"I think someone should check the Chinese calendar. It seems that this is the year of the chimera." Mustang joked.

"Funny." Chanticleer wanted to roll his eyes but didn't want to show too much disrespect. "Do you think if they were given the time they could've made their project a success?"

"It's possible. Maybe I could get it looked into for them to continue their project somehow."

"You'd do that?"

"If possible I'll try. Can you give me the name of the man funding them?"

"I think Ren said, um, Caradon…. sir?"

Mustang's expression had gone cold.

"Did you say, Caradon?"

"Yeah."

"And you're sure that is what you were told?"

"Almost positive. Why?"

The Colonel scowled before answering.

"Caradon Corius is one of the biggest gang leaders on this side of the globe that's why I need to be sure if that's the name you heard."

"(Gulp) Now I'm absolutely positive that's what I heard. If it's not too much to ask, what exactly did this guy to or is capable of?"

"He's a hit man basically. Work for him and fail you're likely to end up dead or seriously maimed. Your new friends are lucky all they got was a new look and not a new set of funeral clothes. Caradon has done, or more likely has had done countless cruelties to countless people, whether it be individuals, families or entire towns. It wouldn't surprise me if he never laid a finger on anyone; he just hired people who had a taste for blood do it for him."

"What else did he do?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Yes."

Mustang hesitated.

"One 'client' that we heard of did business with Caradon and bailed before the deal was done with whatever they promised an equal share on. Many of his henchmen went to the town where the man was believed to be and caught fire to every building except his house, only to shoot the frightened villagers when they ran from their houses. Unfortunately the man had a twin that lived in another town, to make sure he had the right man Caradon sent the rest of his men to that small town and destroyed it, probably for the sake of his own amusement other than 'to be safe'. But whatever he was looking for is believed to be never found."

"Were any of his men ever caught?"

"In the first town yes. Several were captured and sent to prison but by the time the military got finished defending the first town the second had already been destroyed. But enough about that. Keep your friends with your brother; hopefully they'll be safe there in case Caradon changes his mind about letting them off easy."

"Yes sir, I will." The Dawn turned to leave.

"Thank you."

He stopped. "For what?"

"We haven't heard so much as a peep about Caradon in about four years. Now that you've given me the name of the town where he was last seen we have a lead in following and possibly finding him."

"Oh, well, um, yer welcome." Chanticleer left the room feeling quite proud of being so helpful.

'Yoyo' Manor

"So what took you so long?" Luke teased.

"You'd think he'd been fused with a snail." Lucus added.

"Will you two get off the chimera topic? It isn't like I need reminding."

"You like raspberries right?"

"Yeah wh—"

"PHttttttt!"

"You know you set yourself up for that one." Lame said.

"Yeah I can't believe I took the bait either. After all these years with them you'd think I'd learn."

"What I can't believe is how quickly you guys can change topics." Gox said from the couch. Dixie had fallen asleep on his lap and he stared forward.

"It's like that here all the time." Brody sat next to him. "Topics jump around worse than grasshoppers on a hot sidewalk."

When he sat down Dixie woke up and rubbed her yes.

"Kun?" she said sleepily.

"Hi there."

She looked at Brody and quickly scampered to Ren.

"Kun." She whimpered.

"It's ok," Ren encouraged. "He's a friend now, there's no need to be scared."

"Kun."

"Well now that everyone has forgotten what you left for," Ed brought to the attention of everyone. "How 'bout you tell us what Mustang had to say."

The news took only a few minutes to deliver and it was quite the shock for Ren and the others to just now discover what kind of guy they had been working with. Needless to say they were relieved to know in them getting kicked out would make a search for Caradon probably easier according to the Colonel.

"That is going to bug me forever." Annie said. "This guy's name is Mustang and Lame is one.

"Better than being a gelding." Lame said with a 'thank God' attitude.

"Or is there something you're not telling us?"

"CLEN! That's sick!"

"On a friendlier note," Lucus inquired with a thoughtful tone. "I once heard the funniest definition of a gelding from a teenage girl one time. OH! What did she say?"

"I'd rather not hear it!" Laminol warned.

"Oh yeah I remember."

"DON'T say it!"

"Oh fine, I'll tell people in the preview."

"OH NO YOU WON'T!"

"So," Annie turned to Chanticleer as though she hadn't heard anything that had just been said. "You consider him family?"

"At times like this? Kinda."

"I know I shouldn't be listening to slightly dirty topics," Al said. "But I'm kinda curious as to what that girl said."

"She said a gel---"

Lame jumped him from behind and put his hands over Lucus's mouth.

"Um. The only way you're gonna keep him quiet is if you have a miracle handy." Mark said. "Besides, now that the Colonel wants you to stay here you'll have to really test your patience and mental endurance."

Lame's shoulders slumped and loosened his grip over Lucus's mouth.

"I don't care if you tell them just not when I'm around. I think I speak for everyone else when I don't want to hear jokes that I can relate to on a personal level."

"Gox what are you doing?"

Edward's gaze had somehow twirled around to Goxlin.

His left arm was held out in front of him with the sleeve rolled up to his shoulder. Even though he couldn't see it that's where his eyes were facing. Slowly he stroked along his arm, most of it felt just like regular skin but a spot on his forearm felt unnaturally baby-soft.

"Is there anything different about my arm?"

There was. The soft part to him was a dark brown to everyone else.

"Yeah," Luke said. "The skin's brown."

Gox straitened up as though he just realized something.

"Kun?"

"Frectil." He breathed.

"Fre-who?"

Goxlin felt his arm again.

"That's him."

Lucus – I told you guys not to call the house Yoyo Manor!

Me – Hey! No back talking unless you want to wake up with your hair dyed pink.

Chibi me – I want to know what he was going to say.

Me – we'll know later but for now the question is…What the heck is Gox talking about?

Chibi me – That's it?

Me – That's what?

Chibi me – That's all you're going to give them?

Me - One thing leads to another so yes it is. Sorry but there isn't really too much I can reveal without fragments of things that wont make sense.