Amaya: I'd like to thank all of our readers who have stuck with us up until now, our tenth chapter! :D Woo! Hazuki and I really appreciate the support. ^_^ This chapter is a tad bit more dramatic than the previous ones (hard to believe, right?) but I was trying to go for a different spin... Let me know what you think! :D

Disclaimer: We do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Chapter 10: A Question of Morals

I'm completely convinced that Princess and Fate are in cahoots with each other. Why else would The Snatchers show up the exact same day that I arrived Eisensturm? And is it merely coincidence that a few hours earlier I happened to lead Princess into a giant mud puddle, splattering her coat? I think not. So when we finally entered that town, I wasn't the least bit surprised when I heard his voice calling my name from across the street.

"Heeeey! Look who it is guys, its good ol' Katherine. How's it going, Kathy?" He sneered, still in the middle of his group as I had seen him about two years ago. He wolf whistled as he approached me. "You're getting prettier everytime I see you. And your friend over here ain't too bad looking neither." He winked at Alex. She ignored him. Just like anyone else with a level head. I suppose that's why I responded to his jibe. It didn't help that he used that old nickname that I despised.

"Buzz off, Zeke. Isn't there a bank you should be robbing somewhere?" I shot back, glaring at him. He hadn't changed all that much. His dirty blonde hair was still spiked up in the same arrogant way along with the cocky smile on his lips. His dark gray eyes still glinted with mischievous intent, taking me back to the first time I'd met him.

It was about two years ago, I was still wandering the globe like I do now. I'd never been a part of a group, but when Zeke approached me it was hard to say no. I was more naïve then and really wanted to see how much my skills had improved when I'd last worked for someone. I especially wanted to show off to his group since they'd heard about me through a military report. It meant that if they accepted me, I'd have access to places all over the land. They had people in every job imaginable; Zeke's group was just a smaller branch. Of course, with his personality he made it sound like they were the most important. He even went as far as to give his group a name, "The Snatchers" since their main job was, obviously, stealing. And that skill happened to be right up my alley. About two or three months later I left the group. Zeke had asked me to kill. I turned him down flat and left. Probably the only reason I was actually able to leave was because he can't perform alchemy. Otherwise I'd still be stuck amongst them to this day.

"Still as feisty as ever I see," he commented, he stepped a little closer. He was a lot taller than I remembered, almost a head taller than me as I glared up at him. I guessed he was about sixteen or seventeen now. "So tell me, you wanna come back now?" He held out his arms as if to embrace me.

"Fat chance. I've got better things to do," I turned my head and took a step before he grabbed my wrist.

"Then give back the key, Kathy," he muttered darkly, only loud enough for me to hear. His group stepped towards me menacingly. I frowned, not really sure what he was talking about. I didn't remember ever stealing anything from him, although, it would've been loads of fun. Darn it, why didn't I think of that before?

I was saved from having to answer by none other than Al. I found the threatening tone in his voice unnatural for him. "Let go of her," he warned.

"Got bodyguards now, Kathy?" he teased, but he did obey Al. He lowered his voice and spoke in Ishbalan. "Damien wants to see you. He says it's important. And if you don't plan on handing over the key right now, you can expect a sleepless night. Stay vigilant." Ah yes, that old saying of his. He'd tell it to anyone who was going out on assignment. I supposed old habits are hard to break. He returned to his group after that, and they all took off down the way we just came from. I only recognized a few friendly faces in there. I supposed some of them were replaced when their skills didn't match the assignment. The only one I regretted not talking to as they left was Carter. He was good to me when I was with them.

"Who were they, Katie?" Al asked from behind me. It took me a few seconds for me to respond. I still wasn't use to the new nickname. No one had ever addressed me by it before, but I was starting to like it.

"Just people I used to work with," I said simply. They, especially Al, didn't need to get mixed up with them.

"I don't remember ever making a death threat to Ed," Alex commented.

I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Yeah!" Ed asked, confused as to why he was suddenly dragged into this.

"It sounded like he was threatening to kill you when he spoke in Ishbalan. And his little friends seemed angry as well."

I blinked, wanting to smack myself. I had completely forgotten about what Zeke had said in a span of ten seconds? That was a new record, even for me! What had distracted me so badly…? I looked over at Al as he nodded in agreement with Alex. My eyes widened as the reason dawned on me. No way… I couldn't feel that way about Al. I didn't make many friends, much less… I shook my head, clearing my thoughts of him.

"Look, I'll be back, there's someone I need to talk to," I told them.

"No way, Katherine. They might attack you. We'll come with you," Ed said, actually serious for once.

