AN: To everyone who pointed out there were typos in the last chapter. Aren't there always? Lol. Yeah, just so you know, I know these chapters aren't perfect and I'm not going to say they are. I do go back and fix them, but I still don't get everything. It's one of those times when you look past the bad and focus on the good, like the actual story for example. Lol, anyways, on to replies so we can get the chapter started! But first…

504 reviews! w00t! Thanks so much! Sweat drops. Looks around. I don't see any old reviewers, not very many anyway. Old reviewers, where'd you go? Did you forget about me? Tears. Oh well. I have all you new people, right? Huggles new reviewers.

Blonde-Existentialist: What's Riza doing with pads? Hmm… I'd have to agree with you that she'd probably wear tampons. It seems more appropriate in her line of work. But you have to remember it's like the year 1910, even before that since this is set before the anime. I doubt they had tampons then. I don't think they even had pads XD. Wouldn't that just suck? Anyway… yeah… I killed the accuracy enough with the pads alone. I don't want to push things that much and have Riza use tampons. Reina has brown hair, not blonde. Maybe her genes got mangled and she has the mind of a blonde but the hair of a brunette, ya think? XD

charriXD: Yes, I know you wrote a long complement... er… review… whatever… last time, and I thank you ever so much for it!

Thanks for much to Jass! I couldn't write this without you! You too, RW Grimm and Flava Sava! And yes… as promised... I dedicate these Royai.. er… sort of Royai? Whatever you want to call them moments... to gundams forever... just because she wanted it that way XD.

Also… there are some somewhat disturbing 'things' in this chapter. I know everyone in here will know what I mean when it you get to it. Now, this is a 'T' rated fic so it's nothing too horrible, but I have friends who have had this happen to them in the past. So I know it doesn't take much to set them off into 'depression mode'. I just wanted you to know it was there incase you are one of those people, and if you want to skip it you may. If you want to know when it's safe to read again start reading when you see Jazz screaming in all CAPITAL letters. Just wanted to warn you incase you have issues with this sort of thing. But like I said… I didn't make it traumatizing or anything, but if you feel the rating needs to be changed just because of what going on, then tell me in a review. I don't want this fic to be deleted again for something that can be so easily changed.

The Way to a Man's Heart Isn't by Crushing His Ego Chapter 42: The Evil Heart of a Loner (Sorry, couldn't think of anything else to call it!)

"MISS RIZA!" Jazz cried when she saw Riza collapse. "WHAT'S WRONG WITH HER?" she asked and quickly knelt beside the Lieutenant. Her brown scared eyes stared into Riza's pale face. She watched as her friend's face lost more and more color and her breathing became raspier and weaker.

"Her body can't take all this stress," Roy replied as he searched her bag. He had regained control of himself and was now calm, yet still very serious, "She's lost a lot of blood and has grown weak from it, that's all really."

"That's all!" Jazz asked as she turned to Roy. She was sobbing uncontrollably but the expression on her face held much anger. "You talk like there is nothing bad happening to her! She could be dying and you don't care at all!"

His face gained a hint of sadness after Jazz made her remark. Deep down it hurt, but he kept his mind clear and shook it off quickly. She is a child after all. She doesn't understand anything… He told himself as he looked through Riza's bag. They had run out of pads so he was going to have to wrap the wound again, and try to stop the bleeding the old fashion way. He could hear Jazz crying behind him. "You have to be calm if you want to help her."

"What?" Jazz asked as she looked up at him.

"Think about it. We're not in the greatest place right now, and Hawkeye's number one priority is to protect us. If she hears us screaming and crying, don't you think that will make her sad or even stressed?" he replied, trying his best to word his reasoning in the way a child could understand. "Just because she's not looking at us doesn't mean she can't hear us."

Jazz looked back at Riza again. She guessed what Roy said made sense. Her eyes traced Riza's form and she placed her small hand on the cloth that sat atop the Lieutenant's forehead.

"Why don't you wet it down again?"

The little girl looked up questionably to see Roy standing behind her with some of Riza's garments in his arms. "Ok," she replied having found the cloth had lost most of its moisture.

She took the cloth and walked back to the window. Roy then knelt next to his subordinate and began ripping her clothes into strips. I hope she doesn't get angry with me. He thought with a smirk as he continued mutilating her belongings.

The sound of cloth ripping and gruff sliding noises were all that was heard as Roy continued his work and Jazz tried to force open the old window.

"Er… come on you… stupid thing…" the girl growled to herself as she repeatedly yanked at the wooden frame around the glass. Then all her hard work paid off as the glass began to creak and slide. It kept getting caught so she continued to fight with it until her hand could fit through the small opening.

