Previously on Fullmetal Alchemist
CABBY (to Takara): Welcome to Central City.
Takara looking out of the cab at the towering building that is Central Headquarters, a small smile across her face.
TAKARA (voice over): Know of any good inns?
Taraka standing outside the Central Inn, staring up at it.
CABBY (voice over): The Central Inn.
OLD MAN (to Takara): Enjoy your stay, Takara.
On Takara's shocked expression to the Old Man smiling at her and winking before walking away.
TAKARA (to herself): You had to get the hell outta there. There was nothing left and those bastards were after you! You want a death wish?
Takara has a pensive look on her face before she turns and going down the stairs of the Central Inn, and back outside into the cold.
END OF TEASER
START OF CHAPTER
Chapter 2
The Girl, The Boy, The Suit of Armor
"But brother, can't we just stop there for just a minute...?"
"No."
"Why not? It's on our way to Headquarters."
"Cause I already told you, Al, as State Alchemists, we're entitled to our duties..."
"You mean, you are. I'm not a State Alchemist and it's Christmas!"
"Are you with me here or not?" His little brother didn't respond and he sighed heavily before answering, "Look, just because it's the holidays, doesn't mean we can just take a break. We still don't have any leads on the bastard that's going around knocking off State Alchemists and we don't know who killed Nina and Alexander..." 15-year-old State Alchemist, or better known as the Fullmetal, Ed Elric stopped at that comment, making a pained expression. Though it had been only couple weeks since little Nina Tucker and her large dog Alexander first suffered a fate crueler than death before they were actually slaughtered, Ed still couldn't get the image out of his mind. That horrible image of the blood splattered against the wall...It all became a blur of color with the times Alexander stole Ed's watch to Nina wanting nothing more but to play with Ed and Al to that night where Chimera Nina/Alexander stared up at him... Normally, Ed had started to get over it but with Christmas only a week away, the thought that Nina couldn't celebrate it just made it more miserable. The fact that he couldn't even save a little girl and her dog...
The experience at the butcher shop and that bastard serial killer Barry didn't help either, Ed feeling completely insignificant, unable to do something for him and Winry...
Yes, those incidents had passed but Ed still felt the pain of insignificance, hurt, anger, sadness. It was Christmas time and he should be feeling happy. He got Al something he knew he'd love but Ed didn't care if he got anything. The fact that he'd be with his brother was enough of a Christmas gift. Ed had gotten a call from Winry who wanted him to return to the country to celebrate with her and Pinako but Ed made the decision of staying in Central. There was no way Ed could just leave when there was a serial killer wandering the streets, killing State Alchemists. Even if it was the holidays and Ed should've been relaxing like Mustang insisted, Ed could only see working those holidays.
Stopped in the middle of the bustling sidewalk, people walking around him, Ed who still thought his younger brother Al was behind him, sighed heavily before going on. He ran a hand through his sandy blond hair before going on, his red coat zipped up, keeping him warm from the cold, his face a bit red from the frosty wind.
"The point is Al, I'm not going to stop until this case is over and this Philosopher's Stone sounds just as good. Maybe...Maybe this could be something..." Ed just turned to his left, expecting to look up at his brother when he felt as though somebody hit him square in the gut – not only was Al not there but he was nowhere in sight. "Al?" So that means, to Ed's embarrassment and annoyance, he had been talking to himself for the past 5 minutes and that everybody passing by must've thought he was a complete weirdo. Ed scanned the large crowds but being the height he was... Still, it couldn't be hard to miss the towering, bulky suit of armor that was his 14-year-old brother Alphonse or simply Al. "AL? AL...! AL, WHERE'D YOU – !" But just as the crowds parted enough for Ed to make out Al, where he saw Al was exactly made him furious, Ed feeling the heat emitting from his face, his face probably the color of a cherry.
