I'm alive!

–gasp- omg really?

Yes, it is true, I have not died. I'm sorry that I haven't updated in such a long while, and then finally update with this short pile of codswallop. At least it answers a few questions.

You see, once again, it was going to be much longer. Much much longer. I ended up deleting about 2 or 3 pages probably. That's because I was trying to fit in a whole HavocxFury thing. After writing very slowly and/or staring blankly at Microsoft word for hours on end trying to think up how the plot is going to work until I finally just accepted that I cannot write decent HavocxFury shtuff at the moment. Probably the reason for this is because after reading (most) of the FMA manga, I'm having trouble pairing Havoc with anyone but Roy, and that's not really possible for this fic, is it? x.x

And now school is eating away at me, although I must say my high school seems very nice, but that doesn't change the fact that algebra is a brain dissolvent. Marching band is still eating me, and none of our sets are hitting properly and one particular greenie is a chronic smartmouth and never remembers his sets. x.x And I was trying to avoid joining too many other clubs and stuffthis year, as marching band is pretty life-consuming, but all of a sudden now I'm in a skit for homecoming, have to design tickets for the senior night souper bowl (yes souper bowl mehehe –cough-), and have been nominated historian for the Business Professionals of America thingy. Now Science Olympiad is definately out of the question. And no, I do NOT mean Science Olympia. Sheesh, it gets annoying how many people say that.

So...I'm not exactly sure where the story will go from here. I may just end up cutting out any sort of side plots simply because I lack the skills to write them. You can see that I'm not very good with little stuff if you read mysingle drabble. I should go delete that soon anyways, it is very sucky.

Also, now I am addicted to Death Note manga. Obsessed. Dedicated my every waking moment to. Now, this doesn't mean I've lost interest in FMA. I am still very much obsessed with FMA. -drool-However, Death Note is very, very cool. I like murder mysteries and detectives and stuff, and...there's just no words to describe how awe-inspiring this manga is. The artwork isfreakin awesome, and if you've ever read Hikaru no Go, it's the same artist, so you should know how good the artist is. But geh, go read it. L rocks. But now rather than my main bishies being Hughes and Roy, they are now Hughes, Roy and L. (Not to mention the pairing RaitoxL) MUWAHAHAHAHA. Excuse my caps lock. –twitch-

Well, if I go on for much longer my a/n will become longer than the actual chapter. So...any plot ideas are welcome, I suppose. Man, I miss summer vacation already. At least now I'm up off my lazy ass and doing more productive things. –nervous giggle- also, the novelthe Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold (I think that's her name) is very good. Just so you know. –scuttles off-

Chapter 4: Blind

She was Ishballan. Her hair was dark and stopped just below her jaw, curling slightly under at the ends to frame her face. Her skin was creamy brown and her crimson eyes... She was obviously blind in her left eye. The pupil looked foggy, and the eye didn't move with her right. It just continued to stare slightly downward as her right eye fixed itself upon Roy's face. He couldn't keep himself from staring and swallowed nervously.

"Are you alright, your Excellency?"

She spoke as she eyed the bandages on his head and eye. She caught sight of Ed and Al behind him, and she strengthened her salute.

"Ah, so you're all here. This will make things eas..."

She spotted Hughes behind all of them, trying to find a way around them into the room. She faltered and her arm lowered from her forehead to her chest.

"Is that...?"

Roy frowned. He hadn't thought this through before they had come here. The last thing he needed was for the investigations bureau to go sniffing around as to how the Brigadier General was alive. They had spread a rumor around that Hughes hadn't really been killed, that his 'death' and funeral were just a cover-up so he could go into hiding.

Speaking of lies, this woman was most definitely not his sister. None of his known ancestors were Ishballan, and he knew what his sister looked like. He gave a half-relieved, half-disappointed sigh.

"Yes, that is Brigadier General Hughes."

She lowered her arm back to her side and leaned forward slightly rather than bow. She then gestured to a couple of couches around a coffee table in front of her desk. She was still staring at Hughes.

Roy hesitated a moment, his brows knitted together before taking a seat. The rest followed. Roy realized Hughes was staring right back at her with the same look on his face as she did as he sat down. After they were all seated she took a seat at her desk. She began to speak.

"Alright, let's-"

"Wait."

She turned sharply to look at Roy. He stared back at her, and noticed her gaze wavered slightly, as if she didn't wish to look at him. Maybe she just had bad eyes?

