Hey all! Thanks for the reviews, glad you enjoy my fic! Anyway, I've been getting requests and suggestions about Ed and Kaida's relationship now and that they should... fall in love... Heh, so what... friends or a little more...? hmmm...
Oh and here's another chapter! Enjoy and you know how that disclaimer goes...
Snakes of the Element 47 Ag: Chapter 9: Surprises
By pure-thornless-rose Hameilo Residence…"Are you two finished writing your reports yet?" The woman known as Ms. Hameilo peeked into the room at Kaida and Ed. "…Well, once you two are done, I'll be happy to send them strait to the Colonel for you and you all can head to your next destination!"
They were both seated at the desk and writing. Kaida seemed to be rushing and her handwriting was somehow still legible. Al had been watching them the whole time and patiently. Kaida smiled. "…Oh, ho, ho, ho! HA!" She made one last tap on the paper for the period. "DONE! I WIN, Ed! Nya, your so slow!"
"What!" He looked up in confusion and made the same tap for the period. "Okay, so since when was it that we were racing!"
"Since I thought we should, so I never told you so that I'd have an advantage!"
"Okay, whatever…" He gave up with her childish ways. "Here Ms. Hameilo thanks for everything. I should have figured you were a Central officer, I noticed how specific you were with things…" He grinned and handed her his paper and began walking by and outside. "You get up in the morning much earlier than most old people too…"
"Observant little brat…" She murmured with a smile as she accepted Kaida's report. "Wha?" She stuttered when she felt an embrace.
"Thanks Ms. Hameilo," Kaida said, smiling. "Thanks for everything."
"Yes, thank you very much, Ms. Hameilo!" Al bowed.
"I'm glad I was of some help to you all." She smiled back. "Now get up and move, you have another town to investigate." He raspy old voice sung and ushered them outside where Ed was waiting.
Several hours of traveling…"So how long until the next town, Al?" Kaida wondered loudly.
"We only have a few more miles," he searched the map then pointed, "we should be able to see it once we pass that big old house on that hill up there."
Suddenly, a weird chill ran up Kaida and Ed's spines when they looked up at the old house, far, far ahead of them. It seemed darker around the house on the hill and it was creepy. Kaida sighed as they continued on walking, "I see dark clouds in our future, really… That place is surrounded by them."
"Oh please," Ed scoffed, "It's just a creepy old, empty lot! It's nothin'!"
"You like to get ahead of yourself, don't you Ed?"
"He's always been that way, Kaida. Just try to ignore it." Al whispered to her.
"HEY!" Ed snapped, "I'm right here, y' know!"
They continued on their little journey and soon the tiny house on top of the hill began to grow as they approached. The sky also began to darken and it wasn't long until they reached the top of the hill and before the old house. They stopped and looked ahead.
"See? There's the next town!" Al announced and pointed. They nodded and were about to continue.
"Wait, guys." Kaida glanced through three windows. "I thought I saw something move past those windows." She pointed up at the row of windows on the second floor. The brothers looked with her and Ed quickly shrugged it off. "Can we check it out?"
"No… Just come on, it's nothing." He began walking again before she said something against him. "Probably someone still lives there."
"Yeah," Al agreed. "This place doesn't seem that old, I guess." He took a step forward, urging Kaida to come. She also shrugged and joined them, keeping an eye on the windows. As she joined the two, she felt another chill and glanced at the center window. Something rustled in the shadows, eyes glaring, and disappeared. She suddenly stopped and nearly gasped out loud but stopped herself. Al responded, "What is it?"
"N-nothing, let's go…"
It wasn't long until they were far from the creepy old house and at the base of the hill. They were almost at the next town's district by then and when they finally reached it, they were welcomed with lots of unusual stares. You know, the kind that makes you uneasy.
"I don't think these people are staring just at me, guys…" Al whispered.
"Maybe they're checking out how short Ed is…" Kaida had a slight outburst.
"YEAH RIGHT!" Ed yelled. "SHUT UP AND TAKE THAT BACK!" More stares and now whispers came quickly. He immediately calmed down, scanning the town's streets. "There's something wrong with the people in this town…"
"Tell me about it…" A voice, neither belonging to Kaida nor Al, spoke. And after the creepy house thing Kaida experienced, she was a tad paranoid.
"YAAHHHH!" she yelped and suddenly appeared in Al's arms, shivering with fear.
"Calm down, it's only me…" the voice was familiar, they turned around.
"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes!" They answered for him quickly with surprise. But he was in casual clothing rather than uniform.
"SHHH! DON'T YELL A RANKING OUT WHEN I'M UNDERCOVER!" He whispered immediately to them.
"Ah…" They sighed and Kaida jumped off Al's arms.
"Jeeze… kids these days…" Suddenly he began to reach for his jacket pocket, they stiffened. "And since we're on the topic—LOOK! My dear, darling ELYSIA! AMAZING, Isn't she? She learned to play jacks with her friends—AND SHE'S BEATING THEM ALL!" He began laughing loudly as the little picture of Elysia was stuffed into all their faces. "She has talent,I say.TALENT! I can't wait to see her next match and watch the snotty little faces the other kids make when they lose… heheheheh…"
"That's wonderful sir!" Kaida laughed nervously.
"I know, isn't it?" Then he put the picture away, they all sighed in relief. "Ah… Kaida! Long time no see! How's your first assignment coming along?"
"Uh, alright…" She responded shyly, he was patting her back heavily and she nearly fell over.
"I still can't believe they let another pup into State Alchemy…" Ed groaned.
"Would you stop calling me that?" Kaida responded. They stuck their tongues out at each other.
"Well believe it, Ed," Hughes said, "cause your 'pup' is standing right here… she's also living proof of what her mother was capable of…" He smiled proudly and patted Kaida's back heavily again. She nearly fell over… again.
"Her mother?" Al pondered. Kaida jumped.
"Erm… so what brings you here anyway… Lieutenant Colonel…?" She quickly changed the unavoidable subject.
So... why IS Hughes here...? What the... I'll tell ya next time... Just review and tell me what you think... about this story so far and/or about Ed and Kaida, that is... I kinda already have plans between them, but I just want to hear what you think... and that old house... is it really empty? WwoOoOoOoo...