I'm so sorry I didn't get this chapter done in time for New Year's, I had quite a lot going on in my personal life and suffered a bit of writers block especially with the end of this chapter, but finally it is done. Now that Christmas and New Year are done with I hope to have more time to write and hopefully the story will be updated fairly regularly, but at the end of the day it will get updated when it gets updated, and that's when I have a chapter finished. I won't upload a chapter until I am at least 99.9% happy with it and that's because I don't want to be producing sub-standard material for all you lovely readers. I must thank RisingDarkAngel for her continued support and kind messages, they really do put a smile on my face, and also Shikamaru-Kagome for their very kind review. Big hugs for both of you! *hug* And if you want to review after the end of this chapter, please please do, I really do appreciate every review/comment I get, and if you're really good I may even attempt some art for this story...

Chapter Ten

Match Abandoned

A week had come and gone since the half successful dinner. In that time Alphonse and Paninya had been getting along famously, much to Winry's pleasure, and they would often be found discussing witches and history. Winry and Alphonse had been growing closer too; Winry once accompanying him to rugby training, and Alphonse even came to watch Winry at cheerleading practice. Though he could see she didn't enjoy it, he didn't want to say anything for fear of upsetting her. She'd had more than enough upset in her life already, and Alphonse was determined that she not have any more. Protecting her from Edward was his main priority, and as far as he was aware, Edward had not made good on his threat to return to Winry's, but that was only because Winry hadn't told him about the original nightmare, and the three others involving Edward she had since. She too, didn't want to say anything for fear of upsetting him. She could see that Alphonse and Edward's relationship was civil at best, and she didn't want to do or say anything that might cause them to fight, or worse, for Alphonse to think she was cheating on him.

Alphonse had certainly made an impression on the rugby team, mostly for the good, but Selim and Kimbley were irked by his natural talent, and did everything they could to scupper the boy. Eventually though, Kimbley had to admit defeat, and giving in to Russell's demands, included Alphonse in the team for that night's game. Not to start mind you, Kimbley wasn't prepared to give Alphonse that much credit yet. That evening, as what appeared to be the whole town turned out to watch the game, Winry found Alphonse all geared up, pacing nervously in the car park.

"Ooh, look at you!" She cooed as she walked over to him. "You look hot in a rugby shirt."

Alphonse embraced her and they kissed. It was only then that he noticed she was wearing jeans and a grey jacket, not her cheerleading uniform as he had expected.

"I thought you were supposed to be cheerleading tonight? Did Elicia keep you off the team?"

"Nope, I quit. I'm a quitter." Winry beamed.

"Don't say that, you are most certainly not a quitter, Winry Rockbell. You suffered a great loss which changed you; you're not the same person. You should be looking ahead, starting over. Not quitting, entirely different thing OK?"

"OK, Al," Winry chuckled.

Alphonse's face, if it was possible, turned more serious and nervous than it had been a moment ago. Beads of sweat began to appear on his forehead, and he turned bright red as he nervously rubbed his neck.

"Listen, I hope you don't think this is too soon, or too weird, but I, uh, I wanted you to have this."

Alphonse drew his left hand out of his pocket, upon which Winry noticed was a silver ring identical to Edward's on his middle finger, and opened it to reveal an antique-looking, ornately decorated necklace.

"Oh my God. It's beautiful." Winry breathed, barely able to speak she was so awed by its beauty.

"It's something that I've had since forever, and, well, I've never wanted to give it to anyone until now. I'd be honoured if you'd wear it for me, for... good luck."

Winry nodded her approval; her ability to talk had abandoned her at Alphonse's gallant gesture. No one had ever given her anything like this, and she was genuinely touched that someone would think so much of her to give her such a gift. Her eyes never left the necklace as Alphonse held it up in the moonlight for her to see properly before he gently placed it round her neck and did up the clasp, Winry holding her hair out of the way for him. A faint aroma reached her nose as she looked down and fingered at the stunning piece of jewellery she now wore.

"Is that rose I can smell?"

"No, it's, uh, it's an herb. Do you like it?" Alphonse asked anxiously.

"I love it," she confirmed.

"Also I... I wanted to thank you for pushing me to join the rugby team. I'm glad I did it."

