A/N: Okay. I've officially made my decision: I'm going to be asking one question that I want my faithful reviewers to answer in either 1) their reviews, or 2) PM's.
Q's and A's! Here's the question: Did you guys pick up the symbolism of Gel's choice last chapter? I know I already told one of you, but the rest of you…well, just wanna see if you guys picked up on it.
Anyway…here, we'll see the re-entry of someone who's been in the story fairly recently. Guess who it is! Or…no, wait. Read the chapter! –ignores glares from the main characters in the story –
ON WITH THE SHOW!!
Second Arrival
I gently rubbed the top of my head against the back of Gel's jaw as we walked out of the building, Cloudy chasing her heels playfully. Blue-greed eyes were still sparkling with tears, though her face remained dry. When we walked to the center of the street, she turned around and the cat stopped short, sitting down and looking up at her curiously.
"Cloudy," she started softly, kneeling down to pet the top of his head. "I'm sorry…you have to stay here." I felt her trembling, and even the furry menace seemed somewhat concerned. Or was that confusion? I can't tell too well with animals… "I know you can hunt on your own, and I'm sure you'll find new friends, and…"
I placed my tail around the back of her neck, purring gently. Leaving someone you know well behind wasn't easy for me, either, and I could only imagine how bad it was for a little human girl.
She stood up, turning around. Soft fingers shakily petted my side, tears rolling down her cheeks. I looked back when the cat meowed piteously, seeing the almost distraught look in his eyes. He was standing up, too, with one paw raised.
You don't want her to go, do you?
I turned my attention back to my human friend and started leaning gently against her neck, purring some more.
"Bye, Cloudy…"
"Murr…bye," I heard the cat garble out before scurrying sounds signified his departure.
She stood there crying silently for a few seconds, then briskly turned in the direction we had come and started walking quickly. I knew her choice might hurt now, but if things continue progressing the way it's been the whole time, then she'll heal…in time.
After a few moments, though, a military officer mysteriously walked out into the open and bumped into Gel, almost knocking her back.
Who the hell…?
I looked up at him and my eyes bulged. I felt her stiffen when she looked at him, as well.
New Envy, in the guise of an officer, looked down with surprise and offered her a hand. "Sorry, didn't see you there." After he pulled her up, a strange look came onto his face. "Hey…haven't we met somewhere before?"
"Y-Yeah," she stuttered, wiping away tears from her face. "At the cabin…you're New Envy."
A broad grin spread on his face and his blue eyes temporarily flashed purple. "Oh yeah! One of Doctor Knox's patients?" He gently patted the back of her shoulder when she nodded. "Good that you're doing better, then. But…" His grin dissipated, blue eyes narrowing. "What are you doing back in Briggs?"
Again, I felt her stiffen. "How did you know I was from here?" she asked quietly, placing a hand over me protectively (which I appreciated).
"You're Gel, right? Greed told me about you." He looked around, probably checking if anyone was watching. When he was sure the coast was clear, he shifted back to that form he revealed back at the cabin. "Anyway…you still haven't answered my question."
"I…I was hoping to see my parents…"
"And they weren't here?" She shook her head and his shoulders sagged faintly in what I assume was sympathy (he kept a curious yet understanding look on his face). "I'm not surprised. There was an evacuation about two days before the war hit this general area." He then looked at me, and I swear the weirdest sensation ran up my spine. "What's that on your shoulder?"
Before she answered I dug a paw-full of claws into her shoulder as my little warning. Blue-green eyes turned to me, and I slowly shook my head before looking back at my replacement.
"Oh…he's just a friend."
That should be okay, I guess…
He stared at me for a few more seconds, a flicker of suspicion temporarily lighting his eyes. Then he shrugged, looking off to his left as he placed a hand on his hip. "So…where are you wanting to go next? I can give you an escort, if you'd like."
"No thanks," she answered a little too quickly in my estimation, stepping to the side to walk around him. "I'll just walk to the nearest train station." She shuddered faintly when he blocked her path once again, a wry smirk materializing onto his lips.
"I don't think you quite understand your situation, young Gel," he said in a low voice, malice in his eyes. "You can either come with me peacefully, or we can make this hard. Wrath's already made it clear that we need you back ASAP, so you really don't have much of a choice."
She started trembling and I glared angrily at the fool homunculus, growling. "Where…where are my parents?"
His smirk widened into a grin as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "They're safe…for now. But really…what are you going to do?" He almost started laughing, tilting his head to the side with a sadistic look. "Hah! What can you do?" Purple eyes widened in surprise as she shoved his hand off of her, the smirk wiped off completely and replaced by a look that read "What the heck…?"
"I'm not going with you," she stated with more conviction in her voice than her trembling conveyed, which impressed me a little. So she has gotten braver. "And I'm going to see my parents. I don't know when or where…but I'm not going with you." She tried walking around him but he quickly stopped her.
I tumbled off her shoulder as he roughly grabbed her with one arm, swinging her around 'till her back was up against his chest. My eyes widened in alarm when I looked up to see his right arm transform into a blade and press against her throat.
"Now, now," he cooed cruelly, smirking again. "Don't be like that." His smirk disappeared again and a more serious look was adopted onto his features. "Seriously…I'd rather not fight, but if you keep on insisting, I'll have no other alternative. So…please? Just come along quietly."
I looked into blue-green eyes, fully aware of the fear and anger swimming around in those orbs. If you asked me, I'd want her to be able to escape. But of course, homunculi are too swift for humans, meaning no escape for her when it came to NE. With her current situation, I'd want her to be peaceful about this capture.
And to think I thought you'd be really cool, Replacement…
"I'll go…if I can take my friend along with me," she replied carefully, trying to mask the trembling in her voice.
He looked down at me. "Ah, the little pipsqueak. Yeah, he can come along, I've got no issues with that." Slowly letting go of her with a cautious look, he shifted his blade-limb into rope and tied a loose knot around her waist. He then reached down toward me, placing me back on her shoulder. "All ready?"
She nodded in a way that wouldn't spill her tears, gently stroking me. "Just…just need to grab my suitcase…"
"The one on the doorstep over there?" the young homunculus asked, pointing to the brown leather suitcase that sat at the bottom stair in front of the door. When she nodded, he shifted his other arm into a snake and "grabbed" it, despite the incredible distance. "Anything else?"
You're being strangely nice, New Envy…
Gel shook her head, stroking copper-brown hair down after a light breeze ruffled it. "No…"
Nodding affirmatively, he untied her and shifted back into that military officer. "Let's get going, then." Placing a hand behind her back, he lightly pushed to get her started and started walking along-side us. "So…any car-ride games you like to play? It's a long trip back to Central…"
I realize, dumbass…now, get your hand off of her before I bite it off.
To Be Continued…
