Chapter 2

Ranma exited headquarters walking leisurely back toward the room he shared with his brothers. As he finished his descent from the front stairway he heard someone call out to him. Turning he saw Riza Hawkeye running down the steps slinging her work bag over her right shoulder. "What's the matter Riza?" Riza gasps a few times before falling into step beside him.

"Nothing, I," Riza looked flustered a moment. In the past few weeks Ranma had spent many of his days helping her organize the endless amount of paperwork. In the time she was growing closer to the younger man, more than she cared to admit. She found him far more intriguing than the Colonel, he cared little about advancement in terms of Military career but he made up for it in the passions of his unarmed combat training. He was also much like his brothers, that while they gave an outward appearance of maturity they had moments where their youth showed through. The Chimera incident involving the man they had been living with had rocked the three Elric's to their core. Ranma was the worst of the three and practically killed the man for what he did. "Just wondered if you wanted company tonight, Ranma?" she asked gently.

Ranma thought about it a moment, his brother's were rifling through Doctor Marko's notes at this point trying to discover the secret to creating a Philospher's Stone. He put crossed his arms putting them behind his head looking up at the sky. With a light shrug, "Sure," the two walked along in silence his senses on full alert, more so for his defense than Lt. Hawkeye's. Two days into his helping her with the endless amount of filing he made some sort of offhand comment about wearing her hair down, saying it probably make her look better. Roy caught the conversation and added his two cents, this caused Riza to draw her .45 colt and started firing at both of them. He swore that he never saw such a violent tomboy, the blonde lieutenant reloaded her pistol and began firing again. The tomboy comment actually earned him a burn mark from one of her bullets on top of that she didn't speak to him for rest of the week. It was only when he apologized that she began speaking to him again. "Just don't be shocked if Ed gives ya the evil eye, probably thinks your spyin' for Colonel Mustang."

If Riza reacted to this there was no outward indication of it. "I see," was all she said as they walked her eyes forward a few moments before glancing at Ranma who still had his arms behind his head looking up at the sky. "Blade Edge, why did you help me these past weeks, really?"

Ranma blinked looking confused. "I helped because I saw someone overworked and no one lifting a finger to help that someone. It was no big deal my brother and I haven't had a mission in almost a month, and with Edward closing in on his hunt, spending more time in the library."

"So you were bored?" the blonde haired lieutenant said evenly.

Ranma winced at the tone, he wasn't sure when it started happening but getting the Lieutenant upset pained him. "Hey, it wasn't that what I said first is closer to the truth. If I was bored I'd just bug out and look for some more training material."

"I see," Riza said her voice not as firm this time. "I'm still greatful for your help, Ranma."

The pig-tailed martial artist smiled, "I was glad to help, I found files in there that dated back nearly six years. Um, how old are ya Riza?" he asked tentatively not sure if this line of questioning would spark a visit from Colt-sama

"Nineteen," she said softly as they appeared in front of Elrics newest living quarters in the military barracks. "I thought you said your brother's would be in the Library?"

Ranma shrugged, "Must of brought everything they needed over here," he was about to walk in when he notice a long white sheet being stretched out the window of the Elric's room and saw Ed climbing down. Al popped out of the window jumping to the ground with a dull thump. Watching them for a few moments, "I wonder where they're going?" he asked himself aloud forgetting that Riza was standing next to him.

"Think we should follow them?" Riza asked causing Ranma to jump slightly.

The pgi-tailed alchemist turned to her, "Only if ya swear not to breathe a word of this ta, Flame-boy."

Hawkeye watched as Ed and Al vanished around the corner not sure how Ranma can track both of his brothers so well. Mustang would like to be informed, she thought of all the paperwork she would have to fill out afterward. Closing her eyes for the first time in six years she felt futility of her job, nothing but endless paperwork, when her talents could be used in the field. The only time she had ever worked in the field was the time involving the Philospher's Catalyst. It felt good doing that work, of course she nearly exposed herself to Edward and Al during that little event, but it still felt go doing something other than filling out paperwork. Looking up at Ranma for a moment, she wondered if she could get transferred in as the Elric's bodyguards alongside Ross, Armstrong, and Davis. Their job was far more hectic but she felt was more intuned to her talents. "I promise I won't say a word to Colonel Mustang," she stated.