Winry smiled. "We're a pair; I quit, you start."

"Right. We're a work in progress, we'll figure it out." Alphonse chuckled as Winry pulled him into a tight hug, and then silenced him with a kiss.


A large crowd had gathered to watch the game; word had gotten around of a new kid in town who could play rugby like a pro, and hopes were high that he would be the magic talisman that would end the Resembool Ranger's poor run and lead them into glory. The excitement had already reached fever-pitch, even though it was a good hour until kick off, and Kimbley was more than happy to bask in a moment of glory, and give an uplifting "battle speech". He took his position in front of the small but packed stand.

"Alright, settle down, settle down!" Kimbley shouted in his authorative don't-mess-with-me-I'm-a-teacher voice, which soon calmed the crowds enough to allow him to speak. "Now let's be honest, in the past we used to let other teams come into our town and we would barely put up a fight. But that is about to change. Judging from the crowds tonight, I can see that word has gotten around of our new golden boy; a new openside flanker, who starts tonight and who I know will blow the competition out of the water!"

Selim, along with the rest of the team, was standing behind Kimbley, flanking him some personal guard.

"This is ridiculous," he whispered to Russell who was standing next to him. "He can't start Elric, he's only been in the team a week!"

"Like I said before Selim, Kimbley isn't the only decision maker," Russell answered brusquely.

Kimbley, unaware of the dissention in his ranks, continued with his speech.

"Now there have been plenty of you, I'm sure, that have been waiting for us to put a check in the win column and I have one thing to tell you: these Ranger's take no prisoners, and tonight the Central Lions will be the first to go down!"

Kimbley threw his arms into the air as the crowd roared in approval. Whilst Kimbley revelled in the applause of the crowd the team dispersed, Selim bumping straight into Rose Thomas.

"Hey, Selim," she smiled not so innocently. "You look down. What's wrong?"

"Nothing that concerns you, Thomas."

Ling suddenly appeared behind Selim, a bottle of vodka in his hand. "Hey, don't talk to Rose like that, she's only asking how you are."

"You really want to pick a fight with me Ling? Here in front of everyone?"

Rose rather gallantly stepped in between the two boys, who sizing each other up like rutting stags. "Guys, just cool it. Ling, get lost I can handle myself."

Ling looked crestfallen, but began to turn away, just as Selim cut through his last straw.

"Don't go too far, Ling, you can have her when I'm done."

A red mist descended upon Ling, the vodka bottle fell forgotten from his hand and smashed upon the ground. In one smooth movement he turned around and landed a punch right into Selim's jaw. Selim recovered quickly enough though, and threw a punch of his own, and soon enough the two boys were wrestling each other, throwing wild punches and kicks everywhere. Rose was screaming at them to stop, whilst a small crowd gathered around them. Selim managed to throw Ling to the floor just as Alphonse got through the crowd and pulled him away from the boy, Winry kneeling down to tend to her brother. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw what he was planning; and before she could stop him Ling had grabbed the broken neck of the bottle and thrashed out at Selim.

"Ling, no!"

Alphonse sensed Ling coming before Winry screamed, and pushed Selim out of harm's way, he instead bearing the brunt of Ling's attack. Ling knelt, panting for breath, and stared in shock at the deep gash he had made in Alphonse's hand. Alphonse too, was transfixed by the wound on his hand, while Russell came to take Selim away from the scene, and Winry pulling her brother away to see if he was hurt.

"You're bleeding, Ling, you need to see a doctor."

"I'm fine."

"Yeah, you smell fine," she said angrily. "How much have you been drinking?"

"Just drop it, alright?" Ling shouted as he ran off.

Exasperated Winry turned to check if Alphonse was injured. She could see blood dripping from his fingers.

"Al, your hand!"

"No, no, it's fine, honestly." Alphonse desperately tried to pull his hand away from Winry, as she just as desperately tried to take hold of it and examine it.

"It is not fine, Al. Is it deep? Just let me see it and I can clean it up for you!"

Forcefully she pulled at his hand and looked at his palm, which didn't even have so much as a paper cut, let alone a deep, freely bleeding gash.

Winry looked confused, she had definitely seen the blood on his hands, and she was sure there had been a wound, she was sure Ling had cut him.

