Disclaimer: Rachel: Silentdreamer is too lazy to give you guys a disclaimer, so I have to. She doesn't own Fullmetal Alchemist, me, or anything really... This story is technically mine.
Me: What are you telling them?
Rachel: I'm saving your ass. So shut up and accept it.
Me:... You're so mean

Chapter 13 - The Sewing Life Alchemist
.:Rachel Hughes:.

I walked up the path leading to a two story mansion. "That's his house?"

"It's huge!" Al agreed, his voice soft.

I rang the doorbell, stepping back. I caught the faintest sound of shuffling to my right. I turned in time to see a large white dog running at us. I moved out of the way, but Ed wasn't so lucky. I covered my mouth, trying to hold back my laughter.

"Not..funny," he mumbled.

"Yeah it is," I teased as the door creaked open. A small girl, around Elicia's age, was standing in the doorway. Her blue eyes were wide, shining with happiness when she saw us, "Daddy! There are people out here."

Tucker stood behind the girl, his eyes hidden behind his glasses as he took in the scene, "Dear, that's why I told you to keep the dog tied up." He smiled, "How can I help you?"

"I was sent here as a reminder of your Assessment Day. I was asked to see any sort of progress you may have made," I answered, trying not to turn and leave. There was just something about him that made me uneasy.

"May I ask why Basque Grand wasn't sent?"

"He was K.I.A yesterday," I answered, keeping my eyes locked with his.

"I see," he said slowly, "please. All of you come in."

I nodded, stepping inside, Ed and Al following me. He lead us to his dining room, serving us tea. "Now that everyone is comfortable, how about introductions. I am Shou Tucker, the Sewing Life Alchemist, as I'm sure you know," he added, nodding to me.

"My name is Rachel Hughes. These are my friends, Edward and Alphonse Elric."

"So this is the infamous Fullmetal Alchemist," he asked, looking to Ed. "I've heard many good things about your talent."

He nodded, "Rachel told me you study bio-alchemy, I was wondering if my brother and I would be able to see your library."

"Why of course," he responded, pushing up his glasses, "but I'm afraid I'll need to know your reason. After all, it's the code we live by."

Ed seemed to freeze. Stealing a glance to me, he nodded, standing. He removed his gloves and coat. My breath caught at the gleaming metal covering his entire right arm. His lips moved as he told his story, but I only caught bits and pieces.

"I see," Tucker said suddenly, "you transmuted your mother at the age of seven. I don't know if it will help you, but you should probably see my laboratory." He turned to me, "Shall we begin?"

I nodded, following behind him. He lead us to a dark room filled with disturbing creatures, dusty bookshelves and vials filled with various body parts. "I'm afraid it's rather embarrassing really. I'm noted as an authority on Chimeras, but it hasn't been going well lately."

I looked around with disgust, pity pulling at my me for the projects. These poor things...- "So, what do you think Miss Hughes?"

"Oh, well," What in the hell am I supposed to say? Do I praise him? Say he's not working hard enough? I knelt down to one of the cages, "I think they're all.. impressive."

He smiled, "Thank you. I will show you boys to my library. Please, help yourself to my research, Miss Hughes. I will be right back."

I nodded and then I was alone. I looked around. Reminding him couldn't have been the only reason, but why would else would I be sent here? Is Bradley suspicious of him? Is Tucker a backwards alchemist like Grand? I pulled a random book from the dusty shelf, flipping to a marked page. This only talks about the chemistry of chimeras. "...a creature synthesized by alchemically combining two species, not similar in genetics, into a single form displaying components from each subject."

"It's not a perfect science." I suppressed my jump, turning to Tucker, who was standing in the doorway. "There has yet to be someone to create, what is called, the ultimate chimera."

"But isn't that what you did?" I asked. "Two years ago, when you made one that understood English."

He nodded, "Yes, I remember. But no, it was not a success. As you know the creature died days later, after refusing to eat or drink. I apologize if you came here hoping to see a recreation, but, as you can see, I've been having difficulties trying to make another."

I replaced the novel, "Can't you just say that though?"

"Say what?"

"What you just told me," I clarified. "When it comes time to present, show Bradley, or whoever, the progress you've made, the difficulties you've come across."

He nodded slowly, not speaking. "Could I see your library?"

