Chapter 9: The Deadly Power of the GoE

A/N: Sorry this has taken a while to get out… but it really has had no inspiration at the moment, you know? I've been relatively without a computer as well- compliments to the jerk who calls himself my step-father… He decided that he would have his office in my dining room… so I lost all computer access… This chapter is being written in school, and will hopefully be one of my better ones. Don't forget to review for me now! Boost my esteem I got like one review on chapter 8… I suppose that maybe it is punishment for the slow updates?

Must reads:

Expect the Unexpected

Koukyuu no Toriko

A Forgotten Memory

Pirates of the Caribbean Inuyasha Style

A Path Worth Retracing

Hate is Only Skin Deep

My Memory's Heartache

Full Metal Hakusho

Recap:

Kara lashed out grimly at the three vampires who were doing all they could to dodge her attacks, "What the hell is this!" Haranobu exclaimed as his leg was pierced by an unknown blade.

"You bastards will pay for the lives that you have taken." Kara's voice was dull and monotonous as she stepped towards them, a deadly look in her eyes.

&

Winry sighed heavily as she sat under the stars, gently caressing the slowly growing swell in her belly. She smiled softly, remembering the eve that the child had been created. It had only been several months after their kidnapping- after she and Ed had confessed their love for each other. Passion had taken hold of them again.

She stood slowly, stretching as early dawn began to mingle with the night, she needed to sleep at least a little that night, if not for herself then for the child growing within her womb.

Now:

"So the GoE finally reveals her true self." Haranobu sneered, causing Kara to falter in her onslaught of alchemic created weapons.

"True- self?" She questioned, "What are you talking about?"

The three vampires guffawed and in unison spoke as though she should have known what they were talking about- should have known her true self, "She doesn't know!"

Kara frowned and dropped the large scythe that she had created, her eyebrows creased in frustration as she crossed her arms, "Doesn't know what?"

"You, girl, are destined for great things." Seiryo poked her in the side, receiving a threatening glare, "Didn't you ever wonder? Just why it was that your alchemy was so different from all others- that even when you didn't wish it, it was brought on anyhow? You are the apocalypse dear girl. The end of the world as known by the humans is contained within you and you alone."

"No!" Kara gasped, taking a frightened step backwards, "I would never-"

"Not now you wouldn't you simple fool, why is it that you think Atsutane was bent upon turning you? By destroying your humanity he would ultimately contain the fate of the world." Hirotsugo sighed heavily, "Really, you ought to know of it, I find it amazing that you didn't know of your own fate."

"I control my fate- I do not live by simple 'prophesies'." Kara snarled, yet she still stood frozen- rooted to her spot upon the train tracks, what if it is true? Doubt rang clearly through her mind, what if she was to destroy the human world?

"Already you doubt your own words, for you know that we speak the truth." Seiryo stood straighter, more confident in his words, he breathed in the heavy scent of the pungent fear that radiated about her.

"No you lie!" Kara was only then able to force herself to move, "I will never!"

Her heart raced as she dove past the startled vampires- they had expected her to attack them and thus were ready to counter her. They stood still- frozen with indecision as she ran from them, out into the wasteland that offered no shelter from her plight. Dust was kicked up by her heals as she moved through the sand, the searing sun beat down upon her and she cursed ever leaving Central.

Kara knew that it would not be long before the vampires would once more take up the trail, sure her actions had startled them, but it would not keep them prone for long. Even now she could hear their feet dimly pounding a little distance behind her. She was desperate, and did not know where she would go.

With The Ed, Hughs, and Mustang

As soon as the small car had stopped, before that even, Ed dove from the vehicle. He stared now at the abandoned train, a feeling of dread rose within him and he looked at the surrounding area. "Ed." Hughs' voice was slightly tentative as he came to a halt at Ed's side.

"Don't do anything stupid." Mustang called from behind them, "it looks as though they've left, but we cannot be sure."

"Kara!" Ed's voice echoed back to them, and he gave a small shiver at the hollowness in it.

The train was explored, and with the exception of a few spatters of blood here and there nothing was found. "Damn it!" Ed growled as they stepped into the very front car, the windshield had been shattered and the tracks before the train was a mass of twisted metal, Kara had definitely been fighting there.

"Jeez, does she even know how not to destroy everything?" Mustang muttered as he looked at the mess, "or at least to fix it before she leaves?"

"She didn't kill any of them." Ed said in frustration.

"How do you know?" Mustang retorted, "Their bodies turn to dust when they are destroyed."

Ed shook his head impatiently, "the air is too pure, it is untainted by the foul scent that they release when they are destroyed."

Hughs sniffed at the air, though he still did not quite understand the conversation between the elder Elric and Mustang. After all he had not been their when the lead vampire had been taken down.

Back with Kara

Although she ran hard Kara's feet grew weary and eventually her pace began to lag. The sky had clouded over as late afternoon led into early evening, and a light rain began to fall from the sky, cooling her burning flesh and quenching her dire thirst. Laughter sounded about her and she knew that the vampires were just playing with her now, waiting for her to weaken all the more so that she would be an easy prey. She brought her hands together as her feet slipped from beneath her, creating a cavernous hole in the earth beneath her. Kara closed the hole above her head and fell into the black oblivion.

