Hope you all enjoy this!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or the Naruto series nor do I own the characters of each respective anime. I own only Ryoga, I also created the character that serves as Hinata's mom in this story.

Chapter 11

The group reached the town Mustang had directed them to by morning, and after stopping at a café to eat and ask their waiter some general questions about the town they walked around asking about Marcoh.

Ryoga walked besides his new mistress without wandering away or causing fuss. Hinata had put a cord necklace around his neck earlier, with a dark, amber colored stone hanging from it. The effect was quite pleasant and Ryoga certainly gave the impression he liked the new accessory.

While the only doctor in town was a Dr. Maruo, the descriptions all the people who he'd treated gave about their recovery hinted at alchemy being behind the treatments. One little girl in particular said that there was a "big flash of light" when Maruo healed her.

"It's Marcoh alright." Ed said as they walked away.

"But he's a fugitive, why would he draw attention by becoming a miracle performing doctor?" Al asked rhetorically.

"M-maybe he just wanted to do some good with the Stone." Hinata suggested.

"Maybe –. " Al cut was cut off when Ed shoved him and Hinata into a nearby hill of straw to hide. Ryoga's ears twitched, and he simply jumped in after them.

"What was that for?!" Al demanded, annoyed. Hinata had landed awkwardly in front of him and tried to adjust her position.

Ed didn't answer and Al started to complain that he was getting filled with straw but his brother shushed him.

"Look." He whispered. Al and Hinata peeked from their hiding place, the latter careful not to lean on the cat that was perched near her knee.

A big man in coat and cap that Hinata recognized as what some military personal wore was nearby, he took off his cap and looked around. The man possessed blue eyes, a blonde mustache, and a single lock of blonde hair on his head which was otherwise bald.

"Who is he?" Al asked.

Ed explained that the man was a State Alchemist that had arrived with the Fuhrer from Central Command, he'd seen him at HQ when the Central Forces had barged into Mustang's office to inform him of their takeover.

"H-he must be following us." Hinata said, frowning worriedly. Ed nodded.

"There's no other explanation – after all Mustang said he's never told anyone in the military about Marcoh's location." The Fullmetal Alchemist muttered.

The State Alchemist finally put his cap back on and walked back the way he'd came, probably to look for them elsewhere. When he was out of sight Ed jumped out of the straw stack, followed by Hinata who patted at her hair and clothes to get rid of the straw clinging to it. Al was in worse shape since straw had gotten into his armor.

"We'd better head straight to Marcoh's." Ed decided.

And so they went.

XXX

Their reception, in hindsight, wasn't all that surprising.

Hinata hugged Ryoga close to her, shielded by Al who had immediately dove in front of her. As soon as Ed had identified himself as a State Alchemist Marcoh had fired the gun at him – thankfully the boy had dodged – as well as Al. The doctor thankfully missed the younger Elric too.

"Easy Doc, we don't want trouble." Ed said, trying to calm the clearly desperate and terrified man.

Marcoh was an older man, his black hair streaked gray at the temples with creases the came from age (and stress) around his mouth. His hazel eyes were wide and had a wild terror to them. Hinata put his age at about mid to late fifties.

"I know why you're here – you think you can take me back but I won't. The orders, the experiments – I couldn't take it!" Marcoh babbled.

"No, no. You misunderstood. Just hear us out!" Ed pleaded.

"Put the gun down." Al said, his voice even and steady. He walked up to the terrified doctor.

Hinata watched him, worrying her bottom lip as Ryoga began to settle down, having been put off by the gunshots.

"Or do you want to silent me? You think I'll just die without a fight?!" Marcoh demanded but became choked with fear when Al got right up front to the doctor's person.

"It's okay, shoot me if you want but I won't die. You're the only one who might get hurt." Al said and purposefully banged his armor against the gun, letting the hollow sound tell Marcoh the truth.

"I see, you're him." Marcoh said, calming down and lowering his gun slightly. "The Fullmetal Alchemist."

Hinata smiled weakly when Ed shoved Al aside, very irritated, and corrected Marcoh. She walked to Ed's side, coming into view for the first time, Marcoh saw her and jumped a little, staring at her with shock. His eyes drifted to the gem hanging around her neck and his face paled.

"Please doctor," Al said. "We just want to talk."

But Marcoh wasn't listening, he kept staring at Hinata, making the girl uncomfortable.

"You're face, that necklace." He muttered. "I know them . . . you look so much like her too. But it couldn't be . . ."