Ranma smiled, "Well then hold on, we got some catching up to do," Riza was about to ask what he meant when she felt herself being scooped up into the pig-tailed alchemist's arms and felt her stomach drop out. Ranma leapt bouncing wall to wall until he landed on the rooftop across from barracks then began running across.

Riza screamed on the way up closing her eyes and holding onto Ranma's neck, burying her head into his shoulder. "Ranma, what are you doing!" her voice no longer the slow monotones she normally used.

"Roof hopping, I do it all the time," the pig-tailed boy said matter of factly. As he leapt from rooftop to rooftop until they came to a set of run down buildings. Next to run down buildings was a huge prison. "Where did we end up?"

"This is laboratory five, I'm not sure what went on here but it was very hush, hush. Not even Colonel Mustang knew about it," Riza said her voice still not changed back to it's normal pitch as Ranma gently stood her upright. She leaned against him on her hand trying to get her breathing back to normal. "Why would your brother's come here?"

"Must be trying to find stuff on the Philospher's Stone," Ranma reasoned scooping Riza up again and jumped down. It took all of Riza's military training to keep her from screaming on the way down. Ranma watched her and shook his head for a moment looking over at the two guards that were guarding a boarded up entrance. "Why guard something that's suppose to be empty?" Riza didn't respond but judging by the glance he got from her, she was suspicious of it as well. Running around into the alley that stood between Lab Five and an old factory. Looking up seeing the barb wire, Ranma smirked clapping his hands together and touching the wall. The wall opened up giving access to inside. Once inside the two heard sounds of fighting, Ranma looked up and saw Al fighting a another suit of armor, "Riza see if you can help out Al?"

Riza looked at the fierce fighting, then raised an eyebrow at the pig-tailed boy, "In what way?"

With a shrug Ranma headed toward the front door, "Distract it, spit in it's ear, tell it a story, just keep it off Al's ass." Running into laboratory, the pig tail alchemist followed the faint ki he felt from Ed, something he was fairly good at lately. Apparently whatever the Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken, Hiryu Shoten-Ha techniques were they increased his ki emmensely since he learned them. He had enough ki now that if he focused hard enough he could sense other's around him easily. Running down the corridor he came to a stop in a huge room, something suddenly felt wrong to him. Three faint echo's of ki were converging on Ed's ki, two of them were dragging Al and Riza with them. What happened outside? Speeding along he found Edward on the ground gasping in pain his automail arm hanging limply to the side another suit of armor on the ground. He saw one figure in black standing over Ed, while another huge bald character was hunch over Al lips pressed against Al's armored side.

The last of the people in black was rather seductive looking woman with her arms crossed standing over Riza Hawkeye, who had had blood flowing out of gash on her right temple. "Can I eat him?" the fat blad man cackled.

"No, Gluttony, we need Edward Elric here to make us a Philospher's Stone," the seductive woman said coldly.

Ranma was already seeing red at finding his brother's and close friend on the ground injured. The cold statement was just the icing on the cake. Leaping from his place into the air, the cruel looking wild haired man in black looked up into to get a face full of metal foot. Ranma watched the man in black go sailing across the room to crash through the wall. The man in black slowly stood up rubbing the side of his face, "Who are you?"

"Ranma Elric," the pig-tailed boy said evenly, watching as the other man looked stunned.

"Not possible, the old man never had any other kids before meeting that slut," the man stated.

Glancing at Edward who looked just as confused, something of a puzzle had been revealed. Seeing the man in black charge he got into a ready stance, ducking dodging an weaving out of the man's attacks looking distinctly bored. "If this is the best ya got, ya fruit, yer in serious trouble," Ranma caught the man in the throat with a ridge hand then planeted his foot in the center of his opponents chest kicking out. The man in black went flying, the pig-tailed turned from his flying opponent rushing in toward Gluttony, struck the fat pig right under the jaw sending the pig flying through the ceiling. Gluttony crashed to the ground also unconscious, "Want to try some of this lady?"

