~`*Golden Phoenix*`~
Chapter. 2
Gentle Kiss

I awoke to the sound of familiar voices, and opened my blue eyes only to find myself in what looked like a hospital room. 'Where am I, and what happened?' I thought, as I slowly sat up only to find myself lying in a Hospital Bed. I winced, as a sharp pain ripped through my abdomen, and my eyes widened in shock, as I noticed my stomach had been bandaged. 'What the?' I thought, as memories of Duke's attack flashed through my mind. 'I remember now.' I thought, as I gently wrapped an arm over my wounded stomach. 'Duke exposed who I really was during my Alchemy exam earlier, and that's when...' I thought, as the all too familiar images of my grandmother's disapointed face raced through my mind. I whimpered slightly, and covered my mouth with my hand, as silent tears began streaming down my face. 'What a fool. I honestly thought I could make her understand me, but, instead, I only disapointed her. I let her down.' I thought, rising from my hospital bed. I noticed my bag sitting in the corner of the room, and walked over to it, opening it, picking out an outfit to wear. I picked out a blue shirt with a slight dip in the chest, a pair of black, silk dress pants, and white wedge heels. I quietly walked into the small bathroom of my hospital room, and quickly changed into my outfit, before stepping out. I got out a brush from my bag, and delicately brushed my long, silky black hair, before placing the brush back in my bag. 'I guess, I should probably get back to the barracks, no doubt, the others'll be waiting for me.'I thought, as I slung my bag over my shoulder, and walked out of the room.

I walked down a long series of hallways, before reaching the barracks where my group, and I had been staying, only to find no one there. I sighed heavily, as I placed my bag down on my bed, and walked out of the room. 'I guess, they all must be off somewhere.' I thought, as I began wandering throughout the halls of Central. 'I need a place to think.' I thought, as I headed up a flight of stairs to the next floor up. Once upstairs, I began wandering throughout the halls in search of quiet place where I could think. Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice, as I turned to see a door with a golden plate that had the words, "Lieutenant Colonel Roy Mustang" engraved in it. 'That's right! Colonel Mustang said that his office was on the next floor up from our barracks. This must be his office.' I thought, as I placed y hand on the door. 'That's right, he was there when I confronted my grandmother. I made a fool out of myself in front of the only man I've ever truly admired. He must think I'm such a loser.' I thought. Suddenly, I heard the familiar sound of Muta's voice through the door, and it sounded like he was talking to someone.

"Muta, was it?" Came a slightly familiar voice that I recognized to be Major Hughes. "Yeah?" Came Muta's answer. "Has it always been like that between your friend, and her grandmother?" Hughes asked. "Yeah. It has. Things between Muriah, and her grandmother have always been tense. Muriah loves Alchemy, she has ever since she was little, and when we were in High School together, I remember always watching her practice her Flame Alchemy, and over time, I noticed she began to master it. In those days, Muriah would work so hard, and she would practice until she collapsed, or until she physically injured herself, and even then, she would push herself beyond that, and would practice even harder. She would always push herself beyond her own limits of pain, and exhaustion, knowing that she herself was never going to give up until she fell over. I always worried about her." Came Francesca's answer, her voice laced with sadness. "Eventually, that same daily routine of pushing herself like that every day backfired on her one day, and she ended up in the hospital." Todo replied, his voice grim. "That's when her grandmother found out about her talent for Alchemy, and when she did, she was furious with Muriah, and punished her severely." Muta replied. "Her grandmother made her swear to never again practice Alchemy, and for awhile, Muriah didn't. But, eventually, she couldn't stand not being able to do the one thing she felt she was good at. So, she decided to practice her Alchemy somewhere where her grandmother couldn't see, nor find her." Francesca replied. "She thought no one would find her. But, we did. We were always watching her, even where she, herself, could not see us." Todo replied. "You could always see her, but, she couldn't see you." Major Hughes stated. My eyes widened in shock, 'So, all this time, Muta, Todo, and Francesca...The three of them always had my back, even when I, myself, wasn't aware of it. Which means, everything they've done until now has been...For me.' I thought, a small tear streaking down my face. 'Such fools. They all put their own well-being at risk for me.' I thought once more, as I continued to listen.

"Eventually, we all came to the decision that Muriah couldn't keep trying to handle everything on her own, so we started helping her with her Alchemy." Todo replied "And together, the four of us trained, and practiced our Alchemy honing our skills, and gaining strength with each passing day. And I think we can all agree that none of us had ever see Muriah happier than when we all practiced together. We were a tea.m." Francesca replied. "And we still are. We always will be. We're always here for eachother, and we back eachother up." Todo replied, his voice filled with pride. "Damn right. Couldn't've said it better myself." Came Muta's voice. I smiled, as I placed my hand against the door, and pushed it open. "You guys are all such fools. You all have been putting your own well-being at risk for me, and you all have done so much for me. The fact that any of you continue to support me, and back me up the way you do, even to this day, years later, is amazing, and outstanding in and of itself. You three are the very best friends anyone can ever have, and having the three of you in my life is the luckiest thing that's ever happened to me. You all mean so much to me. Muta. Francesca Todo. You three have got more Valor, Courage, Determination, and Heart than the entire Military put together." I finished, my arm resting over my stomach, as I stood at Mustangs door, a small tear streaking down my face, as I smiled sweetly at my three best friends.