She put the cloth on a piece of wood just below the window sill. It was a flower box at one time, but after the town went though its downfall it went uncared for. Resulting in the death of all the flowers and leaving nothing but an ugly, leaky wooden frame. Even weeds couldn't hold their life in such a retched sandy place.

"Uh…" Jazz stared into the box, and then looked back at Roy. She saw he had just begun wrapping Riza's wounds. At his side sat a colorful assortment of tattered shirts. "All the water leaked outta the hole. There's hardly and water left in here."

"Is there enough to wet the cloth?" he asked not even glancing up from his current task. His face was very calm, as it usually was, like this was nothing out of the ordinary.

"I don't think so," she replied as she touched the cloth. It was only damp in various places. She doubted it would be enough to help Riza.

"Do you know of any other place?" he asked.

"Ummm…" Jazz replied putting her hand to her chin. "Yeah! Two rooms away is another box!"

"Can you go wet it, please? I can if you wan-" he was cut off by the girl's chiming voice.

"No! No! NO! You're bleeding and tried! Plus you have to help Miss Riza! Don't move, sit there and I'll get it! Yes, I will! Yes, I will!" she ran out of the room and down the hall.

Roy blinked in confusion. What was that about? He wondered. A small smile appeared on his face as he looked back at Riza. This was the first time in a while that he saw the normal Jazz. She'd been so down these past few hours, since everything happened with Sayo. He was beginning to worry about her mental state.

His calm face returned as he pulled on Riza's bandages. Her heavy breathing caught his attention. He stared at her face. His dark eyes traced her features and oddly enough paused on her lips. He watched as they opened and closed, trying to take a breath.

Seeing this caused his mind to flash back to when they first arrived here. When he saved Riza from his flame and they were about to kiss when rudely interrupted.

Before Roy knew it his mind cleared and he found himself back in the present and lip locked with the person he was supposed to be saving. He could feel Riza's attempts to catch a breath. Her efforts became stronger and more frantic as her body squirmed under him. Her muscles tensed and she flinched. The terrifying feeling of suffocation came over her. Unknowing as to why breathing was so much more difficult all the sudden caused her muscles to tense even more, resulting in an aching pain all over her weak body. She tried to jerk away, but Roy still held her still. He didn't want her ripping her wounds open again. Riza continued to fight and a few noises escaped her throat when she found herself trapped on all sides.

Roy had no idea why, but he couldn't come to releasing her. His mind urged him to let go. He told himself she was injured and this was making her condition worse, but his body wouldn't pull away despite his mind's orders.

Roy's body finally won over his mind and he leaned in farther. His eyes closed and his body relaxed as he remained on top of Riza. His entire being was overcome with a strange feeling he'd never felt before. It was a type of inner peace. He was about to deepen his kiss when suddenly…

"What are you doing?"

His eyes widened and he shot back, releasing Riza and turning quickly to the door. There he saw Jazz with the cloth in one hand and a confused expression on her face. He immediately regained control of himself and calmed his face. "Nothing."

Jazz's expression went back to normal as well as she walked toward Riza and knelt beside her. "You shouldn't make out with someone who's not wanting too, you know? My mommy told me that was very bad manners, yes it is."

"I wasn't kissing her," Roy replied casually, knowing if he spoke loudly she'd know he was lying. "She wasn't breathing well. I was simply giving her mouth-to-mouth. It helps her to breathe."

"Really?" the small girl asked curiously as she glanced back up at Roy. She had placed the cloth back on Riza's forehead. "How does sticking your tongue in the other person's mouth help them breathe?"

Did I really go that far? He wondered to himself. The passed few seconds seemed like a blur to him. His eyes went to Riza's face, allowing him to see how tense and uncomfortable she was. Her breathing was also different now. It was much more hectic as she began to recover from the sudden shock of Roy's passion. His face remained calm, but on the inside he was kicking himself and he really felt bad and ashamed for what he had done to her. I'm sorry, Lieutenant. I was a little out of line there.

"Well, how?" Jazz asked a little louder and more impatient.

"Uh!" Roy's eyes widened again and he covered it with a cough. "She's getting worse. My mouth-to-mouth wasn't successful. Did Reina come back yet?"

"Nope," Jazz replied shaking her head. "I think she got lost or maybe she saw another worm."

"Well we don't have time to just sit around here. Hawkeye needs the medical help now. I'll go find them and bring them back," he replied and started to get up. He was a little shaky on his feet and the feeling of fatigue set in almost immediately upon standing, but he didn't let it stop him.

"WAIT!" Jazz shouted, "You're hurt, too!"

