pleas because she was still a child after all, a scared one no less who wants to be safe with no one but her family. He would've let her run after them, but doing that could just put her life in danger again and that would not go well for him.

Havoc crouched down, both of them eye to eye. "Listen little chief...I understand that you want to be with your big bros, but you don't need to worry at all. Fullmetal had to make a quick report about last night. Al went along with him because it was better if he didn't go alone. They never wanted to leave you alone, but you were sleeping soundly and it was only for a quick second."

"But...but." He held his pinkie in front of her, a grin on his face while somehow balancing the unlit cigarette to not fall out of his mouth. "Remember how we used to pinkie promise things?"

How could she? Leeza and Havoc loved to pinkie promise each other for everything, back to the first time when Leeza promised to help him talk to the girl that worked the flower stand. They only did it with each other, no one else in Mustang's squad. The exact moment would have made her laugh at how they always relied on it to end resolve anything between them, but now she hesitated.

"I promise you that once I'm informed that you're free to go, I'll personally take you to your brothers. Maybe...even take you to eat some steaks, on me."

'So tempting…' Leeza wanted to go now though! Still, she knew in her gut that what Havoc had told her was true and that they would come right back for her, they'd never abandon her.

She scratched her cheek, realizing it was the only thing that would ease her worries even if it's just a little bit. "Promise me that if they are in some kind of danger, you'll let me go to them…"

Havoc eyes widened, filled with uncertainty. Leeza held out her pinkie in front of him, refusing to let this go now. "Please Havoc...this is what will keep me calm."

The two watched the other, pinkies close to each other before they reached out and entwined.

"Alright little chief. I pinkie swear." They pulled away and Leeza gave him a kind smile, reassured that he would condone to those terms.

A head popped out from under her sheets and looked around with droopy eyes. "There was lots of noise. Does that mean I have to get up now?"

Havoc nudged Leeza forward and she huffed, already planning to go to Nina. He chuckled and went back to his post, closing the door behind him.

OoOoOoO

"Do you think she's upset? If she's awake even?"

"...Maybe. Hopefully Leeza will not take it too hard." Ed kicked a rock. "I swear it's all the Colonel's fault! Always needing me to give my report!"

"...Brother." Al deadpanned. The eldest sighed and scratched the back of his head.

"I know, I know...This is one I can't complain about...Just a force of habit I guess."

Ed shoved his hands in his pockets, contemplating what their next move was. It was like everything was once in the palm of their hands and then snatched away. Tucker's library was one of them. He read so much about bio alchemy and chimeras too, but none gave any idea on how to get their bodies back. It all led back to the stone.

Liore was a very close call too, to learn about Cornello's philosopher's stone and find out at the very end that it was a fake. Three years of having to be a dog of the military and nothing but constant struggles and heavy burdens.

Everyday Ed couldn't help but feel more ashamed in the lack of progress because that meant that his little siblings had to tackle another day with their suffering. Ed was the big brother, he should be the one in the suit, the one to have killed Cornello, the one to be with the powers that he has no idea what they are...why was he the lucky one? Sure he lost his arm and leg, but he could handle the pain, it wasn't an issue.

He glanced at Al for a quick moment and felt his heart ache all the more. He turned back face forward as they walked in silence towards the eastern command center. Along the way they approached a fountain, but what had Ed and Al slowdown was the two soldiers that were looking around frantically.

Al marched to them, his metal clacking catching their attention. "Excuse me. Is everything alright?"

"No sir! We are just on the lookout for a dangerous man who is on the loose!" The taller one had answered, his partner bobbing his head in agreement. "You should return home where it's safe!" Ed's eyes widen, that doesn't sound good.

"...Maybe we can help. I'm the Fullmetal Alchemist and this is my younger brother Alphonse."

"W-what!? You're so small though."

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL THAT HE CAN'T STAND NECK TO NECK WITH THE PEOPLE HE'S AFTER! I DARE YOU TO SAY THAT AGAIN YOU JERKS!" They shuffled away from the fuming alchemist sputtering apologies one after another. Al couldn't help but sweatdrop, accustomed to this already.

The shorter soldier broke from his apologizing and saluted them as if nothing happened. "Sir you must go somewhere safe! The man we are on the lookout is targeting state alchemists!"

Ed and Al looked at each other, concern growing for each other. Only one thing they were relieved about was that their sister wasn't with them. Quickly Ed demanded them to tell them who it is. Who was targeting state alchemists?

"It's-" A hand slammed itself into the taller one's face and red light flashed, blood splattering everywhere. The brother's watched horrified as the body was deconstructed, how it crumpled to the floor and the same to happen to his partner when he tried to protect them. The killer walked away from the bodies with blood dripping off his fingers and even though he wore dark shades that hid his eye, Ed knew his eyes were pointed at him.

The boy was paralyzed, his body urged him to run but his feet were frozen stiff. Ed was a deer caught in headlights.

"You're the Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric…" The man charged, for him, hand aimed at Ed. "Perish!"

OoOoOoO

"Ah~ Looks like the game's beginning!"

Mephisto took a sip of his tea, sitting on his exquisite chair that hovered in the open air. He watched in sheer amusement at the three below him run around like ants. He knew he should be getting back soon. He had to prepare for the upcoming arrival!

"If so that means-" Mephisto turned his attention to the hotel he knew his imouto had the luxury of staying at. He snapped his fingers and the cup poofed out of existence, along with his chair. He landed on a rooftop below him smiling the entirety of the time.

"It's time to properly meet."

AN: See you soon~