"Muriah! You're awake!" Francesca replied, running up to me, and wrapping her arms around my neck in a tender hug. "Glad to see you're ok, kid." Muta replied, as he got up, and stood beside me, slapping me in the back with his hand. "How are you feeling?" Todo asked, as he too rose from his seat, and stood at the other side of me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "I'm fine, really. I'm sorry I worried you all." I answered, as I looked up at them. Suddenly, I heard a familiar chuckle, as I turned to see a man I recognized to be Major Hughes looking at us, Colonel Mustang sitting at his desk behind him, as they both smirked at us. "Ya know, you're a very lucky young woman to have friends like yours, Muriah. Your friends are willing to sacrifice it all for you, and in times like these, it's good to have friends like that. Hell, it's hard enough just finding men, and women like that in the Military, as is. You're very lucky." Major Hughes replied, crossing his arms over his chest, that smirk never leaving his face. "Hughes is right, and he should know. Hell, he's been my best friend for the past 10 years, now. And with his help, I plan on becoming Furher." Came Colonel Mustang's voice, as he stood from his seat, and stood in front of Hughes. "You plan on being Furher?" I asked incredulously. Mustang nodded, "I do." He answered, grinning at me. I blushed at this, 'Why is it every time Mustang even looks at me, or smirks at me, I blush?!' I thought furiously.

"Hey, now that Muriah's up, you guys wanna get something to eat?" Francesca asked, as both she, and Todo released me. "Thought you'd never ask. I'm starvin', let's go." Came Muta's response, as he stretched his arms above his head. I giggled, 'Typical Muta. He's always hungry!' I thought, smiling. "You're always hungry, you fat-cat." Todo teased. "Hey, you watch it, bird-brain!" Muta retorted. "He's only telling the truth." Francesca replied innocently, she was enjoying Muta, and Todo's little spat. "Don't you start with me." Muta retorted again, Francesca giggled. "Hold it." Came a familiar voice, as we all turned to see Colonel Mustang, and Major Hughes looking at us. "Yes?" I asked. "You, you, and You can go." Colonel Mustang answered, as he pointed to Muta, Todo, and Francesca. As they all turned to leave, I attempted to follow, (like an idiot), "Not you." Colonel Mustang replied again, his deep voice stopping me dead in my tracks. "I want to talk to you, Muriah. Hughes, give the room." Mustang ordered. "You got it, Colonel." Hughes replied, before leaving the room. 'Oh, no.' I thought, as Colonel Mustang approached me, before standing in front of me. I looked to the side, my eyes pointed down, and away, as I felt Mustang's cobalt eyes on me, his strong, and no doubt muscular, chest mere inches my from my own.

Suddenly, I felt a warm finger under my chin, as Colonel Mustang forced me to look at him. Even though my face was mere inches from his, I darted my eyes away in one last attempt to avoid in his cobalt gaze. "Muriah, look at me." Came his deep voice, his finger never leaving my chin. My blue eyes locked with his, and my breath caught, as his beautiful, cobalt eyes bore into mine. "That was quite a stunt you pulled during your exam, earlier today. You nearly got yourself into a-lot of trouble with that. While I now understand why you did it, I want you to understand that the only reason you're not in any real trouble is because I said something to the judges, as well as to my own higher-ups. And also, if we're both being honest here, both the judges, as well as the higher-ups were all fairly impressed with your talent as an Alchemist. I put my career as a ranking officer in the military on the line for you. Don't ever pull a stunt like that again." Mustang finished, as he gently released my chin, before walking a few steps away from me, his back facing me, with his arms behind his back. I felt my heart sink in my chest, as the thought of him possibly losing his whole career because of my mistake nearly brought tears to my eyes.

"Lieutenant Colonel Mustang, I understand, and respect the risk you took for me, and I apologize for causing you to have to take that risk. I had absolutely no right to do that. I should have told you, or at least warned you about my plan. I'm sorry." I answered, as I lowered my head, my eyes intent on the floor. "And your friend, Francesca? What about her?" Mustang asked, his back still facing me. I gasped slightly, "Please leave Francesca out this. She had nothing do with what happened, earlier today. It was my plan, and I involved her in it. I shouldn't've involved her at all, so, please, if you're going to blame anyone, then, blame me, not her. Please just leave Francesca out of this, she doesn't deserve to suffer because of a mistake I made." I answered, and rather hastily, I might add. "Always prepared to take the fall for your friends. That's the one thing I admire about you, Muriah. In doing just that, you've shown me that you have a-lot of Valor, and Courage, traits that would make you a good candidate for the military." Colonel Mustang replied, turning to face me. "With all due respect, sir, I have no interest in the military, and I've really no intentions on joining it, either." I replied politely, my voice soft. Mustang raised a brow, "Oh, really? I was going to throw in a good word for you to my superiors, but, I guess, if you''re not even willing to consider the opportunity..." He stated. 'Ok, I know where this is going.' I thought, as I rolled my eyes. "Ok, I guess, I'll consider it." I answered. "Good, I guess luck's on your side." Colonel Mustang stated, a sly smirk coming to his face, I blushed. Mustang sat back down at his desk, and began working on a stack of paperwork that had been sitting at his desk.

"I-Is that all you wanted to see me for?" I stammered, as Mustang looked up at me from his paperwork. "Yes, you're dismissed." He answered, before turning back to his paperwork. I bowed, and just as I was about to take my leave, I stopped myself. I quietly approached his desk, and without thinking, I lent forward, and gently kissed him on the cheek. "Thankyou." I whispered, as my lips separated from his warm cheek. I quickly jogged out of his office, and shut the door behind me, giggling as I looked over my shoulder to see him touching his cheek with his fingertips where I had kissed him just seconds before. Once I was convinced I was a safe distance away from his office, I began walking through the hallways, in search of the mess hall, where I was going to meet my friends for dinner. I blushed, as touched my lips with my fingertips, as the memory of kissing the Roy Mustang raced through my mind. 'I can't believe I kissed him like that. He must really hate me now.' I thought, as I walked down a flight of stairs.

Little did I know, that what Lieutenant Colonel Roy Mustang felt for me was quite to the contrary of hate. But, that's a story for another day! :)