Disclaimer: I do not own D. Gray-Man or Full Metal Alchemist.
KEY:
"Neah talking"
"Thoughts"
Flashbacks
Another language
Radio conversations
"Normal talking"
Chapter 21
Previously…
"I know but, I feel like there is something else going in."
"How so?" she looked at him curiously.
"Think about it, Winry. Hohenheim left years ago, and just now the Akumas appeared and he returned. I think he knows something about what is going in Amestris, and it somehow has to do with the Human Transmutation."
He stopped at the last number for Sheska's office. He needed information about the Akuma incidents, but there was something else he needed to know first.
"Curtis Meats, how can we help you?" It was a familiar voice, one he hadn't heard in a while.
"Hello Mason, it's me Edward. Is Teacher there? I need to talk to her, is important."
"Hiya guys."
"Allen" Mustang began. "You said you had some important things you needed to discuss with us."
Allen gulped. The time had come, and there was no turning back.
"Yes. I have some information regarding everything here in Amestris and the rest of the war."
"Did something else happened, Allen?" Lenalee asked.
He looked up at her, and he met her eyes. "Yes. A lot more has happened."
…o0o…
"Why do we have to go to Rush Valley again?" asked a frustrated golden-haired boy leaning against the window.
The blonde girl sitting in front of him sighed. "I already told you that Mr. Garfield called and he needs me to help in the workshop."
"But why do I have to come with you? Why can't I stay back with Granny and let her finish my arm?"
"Stop whining like a child. Granny has other customers to attend, and your arm is almost done so you can't complain. Besides I want to add better bolts and shock resistors to both your leg and arm. And those I can only find them in Rush Valley."
"But still, the people back there are creepy. Remember the first time we were there? They practically tried ripping off my clothes to get a better look of my automail. And you all so gladly complied."
Winry huffed. "My automail is a piece of art, and it deserves to be praised, respected and cared. Not the poor excuse of care you give it, always letting it be scraped, bent or worse destroyed."
"A guy got a hold of my leg and practically drooled over it. It was gross." Edward said sticking out his tongue in disgust. "Besides trouble tends to go after me, not the other way." Winry sighed.
"I know and I'm sorry. But Ed, the people in Rush Valley are very nice once you get to know them. Don't you want to see Mr. LeCoulte and his family again?"
The LeCoulte Family. Edward remembered them, very nice people to the three of them. He remembered the glare Dominic greeted them with when they entered his house and Winry pleaded him to take her as an apprentice. He can still laugh at the man's reaction upon discovering she was Pinako Rockbell's granddaughter. But despite being a serious and somewhat sour man, he still allowed them to stay in his house, even before knowing who the blonde girl actually was.
He remembered Dominic's son, Ridel and his wife Satella. The way they gladly invited them to eat dinner with them, and didn't really questioned Al's lack of appetite, or the reason he had not one but two automail at the age of 13. Satella had been pregnant back then, and she also went into labor during their visit. To say they were scared and nervous, would bad been an understatement. They all ran around like headless chickens without any sort of control not knowing what to do, until Winry finally recovered her senses and put everyone to work. At the end everything turned out fine and a healthy little boy was born.
Edward smiled at the memory of the little brow-haired baby. Life was truly a marvelous thing.
"I don't mind seeing them again, except your weird friend Paninya." He received a small hit from one of Winry's wrenches.
"Don't call her that. Paninya is very nice, and I'm sure you miss her."
"No, I don't. That girl is crazy, she stole my watch! And all because you thought it would be nice to take off my clothes in the middle of the plaza for everyone to look at my automail." he answered back.
"Again with the plaza incident. I already said I was sorry, it won't happen again. And don't raise your tone with me. It's not my or Paninya's fault that you don't take better care of your things."
Edward glared at her. It was true that he sometimes don't pay attention to his surroundings and his things, sometimes putting Alphonse to watch them or carry them; but that time in Rush Valley, it was Winry's fault he was busier trying to pry people off his metal limbs than looking out for his watch. He stayed silent though, not really wanting to take another hit from blonde's wrench. Looking through the window he lost himself in thought as they passed the green scenarios.