"I'll be alright, it's not far and the rest gave me back enough of my strength to make it," he replied casually and pulled Riza's gun from his waist. It was nestled tightly in the back of his waistband in case he needed protection.

The sudden click of the chamber opening was heard as the Lieutenant Colonel checked his ammo.

Jazz looked up at Roy again and saw him eyeing the bullets sitting in the chamber. Tears began pouring down her cheeks as shock and sorrow took over her body and she lunged forward.

"Uh?" Roy glanced down suddenly when he felt a great pressure on his leg. He came to find the small girl clinging to his leg, sobbing. "Are you alright?"

"Don't d-do it…" she cried not looking up at him. Her tears began soaking into the blue fabric of his pants.

Roy stared down at her questionably, unsure of what to do.

"You have that silver t-tube... don't point it at anyone… p-please…." she sobbed as images of her father passed through her mind. "My d-daddy pointed his tube at t-them… and they all died-d… I don't want y-you to be like him… p-please…" she continued to sob, "Please, R-Roy… I don't want you to be like him…"

Roy's expression became somewhat sad as a small smile appeared on his face. He slowly knelt down so he was eyelevel with her. He then cupped her chin with his hand and titled her face upwards, so she was looking him in the eyes, "Don't worry, I'd never be like him," he replied with a smirk. Then he released her from his grasp and stood up.

Jazz couldn't think of anything to say. She sat, still as a statue. More tears traveled down her face as Roy's form disappeared into the hallway. She stayed this way until she couldn't hear his footsteps anymore. Then she rushed over to the window and stared down into the street. She saw him walking away on unsteady legs. She saw him falter in the thick sand, resulting in him falling to his knees. She wanted to run down and help him, but didn't want to leave Riza's side. After Roy picked himself back up and disappeared behind a nearby building she sat back down on the floor. The small girl stared at the soldier lying at the other end of the room. When she saw Riza didn't need anything at the moment she pulled her knees to her chest and embraced them. Her face went down and rested on her knees and she cried silently to herself, afraid of what Roy might do if he did shoot Riza's gun.

It wasn't even five minutes after Roy left that a rustling downstairs was heard.

"Uh!" the girl's eyes widened and she sprung up with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. "ROY!" she chimed and raced to the doorframe.

She stopped quickly in her tracks when the rustling noise downstairs turned into a pounding force headed up the stairs. Jazz froze in fear as her eyes grew even wider. The smile on her face disappeared as the sound got closer and closer.

In a flash there was a man standing in the doorway. He was about the same height as she was. A grin appeared on his pale face and his eyes narrowed on her. "I told you I heard a girl yelling in here, boss."

Another head popped in behind the first man. "Yeah, well lookie here. We caught ourselves a little brat," he said as they entered.

Loners… Jazz thought to herself. In many ways these men were worse then the gangsters. They had neither morals nor feelings for the well being of others. People such as these were often thrown out of the gangs because they couldn't follow the rules of the pack.

Jazz couldn't say anything. Her eyes remained on their faces. She stared into their eyes. All that remained in her range of sight were evil shades of blue and gray as they raced towards her.

Before she could react the shorter of the two men raced around her small form and grabbed her from behind. He cupped her mouth with his hand as his grey eyes peered into her brown ones. She couldn't help but go over his features. He was very snake-like in appearance. His eyes held very little life and his skin was pale and cold. "Now be a good girl and don't scream," he hissed.

The other man walked around the room. Jazz watched his muscular build prowl around like a bear. He's messy brown hair flung unbrushed and uncleaned as his blue eyes surveyed the area. "There be a sleepin' woman here, too," he said with a devilish grin as he stared down at Riza.

Jazz became frantic and tried to scream for Roy when she saw the man's bear-like hand caress Riza's cheek.

The second man jabbed her in the back with his elbow, "I told you to keep quiet," he snarled.

"She's a good lookin' woman," the man smirked as he pushed Riza's bangs from her face. He pushed the cloth off her warm skin and threw it to the side. "You know what they say about sleepin' women, don't cha?" he asked as he looked back at Jazz. She was stunned by the sadistic spark in his eyes. "They say when they is asleep they dunno what cha is doing to 'em."

The man holding Jazz began laughing historically, "That's a good one, boss. You always know about everything."

"That I do, Genki," he replied as he looked back as Riza. Another grin flashed over his face as he thought about what he was going to do with her. "And since she is asleepin'. I think I'll have a lil' fun wit' her. Hold that brat."

"Yes, boss," the little man known as Genki replied and did as told.

Tears began sliding down Jazz's face as she watched the big man kneel next to Riza.

