Chapter Six
Tournament
"Tournament?"
"Yeah, me and Fletcher do one every month."
"Can I bring Siren, Rose, Granny, and maybe Al?" Winry asked Russell. 'For some reason I don't think Ed would like to come.'
"Sure." Russell said with a smile. "Cool."
"Great."
"Well I'll see you tonight then?"
"Sure, Russell."
"See yah."
"By." Winry turned and began to walk down the hall until she saw Al. "Hey Al."
"Hey." Al said not to excited.
"What are you doing tonight." Winry said as she began to walk beside him. She shivered when she saw his expression that reminded her of his armor he used to wear.
"Nothing of course."
Winry flinched again. "Well I was wondering if you wanted to go to a tournament with me at the Tringums' house."
"Yeah, why not." He said stuffing his hands in his pockets which reminded her of Ed. "I'll meet you there. What time?"
"Five, they have to set up."
"Okay I'll see you there."
"Alright." She stopped and watched him wave behind him in an attempt to say good bye without having to turn around to do so.
She turned in search of her next victim. "Rose."
"I heard I'll meet you there. Okay." Rose said trying to hurry and catch up to Ed who looked like he didn't want to be bothered at that minute.
"Fine, now where is Siren?" she walked over to the cafeteria to see Siren sitting at a table grading papers. "Siren!"
She looked and watched Winry walk to her and sit. "Hey Winry." She said then turned back to grading her papers."
"Siren what are you doing tonight?"
"Nothing of course." She said still not looking up.
Winry cocked an eyebrow at the familiarity of Siren's and Al's answer to when she asked the two that question. "Well me, Al, and Rose were going to the Tringums' house to watch a tournament they are having. They invited the principle, and the four new teachers to join in the fun. And I was wondering-?"
Siren looked up shaking her head slowly as she stared at Winry's anxious expression. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea." She ventured at last, carefully chosen words.
"Why?"
"Al was being a jerk, that's all. I don't think he'll be to happy to see me-."
"Wait, Al? Are you sure it wasn't Ed?"
"No, it was Al."
"Well don't worry about it, Al's a nice guy so he'll behave himself."
"Now what is this thing now?" Siren asked to get off the subject of Al.
"He said they're a lot of fun, even just watching" she said. "Even though I've never been to one." She confessed.
Siren nodded turning back to her papers. "Come on, Siren." Siren looked back up at Winry. "Please."
"I doubt Al-."
"Forget about Al, come to have fun with me and Rose."
Siren had to laugh at the sheer determination on Winry's face, and she did. "Your funny Winry."
"Does that mean you'll come?"
Siren bit her lip and sighed. "Yeah, I'll go with you."
Winry squealed happily and lunged at Siren, catching her off guard. Siren giggled as Winry stood up and grabbed her hand, dragging towards the door only stopping so Siren could grab her book bag.
"So is Ed coming?" Siren said.
"He doesn't like Chris that well."
"That bad huh."
"Worse."
o0o0()0o0o
"Something bothering you?" Pinako said quietly in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.
Alphonse glanced at the beverage in front of him and shrugged. "Not really."
"Oh I get it . . . . so what's her name?"
"Who says it's a woman?"
Pinako laughed gently, laying her hand on Alphonse's arm as they sat at the kitchen table. "Give me a little credit, will you? Now tell me her name."
"Pinako . . . ."
"Is she pretty?"
His answer was another sigh, and Pinako clucked her tongue as she slowly shook her head. "That pretty, Huh?"
"I don't know?"
"Sounds like this girl's gotten under your skin."
"No."
"Alphonse?"
"What?"
"Fine."
Alphonse blew his bangs out of his eyes and shook his head. "You ever misjudge someone then figure out that you can't stop thinking about them, and that you might have made a mistake?"
"Just apologize."
"Sounds too easy."
"It doesn't have to be difficult. How old is this girl?"
"Eighteen."
"Ooh, going for the older women are we Al."
"Pinako . . . ."
"What happened to you? You didn't used to be so jaded. You were the little boy who brought his mother flowers and helped her arrange them in a vase. You used to believe in people. Has everything change so much?"
"Maybe I've just changed."
"Or maybe you still believe in people, or is it just this girl?"
o0o0()0o0o
"Chris, I brought Siren with me." Winry said as the entered the Tringum house.
