Rae's body flashed red, then quickly changed to yellow.

"Rae…" Al whispered, a bit worried.

Mac shuffled next to Kaori. "Aren't you worried?"
"No." Kaori stated.
"Why not?" Mac asked, a confused look on his face.
"Rae can do this herself. I have friends that can support themselves. The only time I help out is if the situation is out of control: if you can fix it yourself, do it yourself."

"But--" Mac said, but got interrupted.

"Just forget it." Kaori said.

She has to be strong so she won't be a burden to others… But she's not a problem to me… Mac thought.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when Kaori started to use his arm as a pillow.

The light faded, and Rae's unconscious body fell to the ground.

"Rae!" Al yelled, sitting down beside her.

About ten minutes later, Rae stirred, moaning softly.

Al quickly picked Rae up and set her into his lap. He then wrapped his arms around her waist, and, without any control over his body, he hugged her tightly.

"Al…" Rae whispered. She buried her face into the side of his neck and relaxed in his arms. "Al…" She repeated. "Look at my body… Is there anything different?"

Al let go of her and she leaned back a little, so he could see her better.

Everything was different. She seemed a bit shorter (only by two or three inches) and her body was a bit more curvy. Her left arm was flesh now, which made him smile. He then looked down at her hips.

"Rae!" He gasped. He hugged her again. "The ourobourous is gone…" A sigh of relief came from him. "You're human again…"

Rae giggled and smiled. "Success…" She said softly.

"Yes!" Kaori cried out.

"Yay! You're human!" Kai yelled, jumping up and down excitedly.

"I'm really confused." Roy said.

"It's okay. You don't have to understand a thing." Mac said.

"Hey, midget," Ed began, "you okay?"

Kaori looked over at him. She didn't seem to be angry at him. "I'm over that now. If you let something as small as that bother you… That's just stupid. Don't you agree, Fullmetal Pipsqueak?"

Ed's face turned red in anger. The group laughed at this.

Rae smiled and continued to lie in Al's arms.

"Guys," she began, "let's get out of this place. We have no reason to be here anymore."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Al smiled. "Rae, you must be tired from the transmutation; want me to carry you?"

Rae nodded. "Please." She then wrapped her arms around Al's neck as he picked her up bridal style.

Roy walked away from the group without saying a word. He was heading off in the direction of the school.

Everyone else followed him shortly after.

Rae stirred in Al's arms. It seemed that she was resting peacefully.

Al smiled as he watched Rae sleep. "Hey, guys, I think I'm going to take Rae back to her house and watch over her there."

"That's fine with me." Kaori said. "She shouldn't go to school after such a big change in her body."

Al grinned. "Okay then. See you guys later!" He then turned a street corner and walked away.

Kaori felt a sharp pain go up her arm, but she didn't show any pain; she didn't want to be a burden.

Hmm… since I can't use alchemy, maybe I should do something else… Maybe swordsmanship… Kaori thought.

"What're you thinking about?" Mac asked.

"Yeah, what are you thinking? You've been too quiet." Ed said.

"Oh… Nothing…" Kaori said.

"Is something bothering you?" X asked.

"No!" Kaori said, kind of frustrated.

While they were walking back to school, Kaori saw a box moving.

"What the hell?" She asked, walking over to the box.

The box stopped moving. Kaori knelt down beside it and poked it.

"You don't know what's in there!" Ed said.

Kaori ignored him and opened the box, revealing three puppies and three kittens.

"Oh God… More!" Kaori cried out.

"Yay! Animals!" Kai yelled excitedly.

A large sigh escaped from Kaori's mouth. "Well, we just can't leave them here… X, can you go and take them back home?"

"Sure!" X said happily. She picked up the box and walked off.

At school the next day, an announcement came on the intercom.

"Later today there will be a Pep Assembly celebrating the end of the first semester." Roy's voice said.

Later at the Assembly, Rae and Kaori smirked as they were chosen for two contests. Kaori for the screaming contest and Rae for the burping contest (which she laughed at at first).

The screaming contest came first, so Kaori and the other two contestants walked to the middle of the gym. All eyes were on them.

The first two contestants went, each letting out two small, yet loud screams.

The gym was silent. Just then, Jae (who had snuck in to the gym for this event) stood up at her seat in the stands and yelled out to Kaori, "SCREAM LIKE YOU WOULD IF MAC HATED YOUR GUTS!"

Thank God, Mac isn't here! Kaori yelled in her head.

Kaori's face turned red in anger. Her mouth opened wide, just before a very high-pitched scream came form her.

The gym shook and the windows quickly shattered. The glass shards could be heard falling onto the cement floors of the nearby hallway.

Kaori closed her mouth and smirked. "Is that good enough for you, Jae!" She yelled out.

The whole gym was applauding. Many cheers were heard, and Rae's laughter was heard, too.

Rae then smirked as the applause died down. Roy called up the contestants for the burping contest.

