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IIIII
"You can't tell me we're going after him again tonight," Envy argued, "They might be expecting that. No doubt they'll guard those boys twice as much now."
"Are you saying you won't be able to get past them?" Lust said competitively. "The plan this time is just to go in. A full on attack. Cahts will be by our side also and she'll be the one to get the boy. Gluttony will be coming with us this time, just for extra back up."
"Isn't this just a bit extreme? We could just grab Full Mini if we wanted too. I mean, he's down, we could snatch him instead. I'd much rather have him in my clutches to torture then a suit of armor. Can't do much with that, now can I?"
"The reason we're getting Little Elric is completely psychological. As you put it, he's 'down', and he won't get in our way. I'll even get the pleasure of telling it to his face that he's helpless and where he'll meet us at. Then he'll give himself up because we have what he wants," explained Lust, staring down at Envy who was watching TV. It looked like he wasn't even listening anymore. "Envy! Are you listening to me?"
"I thought we weren't supposed to kill Full Mini yet," he ignored her question completely, because yes, he had for the most part ignored her.
"Change of plans. We have someone else who's willing to make the stone for us," Lust said with a smirk. Her eyes darted to the door that was opened, and Cahts still dressed in a nurses uniform walked in, "Right Cahts?"
"Yes, Miss Lust."
"Hm? Did I miss something? That girl is going to make the stone for us?" asked Envy in a bit of shock.
"Correct. She's just a skilled an alchemist as that boy is. And now that we have no use for him..." Lust extended her fingers, looking in-a-trance by her own hand "...We can get rid of the pest. I'm just choosing to do it in a fun way."
"Fun for us, torture for him," corrected Envy.
Cahts red eyes glared at Lust as if they were angry. The black haired woman only glared back, questioning what the albino girl could be so upset about.
"What?" Lust asked.
"You aren't planning to have him crawl to you, are ya'?" The Albino woman asked.
Lust raised an eyebrow, as so did Envy. "Why?"
"Because at this point, I don't think he even has the strength to crawl," she replied. Knowing that the sins still weren't getting what she was trying to say she went into full on explanation "Nightmare Bottle as double the effect when in the blood stream. Now, I did water it down a bit, but it's pretty much the same as it was. It was a pretty strong dosage. Anymore of it and I would have put him into acoma. So he'll be out for..." She began counting on her fingers "...Six days. At the least."
"What?" Lust hissed, her fingers drawing back to her hand, although she wanted them to go right through Cahts's gut at the moment.
Cahts put a hand on her hip. Defensively, she snapped, "You wanted me to put the kid out. You didn't say you wanted me to put him in a little haze. You wanted a whole frickin' fog!"
"Is he completely knocked out?"
"No. He could probably still hear you."
"You said nothing of this when I told you to do it," Lust hissed.
"You never asked."
"You should have told me, Cahts, because now we have to wait and I do not like waiting!" Lust said, hatefully.
Envy chuckled in his seat.
"What are you laughing about? We're are still capturing Little Elric tonight."
"What!" They gasped out of anger.
"But I told you he'd be out for six days," Cahts said.
"And that means waiting," added Envy.
"That means we have to wait for him to get to us. Not for us to capture the boy."
"But if we get him now, and tell him our whereabouts, forget just Ed, it'll be the whole military," Envy said "Don't make a dumb move Lust. It could cost us."
"We're telling them. I'm confident of one thing. Edward won't send his military buddies."
Cahts asked curiously "Why are you so confident of that?"
"Al and his military buddies, they'd all be killed," she said softly. "Now, are you still in on this you two? I hope you won't chicken out."
"We won't chicken out," Cahts spat. "I'm still going as planned. I'll do this. Just know that I won't hesitate to run if the military shows up at our door."
"Fine. Envy? What about you?" Lust looked down at her little friend.
"Of course I'm going."
"Good," Lust draped the cloak over herself once again. "Come on Gluttony. We've got work to do."
Gluttony, who had been staring out the window this whole time, came waddling over. The two sins left Envy and Cahts to wonder if Lust was rushing this just a tad. Oh heck. They knew she was rushing. But why? Usually she would want to handle this very delicately.
"Have any thoughts on why she's being so head-on about this?" Envy asked Cahts.
"I just think she wants to put us all in danger some more. I think she likes to be in constant danger but that's just my opinion."