Yesterday had been... tiring to say the least. Finding the truth behind the result form the failed transmutation took a toll on his mind, and he hadn't been able to sleep well, thoughts circling his mind constantly. But Edward knew that there was no point in dwelling too much on that matter, as there was nothing to do about it. What was done, was done; and he couldn't change it.
Sending away the thoughts, he let his mind wander, just to focus on the telephone call with his Teacher.
"Curtis Meats, how can we help you?" It was a familiar voice, one he hadn't heard in a while.
"Hello Mason, it's me Edward. Is Teacher there? I need to talk to her, it's important."
"Edward! It is been so long, how are you doing? How's Alphonse?"
"We are fine, thank you. How is everything there?"
"Same as always. Same old customers, same old daily life." He head Mason chuckled.
"That is good to hear." Was the reply from the golden-haired boy.
"Oh, right you called for your Teacher, let me call her. Mrs. Curtis someone is calling for you! It was nice talking to you, kid. I'll leave you talk to her. Take care, you should visit more often."
"Thank you Mason, it was nice talking to you too. I'll try, I am sure Al would like to go. Bye."
"Bye." He heard some muttering, and the phone being passed to someone else.
"Hello?" It was his Teacher, Izumi Curtis. It has been some time since he talked to her, she must be somewhat angry with him for not calling.
"Hi, Teacher." He mumbled.
"Well, look who dignified to call: my prodigal student. It's been months and I haven't heard or had a visit from you and Alphonse."
"Sorry Teacher, but we had been some kind of busy." He heard her sigh.
"It's okay, Ed. I heard the news from that attack in Central and that murder. Are you two alright? You didn't get in trouble, did you?"
Edward huffed. "No, I didn't and yes, we are fine. Don't worry, we got some help from someone that knows about those things."
"Thank Truth." He heard her whisper. "So how have you been? What are you and Alphonse doing now?"
"We are fine, and we are not doing much really. We had a new lead to get our bodies back, but with those things in Central, we are more focus on helping investigating how they got here and how to get them out. They are called Akuma, it means Demon or something like that. Do you know about them, Teacher?"
"Akuma, hmm... No, not really. That name doesn't ring a bell. Describe them to me, maybe I heard about them when I was traveling."
"They are machines. The ones we saw were shaped like spheres, with cannons on the sides and a clown face in the top. They float around, shooting bullets with a poison that instantly disintegrates people. According to Allen, they can look like a knight in armor or disguise as normal people. But they all have red irises and pupils, with the white thing in the eye being black. Another way to find them is with a black upside down pentagram on their foreheads."
By now, Edward was hoping and praying that Izumi did knew about them.
"No, I've never heard about something like that." Edward felt dejected. "But, there is something." Edward perked up.
"What is it?"
"I don't know if it helps or not, but back when I was in the North, I heard a story about a being called Geist. It was like a ghost, or a wraith that wandered around in the forest and sometimes went in the middle of the nigh to the town nearby, searching for a new victim to satisfy its hunger. People said it fed on human souls, but don't pay too much attention to that part. A man told me that it was just an old story told to the children to keep them from wandering into the forest and going outside at night."
Edward found himself smiling a little bit. Finally there was something they could use to search.
"It's okay Teacher, it helps a lot. In which part of the North did you hear that?"
"Briggs."
Edward sighed. He really hated the cold, but he would support the cold if that meant to free their country from those bloody bastards.
"I see, thank you very much Teacher."
"Your welcome Edward, make sure to call more regularly. At least to let me know you are still alive. I didn't waste six months of my life teaching you and your brother Alchemy and martial arts, for you to be reckless and inconsiderate with me."
Edward chuckled. "Will do, Teacher. But come on, Have a little faith in us."
"I do have it in Alphonse, but in you not so much. But it is good to hear that you'll actually try. Is there anything else you would like to know?"
Edward froze. There was indeed something he wanted to know, but he was afraid about Izumi's reaction.
"Ed? Are you still there?" the concerned tone snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Y-yes Teacher, I'm still here:" he took a deep breathe. "There is something else I need to ask you. Something about the… the transmutation."