Rae was holding back laughter after the other two contestants let out small, insignificant burps.

Jae stood up at her seat again when it was Rae's turn. "LOOK OUT!" She yelled.

Rae gave a thumbs-up to Jae and laughed. She then took a deep breath of air, swallowed it, and kept her mouth shut for a whole minute.

Jae sat back down and smirked. The gym was silent again, so she took the opportunity to yell again. "Here goes nothing!"

Rae smirked again and forced up the air, creating a loud burp that shook the already broken windows.

"Oh yeah!" Rae yelled. She smiled when the whole gym was full of applause.

Later that day, Kaori was home alone. She was researching old files as Rae and X were out with everyone else.

Kaori heard someone knock at the door, so she stood up and answered it.

"Sir!" Kaori said, saluting.

"Kaori. You know too much." The Fuhrer said as he pulled out his swords. He then slashed at Kaori.

Kaori quickly dodged the blades and punched the Fuhrer in the face, knocking off his eye patch.

"You're a…" Kaori began, but her words trailed off.

"Yes, I am. And now you know too much to stay alive!" The Fuhrer yelled as he stabbed Kaori in the chest.

Kaori's eyes widened. No! I'm not going to die! Not yet! Not like this! I have to tell the others! Her body fell limply to the ground and her vision faded away.

The Fuhrer watched blood spill out of Kaori's body and left when he was convinced that she was dead.

About two hours later, Rae and the others came back to the house. Rae knew that Kaori was home, so she just knocked on the door. No answer.

"Kaori!" She yelled. "Open up!"

Still no answer.

"That's weird! The lights are on…" X said.

"I know…" Rae said as she pulled out her key.

She unlocked the door and the group walked in.

Rae screamed as she saw Kaori's body lying in a puddle of blood. Kaori's clothes were stained red, and her skin was pale.

"Kaori…" Mac whispered, as he ran to Kaori's side. He then checked her pulse. A sigh of relief escaped from him. "She's alive… But just barely hanging on."

"Then let's get her the fuck out of here!" Rae cried out, her voice breaking.

The group nodded and they immediately took Kaori to the hospital.

Hours later, Kaori woke up. She was then glomped by Rae, X, and Kai.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" Kaori cried out. "Get off!"

"Sorry!" The girls said in unison.

"Yay! You're not dead!" Kai yelled.

"Yes, we were so worried for you!" Rae said, smiling.

Kaori sat up. "Where's Roy!" She looked around the room.

"Why do you need him?" Kai asked.

"Everybody should hear this… What I saw earlier." Kaori said, looking down.

Rae and Mac quickly left the room and immediately got Roy, Riza, Hughes, and Havoc.

"What did you see?" Roy asked.

"The Fuhrer, King Bradley, is a homunculus… I saw the ourobourous on his eye after I knocked off his eye patch…"

"What did you say!" Rae asked, shocked.

"He's not a real person! He's a homunculus!" Kaori cried out.

"But…" Ed began, but trailed off.

"The Fuhrer wants me dead, I know it. If someone says I am guilty of treason, he's just trying to hide some more things. I also heard that he is planning to use the students at Cedarcrest to make a Philosopher's Stone." Kaori said.

"But that means he has to draw a transmutation circle!" Mac said.

"It's already drawn. If you peel away the paint and take out the lockers, it's there." Kaori said. Her voice was hushed and low when she said that.

"This can't be true…" Rae said, looking down at the floor.

"It is, Rae. And we all have to stop it." Kaori said, looking right at her friend.

At school the next day, General Hakuro walked into Kaori's first period class.

"Is Kaori Mustang here?" He asked.

"Yes, right over there, General." Havoc said, pointing to the purple-haired girl.

"Kaori, the Fuhrer wants to talk to you." Hakuro said, walking towards her.

Kaori started to back up towards the window.

"Don't!" Hakuro yelled.

It was too late, Kaori had already jumped out the window and began to run.

"Damn it!" Hakuro said under his breath. He then ran out of the classroom and down the nearest staircase.

Rae's brow furrowed and she jumped out the window, too. She followed Kaori's tracks and ran as fast as she could.

Kaori met up with Mac after running for a bit.

"Is anyone following you?" Mac asked.

"I don't think so." Kaori replied, looking around.

Rae continued to run, looking for Kaori. She looked behind her and saw an army of soldiers chasing her.

My hair is so giving me away… It stands out way too much… Oh what the hell am I thinking! RUN! She yelled in her head as she picked up speed.

"Greatest time to be a human and without automail!" Rae yelled, still running.

Rae saw Kaori up ahead and decided not to meet up with her. She quickly turned a corner and continued running. She looked back and saw the soldiers still chasing after her.

A half hour later, Rae finally lost the soldiers. She sighed started walking to where she last saw Kaori.

"You know it too, don't you?"

Rae gasped and froze in place. "Know what? that you're a sin!"