"Oh, they're the cutest!" Al said happily, his hands pressed up the front display window of the place he stood in front of, his eyes glowing. This place was Abarrane's Pet Palace and in the display window in a pen littered with plastic toys and a post leaning against the see-through barrier where people could look in was a small group of, "KITTIES! OH, CUTE KITTIES!"Al cooed, watching as two of the kittens, one a shade of orange and brown and the other an all black, wrestled, the black one pouncing on the other and the orange kitten replying to this back attacking his brother back. Two of the kittens lay to the side, one cleaning itself and the other just curled up into a little ball, and the last of the kittens sharpened it's claws on the scratching post. Oh, of all the things Al wished for, a kitty was what he wanted! But sadly, Al knew that Ed would never let him carry a cat along on their traveling. But I can dream! Al thought, unable to tear his eyes away from the cuteness. Beside him, a little girl no older than five with a frilly pink and green patterned hat in a poofy jacket and with pink gloves looked in at the kittens before she anxiously tugged at the bottom of her mother's black coat.
"Mommy, I wanna a kitty! I wanna a kitty for Christmas! Get me a kitty for Christmas!" The little girl whined, jumping up and down. Al turned, staring and couldn't help but smile. Though it was hard, Al could imagine he was like that too at that age. The mother looked down impatiently at her daughter, her cell phone clamped to her ear.
"Not now Deianeira, Mommy's on the phone," The mother scolded before putting her attention back on whoever it was she was talking to. Deianeira frowned at this but immediately went back to looking at the kittens.
"I like the kitties too," Al said to the little girl who looked up at him. He was indeed a peculiar sight indeed. It wasn't everyday that you saw a huge suit of armor standing next to you and talking for that matter! But either way, Deianeira smiled a huge smile at Al, her two front teeth missing.
"Which one? I like white one in the back," She said, pointing to the one.
"I like the orange one," Al said when Ed slid in by Al's side, looking in at the display with him, Al not noticing the clearly annoyed expression on Ed's face.
"You like the kitties, don't you Al?" Ed asked in, despite what he was feeling at the moment, a very calm and quiet tone.
"Yes..." Al said with a dreamy look almost that only he as a suit of armor could possibly do.
"Good...CAUSE THAT'S IT AND WE'RE GOING!" Ed's voice changed dramatically and grabbing Al's arm, yanked him from the display, people nearby staring at the commotion.
"Oh, please brother! Just one more minute!" Al begged, fighting his brother to take one more peek at the kittens.
"LET'S GO, ALLAN!" And with that, Ed pushed his brother forward, past gawking civilians, and was leading them on their way to headquarters.
"You're inhuman brother!" Al cried tearfully. "It's the holidays and...YOU'RE A SCROOGE!"
Elsewhere but not that far away, Takara walked alone, her hands tucked in her jacket pockets although she had gloves on. The snow was still coming down and the sidewalks had cleared up a considerable amount which most likely had to do with the fact that it was late and all stores were closing up but the Christmas lights left on. Walking along, Takara wasn't really sure where she was going but for some reason, it was relaxing, the cool air and being out of the stuffy room. Her head bent down, her feet the only thing keeping her going, Takara thought more of why she came to Central. No matter how much Takara loved the countryside of Shiloh, there was nothing left for her there. She had no friends, no family that were still alive...There was no chance in hell she was going back to the orphanage. It seemed the entire world lay in front of her. This meant change, chances, and...redemption. Sighing heavily, Takara finally looked up, thinking that it be better to get some sleep and start the next day fresh when,
Takara didn't have any time to react when out of the darkness of the alley she stood by a hand appeared and grabbing Taraka around the mouth, she was pulled into the shadows. Takara felt her muscles seize up, unable to fight back as she felt herself being pulled back further into the shadows, away from the glow of Christmas lights. Struggling, Takara tried to scream but no avail. Then, whoever it was that had grabbed her came to an abrupt stop and the hand fell from Taraka's mouth. But before Takara could speak, the arm itself came around her neck in a choke hold. Takara gasped loudly and her hands instantly went to the attacker's arm, struggling to break the strong hold but that made the person only pull back even more, tighter. Takara gasped, shutting her eyes tightly as she struggled to breathe.
Oh, God. Oh GOD. I can't breathe...! Takara's mind was racing. Fight back! FIGHT BACK! But as though her muscles were paralyzed, Takara found herself unable to even step down on the person's foot, her face burning from the pain. Just then, two lanky young men in black attire came from the shadows into the one area that wasn't completely covered in shadows. They were a disgusting sight, one with long straggly black hair and the other completely bald except for tattoo covering his entire head. It was a bizarre tattoo, made of thick curvy black lines but Takara knew what it was.
