Chapter fifty-two: Pyra

On the upper floor, a woman quietly dropped through the skylight. She tapped her staff against her outfit and made a nice red dress. "There." She had just happened to come into one of the guest bedrooms where Edward and Coniniaue had piled coats and other things on the bed. She gently laid her staff over the coats and smirked. "I just hope no one comes in here… But I am so glad Mustang invited me to the Fullmetal boy's house."

Just in case, she locked the door before she left the room.

Downstairs, Edward was chatting with Gracia Hughes when he saw her. A woman in red, standing in the corner, gently sipping a glass of champagne. Mustang too glanced up and exclaimed, "Pyra! I didn't see you come in!"

Pyra glanced up and smiled. "So sorry, Roy. I seem to come in unnoticed in many places."

"'Pyra?'" Edward repeated.

"Oh! Ed, this is Pyra. She's… An old friend. I hope you don't mind me inviting her." Mustang smirked.

Edward beamed. "Not at all! If by 'old friend' you mean 'A lovely lady I like to hit on…'"

Pyra giggled, but Roy fumed. "Fullmetal…"

"Haha! I'm not at work, Colonel Roy Bastard! You have no power over me!" Edward laughed. "So, Pyra... Is that the feminine of Pyro, or Pyros?"

"It's not official, but you could say that. It's not exactly a well used name."

"Ah. Doesn't it mean fire or something?"

"Yes."

"Yeah, well…" Mustang butt in, "My name means… Eh…"

Pyra blinked and said, "A mustang is a one-man long range fighter in the patrol and pursuit category, carrying six .50-caliber machine guns and ten five-inch rockets, or 2,000 pounds of bombs."

Edward and Mustang stared at her dumbly. "…Huh?"

"It's a deadly weapon."

"You seem to know your guns, Pyra." Roy commented. "What was that word you used to describe Edward?"

"Mamestubu."

"…What'd you call me?"

"It means 'pint-sized.'"

"WHAT! Why you…"

"Oh!" Pyra smiled. "I'm so sorry. Roy said you wouldn't mind."

"Roy… You… Are evil…"

"Oh, I know." He smirked.

Pyra curtsied. "I'm sorry, but I must be leaving now. Please excuse me while I get my coat."

"You know where it is?"

"Yes." Pyra turned and strode up the stairs. Well that was a total waste of time. I didn't get any information about local valuables.

Edward watched her leave. Then, something odd and familiar caught his eye.

Pyra didn't wear any shoes.