Whaa! That last chapter was so good! –Types up how the master died from choking on shrimp- (Cackles evilly). Just reading the first page made me cringe, which means it was very…VERY…good. Hmmm, how shall I go about the next chapter? I know!
Disclaimer: Keh, keh, keh, I just thought of an odd disclaimer! Ok here it is! –Locks Edward and Alphonse in a closet- We may not own you two but we can protect you from the cruel, mean world! –There's loud banging on the closet door and shouts of 'let us out!' and 'you're crazy!'- (Snickering)
The house and grounds were beautiful and calming, it was the complete opposite of my, now former, masters. It was a rather large two story building with window boxes in every other window, each box with a different mix of flowers. Spider vines clung to the walls and gave it a very old look, the lady smiled when she noticed my enthralled look. She then placed a hand on my shoulder indicating that she had to talk to me, I turned to see what she wanted.
"I'll show you to your living quarters now, it's just around that corner over there, in the court yard."
"You have a very nice home." I said turning back to look at the large house again. She then walked past me and gestured for me to follow, I did, we turned the corner into the courtyard and towards the servants living quarters. My jaw dropped, the courtyard was nearly covered in the spider vines and small patches of native flowers, in the center of the courtyard was a fountain. A sudden wave of guilt washed over me as I gazed pensively at the scene, I was here and Al was still there, with him.
The lady led me over to one of the small rooms that lined three of the walls that made up the courtyard. It was a small room but a considerable more comfortable then where I had to sleep before. There was a small bed with sheets and a summer blanket, in the far-left corner was a table and chair, to the right was a very small dresser with a wash bowl and pitcher sitting on top. I gazed around the room in a quandary.
"Is something the matter?" the lady asked, I hadn't heard her so I walked over to the wash bowl and water pitcher. She walked over and placed a concerned hand on my back, I retracted quickly wincing, I guess I was still sensitive after that morning.
"What has happened? Why did you…" she pulled the back of my shirt up, "Wh…what is this?" she asked with a very concerned look on her face.
"He was going to hurt that little girl," I muttered, "I made a promise to her brother I'd look out for her as long as I was there."
"Tsk…no wonder he said what he said back there." She grumbled, "Here, let me take you to the house, I can call a doctor from there."
"Thank you…but I think I'll stay here, if that's ok." I sighed, she nodded then made for the door, before she left though she added,
"The doctor should be here in an hour, you just rest here, it's been a long day." And she left. When she was gone I slinked over to the bed and sat down, the full weight of how horrid I felt finally sinking in. What was Al doing now? I wasn't able to see him before I left so…I slouched over, resting my elbow on my knee and my head in my hand. What to do? What was I to do now? My back twinged slightly as I sat there, perhaps that was the inner me telling me that I was being stupid. I knew what I had to do and that was to get Al away from that monster and free Amestris, it was that simple. A twinge again,
"Shut up…" I grumbled to myself, I lied down on my side now and was gazing lazily out the door into the courtyard, the fountain came to mind. It was a very nice fountain, a shame though that no water seemed to come out of it. A faint breeze passed through a small window in the back wall that looked out into a small back yard, with small plants growing here and there. It blew against my back providing a short relief from the, now continuous, twinging.
The wind blew again, this time carrying with it the sound of children laughing; I sat up and looked around for a quick second. I found it odd because I hadn't seen any children when I came in, though that didn't necessarily mean there weren't any. Shrugging, and deeply regretting doing so because that made the twinging start up again, I gently pulled my shirt off. It was a mildly warm day, now that I was able to pay attention to something like that, and lied back down on the bed, this time with my back to the door. I started to slip in and out of hazy dreams and nightmares, some of when Al and me were little others of the Drachman invasion.
An hour had passed sooner then I had expected. The lady, though now I should probably refer to her as my mistress, and a man walked in. The man was clearly the doctor cause he seemed to go straight to work by asking some questions. I wasn't listening, and even if I had wanted too I couldn't anyway, I had only gazed in their general direction when I saw their shadows on the far wall, then returned to gazing blankly at the wall in front of me. My mistress must have answered all the questions for me, which in a way I was grateful for, because now the doctor when on to examining the damage.
The doctor then tapped me on the shoulder to get my attention; he got it only because my back twinged, yet again, at his touch. He gestured that I turn over onto my stomach, I did so. He then started rummaging through his bag and pulled out some jars and containers.
"What are you doing?" I asked, more out of boredom then anything else. The doctor answered and my mistress repeated it to me slowly so I could read her lips. He was going to put some medication on the wounds, which were at that stage between sore and open too sore and starting to heal. Then he'd dress it properly so that there would be minimum scarring. The doctor put some medical gloves on then started to apply the medication. It was cold and oddly relaxing, though occasionally it would sting and I'd wince. Once all that was done, he wrapped me up in bandages and said I was good to go.
"You said he was this why when you bought him?" the doctor asked my mistress, she just nodded. The doctor shook his head and said, "I'm not for or against any of this but, it truly is amazing how cruel people can be to one another. We doctors see a lot of terrible things in our profession, dog bites, snakebites, getting a leg or arm broken from some accident. But if there is one thing that is the worst of all cases, it's seeing the end result of two humans fighting with each other."
He left after my mistress paid him, she then turned to me and sighed, she had a slightly less worried look on her face. I decided to try and fix that,
"Thanks…I'm fine now." I said.
"You're still worried about your brother aren't you?"
"Of course…I wouldn't be a very good big brother if I didn't." I shrugged, without any twinges or pains.
"We've got to get your arm fixed," she then said, "I'll have to search all over the place for an auto-mail mechanic."
She crossed her arms and left, I was just thinking, if only Winry were here. She'd be able to fix this up in no time flat, but I had no idea where she was, I didn't even know where Al was till my former master purchased him. My head nodded slightly as I started getting drowsy, resting my head in my hand again I tried to steady my thoughts.
I flopped over on my side, hand still set firmly over my face, this bed was nice…too nice…I turned over slowly and faced the wall. I had chosen, to save Amestris, wasn't that also Al? Lowering my hand I thought about it, why was it then I had to pick between the two? Perhaps I should talk with the boy again; he would probably know the answer to a question like that. Staring into the wall I started to drift off again, I was here now; this was the first step. I was going to save Amestris, and hopefully Alphonse as well, I just hope I made the right choice.
Phooey, that was kinda short wasn't it? I'm sorry, I can't blame it on being lazy or procrastinating either…darn there goes my two most useful scapegoats. (Sigh) I was going for a slightly lighter…thing…for this chapter (still deeply traumatized by last chapter…in a good way! –Ed and Al are still in my closet…safe and sound-). Well, Mel-chan you're up! (The reviews were so nice…ahhh, motivation!)
Oh my, my chapter was that…traumatizing? I had no idea! I thought that was one of my lesser chapters, but what do I know? I wrote the chapter for goodness' sake! (A writer never knows whether their own work is good or not, hehe.) I'm glad that you liked it though. I'll try to have the next chapter up soon.