As the trio walked down a long hallway with Envy, Manami could hear Ed and Al whispering behind her.
"Did you really have to bring her along, Al?"
"What else was I supposed to do? She was really hurt."
Manami realized now that they were talking about the Xingese girl… which was really dangerous, considering where they were, and who they were walking mere feet behind.
"You probably shouldn't talk about it right now— you'll give it away." She looked back to them to whisper.
"HEY!" Envy yelled, making the three of them flinch. He stood in front of a door, his hand on the handle. "Wrath will see you now."
"Wrath..?" The three of them blinked, watching as Envy opened the door and gestured for them to go inside. They stepped in to see…
Furher King Bradley.
He sat at a round table, sipping from a small teacup, with someone sitting across from him. The person looked back at them, revealing to be...
"Colonel…" Manami spoke, her eyes narrowing.
He got caught.
"What happened, Colonel?" Ed asked.
"Where do I even begin?" Roy sighed. "Fuery has been sent to the South, Falman has been sent to the North, Breda has been assigned to the West… and Lieutenant Hawkeye is now the personal assistant to Furher King Bradley."
"?!" Ed and Manami's eyes widened in surprise.
"Please, have a seat." Bradley gestured to the table and chairs in front of him. "We have a lot to discuss."
The three of them cautiously went to sit in the empty chairs beside Roy.
Roy's men were separated from him for a reason. Not only were they now hostages, but they were being kept a considerable distance away from Roy, so that he no longer had backup.
This wasn't good… and the fact that there were four of them in this room… and Bradley only had one sword… he was that confident that he could take them all down, if the need arose.
Suddenly, they all heard a small cough come from Al's armor.
"!" The Xingese girl!
Manami made the quick decision to cough and start patting her chest, covering up the sounds as her own.
"Furher!" Ed followed up with changing subject before that could be addressed. "When you went to visit us in the hospital… you had us completely fooled— making us think you were on our side."
"I don't recall lying," Bradley said simply. "I told you two to be cautious and trust no one. I also told you not to meddle in this matter— which you disobeyed."
"So what, we're gonna be court-martialed?" Manami asked, frowning as she went to cross her arms.
"No." Bradley answered her. "But I expect you to keep your heads down from here on out. So long as you do that, no harm will come to you."
"That's great for us," Ed said. "But what about the people who weren't so lucky enough to be chosen as your 'sacrifices?'"
"That is none of your concern," Bradley said, going to fold his hands. "I've told you as much as you need to know. It is up to you, FullMetal, Wind, and Flame Alchemists… on how you continue from here on out."
"..." Ed went to pull his pocket watch out of his pocket and look down at it. Manami's eyes shifted over to look at him.
"I joined the military because I thought it might help get our bodies back… but now that I know what the State Alchemist program was really for..." Ed's hand clenched around the watch.
"It's just to recruit your stupid sacrifices…" He looked up to Bradley. "I won't let you use me for your sick mission!"
Ed went to throw his pocket watch in front of Bradley on the table with a loud CLINK!
"I resign!"
"..." Bradley looked down to the watch in front of him. "The symbol of a dog, fittingly stained with blood."
"Your plan is going to fail, we'll see to it!" Ed gritted his teeth. "I swear on my grave, we will make you fall—"
"What was that girl's name again?" Bradley suddenly cut Ed off, reaching one hand forward to tap the side of his head as he thought. "Oh yes… Miss Winry Rockbell."
Everyone's eyes widened, feeling their hearts stop.
"Your automail engineer and childhood friend. Practically a family member." Bradley met Ed's eyes once again. "She's made quite a name for herself in Rush Valley. Very kind and trusting."
Ed gritted his teeth and slammed his hand on the table. "You leave her out of this!"
Manami clenched her jaw and shut her eyes. She knew, in that moment, that they were trapped just as much as Roy was.
Bradley went to reach forward and tap the bloody pocket watch. "Well then… I believe you will want this back, then." He shoved it across the table back at Ed.
"If you still refuse… I will have no choice than to strike her down."
Ed's eyes shifted over to look to see Manami with her head lowered and eyes closed. A visible sign of defeat.
"..." He gritted his teeth and took his watch back, shoving it in his back pocket.