"Cool, that means we heave a total of, let's see, there's; Hughes the new PE teacher, Hawkeye the new college alchemist teacher" he cocked an eyebrow. "Even though she doesn't use Alchemy, then there is Havoc the new art teacher that should be fun to watch fight since he's gone through about twelve packs of cigarettes, Armstrong the new English teacher, me and Paul, Siren, and Mr. Mustang the new principle." He counted off his fingers each person. "Nine, nine people all together."
"Sounds good," said Siren.
"Granny!"
"Winry." Pinako responded as she strolled in. "I can't stay long I have to help Ed out with something."
"Oh okay I just wanted you to meet Siren."
"Hello."
"Hello." Siren said.
Alphonse's laughter was heard from the room and all of the group that was standing turned to see that the tournament had begun. "Come on Mr. Havoc I think that smoking is slowing you down."
"Shut up Al." Pinako watched Siren starring at Al.
"How old are you Siren?"
"Eighteen."
"Oh." Pinako smiled at Al then turned to Winry. "Well I better get going before Ed has a fit."
"Well okay bye Granny."
"Bye Winry."
Siren looked to see that all of the men had their shirts off.
"Why do they have their shirts off?" Siren asked Chris.
"So we know that they aren't cheating. See they get one article of anything they get to use. I got a glove that has a transmutation circle on it along with, Mr. Mustang, Havoc, Armstrong, and Paul. While Al has his gauntlets, and Hughes and Hawkeye have whatever they use."
"Oh."
"Did you bring something?"
"Yeah my cards." She said showing him her deck that had a transmutation circle.
"Cool."
An explosion was heard and they turned just in time to see Havoc flying out of the arena. "Nice going Al." Hughes yelled.
"Winry you ready to watch a real alchemist in action." Chris asked.
"Doesn't she do that all the time at home?" Rose's voice said coming from behind.
"Shut up Rose." Winry said from under her breath.
"I mean a real alchemist, not a phony." Chris stepped into the ring and watched Armstrong get on. He smiled at the big guy.
"Time to meet you maker!" Armstrong yelled flexing his muscles to show off.
"Yeah cool it Mr. Clean." Chris slid on his glove and watched Armstrong do the same. Chris did a back flip then stood in his fighting stance.
"He's such a show off." Siren whispered.
"Not as much as Mustang." The three girls turned to see Hawkeye behind them. They all laughed.
"I heard that!" they laughed harder.
Chris flipped back out of the strong-arm attacks. Chris then slammed his hand in the ground and a spear floated to his hand. He twirled it and watched Armstrong charge. Chris sidestepped and stuck his foot out to catch Armstrong's ankle and trip him. Armstrong rolled back to his feet and faced Chris.
Armstrong charged again but this time Chris stuck out the blunt end of the staff catching Armstrong in the stomach and throwing him out of the ring. "I win."
"Good match." Armstrong said getting up receiving a glare from Chris that no one caught.
"Whose next."
o0o0()0o0o
"Come on Al," Siren called as she pulled off her shirt to reveal her sports bra. Al stood admiring for a second before he shook his head and stepped onto the arena floor.
"I wanted to talk to you Siren." Al said slipping on his gauntlets.
"Oh Really." Siren said throwing her cards down as they flashed in a bright light revealing her sword.
"Yeah, I wanted to apologize for the way I acted at dinner." Al said looking down at the ground.
"Hum, let me think about that." She said twirling the sword. "Okay if I win the apology is not accepted, but if you win I'll think about it." She said pointed the tip of the blade at Alphonse's head. "Sound fair enough?"
"Okay."
Siren charged and slashed the blade of her sword at Al's head. Al dodged barely in time rolling out of her way. She turned to him and lunged at him again. She hit this time but only his gauntlet. Al pushed her back and she lunged again. Al blocked again stepping closer to the edge.
"You keep doing this and you'll lose."
"Fat chance." She said attacking again and pushing him back again.
"Don't say I didn't warn you." She lunged again and now Al was at the edge. "I warned you." With that said he moved to the left and with his left hand pushed her out of the ring.
She turned at him with her mouth opened, and fire in her eyes. He shrugged not wanting to push her so that she ended hating him, but he had to do it.
"I told you." She shook her head and smiled.
"Yeah you did." She walked back over to the other girls"
"I'm glad Ed isn't here, he'd kill all of them." Winry whisper Rose.
"Really now."
She turned to see Chris with his arms crossed over his chest. 'Shit.' She stepped back. "I meant as he would freak out that's all."
"Why don't you call him and ask him to come."
"I-."
"Yeah come on Winry." Rose pleaded.
"Full Metal wouldn't come any ways." Mustang's voice was heard.
