WARNING: Contains some themes from Wheel of Time, which belongs to Robert Jordan, and gratuitous use of themes from FMA, belonging to whoever made that anime. DOES NOT BELONG TO ME!

Six months had passed, and Outai and Mooney were now in another country, seeking information on a rumor they'd heard of the man Hoenheim in another country. During this time, it seemed that Outai had become much more human. Her skin was now a healthy pink, and while she still ate very little and still tended to be stoic, she seemed...warmer. Indeed, her body had gained warmth - save for her still frozen hands - with her pinking skin and her warmer attitude. She seemed to laugh and smile more often, changes that Mooney had never thought would happen, but was glad to see.
As they walked down the packed dirt road - if it could be called that - Mooney's mind kept fading back to the activities of that morning. They had become far...closer...than ever before that morning, and he kept smiling to himself over it. The comfort of her new found warmth was enough to send warm shivers down his spine just thinking of it and he couldn't help but grin like a fool.
Outai, too, seemed pleased by the change. She was smiling to herself, and a faint light danced in her eyes. The sun seemed to make her skin glow, and her once dangerous stride was now only partly so, the other part being something new he had never seen in her. Was it confidence he saw in her stride? Was it something more personal?
As they walked down the road, a hand slipped into his own, fingers lacing between his, giving his hand a brief squeeze. He turned to see Outai smiling up at him, that light still dancing in her eyes, and an aura of confidence and contentment emanating from her. He smiled back at her warmly, not saying anything as they walked. Even the beating heat of the mid-day sun could not ruin their happy mood.
Suddenly, Mooney could hear the sound of hoofs plodding along the ground some distance behind them. He could hear the squeaking and groaning of what he figured was a wagon being pulled by the horse, so he guided Outai to the side of the road, keeping himself between her and the road itself, just in case the driver of the wagon was drunk. Sure enough, a few minutes later a man driving a wagon full of potatoes plodded up behind them, the wagon being dragged along the road by an old mare, dangerously close to her final years and looking decidedly scraggly. The gentleman driving it had dark hair with wings of silver at the side and gray peppering his full beard. He smiled at them as he pulled to a stop beside them, seeing only a cute couple traveling the road alone, without horse or wagon to ease their travel.
"Hello, there!" he said warmly, not a hint of alcohol on him, "How about a ride into town?"
"How far is it from here?" Outai asked.
"Several miles yet. I'll give you a ride if you want."
"Thank you." Outai said, "Your service is appreciated."
Both Outai and Mooney climbed up beside the driver of the wagon, Outai sitting not quite comfortably between the driver and Mooney. With a hitch of the reigns, the horse continued plodding down the road, not minding the extra weight it had to pull. Outai leaned on Mooney, partly because she wanted to, and partly because the wagon was so small that she had no other choice. Mooney smiled down at her warmly, accepting the gesture of trust and comfort.
"You two must be newly weds." the man said as he guided the horse around pits in the ground that could other wise make it break a leg or a wagon wheel. "What brings you all the way out here?"
Outai and Mooney flushed for a brief moment. Did they really look like a newly wed couple? They must, if someone so far in his years took notice and made comment. That set their minds on a completely different track for a moment, before Outai snapped back to reality to give a plausible excuse.
"Our farm burned down, and we had nothing else to do in our village, so we came this way looking for a means of living." she lied.
"That's sad." the gentleman said, and indeed his soft gray eyes did look sad, "Yet you two look as happy as can be together. You must really love each other."
"We do." she answered, and that was most definitely NOT a lie. "He has been my strength, and if not for him, I don't think we'd have made it this far." Also not a lie. Just cleverly concealed truth.
Mooney's thoughts reeled for a moment. Outai had lied. Sure, she did that from time to time, but only when needed. Thinking more, he supposed it was needed. There was no need to tell this gentleman of their true purpose, and if he thought they were married, that was all the better. The idea did sound rather appetizing. His heart warmed when she admitted he was her strength, and he couldn't keep himself from wrapping his arms around her and holding her close, jostled as they were by the uneven road.
"Well, I'm pleased to see it. Seems like a lot of couples today take each other for granted. Rather than relying on each other when trouble arises, they argue over what's to be done and end up splitting for it. But to rely on each other like you do, I can see you two will last a long time."
"Thanks!" Mooney said, obviously quite happy to hear it. "What about you? I take it you're taking your crop to market here?"
"That I am." the gentleman replied as the city came into view, though still a distance off. "Crop ain't so good this year, though. Summer's been a mite too dry and there's been a problem with water flowing in the river."
"What kind of problems?" Outai inquired.
"Well, the river just suddenly dried up a few days ago. Town's getting pretty parched now. People are starting to leave for places with more water."
"That does indeed sound bad." Outai said thoughtfully.
"Yep. If I can, I'd like to talk to the emperor in this city. Hear he's got an alchemist for an adviser, and a pretty good one at that. Maybe he'll know what to do."
"I hope he can help you." Mooney said, some of his cheerful mood slipping a bit.