"Of course." He showed me to a huge room, filled to the ceiling with row upon row of bookshelves. "Wow," I whispered in awe, walking in. I wandered further, getting lost among the multicolored tomes and novels. Faint laughter floated to me. I peered behind some shelves, seeing Alphonse jumping around with Nina on his shoulders. I leaned against a wall, crossing my arms and smiling.

"Al!" Ed yelled, "what are you doing?"

"Well," he started, "Nina looked lonely."

"You're supposed to be reading, not playing horse-" He was cut off by Alexander jumping on him.

"Looks like it's two against one, Blondie," I called. He growled, screamed something about besting him then started chasing the dog. I stood by Al, not bothering to hold back my laugh anymore.

"What was it like?" he asked quietly.

"Hmm?"

"Being the Fuhrer's bodyguard?" Al clarified.

"Oh." I sighed, "I don't know, I mean there was a ton of paperwork that I had to go through everyday, but I was personally trained by him, so I can't really complain. He didn't treat me like another soldier."

"How long have you been a State Alchemist?"

I put my head back, "Um, since I was eleven. But I was being trained in hand-to-hand combat and alchemy a few years before that. I don't really remember anything before I was about six and every time I try, it feels like someone's trying to pry my head open."

"Wait," he turned to me, "you can't remember your past?"

I shook my head, avoiding his gaze, "No. I get flashes every now and again, but that's it. I guess that could be the reason I'm so interested in this; trying to regain whatever I lost." I shrugged.

"I understand that," he agreed.

I nodded slowly, my voice quiet when I spoke, "That's why you two went searching for Dr. Marcoh; to get the Philosopher's Stone?"

"Yeah, we want to use it to restore our bodies to their original form."

I smiled softly, placing my hand on his shoulder, "Well, I'll help you guys in anyway I can."

"That's very kind of you."

I shrugged, "Hey, you guys are like family. So, how did it go with Marcoh?"

He suddenly brightened, "Oh! He wouldn't tell us about his research, but he gave Brother a small piece of paper with the words 'Central Library, First Branch.'"

"You're going to follow the lead right?"