"Ain't you the pretty little thing," The one with black hair sneered with a nasty grin and getting right up in Takara's face, Takara's face cringed in disgust – he smelled of cigars and when he smiled, his teeth were horribly decayed (some even missing) as though he hadn't brushed them in his entire life and most likely from smoking and whatever kinda of drug he did. He ran his hand up Takara's cheek in what was clearly stroking gesture but Takara jerked her face away from him, staring at him disgust and loathing. She wanted to curse him into a million pieces but the arm around her neck, constricting her breathing made it difficult.
"We gonna have REAL fun with you..." The bald man said, walking up alongside his friend and looking Takara up and down. Suddenly, with a flick of the wrist, he held in his hand a switchblade. Takara eyes grew wide with fear as she stared at the men in front of her.
Oh, God. They're gonna kill you! You're dead! Takara's mind was as she looked around for something, anything that could save her but the man holding her from behind was too strong. The man with black hair edged even closer and just before he could lay a finger on Takara, a wire snapped inside Takara. She WAS NOT about to let this guy touch her in anyway that he already had and she was not going to die like this, being raped in this back alleyway. Despite the difficulty breathing, Takara inhaled deeply and let loose a ear-piercing scream that reverberated off the buildings surrounding them, making all three men flinch at the sudden volume. Surely SOMEONE had to hear it...
"You little – !" The man cursed Takara violently and arching back, slapped her hard across the face. Takara gasped and squinted her eyes at the stinging sensation that had consumed that entire side of her face as her head reeled to the side from the blow. The black-haired man had just about had it with this little brat and grasping her face, made her look at him.
"Nobody's gonna save you, you little bitch. All you did was piss me off. I'm gonna make you feel it..." Takara could only stare in absolute fear, something she hadn't felt in a long time. The man snatched the switchblade from his friend's hand and putting the cold tip of the blade to Takara's face right next to her eye, Takara closed her eyes tightly, remembering...
Little Takara had felt pain before. She fell at the playground, scraped her knees and hands plenty of times. But this was new. The big hairy man in his hand a HUGE knife. Little Takara had always been told by Mommy and Daddy, never play with knives. Only adults could play with knives. Grasping Little Takara's collar, he jerked her up and Little Takara could only follow his lead.
NO, DON'T! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Mommy screamed as Little Takara stared up at her Mommy who stood across the room from her. Little Takara didn't like the look on her face. It was scary, distorted...
Everything began spinning in Takara's mind, the sounds and colors into one. What the devil was going on? Was this all some dream? What was happening? How could she have for –
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! Takara's eyes snapped opened as she let loose another ear-piercing scream, tears of pain falling from eyes at the sudden surge of pain that went up and down her face. This time, it came from one specific spot and hurt like a bitch – her scar. The scar next to her eye that Takara had carried for 10 years surged with pain as though it happened for the first time, the pain unbearable.
But how could that be? How does it hurt like that? How does a scar that she's had for 10 years suddenly hurt...?
STOP! NOOOOO! Little Taraka didn't even hear her mommy's voice over her scream as the man ran the knife down the side of her face, Little Takara seeing the glint of silver go right by her eye, and the red...
The men jumped at the girl's sudden scream. What the hell is wrong with this kid! The black-haired man holding the knife thought. The knife he held to her face was still in the exact spot. He hadn't moved it all and it wasn't even like he was pushing it into her face. The tip was barely resting against her skin. Just enough that she could feel it. But from the way this kid screamed, it was as if he had cut her and she felt it, which he didn't...
