Author's note: Phew, finally chapter 3! I apologize everyone for using the wrong name back then. I've corrected it already . Anyway, enjoy!!
Chapter three: "union"Riza's point of view
"Excuse me, miss"
Huh? What? I opened my eyes slowly and I found an officer tapped my shoulder.
"We've arrived at Central"
"Oh, I'm sorry!"
Geez I was overslept! I was the only passenger left in the train. I reached for my baggage and not to forget my pistol, I stood up and bowed to the officer before leaving the train. I gazed at the blue sky. So this was Central, I thought. I tidy my blue shirt and skirt, and then proceed forward. But I had no idea of where the headquarter was. Then I saw a man with eyeglasses wearing the military's blue uniform. I approached before him and asked bravely.
"Excuse me, sir, can you please tell me where the military's general headquarter is?"
"Well, what business do you have there?" he asked back
"I want to meet Flame Alchemist, Roy Mustang"
"Oh, Roy. Are you his friend? You're just as cute as Gracia, the woman who'll soon be my wife! Wanna meet her? Huh? Wanna meet her?"
W… Wow, this man sure was cheerful. "Um… sorry, I…"
"Gee, Hughes, will you stop?" a blonde man wearing military uniform appeared and laughed. "Can I help you, miss?"
"I want to see Roy Mustang as soon as possible" I said
"Another fan of Colonel, huh?" he sighed "Forget it, my lady, he's been a dawdler lately. He won't notice you"
'Another fan of Colonel'?? Did he have lots of fan?? Oh, gosh… I couldn't hide my jealousy. I was scared and uptight. How if he had forgotten me? What should I do?
"Why, are you jealous? All other girls show the expression like yours when I mentioned the word 'Roy's fans'. But he sure is liked by lots of girls" the blonde man said.
"C'mon, Havoc. You're jealous of him too, are you not? If only you have a girlfriend as cute as Gracia…" Hughes grinned.
I smiled. The military's people were not as bad as I thought. But I couldn't deny that I hated the military, because it killed my father.
I explained to them politely, "I'm not his fan, I'm his childhood friend. Can you take me to him?"
Hughes seemed like giving signs to Havoc. He whispered, "She's fine. I find no threat"
Hey, I heard it! The man named Havoc examined me more, then said "Very well. Come with me"
Why were they being so cautious? Was this the habit of people in military, or… was Roy actually in danger? I tried to think positive and followed Havoc. In a very short time we'd arrived at the headquarters. Whoa, so big!
"Wait here. I'll call colonel" Havoc said then left.
I waited at the front door of the headquarter. I was palpitating. I was too nervous to see his face, but this was no time to go back… Roy…
Roy Mustang's Point of View
"I hate you so much, colonel!! She's cute, why don't you give me just one of your fans??" Havoc appeared before me and stifled me.
"What??" I was confused.
"A blonde girl wants to see you. She said she's your childhood friend. Her name is… um… wait, I forgot"
"Riza?" my heart pounded.
"Ah, yes! Riza Hawkeye!"
I held my head because I felt like it's falling down. "Don't tell me… oh, shit"
Havoc stared at me in confusion. Why did she come?? How did she know that I was here? But I couldn't deny that I felt very very happy. I'd been thinking about her. I missed her so much. I wanted to see her. How's she look like now? But she just couldn't and wouldn't forgive me for what I did. I left her without a word. What did she come here for? I thought she forgot me already… but she hadn't. I felt really happy about that, but… So much questions and thoughts came convoluting in my head.
"Colonel, are you OK? She's waiting, ya know" Havoc said
"Aaahh, fine, fine!" I walked out, leaving Havoc in a real confusion. Riza… why?
Riza Hawkeye's Point of View
What took him so long? I walked here and there, waiting for the one I loved to come.
"…Riza?"
I turned around and I found Roy Mustang standing before me. He's so tall and mature. He'd grown. His expressionless face remained the same, but I could see his kind eyes. He hadn't changed. This was Roy, Roy Mustang. This was our first meeting after 8 years of parting. Unintentionally I shed a few tears, the tears that's been hidden and buried inside my heart for a very long time. How I missed him… How I wanted to see him…
All of a sudden he hugged me. We didn't say a word for several minutes, while then he released me and bowed his head. I wiped my face and talked to him with quite a loud voice.
"How could you do this to me?? Why did you left without a word?? Why don't you at least apprise me about yourself that you're fine?? Why? Why?"
"I'm sorry. I couldn't tell you that I go to the military. I'm afraid you'll hate me… I… Why d'you come here?"
"Yeah, I hate you already" I said "I come here to…"
Then I stopped. He's right. What did I come here for? To scold him? No, I wanted to stay with him, right? But he's in the military… would he accept me? And I've promised mother I won't go into the military. And to go to the military wasn't that easy. What should I do?
"Riza, where will you stay?" he asked me as he saw the baggage which I brought along.
"No idea. But I just have to fulfill my promise" I said plainly.
"Promise? Gosh… You're not a kid anymore, OK? Forget it"
"You're so mean!! I want to protect you!!"
"I don't need anyone to protect me. Now GO HOME!"
I startled. Roy… shouted at me? But I didn't see anger at his eyes, I saw sadness. I had the feeling that his driving me away was a perforce. It might only be my positive thinking, but I was quite sure he got his own reason. But hey, it's not Riza Hawkeye if I gave up this easily.
