Note: The first part of dialogue from this chapter direct from the manga. Copyright Hiromu Arakawa. I wouldn't have put it in, only I think it's kinda necessary to show where we are and for what comes next.
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Feburary 17, 1905
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Sergeant Major Roy Mustang: 19 years old
Sergeant Elizabeth Hawkeye: 18 years old
Private Maro Otori: 17 years old
Corporal Edwin Hawkeye: Died 18 years old, 1904
Maro Eleni Hawkeye: 5-6 weeks old
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"I'm sorry, Mr Mustang," said Riza, in her black dress once again as she looked upon the grave of her father. "Having you take care of everything, even up to my father's funeral…"
It had been mere hours after his return from the Eastern Military Headquarters that his alchemy teacher had died. He had been looking sickly for some time now, but the greyness of his face and increasing number of lines had been carelessly attributed to old age in the fuss over Riza's newborn girl, named after her dear friend, Private Maro.
"You don't have to worry about it," Roy replied solemnly. "As an apprentice, I'll do anything for my teacher… Don't you have any other family or relatives?"
Assuming that Erich didn't count, Riza shook her head, "my mother has been long dead. Both my mother and father seem to have been estranged from their families, so I've never heard them talk of any relatives."
Not feeling much better about having to leave again at all, Roy looked at her sadly, "what will you do from now on?"
"I'll think about it," said Riza, putting on a brave front. "Fortunately, my father at least made me go to school properly. I think I'll be able to live on my own somehow."
"I see…" said Roy and he was silent for a few moments before hastily adding that she could ask him for help at any time. "I'll probably be in the military for life," he finished clumsily.
"…For life?" Riza repeated falteringly.
"Yes."
Riza looked up at him, a slight spark in her eyes, "please don't die."
"Don't say such ominous things!" said Roy, shivering at the intensity in her gaze. Still, when she didn't reply, he sighed, "I can't guarantee it, because in this occupation, someday I might just die on the side of the road like a piece of trash. Even so, if I could become one of this country's foundation stones and be able to protect everyone with these hands I think I'll be happy. That's the reason why I learned alchemy but… in the end I wasn't able to be taught Master's secrets…" looking surprised now, he scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I ended up speaking of my naïve dream."
Riza just shook her head and smiling, looking down, "no. I think it's a wonderful dream…" she said, then she frowned. "The secrets my father left behind… he said they were written in a code that no average alchemist would be able to decipher…"
"So Master left behind his manuscripts after all…" said Roy, a mixture of fascination and horror written across his wide-eyed face.
"No," said Riza, wondering if she was doing right by telling him. "They're not manuscripts. He said it would be a problem if his life's research disappeared or was taken by an outsider…"
"How did he leave them behind?"
Riza hesitated again as Roy stared at her intently and chewed her lip in apprehension, "Mr Mustang, that dream… can I entrust my back to it. Is it alright to believe in a future where everyone can live in happiness? Even though I believed…?"
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"This is powerful alchemy… very dangerous…" Roy traced the lines burned into her bare back with a steady, gentle hand. "Why are you showing me this?"
"My father left that decision to me," said Riza softly, turning her head to the side so that her cheek was resting on her pillow. "And I trust you…"
"Nobody should ever see this, Riza- promise me I'll be the only one."
"I promise, sir."
"And that if I ever misuse it…"
"You won't, sir."
Roy smiled, running a gentle hand over her scarred back, "how can you have so much faith in someone like me, Riza?"
"You have a noble dream, sir. If I can do anything to help you, I'll do it wholeheartedly."
Roy just shook his head and finished copying the array into his notepad.
"Don't leave that lying around," Riza warned him, rolling onto her back and pulling the covers up over her chest.
"I swear I'll burn it later, if I can figure out how," Roy promised her.
"Works for me," said Riza, "are you done now?"
"I am, thank you," said Roy.
"Then will you check on Little Maro for me?"
Roy obliged silently, crossing the room to lean into the young girl's cot, making sure she was tucked in properly before kissing her cheek and returning to Riza's side. "Is there anything else you want before I leave?"
Riza shook her head and smiled contentedly before reconsidering, "uhm, maybe a shirt, sir," she said and blushed.
"Drawer to my right?"
"Yes, sir."
Roy tossed her a steely blue t-shirt and she caught it with one hand, using the other to clasp the sheets to her body. A few moments of silence passed, but when he made to leave, she stopped him, "you're leaving tomorrow, aren't you- for Ishbal, just like I predicted."
"I wish it wasn't so…"
"Just say 'yes', sir- it's easier that way."
"Then, yes, Riza, I am."
"That's all I needed to know… come back safe, won't you, sir? I'd rather you a live coward than a dead hero."
Roy smiled sadly and ruffled her short blond hair affectionately, "of course."
Not even bothering to protest, Riza smiled too, pulling the t-shirt over her head and curling up into a ball, hugging her knees to her chest, "goodnight then, sir."
"Goodnight, Riza."