Chapter Twenty-Five: Catering to Bad Company

As the sun set behind the nearby mountain casting the small town into dusk, three elegantly dressed men walked down the street, all of them headed toward where the screaming Ed was standing in the stalks trying to get out.

"I'm telling you we didn't do anything wrong!" Ed exclaimed to the people surrounding him as he struggled to get loose from the wooden stalks that were holding him.

"We were just trying to look into something, we didn't mean any harm," Al added more softly compared to his brother. He was standing off to the side pleading with them to let Ed go…as he was the only one not fighting back.

"Maybe not, but where you boys went was strictly off limits," one of the men replied angrily. "Not to mention the statue you broke and all the trouble you caused before that."

"What seems to be the problem here?" asked a voice that carried both sophistication and authority in it.

"Who wants to know?" Larry demanded.

"I am one of the Prime Ministers from Central. My name is Raul," the first man replied calmly.

"You! Hey get them to let me out of here already," Ed shouted angrily at the man.

"Do you…know this boy?" Larry asked suspiciously.

"No, I have never met this boy before," the man answered. "Might we get something to drink? My fellows and I have traveled far and we're a little parched. After that, I can take care of your little problem here."

"Little…why I aught to…" and the rest of Ed's rant was ignored as Larry led him and his companions to his pub.

Larry walked into the tavern while the three men were waiting outside. "Karmen, come over here for a minute," Larry called out.

Karmen stopped cleaning the tables to see what her boss wanted. "Yes, sir?"

"We have very important people coming in, and since you've done so well with customers so far, I'm entrusting them to you. Do everything you can to keep them happy and in good spirits when they leave," he told her earnestly before turning to Nira who was already in position. "And Nira, give them a great welcome and help set the mood."

"We'll do our best," the girls said in unison. Then Karmen quickly hurried to set up the table while Nira stood in waiting, ready to give a heart felt welcome to the guests.

"Irashaimasen!" Nira said happily as the first of the party entered the pub. She nearly dropped her smile, along with the bottom half of her jaw, when she saw a man in a tuxedo with dark, slicked back hair followed by another large man in a tuxedo of his own with blonde hair and a mustache.

"Why thank you for the lovely greeting, miss," the large man exclaimed and clapped Nira on the back hard enough to make her knees buckle.

"Wow, this is a nice little place," a third man said, who was about as tall as the first with blonde hair. He also bore a tux as well as a large cigar.

It took all of Nira's self control not to shout in surprise. "If you'll go right inside, my cousin will show you to your table," she said politely while trying very hard not to laugh. "Please enjoy your stay."

"Why thank you. Come Alfred, Jenkins," the first man ordered before walking inside. The pair followed him and Nira thought that she might die through self suffocation.

"Welcome, here is your table, sirs," Karmen greeted as she motioned to a table set for three. She was motionless for just a moment but quickly went to pull their seats out for them. "How may I be of service to you this evening?"

"Well for starters," Raul began. "I would like a glass of your finest wine."

"I'd just like a beer," the shorter blond one, called Jenkins added.

"And I'll have a large glass of milk," the large one, called Alfred finished.

"I'll get right on that," Karmen replied as she bit back her amusement at Alfred's answer.

"If you gents will excuse me," Jenkins said with a smile, getting up from his chair. "I'm going to get acquainted with some of the townsfolk." And then he went over to a waitress serving a group of old men and began chatting with her.

Nira tried to ignore the playful banter coming from Jenkins and the woman he was talking to…make that women. Once he was done talking to the first one, he moved on to another, and another, and would switch from girl to girl.

In the meantime, the other waitresses, and women, we busy trying to decide whether or not to go over to the table with the two men at it. While others felt sorry for Karmen as Alfred scared them too badly.

"Here are your drinks gentlemen," Karmen said coming out with the three ordered beverages. "Did your friend decide he wasn't thirsty?" she asked watching Jenkins flirt with the waitresses as she set their drinks on the table.

"No, he'll be back once they tell him to leave," Raul answered picking up his glass and taking a drink. Then he set it down on the very edge of the table where it slipped off onto the floor. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry."

The red wine had left a lovely splatter pattern all over Karmen's white boots and on the hem of her outfit. "It's fine," Karmen said with a smile as she picked up the glass off the floor. "It happens all the time. I'll just… get you another one."

"Why thank you, I was worried that all I'd get was one," Raul replied with a warm, dazzling smile. "By the way, the wine is exceptional."

"I'm glad it suits your taste, sir," Karmen said before turning her back to him.

"One moment," Raul said suddenly. He pulled out a couple bills from his coat pocket and handed it to her. "For the cleaning bill."