IIIII
"I'm sure you'll be fine, brother," Al whispered to the squirming blonde. Beads of sweat were dripping down Edward's head, his eyes shut so tight that he could see small tears forming, all the while his hands clutched onto the white sheets as if he were suffering "You've been through worse. Please. Just wake up."
IIIII
"Just wake up..."
Edward looked up from the dark corner he was sitting in. His legs brought up to his chest of which he had been crying softly into. He was confused by where Al's voice came from and what he meant. Wasn't he awake? What was going on?
Of course the fifteen year old knew that it couldn't possibly be reality. It was some weird Alternate Universe that he was stuck in. There was no way that Al would ever say he'd rather be dead...because that wasn't true, right? Then again, being in a suit of armor, not having any of the human senses such as touch or taste, was that really living? Edward could say to himself a thousand times that Al was living but so many outside opinions came crashing in.
What he needed to hear was Al saying -from his own mouth- that everything was okay. That he wanted to be alive. That Edward wasn't selfish by making him stay in that form. Binding his soul to that suit of armor, just because he wanted his little brother to stay with him, just because he wanted the satisfaction of knowing that he hadn't killed Al because he wanted to bring their mother back; and most of all, just because he didn't want to be the only Elric left. It was all about Edward. What Edward wanted -him to stay, him to be bound to the armor- was the only thing that made him do what he did that night. Was it selfish? Really, was it?
The thought of being an only Elric, the thought of loosing his brother plus knowing it was his fault, had been to much to bear. He also felt obligated that he had to save his brother. That's what older brothers are supposed to do, right? Save their younger siblings? But what did he really do. Save him or damn him to a life worse then death?
Edward tightened his fist in frustration. To tell himself Al was living, it wasn't true. Unless he was in that situation he couldn't say whether he felt he was living or not. Only Al knew that. That's what bothered Ed the most. Only Al knew. Would he ever really tell him what he felt about being only a soul?
"If it were me, I would hate myself too," whispered Edward.
"You've been through worse. Please. Just wake up."
Al's voice again, thought Edward with a small smile. Looking up he couldn't tell the beginning from the end. Everything was black with some white outlines. He only found this wall because of those white outlines. I fell like I'm on a drug or something. Was I poisoned?
Red eyes jumped into his memory.
"How could I forget what that woman looked like! That's why I'm like this! She must have put something in that shot. I knew that shots were no good!" Edward said to himself. Standing up, he know knew what he had to do. "I know I'm in a dream land but how do I wake up? I already feel like I'm awake."
"Al! Al!" shouted Edward.
IIIII
"Al..." whimpered his real life voice.
Al looked down at his elder brother in awe. Tears were dripping down his cheeks, his voice raspy.
"Al...Al..." he said once again.
"I'm right here. Wake up, brother, wake up!" Al said loudly. He put a hand on Edward's shoulder and was about to shake him but the boy was fidgeting to much so it wouldn't make much of a difference "It's okay. Come on. I don't know what happened but...you have to wake up. I'm really scared, brother, I don't know what to do."
IIIII
"I'm really scared, brother, I don't know what to do."
"Don't be scared Al," whispered Edward. Raising his voice he said "I don't know what's happening to me. I can't wake up and I don't know why."
IIIII
"Don't...be...scared Al..." His voice managed to squeak. His body was shaking from the effort of talking. "I don't...what's happening to me...can't wake up...don't...why..."
"Brother. Your body. Don't talk anymore. You probably have a fever. I'm going to go get Hughes for some help."
"Don't...go...stay..."
"I said don't talk!"
"I'm...sorry..."
"Brother, this is no time for apologizing!" Al protested. Looking at the door he shouted "Somebody! Come quick! I'm not sure what's wrong with Ed! He's talking to me but isn't awake!"
"You...should..n't...deal with...this..." The blonde's body shivered and settled for a moment. After a couple seconds of heavy breathing, he managed a "It's my fault...forgive me..." Then his whole frame stopped shivering as if he were finally going into a peaceful sleep.
IIIII
Edward heard no reply. He could feel his body getting suddenly weak, as if he had just ran a couple of miles. Dropping to his knees he let tears fall to the floor. The sound of them hitting the icy black tiles rang through his mind. This is what had to be his mind. He was trapped, with no way out, in his own mind.
"I'm sorry Al. I'm so sorry!" Edward curled up a bit, still kneeled over. "I shouldn't have let that girl trick me! Dammit! I'm so stupid! How am I going to be able to wake up!" He looked up, hoping for his brothers voice.
