Chapter Five

My Post

SQUEEZE!

"OH, I'M SOO GLAD YOU'RE SAFE!" Sparklings
"Yeah, yeah, just don't get too excited, or I'll be hospitalized. Where I should be right now- ow."Ed managed to mumble as he was straightening out his back.
"I'm sorry, but there was a big fight. Passer-byes reported four people, who weren't identified as friends of yours, attacking you two and your little friend. They described the attackers as one being a tall and thin woman in black, a bulging blob-like short man, and a thin, long green-haired man. These descriptions match three homunculi that may have been in the act of Brig. General Hughe's murder..."
Ed and Al froze in fear and guilt.
Armstrong continued, "And the forth one was described as a young girl who pulled out a gun and repetitively started shooting."
When Beyleigh heard this she started tip-toeing in the other exit of the alleyway.
Ayumu was about to speak up but froze when she saw the gun holster on Bayleigh's metal thigh.
When Bayleigh turned the corner her legs didn't move.

Armstrong was describing more of the fight to Ed and the gang but heard a WOOSH.

The only one far back in the alleyway to see this was Ayumu. Ed and Al turned their heads immediately when they heard the sound. In the corners of their eyes, as they were turning, they could just make out bright yellow and orange filling the end of the alleyway with light.

A chipping, burnt hand fell to the ground. All were in shock.

Ayumu's Post

The Colonel and First Lieutenant came running up to the scorched body.
"Overdid it again...but this is her, the one sighted in that homunculus fight." remarked Roy.

Ed and Al tried to explain she wasn't involved in that way.
"Look, FullMetal, unless everyone who passed the scene needs glasses, this girl was seen shooting hostilely at your brother! And it was at the same exact time as the homunculus attack. That's suspicious enough for me to investigate and solve the problem." retorted the Colonel.
"Burning everything off the face of the earth is NOT how you fix things, Roy!" screamed Ed.
"It's true, that shooting was to defend us not harm us. She specifically aimed at my metal hull knowing it would only ricochet into the homunculi." added Al.

Ayumu even spoke out against Roy, "I-If she hadn't shot, we could be in Gluttony's stomach now...or worse!" Although seldom was worse to her than that thing, ever since it had swiped at her in the alley. Her first glimpse of homunculi.

"Was I talking to you...?" Roy glared down at Ayumu. They had been enemies since their first meet, when Ayumu had publicly embarrassed the Colonel. She looked to the ground, regretting saying anything at all. The arguing continued as Ayumu snuck away to the smoking corpse where she knelt near and felt sick. Knowing someone was alive and talking to you just minutes ago and then seeing their dead remnance is not easily accepted by many minds. But, then Ayumu remembered before when Bayleigh had survived a stab through the torso.

I hope she can come back from this, too. I barely knew her but, just for her sake...

Ayumu closed her eyes in an attempt to keep the tears in her, bottled away with so many other emotions. She got up then and shuffled back to Ed and Al, unnoticed, still watching the smoke rise.

My Post

"Anyway," the Colonel continued, "We need to take this corpse back to HQ for investigations."
Knowing that Bayleigh would regenerate eventually Ed played along.
"-Sigh- Fine, I'm gonna stay in Central for another day or two to rest up before leaving again. Notify me if you find anything strange about this girl."
Armstrong and Mustang saluted but there was suspicion in the Colonel's eyes.

Security came and carefully picked up the corpse and carried it back to HQ. Armstrong and Roy followed. Ed and the gang started the other way. And when Ed was out of ear-shot of Roy he stopped and started talking.
"Ok, I didn't mean what I said back there...you know that. But we need to get into HQ. Bayleigh should be regenerating soon and could be in even more trouble if they catch her alive. We'll come back to HQ tonight. By then Bayleigh's body structure should start reforming, we can only hope they're not autopsying her when it happens. Midnight"

Yes, this is a short chapter, I know… But the next one should be long. Comments, critiques, and flames are accepted (if necessary.)