There was a pause, but he could hear the hitched breathing of Izumi. She was trying to calm herself.
"Edwa-"
"Teacher, hear me out first. Please." he begged, knowing quite well that she was thinking of hanging the phone. "I know you don't want to talk about it, but I need you to answer me this. Please."
"Fine. Go on." Was the choked response.
"What… the result from that transmutation… was it actually your son?"
"W-what are you talking about, Edward Elric?" her tone was harsh.
"Don't get mad at me Teacher, please. Someone mentioned that the result from our transmutation wasn't Mom that the remains weren't from her. I didn't want to think about, much less get near it; but I still checked on it. I-it wasn't Mom, that thing we transmutated wasn't her. It had a different hair color, and the bones were different from one another, most of them were from males. Was... W-was it the same with you?"
There was silence from the other side of the line.
"Teacher?"
"Take care, Ed. Say hello to Alphonse for me."
"Wait Teacher!" And the line went dead.
Edward blinked away the memory feeling guilty. He didn't like the idea of making his Teacher remember painful things, even if she was a strong woman. After all, she allowed them to stay with her and Sig, thought them almost everything they knew as well. But most importantly, she had treated them not only as her students but also as her own kids. Making sure they ate and slept and had their clothes clean. And for that, Edward would always be grateful with her.
But as much as it pained him to do it, he needed to check out what Hohenheim said. He was almost certain that Izumi's failed transmutation was the same with his and Al, but he had making assumptions was not the answers to all of the questions he had. And checking and getting to an answer with only his and Al's transmutation as evidence, would not make his findings valid.
His thoughts were interrupted, as he felt the train slowing down. Some people stood up and took their luggage with them. He saw as they walked through the corridors and towards the exit of the train. It was their stop.
"How many more stops do we have before Rush Valley?" Edward asked his blonde friend.
The girl looked up from her sketch and look through the window.
"I think around three or four. We'll probably be there by late noon."
The golden-haired boy nodded, he then proceeded to stretch himself over the cushion.
"I'll take a nap, wake me up when it is time for lunch."
He closed his eyes, but sleep didn't come immediately as he wanted it to. Multiple thoughts spiraled around in his head.
The small ounce of guilt he felt for not being careful enough and having his automail destroyed, leading to him to leave with Winry and Alphonse staying back in Central. While he knew Alphonse would still have Allen, the Colonel Bastard and the rest of Team Mustang to keep him company, but even if he trusted all of them to keep his little brother safe, he didn't like to let Al out of his watch, especially with the Akumas still in Central.
His thoughts then jumping to the conversation with Izumi and the way she tried avoiding speaking of the transmutation.
Then to the story of the Ghost of Briggs she mentioned and how it could possibly relate to the Akumas in Central.
Next to the return of his stupid father and the things he mentioned to Pinako, knowing he and Winry would be listening. He still didn't knew how to tell Al what he found, he found it scary that the younger Elric would get mad at him, as they had lost their bodies for nothing.
"Damn it all! Just let me sleep!" he screamed in his mind. He was tired, most likely also had dark rings under his eyes for the lack of sleep last night, and he really wanted to rest and sleep like a bear in winter.
He decided to recite the Periodic Table, trying to lure himself into sleep. And it wasn't until 15 minutes later, that he was finally able to welcome a nice, dreamless sleep.
…o0o…
Lenalee's violet eyes wandered around Colonel Mustang's room. It was different from the one they were accustomed to back at the Order.
The windows weren't covered by curtains, letting the light enter and making it less suffocating. There were some photographs on the walls, rather than just the plain walls with the red and gold tapestry. The green banner with the lion in the middle, made everything less sad than the typical Rosa Crux symbol that was just a horrible reminder of their fates as Exorcists.
Lenalee looked at all of those present in the room. Nobody dared to say anything; they were all too struck by what Allen had told them.
The Amestrians were afraid, even if their faces didn't show it. This was something new for them, something they didn't understood completely. Something was happening in their country, something that wasn't new, but rather at least six or seven years old. Their people were in danger, from something they had no information or weapons to defend them with.