Nothing but silence.
"I'm so tired but...I can't go to sleep..." He fell onto his side, his vision blurring.
He dropped into a dream, still trapped in his own mind.
IIIII
Envy and Cahts were on the other side of the street, sitting in another large police car. Envy, on the passengers side, looked at the Hughes's home with a sigh. It was getting late (it had to be atleast past six now) and Lust nor Gluttony were nowhere in sight. Cahts was waiting patiently enough, shining her guns to the point that her reflection was on it.
"Where's Miss Lust?" asked Cahts finally.
"I dunno. She should have been here by now..." sighed Envy in boredom. "You don't think she wanted us to go in on our own, did she?"
"Heh, no, I wouldn't think so," Cahts said "She shouldn't keep us waiting. I'm getting annoyed."
"Look Cahts, the only reason I'm tolerating you is because Lust hired you, so don't you even start on being annoyed. I'm aggravated and annoyed by just sitting here with you."
"Do you want me to shoot you?"
"Save the bullets for Full Mini."
"Hey, I never asked, but I'm curious now. What do you guys hate so much about this Elric kid? I'm doing it just to piss off Mustang but all you want to do is kill that kid. Seems kinda' strange if you ask me, cause he's only fifteen, and it takes three of you to get him?"
"...Don't ask that. Ever. Again," Envy's tone lowered to a dangerous level. "And don't even start making it seem like we're weak beca-"
"There's Miss Lust!" excitedly chirped Cahts. She childishly waved towards the woman that was a couple houses down. Her signal was basically showing up. Now their plan had to be put into action, "Okay Envy. Let's get this moving."
"Don't you tell me what to do!" snapped Envy. The sin transformed once again, this time into a small, four-year-old girl. His hair now long and white, red eyes, wearing a yellow dress with a flower in his hair. He hated being disguised as a girl...
Cahts had also changed her clothes. Her hair was tied tightly back into a bun with red strips of fabric coming down from the hair tie. Her guns were hidden in the pockets of her shorts. Good thing that these guns happened to be very small, or they would have popped out easily of the pockets. Her T-shirt was a bit loose but she had a white, long sleeved shirt underneath it.
"Are you ready?" asked Cahts.
"Yep," Envy said, his voice that now of a normal four-year-old girl.
"Don't you mean 'Yes, Mother'?" she teased.
He snarled, "Yes Mommy Dearest."
They were planning to be mother and daughter. Cahts was still going to be playing the nurse still, wanting to see if Edward was still okay, and just so it seemed even more innocent she brought her 'daughter' over too. Envy hadn't agreed to the plan at first but when she said Lust had thought of it, he couldn't argue.
The two knocked on the door and Gracia opened it. She had hoped it would be Hawkeye, because Al was pretty much having a silent freak out and nobody could get him to talk. But she smiled despite the desperate situation.
"Hello, Mrs, um..."
"Cahts. Cahts Bishop."
"Well, Mrs. Bishop, Can I be of some help to you?" asked Gracia.
"Um, well..." Cahts pretended to be shy. "I-I was the nurse that gave Mr. Elric a shot. I wanted to see if he was doing okay. I felt so guilty-" Envy chuckled at the lie making Cahts push him a bit with her knee "-about giving him the shot because he didn't want it."
"Oh, well I'm sorry dear but Edward isn't doing to well. He's getting really pale," sadly replied the woman. She asked hopefully "You're a nurse though! You can help him, right?"
Cahts stood frozen for a moment. Envy let out another laugh. The Albino woman said "Uhh...y-yeah...I'll take a-a look at him..."
Bending down, Gracia looked at Envy who was still laughing a bit. "Why hello there little girl. Aren't you adorable?"
Envy said nothing.
"Can you tell me how old you are?"
Envy said nothing again.
"Miss Bishop, is your daughter mute?"
"No, she's just dumb-I mean, shy, is all," Cahts said. She looked down the street and even though Lust was far down, she could still sense impatience. "I-I don't mean to be hasty but could we come in? I'd like to take a look at Mr. Elric."
"Sure. And your daughter can play with my daughter!" Gracia cheerfully said.
Envy trotted in and saw a brown haired girl at the table, grasping a white teddy bear twice her size. That had to be Hughes's daughter. He didn't want to play with a child but if he was disguised as a four-year-old girl, he had to play with another girl he guessed. Pretending to be excited about another girl, he looked up at Cahts for permission to go play with the girl.