She accepted the money before walking off to get him a refill. As she walked away, she felt a might irritant at the fact that now she had a stain on her clothes but couldn't do anything to fix it at the moment. Not only that she couldn't help but feel that she had eyes on her back, watching her every move. Once she was out of sight of everyone, Karmen discovered a slip of paper hidden in between the bills and on it there was a message. It read: "The key is in the town's eye. Oh, and that outfit really makes your legs look nice." Karmen crumpled the paper up in her hand and burned it before dissolving the ashes in disgust.

By this time, Jenkins had finished with his exploration of the towns people and returned to the table to have his own drink and Alfred had already finished off his. Nira was in her corner having gotten a hold of herself, though a part of her felt a slight twinge of something whenever Jenkins spoke with the other women.

When Karmen came back out, she found Raul with two women on each arm as he told them how rich his was. "Yes, and my car can hold up to five people in the back seat alone."

"More like Alphonse and a cat," Karmen thought with an inward sigh as she set the drink down and attempted to leave unnoticed.

Raul reached out and caught her arm before she got too far though and pulled her gently towards him. "I was hoping you'd be able to get my order for food now," he said with a smile.

Karmen almost stumbled over herself when her heart gave an unexpected jolt, though it could easily have been because she hadn't expected him to grab her like that. "Of course, sir, I was just worried about interrupting your lovely conversation. What would you gentlemen like this evening?"

"I'll have the special," Raul answered as he let go of her wrist and tickled one of the women next to him beneath her chin.

"I'll have a steak," Alfred ordered loudly. "Medium rare."

"And I'll have the soup of the evening," Jenkins finished with a smile.

"Alright, I'll have your orders out in two shakes," Karmen said before walking over to put in the order.

"I'd say more five or six shakes," Raul commented as she walked away. "Nope make it seven." And all the girls around him laughed.

"So… what do you do Mr. Alfred?" One of the girls asked him.

"He's my body guard," Raul told them simply.

"Yes, it is my duty to PROTECT!" Alfred said with a flourish as he ripped his tux off to reveal his sparking muscles.

Nira leaned against the wall to keep herself on her feet as she fought the laughter that threatened to break through her throat. As she was finally getting her air back, she felt a hand on her back, sending a chill up it, and a calm voice behind her.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jenkins asked concernedly.

"Yes sir, I'm fine," Nira replied pulling herself together. "I…just got a little light headed there for a moment."

"Oh, I see," he said with a smile as he hand discretely moved down her back. As it did so, his middle finger lightly tapped against her. "It is a pretty busy atmosphere, isn't it?"

"Yes indeed," Nira agreed trying to ignore his hand and hope that he didn't try that, though she realized there was more to his touch than she first thought. "Your food should be ready soon so maybe you should return to your seat."

"I'd feel terrible if I left a woman without making sure she was okay," Jenkins said in a polite manner.

"That's very kind of you sir," Nira replied with a smile. She almost dropped it, however, as Jenkins hand strayed a bit too far. Her hand went around her back quickly searching for his hand and stopped it where it was. "That's starting to really make me feel uncomfortable," she murmured as she realized what he was tapping and returned it.

After she spoke, Jenkins pulled his hand back as if he had just been electrocuted and then quickly went back to his chair without another word.

"Here you are, sirs," Karmen said coming back with three plates and quickly setting them down before there was a chance for SOMETHING to happen. "One special, one steak, and one soup of the evening. Is there anything else I can get you?"

"Your address," Raul replied suavely.

"Why, Mr. Raul, you have such a funny sense of humor," Karmen replied with a small giggle.

"This wasn't a joke though," Raul corrected with a smile. "With your beauty I couldn't possibly want anything more than to visit you in your home."

Mixed expressions of surprise, jealousy, anger, passed over the faces of the girls surrounding Raul and murmurs, whispers, and sighs could be heard all around.

"I'm sorry, sir. But I'm not allowed to get involved with the customers," Karmen politely declined.

"Then don't think of me as a customer," he said, with a dazzling smile, as he took her hand. "Think of me as the last man that will walk through your life."

All the other waitresses who were secretly listening in nearly fainted while Nira was holding her stomach, pretending to be doubled over with some sort of dizzy spell.

"My apologies, but even if I were to get involved with a customer, I think I'd feel much more secure with a man such as Mr. Alfred here," Karmen said sweetly. "You don't find many men with that physique these days."

Now it looked like Nira was having a convulsion of sorts but lucky for her most attention was directed at the table Karmen was serving.

"I'm sorry, but my cousin appears to be having one of her attacks. So if you'll excuse me," Karmen said before striding over to Nira and gently taking her before guiding her out of the room.