The Exorcists on the other hand, were calm but also worried. They all knew this was going to happen; it was just a matter of time. They knew that the Noah Family would wake up one day. They knew that there was a chance of them doing so before they could find the Heart or at least more Accommodators. They all knew that, but they also weren't counting on them appearing on a country not really well known, and were they didn't have any contacts or supporters.
Things were getting more and more complicated, and Lenalee wasn't sure if Allen, Lavi, Kanda and herself would be enough to help Amestris.
"So what now?" Asked Mustang, he was sitting in his desk with his fingers intertwined under his chin.
"There is not much to do. We need to wait." Answered Lavi. He was sitting in the coach next to Allen and Alphonse with his arms crossed and a calculative expression on his face.
"Wait?" Havoc asked perplexed. "Are you serious?! We have to do something; they are starting to invade our country. You heard what Allen said, those Noah guys are here and already killed someone. And those creepy machines are probably inside our troops and who knows where else. We cannot just sit around."
"And what do you suggest?" Kanda asked from his spot near the door.
"Wha-"
"There is nothing we can really do." Lavi continued. "We have no clues and I am sure that you don't have enough clearance or influence to check every single member of the military."
"But still." Havoc replied helplessly. Lenalee looked at the man with pity, she knew they needed to do something and fast. But without a head-start they really couldn't.
"We could check the drainage system" suggested Allen. They turned to look at him.
"The drainage system?"
"That Akuma that was killed by the Noah, told me to look in the drainage systems. I think it's worth a shot."
"Why the drainage system?"
"He told me that is where we could possibly find some answers for all of this."
"Um kiddo, that sounds very suspicious to me." Replied Havoc.
"Allen, Mr. Havoc is right. It is probably a trap." Said Lenalee.
"Or just something to make us waste time." Lavi added.
"Look I know it sounds fishy, but it makes sense. Think about it. Nobody would go and look for them there; people think that in the drainage system there are only rats, dirty water and wastes. They would never get near it; it is the perfect spot to hide."
"I agree with Allen in this, Sir. It is highly strategical to go underground, using the sewers as hideout. The public doesn't get near them, the Military never considers the drainage system during investigations, and it is all over the city. Perfect for moving from place to place without being seen." Said Hawkeye looking at her commander who was in deep thought.
"In that you are right, Riza. But it could still be a trap. Making us think we could find them there and when we enter, we get ambush." Answered Havoc.
"But it could be part of their plan." Countered Fuery. "Tell us that, so we would think that it is suspicious and that we could get ambush, making us stay away from them. That way they could continue doing whatever they are doing."
"You are right, but then again that could be their plan. Make us think that it is suspicious and that we could be ambush, so we would think that it is their plan for us to stay away and we would still enter thinking that they will not be expecting us but still be attacked by them." Said Falman.
"True, but maybe that is their plan." Countered Lavi. "Make us think that their plan is for us to stay away. Knowing that we would think that they would be expecting us, but we would know that are trying to trick us and we would still not enter."
"But that could be what they want us to do." Replied Breda. "Trick us into thinking that they want us to stay away, but knowing that we would think that it's just a way to keep us away, we would enter. And then we will not enter thinking that, that is what they want. But that is where the trick is, we thinking that what they is for us to stay away; we will enter and get ambush."
"But what if they want us to think that?" Asked Havoc. "Maybe they want us to think that they want us to sta-"
"Silence!" Mustang raised his voice, getting the attention of everyone. "Stop this nonsense, it is getting ridiculous. We are wasting time in making these stupid assumptions instead of finding a way to fix all of this."
"That could be their plan. Us to sta-"
"Baka Usagi, shut up." Kanda muttered angrily glaring at the red head, who just gave a sheepish grin in return.
"Please focus on the matter at hand. Allen was told about the drainage system and while it is true that it could be a trap, but we cannot lose any more time thinking of every single possibility."
"It's too risky." argued Havoc.
"But it's also our only clue, Mr. Havoc." Alphonse replied, looking down. His voice sounded sad. "And you said so yourself, if they are invading our country, we need to do something."
Nobody said anything else; they all knew the boy was right.
There was a knock on the door, and they all tensed. Had anyone hear what they were saying? They didn't know, and they prepared for the worst.
