AN: Hello all, I'm gonna try my best to keep these short!
Sugar High: Yes, I know why Psychotic Manifestation said that, too. It's ok, I agree in a lot of ways, but at this point I'm not sure if I can fix it. Sweat drops. Awww, I'm very sorry your friend is moving, but you can still talk to her on the phone, right? And she's not moving like… across the country or anything. So maybe you could visit each other every now and then. I'm glad my story made you feel at least a little better. A sneer is (I looked it up because I wasn't sure how to describe it XD. This is what I found) A scornful facial expression characterized by a slight raising of one corner of the upper lip.OR (this was there,too.) To assume a scornful, contemptuous, or derisive facial expression. Did that help at all?
The Way to a Man's Heart Isn't by Crushing His Ego Chapter 34: Who Said Dogs Were Man's Best Friend?
"Let me go! I'll kill you!" Jackal snapped as he tried to fight Roy off.
"That's exactly why I'm not letting you go," Roy replied as he forced him down, "it's not always smart to speak your mind."
Jackal snarled fiercely. The lightening flashed again; he could see Roy's face for the spit second the bolt appeared. Roy just stared down at him. His face was calm, but his body was tense as his arm stung and his neck ached.
"Sir!" Riza said again. Then her attention quickly went back to Sayo. She put her hand under Sayo's dark black shirt, looking for where the bullet punctured her skin; she found it on the upper left side of the girl's abdomen. She put her free hand on top of Sayo's shirt, she then pulled her other hand out from under the fabric, and it was covered in blood, and then she began to push down on the wounded area with both hands, trying to stop the bleeding.
"What are you doing?" Reina asked. "What's wrong with Sayo? Why won't she wake up?" she asked, tears in her dark brown eyes and confusion on her face. The lightening flashed again. Reina saw Riza's hands in the flash of light. "What's that?" she asked as she saw the red blood smeared all over the dog's skin.
She didn't reply. She was too busy with Sayo to think about Reina. She leaned over on the little girl, putting all her weight down on her hands, trying to get the bleeding to stop. What do we do? Riza wondered. Escaping truly wouldn't be easy. She needed to come up with a creative way to get out of this one.
"Dammit!" Grimm spat and cursed as she tried to pull out her katana. She jerked it back and forth, trying to free the blade from its wooden prison. I thought this stupid wood was falling apart. That's just my luck. I get the only two stable planks in this stupid place. She grumbled irritability to herself.
Shadow was doing some cursing of his own, but Tommy prevented him from saying any of it. He was getting frustrated with a few things. Number one, he was being held hostage by two kids, which was the most absurd thing that has ever happened to him. Number two, Jackal was struggling with Roy when he had a gun in one hand and two sais right behind him. Three, Vis and the third man had been outsmarted by cats. Four, Grimm's blade was stuck. Five, Hell's Fire was also being held up by two kids, and last but not least, number six, Ice, Saff, and Lex were just watching and not helping them at all! This is the most absurd thing I've ever seen. What ever happened to the great gang we were before these two military mutts got here? He jeered as he tried to get Tommy off him again, but failing miserably.
Tommy laughed and teased Shadow. A chilly draft blew through the entire building, sending a shiver up almost everyone's spines as the wind howled in the storm.
Riza continued to look around the room, the darkness was not aiding her in her search for means of escape. "Huh?" she asked, somewhat startled when she saw a green flash. She smirked when she realized it was Kiari.
"Nya?" the black and gray cat cocked her head to the left in confusion. Why is she looking at me like that?
"Let go!" Hell's Fire snarled. She was getting fed up with Kenny and didn't care about Jazz anymore. She pulled her arm away from her chest, releasing Jazz.
"SAYO!" Jazz cried and raced toward Riza, tears in her brown eyes. She had seen Sayo collapse as well; it killed her that she wasn't able to go to her friend's side from the start.