As the two disappeared, Raul got a rather sour look on his face and Jenkins snickered trying to hold in his laughter. Alfred on the other hand laughed outright. "What a fine young woman, and such great taste too," he said loudly. "She truly has an eye for beauty." Everyone else in the room was either trying to hold back their own amusement or was surprised that anyone could deny Raul.

Meanwhile Karmen had dragged Nira up to there bedroom, locked the door, and stuff a pillow in Nira's face. "Alright, let it out."

"Bahahahahahaha!"

"It wasn't that funny," Karmen pointed out.

"Are you kidding? First their appearance, then the cigar, then Alfred and his milk, then the shirt thing, and now you throwing Raul's moves back at him and saying you'd rather go with Alfred. It's all just too much to contain," Nira laughed heartily into the pillow to muffle the sound. "I was dying down there trying to keep all this in."

"I noticed that wasn't the only thing you were containing when Jenkins was getting friendly with you," Karmen remarked with a smirk.

"Yeah well his hand was straying where it shouldn't have," Nira pointed out finally coming out of the pillow. "That and I made sure to send him the…proper message."

"I didn't think those taps were out of anxiety," Karmen said with a shake of her head. "Morse code, right? So what did he say?"

"Something that didn't make any sense and then that he liked my outfit," Nira answered shaking her head.

"His precise words, if you don't mind," Karmen pressed.

"Fine. 'When the time comes don't speak' and 'That outfit looks really nice on you.' Satisfied?" Nira asked.

"Don't feel too badly, I got a little message of my own," Karmen said rubbing her forehead lightly.

"Really…and are you going to tell me that one?" Nira prodded with a grin.

"The key is in the town's eye," Karmen recited as her cheeks got a little tinge of pink.

"And…" Nira pressed. "Come on, your face doesn't turn red over something like that."

"You make a terrible blind person," Karmen said before reluctantly adding. "He also decided to compliment me on my dress wear."

"Yeah I thought so," Nira chuckled. "Those two really don't have much class when it comes to stuff like this do they?"

"Not many men in the military do," Karmen clarified.

"Well…he did," Nira thought. Then out loud, "So who was that big guy going by the name Alfred? He's the only one I don't recognize."

This question actually made Karmen smile. "I'll have to remember to introduce you later."

"Well anyway, now that we've had our little breather, we'd better get back before Larry starts to wonder what we're doing."

"A very good idea, we still have a mission to complete after all," Karmen said before guiding the other girl back downstairs and placing her back at her post.

Karmen quickly returned to the table to find three empty dishes. "Did you three enjoy your meal?" she asked them as she gathered up the plates.

"Yes, it was quite exquisite," Raul answered politely.

"It was magnificent," Alfred stated with poise.

"Quite tasty," Jenkins added.

"I'm glad it was to your fancy," Karmen said happily, since this meant that the possibility of them leaving soon was high.

"We're about finished here," Raul continued getting to his feet. "So we'll just take our bill and be on our way."

"Of course," Karmen said taking out a slip of paper and handing it to him. "Have a good evening."

"Hold on a moment," Raul stated catching Karmen by the hand again. "I really enjoyed your service, maybe I'll request you the next time."

"I'm glad I could be of good service," Karmen returned with an incline of her head.

"Hey Karmen, you and Nira are free to go on break if you'd like," Larry called out to her.

"Thank you," she called back before slipping her hand out of his. "Well, I'm sure you all have pressing matters to attend to so, I'll bid you farewell."

With that she headed over to the door where Nira was waiting and helped her into the back room. "Okay, now that we're on break, are we going to see our DLF's?" Nira asked rubbing her blindfold.

"This would probably be the best time," Karmen said. "Now that we no longer have to deal with those three. Still, I doubt they came here for no reason."

"Of course," Nira agreed. "When do those guys ever do anything without some sort of reason?"

"Well, I think at this point, it's now or never," Karmen told the strawberry blonde.

"Yeah, better make this count then huh," Nira agreed.

The two girls slipped discretely out of the pub, seeing that the three men were no where to be seen and walked to the area where Edward and Al were still being held.

As they passed by an alleyway, a tall blond woman whispered to someone hidden in the shadows. "They're making their move." There was a light chuckle and a shadow moved behind her before disappearing.

There was no one around when the girls arrived, save for two men guarding the two young boys.

"Evening gentlemen," Karmen said with a warm smile.

"Oh, evening Karmen, Nira," one of the men greeted.

"What brings you girls all the way out here?" the other asked curiously. "These two are pretty dangerous despite their age."