"But... I saw you get hurt, Al, there was blood everywhere..."

"Ling missed, it's not my blood. I'm fine." Alphonse breathed a sigh of relief that Winry had not seen his wound heal itself; his secret was still safe. But at the same time he caught his breath in apprehension that Winry would not believe his story.

"No, no, no," Winry shook her head. "I saw it; the glass cut your hand. It was bleeding..."

Alphonse took hold of Winry's shoulders and looked her in the eye. "Winry, it's OK, it was a close call but Ling missed. I'm OK. Look, it's almost kick off time, so I'll see you after the game. OK?"

Winry wasn't convinced. She had seen Ling cut him, she was sure of it; she'd seen a wound on his hand. Even if Ling had missed him, where had the blood come from? Ling hadn't been bleeding heavily enough for it to be his blood, and besides Alphonse hadn't touched him. Deciding that now was not the best time for an argument she let it lie and wished Alphonse luck for the game.

"Hey! Where have you been hiding?" Paninya called to Winry as she wandered over to see what all the ruckus had been about, already in her cheerleading uniform, her Automail legs shining in the floodlights. Paninya wasn't ashamed of her legs like many people with Automail, who often sought to hide it. In fact she proudly displayed them whenever she could as she felt lucky to have them; they enabled her to walk on her own two feet, and she was proud to show off how she could stand tall, a trait which Winry greatly admired her for.

"Just the woman I wanted to see. Can I ask you a question, and you give me a serious, no-joke response?"

Winry sounded more serious than Paninya had ever heard her, and concerned she immediately gave her friend her full and utmost attention.

"Of course, what's the matter?"

"The bad feeling you had before, when you touched Alphonse..."

"Oh, Winry, forget I said that. The whole dinner party totally won me over..."

"No, Paninya, I'm being serious here. What was it? Did you see something, or was it just a feeling?"

Paninya thought for a moment, whilst Winry waited anxiously for answer she knew wouldn't come. Paninya wondered if she should lie to her friend; reassure her that her previous misgivings about Alphonse were unfounded and nothing to dwell on. But she could sense that Winry wanted the truth, whether she wanted to hear it or not.

She sighed, "It wasn't clear, like a picture. Like today, I keep seeing those numbers I told you about, 3, 10, 66, I can visualise them clearly. But when I touched Alphonse, it was a feeling... It vibrated though me, and it was cold, and it... it..."

"It what, Paninya?"

"It was death. It's what I imagine death to be like."

Both girls just stared at each other, both afraid of the truth, but both glad that it had been told; Paninya glad that she no longer carried that burden alone, and Winry glad that she was not crazy for thinking something was amiss with Alphonse. She knew that Paninya wouldn't lie to her, not about something like that.


Winry was making her way to the stands, Paninya having left her to join the rest of the cheerleaders, when all of a sudden someone grabbed her and pulled her behind the bleachers.

"Hello, Winry. Fancy seeing you here," crooned a smooth voice.

"Shitting hell, Edward! You scared me! What are you doing here?"

Edward smiled at her apologetically. "I'm hiding from Elicia."

"Why?" replied Winry abruptly, angry at him for grabbing hold of her and scaring the living daylights out of her.

"I needed a break. She talks more than I can listen, and I'm a good listener."

"That could be a sign, you know."

"Well, she's awfully young," Edward stated, seemingly forgetting that Winry thought he wasn't much older than Elicia.

Winry looked perplexed. "She's only like a year younger than you."

"I mean I don't see a future for us; I think she'd drive me crazy."

"Elicia can be really shallow and immature at times, but we've been friends since we were babies and that means something to me, so I will not have you badmouth my friends in front of me."

Edward cowered for a moment at the dangerous look in her eyes, knowing in that instant that while she may not be able to cause him serious harm, she would make damn sure she hurt him. So in that moment he decided to make his move.

"Duly noted. I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable, Winry, that's not my intention."

"Yes it is, otherwise you wouldn't put an alternate meaning behind everything you say."

Edward sighed in well feigned defeat. "You're right. I do have other intentions, but so do you."

"Really?" Winry rolled her eyes.

