Alrighty, Chapter 4! Not much to say, but thanks to all the reviewers! Now that I've finally gotten into the story, I thinking about maybe adding some Roy/Riza fluff in my next chapter. Maybe. I'm not sure yet. Fluff isn't really my forte, but I'm gonna give it shot Root for me, k? NOW LET US BEGIN CHAPTER 4!
They all gathered in a circle around the blazing fireplace, waiting for Ed to begin his story. "What kind of story is it?" Al asked, getting excited. Ed made a wide grin. "Oh, nothing special, just a little tale behind this mansion we're in and the family that used to live here."
Al gulped. "Used to?"
"Yep. But don't worry yourself. Just because they were murdered here doesn't mean this place is haunted or anything," Ed continued portraying a very fake innocence.
"Murdered?" Riza gasped
Hughes bit his lip. "H-haunted!"
Suddenly, Mustang stood up. "You're making this up, Full Metal."
"Believe what you want to Mustang," said Ed, shrugging.
Al looked away from Mustang. "So, what happened, Nii-san?"
Ed crossed his arms and began his story.
"It all started a few decades ago, back in this very house. A wealthy man and his family bought this land and had this house built, out here in the middle of nowhere. Isolated from the world."
Al trembled, hugging his small gray kitten.
"He, his wife, and his four children lived in their mansion happily for years. Watching as the kids grew up, spending time together, creating memories. But as time went by, the father started receiving lower wages jetting the family into debt."
"So, what did they do?" asked Riza, getting into the story.
"Well," began Edward, scratching his head. "To earn more money, they, um, no wait! Their mother took a job! That's right, their mother got a job to help the family out."
"But what about the kids! No mother should leave her children! Why, if I found out Alicia was home alone-"
"Quite Hughes!" snapped Ed. He then took a deep breath. "I'm getting to that. Now where was I? Oh, right, the mom took a job to help. After she took the job, she hired a nanny to watch the children every night. Her oldest child, her daughter, argued with her, claiming she was old enough to care for her siblings on her own. But the mother paid no attention, and regardless of what her daughter said, she hired the nanny."
Mustang had now look up and taken interest in the story, too, but continued to hide it, as Ed went on.
"The oldest daughter was really angry about not being old enough to watch her siblings, and she blamed it all on their new nanny. To take out her anger, she was constantly playing tricks, and framing her nanny to get her fired. However, her desperate attempts failed, as she felt herself growing more and more distant from her family. What happens next, no one is really sure of. It's only a legend. You guys probably aren't even interested, right?"
"No, Edward, tell us!" Hughes wined. "How's the legend go?"
"Yeah, let's hear it!" Riza said. Ed nodded and motioned them in closer. One by one, even Mustang scooted in. "Okay, here goes," said Ed sighing. "Well, as the legend goes, one night, when the mother worked overtime, and the nanny had to stay late. Well, she took care of the kids as usual until, giving them a bath, getting them dinner, tucking them into bed. After they had all gone to sleep, one by one, every child but the oldest one started crying. So the nanny went up the their rooms, one at a time, and started humming to them. She hummed her song for every child and after each child heard it, they fell back to sleep."
"That's not scary at all!" Hughes called out.
"I'm not done yet, Hughes," said Ed, getting annoyed. "Now, after she sang them, they all fell asleep. The mother got home a few hours later, letting the nanny leave. But when the mother when in to check on her children. . .well. . ." Ed motioned his finger across his neck. "Dead."
They all gasped in unison.
"Well, who did it?" Riza asked.
"Nobody really knows, but the nanny was accused. The day of her trial, she pleaded innocent. Of coarse no one believed her, though. So the night she was convicted, she came back to this house, and drowned herself in the upstairs bathroom!"
They're jaws dropped. "Didn't anyone notice her!" Al cried, hugging his kitten even tighter. Ed lowered his head. "Not until they they noticed water leaking through the ceiling. And they say nowadays, if the night is just right, you can see her ghost walking through these very hallways, still humming her song." A bolt of lighting struck making everyone flinch. "T-that's so spooky," Al said, shaking.
"Yeah, sure freaked me out," agreed Hughes.
Riza nodded. "Make's it kind of hard to go to bed in this place now."
Ed lowered his head further and covered his mouth. "Hey Edward, you okay?" Hughes asked, getting up.
Ed sunk down covering his mouth with both hands before exploding into laughter! Everyone looked at each other confused. "Nii-san, have you lost your mind!" Al yelled. Ed continued to laugh choking out a few words in between giggles. "You..actually bought that!" Everyone stared at Ed confused, as Al's kitten cocked its head to the side. "It was a joke! That story's not real!" A dusty throw pillow flew from the other side of the circle hitting Ed in the face. "Only you would pull a joke that low, Full Metal," sighed Mustang. "Only you." Ed continued to chuckle. "Yeah, but you gotta admit, the looks on you guys' faces? Priceless! Even you looked a little scared for a minute there Mustang!" Mustang smirked. "Fine, I'll admit, some parts had me a little creeped out. But don't congratulate yourself. Afterall, because of this storm we're gonna be spending the night in this haunted house."
"Which reminds me, what are we doing about beds anyway? It's not like we can all share a room," Hughes said as everyone turned to look at Riza.
Mustang stood up. "Fear not Lieutenant Hawkeye, if these three choose to desert you, I will nobley voulenteer myself to keep guard in your room tonight." Riza blushed whacking Mustang over the head with the throw pillow.
They all headed off to bed, Ed, Hughes and a very disappointed Mustang headed to one room, while Riza and a very innocent Al and kitty headed to the other. "Goodnight everyone!" Al called. "Yeah, don't let the ghost get you," teased Hughes. Riza yawned and called down to the others. "Good night Edward, Hughes, Roy." Mustang felt a sudden tingle. It felt awkward hearing her call him by his first name, seeing as she had never really done it before. It felt very awkward, but yet at the same time, made him smile.
End of Chapter 4! After the story, I just had to end it on a happy note. Tee hee! WARNING: expect Roy/Riza fluff ahead! And wish me luck typing it up! I might need it...