Kanda took out his sword and stood next to the doorway, he look back at the rest. Lavi moved his hand and took out his hammer from his pocket, Hawkeye, Havoc and Breda prepared their guns. Mustang didn't move but the way his shoulders tensed, he was ready for anything.
"Come in." He said loud and clear. The door opened revealing a petite woman with short brown hair and glasses. She too was wearing the blue military uniform, except that hers was a skirt instead of the pants Riza wore. She was holding a bunch of papers in her hands, and she was breathing a little hard, probably from running.
"Sheska!" Exclaimed Alphonse in surprise.
"Oh, Alphonse nice to see." She smiled kindly, and then her gaze turned to the black-haired man sitting in the desk. "Good afternoon, Colonel. I hope I am not interrupting anything." She said shyly looking at the four teenagers in black and red.
"Afternoon Sheska, we are indeed a little occupied. Do you need anything?"
"Oh I see. It's nothing really just something Edward told me to bring to you."
"Fullmetal?"
"Brother?" Asked the Armor and the Colonel in confusion. The rest of the room looked questioningly at the mousy girl.
"Who is Edward?" Whispered Lavi to Allen.
"Al's older brother." He whispered back.
"Y-yes."' She answer nervously as the whole room paid her attention. "He called me yesterday and told me to look for some information and that if I found anything to bring them directly to you. He also left me a note, one for you and another for Alphonse."
She said as she walked to Mustang's desk and she gave him some folders and other papers. She then took out two small pieces of paper and gave one to Mustang and the other to Alphonse. The black-haired Colonel took the paper from Sheska's hands and opened it.
Colonel Bastard,
If you are reading this, means that Sheska found something or nothing at all. I asked to search for information about those Akuma things; I thought that if they were in Ishval, they could also be through the past decades.
My automail is almost done, just the arm missing. I'll be going to Rush Valley with Winry to get some pieces. I'll call when I arrive or later.
Fullmetal.
Mustang sighed and closed the note. He was relieved hearing about his subordinate, he haven't call, not even to hear about him from his brother. On the other hand, he felt certain pride in the golden-haired alchemist's actions in searching for information. He had been planning on asking Fuery to search for it, but Sheska was better for that as she had read all the books from the Library and the Military archives.
"Information about what?" asked Havoc, breaking the thoughts of the Colonel.
"Those things that attacked Central a few days ago, Edward called them Akumas."
Now that got everyone's attention. Straightening up in their seats, they looked at the brown-haired young woman waiting to hear whatever she had found.
"What did you found?" Mustang asked taking one of the folders and opening them.
"Ehm, well... Nothing really." Mustang wanted to smash his head on the desk; he let himself hope too much. "There is nothing in the archives with the name 'Akuma', no descriptions or drawings describing those things that came to Central City or similar things. I tried searching in the library for stories or legends and there is none. At least here in Amestris, maybe in the other countries there could be some, but we have no archives or books coming from them."
"That is strange, not even literature books or something like that?" asked Lavi.
"Ehm, no. We don't have books from other countries."
"But you could learn lots of things from other countries."
"Well we have maps, and a little information from them, but that is about it. It is the Führer's order to keep the foreign books from the Main Library." She answered a little disappointed.
From the corner of his eyes, Lavi saw as Allen tensed. His face showed he was in deep thought, with his fist over his mouth and his eyes glassy, not really paying attention to anything else. Lavi narrowed his eyes a little bit.
"Could it be that… Allen knows something?" he thought and decided to keep an eye on the white-haired teen.
"Pardon me, I haven't introduced you yet." Mustang cut off Lavi's train of thought. "The lady here is Sheska, she works in the Military in the Archives Section. Sheska this group of people are Exorcists, which are helping us with the attack to Central a few days ago. They are Lavi, Miss Lenalee Lee, Kanda and Allen Walker."
"Nice to meet you." She smiled shyly at them.
"Likewise." The girl, the red head and the white-haired replied, giving her a small smile. As for the tall Japanese man, he just stayed silent.
"You were saying Sheska?" Mustang continued.
