Next chapter up, R&R :) Enjoy:)
Chapter 25
"What do you three know about the philosophers' stone?" Ling asks slyly, Ed tenses up instantly then shakes it off.
"Never heard of it…" Ed sighs and stands up.
"And what about you?" He asks looking up at me, I look at Ed who has an unreadable look on his face. I look at Ling than turn my head away.
"I don't know anything about it." I shake my head, then I feel a hand grab my wrist as I try to walk away.
"Oh really? That marking has quite a different chi than I've ever felt before." Ling smirks, I mentally slap myself. I yank my arm away.
"Actually it felt like the mark was trying to burn my hand away." I glare into Ling's eyes; I can see Ed fidgeting uncomfortably beside me.
"I don't know anything." I growl, he smirks.
"Be that way, I will get my information one way or another." He snaps his fingers but I already know what's going to happen, I smirk and catch the foot about to collide with my head. I can see the dark eyes behind the mask, widen in surprise. I flip Lan Fan to the ground; Fu is already at Alphonse when Ed steps in.
"Stay the hell away from her!" Ed hisses as he lunges her; I watch the explosion of alchemy as they disappear.
"There they go..." Ling smiles in amusement, I don't know if I should run after Ed or stay with Ling. I shift my weight from one foot to another.
"And are you going to tell me anything now?" He asks softly, I turn to him and sit down at the table.
"No, asking me is useless." I say calmly, Ling raises an eye brow at me and intensifies his stare.
"I'll follow you until you do." He says easily, I just scoff at him.
"I already know you would. For a long time…" I trail off, Ling looks confused than points to my arm.
"And that? Where did you get that?" He demands, I look down at my gleaming mark of circles and writing.
"You answer is just as good as mine." I sigh; the answer catches him off guard. "I know nothing of my mark or about the stone, understand?" Well now that is a lie, the mark is the stone… well sort of; it's where it had been place for my body to absorb it. And of course I know all about the stone but Ling can't know anything till way later on...
"You're a very odd girl… such an odd chi that you have, it almost feels non-human but not quite." Ling is carefully watching me, waiting for me to give something away; but he struck a strong cord for me.
"I am human." I'm trying to keep the anger down but it bleeds into my words, Ling smirks at my anger but stops when he sees Ed and Al appear out of the cloud of dust; with Fu and Lan Fan.
"Very impressive…" Ling smiles at both of them, I can see the annoyance in Ed's eyes as he slings his ripped off arm over his shoulder.
"Enough cuts on your face…" I mutter walking over to him; I can feel Ling watching me carefully.
"I…Well… It's not my fault." Ed grumbles grumpily, I smile and go to touch one of the cuts on his face. Ed stops my hand and whispers into my ear. "There watching you to carefully… I don't like it." I look to the corner of my eye and see all three of them looking at me.
"What?!" I snap as I turn around, they all look at me surprised.
"It's you… your chi, it doesn't feel right." Lan Fan says with a chill, I wrap my arms around myself defensively. I am human… I'm just a philosopher stone… I am human. I hear the mob of anger people coming from their destroyed town.
"Better start fixing…" I say looking at Al, he looks confused at me; I point to the people walking towards us and then Al nods with a smile.
"Don't worry we'll fix everything." Al smiles at them. "See, watch Rose." I step forward and touch the ground; there's a huge flash and the buildings snap back together. I turn to look at everyone and they all have their jaws on the ground.
"Rose that was more than just fixing one thing at a time…" Ed gapes at me; I bite my lip and look at Al.
"I…I…I'll let you do the rest Al..." I trail off.
"Ok Rose but there isn't much to do now, few buildings and the roads." I nod and look back at Ling but they have disappeared.
"What the hell?!" Ed shouts. "Where did they go?" I smile.
"Don't worry, you'll see them again." Ed rolls his eyes.
"Oh great… I get to deal with that idiot again…" He sighs. "Come on we better get back to the shop."
I remain outside of the door to the mechanic shop for a few minutes, as Ed deals with Winry. I hear the yelling about his carelessness than just bickering back and forth than the automail tool clattering against metal.
"Come on Rose, let's go inside." Alphonse smiles at me and I nod letting him go first, as soon as I step into the shop I see Winry freeze. I also see Ling sitting in the corner drinking tea.
"Hi..." Winry says quietly than shuts me out as she begins to talk to Ed again.
"So where are you going to break your automail this time?" She sneers and Ed rolls his eyes.
"You just think I'm going to break it again?" Ed grumbles, Al smiles.
"Were thinking of going back to central to do some research." He chirps.
"You're going back to central! Take me with you!" She shouts happily as she puts her tools away.
"Why do you want to go back to central?" Ed puffs and Winry just keeps her smile plastered onto her face.
"I want to see the Hughes family again." She says, the words eat at my core. Ed notices my change in mood and walk over to me, Winry's eyes follow him.
"Rose what's wrong?" he asks softly as he moves my hair out of my eyes, I take his hand in mine.
"Edward I can't tell you that, even if I wanted too. You'll know soon enough." I whisper sadly, I can see a spark of frustration in his eyes. "Please Ed…" the golden orbs soften as he pull me into a hug, I can see Winry's anger smoldering but I bury my face into his shoulder.
"Don't you have a lot of work here though Winry? Ed asks still holding onto me.
"Oh…" she mutters sadly, but Mr. Garfiel speaks up.
"You've been working really hard Winry; you deserve to take a break." Then her face lightens up instantly, I pull out of Ed's arms and sit down at the table across from Ling who offers me the pot of tea and a glass. I smile and take both muttering a thank you.
"Then it's settled we are all going to central." Al smile and Winry beams, I roll my eyes and pour my tea.
"Jealously, huh?" Ling yawns and takes a sip of tea. "I can see, she would rather hit you with that wrench." I nod and lean back in the chair, Ling smiles and gets up.
"We're all going to central how fun!" Ed growls.
"You're not coming!" He shouts, Ling just throws his arms around Ed.
"I won't leave until you tell me everything." He smiles as he nuzzles Ed's face,Ed throws him off him.
"We'll leave in the morning." Alphonse smiles, then I zone off. I hear the talk of Ling tell them why he's here and why he wants the stone, the laugher of finding out he's the prince. The blade thrown at Ed for laughing by Lan Fan, and other chatter. I begin to doze off and lean against Ed who wraps his arms around me, when I wake it's to the bright sun as we all run sleepily toward the train. Central here we come…