Hinata felt herself tense, and slowly, took a step forward, staring at the doctor. Could the "her" he mentioned be her mother? Hinata had to make sure – it was a longshot but . . .

"I-if you're talking about Himiko then it can be possible, I-I'm her daughter." Hinata said with minimal stuttering.

Marcoh took in a deep breath.

"Himiko's daughter?" He repeated, staring at her. "Yes – if not for the eyes you'd be twins, and that necklace is proof enough on its own." The doctor looked around before stepping aside. "Come in, come in."

Ed and Al, who had been ignored for the last few moments, looked at each other before following Hinata inside Marcoh's place.

The single room was simple and had simple furnishings – there was a bed to the left but whether it was for Marcoh or his patients was unclear – a huge cabinet with shelves bearing numerous toxins and medicine was against the opposite wall. There was also crates, likely holding medicine or other equipment against the wall across from them.

There was a table in the center of the room with a chair at either end, Ed took one for himself while Hinata and Al sat on the bed. Ryoga went over to the window and stared at the sprawling country land outside.

Marcoh took the remaining seat, but his body was turned to face Hinata.

"I never expected Himiko would have a child, she never seemed like the type to settle down." He commented. "Dear God, you're nearly the spitting image of her."

Hinata smiled shyly.

"Mama was a v-vivacious person, there was s-so much energy in everything she d-did. Father had a c-calming effect on her personality . . .I-I have his eyes."

At least that was how she remembered her parents' relationship. Since Himiko had died when Hinata was quite young the girl's memory of her mother was foggy at times.

"H-how do you know my mother?" Hinata added.

Marcoh's expression sagged a little.

"Himiko was an accomplished alchemist – more than talented enough to get a State Certification - but she always laughed when people suggested it. Himiko was a free spirit and never liked being told what to do – she never could have tolerated the leash put on dogs of the military." He said, dancing around Hinata's question before sighing.

"I know your mother, my dear, because I was her teacher in alchemy." He confessed abruptly.

Hinata's eyes widened. She heard Al gasp beside her and Ed's sharp intake of breath but was too focused on Marcoh to pay them any mind.

"She was only fourteen when I stumbled across her by chance – the girl was brimming with talent. Her parents had already been searching for a skilled alchemist to teach her when I approached them." Marcoh continued.

'My grandparents.' Hinata thought, her insides doing a little jig of joy. The girl had always been curious about her mother's side of the family and now was her chance to get some information.

"W-what were their names?" She asked.

Marcoh, lost in memories, did not question why Hinata didn't know the names of her maternal grandparents.

"Yoshi and Mila Yamazaki, your grandfather came from a distant country, I believe, which is why his name was foreign. In any case I taught Himiko and helped her reach her full potential, her specialty was water alchemy – she could manipulate it to such a degree that it could have been a part of her."

That last part got Ed's attention but he respectfully stood quiet.

"She studied under me for three years, before her parents died unexpectedly. She left to bury them and that was the last I saw of her for several years. I heard she traveled all over the world, helping people and getting into trouble. I saw Himiko one last time, a few short years before the war in Ishbal broke out. She made it very clear that she was worried about the growing hostility between Amestris and Ishbal since she had friends in the latter." Marcoh sighed. "Himiko told me she was going over there to check on them – and that was the last anyone heard from her. I heard rumors that she'd been killed, but a body was ever found."

Hinata sat back, digesting the information, and then said softly.

"Mama lived. But she eventually died when I was nearly four. She just got sick and couldn't get better, or at least that was what my nurse told me."

"I see." Marcoh said, his shoulders sagging.

It was very quiet for a few minutes – everyone was lost in their own thoughts.

'He says Grandfather and Grandmother died – did Mama not tell him they had been killed? Maybe she didn't want to get him involved.' Hinata thought to herself.

"I-is it possible to find the friends my mother w-wanted to check on are still alive?" She asked. If possible she wanted to trace her mother's last steps in Amestris, it could be a big help to tracking down the killer.

Maroch flinched.

"That's very unlikely. Most, if not all, of them are probably dead. The friends Himiko referred to were Ishbalans." He said wearily.

Oh.

Hinata's face fell as Marcoh sighed for the umpteenth time and tiredly rubbed his forehead with one hand, as if tending to a headache.

"That Eastern Rebellion massacre." He groaned. "Women, children, it didn't matter, everyone was killed. What's worse is that there wasn't even a reason – all the military would say is that the people of Ishbal spoke up and defied the system." He let out a bitter scoff. "I couldn't take it anymore and deserted the battlefield, when I left I took all of the research with me; their books, my notes. I have a suspicion that the military is still searching for them"

"That's it!" Ed exclaimed, getting up from his chair, hands braced on top of the table. There was a sort of desperate eagerness to his expression as he explained that Mustang had sent them and he was researching Human Transmutation.