"Jazz?" Riza asked in surprise when then little black haired girl grabbed her arm. She was now surrounded by little girls. Seven year old Sayo lay on her lap, five year old Jazz at her left side, clinging to her arm, and ten year old Reina at her right. "Where's Kenny?" she asked, her head shot up in Kenny's direction, still pushing down on Sayo. Her fingers felt hot and sticky as the blood oozed between them.
"I've had enough of you! Your fire has burned itself out! Now it's time to put you out!" Hell's Fire snapped. Her eyes flashed as she lifted her hand high in the air, ready to strike Kenny. She was planning on hitting him in the back of the neck, this caused the person to fall unconscious, and that's just what she wanted.
"Jazz!" Kenny whined, upset she had left him there alone. His dark gold eyes darted around the room, trying to find Jazz in the dark. He had no idea Hell's Fire was about to hit him. The thunder boomed loudly, as if the sky it self was fighting in the quarrel.
The lightening flashed just long enough for the girls to catch a glimpse of what was happening. "Kenny, watch out!" Reina gasped as her dark brown eyes widened.
"Kenny!" Riza shouted, she knew Hell's Fire was about to hit him. She wanted to go help, but had to stay with Sayo. She could hear Sayo's gurgling get louder as she tried gasping for breath, but she couldn't take her amber eyes off Kenny. She wanted to shoot, but Kenny's body blocked Hell's Fire's, preventing her from firing at the dark haired teen. She watched Kenny, but her mind was still on Sayo, little thoughts racing through her mind. That noise she's making, her lung is filling with blood. The bullet must have been shot at a strange angle, entering in her abdomen but traveling up slightly and puncturing her lung. The blood is now rushing in. It's possible the lung has collapsed.
Roy, Jackal, Shadow, Tommy, Blare, and Grimm were too busy with what they were doing to notice.
"Muw?" Kiro said as she watched from the shadows. Her red eyes flashed and became enraged. Old memories began to flood her mind as her body began to tingle with a burning hate. Before she was taken in by Sayo she belonged to one of the gangsters. The man beat her furiously. She remembered the pose he took just before he struck her; it was the same pose Hell's Fire was taking right at that moment. "Rrawwu!" (sorry, dunno how to make cat noises) She hissed furiously. Her claws emerged from her brown tipped paws and her white fur stood up straight on her back.
"Nya?" Kiari looked behind her when she heard the white cat hiss and throw a fit.
Kiro continued to hiss and snarl viciously. She then took off out into the open Hell's Fire was her target. Her small cat paws not making any noise as they pounded furiously on the wood.
Riza suddenly became confused when she saw Kiro's white body charging through the room. Her white fur stood out vividly against the black darkness.
"Go, Kiro! She's at it again!" Reina said with a little laugh.
"What's going on?" Riza asked when she saw Kiro was headed for Hell's Fire. She then looked down at Reina, expecting and answer. Jazz was too busy crying over Sayo to care about Kiro.
"Oh, Kiro was beaten before Sayo found her. I guess the man always hit her cause whenever someone does that she attacks them. Doesn't matter if she knows them or not, she still attacks them. You should have seen when she attacked Blare. He was scared for months," she replied with a smile.
"AHHHHHH!" Hell's Fire screamed bloody murder as she felt Kiro run up her back and then dig her deadly claws into her dark hair, planting themselves into her scalp.
Roy looked away from Jackal in confusion when his dark eyes hit Hell's Fire. She was now standing up and almost appeared to be dancing. She had both hands on her head, trying to pull Kiro off, screaming like mad, and jumping around as she did it.
"Ow, you know that hurts," Kenny laughed as he watched Hell's Fire struggle. "Just ask Blare, Kiro did that to him once."
"Kenny!" Riza shouted when she noticed Hell's Fire wasn't watching him, "Get over here now!"