"Um, right. Even if I didn't found anything about those Akuma things, Edward told me about a story from the North, in Briggs. It is about a ghost thing that wanders around at night in the forest or sometimes in the small towns around. Apparently it sucks the soul out of its victims, or something like that."
The Exorcists looked at each other, intrigued by the information. It sound like how the people normally describe the Akuma apparitions to the Finders.
"How do the people call them, Miss Sheska?" Allen asked.
"G-Geist." Sheska stuttered. She was a shy person by nature, and when talking to a stranger normally made her nervous.
"German for 'ghost'." Lavi mumbled.
"Does it sound familiar to you?" asked Mustang.
"It does sound similar to the stories the Finders hear sometimes when there is Akuma or Innocence activity in a place." Lenalee answered.
"If it is an Akuma, then it's probably a Level 1 or Level 2. Level 3's are sent on more serious missions and most of them are on Japan. Level 4's on the other hand, rarely exists." Allen continued.
Mustang nodded in understanding, he then turned his gaze to Sheska.
"You found anything about this Geist thing?" the girl shook her head.
"No, since it seems to be just an old story told in the North, it is not part of our own culture, you could say. However, I did come up with something. It has to do with the assassination of Secretary Storch." Mustang looked up quickly. "It is in the yellow envelope." She pointed out as she took out a small notebook from her pocket.
Grabbing the mentioned envelope, Mustang opened it and took out all the whole contents. There were several folders inside. One though called Mustang's attention, it was one with the Amestrian Coat of Arms, the roaring lion.
"Um, take that one Sir, the one with Amestrian Crest."
Opening it, Mustang found himself looking at several pictures along with some police reports, and written declarations from witnesses. There was a death certificate along with an autopsy report. Mustang's eyebrows lift up in surprise when he looked at a particular picture.
"It is from 20 years ago, the death of Führer Joseph Reuner the 25th of June of 1884."
The whole room went silent. Everyone focused completely on what the brown-haired woman was saying. They were beyond shock, the situation just got messier with the Führer involved. The Colonel motioned Sheska to continue.
"He was found dead on the living room of his house, along with his wife, his son, and the main butler. They were brutally murdered, their bodies torn and mutilated beyond recognition. The culprits were the Slicer Brothers, who were captured a week later and sentenced to death. The Forensics Department provided that the cuts were done with the same weapons of the Brothers, and the bodies' conditions were similar to the Brothers' previous victims, so they were declared guilty. There were some people that questioned that verdict, since the Slicer Brothers didn't had a motive to kill the Führer, but it was agreed that someone must had paid them to do it.
"I look for the autopsy report of Führer Reuner and his family. The Toxicologist Analysis showed the same small toxin in their bodies, which led to a quick decay of the flesh and deterioration of the bone. Nobody paid attention to it, since it was declared that the Slicer Brothers were the culprits, but when I compared it with Secretary Storch's analysis, we can find the same toxin."
Mustang looked in surprise at Sheska's revelation.
"Breda pass me Dr. Knox's report, please." Said man quickly complied and handed him a yellow folder.
Mustang took it and quickly opened it, searching through the papers, he took out the autopsy report. Skimming his eyes quickly over the contents of both papers, he compared them. His face turned a little pale when he was done, it was true.
"I see. Is there anything more you would like to add, Sheska?"
"For the moment no, Colonel. I'll continue to search though, there could be something more somewhere."
"Excellent, thank you Sheska. If you find anything bring it to me directly, if I am not in my office leave to someone from my team, no one else. And please be careful, there could be spies somewhere."
"Yes, Colonel, I will."
"Good, you can leave now. Thank you again for your help."
"It was my pleasure, Sir. Have a nice day everyone, and it was nice meeting you." She said the last part to the four Exorcists.
"You too." Three of them answered, while the last one just rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Goodbye Sheska." Alphonse said.
"Bye." She smiled softly and left the room.
Mustang gave a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. All this situation was getting more stressful every minute that passed by.
"Damn." He muttered.
"W-wait a minute, Boss. You don't mean to tell us that they actually blamed and executed the Slicer Brothers for a crime they didn't commit?" Havoc said shocked.