"Very good…" Bradley smiled.
"Um… Mr. Furher…" Al spoke up. "I have to ask… if my brother is going to continue serving under you, can we keep searching for a way to get our original bodies back?"
Bradley went to take another sip of tea. "I don't see why not… so long as you don't meddle in our plans."
He then went to look up to Manami. "Will you be assisting the Elric brothers, Wind Alchemist?"
"..." Manami slowly opened her eyes, keeping them narrowed as she glared up to the Furher.
"Humor me— what if I said no?"
The question honestly took Ed and Al by surprise, making them both glance at her first before looking back to Bradley for his answer.
"I know of a few other loved ones of yours, other than Miss Rockbell. A recently widowed mother and her daughter, for example."
Roy's eyes widened now. He didn't mean... Hughes's wife and daughter?!
"..." Manami sighed, looking almost as if she was expecting that answer. She closed her eyes once more, her eyebrows furrowing.
"If your game is to dangle hostages, then why do you bother asking?" She spat. "Other than to toy with us."
"If this is what I have to do to earn you cooperation, then so be it." Bradley said simply, then looked to Roy, noticing that he looked angered now.
"And you, Mustang? I'd like to hope you wouldn't be so petty as to try to quit the military."
"I'll admit, you got me on a short leash…" Roy said, his teeth gritted. "... but I still have my ambitions. Your plans don't change that. I will stay and retain my rank."
"Fine with me." Bradley nodded. "Well, that is all we have to discuss."
The four went to stand and turn towards the door, but Roy suddenly spoke.
"I do have one more question… sir." He said that last word bitterly, earning Ed, Al, and Manami's glances.
"Go ahead."
"Are you the one who murdered General Hughes?" Roy asked, his eyes focused on the door.
"?!" Ed, Al, and Manami gasped and looked back to Bradley.
Manami felt her heart start to pound as the Furher took an extra moment to be silent, making the tension in the room almost unbearable.
"... no. I did not." Bradley finally said.
"Then who did?" Roy looked back at him.
"I believe I only granted you one question." Bradley said sternly, but then went to stand up.
"One more thing… Alphonse, a moment?"
Everyone noticed Bradley readying his sword. He quickly lunged forward, digging his blade right through the side of Al's armor, making everyone freeze in shock.
"?!"
It took all of Ed, Al, and Manami to not absolutely freak out. Did he just stab the girl inside his armor?!
This would be the second time that happened..!
But, to their relief, there was no blood on Bradley's blade when he pulled it out.
"... hmm." Bradley hummed to himself, as he inspected the blade. He was looking for blood, too.
"... w-will that be all..?" Al stammered.
"Yes." Bradley went to sheathe his sword. "You're dismissed."
Everyone nodded before going to exit the room. As soon Roy closed the door closed behind them, Ed, Al, and Manami took a moment to let out all their pent up panic from that last experience.
That was close… too close!
They would find out later that the Xingese girl inside had wriggled her way into one of Al's legs, and was inches from being stabbed through the head.
"Colonel… could I have Mr. Knox's address?" Al asked suddenly, and Roy blinked in surprise.
"U-Uh, yeah…" He went to pull out a notepad and pen from his breast pocket so that he could scratch it down, then hand the paper to Al.
"And money!" Ed held open his palm. "I need whatever change you got!"
"What?!" Roy barked. "What do you need— ugh, whatever!" He reached in his pocket and handed Ed all he Cens he had.
"That's it?! Geez!"
"Then use your own money!" Roy snapped, but Ed had already turned to run off, Al close behind him. Manami, meanwhile, didn't run after him. She merely stayed with Roy and watched them turn the corner.
"... do you need something too?" Roy sighed heavily and looked over to her.
"A vacation…" She muttered.
"I'm afraid we've got our work cut out for us now," Roy managed to put on a small, albeit bitter, smile.
"Worth a shot..." Manami sighed, before turning to walk away, lazily lifting a hand to wave.
"Well... see you, Colonel."
"Wait."
Manami stopped and turned to look back to Roy, seeing that his smile had faded, and he now wore a hard and serious expression.
"... I'll do whatever it takes to ensure their safety." He said.
"... yeah..." Manami's expression saddened, but she managed to put on a small smile. "I know... I will, too."