"Kara." The whispered word caused the hairs on the back of her neck to rise, and quickly she stood, dazed slightly by her fall.

"Y-you're dead!" She screamed uselessly into the shadows, "Ed killed you!"

"Tsk, tsk… Did you really think I'd die so easily? Why certainly I was shocked, and half dead of course. But I am a vampire, I am immortal!" Atsutane howled with laughter, delighted at the shock and fear that emmitted from Kara's aura, "I am no fool, did you not think that I'd not prepare for such a situation?"

Kara shook her head in shock, she could not see him, but she knew that Atsutane could not be standing more than five feet from her. His fingers brushed against her cheek and she could practically feel him smirking. Angrily she slapped his hand away and took another step backwards. "I must admit," He chuckled, "when first I met you I thought you to be an ordinary, scrawny child. Never did I think that you were the key to the domination of immortality."

His footsteps echoed as he moved about, pacing with excitement. Silently Kara brought her hands together and knelt down slowly, so that her movements went unmonitored as Atsutane continued to gloat. For a brief moment the cavern was lit, and she caught a glimpse of Atsutane's face, he looked stunned, blinded by the light before a horrendous growl escaped his lips, "Damn it!" He roared, "can't you be an agreeable captive for once!"

His voice echoed and Kara's ears rang from the sound. She was barely able to percieve his attack and dive to the left before he was on her again, she being at a great disadvantage because she could not see in the gripping darkness. In a last attempt at fleeing she clapped her hands together and threw them to the floor, the great roof of the cavern split and large clods of dirt spilled into the room below, choking off all sight for the both of them for several long minutes.

Kara finally ascended from the pit, breathing deeply of the fresh, rain filled air. She dragged herself to her feet, leaning heavily on the intricately designed scyth that she had created before limping farther on her plight for freedom. The heat of the day was still upon her, and after only a few minutes Kara found that she was perspiring heavily and was in need of a short rest. Immediately she sat down in the mud where she stood and wrapped her aching arms about her small knees. The scyth sank slightly in the mud beside her, and her clothes were soaked fully through. Why? Kara thought dully, glaring at the pools of water before her tiredly, why am I running from them?

Her chest heaved and her eyebrows furrowed in deep thought, why was she running? Hadn't she left the others so that she could pursue the vampires? She knew that she could beat them, maybe not in strength, but she could assuredly outsmart them. But Kara was shaken up, Atsutane hadn't died, he was still alive, and still pursuing her. She could still see the partially decaying flesh that lingered still upon his face. Somehow he had survived the wound in his chest, though it had taken its toll upon him.

The rain fell heavier still, and with a sight Kara dragged herself solemnly to her feet. There was not much time before they would find her again, and either she would get up the gumption to kill them, or her humanity would be destroyed. She clutched her scythe tightly in her fingers and began once more to trudge through the ever growing puddles that would undoubtedly be evaporated before noon the next day. In exhaustion she collapsed and fell into restless dreaming.

With Winry

The rain had been falling for hours, and even then she still stood just outside the safety of the house. Winry felt a pang of despair rising in her heart and she could not understand it. Ed, you had better not get yourself killed! She thought angrily and yet with great sincerity. "Winry dear, it's raining!" She was called to from the house and she turned in surprise.

Her hair clung to her face in little ringlets as she ran to the house, her footsteps slightly uncertain for the moment and gave one last look of concern to the outside world where Ed still traversed. Finally she turned her back and stepped through the threshold, not daring to give yet another look back for fear that she would see something awful.

Song lyrics: Stay in The Rain, by Klaha (I dunno, it just sort of seems to fit with the situation, also, sadly enough, I do not own these lyrics.)

rain

ame no hodou hitori aruite iru

still rain

naki-tsukarete kosureta koe tsubuyaku you ni

anata ga itsu mo kuchizusande ita

ano uta wo tadotte miru kedo

stay in the rain

anata wo omou hodo

tsuyoku uchi-tsukeru ame-oto ni kiete yuku

natsukashii anata no nukumori...

wasuresou na no

with the pain

rain

mitsume-atte hohoemu hibi wa

mou omoide ni

still rain

te no hira kara kobore-ochita yasashisa wo

sagashite mite mo doko ni ite mo

kurushikute nige-dashitaku naru dake

stay in the rain

anata wo omou hodo

tsuyoku shime-tsukeru setsunai ai dake ga

ima watashi no kokoro ni nagarete...

kowaresou na no

with the pain

owaranai ame ga

mune no naka kokoro wo fukaku shizumete

stay in the rain

anata wo omou hodo

tsuyoku uchi-tsukeru ame-oto ni kiete yuku

natsukashii anata no nukumori...

wasuresou na no

with the pain

you're still in my heart...in the rain

A/N: Well, that's it, I hope that you all like it and review for me. Again I apologize for the delay and promise that the next chapter will be updated when I get some reviews… Seeing only one in the last chapter made me very sad TT. A cookie for those who review!

Chapter 10: Mortal Vengeance

The ultimate battle has arrived- will Kara succeed in destroying the vampires? Or will they turn her into one of them and ultimately bring about the end of the world? Tune in next time to find out!