Rae turned around and pulled a gun out of her jacket. She shot at the Fuhrer multiple times and continued shooting.

"I just have to keep killing you..." She said as she continued shooting. "Until that Philosopher's Stone keeping you alive stops making you regenerate!"

The Fuhrer stabbed Rae in her shoulders. "Keep quiet, Passion!" He pushed the swords so that they cut up more of her body.

Rae glared at him. "I'm not Passion anymore!" Her rage made her strong enough that she could pull the Philosopher's Stone right out of the Fuhrer's chest.

"...And stay dead." Rae said weakly. She then kicked the limp body lying on the ground.

Rae walked away as her shoulders continued to bleed. Rae looked around. "Kaori must've gotten away."

Kaori was hiding out in an abandoned building with Mac.

"Do you think they've given up?" Mac asked.

Kaori looked out a window. "The coast is clear; let's go."

Mac smiled a little. "Wait a minute."

Mac pulled Kaori close to him and hugged her tightly. "I just needed to tell you that I've worried about you for so long… I promise you, I'll be by your side forever. I'll be here for you; remember that."

Kaori blushed heavily and nodded. She was completely speechless.

Rae's body felt weak, but she continued walking.

"Damn it! I didn't realize how far I ran..."

Rae started to see doubles, even with her glasses on. She felt dizzy and lightheaded from all of the blood lost.

Rae fell to the ground. Her breathing was shallow and her vision faded away. Her eyes closed as her body stopped moving. She listened to her heart beat as she fell unconscious.

"And why do you want to join the military at such a young age? You are only 10, little girl." A voice rang. It sounded like King Bradley's.

"I'm not little! Don't you call me that!" A girl cried out, her voice high-pitched. "I want to join the military... Because it was a promise I made to a fallen family member..."

"Fallen family member?" Bradley's voice rang. "That's very good of you to follow out a promise made to someone who is gone..."

The little girl nodded. "I made this promise to all of my family... They were killed shortly after that..." The girl's voice was breaking, but she kept her composure.

Her vision faded as she could see the same girl, except she was a bit older.

"Passion..." A woman's voice rang. It sounded a lot like Lust. "Come with us. We can help you become human again."

She saw the girl stand there, her eyes a deep purple, with a blue tint.

Her shirt was a v-neck tank top, which showed most of her chest. It was a belly shirt and a symbol on the left side of her hip was showing. It looked a lot like a snake eating its own tail, with two wings on either side of it.

She was also wearing a black leather skirt, which was very short. Her fingerless gloves and her boots were also leather.

"Never." The girl said, her voice hushed and dark. "I'm doing this myself!"

"You're not going to survive without me, Passion! I'm the closest thing to family you'll ever have!"

"That's not true! I don't want anything to do with you, or the others!"

"We brought you this life, Passion! You can't just leave us! You owe us for this!"

The girl's purple eyes glowed. "I don't owe you anything. You didn't bring me back..." Her dark voice echoed.

Two tentacles sprouted out of her back and she shot them at the woman standing in front of her.

The woman shot out her fingernails at her and sliced away the tentacles. She then fled.

The vision faded as King Bradley's face appeared.

"Keep quiet, Passion."

"I'M NOT PASSION!" Rae screamed, shooting up. Her breathing was fast and uneven. Cold sweat was running down her face.

Al gasped and hugged Rae tightly. "Rae...I was so worried for you…" He looked at her with worried eyes.

Rae calmed down and looked at her surroundings. She was in a hospital room. She then looked at herself. Her chest and shoulders were bandaged, and the bandages were covered in blood.

Kai smiled. "I'm glad you're okay, now! You were out for hours!"
Rae gasped. "I was out that long?"

Al nodded. "Yeah. I was really worried that you wouldn't wake up. You're breathing was very shallow and your pulse was very slow. I could barely feel it…"

Rae felt dizzy and lightheaded again. "I'm sorry... For making you worry..." She said softly. "But guys," she said louder, "I have something to tell you. All of you."

Kai, X, Kaori, Mac, Ed and Al looked at her.

"You have our attention, Rae." Al said.

"Just after the Fuhrer stabbed me and cut me up," Rae said, pointing to her bloody bandages, "I killed him."

Kaori gasped. "You didn't!"

"If you want proof, go to the outskirts of town. That's where his body is... But a lot of the higher-ups will want to get us, now. We're on their top priority list."

Kaori's eyes glowed. "We have to stop the higher-ups from doing anything drastic. I knew this would happen!"

Rae's eyes darkened. "But how're we supposed to stop them? You tell me that, Kaori!"

Kaori smirked. "To survive, you must kill. Kill everyone who gets in your way, and kill anyone who you think is an enemy."

Kai and X gasped.

"You're right, Kaori." Mac said. "We can't let anyone try and turn us or anyone else into a Philosopher's Stone!"

Rae nodded. "We're strong enough to do this, guys. We can do this!"