Mustang nodded. "The evidence is here, and is quite clear. The Slicer Brothers were innocent, but someone used them as a scapegoat in order to hide themselves."
"Do you think it is the same with Scar?" asked Alphonse.
The tension in the room increased. There was indeed a possibility that the man was innocent, but the people would hardly believe it, considering all of Scar's previous crimes.
"It is most likely."
"Excuse me, but who is Scar?" Lenalee asked.
"Sorry, I forgot you didn't know about him. Scar is a criminal, wanted for several assassinations and murder attempts, against the State Alchemists, which are alchemists that entered the military." Mustang answered.
"A few days ago, a body was found by the authorities. The victim was Bernard Storch, the Secretary of the Führer. Scar was seen near the crime scene, so he was declared as the responsible one. However the proves states otherwise. At first sight the body looks as if it was killed by Scar, but with a closer inspection we can see that is was as if someone poured acid on it. That is not the way he does it, besides Storch was not a State Alchemist, and Scar only goes after them. To say that someone paid him to do it, is incorrect as Scar does not associate with anyone." Continued Hawkeye.
"And they are not going to give him a trial?" Asked Lenalee.
"They are supposed to, but we haven't been told of it." Breda answered.
"We could..." Began Alphonse, but paused.
"What it is Alphonse?" Asked Mustang.
"Maybe we could speak with Scar again." He said and the room grew silent. Mustang frowned in confusion.
"Why?"
"He could know something, and tell us more about the Akumas during the war at Ishval."
"Do you think he will cooperate?" Asked Lavi. "I mean, if the man is going as far to kill people from the military, I don't think he will be willing to help."
Mustang shook his head.
"I know what you mean Alphonse, but we already talked to him, and I don't think that they would allow us to talk again. If we asked for it again, it will look suspicious. Besides, the verdict was already reached this morning. He was the guilty for Storch's assassination and he will be executed."
"But he didn't do it!" Yelled a voice and everyone jumped in surprise. Kanda quickly took out his sword and looked around the room with his sharp eyes. There was no one else but them.
"Who is there?" Asked Mustang raising his voice.
Nobody answered. His eyes then looked at Alphonse and Allen, they were both looking down at the floor nervously.
"Allen. Alphonse." They flinched as their names were called. Slowly they turned to look at the black-haired Colonel.
"Y-yes Colonel?" Asked nervously the white-haired teen.
"Is there anything you two would like to share with us?" Mustang asked, looking at them like a parent scolding his children.
Said teenagers looked at each other nervously. They began whispering to each other, completely ignoring the rest of the occupants in the room, whom could only look at them aghast at their behavior.
"I told she should have stayed in your room."
"But what if someone enters and finds her?"
"Why would anyone enter your room? Isn't that a violation of privacy?"
"There is a Cleaning Lady, and a Janitor, and they normally enter on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday."
"Today is Wednesday."
"But what if they change the schedule?"
"I doubt they will, Al."
"Still, she would be all alone."
"She has Xiao-Mei to make her company."
"But what if-"
"Urusai!" Kanda yelled while glaring at both of them. "You two better shut your bloody mouths and answer the damn question, or else I'll cut you into tiny freaking pieces."
The two instantly did as told and stopped. Sitting up straighter they turn to look at each other, trying to find a way to start. At the end, Allen sighed.
"Just come out Mei." Silence met his statement.
"It's fine, everything will be alright." Alphonse reassured.
For a moment there was silence, until a tiny voice whispered. "Okay."
Alphonse then proceeded to take off his helmet, and a small black-haired head came out. It was a little girl, no more than 9 years old. Her long black hair was braided into several long braids, along with two buns on each side of her head.
Silently she climb down and out of the Armor, she was wearing traditional pink Xingese clothes, with a purple cross bag on her back. On her shoulder was a miniature panda, who, curiously, just like her was bowing its head in shame.
"My name is May Chang, and this is my partner Xiao-Mei." She bowed deeply. "Nice to meet you; and sorry for the intrusion."
The room stayed in silent as most of the people in the room looked at her, Allen and Alphonse in shock, some with their moths opened as none of them were expecting a little girl to suddenly pop out.