"Go ahead, kid," said Cahts, trying to put some care in her voice, but that was a no-go. She looked at Gracia who seemed to have a confused look, "Uhh-er-where's Mr. Elric?"
"Upstairs," Gracia said, "So...that is your daughter, right? And you really were the one that gave Edward the shot?"
"Yes and yes."
"What's her name?" Gracia pushed on, suspicion in her voice.
The first thing that popped into her mind, she spat out, obviously annoyed by the woman's interrogating manner, "Susie. And please don't talk to me like I'm a criminal."
"I'm sorry. I'm just a bit on edge. I thought you were somebody dangerous. I heard my husband, who's in the military, I mean you did see him with Edward, anyway; he was talking on the phone to Roy Mustang about a woman with white hair and red eyes that was dangerous. Jumped to conclusions..." Gracia rambled on as they headed up the stairs.
Dumb woman. You should jump to conclusions. I just wonder what's taking Lust so long...! I'm no real nurse and I think this lady wants me to do whatever I can to make that kid better, thought Cahts.
IIIII
Downstairs, Envy walked up to Elisia, who had noticed that they had came in a couple seconds ago. Elisia asked "Who are you?"
"I'm...uhh..." He looked at anything for inspiration. He saw a vase of daffodils and other flowers and said "Daffodil."
"Oh, okay," Elisia jumped off of her chair, holding her bear. She stood it next to her and asked "Do you wanna' play?"
No... immediately thought Envy so he didn't say it. He said "I guess so."
"Is something wrong?"
You have no idea... Envy thought. Where is Lust? She saw us come into the house, right? I mean, as much as I would like to go upstairs and see Cahts screw up trying to be a nurse, I want to get this over with already!
"N-No. Everything's okay," Envy replied nervously. He really, really, really did not want to play with this kid.
The front door opened, making Elisia curious. She started running over to the door. What she saw was a tall woman with black hair and a scary looking, chubby man.
"W-Who are you?" asked Elisia, her eyes wide with fear.
Making sure that no one was around them, Envy transformed back into his original form. He sighed and asked "What the heck took you so long?"
Lust shrugged. Looking down at the little girl, who couldn't find the strength in her shivering legs to run, the woman smirked. She said "Envy? Mind taking the girl for me, just for extra backup to make sure that we get Little Elric?"
Envy reached out for Elisia but she screamed and broke out for the kitchen. "Stupid kid!" shouted Envy.
IIIII
Upstairs, everyone heard the scream. Hughes rushed out of the room and found himself running past two people. He knew that one was his wife, who was just alarmed as he was, but that other woman...red eyes...
That couldn't be... Hughes thought as he twisted around to see Cahts standing there with a smirk on her face for she knew that Lust had finally came into the house. Hughes knew that was the supposed 'nurse' from Central, "Red Eyes! What are you doing in my house!"
"So, finally know who I am?" said Cahts coolly.
"I do now," Hughes said. He looked at his wife who was just wondering what the heck was going on. Hughes was un-armed and all of his weapons were in his room. What was he going to do? And why did Elisia scream? Wait...Elisia! "Dammit!" he spat as he heard his daughter scream again "What's going on, Red Eyes?"
Cahts clapped her hands together and put one of them on his wall. A pole started forming out. Gracia screamed and started running towards her husband. After a six foot pole with sickles on both ends formed in her hand, she turned one of the ends on the Lieutenant.
"Just stay here like a good little boy. Tell me, which room are the Elric's in?" asked Cahts.
"Why should we tell you?"
"I'll find them in the end. Just tell me and nobody has to get hurt."
"I'm not telling you anything," Hughes said. His eyes darted from Cahts to the upstairs a couple of times, making her wonder what was going on.
"I don't think so, little girl," said a gruff voice.
Cahts turned around to see a shirtless and flexing Armstrong and Al, who seemed embarrassed by him doing this.
"Now put your weapon down! I don't want to have to hurt you!" said Armstrong loudly.
Hughes remembered his daughter once again. He grabbed his wives hand and they hurried downstairs. Cahts, before she could chase after them, felt a hand grab her shoulder. It was Armstrong.
"I told you to put your weapon down but seeing as you aren't following instructions..." Armstrong raised a fist to strike her but Cahts jumped down a few steps. She slashed at him a few times, and got lucky. Since he was so big he was a bit slow and she sliced deep into stomach. She ripped to the side. The large man fell on his back, grasping the wound in immense pain.