"Now then, I am a gentleman at heart. I don't feel it right to handle a lady before introducin' yourself. The name's Booker." The big man said. He then began going over her body with his eyes. Genki licked his lips as he stared at Riza's body. The small girl's body began tensing as she watched the man grab Riza's wrists and force them above her hand. The Lieutenant flinched in pain, but her eyes didn't even stir. She was clearly not able to fend for herself.

More tears poured down Jazz's face as he grabbed Riza's shirt and began ripping it off. The girl and servant on the other end of the room couldn't see much of what was happening, for the man's large body blocked out most of their sight range. A great pain appeared in Riza's shoulder as he yanked on the fabric. Her body began sub-concisely tensing and pushing away from the man.

This dissatisfied him greatly and he stood up, still peering down at her. He placed his boot above Riza's wounded shoulder and pushed down hard on it. "No one goes against me!" he snarled and stomped down on the wound. Once he saw her body became much tenser he quickly cupped her mouth, thinking she may scream. He's hand was covered in her blood which seeped onto her face and sat around her mouth.

Booker smiled when he saw she didn't have the strength to scream and went back to her military jacket. Under the jacket he could see the brown fabric of her t-shirt. Her shape was also visible and he smiled at what she possessed. He uncapped her mouth and brought his hand to her chest.

Jazz watched Riza begin to struggle again and could only imagine what was happening to her. No… raced through her mind over and over as she watched the man assault the wounded solider. You can't! No! That's wrong you can't do that! She screamed out in her mind as she became frantic and struggled against Genki.

"Be still, child," he said as he tried to hold her still. She wouldn't hear any of it as she tried to free herself from him.

She continued to fight and scream, though it was all in vein as her cries were muffled by Genki's long bony fingers. Her heart wept as she watched Booker continue his assault on Riza. She did know what to do, if anything at all. Just as soon as she was about to give in her eyes widened as Riza tried to scream out, but wasn't able. Suddenly her small body was overcome with rage and adrenaline as Riza's voice echoed in her ears. With this new emotion she lunged forward.

"Hey!" Genki snapped as Jazz almost launched herself out of his arms. "Get back here!" he hissed, but couldn't keep his hold over her face.

"STOP IT!" her screams cut though the air. "DON'T, YOU CAN'T DO THAT! STOP IT! DON'T!" she cried as she fought with Genki. "YOU CAN'T DO THAT! SHE'S BLEEDING BADLY! SHE'S HURT YOU'LL KILL HER! YOU HAVE TO STOP! STOP!" she screamed over and over.

"SHUT HER UP!" Booker roared as he glanced back at them.

"NO! STOP!" Jazz continued yelling.

"I can't, boss!" Genki replied as he tried to keep his old on the thrashing girl.

"You's good for nothin'!" the bear-like man snarled and stood up from Riza.

Jazz froze when she saw Riza. She was gasping for air and covered in blood. Great pain was displayed on her face. Her military jacket lay in shreds around her body. Her eyes widened when she saw the bandages Roy had made for her had been ripped off as well.

Booker then smirked when he saw Jazz's sudden silence. "That' more like it," he grinned and went back to Riza.

"NO! DON'T TOUCH HER!" Jazz snapped again when she saw the man was going to begin again.

Booker scoffed at the girl and got up again. He walked toward her.

Jazz saw the terrifying look on his face, but she didn't let that stop her. "STAY AWAY FROM HER! DON'T TOUCH HER ANYMORE!" she ordered as he stood only a foot or two from her.

Jazz glared at him, "YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO SOMEONE IT'S WR-!" she was cut off suddenly. In the blink of an eye the man lunged at her and hit her in the back of the head. She was knocked out instantly.

Genki sat still and she went limp and fell in his arms.

"Heh," Booker gained a satisfied grin and grabbed Jazz by the back of her neck. "Stupid people don' know when to shut they trap," he said as threw her to the side. She hit the wall hard and landed on the floor at the edge of the room, concealed by old boxes and wood.

"Did you really have to do that, boss?" Genki asked as he looked to where Jazz fell.

Booker didn't reply. He walked back to Riza and was about to continue with her when a pounding noise was heard down stairs. "Wassat?" He asked as they looked to the doorframe.

Just before them stood the Lieutenant Colonel and his face didn't hold the most welcoming expression. He wasn't in the best shape to say the least. He was leaning against the wall, trying to catch his breath. Sweat traveled down his brow as he tried to regain himself. I guess I really wasn't as strong as I thought. He told himself as he eyed the men.

"Well would you look at that… This woman have a man all to herself…" Booker grinned as he stared back at Roy.

