A/N: This might be a bit long...lol sorries!
Chapter 12 "I can't marry Kain!"
Winry had the little portable radio turned on in her workshop upstairs so she could hear what she told herself not to listen to again. Alphonse, talking over the radio, told Dr. Tucker all about that day. He was talking about how Edward's birthday was coming up and how the lady Al hoping for wasn't coming. He wouldn't say the name, so Winry told her self not give get false hope.
"What am I thinking about him for anyway? I have a fiancé now." she told herself firmly, twisting another bolt onto an auto mail leg with her wrench.
---The next morning---
"Winry! Go fetch some eggs for me, please!" Pinako said in a high, sweet voice from the kitchen.
"Okay!" Winry ran downstairs, and despite the all-nighter she had pulled again, she was as spry as a fox on a hunt. She ran over to the chicken coop that was built in the days when her parents were alive and set to gathering eggs. She counted them one by one until she reached about twenty four.
Pinako made an omelet for herself and sunny side up for Winry. She put the reminder of the eggs in the cooling machine she and Winry had constructed for the chilling of food last summer.
(a/n: that would be known in this world as a "refrigerator" lol)
"I know what you were doing last night, Winry." Pinako said as if she knew everything, finishing her breakfast.
"What was I doing, Granny?" Winry asked, tilting her head.
"You, my dear, were listening to the radio." Pinako answered, waving her fork around to prove her point.
"Ooh, Granny, you never cease to be wrong! Yes, I was listening to the same program I was listening to two and half months ago! The same kid, the same problem, the same brother, and the same...everything." Winry grouched, finishing her meal then getting up to rinse her plate.
"Thought so." Pinako walked out the door.
Winry sat upstairs by her window. She kept thinking in her head about the program and how much she really loved Kain. She came to the conclusion that she should either send Edward another letter or go to Central Tower. Even though she loved Kain, there was something that seemed to hold her back. She looked at the calendar. Two days before she was supposed to meet Edward on the top of the Tower.
What am I going to do! she thought, shaking her hands. I know what I'm going to do! I'm afraid to do it, but I just have this feeling that it's the right thing to do! she had made up her mind. So she flew down the stairs grasping the trunk she had packed just in case, and grabbing her coat from the chair on which it hung she ran out the door yelling to her grandmother,
"I'm leaving! I'm going to Central! I'll be back in a week! I love you!" Pinako turned and stood out on the porch to see what the racket was about. All she saw was Winry running down the road as if being chased by a monster and shouting a farewell. All Pinako could do was wave back and wonder which man she was going to meet in Central City; Edward Elric or Kain Feury.
Once on the train, Winry pulled out a small mirror about the size of her hand. She pondered to herself how she would get to the Tower and whether she should meet Edward Elric or not. After all, she was engaged to Kain Feury. She arrived in Central a day earlier than she expected. Usually it took two days, but as it was early, she got a hotel room and pondered her next move. When she had a thought she shoved it away because it went against her engagement to Kain.
Around midnight she was still thinking. There was one lonely thought of Edward Elric and his brother that had lingered in her brain since the time she left home. She paid a little more attention this time. It was almost as if it had stayed there waiting for her to do so. When she came to a conclusion of what the thought could mean, she started to re-plan her day for the third time; this time, basing the schedule around her meeting Edward Elric after finding Kain and telling him something important that required face to face conversation.
"I can't marry Kain!" she said out loud before falling asleep on the hotel sofa.
---next morning---
Winry stretched after a hot shower and donned a rather bland outfit. She considered it her prettiest and most up-to-do outfit in her suit case. It consisted of a pair of shiny brown flats, a pair of loose khakis, a black belt with a gold buckle, a red ribbon for her hair and a grey-tan trench coat.
lol sorry! ;
She walked down the bustling main street of the City and presently came to a restaurant. She asked to use the telephone. She dialed Kain's number, hoping he was in his dorm and that it was the right number. When someone answered she stuttered.
"Uhm, yes? Hello? Kain Feury? This is Winry Rockbell."
"Winry! Hi! How are you! I'm sorry I couldn't reach you last night. I tried to call and let you know I got back safe but your grandmother said you were out." he said, a smile in his voice. A pleasant sound, to be sure.
"Are you free right now?"
"What do you mean? You make it sound like you're in Central!" he laughed.
"Kain, the truth is...is that I am in Central and I need to talk to you."
"O my Gosh! how did you get here?"
"By train."
"Where are you now?"
"I'm at a restaurant. The...Fire Phoenix I think it's called."
"Ooh, I love that place. I'll come down right away! I'm sure Mustang can spare me an hour." he laughed.