She turned to walk away once again, and Roy chuckled softly to himself.
"By the way," He called out to her. "You may want to consider wearing such formal attire more often— it suits you!"
Manami whipped around to see him smirking playfully at her, and her cheeks stung from embarrassment.
"Shut up!" She gritted her teeth. "I'm not wearing this because I want to! Go be creepy to the Lieutenant or something!"
And with that, she stormed off before he could say anything else.
"The Lieutenant... ah!" Roy's eyes widened. "The Lieutenant!"
And then he took off in the opposite direction.
Manami walked outside to see Ed and Al at a nearby phone booth, watching someone walk away.
"What's going on?" She asked them, unaware that the person walking away was Ling… or rather, Greed.
"Nothing…" Ed looked back to her. "So… it's apparently been not even a day that we've been gone."
"Really?" Manami looked up to Al, and he nodded.
"Mhm, it was only last night that everything happened…"
Manami went to look at the sky, noticing that it was a soft orange color. It was dusk...
"Sure felt a hell of a lot longer than a day in there..." She went to rub the back of her neck, letting out a weak chuckle.
"That's what I said..." Ed nodded in agreement. "Anyway, I'm gonna go into town and repair the damage we made with Scar…" He pointed his thumb behind him.
"And I'm going to take this girl to Doctor Knox. She needs medical attention as soon as possible." Al added.
"Okay… I'll see you two back at the hotel then." Manami turned to walk away. "Don't be surprised if I'm asleep by the time you get back. I'm beat."
"Manami…" Al spoke up, and she stopped to look back at them.
"..." He hesitated for a moment. "Are you alright?"
"... I just want to get out of this stupid skirt." She forced a small smile before turning to walk away again.
Manami found herself taking a different turn than what would lead back the hotel, and instead approaching the Hughes Estate. She arrived to the house and stared up at it for a moment, wondering if she should even bother them right now…
She almost felt too guilty.
But suddenly, the door opened, and Gracia looked up to see her and blinked in surprise.
"Manami?" She smiled at the sight of her. "It's good to see you!"
"..." Manami swallowed a little. "S-Sorry for barging in…"
"It's no problem." Gracia looked her over. "That's an interesting outfit… looks good on you!"
"Ahh…" Manami chuckled weakly. "You don't happen to have a change of clothes do you?"
Gracia probably at least had sweatpants...
"Sure thing." Gracia smiled warmly. "Go on inside, I was just taking out the trash. Elicia is taking a nap right now."
"..." Manami nodded to her and went to walk inside the house. She then went to Elicia's room, reaching to slowly push open the door.
There Elicia was, rolled over in her tiny bed, just as Manami remembered leaving it last time.
"..." She felt a small bit of weight lift from her chest.
Gracia and Elicia were okay…
Manami approached the bed and slowly went to lay down next to Elicia. The little girl groaned softly, but didn't wake up thankfully. Manami sighed as she curled around her small body, burying her face in Elicia's pillow.
She hoped that she would fall asleep as well, it wasn't like she wasn't exhausted... but there were too many thoughts rushing through her head. She finally gave up on the idea, opting to lift her face so that she could stare blankly out the window, watching the sky merge from orange colors to pink and purple...
After a while, she felt Elicia stir and heard her groan softly.
"Nngh..?" Her eyes slowly opened and she looked over her shoulder to see Manami.
"Nami..?"
"Hey Elicia…" Manami forced a small smile down at her.
"Mmm…" The girl groaned softly and rolled over to face Manami, burying her face in her chest. "Welcome home…"
Hearing her say that made Manami's heart break.
"I can't stay for long… but I thought I'd pay you a visit…"
"That's okay…" Elicia yawned. "You come when you can…"
"Mm… right." Manami hummed.
The thought that she almost didn't make it back to see her again… it made her heart hurt. She sighed softly and went to tighten her hold around Elicia, pulling her closer.
"... are you okay, Nami..?" Elicia asked, in a tiny voice.
"... yeah…" Manami replied after a pause. "I'm okay… I just… missed you a lot."
"I missed you too…"
They laid like that for a long while, in a silent embrace. Manami wanted nothing else, in this moment, than to just stay like this…
Right now, this felt like the safest place to be.