This statement intrigued Roy a bit. His eyes slid down to the floor where Riza lay. His fists clenched at his sides when he saw what was going on. His wounded hand began to ache yet again when the pressure was applied. He saw her tatted jacket and all the blood. He was just thankful he heard Jazz yelling before she was exposed and they had their way with her. His eyes went back to the larger of the two men. He saw his hands and boot were drenched with Riza's blood, telling him who the guilty one was.

The bear-like man flashed an evil satisfied grin when he saw the anger welding in Roy's eyes. "It ain't nice not to share. You do know that, don't cha mister?" he asked confidently.

Genki grinned as well. He knew what was about to take place. He saw the look in his master's eyes and the unmistakable smirk on his face. "You shouldn't poke your nose where it doesn't belong, my good sir. It may accidentally get cut off."

Roy knew what he meant by this and his eyes went back to the bigger man. He watched as Booker's grin grew, revealing sharp, fang-like teeth. Nothing was said as he pulled a long blade from his back, his smile not changing and his eyes not leaving Roy's heaving form.

"It look like you got yourself a bit a trouble, a mister?" He asked as he pointed the long blade at Roy.

The military dog studied it carefully. "This is a broadsword." He said calmly as his eyes traced the blade. The handle of the sword was slightly curved, and the blade was long. It began thin, like most swords, but the farther down it went the thicker it got. Resulting in an overly light weapon with a large curve at the bottom of the blade, making it easier to kill with. "I have seen many of these in battles. They are quite destructive and are not to be taken lightly."

"So we've come to a' understanding then?" Booker asked and glanced down at Riza with a disgusting smile.

"If that's what you'd like to call it." Roy replied closing his eyes and giving off a calm smirk.

"Hm…" Genki gave a small growl. I don't like this. Why is he so confident?

"So you just gonna die then, are ya? That real good. I didn't really feel like fightin' right now. Not with this lil' lady a waitin'."

"There's just one thing I want before we you go." Roy said the same expression still on his face.

"And just what that be?" the big man asked and looked up at him, somewhat curiously.

Roy's boastfulness just grew as he drew Riza's pistol. It clicked as he aimed at the men. "Your jacket." He said coolly.

"Eh…" Genki backed up a bit when he caught sight of the gun. "I-I thought he was unarmed. He's… he's got a gun, boss."

Booker gave Roy a displeased expression. "It ain't very nice to trick a man like that."

"Yeah, well, we can't all be gentlemen, now can we?" the military dog replied.

Genki watched behind his master's leg as he took his heavy black jacket off and tossed it on the ground in front of Roy. "What do we do now?" the small man asked and looked up at Booker.

"What else?" Booker replied with a smirk, "Fight."

He lunged forward. The blade on his sword pointed at the soldier's bruised throat.

Roy's face became somewhat disappointed. The battle was totally one sided. Before anything even began he fired his gun twice. He closed his eyes and thought about his actions for a moment. "I'm sorry, but I don't have time to fight with you. I wouldn't have killed you if there weren't people I had to protect." He opened his eyes again to see both men lying on the floor and the wooden floor around them begin soaking up all the blood. Jazz… he thought to himself as he stared at the fresh corpses. I shot the gun, I'm sorry I couldn't keep that promise to you. But I will keep the other one and never be like him…

Before the Lieutenant Colonel knew it he was forced to lean on the wall again. His heavy breathing returned as fatigue plagued his body. The adrenaline rush had faded and his weakness was once again physically visible. He looked back over to Riza. He saw she wasn't in the best shape herself.

He reached down and picked up the black jacket once belonging to Booker. It had some blood on it, but it was better then nothing. He walked over to Riza, almost losing his balance on the way. Then he knelt next to her and carefully removed what was left of her jacket from her body. He used it to make new bandages, and then he laid Booker's jacket over her. "I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner. You shouldn't have had to go through that. It's my job to protect you." He said as he stared down into her pale face. He watched as her unsteady breathing became weaker. "Don't worry. I won't let it happen again."

Roy stood up, looking around the room. "Jazz?" he asked. She must have run off, can't blame her. There was nothing she could have done against them. He gave a small smile at the thought of the little girl. "I think it's time to leave here. Others could have heard all that commotion." He said as he looked around. "I'm sorry, Jazz. I didn't mean to leave your place a mess like this, but I have to go now." Then he gathered all his remaining strength and lefted Riza off the ground, leaving the room and the building.

AN: HI guys! Sorry this took me so long to update! My internet was down, and then we got a new printer. So I wasn't able to get on very much! Sorry I ended it right there, too. I was planning on at least wrapping this part of the story up, but it looks like that will have to wait until next time! See ya there! And Roy left Jazz alone and knocked out! Dies.