"We just came to thank them for helping Nira the other day, and to give them a little food," Karmen said holding up a packaged meal. "Just because they're troublemakers doesn't mean they need to starve."

"Hmm…alright but make it quick," the first one agreed.

Nira nodded in their general direction as a form of thanks before her and Karmen walked past them. As they did so, they quickly turned around and hit a pressure point on each of them, knocking them unconscious. "It's amazing how much easier it is to do things when the people trust you," Nira remarked shaking her head.

"That's quite a ruthless statement," Karmen said with amusement. "I think I might be rubbing off on you."

Ed's body tensed inside the stocks holding him while Al took on a guarded position. "Who are you and what do you want?" Ed demanded.

"Honestly, Edward," Karmen said turning to smile at him. "I would have thought you'd be more happy to see us. You are our DLF after all."

"L-Lieutenant Hughes?" Al guessed lowering his guard in surprise.

"Hughes…then that must mean…" Ed started looking over at Nira who walked toward him waving her arms about.

She stopped when she touched the stocks and then his head. Then she bent down just enough so she was eye level with him and pulled up her blindfold. "Hey there Ed…yep it's us. Now if you shout anything I'll be sure to seal your mouth shut."

As she was doing this, Karmen had gotten the keys from one of the fallen men and unlocked the stocks, letting the poor chibi blonde out. "Honestly though, you two really do know how to make a scene."

"Although that last one gave us enough of a chance to get a peak at the secret room Larry has underneath this place," Nira confided. "I'm sure that's what you two were looking for right."

"That's right," Al said with a nod.

"Perhaps we could help each other out," Karmen suggested. "Do you two think you could create another little diversion?"

"Who's a little…"

"We're not calling you little Ed," Nira cut in quickly. "Just do something to get everyone's attention and out of the tavern while we lead you two to said room."

"Heh… no problem. Leave it to me!" Ed said smugly.

A little later….(haha.... little.)

"Brother…. Did you really have to go that far?" Al asked his brother in an anxious voice.

"Well, I have to give points for imagination," Karmen stated.

"You know…. The whole walking tree is a good distraction but… your sense of what looks cool is very skewed," Nira remarked.

"Everyone's a critic," Edward mumbled. "It got everyone out of the tavern, didn't it?"

"Yeah, but how many destruction bills are you going to add up because of this?" Nira asked. "Now I know where your state alchemist funds go to."

"Could you two save your bickering for after we get this done?" Karmen asked them as they crossed through the room before suddenly stopping and causing Nira, followed by Edward, and then Al to crash into her.

"Ouch…what's up Karmen?" Nira demanded.

"Nira… do you notice anything particular about that statue," Karmen asked pointing to the statue that Ed and Al had previously manhandled.

"What, you mean Pete? The one Ed broke?" Nira asked while ignoring Edward's rants that it was just an accident and she should be grateful he had even bothered to stick up for her. "Not particularly."

"Look at the tail of the cow he's riding on," Karmen said.

Nira looked over at the statue and after a few seconds she saw that the tail did look slightly off. "Yeah, it does look…slightly different," Nira murmured raising an eyebrow.

"What does it matter?" Ed demanded. "Aren't we trying to go under this place?"

"The door leading into the room is locked," Karmen said. "And while alchemy is an option we don't want to attract any attention to ourselves."

Al walked over to the statue and grabbed the tail. With a small twist and tug, it slipped out with a small key attached to it.

"The key is in the town's eye," Karmen murmured. "So that's what he meant."

"I'm not getting it," Ed mumbled. "Why did they have a key inside of a statue that was connected to a tail?"

"What I want to know is… how he knew about it," Nira wondered aloud.

"We don't have much longer," Al pointed out. "If we don't go soon, someone will spot us."

The other three decided he was right and to save speculations for after they were finished with their inspection. They traveled down the stairs to the cellar and walked until they reached the metallic door at the end of the hallway and Nira motioned for Al to do his work.

"Have at it," she said.

Al slipped the key into the lock, finding it to be a perfect fit, before turning it. A small clicking noise indicated that the door unlocked.

"We'll go first, just in case," Karmen told them and Nira agreed.

The two boys reluctantly stood back behind them and the girls exchanged glances before Nira kicked the door open and the entered.

She just about tripped over herself as the lights flipped on and she spotted someone sitting in a chair in the middle of the room. "You!!" she shouted pointing at him. Karmen, Ed, and Al stared at the person in surprise.

"Well congratulations, you finally made it," the person said in a condescending tone.

It was none other than the Flame Alchemist, Roy Mustang himself.

CM: Yeah, I'm betting you all saw that one coming. :P See how this is resolved, next time on Sisterhood.