"Uh huh. I see them. You want me." Edward moved a step closer to her, and Winry in turn moved a step back.

"Excuse me?"

Edward continued to move closer to Winry, and this time she didn't move away. His golden eyes were locked on her sapphire ones as he began to work his compulsion on her.

"I get to you, you find yourself drawn to me." He purred in his most seductive voice. "You think about me even when you don't want to think about me. And right now... you want to kiss me."

He leaned towards her, thinking his work was done, his right hand resting on her cheek he closed his eyes as he prepared for the kiss, but instead he was unprepared for Winry's hand as he slapped him across the face. He reeled backwards, his hand instinctively going up to his face, and he looked at her in shock and anger. Winry stood facing him, her eyes ablaze with fury and her whole body shaking with rage. God, if only she had her wrench, then she could have really let him have it!

"What the hell are you playing at Edward?" She screamed at him. "I don't know what kind of game you're trying to play with Alphonse, but I am not going to be a part of it. And I don't know what happened in the past, but let's get one thing straight... I am not that Winry!"

With that Winry stormed off. Edward watched her leave with a slight grin on his face, which soon turned into a great toothy smirk. Winry had pissed him off, and now someone was going to pay. This is going to be a challenge, he thought. And there was nothing Edward Elric liked better than a challenge.


Alphonse was just about to enter the changing rooms when Russell caught up with him at the door.

"You going to be alright to play, Alphonse?" he asked, silver eyes bright with concern both for Alphonse as a friend and as his star player.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine." Alphonse showed Russell his healed hand for good measure.

Russell smiled, glad that Alphonse was uninjured. "It was good of you to step in back there."

"Someone's got to watch his back," Alphonse shrugged modestly. "It's the least I could do, for Winry and Ling, given all that they've been through."

"Well I'm glad you're there to keep an eye on him, he could use a male role-model, I just wish he'd come to me. Anyway, best of luck for tonight, you'll be fine."

Russell shook Alphonse's hand before walking into the dressing room. Alphonse was about to follow him, but he froze and stomach dropped like a stone when he heard sarcastic applause behind him.

"Well isn't that nice?" Edward drawled as he approached his brother. "Alphonse joins a team, makes a friend. It's all so 'rah rah, go team, yeah!'"

"Not tonight, Edward. I'm done with you." Alphonse didn't even look at Edward, instead he just walked over the threshold of the changing rooms. But Edward wasn't going to give up that easily.

"Nice trick with Winry. Let me guess... vervain in the necklace? I don't know how you could have the gall to give her something of mother's, after what you did." Alphonse winced as if he had been physically struck, but turned to face Edward, angry at him for reminding him of something he'd rather forget. "I'll admit, I was surprised; it's been a long time since anyone's been able to resist my compulsion. Where'd you get it?" Edward finished menacingly.

"Like I'd tell you that. I've got to have one trump card at least."

"Well I suppose I could just seduce her the old-fashioned way. Or I could just... eat her." Edward grinned wickedly.

"You're not going to hurt her, Ed."

"No?"

"No. And you know why? Because deep down inside you, there is a part of you that feels for her. I was worried that you had no humanity left inside of you; that you truly had become the monster that you pretend to be."

"Who's pretending?"

"Then kill me, Ed."

"Well, Al, I'm... I'm tempted."

"No you're not. You've had lifetimes to kill me and yet, here I am, still alive. And there you are; you're still haunting me. After 146 years! Winry Pierce is dead, and you hate me because you loved her, and you torture me because you still do. And that, Edward, is your humanity."

It was most unfortunate that Kimbley chose that moment to come out of the changing rooms and find Alphonse, as he was about to find out to the cost of life that you don't want to interrupt a conversation between vampires.

"Elric! What the hell are you doing out here? You've got a game to play!"

Edward looked at Alphonse, standing still as a statue, his face impassive. "If that's my humanity, then what's this?"

Edward was instantly upon Kimbley, who didn't even have time to cry out, so quickly had Edward sunk his fangs into his neck, his eyes wide with shock and pain as he was drained of his blood.