Five minutes later Kain stepped into The Fire Phoenix restaurant. He asked the waiter if a tall blonde girl named Winry was there waiting for a Kain Feury. The waiter escorted him to the table without a word.
"Thank you, sir!" Kain said with a smile he so very often wore, especially around Winry. Straitening his jacket before sitting down he asked how Winry was doing.
"Oh, I feel terrible."
"Did I leave too soon?"
"No, no, it's not that. It's my decision. Listen, have you heard on the radio this program called Sleepless in Central? Dr. Nina Tucker was talking to some guy's brother---."
"Oh, yes! I heard that one! I know those two brothers personally. I don't know what possessed Al to call a radio station about it, but hey, if it gets Ed a girlfriend, that's all that matters!" he joked, remembering countless jokes of the same matter coming from the Colonel's mouth.
"The thing is...is...well, I need to tell you something."
"Tell me," Kain said, holding her hand across the table.
"I...I..." Winry fumbled with the words. Tears formed near the rim of her eyes. She paused before continuing. "I can't marry you, Kain!" The grin slid from Kain's face.
"What!" he was taken aback. "What are you saying?"
"I've been scheduled to meet this Edward Elric on the top of Central Tower on October 11th at 8pm when the sun sets."
"But you don't have to go!"
"I need to, Kain. I have to. I made up my mind last night. Something just didn't feel right when I thought about us being together in the future."
"Winry, you're mind is muddled! Do you want a cup of tea? Or something at least to calm you down. People always say that they had the strangest thoughts when they were engaged."
"Is your mind muddled?" Winry asked, sniffing and wishing she had said yes for some tea.
"Yes it is," Kain said.
"But is there another girl who could potentially be your future wife in this lovely scenario of ours?"
"What kind of question is that? Of course not, Winry! Why would I go two-timing you?"
"So you think I'm two-timing you, Kain? Just because there's some other guy, who I've never met, may I point out, that I've been thinking about meeting the whole time and before you asked me to marry you?"
"No! Winry, listen, I don't want to fight in here."
"Are you mad at me?" Winry asked.
"No, I'm not angry at you. I'm just...a little disappointed that's all." Kain sighed, pushing in his chair and holding out his hand for Winry to take it. Winry took his hand and she was led outside where she finished crying holding onto his jacket.
"There, there. There's no reason to cry now, Winry. What's done it done and I accept your statement. You go on and meet Edward. I dare say you'll like him, even though he's a tad shorter than you."
"Thank you, Kain." Winry said, smiling in her tears. "That made me feel a little better."
"What can I do to make it even better?" Kain chuckled.
"The best way to get to Central Tower and a kiss." Winry giggled at the thought.
"Deal!" he said. "Okay, the best way...hmm...well, it's very busy that time of day in that part of the city. You'll be better off taking a taxi."
"Thanks," Winry smiled and wrapped her coat around her tighter as it was getting colder outside.
"Now for a kiss!" Kain said, grinning. Winry giggled with him as their lips met and wiped away the cold.
"I'll stay in contact, okay?" she asked, waving.
"Alright." Kain said, waving back then running back to HQ.
Winry flagged a taxi around 7:45pm.
"Central Tower please. I have to be there by 8pm, so if you could make it fast, I'd really appreciate it." she asked.
"Alright, ma'am. I'll give you a discount, too, how's that sound?"
"Really? Thanks! But may I ask why, sir?" Winry asked.
"You're my first tourist in five years! Hehheheh!" the driver laughed, turning onto the street that would lead them straight to the bottom of the Tower.
"How do you know I'm a tourist?" Winry asked, pulling her hair back with the red ribbon.
"The way you dress and hold your posture. You must be from Risembool!"
"Why, yes, Sir, I am!" Winry said, while the taxi driver only chuckled.
Winry thought about all that had happened and how easy she got it. Around ten minutes later she found herself lugging her trunk out of the backseat and having a brief farewell conversation with the driver.
"Thanks for getting me here! It was a nice ride."
"Whatcha gonna do once you get up there? Spit off the top?"
"Actually, I'm here for a date."
"Ooh, romantic spot up there it is! You'll love the food, too." the driver winked. "Have a good evenin'!"
"You too! Thanks for the ride!"
Walking up to the doors, she paused. Then finally she brought herself to open the doors.
"Excuse me, Sir, but is there anyone registered here under Edward Elric?" she asked the clerk.
"Elric's the last name?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Well, it seems that he's up in the restaurant up top. Good luck, ma'am!"
"Thank you, Sir."
"You're welcome."
When she reached the middle of the room she looked around and saw a watch near a plant in a large terra cotta pot. She picked it up, and then heading for the elevator, she almost was run into by a boy around 17 with blonde hair and green eyes.
--t.b.c.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please R&R!