"Well, that's only if I can get around to it. Getting these poor excuses for potatoes sold is going to be my top priority for now."
"Perhaps we can ask for you." Outai said, much to Mooney's surprise. After all, she had been the first one to forbid herself from helping humans. "What is the name of your village?"
"Binjin. Just about two days south of here."
"I cannot guarantee anything," Outai said, her business tone now taking root in her voice, "but if we are able, we will ask."
The rest of the ride was made in relative silence, save for the older gentleman giving the occasional story of something that had happened in his life, telling how it had been handled and the wisdom to be gained from those experiences. Mooney and Outai had seen and been through all of the things he had said, several thousand years before he had been born, but said nothing about it.
When they were within the city gates, Outai and Mooney departed from the wagon with thanks given, as well as a few coins as a fair trade for the ride. The gentleman tried to deny it, saying it was a gift, but eventually took the few coins with thanks of his own. Once he was out of ear shot, Outai made her way down the streets, looking for an inn to stay at. Mooney was right behind her, his face oddly stoic.
"Thought you said you weren't going to help humans any more." he said grimly.
"I did. But I think an exception can be made once in a while. Maybe not all humans are that bad. Don't forget it was a human that saved us."
"Yeah, and it was humans that had killed us before. I'm all for testing someone to get rid of that curse you're carrying, and if doing so means helping them, that is fine. Outside of that, I want no part of it."
"That is fine. We can just use that old man's story as an excuse to get what we want."
"You're becoming increasingly devious." he said with a devilish grin, "You spun that tale about the farm burning down pretty quickly."
"It's not the first lie I've told, and you know it. Would you rather I had told him the truth?"
"Nah, I'm fine with spinning tales to humans. Just don't spin any with me."
"There'd be no point to that." she said, shaking her head, "You'd know it for a lie before it would come out of my mouth."
That much was true. Along with her increasingly human anatomy, other changes had occurred, such as dropping her mental barrier around him. With any one else, it was up and strong as a precaution, but she had given him a key of sorts to get through it with ease. There would be no more secrets with them.
Outai lead them into a small in that was none too tidy. Unlike her usual pick of places to stay over night, this was border lining on run down. The floor was un-swept, and several of the tables had pits and mars where knives had been stuck in the wood. The inn keeper was thin, almost enough to look like he'd blow away with the next stiff breeze, and his once crisp white apron was now wrinkled and stained to the point where it could no longer be called white. His voice was dry, and his beady eyes looked almost like he was undressing them with his eyes. It was not the best of places to stay, but it would be cheap.
"A room for two, please." Outai said, all business now.
"You two married?" Outai gave a nod of her head and the inn keeper fished a set of keys from under the pitted counter, "Take the marital suite. Second leve, second door on your left."
Mooney lead Outai upstairs, grateful to be away from those little beady eyes and that dried out sleazeball of a human. He did NOT like the way the little man had been looking at Outai. Once they were alone, Outai gave a little shiver, surprising herself and Mooney.
"I don't like him." she said simply as she set the bag that had been strapped to her back onto the dusty floor.
"Neither do I. So, why rent a room here?"
"It's closer to the palace, and it's cheap." she said, giving a wary eye for the unsteady looking bed against the wall. The mattress was lumpy just looking at it, and the blankets were stained with who knew what. They'd sleep on the floor tonight, just to be away from those stained blankets.
"I'll trust your judgment on this." he said carefully.
"As though you haven't before?"
"Well, before you started changing, you weren't exactly careful about jumping into situations that weren't your business."
"You jumped in, too, you know. In fact, I seem to recall a certain battle where I jumped in to pull you out."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Though, that one aside, I only jump in so I can watch your back and keep you safe. Not that it ever did any good."
"Well, sometimes things are going to happen no matter how hard you try. I have to say, though, I am worried about you."
"Me?" he said incredulously, "Why would you worry about me?"
"Aside from today, you've seemed...Cold almost. Not towards me, though. I can almost sense a darkness in you, like what you had when you...Well, we both know that situation." Outai said, obviously unwilling to bring up such a touchy subject. She still appeared sad every time it came up. "Anyway, I'd like to take a peek inside your head. I don't like this darkness, and I want to nip it in the bud before it can grow."
"You don't trust me to take care of my own mind?"
"Not so much that, and you know it already. Stop pouting, Mooney. It isn't like you."
"I'm not pouting!" he snapped, unfolding his arms from across his chest and sucking in his lower lip.
"You know I only want to help you." Outai said as she came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his stomach and resting her head on his shoulder, "I'm afraid this darkness may be the very same as what is in me, and if that is the case, then you wouldn't be able to take care of it yourself. It would just fester, like a never healing wound, until there would be nothing left of the Mooney I know and love. I won't let that happen to you, love."
Mooney's expression softened. He knew it wasn't because she didnt trust him, and could not explain why the thought had come up in the first place. He let his body relax as he leaned into her touch. A smile spread across his face at the mention of her new nickname for him.
"Well, as usual, you have a good point. In that case, I'll leave the door open for you."