"Fine I will." Winry said taking offense to Mr. Mustang's comment. She didn't know why but she did.
"Sir I thank you offended her?" Havoc said to Roy in a whisper.
"I know that's the point."
She reached the phone in the house and quickly dialed her own number.
"Hello."
"Ed!''
"Winry?"
"Yeah."
"Where are you?"
"Over at the Tringum's"
"Oh." he sounded disappointed.
"I was wondering if you wanted to come over."
"Why?"
"They're having a tournament of alchemy, and Chris and Roy are here."
"And."
"They're both saying you're not a match."
"Well right now it's bastard against bastard so you're right I wouldn't be a match."
"Come on Ed."
There was silence on Ed's line for a while. "Fine, I'll be there in a minute."
"Great!"
"Calm down Winry." Ed took a deep breath and she heard him get up from his bed.
"You all right Ed?"
"Yeah, fine." She heard his door to his room shut. "All right I'll see you there."
"All right bye."
"Bye."
She heard the click and hung up after words. She walked out back to see Mr. Mustang a Hawkeye in the ring. She held her guns ready with mustang looking a little afraid.
"He coming." Chris asked with a smile after seeing her worried face.
"Yeah, he is." Winry said walking past him and sitting on a bench.
o0o0()0o0o
"Al since your brother is taking forever let's fight." Chris said stepping in the arena. Followed by Al.
"Fine." Al slide on his gauntlets. "Let's go." Chris smiled as he raised his spear. He charged at Al raising it in the air. Al charge at him to. His gauntlet met the sharp end of the speared halberd. Al jumped back and slammed his fist two the ground and a sword appeared. He grabbed it and twisted it in the air, caught it, then charged.
Chris smiled. He caught the side of the Blade and both weapons flew away from their owners. Al couldn't stop but he didn't need to for there was Chris's fist to stop his momentum. Al fell back landing on his back. Chris smiled and jumped on top of him and was ready to punch.
Al closed his eyes waiting for the onslaught. But it never came.
"I think he's done." Al opened his eyes to see Ed's right arm clutching Chris's wrist. "Get off of him." Ed's hold tightened and Chris immediately got off.
Ed let go of Chris and helped Al up to his feet. "Your next, brother."
"Who do I fight? Which bastard, Al?" Ed said as they walked to the side of the arena where Siren, Rose, Hawkeye, and Winry stood watching.
"Russell."
"The Tringum bastard huh."
"Yeah."
"Well let's go then."
"You have to take off your shirt." Winry piped up. Ed looked at her confused with the ends of his lips beginning to turn upwards. "I mean all of them have to."
"Oh." Ed said a little disappointed. He threw off his jacket before throwing of his shirt and began to stretch.
"Nice…" Ed turned to Hawkeye who was ogling him. "Scars!" she said in a hurry as she began to blush.
"Let's go cripple!" Chris said with a smile. Ed stepped in the arena glaring at Russell. "Now I can show all of them how much I phony you are. No transmutation circle's. That's almost impossible. And now that you don't have you jacket's to his them then I can finally win fairly easy." He said calling his spear.
"Really now." Ed said just standing there.
"Yes."
Ed just shook his head as he slammed his hands together and transformed his arm infront of everyone. "No transmutation circles."
Russell charged and Ed stepped out of his way. He turned his halberd and met Ed's arm. Ed pushed him back and followed after him punching him in the right cheek. Russell stepped back and charged again. Ed just shook his head and punched Russell in the stomach.
Fletcher watched with amusement, as his brother got his ass handed to him. Russell stood up and glared at Ed as he was at the edge of the ring. Ed didn't waist any time. He charged and punched Russell in the jaw sending him flat on his back and out of the arena.
He walked over to his jacket and things and put them on. He then turned to leave. "I win."
A/N:
Okay this is going good so far. I think, I hope. Well I am Devin Warren and I approve this story, kind of, sort of, not really. Just kidding well tell me what you feel by pushing that purple button that says submit review at the bottom of the screen. And It's true it is my only means of survival.
Reviews:
Bob's Castle: (CC)
Final Wish and Warslayer
FFNetFinal Thought From Russell:
I hate that bastard.
Blanket Disclaimer for this fanfic (Will apply to this and all other chapters in A thin Silver Strand): I do not claim any rights to The Full Metal Alchemist or the characters associated with the anime, video game, mange. etc. Those rights belong to whoever created it, I don't know who that is right now but I will find out. I do offer my gratitude to whomever for creating characters that I can torment and make cry like babies.