Before the men had time to say something, there was a clap followed by a whoosh and looking back at the entrance of the alleyway, the men had to jump out of the way as what looked like a bolt of electricity, running along the ground, was headed for them. The bolt came, instead, in contact with the wall at the end of alley and the wall was blown to smithereens with a tremendous bang, bits and chunks of brick flying everywhere. The man holding Takara pushed her away as he shielded himself from the flying debris. Takara hit the ground hard but she threw her hands up to her face from the flying debris, not sure of what the hell just happened. Looking at where the "bolt" hit, Takara's eyes grew wide and she felt the feeling in her go as the smoke slowly started to dissipate, Takara coughing at the smoke that filled her lungs . Where that wall once stood was nothing but a large, gaping hole about 10 feet high, going into the next alleyway over. The men stared at the wall incredulously, knowing that if that bolt hit them... Their heads swivelled in the direction where it came from and Takara followed their gaze to who could've possibly done it. Takara knew what just happened. Alchemy was what happened. But from the power, it had to be an alchemist of great power, wise beyond his years to have done something like that. Takara looked up at the entrance but instead, a black looming figure blocked out the lights from the street so whoever it was, she couldn't make out his face. But he was BIG. If Takara saw right, she saw the silhouettes of SPIKES on where his shoulders had to be and one on his head as well! Was he wearing some sort of armor or WHAT?
"Who the hell are you?" The black-haired man demanded, practically daring the guy who had the nerve to do that to come and fight him. Takara braced herself for what she thought would be a deep, threatening voice but instead...
"I'm your worse nightmare." Takara tilted her head to the side. Had she heard right? That couldn't possibly be the voice of the man who just did that. No. The voice wasn't at all deep or threatening. Yes, it was threatening, but seemed in more of a mediocre way, like it was nothing new. No. The voice sounded that of...a kid? A KID? Well, not necessarily a kid but a young man, may be a teenager for sure. Well, obviously, the men didn't find it very scary or threatening.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This is what I should be terrified of? A LITTLE BRAT?" What happened next, Takara didn't quite comprehend because it was happening so fast. There was an enraged scream of "WHAT!" and a blur of red zoomed by Takara, directly for the bewildered men. As Takara slowly eased herself up, panting heavily, the side of her face throbbing, Takara could only look on in amazement, and a little bit of fear, as the apparent boy who did the alchemy was um...holding all three, two in one hand, by the collars of their jackets and in what appeared to be a tornado of swirling red and black, the boy spun them fast and furiously.
"LITTLE? I'LL SHOW YOU LITTLE! WHO'S LITTLE? I'M NOT LITTLE!" The men yelled and hollered before the boy sent them sailing into the wall where they smacked painfully into it.
"Oh, brother, Ed..." Takara jumped at the sudden voice that seemed to come out of nowhere and looking wildly around, she saw nobody around but the large silhouette of whatever the hell that thing was. Easing up, a light crossed the large figure and Takara's eyes saw what it was - it was a suit of armor. It stood there not making any movements but how could it? It was a suit of armor, for crying out loud! This had to be a nightmare! That was all Takara could think when suddenly, the armor moved, as in walked like a normal person but with the clinking of the suit, over to the young boy. WHAT THE HELL? Takara slowly started standing up, her knees buckling as she stood, threatening to make her fall again, trying to understand what the devil was going on, when she looked back at the boy who started the whole thing made his way forward to her. Takara couldn't see his face yet.
"You alright?" He asked but Takara, already shook up about the night as it was found herself backing away, right into a garbage can. She shrieked as she fell over, the can clattering loudly against the ground.
"Hey, calm down! I'm not going hurt ya!" He said, waving his hands but Takara was so out of it that point. She had nearly been raped, her scar that hadn't hurt in over ten years was hurting like a bitch for some reason, and with the memories of that night swirling in her head... Takara could only think of thing to do.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?" She shrieked, hot tears running down face and clapping her hands together, put it to the garbage can lid that lay beside her, the blinding light of alchemy following. Ed's mouth dropped open and watched in shock as he undoubtedly saw the lid transmute into what appeared to be large dagger, the silver of the blade glinting. Al shared the same shock as his older brother did. Takara grasped the dagger's handle and getting into her feet, held it threateningly at the young boy who stood in front of her.
"WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!" He waved his arms around wildly, instantly taking a step back. "You can transmute without a circle!"
"Yeah, what's it to you?" Takara asked nastily, grasping the dagger handle tightly, ready for any sudden movement. The boy then turned to the suit of armor, both wearing looks of disbelief.
"SHE CAN TRANSMUTE WITHOUT A CIRCLE!" They said in unison, Takara staring at them as they went into what looked like mini-mass hysteria.
"SINCE WHEN DID OTHER PEOPLE BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I DO!"