Maroch flat out told him "No" saying that he had dirtied his hands on that research and would not allow any alchemist to take a look at it.

Hinata was getting worried. What was so horrible about the Stone that Marcoh kept referring to it like it was the devil's work?

As Ed sharply told Marcoh that he had a right to the research due to his status as a State Alchemist Ryoga rubbed his head against Hinata's arm, as if sensing her uneasiness. She smiled softly and petted the cat between the ears, earning a loud purr. She noted that her new pet didn't look the least bit ruffled or concerned about the argument going on between Ed and Marcoh.

"You're way too small to concern yourself with that." Marcoh said simply. Al quickly got to Ed and held his elder brother back as the doctor calmly continued; voicing his belief that Ed had simply been drawn into the Military by the monetary gain and research privileges.

That got Ed's attention and he wasted no time correcting the older alchemist.

"I know what we're doing is stupid, okay! But it isn't your problem!" Ed insisted.

Marcoh didn't look convinced but before Ed could speak again Al stopped him short.

"Doctor Maroch, a few years ago you treated some babies in Xenotime. I just want you to know that they're okay now. The Red Water is gone." Al said.

Marcoh looked away and Hinata frowned, rubbing at her temple as Ed suddenly left his seat and started to inspect the wall. She had been too absorbed in getting information about her mother to notice it but now that the young Hyuga had finished her conversation she became aware of a . . . presence.

That was the best word to describe it since Hinata couldn't find another word that could do so better. It wasn't like the Red Water, which made her feel faint and nauseous, no, this time it was more like a dull headache. The ache was accompanied by a feeling of discomfort – whatever it was that she was sensing Hinata didn't like it.

It felt wrong.

Hearing the sound of alchemy being performed Hinata looked up and saw that Ed had opened a hole in the wall, revealing a hiding place that Marcoh had used to store what was undoubtedly sensitive research.

Marcoh was understandably shocked at first when he saw Ed didn't need circles to transmute, but quickly became tense when Ed picked up a vial containing red liquid.

"Is this Red Water from Xenotime? No, it's much clearer." Ed muttered.

Hinata got up from where she had been sitting and walked over to them, Ryoga clutched in her arms – she knew the red liquid Ed was inspecting was the thing making her head ache.

"Stop!" Marcoh said frantically.

Al swooped in and picked Ed up from behind, lecturing him on how he couldn't just take whatever was in that vial. Edward, predictively, started to throw a tantrum of sorts, insisting that Maroch was on to something.

His shouting did not helped Hinata who was trying to concentrate on what she was sensing.

The most prominent thing about it was that feeling of wrongness, like whatever it was it shouldn't exist. This made Hinata want to avoid it, she had an instinctual feeling that whatever it was it would only bring suffering.

In the midst of his struggling the vial flew out of Ed's hand to land on the floor. The vial shattered, freeing its contents, the red substance quickly condensed and formed an oval shaped stone.

Hinata bit her lip, and kept her distance when the Elrics went to inspect it, deciding to take a look out the window. Her brow knitted with confusion when she saw the dark car, she didn't remember seeing it parked there when they came in. Was it a patient?

As her friends conversed with each other Hinata silently activated her Byakugan to get a look inside the van.

Three men dressed in military wear was inside the vehicle – and one of them she recognized as a State Alchemist that had stayed by the Fuhrer's side during Ed's assessment.

"Everyone!" Hinata said hurriedly, turning around. "We have to leave, there are military men o-outside!"

Ed looked up, alarmed, before yelping and scrambling backwards. Hinata was confused by his reaction until he spoke. Marcoh had also flinched back.

"What happened to your eyes?!" Ed squeaked

Al's reaction was more composed.

"I'm guessing that's the Byakugan . . ." Al said, getting to his feet and going over to stand beside her at the window.

Hinata nodded quickly, and allowed her blood-limit to deactivate, her white eyes returning to normal.

Ryoga watched Ed as the older Elric picked up the stone and recovered from his momentary shock.

"Alright then, we have to move." Ed said and looked at Marcoh.

The poor man was terrified, sweat shone on his brow and he looked a hair's breath away from a nervous breakdown.

"Brother, one of them is a State Alchemist! They're coming up the steps!" Al said, his voice alarmed. Hinata flinched internally, she had forgotten to mention that little detail.