I laughed at the idea. "Don't worry, I know all his tricks and this town like the back of my hand. And besides, no one can catch me. Watch Princess for me, will you? See ya!" I took off before they could stop me but I heard Alex mutter "This coming from the girl who forgot about the scar on her right hand."

'Thanks for the confidence, Alex,' I thought to myself. I glanced down at my right hand. The scar extended from the base of my pointer finger down to my wrist. I had actually gotten this scar one night while working with Carter on an assignment. He specialized in traps and tracking. Unfortunately I stumbled upon on of his traps during the assignment. It would've killed me if he hadn't pulled me from it, only leaving me with a cut on my hand and him one across his right cheek. I still felt bad about that incident. I left the group before I could ever make it up to him.

Finally I reached Damien's house at the other end of town, greeting the little black dog, Streak, when he walked up to me, wagging his tail.

"You've gotten older, mister," I said cheerfully as I rubbed his belly, remembering him as a puppy.

"So have you, Katherine," A deep voice said from the front door.

I looked up and smiled at the old man, Damien. He used to help me out from time to time. He had a lot of influence on the military and the town since he's a retired state alchemist. I always used to tease him about hiding someone who stole from the military. But his response was always the same: "I am only giving the military what it deserves, nothing more and nothing less."

I entered the house and sat at the table as he made some tea. He placed the cup in front of me, sitting across the table. He watched me for a second as I took a sip before he spoke.

"I've poisoned your cup, Katherine," he said casually, as if he were talking about the weather. My eyes widened as I pulled the cup from my lips when I was about to take another sip. "I've got the antidote right here." He showed me a tiny bottle in his right hand. "I have something I want you to do. And you have the right to refuse, but I'm afraid it might mean your death."

"You crazy old man!" I shouted, standing up from the table. It didn't surprise me that he'd done something like this; he was from the military after all. It just infuriated me that he'd poisoned ME.

"I wouldn't get too worked up if I were you, it might make the poison spread faster in your bloodstream," he advised, not an emotion crossing his face. He might end up killing me and he didn't even have the decency to feel something about it! "There is someone I want you to find for me. Her name is Dahlia. She has something that many people are looking for, including the military. Zeke had it in his possession about two years ago. Now it is believed that this girl has it."

I glared at him. "Anything else, your majesty?"

He finally formed a crooked smile. "It's good to maintain a sense of humor in times of peril, it might just save your life."

"If I tell you a few knock-knock jokes and do a little dance, will you give me the bottle?" I said sarcastically, noticing that Alex was rubbing off on me a little.

"Don't push your luck Katherine. I might just ask Zeke to do this for me, despite how incompetent he may be," he warned. Then he continued. "I want you to find her, get the key, kill her-"

"No," I interrupted.

"Ah yes, that's right. I forgot that you're a thief that actually has morals."

"I'm not a thief!" I yelled.

"And is in denial," he grinned at me. "Alright, if you won't end a life, I will." He paused, considering me. "It would be just terrible for a young one to die before his life as even started, wouldn't you agree?"

"What are you playing at, Damien?" I demanded.

"Estelle, please bring Junior in here, will you?" he called out, leaning against the back of his chair.

"No!" I shouted at him, tears beginning to form in my eyes. "No! He's only five years old! Leave him alone!" The little boy was lead out into the room, holding hands with a girl a few years older than me. She had golden blonde hair that seemed oh so familiar.

"Well then, what about her?" he asked, bringing out a gun and pointing it at Estelle's head. "I'm not sure if you're privy to this knowledge, Katherine. But this is Terra's older sister. What a reunion that would be, getting to see your old friend and having to tell her that her sister was murdered before your very eyes and you didn't raise a finger to save her."

"Why are you doing this, Damien? I thought you were my friend! I thought you wanted to help people!" I shouted.

"Wrong, my dear. I want to stop the military from destroying this land, and I'm afraid this is the only way I can get your assistance. Now, tell me, what is your answer? And I would suggest not taking too long to choose because this poison works quickly. I'll spare you the details of it."

I could feel the effects it was already causing my body. I looked at the two hostages, gazed at Junior's tear-stained face and noticed all the familiar features I saw on Estelle that reminded me of Terra. I couldn't attack Damien. He's too smart for that. He'd either shoot one of them first or destroy the antidote before I could even touch him.

Others can call me whatever they want, "thief" or "criminal". But I'm not a murderer. 'I don't kill people… I don't kill people…. I don't kill people…' I kept telling myself. But there was no way out, no way out of this…

"Kathewine," I heard a small voice say. That's when it happened. My morals vanished, my heart froze, and I accepted his deal.

I, Katherine B., am a murderer.

Amaya: Review time! Ready and... GO! :D