'The times when I want to hide it...

it's so close to being revealed...

they've lost everything... me?

I lost only half of what they lost...'

Chapter 4 ~ The Burn Down

-Me-

A day after my qualification, I ended up stuck with the Elric's. I have no problem with Al but... "Stop staring at me!" and there you have it, by colonel bastard orders I have to stick with him until I have my first two missions. Then I'm home free! "I'm not staring at you," I correct Ed, "I'm glaring at you shorty." The two needed to do something here in Resembol, and I already knew their reasons. "So how long are we gonna stay in the country?" I yawned, putting my hands behind my head to stretch. "We won't stay here long, brother and I just have to do one last thing before we can start our journey," Al informs and gets a nod I reply from me. It's sad, burning your home to make sure there's no place to go back to, makes you wanna stop them. 'Wait... If we're here in Resembol... We might end up meeting the Rockbell's! They'll spill the beans about me having a mechanical limb!" my thoughts screamed in realization.

Before I could back away and make a run for it, we all heard barking in the distance. "Too late..." I groaned as I watched a dust cloud coming in close. Before I could make out what it was, something jumped at me in a flash and before I knew it I was on the floor getting my face licked to death. "Gah! Get off of me!" I screeched as I felt the dog's tongue slobber my face. I could practically hear Ed and Al laughing! "Hey guys!" Winry greets as she runs up to us. I gasped as I finally got Den off me. "Put a leash on him!" was the only thing I could say before the dog tried to attack me again.

"So you guys know Catherine?"
"Yeah she just happen to be my temporary partner, how do you know her?"
"Oh I found her in front of the house injured."
"How bad?" Al butts in.
"Well she was-"

Jumping at this, I instantly covered her mouth babbling out random excuses, "I was losing a lot of blood from being attacked by a thug!" "But-" again I stopped her by dragging her away chanting, "Oh I think Pinako is waiting~!" Not one of my best moves, but I had to try to make sure the two knuckleheads don't find out or this is going to be a long interrogation. "What gives?" Winry asks as soon as I let go of her. "I don't want them to know... not till after I get the courage to do it myself," I explain without looking back at Winry. "But you lost your arm in an accident," the mechanic points out. Now she reminded me of my other lie! I haven't told anyone the truth yet. That might have to be soon, because of my actions earlier the boys are suspicious now, especially Ed.

\\Later/

I was discussing a few things with the two Rockbell's before going back to the boys. "Are you sure you don't want them to know?" Pinako asks before blowing on her pipe. "They will find out on their own soon enough if you don't tell."

The three if us were having our discussion inside their operating room while checking on my automail arm. "I know Pinako... I just don't want to be a burden to anyone... It's bad enough I caused you two so much trouble to make my arm," I say with sincerity in my voice but still tried to hold back and screams or shimmers after feeling something hurt in my nerves. "Don't worry," Winry reassures me, "it's our job as automail mechanics to gives limbs to those that need it!" I felt shocked at this, to think I hated Winry for no good reason. Well... That was until- "Now it all comes done to the payment," Winry smiles a very evil smile. In my head I screamed, 'I take it back! I officially hate that woman!' From behind we all heard the door open making me panic on putting my shirt on. "Oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't know someone was in there!" I hear squeal a bit from behind the door.

'Thank god he didn't see...' "It's okay Al you can come in," I tell him after putting on my shirt, gloves and coat. Al came in nervously until he was sure it was okay. "What are you doing in here Catherine?" asks the armored boy, walking up to where I was sitting. "Just getting a check up! I recovered way too fast before heading to East so I just wanted to make sure my body is okay!" I half-lied and grinned happily. This calmed Al a bit, that was until I noticed he tilted his head down to the ground. I got off from my seat and looked up directly into us eyes asking, "You okay Alphonse?" He panicked at this and started to flail around screaming, "Nothings wrong, see!? I'm as cheerful as ever!" I sweat-drop at this reaction. "Hey Al! What the heck are you doing in there!? Let's go!" shouts Ed not too far away. In a normal response, Al shouts back at him, "Coming brother! See ya Catherine."

When the door was completely closed and foots steps faded, I instantly slumped into my seat with relief. "Thanks for not saying anything guys'." It was true, if they blurted out the truth before I lied who knows what would've happen! "Trust me, you aren't the only one keeping secrets," Winry blurts out but instantly covers her mouth after realizing what she just said. Looking back at me, I just gave her a confused look, even though I knew what she ment. "Well since I'm done," I interrupted as I stood up, "I think I need to start fixing my stuff." When I left the room, I found myself leaning against a nearby wall unconciously.

