Last time, Sora reported his actions in Lior to his adopted father, Maes Hughes, who found out about Sora's feelings for an Ishbalin girl. Sora asked Hughes to not tell Mustang about it, due to the colonel's history with them in Ishbal...

That night, Hughes met with Mustang at a bar to report Sora's findings. He told Mustang about Lior's current condition, about how it became a battlefield for a civil war. And even how Father Cornello was seemingly back. Despite the troubling news, Mustang suggested that they keep the news secret from Ed, seeing as how the Fullmetal believed that he saved the town. Then Mustang asked why Hughes and the other State Alchemists were really here, Hughes answered that they were in East City to avoid a dangerous killer called the Scarred Man, who goes after alchemists that work for the military...

Meanwhile, Sora was feeling uncertain about whether or not he and the Y. O. U. T. H. assassins were really capable of acting normal, and having souls of their own. But Tidus and Edward assured him that despite what people tell him, they could never truly understand him or his friends. Tidus proved that some Y. O. U. T. H. orphans can still be capable of having souls after giving Sora a gift from the Tringum Brothers, and Ed explained that if Sora was truly empty and emotionless, he wouldn't have approached them with his problems and he would've killed them instantly if they bugged him.

After listening to his friends, Sora felt better about himself and went to his hotel room. However, he was surprised to find the same gunslinger girl that shot Ed and held him hostage, inside of his room, asking for him to listen to her...

Warning: Kingdom Hearts and Fullmetal Alchemist are both licensed by Square-Enix. The secondary licenses for both franchises are Disney (Kingdom Hearts), Aniplex, Bones Inc., and Funimation (Fullmetal Alchemist).

PS: There will be spoilers.


Fullmetal Kingdom: The Fanfic

Chapter 56: Her Beloved Friend

"Forget it lady, I'm not falling for your lies!" Sora said while keeping his distance. Kairi jumped off the bed and said, "LIES? I'm telling the truth! In fact, the Fullmetal himself, wanted us to talk tonight so we could straighten out what happened!" Sora was startled by what Kairi said, "E-Ed's why you're here?" Kairi nodded, "That's right! So here I am, ready and willing to see you again!"

Kairi walked towards Sora, who backed up against a wall, and she said, "I know you don't remember me, alright! Just try and listen to me, I'm not going to hurt you, OR the Elrics, I promise! This'll just be a short visit."

(Ed's eyes pop open when he wakes up) "SHORT?"

Kairi came close enough to Sora to see him sweat in nervousness. But he stopped showing fear and relaxed, so he looked at Kairi and said, "...you just want to talk?" Kairi noticed how close she was to him, so she backed away from Sora and blushed, then nodded. So Sora said, "Alright, we'll talk, but if you try anything-" Kairi smiled and took Sora's hand, "YES! Thank you! This will only take a few minutes!"

Kairi pulled Sora over to his bed and the two of them sat next to each other. Kairi asked, "Are you alright? You've turned red." Kairi touched Sora's forehead and said, "Hmm, nothing seems to be wrong, but do you feel any different?" Sora replied, "...well, I was feeling a bit strange after I woke up in the hospital." Kairi stood up and said, "Then I'll make you some soup." Sora stopped her, "Whoa now, lady, I still don't trust you, so I'll go make the soup!"

Before Sora could get up, Kairi grabbed his wrist and said, "Please, I want to do it. Let me make the soup." Sora demanded, "L-let me go!" Kairi released him and watched as he went into the kitchen. He opened the cupboards and found some chicken soup. He stopped for a bit and looked back at Kairi, who looked heartbroken...

"Uh, mam, would you like some?" Sora asked as he opened the can. Kairi looked back at him and replied, "N-no thank you." Sora turned back to the counter, where he was filling a pot with the soup. He still felt bad for what he did, so he said, "I-I'm sorry for yelling at you! You probably had better days, right?" Kairi replied, "...this day still counts as a good day. You're out of the hospital and I couldn't be any happier to see you."

Sora then asked, "...you really care about me, huh?" Kairi nodded, "More than anything." Sora finished cooking the soup and filled a bowl with it. He then decided to make some tea, so while he was working he asked, "So, what's your name?" Kairi answered, "It's Kairi...nice to meet you...again." Sora found the bag of tea and starting making the drink, then he said, "Kairi, huh? It's a nice name. ...anyway, I'd like us to be friends, don't get me wrong, but I still want answers about your involvement with Isaac. Why did you help him escape?"

"..."

Kairi was quiet for a couple of minutes, but she answered, "...A favor isn't always easy to return. Let's just leave it at that, OK?" Sora nodded and brought over the soup and the tea. Kairi then noticed Sora giving her the tea, "What's this?" Sora replied, "It's tea, I know you didn't want anything, but a Potion wouldn't have made you comfortable. Tea is a nice drink to have during pleasant conversations, including this one."