"Ok," he replied and walked over to the girls. He smirked when he saw Tommy, Blare, and Shadow just behind the bickering men. He scampered passed Roy and Jackal, at a very fast pace. Even though it appeared the Lieutenant Colonel had the upper hand, he was still scared of the gangsters.
Kenny proceeded to Riza and the girls, but stopped just long enough to tease Shadow. "What's wrong?" he asked with an evil smile as he bent down to look Shadow in the eyes. Yes, he was scared of the thugs, but he couldn't pass up an opportunity like this. "Are you having trouble reaching this?" he asked as he picked up the sai one in one hand, then he walked back a few feet and picked up the second one.
Shadow watched him in confusion, his mouth still cupped by Tommy. He's not actually going to give me my sais is he? If he does I'll slice him and these other brats to bits.
Kenny flashed an evil grin. Then he walked over to the hole, Kiari still sat next to it.
"Nya?" the little cat asked as she looked up at the cinnamon haired boy.
The smirk on Kenny's face grew as he looked back at Shadow, then he held his arms out and opened his hands, releasing his grip on the sais. The two weapons flashed as they fell down into the darkness, they hit the floor with a clang. Well one did anyway. He smiled proudly, "Opps... did I do that? Clumsy me."
A little shout was heard from the basement, it was Vis, "Ow… something poked me in the butt!"
Reina found that very amusing. She cupped her hands around her mouth to yell, "Maybe it's a snake!"
"A SNAKE?" Vis shouted followed by a bunch of destructive noises as he stomped the ground, trying to crush the head of the 'snake'. "Ahhh! It's the snake!" he shouted as his foot hit a board, he tripped over it in his hast. A thud was heard as he fell flat on his face. "Ooooohhhhoooo…" he moaned. The blow made his sore body ache even more. "I think… I got the snake…"
"Ahhhh, damn cat!" Hell's Fire shrieked as she yanked on Kiro's thin body.
"Hm?" Grimm's gaze immediately went to her sister. "What was that?" she asked angrily, her blue eyes as cold as ever. Grimm also had her strange ways. She was a cold hearted fighter, but she loved cats to death.
"Reina," Riza said getting her mind off all the crazy things that were happening and back to her escape plan.
"Yes?" she asked. Jazz looked at Riza as well.
"Didn't you say only you and Kenny knew the stairs were in the basement?" Riza asked. The thunder roared again. The rain was letting up, but the lightening and thunder didn't seem to be slowing down at all.
"Uh… yeah…" Reina replied, somewhat confused as to what the military dog was getting at.
Riza's attention then went to Jazz, "Can you get that cat to come over here?" she asked, motioning her head towards Kiari, who sat by the newly made hole, trying to figure out what was going on, as well and licking her front paw and rubbing it against her dark face.
Jazz looked up at Riza with tear filled eyes, "Uh-huh," she nodded as she sniffed.
"Good," Riza replied as she looked back at Roy. If only the Lieutenant Colonel knows the stairs are there… then that means… She calculated to herself, trying to think how this little escapade was going to turn out. "Can you get her to get the men's attention? Just for a moment? I need them to focus on her until I can get a flash of lightening."
"I… c-can… try-y," Jazz said through her tears. She then got up and walked beside Roy and Jackal, she wasn't right beside them, they knew something was up if she was right there. So she stood back a few feet, hidden in the dark. "Here-e kitty, k-kitty, kitty-y," Jazz whispered and sniffed, hoping they wouldn't hear her. "Come h-here, Kiari-i, come here, g-girl," she cooed. She knelt on one knee, holding out her small hand toward the cat.
"Nya?" Kiari stopped licking her fur and looked at Jazz, curiosity in her green eyes.
"Come h-here, K-Kiari," Jazz whispered again, tears still sliding down her cheeks as she continued to watch Sayo from the corner of her eye.