"No!" screamed Alphonse, as Edward greedily fed upon Kimbley, whose eyes had dulled by the time Edward dropped his body to the ground as if he were discarding an empty drinks can. He looked at Alphonse, who stood staring in horror at his brother, eyes dark and Kimbley's blood staining his teeth crimson while it dripped steadily from his chin.

"Anyone. Anytime. Any place." And with that Edward disappeared into the night.

For a moment Alphonse stood frozen in shock, staring at the point where his brother had vanished, before he came to his senses and went to Kimbley's aid. He knew that it would be too late for him, but still he had to try.

"Somebody help!" he called as he pressed a hand to Kimbley's neck, attempting to staunch the little remaining blood that was still trying to escape from the man. The irony tang of blood was creeping into Alphonse's nostrils, all his predatory senses telling him that here was a free meal, take it before the killer returned to claim it. With well practiced effort Alphonse pushed those thoughts out of his mind as Russell came rushing out of the changing rooms to see what had happened.

"I found him lying here," Alphonse lied. "Someone must have attacked him. Call an ambulance, quickly!"


The ambulance arrived too late to save Kimbley, and instead of taking him to the hospital it took him straight to the morgue. Police had already cordoned off the area and were questioning Alphonse and other potential witnesses. Word had soon gotten around that someone had been attacked, most likely by whatever had been behind the previous attacks, and a crowd was beginning to gather around the changing rooms. Despite a few mutterings from the more insensitive players and members of the public, it was clear that the evening's game was cancelled. Paninya, along with the other cheerleaders, had found herself drawn into the crowd that was milling around where Kimbley's body had been removed. Though she hadn't liked Kimbley she was still shaken by his sudden death, and walking away from the scene, she saw something that made her very marrow freeze. On the entrance gate to the stand right next to the changing rooms was a sign; gate 3. Nearby was a police car, bearing the insignia RPD 10, and parked in bay number 66. Paninya shivered. 3. 10. 66. Shaking her head and fighting off fear, she left the ground, wanting to be home, safe and away from anything to do with witches or psychic premonitions. This couldn't be happening to her, could it?

Later, after Alphonse had finished being questioned by the police, he found Winry scared and upset in the car park. He put his arms around her, and she began to cry.

"What kind of animal could be doing this?" she sobbed. "Why would it come out of the woods and attack someone in the middle of town?"

"I don't know." Alphonse said as he soothingly stroked her hair. Winry composed herself, and looked up at Alphonse, her eyes red from crying.

"I was so sure that you cut your hand. I saw it."

Alphonse sighed; clearly she had not believed his story. "I'm fine. We're fine, that's all that matters."

Alphonse and Winry stood hugging for a while, reassuring each other that they were unhurt and still there, before Winry called for a taxi to take them both home. It had been an eventful evening for both of them, and though it wasn't late and the journey didn't take long Winry fell asleep on Alphonse's shoulder, who smiled as he looked down at her, truly grateful that she already trusted him and felt safe enough in his presence to be so close to him, and he brushed a stray hair out of her sleeping face. He regretted having to wake her as they pulled up at her house, so peaceful did she look rested against him. Despite Winry's protestations Alphonse walked her to her door, and wouldn't get back in the taxi until she waved him away from the living room window. When he arrived home Alphonse went straight to bed, exhausted from all that had transpired that evening, but finding that he couldn't sleep he turned to his diary.

"I thought that there was hope that somewhere, deep inside, something inside Edward was still human, still normal. But I was wrong. There's nothing human left in Edward. No good, no kindness. No love. Only a monster who must be stopped."

After explaining to Riza what had happened that night, as she had only got vague news reports and friends calling with various rumours, Winry went to bed tired and worn out, and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Out for the count, Winry was not aware of the shadow that fell across the moonlight that shone through her window; was not aware of the figure that silently crept into her room. Edward stood over Winry for a while, watching her sleep with fascination dancing in his eyes. Whether he seduced her or killed her, he would have this girl; Edward Elric always got what he wanted. He walked over to her, and as gently as Alphonse had, brushed away the hair that had fallen in front of her sleeping face. Winry stirred in her sleep and opened her bleary eyes, thinking Ling was trying to wake her, but found she was alone, the only movement the curtains dancing in the night breeze drifting in through her open window. Thinking she must have dreamt it, she turned over and fell back asleep.