Ed swore. There was no way they'd get out without being spotted now.

Then door the opened.

Hinata immediately focused on the State Alchemist who was flanked by a soldier on either side. Tall with a moustache and intimidating demeanor his gaze took in the room, settled on Maroch for a moment, and then finally rested on the Stone in Ed's hand.

"The Sage's Stone, the Celestial Stone, the Great Elixir, the Red Teacher, the Next Element . . . did you ever think that the substance of so many names would be found in the form of a Stone?" The man said, taking said Stone easily from Ed, who, for once, was too slow to react in time.

"B-brigadier Basque." Ed managed to get out.

Maroch seemed to regain some of his nerve and said. "Brigadier Basque? You've wormed your way up."

Ed stiffened as Basque turned his attention to Maroh, Hinata petted Ryoga to sooth the feline that had draped itself over her shoulders and was baring needle sharp teeth at the huge State Alchemist. Evidently, Ryoga did not view Basque as someone to be trifled with.

"You're damn right I have, Crystal Alchemist." Basque said. "And now you'll hand over the Philosopher's Stone and its research over to me."

Hinata's eyes widened as Ed and Al gasped softly.

"That thing is a Philosopher's Stone?" The older Elric questioned.

"An experimental leap at best, roulette at worst. There's no telling when it will reach its limit and backfire. Compared to the real Stone it's unstable and defective, but it did serve to amplify our abilities during the Rebellion and make us extremely powerful." Basque explained.

'The Rebellion . . . Ed and Al told me about that. It was used in Ishbal!' Hinata thought.

Marcoh's eyes were closed in shame.

"You the military hasn't just researched the Stone, it's actually tried to create it?" Al said, shocked.

"Never mind it wasn't perfect, it worked! That means the concept isn't flawed, the Stone can be created! Where are the design specs?!" Ed said in a rush, his eyes filled with desperate hope.

Basque curtly told Ed that the Stone fell under his jurisdiction and since it was so hugely classified he couldn't permit Ed access. The young State Alchemist stared at the ground with anger and frustration.

Hinata stiffened when she felt Basque's eyes land on her.

"As for you, young lady I can't permit you to walk away now that you've heard this much." His eyes narrowed. "You'll be coming along, I need to keep you from talking."

Hinata did not like the implications of his words and Ryoga let out warning hiss when Basque took a step toward his mistress.

"Wait, you can't do this!" Al said, stepping closer to Hinata.

"She has nothing to do with this, leave her be!" Ed demanded, stepped up to Basque.

"Step aside. Legally this girl doesn't exist, she has no rights and to be frank, being that she's Himiko's daughter I can't let her walk away. That woman's prowess in alchemy was unmatched in her lifetime, perhaps her daughter has inherited that same prodigious skill."

'He's going to experiment on me.' Hinata realized, feeling sick. He had the same eyes as the Cloud Ninja who had attempted to kidnap her when she was three years old – eyes that contained greed for the power in her blood.

Basque shoved Ed aside and reached over Al to grab her arm, the younger Elric made a move as if to stop him but Hinata put a hand on his forearm.

"Al, it's okay." She said gently. Ed and Al could not afford to disobey Basque, the consequences would be horrible for both. At best Ed might just lose his State Certification, and at worse . . .

No, she did not want to think about it.

Hinata untangled Ryoga from her shoulder with one hand and handed him to Al.

"Please take care of him."

"But –," Al said, trying to object as Basque let Hinata toward the door with a firm grip on her arm.

"Please, don't do this!" Marcoh begged as the two soldiers grabbed him and forcibly propelled him after Basque.

Hinata close her eyes as her mother's teacher shamelessly begged to be released. If things went well she might be able to escape later on, hopefully she could take Maroch with her . . .

They were taken to the black car outside Maroh's house, a small crowd of villagers whom Marcoh had treated, watched in dismay as he was forced into the car.

Basque slid Hinata in after him and then sat down next to her, she looked up in time to see Ed and Al watching from the top of the steps, Ryoga yowling with indignation and fury in the latter's arms.

As the car drove Hinata looked to Marcoh who was trembling, she reached out and placed a hand on top of his, the man had been holding his hands together and looked up at her. He seemed surprised.

Hinata smiled in what she hoped was an encouraging way.

Marcoh's trembling stopped, and he grasp her hand in his own, his eyes were closed and Hinata deduced that he was praying.

The car came to a sudden stop with a jerk and Hinata looked up, she was able to make out the figure of a man in front of the car before everything was engulfed in steam.

