Disclaimer: I do NOT own Fullmetal Alchemist, I only own Esme and her inventions.

As a Shadow

chapter 3

Five days later, Ed and Al returned to Central city. This day, Ed, Al, Mustang, and Hughes were walking along the street. Mustang was planning to catch an opportunity to ask Ed about his arm, how he lost it and things like that.

"Ha! I can finally get out of that office and get some fresh air! It's always the same kind of paperwork, same phone calls, it's so boring in there!" Mustang stretched himself out as he walked.

"It's what you have to do, colonel is not a easy job!" Hughes said

"But doing it day and night will bore me to death." Mustang pouted.

"Really? I thought all you do is daze off and daydream about girls in miniskirts." Ed said.

"Brother, that's like you when you're supposed to be training." Al said, he was walking between Ed and the colonel.

Mustang dropped his face when he heard this," see, don't tell people to do things you can't even do yourself!"

"Mine is called 'meditation'," Ed said, "besides, it's not me that's the colonel! I say, you better start acting like one soon, or else people will stop following you."

"Hey, Hey, guys, stop arguing! It's a nice day and just relax today, okay?" Al said, then turned to whisper to Ed, "Brother, what about that Esme? It's five days already, and the things she did was very suspicious."

"I already told Winry to look at the necklace... I hope she writes as soon as possible."

"OH! THAT'S SO CUUUUTE!" a girl's screeching voice came from a crowding corner on the street, drawing their attention.

"You bought another one? You're unbelievible!" another guy's voice sounded disbelief.

"Come, come, come! All the different designs for yours to choose! Plus, we have a special discount today that..."

"This voice!" Ed's eyes opened wide.

"Brother! It's Esme!" Al couldn't believe the world is so small.

Ed took a look at what she's selling. Seems like she didn't take out any one of those strange inventions of hers that will harm people. She only had out ordinary jewelries, and that's what drew so many girl's attention.

Esme gave change to her customer, "Thank you, come again!"

"Brother..."

"Al, listen..." Ed whispered a bunch of stuff into Al's ear.

"Understood, Brother!" Al quickly ran away.

Ed then turned to Hughes and Mustang, "Ahem! I know you guys won't believe that I lost my automail, so I've decided to tell you guys the truth! And what I'm about to say is all true! Isn't that what you are after today, colonel?... colonel?" Ed looked around and Mustang wasn't there.

Mustang was in front of Esme's little stand and staring at Esme with perverted eyes, "Hey, beautiful, wanna go get coffee with me?" "He's fast..." Ed and Hughes thought at the same time.

Esme smiled in some way sexily, "Sure! How much are you gonna give me?"

"Oh my gosh! That girl is selling herself for money now!" Ed shook his head.

"Brother, I'm back!" Al emerged from the crowd, this time with Riza Hawkeye and a bunch of soldiers following.

"Make way, make way!" the soldiers pushed away the customers.

"Hey! Why are you pushing away my customers!" Esme stood up angrily, yelling at the soldiers. "You think you can do that just because you're a soldier?"

"Haha!" Ed chuckled a couple of times and stood in front, "I can't believe you didn't get to know more about this city and just came here and started business!"

"Huh?" Esme raised an eyebrow.

"It's like this, Miss Esme," Hawkeye explained, "you've broken some of our rules around here. Central city has an order of stores on the streets, you can't put up stands without giving the department a notice. And you were also told on the behalf of being a prostitute, which there were many witnesses that can prove it from your conversation with Roy Mustang. And there are also a few other small things like selling without a license, business without tax, and also robbery... these things allows us to capture you and send you to jail. So..."

Ed shouted, "Soldiers! Take her down!"

"Hey----! Wait-----!" unable to say anything, two soldiers took Esme by her arms.

"Ed..."

"Lt. Hawkeye?" Ed asked.

"You stole my line..."

"Oh, sorry. I was overreacting."

"Brother, you're revenging your personal problems using your title..." Al said.

"Objection! You're not considering my citizen's rights!" Esme yelled.

"There are no objections!" Ed walked toward the stand, took Esme's yellow flag, "Hahaha! Take her flag off! Hmph! What 'Handy Handy Tools'? It's all a lie! How about I just rip this into pieces!" (Ed going crazy)

"Stooooooop! How can you do this to me!"

"You have the rights to remain silent, Miss Esme. But all you say right now can be useful evidence, so you better watch your mouth!"

"You're insane!"

"Ah! Insulting a military man! Add one more crime to her!"

"#&+..."

"I bet Fullmetal got 'ripped off' by this girl before." Mustang stated.

"Yeah, and Ed's been holding it in for a long time..." Hughes thought the same.

"Brother..." Al cried silent tears.

Mustang suddenly realized something, so he started creeping away from the crowd.

"Wait!" Hawkeye grabbed his collar, "You were commiting a crime along with the criminal."

"No---------!" Mustang was pulled away by the soldiers with Esme. His screams echoed in the city.

TBC r&r please :)