"Yes sir?"

"Please explain to me why you are using my sister's name."

She seemed quite taken aback by this command, and the others all glanced at him with grim and worried looks. She swiftly composed herself and linked her hands in front of her on her desk, one eye fixed in Roy's direction as the other gazed blankly in the direction of a picture on her desk.

"I see. Then you really are that Roy Mustang."

Roy's eye ticked. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking. He made sure to keep his face as blank as hers.

Everyone jumped as her blank stare changed abruptly to a wide smile and from that into a full, hearty laugh.

"You obviously do not recognize me, Roy."

His immediate reaction would have been to tell her that he had never met her before, but he stopped with his mouth halfway open. She...did look familiar...

Roy's mouth slowly closed as recognition flooded him. It had been so many years ago, long before the Ishbal massacre. A family from an eastern land had moved onto his street. They had one child, a young girl. From the first time that girl and his sister met, they had been close enough to be sisters. He himself had been fond of her too, and they would often play together. He had never thought any different of her for her dark skin and red eyes... and then...

"I don't understand... Karen, what...?"

Karen chuckled quietly.

"Yes, I know, where did I go, why am I here, what happened to my eye, and why am I using the name Candice."

Ed fidgeted noticeably in his seat, he didn't like be left out of the loop, but managed to keep his mouth shut. Al watched them silently while rubbing the fabric of his shirt together between two fingers simply to be able to feel the texture, which had become a nervous habit since he had regained his sense of touch. Hughes was once again watching Karen, a strange expression on his face; as if he wasn't sure of what he was looking at. She turned her good eye to look at him. He lowered his gaze.

"I promise I will tell you everything in good time, Roy. However, I called you here for an important reason. You probably figured as much when I asked you to come see me, when I could have easily come to you."

She opened a drawer in her desk and pulled something dark out of it. It disappeared from view beneath her desk before he could see what it was.

"Before I show you this, there is something I would like to ask."

She turned to look at Hughes again, who ignored her, his eyes still lowered to gaze at the midnight blue carpet.

"Is he a homunculus?"

Hughes straightened with a jolt and gaped at her, while the Elrics stared in confusion and surprise. Roy shifted slightly.

"What makes you think that?"

She gazed at Hughes for a bit longer, who had resorted once again to staring back at her.

" I saw the arrays in the basement of his house, after studying them this was the conclusion I had come to-"

"No...I don't think that's it."

Hughes stood and slowly stepped over to her desk. She gazed up at him with a questioning look that seemed somewhat bored.

"Oh?"

Hughes opened his mouth again, and was immediately cut off by the door slamming open as a flustered Havoc burst into the room, his face flushed and breath heavy from running. Everyone had turned to stare as he rested his hands on his knees and spoke between gasping breaths.

"Sir...Mustang...your office...someone broke into...your office..."

Well, there you have it. Gah, plot ideas very welcome right about now. I might come up with something eventually, but if I don't...yeah.

Revieeeeew tiiiime!

NubianQueen413: Meh, sorry it took me so long to update, here –cookie platter- Muwahaha feel the power of the cookie!

Thatz of the Dragon knights: I thought Al needs his bit of spotlight now and then, he doesn't always just stand in the background and go 'nii-san' all the time... Or at least I don't think so . Hmm, I dunno, Al doesn't seem like a very outstanding character to me, but he can do anything when it comes to his brother. Hmm.

Mauzkateer: Moo. –ahem- well, I e-mailed you some answers simply because I had a feeling the next update would be a long time in the making x.x But I'll say it here in case anyone else is wondering.

The tent was not for any particular reason, it's just when I was younger we would sometimes have tents set up in the backyard for no particular reason and sleep there at night.

The thing with the Homunculus, Hughes has control over his body, the Homunculus' mind is sorta just a presence in the back of his mind. So for now at least, Hughes is himself.

Aj-sama: Thankies! Although my writing skills could use a lot of improvement...

Well, band camp was long while ago now, but next Saturday we'll be having a four-hour rehearsal and our old drill instructor/writer will be there. A.K.A. band camp squished into four hours/a living hell. But at least we'll improve! Right? T.T

Still not much reviews...x.x I'm tired of begging people to review. So review or flame or whatever, I don't really care right now...just got to see shaun of the dead for the first time, didn't seem as funny as my friends told me it was O.o It was funny, just not hilarious. I was probably just feeling angsty when I watched it. Mer.Toodles.