"So she's been here all this time?" Mustang asked in a strained voice, trying to refrain himself from yelling. His question was met with a nod from the three.
"And she heard everything we discussed so far?" Another nod. "Did you even considered the fact that she could be a spy, or an Akuma?"
"S-she is human I made sure of that." Allen tried defending.
"Y-yes and she was being chased by that Akuma we encountered last night, not only then but for a while now. We told you that in the message." Alphonse continued.
"Don't you two get it? That's not the point here." Mustang said annoyed. "I am not against you saving her from that Akuma, but for hiding her and bringing her here so she could hear everything we discussed. She is from Xing, a different country, how are you so sure she isn't a spy? You know that our country's relationship with other countries is not the best, Alphonse. We are at constant war in the border. And if I remember correctly, Allen, you said Noah could take a human form and that there are also human informants for the Earl."
The three winced at the harsh tone of the Colonel, not that they could blame him or protest. The man was right; there was no doubt in that.
Kanda silently glared at Allen and pointed his sword at the three of them. He didn't trust the Armor boy, especially when he could not see his face, and the little girl was suspicious. Allen on the other hand, he wasn't really surprised, the white-haired teen had a Martyr complex and always tried to help everyone, but he must be stupid to not think that the little girl could be a spy from the Earl.
"C-colonel Mustang, S-sir, please don't get mad at Mr. Alphonse and Mr. Allen. They were just helping me."
She bowed deeply. When she straightened up, gathering courage she looked up at the black-haired man directly.
"I can assure you I am not a spy. You see, back in my country, things are not going well, and my clan is having a hard time to get food and other things. It had been ignored by the Emperor, even though we some relation the Royal Family. I came to Amestris searching for the Philosopher Stone and the help of the Fullmetal Alchemist so I can help my clan survive. I thought that if we show to the Emperor that we have some sort of value, we won't be ignored anymore.
Last night, when Mr. Alphonse and Mr. Allen found me and brought me here to the military Headquarters, they hide me, because that Akuma has been chasing me for some time, and also because well... I don't have the... papers needed to be here in Amestris. I am very sorry for all the trouble, but I can assure you Mr. Colonel, that I mean no harm to your country."
They looked at each other in silence. The man thinking about what the girl just told him, while the girl prayed for the man to believe her.
"You have no migration papers?" Mustang finally said.
"No. My clan has no money to buy enough food for all of us, much less a train ticket. And also, according to one of my uncles, the things between Xing and Amestris are not okay."
"I can understand that you hide because you feared that they would arrest you and send you back." Mustang nodded, understanding the situation.
"Yes, but I was more afraid they would not."
"But that would be no problem for you Ms. Chang. What we normally do is, arrest the illegal immigrant and depending on his/her situation is what we do with them. But you being a minor with no criminal record, we would have just sent you back to Xing safe and sound."
"I am not sure about it." She whispered and lowered her head.
They looked at her, some with pity. She was so young, and yet so determined and responsible to search for the well-being of the rest of her family.
As they looked at her, something came to the white-haired teen's mind. Something that hadn't been explained yet. At the corner of his eyes, he caught the eye of Lavi and Kanda, they too thought similarly.
"Mei." He called the girl, who in turned looked back at him. "The reason why you didn't want the Military to find you, has to do with why that Akuma was chasing you, right?"
Her lips trembled, and her eyes watered a little bit. She nodded. Allen didn't have to look at the others to see their expressions of shock.
"Mei, why was it after you?" He asked calmly, his fists clenching as the tension aroused in the room.
Taking a deep breathe the petite black-haired, look at the white-haired Exorcist.
"For the very same reason they arrested Mr. Scar. We were down in the sewers, and they saw us."
Author's note: Well hello there, hope you liked it. I know this are vacations and I hadn't uploaded much lately, but I had been ordering all of my ideas for this story, and with Man returning after almost three years (which just did yesterday Friday July 17th 2015) I needed to see what to do since it could affect the plot. Don't worry about it though, I'll just stick with my own plot, and maybe adapt some of the things Katsura Hoshino will put.
Thank you for reading, and please leave reviews.