"D'you think I'll just turn around and go home after I found you?" I said "Let me just say this plainly. I want to protect you. I want to be with you forever. I don't really care if you think I'm a fool who wait for 8 years, but…"
"Riza" Roy cut my words, bowed his head and said in a very low volume "I, too… have waited… for 8 years…"
Huh? Could I… believe my ears?
"Havoc! Farman! Fuery! Breda!" Roy closed his eyes and shouted "I know you're eavesdropping!"
Then, from Roy's behind, 4 men in military's uniform appeared from a big pillar.
"Ano, taisa… We… um…" they all seemed scared of Roy and tried to find excuses for eavesdropping. ("Taisa" means: Colonel)
"Aaaahhhh…." Roy moaned, "Really, no privacy!"
He took my hand and pulled me.
"Taisa, where will you go?" Havoc asked
"To the place where I can talk freely without you guys!" he answered roughly then took me along.
"But it's dangerous to go alone like that!"
"Who do you think I am?"
We walked hand in hand, leaving the headquarter. No one talked, until we arrived at a river. We sat on the grass field in front of it. We didn't talk for several minutes, and…
"Riza, talk what you need to talk and go home" Roy started our conversation.
"Why d'you want me to leave this bad?"
"And why d'you want to protect me, knowing I am in the military?" he asked me back
"Well, I do feel shock when I see you wearing that blue uniform, but… All I care is you. Now answer me, why d'you want me to leave? Do I disturb you?"
"It's dangerous. Everyone hates military. Besides, I don't need your protecting me"
Before I could give any arguments, I saw something 'shiny' at the edge of the street. A gun.
"Watch out!!!" I pushed Roy that he fell and dodged the bullet which's trying to kill him. Then I saw a man's holding the gun. I stood up "What are you doing??"
"All state alchemists must die!! You killed my daughter!!" he shouted, then tried to shoot the gun again.
"If you want to beat me in shooting," I said, raising my pistol "Practice for another one hundred years"
BAM! I shot his arm. He screamed and ran away.
"Riza… I don't know you're that perfect in shooting… I mean, he stood for more than 50 meters from us" Roy said, dazzled, still in his sitting position.
I smiled "Hawkeye is not just a name, you know. I'm glad; both of us fulfill our promise. I saw your picture on the newspaper back then. You're shooting fire. But… why d'you use that to kill people?"
He looked very sad. "It's not my own will, Riza. If I hadn't done that… there'll be more casualties"
"And why d'you join the military?"
He kept silent. He looked very depressed. I believed in him. I was sure he didn't go into the military based on his liking. I huffed and walked towards him. I squatted and hugged him.
"You need someone to protect you… not just physically, but also mentally." I hugged him tight as if I didn't want to release him.
"But I don't want you to stay in the military. It's dangerous, you know that better"
"Don't lie, I can see through your eyes. That's not the real reason of why you want me to leave"
"… To tell you the truth… I don't want you to carry the same, heavy burden as mine. I want you to live freely, I want you to be yourself, but the military forbid you to do that. I just want you… to be happy"
"But…"
"No more 'but'. Now go home" Roy stood up and ran as fast as he could, leaving me behind.
I pursued. I also ran as fast as I could to the headquarter. I couldn't just accept his words like that and go home!
In front of the headquarter, I found the man named Havoc.
"Sir, where's Roy?" I caught my breath and asked in a hurry.
"He's so weird! I don't know, all he said was 'tell Riza to go home I don't wanna see her' and locked himself in his room"
What? Let's see who's gonna win, Roy Mustang.
Roy Mustang's Point of View
It'd been a week since Riza took a visit. Her going into the military was my biggest will, so that I could always be with her. But if it had to take away Riza's happiness, I'd better not see her again.
"Taisa!" Hughes barged in "There's a new Lieutenant"
"Huh? Who? I don't remember anyone doing some kind of service to get himself into promotion" I said lazily.
"Well, actually… it's not a 'he' but a 'she'. She's totally a newcomer to the military and she holds the legendary family name and ability, so she's just easy to be accepted."
I wasn't interested, but I was a Colonel! I had to know this person well… "So, what does she do that she holds the Lieutenant status immediately?"
"… She saved your life" said Hughes.
"What?? Don't tell me…"
"You know it yourself"
All of a sudden someone knocked on the door and opened it.
"Good afternoon, I am Riza Hawkeye, the new Lieutenant. Nice to meet you, Mustang taisa"
RIZA!?? Dammit, her hair was short?? It's another simple reason why I didn't want her to be in the military. I loved her long hair and I didn't want it to change.
"R… Riza… !? Why…!?"
"Private matter should not be talked inside the military, taisa." She smiled.
"Ahh, just answer one thing. Why your hair…"
"My hair? What's wrong with it?" Riza turned around and continued "See? I just pin it"
I huffed. I was relieved. But to see her wearing trousers like that… arrr!! Girls were much better in wearing mini skirt!!
Well… to tell you the truth, I felt very very very happy to see Riza's coming to the military like this. Moreover, she's a lieutenant, which meant she'd be with me all the time. But…
I took her to the edge of the room and whispered, "Are you stupid? From now on, you'll have to kill people! You'll lose your happiness forever!"
"You're wrong" she smiled, and continued:
"My happiness… is to be with you"
End of Chapter 3
phew, finally! Chapter 4 is in progress. Review please .