Riza got into position. She had no choice but the release the pressure she was putting on Sayo's wound. She gently laid the little girl on the ground and turned to Roy and Jackal, slowly and quietly. She raised the black pistol. Sayo's dark blood smearing all over the black steel frame. Reina just stood quietly next to her and watched, soon joined by Kenny.
This better work. Riza thought to herself as a bead of sweat traveled down the side of her face. She waited for Kiari to make her move. She'd never had a cat before, but she knew how they operated. Kiari would run over toward Jazz, and then jump on Roy's back, looking at Jazz curiously, waiting to see what Jazz had in mind before she actually walked over to her. All Riza needed was that little bit of weight that Kiari possessed.
The cat meowed again. She blinked a few times before she started over toward Jazz. She started out in a creeping fashion, then she got more comfortable the farther out she got, eventually leading into a bounding type gallop. She approached Roy and took a running leap.
"Don't move, sir!" Riza said just before Kiari's black feet came down on the Lieutenant Colonel's back.
Roy flashed a confused an annoyed expression when he felt the weight on his back. Kiari's paws felt like four pressure points on his skin as they planted themselves firmly on the navy blue material. Cats did this as a precaution, so they wouldn't lose their balance. I hate cats. He thought as his eyebrow twitched a little, but he knew his Second Lieutenant had a plan, so he did as instructed. Praying he wouldn't end up like Hell's Fire, whom he could still hear screaming on the other end of the room.
"Nya?" Kiari asked as she stood on Roy's back. Her green eyes blinked as she looked at Jazz, her ears twitched in confusion as her dark tail swayed back and forth slowly.
Come on. Riza thought to herself, hoping the lightening would flash before Kiari left her perch. Without Kiari's body weight this would never work. Her amber eyes widened when the lightening sent a violent flicker of light throughout the land and she saw Shadow and the two boys behind Roy. Because of this she missed her chance.
"What did you stop for?" Kenny asked. He flashed a grin when he found out what Riza was going to do; now he stared up at her in confusion and disappointment.
"I don't want to hurt them," she said as she stared at Tommy and Blare, trying to figure out a new way to go about doing this.
Hearing this, Reina looked up from Sayo with a confused expression, and saw the boys a few feet behind Roy and Jackal. She then combined the little information she had and quickly figured out Riza's plan.
How am I going to make this work? Riza cursed to herself as she clenched her jaws in frustration.
"Don't worry, it's ok," Reina said as she looked up at her with a smile.
Kiari meowed and cocked her head to the left in confusion, trying to ponder what Jazz had in store for her. She'd never seen Jazz act like this before. Fist the little girl gestured to her that she wanted her to come, but now she acting as if she doesn't want her to come. The cat sat on the Lieutenant Colonel, dumbfounded as to what she was to do.
Just stay there for a minute, girl. Jazz said to herself as she held her hands out, palms facing Kiari, in a 'stop and stay' gesture.
"What do you mean?" Riza asked as she stared down at Reina. She usually didn't take advice from kids, but Reina was from around here and knew this place better then she did. She was also up for any ideas the kids might come up with. Anything that can help. She thought as she looked back to Roy. Jackal didn't seem to notice the black and gray cat on his back.
Any day now. The superior officer thought as he glanced at Riza out of the corner of his dark eye. He was having a hard time holding still enough for Kiari to stay put.
Reina stared at Tommy and the other two as well. "Don't worry; they're far enough back that they won't fall. It only collapses a few inches from where the weight was. They are a few feet away, so they are in the clear."
"Yeah," Kenny interrupted and crossed his arms over his chest proudly, "and I threw his fork thingies in the hole by Vis and that other guy, so Jazz's dad can't attack with them."
Riza smiled with relief. Then she aimed again, waiting for the next lightening bolt.
Roy sneered irritatedly. Oh now she does it. She only missed the last three.
Riza's grip on the black pistol tightened, just then her eyes widened and she pulled the gun close to her face, examining it.
"What's wrong now?" Kenny asked. It was kind of getting ridiculous.