"I DON'T KNOW, BROTHER!"
As the two continued to go about, Takara could only stare at them in confusion and a little bit of amusement. They really do look funny, running all over the alleyway, waving their arms wildly about. It was a bizarre sight, considering that this was a large suit of armor running around with a boy who was unnaturally short. Feeling no longer threatened, Takara slowly lowered the dagger and at the same time, the wacky duo seemed to gain control and calmed down as the boy turned to her.
"Alright..." He breathed in heavily as Takara stared back at him.
"You get that outta your system?" She asked. He merely glared her.
"Brother's shocked because we thought he was the only one who could transmute without a circle. I am too!" The suit of armor said in a voice that was clearly that of a little boy's and Takara couldn't help but stare.
"And you're the first suit of armor I've ever seen talk and move." The suit of armor chuckled and blushed...Since when did suits of armor blush?
"What's your name?" The boy asked.
"Takara," She said simply as she finally got that point that there was no threat and tossed the dagger to the ground.
"My name is Alphonse and this is my older brother Edward. We're the Elric Brothers," Al explained that Takara did a double take on the name.
"Elric? Edward Elric?" She asked with a small smirk slowly forming. "You mean...as in Fullmetal Alchemist Edward Elric?"
"The one and only," Ed said rather smugly that Takara stared at him incredulously, mainly because of his height. This was the great Fullmetal Alchemist?
"YOU'RE the Fullmetal Alchemist?" She said in disbelief. Hearing the disbelief in Takara's voice, Ed frowned. "You can't be the Fullmetal Alchemist."
"WHY THE HELL NOT?" Ed demanded, the temple in his forehead bulging.
"You're so..." Takara stopped there, not sure if it was the best idea to continue and straight out call him short. She had always pictured the Fullmetal Alchemist as a tall, built handsome man. Not a hotheaded, smug teenager like herself. Yes, Takara was short herself, Ed a bit taller than her but not by much.
"I'm WHAT?" Ed asked furiously, practically daring this girl to say what he knew she was probably going call him. Al, on the other hand, made a face and frantically waved his hands at Takara who stared at him.
"Don't say it!"He said desperately. Taraka relented but shrugging, smirked innocently. Ed just looked off to the side. Everybody had to make fun of his height.
"I guess I should thank you, as if you came any later, I'd probably be dead," Takara said.
"You better be careful. There's some dangerous people around here at night," Al explained, Takara nodding.
"Figured that out for myself," She said.
"Are you new here?" Al asked.
"Yeah, just got her about an hour ago."
"Do you have a place to say?"
"Yeah, the Central Inn. I actually better go..." Takara said with a gesture to the front of the alley.
"You want us to walk you there?" Al asked that Takara smiled at his polite manner; the total opposite of his brother.
"I'll be fine, thank you Al Elric," Takara said quietly with a smile and started to go when Ed angrily interceded.
"Hey, don't you have something to say to me?" Takara stared at him with raised eyebrows.
"Like what?" Ed was livid and Al sighed heavily.
"Like "Thank you for saving my life"!"
"Oh..." Takara just smirked and shrugged. "Thanks..." And with that, Takara left out of the alley, leaving Ed and Al standing there.
"THANKS!" Ed was fuming when his little brother sighed that Ed stared at him.
"You didn't have to be so rude, brother..." Ed stared at him incredulously.
"Rude? How was I being rude?"
"She seemed distant brother and it didn't help that you yelled at her just because she didn't think you were the Fullmetal Alchemist. And you have to admit, it's amazing that she can transmute without a circle like you can. Maybe we should introduce her to Mustang," Al suggested that Ed gave him a look.
"Why would that matter?" Al sighed heavily. Ed was so stubborn about admitting certain things. Al knew very well that if Takara could transmute like that, she was no doubt about it extraordinary. For the longest time, Al believed that only Ed was the one able to transmute without a circle but upon seeing Takara turn that lid into a dagger like completely threw his belief out the window. As Al and Ed made their way back to Headquarters, the snow still coming down, Al thought of Takara. She seemed like a nice girl. Reminded him A LOT of Ed but maybe it was like that with all alchemists. But she did get freaked out very easily it seemed. Still, she had a right to considering she was nearly attacked. Thank goodness she screamed or they might have gone right by the alley and not have even heard her. As Al looked back in the direction where the Central Inn was, he thought of something that could maybe make Takara's day...