True to his word, Outai found it quick and easy to enter his mind. True, had his barrier been locked against her, she could have torn it down, but doing so would hurt him, and she wouldn't do that. She was glad he trusted her in his mind, though there was never doubt that he would. Not after traveling with her for so long. As she stepped in, the dirty marital suite disappeared, and all she saw was the same blank, white world that Mooney normally made when entry was not planned ahead. A darkness in the distance seemed to consume the whiteness, though, emanating a dimming gloom on the rest of the world. Mooney was beside her, dressed in a uniform she didn't quite recognize. It was black and silver, the breastplate covered by his coat, but the shin, knee, and shoulder guards covering their respective areas over his clothing. As usual, his sword was strapped at his side.
"You're dressed appropriately." she said with a little laugh, though she had to admit he looked quite handsome in it.
"What?" he said, looking down at himself and finally realizing what he wore. "Oh, sorry. I guess I was concentrating on it a bit too hard."
"Leave it. It looks good on you. Now, that blackness ahead worries me. How long has it been there?"
"Since the last time you died, when you took that spear in my place." he said grimly.
"Are you still beating yourself up for that? Well, don't. I had joined that battle to protect you, and I accomplished my goal. Consider it payback for all the times you've saved my life."
"Nah, I stopped blaming myself for that a month ago."
"Glad to hear it. Now, all that leaves is the possibility for hatred and bitterness from that incident. Why so suddenly? It's not the first time something like that happened."
"It is since I admitted how much I love you. Before that, I loved you for a long time, but I never admitted it. I guess admitting it made it stronger or something. I don't really know. All I know is that I think I know how you felt when I died in your arms at that dance."
"But bitterness and hatred are not a part of you. They never have been. Because of you, I've fought back my darkness, and have it under control. At least, as much as it can be said to be in control. I think, somehow, you got some of it from me, and for that I apologize. Let's destroy this bitterness and hatred inside you."
Mooney leaned forward and gave Outai a deep and thorough kiss, lifting her chin with his hand so his face could meet hers. There was no warning, and her eyes had widened briefly in surprise as he did so.
"I didn't use the 'S' word." she said when he finally backed away a bit.
"Close enough." he said, smiling and shrugging his shoulders.
The darkness in the distance suddenly began to groan and shrink, followed by growing, and then shrinking again. It was as though it struggled to survive, to spread, in the face of what had just occurred. Outai and Mooney stared at it in surprise, before a smile tugged at the corners of their mouths.
"Come to think of it," Mooney said devilishly as he recalled the events of that morning, "that thing was gone this morning for a while."
"Yeah, I don't remember sensing it in you at that time either."
"And even now it's weaker."
"Then that gives us the solution. We cannot go romping about like that all day, every day, but if we work together at it, we can make it disappear over time. I'll meet you outside." Outai said before suddenly winking out of his mind.
Mooney opened his eyes to find he was still in their rented room, still standing in front of Outai as she remained holding him in her arms. Her soft, steady breath was warm on his neck, and the placement of her arms was almost erotic, but he ignored it. For now, he was just happy to be with her.
"So," he said, turning himself around in her arms so that he could hold her closer to himself, rocking them both back and forth softly, "details about our mission today."
"Nyneave told me she knows the blond man we met and fought. She said his name is Hoenheim, and he's apparently a very talented alchemist."
"He's gotta be, to make the stone."
"We're going to start by hunting rumors, to see what he's done in this town. So far the rumors have pointed us here, so we have to make sure he actually is here, and what he's doing here. Then we need to determine for ourselves just how talented he is. If he IS the prodigy we seek, we will, unfortunately, have to support him. Just like all our other tested subjects." Outai said, the last being said with more than just a hint of stress and regret.
"If it is him, then I think we can make an exception to that rule. He won't need our support anyway, and frankly I'd rather not support someone who stuck a knife in your stomach."
"Very well. If it is him, then we will make an exception. Truthfully, I don't want to support him either."
"How soon do we need to get started on rumor hunting." he said softly, nuzzling her soft, ebony hair.
"Why do you ask?" she said softly, clearly enjoying the attention.
"Just wondering how much time we can spend together before getting business done here."
"Is that an offer?" she said, her voice laced with amusement and lust.
"Perhaps it is." he said, grinning devilishly.
Outai lay her head on his chest as they rocked back and forth in each others arms. She was enjoying this so much she didn't want to move, and she made that clear. She closed her eyes as the swaying movement seemed to lull her, and she took a deep breath of his unique scent.
"Hey, Outai," he said softly, still nuzzling her soft hair, "Let's get married."
Outai looked up at Mooney incredulously. Why had that come up all of the sudden? She sure hadn't sensed it a moment ago when she was in his head.
"I'm not sure, Mooney. I don't trust humans or their vows."
"We can do it in your head then, since you can communicate with Holy. I don't trust humans either, and I think having the blessing of Holy would be far better."
"Hm, good point."
"So, is that a yes?"
"Indeed it is."
Mooney smiled and squeezed her softly in his arms. Right then he couldn't be happier, no matter what environment they were in, and it appeared that Outai was just as happy as he.