As the Keyblade Master was enjoying his chicken soup, Kairi looked at the tea and took a sip...

"...? It's delicious! What is this?"

Sora answered, "Smooth Sweet Tea. In the Y. O. U. T. H. Orphanage, we were given one recipe each to use in case we need to appeal to a crowd of high standards. Basically, it's a party trick." Kairi drank more of the tea and said, "You've learned allot from Y. O. U. T. H., huh?" Sora replied, "Yeah, it's a regular boot camp for us."

Kairi noticed Sora's miserable expression and asked, "Was it hard living there?" Sora answered, "No, it's just..." Kairi grasped Sora's hand, looked at him in the eyes and asked, "Just what? Is there something wrong?" Sora started to blush, but he shook that feeling away and answered, "There was an attack on the Y. O. U. T. H. Orphanage, and I haven't heard from my brothers and sisters since. I rescued one of them, but he told me the others were found by the military. I asked my superior if he knew what happened to them, but-"

"Let me guess, he knew nothing. Tch, typical."

Sora nodded and finished his explanation, "But he knew someone who might, the Brigadier General, Basc Grand." Kairi began to take interest in what Sora said, "The Iron Blood? He's the guy you're suspecting?" Sora replied, "Yep, he's the one. I have to find him again and get my answers, but I haven't seen him since the honorary party."

Kairi finished her tea and said, "Sounds like you've got some serious work to do." Sora finished the rest of his soup and replied, "It's not that hard, really. As long as Ed and Al are with me, I have a good chance of seeing them again." Kairi then asked, "You really trust those two? It's not a good idea, trust me. I've heard allot about those two, like how they used forbidden alchemy to resurrect the dead, and how they joined the military to find some rock with alchemic properties, I even heard about their involvement with Shou Tucker and his experiments."

"...Shou Tucker?"

Sora was a bit startled by Kairi's news, "I've never heard of anybody named Tucker before." Kairi explained, "...well if you haven't, then that means they didn't want you to know. Shou Tucker was a State Alchemist once, Sowing Life for a nickname, and a daughter for a family. His wife disappeared a while ago, and nobody knew where she was. Then the Elric Brothers came to his house to study for the Alchemy Exam, of coarse, the elder brother passed. Yeah, they were so happy...little did everybody know what they were planning."

Sora asked, "Planning? What are you talking about?" Kairi continued, "...you know how the alchemist has to perform a unique form of alchemy to pass? Well Tucker passed his test...with a talking chimera." Sora was amazed, "A-A talking chimera? AWESOME! I ran into a few chimeras on the job, but non of them could talk-" Kairi stopped him and said, "That chimera...was his wife."

"...what?" Sora's amazed look turned into a fearful one as Kairi nodded, "Yep, he turned his housewife into a house-pet. And after Ed's initiation as a State Alchemist, Tucker was ordered to pass HIS test. And to pass it, he needed help, he needed another chimera, he needed the Elric Brothers. So together, they helped Tucker create another talking chimera...from his dog...and his daughter!"

Sora stood up and yelled, "THAT'S A LIE! You don't know the Elrics like I do!" Kairi was shocked by Sora's loyalty to his friends, so she said, "Oh dear, you've been such a nice person, and you've always believed in your friends, it's so touching! And believe me, I was surprised when Edward told me to see you, I thought he was a completely different person."

Kairi moved closer to Sora and said, "I'm not doubting you, and I'm not doubting your friends. They probably changed after their partnership with Tucker. But if you're starting to wonder what kind of people they are, try asking them who Nina is." Sora felt a bit nervous when Kairi got closer, but he was paying attention to every words she told him, "N-Nina?" Kairi explained, "She's one of many reasons behind Edward's actions. He's your friend, so he doesn't have to hide it from you. Just like...I wouldn't hide from you."

Kairi finished talking and kissed Sora on the cheek.

"I want to tell you everything, but this was only step one of our reunion. Next time, we won't need to hide anymore." Kairi lets go of Sora's hand, stood up from the bed, and headed for the window. But Sora stopped her and asked, "Look, you obviously hate the Elric Brothers, but you should know, they aren't enemies, they have goals similar to yours. They want to regain what they lost to." Kairi asked, "Pff, right, whatever you say-"

Sora grabbed her wrist and continued, "I mean it, they're good people. Please Kairi, if you decide to see me again, let the Elrics see you to." Kairi looked away and replied, "...maybe. Goodnight Sora." Sora released her and said, "Goodnight Kairi." The two of them smiled at each other, but both were unsure of what the future would hold for them. So Kairi waved and jumped out of the window...

"...WAIT A MINUTE, I'M ON THE 5TH FLOOR! KAIRI, WAIT!" Sora rushed to the window, but to his amazement, he saw no one on the ground...or anywhere else. Sora scratched his head in confusion, "Where did she go?" Sora shook off his confusion and closed the window, knowing that the mystery girl will return someday.