The hotel was completely deserted as Takara walked up the steps to her bedroom. It was late so she could only assume that everybody was going to bed. Reaching her room, Takara felt even more exhausted as she locked her door and coming in, she felt so gross that she needed to take a bath. 5 minutes later, all of her clothes spread across the bathroom floor, Takara basked in the warmth of the steamy of water and bubbles. The pain in her muscles seemed to slip away and she couldn't wait to get into her pjs and go to sleep. Her eyes closed, Takara felt like she was gonna fall asleep when –
She heard the door creak and groaning, she slowly opened her eyes to see what the problem was. She thought she had closed the door all the way. No, instead...
Takara's eyes snapped open when she saw four figures in black standing right there in the bathroom, one of them by the door, all of them staring down at her, in the tub but thankfully for the thick bubbles...
Takara screamed at the intrusion, her arms instantly wrapping themselves around her chest even though her head was the only thing above the bubbles but as she started to sit up, prepared to scream for help, the biggest of them was over in a blink and putting his gloved hand on Takara's head, shoved her under the water. Takara's eyes were closed tight as she struggled to break surface again, not breathing. Her legs and arms flailed wildly, the soapy water splashing over the side of the tub as she fought for her life. Takara felt her lungs about to burst, abd she couldn't help it but opened her mouth, still underwater. At once, a rush of water went down Takara's throat, into her lungs. She was choking, everything going black...
Suddenly, Takara's head broke surface as the man jerked Takara up by her hair. Takara's eyes snapped open as she immediately began coughing, a sea of water rushing up as Takara leaned over the side of the tub, water pouring to the floor at the man's shoes. Takara gasped and coughed, the sweet air rushing back into her nose. That sweet feeling was abruptly ruined when the man who had first shoved her under the water grasped a handful of her hair tightly and pulled her face close to him.
"Been a very long time, Takara..." He said as Takara gasped as she still tried to breathe properly again.
"W-W-W-What do you want?" She gasped, recognizing the face as she coughed up the last bit of water that was in her lungs. It was Dimitri. A lanky figure, he had slick black hair and intense blue eyes, he was the son of Antony, the man who, 10 years ago, responsible for it all. His men stood back surveying the scene and Dimitri was actually the only one not in all black. He had on a black trenchcoat over a brown sweater and khaki pants. No wonder he probably was let in, he looked like any other guy.
"Gosh, the last time I saw you...you were a little 5-year-old! Have you grown!" He didn't let up on the grip on Takara's hair.
"God, why won't you leave me alone!" Takara cried, glaring at him. "My parents are dead because your father killed them and I haven't bothered your father! I haven't done any – NO!" Dimitri shoved her back under the water, holding the flailing girl under for a good minute before pulling her back up. Takara gasped even more before glaring fiercely at him. Dimitri's demeanor turned that to of a very angry.
"You know damn well what you did, you little wench," He snapped, Takara staring at him fearfully. "Now, you know what my father is like so, as fair warning," he then got very close to Takara's voice before speaking, "You better think of a way to fix that deal or he's gonna have a reason to make sure you never see the light of day again." A minute later, he slammed Takara's head down onto the tub side. Takara cried out from the pain as Dimitri released her as Takara sunk down into the water, clutching her eye in pain from where it hit, Dimitri and his thugs made there exit. Alone once again, Takara didn't get out of the tub for a while but instead cried for a long time. No matter where she went, what she did, her past was going to follow her...
ED: Next time on Fullmetal Alchemist
Ed's Jealousy
MUSTANG: Wow, who knew? I guess that doesn't make you so special anymore Elric.
Ed glares at him.
When another alchemist who seems just as good as Ed comes into play, Ed can't help but feel obsolete.
ED VOICE OVER: She and I are nowhere near alike.
ED (coldly): Just stay out of my way, alright?
TAKARA (mockingly): Ooh, it sounds like the Fullmetal Alchemist is jealous. What, can handle a little competition, Eddie?
FUNimation - Christmas is coming for the short one!