A little thought suddenly overcame the female sharpshooter and she opened the chamber of the gun. Only two bullets left. She told herself. She wasn't nervous, she never got nervous, but a hint of doubt began to set in.
"Hurry up, Lieutenant!" Roy snapped. He couldn't help himself. His arm ached and he knew he was going to lose this current battle if his subordinate didn't do something soon.
"Yes, sir!" she replied in her stern solider tone. She quickly closed the chamber. The gun snapped as the chamber clicked into place. She took aim and waited for the lightening to flash again.
"Mwurw!" Kiro hissed as she continued her assault on Hell's Fire's skull. The teen continued to scream as she tried to pull the cat off, but to no avail. If anything she was just making Kiro dig her claws in farther.
Grimm and the others were still busy doing other things or just watching. Lex was one of the men watching. He didn't make any moves to help either of his daughters. He could hear Hell's Fire crying out in agony, but made no attempt to aid her. Lex was kind of funny that way. He was proud of his daughters, but in a way he was neglectful like Jackal. As long as they improved in their fighting and did as told he was proud, but the minute they needed aid he left them to fend for themselves. He didn't care if they were killed or not. It wasn't his problem. He wouldn't be around when they were supposed to take over the gang anyway, why should he worry about it?
"Lieutenant!" Roy snapped again as he glanced back at Riza. He saw the black pistol aimed right at him. Just then the lightening flashed.
"I apologize in advance for this, sir!" she replied and pulled the trigger.
Bang! Bang!
The two bullets flew through the air. They whizzed on the sides of the men's bodies and lodged themselves in the floor on the left and right sides of them. They weren't completely dead center like Riza had wanted, but she didn't have that long to aim, and with Roy's arms flying up and down trying to force Jackal down she didn't exactly have a free shot. The bullets weakened the floor around them just enough that they would give way.
Roy's eyes widened when he heard the floor cracking below them.
"Nya?" Kiari said as her cat curiosity got to her and she looked over Roy's shoulder and at the floor, not bothering to jump off.
"Damn you!" Jackal snarled and spit in up in Roy's direction. He was a little too far to the right.
"NYA!" Kiari flinched as the nasty liquid hit her in the face. She jumped back with surprise, digging her claws into Roy's back.
"ARRRRHHHHH!" Roy snapped in surprise and he jerked his arms down. An adrenaline rush shot through his body from the sudden sharp sensation.
Crrreeeeeeaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkk.
The floor moaned as it started to cave slowly but quickly sped up and collapsed under them.
"NYAAAAAA!" Kiari cried as she and the men fell down the hole.
They hit the floor with a loud thud. Dust was kicked up everywhere and began to settle on them after a few moments. Roy lifted his head up sorely and coughed, trying to get the dust that was lodged in his throat out. He glanced around and saw Jackal lying underneath him.
"Ooooooohooooooohhhhooooo…" Jackal moaned sleepily. The fall had clearly knocked the wind out of him.
Kiari sat before them. She had safely landed on her feet and was now licking the dust off the gray part of her coat. "Nya?" she looked up when she got a sudden shiver down her spine. Her green eyes flashed when she saw Roy glaring at her evilly.
I… hate…. cats…. he scoffed to himself as he pushed off Jackal's immobilized body and stood up.
"Are you alright, sir?" Riza asked as she looked down the hole, Kenny and Reina by her side. Jazz had gone back to Sayo, trying to wake her up again.
"Master?" Reina asked after a few minutes of silence.
He glared up at Riza. "You had better be glad the Fuhrer didn't make you under my orders while we were out here. You would have just gotten in big trouble for that little stunt."
Her face became confused for a moment until the memory came rushing back to her. That's right. She thought as the scene replayed in her mind, it was in the Fuhrer's office.