Suddenly, Sora felt someone grab him by the shoulder...

"WHO'S THE GUY YER CALL'N 'HOBBIT FOR HIRE FROM HOBBITON' OF A SHORTY?"

As Sora was getting randomly pummeled by a confused Ed, Kairi hid herself in the alleys, she looked on and said to herself, "...goodnight, Sora. I promise, we'll make it work this time."

Unbeknown to Kairi, a certain Golem King was watching her while she was with Sora, and was now wondering, "And just like that, she's gone? That's too quick of a death sentence for that amusingly nimble minx." Crimson looked around for the new girl, "Where are you, little minx? Where are you..." Just then, he noticed a hooded person running through the alley. "She's hidden herself well, this little minx! But she's not going to take the Keyblade Master from me! OH NO! In fact, she'll be taking something else..."

Inside the Hotel, Sora was still being chased by an angry Fullmetal, then Alphonse came in and asked, "What's going on, brother?" Ed replied every time he passed his younger brother, "STUPID...BUSH-HEAD...SAID...SHORT...I...WILL KILL...THAT BAS...TARD!" Al caught Ed and tried to calm him down, then Sora said, "Guys, you are NOT going to believe who was here!" Al asked, "Wait, you met someone here?" Sora nodded, "It was-"

(KRA-KOOOM)

The massive noise made the Hotel quake, then Donald and Goofy (in their ridiculous Pjs) came into the room. Donald then said to to Sora and the Elrics, "Guys, we got to go! A GOLEM'S ATTACKING A GIRL!" Sora and Al thought, Could it be Kairi? Sora and Al then grabbed Ed and said, "COME ON, WE'VE GOTTA HURRY!" Then the trio and the Genomes hurried to the exit...

Minutes ago, Kairi made her way out of the dark alley and into a parking area. She then reaches into her purse and picked out some change, "Hmm, this should be enough. I'll just need a phone..." Kairi then noticed a phone machine nearby and walked straight to it. She placed the coins in the slot and dialed in the numbers when suddenly-

"Are you lost, little minx?"

Kairi jumped backwards and pulled out her guns, "WHO'S THERE?" The voice replied, "I'm not there...I'm here." Just then, the gunner felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around swiftly! But there was still no one there!

"What's the matter, little minx? Can't you see me?"

Kairi answered, "I'll see you eventually. A coward like you would always depend on the shadows to elude gunfire, but you'll slip up, they always slip up..." Just then, she felt someone feel her hair, "Such a beautiful color. A dark shade of red...like the blood of Sora-" Kairi grabbed the arm and hurled him over her head, "GO TO HELL YOU MONSTER!" As she did, she saw the giant she hurled, he twisted the arm Kairi grabbed, landed right on his feet and stood up before her. It was a large figure wearing period clothes that were colored red and black. She then noticed his mask on the ground...

Kairi looked at the face hidden in darkness. But the moonlight came down upon them, and revealed the man's face! Kairi Shivered, "Y-Y-YOU'RE-!" The giant placed his mask back on his face, and said to her, "I'm someone else, trust me."

The caped giant then grabbed his broken arm...and ripped it off!

Kairi was shocked to see such a man do that to his own arm without screaming! The giant then said to her, "You're indeed skilled with hand-to-hand combat, and your skill with the guns is quite impressive. Killing you would be a waste...BUT THEN AGAIN, YOU'RE NOT A KEYBLADE MASTER!" Kairi asked, "Who...what are you?"

The giant answered, "I am Son of the Crim flow form your veins."

Kairi then realized, "Crimson, the Golem King!"

"THAT'S CORRECT! You deserve a prize!"

Crimson then tossed his torn arm into the air! Kairi watched as the arm started bulging and growing, and just when things couldn't get any grosser, a long, thin head comes out, and then, strange arms and legs came out! The strange creature came down to the ground and stood up, and to Kairi's shock, the creature was indeed taller than Crimson!

Crimson then surprised Kairi by re-growing his old hand!

As the arm returned, Crimson noticed it twitching and bubbling, so he pulled out a spare glove and ran his new arm into the glove. After a few cracking and snapping sounds from the arm, Crimson's new arm calmed down and moved naturally.

Kairi shook her head in disbelief and said, "You...you really aren't human, are you?" Crimson didn't reply, instead, he pulled out from his back, a wine glass and filled it with some raspberry wine while saying to Kairi, "I've noticed you having an interest in my future pawn, my little minx. It's tragic, but you've only yourself to blame!" As Crimson finished filling his glass, he snapped his fingers, signaling the new Golem creature to attack! The Golem's arms strangely moved towards it's back, and pulled out two large clubs!

"Fan-girl...MEET THE TRICKMASTER!"

End of Chapter 56


Next Chapter, Kairi faces the Trickmaster with some unusual help...

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