Hinata choked and coughed, the leather seat beneath her dissolving into nothing, and fell to the ground on her stomach. Blinking, the girl looked up and saw Ed and Al a few feet away, both frozen in their tracks. Ed was staring at something over her head so Hinata propped herself up on her hands and looked over her shoulder.

It was the man she had seen at the head of the car. He was on the tall side, with gray hair and brown skin. He wore shades that covered his eyes from view but she could make out the pale "X" shaped scar on his face. Basque was to her right and Marcoh to her left, both just coming around as the man approached the former.

The two soldiers who had been in the front of the car were nowhere to be seen.

The scarred man focused his attention on Basque, and started to take, slow, purposeful steps toward the State Alchemist.

Hinata watched, numb as Basque stood up with profound confidence to meet his opponent. The stone clutched tightly in one hand.

"Iron Blood Alchemist, Basque Gran." Scarred Man said simply as he came closer to his quarry.

'His intent to kill is all over the place.' Hinata thought, frightened and with good reason. Scarred Man reminded her of a jounin because of the calm, reassured posture of his body – he had experience in killing, and a lot of it.

"You're timing is horrible," Basque Gran said, his guard completely dismantled by arrogance and pride, as he held up the stone. "Just when I got my hands on one of these -,"

He never finished his sentence.

With breath taking speed Scarred Man lunged forward, and his palm struck the general's face with enough force to push him back, then Hinata saw the red light.

Ed had seen it too, Scarred Man was performing a transmutation.

"Get away!" Ed screamed but it was too late.

The red light traveled over the Scarred Man's tattooed arm and rushed into Basque's face. A moment later blood gushed out of the older man's mouth, ears, nose, and even the back of his head.

Hinata did not have to use her Byakugan to know that the strange, deadly, man had just made Gran's brain explode into bloody scraps. Being rather close to the gory scene some blood got on Hinata's face, though the girl was hardly aware of it.

The young Hyuga's time as a ninja may not have been very long, but it was enough for her to see a good share of death. Hinata was able to regain her focus faster than the Elric Brothers and quickly saw that Ed was in a state of shock. She realized that this must have been his time bearing witness to cold blooded murder.

Scarred Man looked at his right hand, which was smeared with the blood of his recent victim. He looked at Hinata for a moment, making her stiffen, then Ed who reacted the same way. But finally he locked his gaze on Marcoh.

"Crystal Alchemist Doctor Marcoh. I heard you were dead, I'll have to take special care in erasing you from this world . . . for you transgressions." Scarred Man commented stoically as he walked pass Hinata.

As she hurried to her feet she saw Marcoh's eyes widened at the killer, seeing something. Then he smiled sadly.

"I see then, go ahead. How can I protest?" He said

"In the name of the almighty one, thou shall perish . . ." Scarred Man said, his right hand quickly closing the distance from Marcoh's face.

Hinata started to take a step forward when Ed beat her to the punch and grabbed Marcoh's arm, pulling him away and down the street. This prompted Scarred Man to follow them, calling out that Ed would not escape death either.

She made a move to follow but then Al was at her side, Ryoga tucked in one arm.

"Come with me, I know where he's heading." Al said, grabbing her wrist with his free hand and tugged Hinata towards a side street.

As they ran, Al looked at her. Hinata felt his concern and had the feeling he was staring at the blood staining her face.

"Are you alright? That was a pretty awful thing to see, and you were so close to it. . ." He said hesitantly.

"I-I'll be alright, Al." Hinata assured him, and then added softly. "Thanks for asking, Alphonse."

He was pleasantly surprised at her last words, but then he noticed the tunnel entrance under the stone bridge and it was back to business.

"Here," He said, leading her down it. Hinata saw from the entrance in front of her that the street beyond was deserted. Al handed Ryoga back to her and drew a transmutation circle on the wall near the entrance.

Hinata's keen ears picked up Ed and Marcoh's labored breathing and she alerted Al. Moments later the younger Elric ushered his brother and the doctor inside before sealing the entrance off in order to hide.

Ed and Marcoh panted from their desperate run for life, and everything was calm for a moment before Hinata saw the first stream of red light.

"Move!" She shouted, and everyone backed away as the Scarred Man blew up the wall like it was nothing.

As their attacker advanced on them the three teens made one last desperate effort to run away, Al picking up Maroch, but the killer easily blocked the exit by using his alchemy to cave it in with debris.

'So, its fight or die then.' Hinata thought to herself, worried.

Their prospects for survival did not look good.

Hope you liked it!

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