"Gotcha'!" She shouted and tried to make a lethal stab at him but Al jumped in the way. It only scraped his metal, "Oh, well, hello there Little Elric."
"Stop this now. We don't want to hurt you," Al said, his tone low. All he really wanted to do was be with his brother but it seemed he would have to leave his side for a while.
"Ha! Whatever. Don't take me lightly just because I'm a girl!" shouted Cahts as she flipped up the rod and struck off Al's head. It clanged up onto the roof and fell into Cahts's outstretched hand.
Al's body reached out to grab it back but Cahts just moved out of the way, laughing at his pathetic attempt. And with Armstrong hurt he couldn't help the boy. Cahts just moved out of the way and the metal body stumbled clumsily ahead, falling on it's front. The evil woman laughed.
"Give it back!" Al shouted, trying to push himself up, but it was of no use.
"Come on, kiddo, we've got somewhere to go," Cahts mumbled, kicking the metal body down a few steps.
"Stop it!" Armstrong shouted. With all of his strength he stood up, his hands were covered in his own blood, and he was still bleeding large amounts too. But he had to protect the younger Elric. Edward would never forgive him if he wasn't able to protect his brother.
"Oh, and you'll stop me?" Cahts asked, kicking the metal body down a few more steps just to upset the muscle man. "Not with your injury."
Al said "Don't try and stop her, you'll only get hurt!"
IIIII
Lust withdrew her deadly fingers from Hughes shoulder. The man was now on his knees, clutching his bleeding shoulder in pain, while his wife tried to figure out what to do. Elisia was still being held by Envy and he wasn't doing a good job of keeping her comfortable. He just hung her by her arm a few inches above the floor.
Gluttony looked at the armor that fell at the bottom of the steps. He walked over to it and started dragging the body towards Lust. Al's arm grabbed Gluttony's shoulder in an attempt to prevent him from dragging him any further but that was of no use. He bit right through the armored forearm, devouring the metal. His hand dropped to the floor which Gluttony wouldn't dare pass up eating. He popped it into his mouth as if it were a candy treat.
"I've got his head," announced Cahts, throwing it up and catching it just for show.
"Daaadddyyy!" cried Elisia as Envy dragged her across the floor.
"Stop your sniveling," snapped Envy.
"Meanie!" Elisia said, trying to kick his shin but he would just outstretch his arm to where she couldn't reach his leg.
Hughes looked up at Lust who had a seductive smirk on her face. He asked "Why are you after Al?"
"None of your business. Just tell Full Mini we'll be at apartment 606, Gorge St., at the end of town, okay?"
"You're an ass."
Lust blinked angrily "What does that mean!"
"I mean your an ass for telling me your location. You don't think I won't send troops over there? Idiot!" Hughes spat at her feet with a cocky smirk that would rival even Roy.
The dark haired woman grabbed Hughes's hair and threw him to the ground. "I'm sure that Ed wouldn't let you send them...but just so you don't...we're taking your daughter too..."
"Wait, no!" Gracia objected "Don't take my baby girl, please?"
"Shutup, woman!" Lust was growing impatient. She smacked Gracia, infuriating Hughes further. He jumped up to hit Lust but Envy had that under control. After throwing Elisia to Gluttony for safe keeping he kicked Hughes to the ground. Just for fun, he kept it up.
"Leave him alone! Please!" pleaded his wife, tears in her eyes, she wasn't sure how much he could take. "You're going to kill him!"
Envy stopped, not out of sympathy, but they could all hear sirens coming closer. Lust said, "Tell Full Mini our whereabouts. And if you send anybody we will not hesitate to kill your daughter or Little Elric," She picked up the crying four year old and Gluttony dragged Al's body, "Good day to you, officer."
As they left, Hughes couldn't find the strength to even object. He just slammed his fist into the floor. They had his daughter, they had Al, Edward was down, his wife was in ruins, and he wasn't sure if Armstrong was okay. Could anything else possibly go wrong?
IIIII
Well there we go. Another chapter done and over with! So please do review! And thanks to everyone who DID review.
Sorry for any mistakes. I didn't have time to check it over.
And I'm so glad that people don't hate Cahts! YAY! Well, hate her for being bad. Usually people don't like Original Characters.
Then about Al calling Edward 'brother' all of the time…in the series he calls him 'brother' about 95 of the time, I would say. It just sounds so cute and that's why I usually have him call Edward "Brother" all of the time.