The woman was about to speak when three gunshots rang out, Riza Hawkeye was in a kneeling position her gun smoking lightly. Edward had gone over to cover Al, staring defiantly at the woman in black as her companions were slowly regaining consciousness.

Lust hadn't expected their to be three Elric brother's and what was worst the last was an excellent fighter easily better than both of the others. Looking at Envy and Gluttony, who were still getting up groggily from there run in with the pig-tailed Elric. "Not today," she said stiffly tossing a smoke gernade. She and her fellow sins vanished into the smoke. Barely making it out of the building before Major Armstrong, Lt. Ross, and the rest of Elrics loyal friends stormed Lab 5.

Colonel Mustang quietly surveyed the smoking ruins as he and the others found all three Elrics off to one corner with Hawkeye of all people. His foundation was rocked seeing her present as the rest of the group went looking deeper into Lab finding a Chimera walking around below, as well as all the missing prisoners.

He walked up to Hawkeye just as Ranma finished dressing a head wound she had. She stood at attention and saluted him. "Care to explain what you're doing here, Lieutenant?"

Riza thought a moment, "I was being escorted home by Blade Edge, when he spotted his brother's making their way toward this facility. We followed," Riza broke off when Ranma stepped up to Mustang..

"Why don't ya explain why this facility is still running, Ed said this place was suppose to be abandoned, yet when he and Al get here, they're attacked by two armored watch dogs, and got three freaky looking characters in black trying to get them to create a Philospher's Stone. Who are these people, Colonel and don't tell ya don't know one of them had a beef with Ed's old man."

Mustang stared passively at him, "That information is on a need to know basis."

Ranma lips drew back in a scowl, "Better hope ya find them before I do, messin' with me is one thing, messin' with my friends and family," he shoved the colonel into a pillar. The pig-tailed boy walked back to his brothers.

Riza tentatively finished her report but the look she caught from Roy Mustang clearly stated he wasn't really following the report. "That's all sir," she then hesitated a moment. "I'm also going to request reassignment."

Roy did a double take looking up at his long time aide, "What?"

"I'm going to request reassignment sir," the blonde lieutenant said more assuredly this time than before.

Roy Mustang returned the salute watching Riza Hawkeye quietly walk toward the front exit. He turned to see Edward and Ranma quietly gather up the pieces of Al that were scattered around. Ranma quietly clapped his hands together and restored Alphonse back to his original shape.

Ranma looked up at his youngest brother, "All better Al, heard some of the things that metal blockhead was sayin' you do know he was only sayin' them things to get ya to drop yer guard don't ya?"

Alphonse looked up the pink eyes looked shocked before he slapped his metal hand to his forehead. "I should have known, but some of things he said really hit home Ranma, especially after what Edward tried to ask me."

"Oh and what did the shrimp try to ask ya?" Ranma asked raising an eyebrow getting the blonded haired alchemist's temper to blow.

"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME!" Edward screamed throwing a punch with his real hand which Ranma caught.

"Ah there ya are, knew ya couldn't mope for long. So what were ya going ask Al anyway?" the pigtailed boy asked arms crossed looking annoyed.

Edward head drooped a bit his anger quickly defused, "I was wondering if Al would ever forgive me for putting him in that suit of armor?'

Alphonse gently put his armored hand on Ed's shoulder. "Ed, if you hadn't I wouldn't exist right now, and through that we wouldn't of met Ranma, I couldn't be more happier than to be here with you two."

Ranma nodded, "yeah and if ya hadn't pulled me out of the situation I was in be dead right now, no thanks to that idiot pops of mine," the pig-tailed boy smile. Ranma examined Edward's arm closely and frowned, "Uh Ed, did ya know your missin' a screw in your shoulder joint."

Ed pulled up his sleeve looking closely at it, "I think it sheered off in the fight against that armor."

Looking around Ranma didn't see any broken screws, "Nope don't see any screws, that ain't like Winry to miss something like that."

Edward frowned slightly leaning against the wall, "My fault, I pushed her and Granny to hard they went three straight days without sleep to build me a new one."

"Well, I think ya should send her a letter or something as an apology for over working her into this monsterous mistake," Ranma crosses his arms and Alphonse nodding in agreement. With a scowl Edward threw up his good hand in defeat.