'It must be hard for those two... They lost almost everything... Me? I never had anything to lose in the beginning. *an image of Alice flashes in my head* Well... Alice is important to me, but not as important as someone who's blood related to you. All I want is to try to get out of this world, along with getting everyone back with me. So how come I'm still affected by all of this...?'

My thoughts were really getting to me now, even my body was reacting badly from all of this. 'That's right,' I clenched on to the wall beside me, 'I wanted to help the Elric's back at home. Maybe I can do something about it! I've already gone past my plans on not interacting with any of the people here.'

\\Noon/

"Ok I haven't finished fixing my sword... At least I'm improved my alchemy! Not..." I murmured in disappointment as I review on my list of what to do. The sun was already setting and yet the boys were nowhere to be found. 'Where the heck are they?' I asked in the head while wind passed by. The sky was already orange, the sun nearly all the way down and I still couldn't see anyone in the distance. 'Maybe... yeah they're probably still at their mother's grave,' I smiled at the thought as nostalgia filled up inside of me. After a few minutes of staring out at the distant road, I finally saw two salutes in the distance until finally I could completely see the Elric brothers. "Yo! Your late!" I called out as I waved my arms at them along with Den barking. The only one that seemed cheerful, or I think he is, was Al but Ed was looking down at the ground. I bet he didn't even notice me calling!

So to get him to notice, I used my alchemy to make a water wall. With a clap of my hands and slam them to the ground, I watched as the alchemical lights traveled all the way to their destination. I laughed out loud as I watched Ed gets soaked in the water that shot up from a puddle in front of him without him knowing. "I'm gonna kill you Catherine!" he cries out and starts to run to where I was. I continued my laughing as he charged and tried to catch me, but all Ed hit was nothing but the air. This was actually fun, I never thought that teasing Ed so much was this easy! Winry yells in annoyance, "Hey, if you guys keep trying to kill each other someone might get hurt!"

"Sorry! Ed c'mon it was just a joke!"
"You got me soaked!"
"At least you don't have to worry about taking a bath stinky!"
"I'll get you for that Cairo!"
"Hahahaha! Try and catch me if you can Elric! Nobody has ever caught the infamous Catherine Cairo in my life!"

It went on for hours until one had given up, and that wasn't me. I collapsed to the ground and laughed as I kept hold of my stomach, watching Edward's face turn purple from lack of air. "Hahaha! I guess I am better...*pant* *pant* at something after all!" I breath out. When I stood up, Ed was still catching his breathe and had trouble trying to stand up. So to help the helpless turtle I held my left hand out to him. Big mistake. As soon as he grabbed on to my arm a loud squeak erupted. I gave a blank look before I realized what just happened. 'Oh no! I forgot to oil my arm!' my thoughts panic as I let go. Lost, Ed stood up and stared at his hand then back a mine. My body froze in place. "Can I have my glove back?" That's when I finally went to my normal posture and realized that I had his glove in my hand. 'If I have this then-' a metal hand stuck out in front.

Instead of apologizing like I normally do, I just placed it in the blonde's hand. Puting it on, he questions me, "Aren't you going to ask? Why I have a fake arm? I bet you're already curious why Al's in a suit of armor." I shook my head and took his hands in mine. "It's your choice whether you tell me or not. I just want you to know that you really shouldn't get close with someone like me. There are a lot of things that you and I wouldn't want to pry on." Ed wanted to ask me what I ment when Al pulls us apart saying, "Won't the two of you just stop fighting!? It's already late and the Rockbell's already prepared your meal!" That little misunderstanding saved my skin, but atleast I was able to get Ed off my back for a while. I want to keep him as far from me as possible.

Tonight was the night, the night that their home would be burned to the ground. I watched as Ed lit a torch which illuminated his solemn face. Without hesitation, he threw it at the house which instantly caught on fire. I bet the boys thought I was confused at their actions. In reality, I was reminded of the things they had to face as kids and started to feel sad on the inside. "So there's no turning back." I blurt out, turning my attention away from the house and to the two. "No one is waiting for us... so it's okay," Ed states hesitantly. That night, I secretly swore to myself that I would make sure I would lead them to the right path in finding the philosopher's stone.

To Be Continued

Ok I decided to replace this chapter but in the process... I lost the copy of Chimera's claw... Damn it and it took me so long to make that one! That mean the so-called 'next chapter' will have to wait... Sorry guys! But I'm gonna improve on it! And sorry if this one is so short! I didn't want to skip the Elric brothers burned their house down after becoming state alchemists!