"I've gone over the report carefully and I can clearly see the problem. Second Lieutenant Hawkeye, Lieutenant Colonel Mustang. I have decided to give you both an assignment as your punishment. You are now assigned on a mission; you will both go to the outskirts of town and take care of the street gangs over there. Apparently, the police have been having real problems with them for quite awhile. None of their men have the skills to take them down, and after seeing the damage you two have caused and neither of you have a scratch. I see you are perfectly qualified to take on this assignment," he informed them, "Now, I am well aware of the situation between you two, and Mustang. I know you are the commanding officer here, but on this mission I give Lieutenant Hawkeye my permission to go over your head and avoid orders if she thinks it is needed."
The Fuhrer's words rung in Riza's ears.
"Good work…" Roy finally spit out knowing Riza had just saved them from Jackal. There really wasn't anyway around it. He then looked around the dark room. He saw Vis and the third man lying on the ground, still moaning. They could get up; they just didn't feel like it. Their bodies ached as they choked on the thick dust. He saw the silver sais flash with the lightening. He turned back to Jackal and continued surveying the area. A few feet away from his hand lay Riza's gun. He picked it up then headed for the stairs, in his cool casual way.
Kenny quickly ran over to Vis' hole. "Haha! He knows a shortcut!"
A few seconds later the small door at the bottom of the stairs opened and Roy's head popped out.
Grimm stood under the stairs, she watched Roy with cold eyes. There was nothing she could do without any weapons, so she stayed quiet. There were stairs there?
Roy walked over to the kids and came face to face with Riza. "Here," he said as he handed her her gun.
"Thank you, sir," she replied in her soldier tone, but it was slightly different, like she was a little nervous and unsure of herself. Roy was looking down at her in a strange way, like he admired her. After a few seconds she took her gun from his hand. She stared at him for a moment, studying him. He seemed different somehow, like he was calmer then before, or something.
Roy noticed the blood on Riza's hand and walked over to Sayo, Jazz still crying at her side. He bent over and picked the small body up. She was still alive, her body still held some warmth. He looked over her as he listened to her raspy breathing. Jazz stared up at him. Her tears were still steaming down her cheeks. Roy gave her a friendly reassuring smile. "Let's go help her."
The small girl gave a small smile and a nod as reply. She stood up as Roy walked toward the door, she followed close behind.
What's gotten into him? Riza wondered as she watched her superior for a few moments, and then followed after him. Reina and Kenny running in front of her, trying to catch up with the Flame Alchemist.
"Hey!" Wait for us!" Tommy hollered as he and Blare released Shadow and hurried after their friends.
"Finally," Shadow growled as he scrambled up. He started after Roy. His boots began pounding on the wood.
Grimm watched, once she saw Lex was making no move to stop the dogs she cut in, "Shadow, stop!"
The dark-haired teen stopped dead in his tracks and stared back at Grimm.
"Let them go," she replied to his confused face. "My father has other plans."
Shadow just nodded. Then he turned back to the door, just in time to see the military dogs slip out with the kids.
Just before Roy had left Lex gave him a cold stare. "We'll be seeing each other soon," he said coldly as Roy and Riza passed by. Roy just gave him a small nod and left. Riza was a little confused by this.
Why are they letting us go? She wondered, but didn't say anything. The kids were confused as well; Jazz clung to her pant leg as they passed Lex. Once they got out into the open Roy dashed down the soaking street.
He bent over a little, trying to shield Sayo's body from the cold rain. He glanced back at Riza, "Hurry, she won't last much longer!" he shouted, already a good distance away. He was looking for a safe spot to lay the small girl down before Lex decided it was time to 'meet' again.
Riza was a little confused, but her stern look returned quickly as she followed. Her boots felt heavy in the wet sand as the rain soaked them to the bone. The thunder boomed as she followed his dark form through the storm. Jazz still clung to her leg. The other kids ran close behind Roy. Their small arms either folded over their chests in an attempt to stay warm, or over their heads trying to shield themselves from the falling water droplets.