Al nodded, "Yup. We just wanted to see what we could find out here."

~~~
"Tomorrow's the big day."

I opened one eye, looking at dad's smiling face. I sighed, leaning back in my chair, "Yeah, so?"

He deflated, "Why are you so grumpy?"

I shrugged, "I just have a lot on my mind. And it doesn't help that Bradley's like a freaking wall. Just what in the hell is he thinking?"

"Are you still complaining about the order he gave you?" Havoc asked.

"I'm not complaining," I grumbled. "I'm just trying to make sense of it."

"What's there to make sense of?" dad asked.

I sighed, sitting up, "Everything. There's tons of other people that were under Grand's command that are far more qualified for this. And the way he sounded... I just feel like he's trying to warn me about something. Tucker's doing or did something that Bradley is concerned about. Then there's the little oddities. He hasn't been able to successfully create another talking chimera in two years. A time when his wife just-so-happens to leave him and Nina. I've looked into her, there hasn't been any word on her current location since she 'left'."

I watched as my words sunk in. "So, what do you think happened?"

I faltered, looking at my feet, "I-I don't know-"

Mustang slammed his hand down on a desk, causing everyone to jump. "We all know that's not true. Eternal, what do you think happened?"

My eyebrows nit together, my feet stomping to the ground as I shot out of my chair, "What Colonel? What do you want me to say? That I think he used his wife as material for the chimera? Fine. I said it."

Mustang smirked. My hand clenched into a fist. Jerk. "You don't have to look so smug, ass."

"Rachel," dad yelled, offended.

I sighed, walking to the door, "I'm going to bed."

~

My feet pounded against the pavement, my heartbeat thudding in my ears. I just have to be wrong. There's no way someone could go through with that. Above me, the sky erupted with thunder and bright flashes of lightning, the smell of rain as heavy as the thought gnawing it's way through my brain.

I turned into Tucker's walkway sharply, grasping the door handle as soon as I reached, throwing the blocking wood from me. My steps were slow and hesitant. I have to be wrong. But, what if I'm not? "Please let me be wrong," I mumbled, my voice weak.

"I was wondering when you'd show up."

I turned, as something thick slammed into the back of my head. I fell to the ground, my consciousness slipping. "Bastard," I growled.

He knelt in front of me, his fingers sliding against my cheek, brushing my hair away from my neck. "Don't worry Miss Hughes," he soothed, "you'll only feel a slight sting." Something bit into the skin, my body numbing instantly. My eyelids slid closed and everything went black.

"-achel?"

Voices invaded my head, pulling me from my dreams. Ed? I opened my eyes, though it did no good. The darkness stretched on forever, consuming everything.

The previous event seemed to snap at me like a rubber band. Everything zeroed in on one person. Shou Tucker. I moved to stand, only to find my hands and ankles bound. I growled under my breath, the feeling of cloth more apparent now.

I threw my throbbing head back, meeting pillows. Dammit... I struggled against my bonds, pushing my feet into the mattress. My body slipped from the bed and, with a surprised cry, crashed onto the hard floor. Soon after my continual battle, said joints became slick, the ropes sliding along a mixture of blood and sweat.

"Rachel? Come on, answer me."

I rested my head against the wood, my body exhausted. I can't get free. I can't use alchemy to get myself out. What do I do? I rubbed my cheek against the floor, out of options, when the gag moved.

"Dammit," he growled, "where is she?!"

Tucker's maniacal laugh seemed to seep from every crevice of the house, enforcing me to work faster, "Don't worry Fullmetal, I always take good care of my test subjects!"

Slowly, but surely, the cloth gave, sliding around to my neck. "Ed!"

Thick footsteps pounded in my ears, closing in on my location. "Rache," he seemed to sigh in relief. My body was sat up, the blindfold removed. My eyes focused, seeing only Edward's face as he worked to remove the bond on my wrist.

"Ed... Tucker. He used his-"

"I know," he reassured, cutting me off.

"Whe-Where is she? Nina? Where is she? Ed, we have to get her away from him. He's going to try again." I kicked the rope from my feet, ripping the gag from my neck. I pushed myself up, heading for the hall. As I did, Ed's hand shot out, latching onto my wrist. I turned on him, anger and confusion filling my eyes and my voice, "Why are you just sitting there?"

He continued to stare at the floor. Slowly, he shook his head, "It's too late."

Everything stopped. My heart refused to beat, my lungs refused to supply air, my brain refused to process his words. "No," I squeaked out. I dropped to my knees, shaking my head. I tried to meet his gaze. "You're- You're lying. Please, Ed. Please tell me you're lying." His face blurred, my eyes stinging. Something wrapped around me, pulling me forward. My fingers reached up, gripping onto the material of his coat, before sliding around his neck. Tears fell from my eyes, soaking into Ed's clothes. It's not true. It can't be... "Please Ed," I begged weakly, "say you're lying. Nina- She's not- She can't be..."

His arms tightened around me. I felt his fingers scrunch the back of my shirt. "Where is she?" I asked quietly, refusing to let go.

"In his lab," he responded. "I don't think you should see her."

I let out a slow breath, "But I-I have to."

He nodded slowly. Taking me by the hand, we walked down several flights of stairs, to a set of double doors. Inside, Tucker was leaning against the back wall, his face bloody and beaten. To the left of him, Al was kneeling in front of- "N-Nina?"

Her white ears perked up at my voice. Her clear eyes turned to us, a thick dark tail wagging at our forms. Al moved as I knelt in front of her, "Nina? It's me. It's-"

"Rachel," she supplied, her young voice distorted. "Big sister Rachel."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I nodded, "That's right. Big sister. I'm here." My hands lifted to her head, my hand running along the dark hair. An image of Elicia flashed through my mind, my fingers curling in the soft fur in response. "I'm sorry," I whispered. My body moved on its own, my arms sliding around her, "I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry."

"Big sister crying. Why you cry big sister?"

"I get to stay," Tucker mumbled, "I get to stay a State Alchemist."

I growled as metal clanked to the ground. "You're wrong," I said through clenched teeth. "There's no way in hell you're going to stay an alchemist of the state."

Outside Eastern Command, the rain was pouring, pounding the ground relentlessly. I sat on the front steps with Edward and Alphonse. I'd stopped crying awhile ago.

"You're going to see things like this on your travels in the future, and you will no doubt be the ones getting your hands dirty. You going to shut down like this too?" Mustang asked the three of us.

I stared down at my wrists, glaring at the bandage.

"Rachel?!"

I turned my head from the frantic male voice. I couldn't face him. Not when- I pushed myself up roughly, running down the steps; away from my dad.

Rachel: Just what the hell was that?
Me: What?
Rachel: You know what!
Me: *smiles innocently* I don't know what you're talking about...