Chapter 6
Days, then weeks passed. Clara grew more used to living out in the middle of the country side. The simple work was something she could easily get used to. Winry began letting her watch and help out with the automail assembly and construction. Pinako taught Clara how to cook, sew and even how to tell what the weather will be like tomorrow. Three months flew by. Clara was unsure what she was experiencing, but she could safely call it fun. It was new to her. She had never felt something so free before. She was used to being locked up and kicked around all the time. Out in Resimbool, you were free to do whatever you wanted. Her hair grew out and she developed some muscle along with healthier looking skin. One day when she was watching the sunrise, she began to think about her earlier thoughts on fighting and protecting herself.
"I don't want to use... that alchemy... it hurts people... and whenever I use it... I just... black out... I don't remember... but what about hand to hand combat? Edward and Alphonse use it all the time. They don't usually get hurt from it... Maybe I can... try it... I can protect myself... and not be a burden!" Clara gripped her hands into fists. Her heart was racing, scared to try to fight. She let out a nervous breath.
"I... have to try my best... Maybe I can get books... or... something on fighting... I can look... for someone to teach me... no! The military... I must... stay hidden! Yes! I'll train myself!" Clara ran down the hill and raced for the nearest tree. She stopped in front of it and sized it up.
"It... it's really tall... Hm! Yes! You're now my sparing buddy!" She bowed to the tree.
"Please treat me nicely!" She took a makeshift stance and kicked a leg out at the tree. A heavy thud and a jolt of pain ran through her leg.
"Oh!! OW!!" She hopped away, grasping her leg in pain.
"That hurt! I thought you were my buddy! Oh!"
"Perhaps you should work on basics?" Winry said from behind.
"Eh? Oh! Winry! Sorry!" Clara nervously said.
"No! No worries! I've seen Ed and Al train before. Especially when they first started. They didn't start off with just attacking a tree. They tried with stretches and slow movements."
"Slow... movements?" Winry stepped forward to the tree.
"Like this..." Winry slowly moved her arm down at the tree. Her fist tapped it, she brought it back and repeated it.
"Like that. It's to practice keeping the form and something else... I'm not so sure! I'm not for fighting! I hope it helps!"
"Thank you!" Clara bowed to Winry. She winked and headed back up the hill to her house. Clara sat in front of the tree.
"If they practice movements... then there's a form... ugh..." Clara's spirit sank.
"That means... there's technique and I don't have a chance to know it!" She flopped down on the grass.
"Hmm... maybe I can think of something..." Clara closed her eyes and raced through all her memories of any type of fighting she saw.
Bent knees... loose arms... quick... subtle movements... jumps... swings... twisting... I think I got it... I can try going for it... It'll take work though. I'll have to make a record so I don't forget anything... So practice... That's what I need.
~~~~--~~~~
Scar ran down the street. The military were close on his heels. He had no time for them. He had to find somewhere to hide. The homunculous had set him up easily. He couldn't avoid anything they planned. He ran his hand on the ground, sending a stream of energy back towards the men. The ground jolted up, sending the men back. Cries of pain rang through the air. Scar ran down an allyway. A train station was a ways away. He pulled up his hood and stopped. He still wore the same cloak Clara gave him. It was worn and dirty. But he never took it off. He looked around and started walking. The yells of the military were close. He kept near the side of the streets, close to the allyways. He could hear the train whistles from the station. The smoke from the trains drifted above the homes around him.
No one knows where you are, Clara... But I will find out. Edward Elric took you in, so I know you're safe. You are for certain... not with his company... You went somewhere... somewhere safe... I'll go to every town if that's what it takes... just to find you. I need to make sure you are safe. I hope the damn Homunculous haven't found you yet!
Scar saw the station in view. His pace quickened. He quickly checked the map and the list of trains. The next town towards the east. He decided that would be his destination. He ran off. The train was ready to leave. He quickly hopped onto the back and forced his way in, locking the door behind him. The train slowly left the train station. The destination was only putting farther away from Clara. For the town just a day's train way to the south was where Clara was hidden.
Lust appeared out of the mist of people in the train station. She let her fingers run down the map Scar had examined. She chuckled.
"Oh poor little Scar... You just let yourself be followed so easily... Envy!"
"What?!" Envy jumped down from the roof and landed beside her.
"Have you found the little thing yet?"
"No. That shirmp took her away before I managed to get her. I didn't even overhear anything about where she might be. I've searched this entire town. She's not here at all. Never was."
"Great... Father will be upset... If she's alone she might try some funny business... we need to contain her again as soon as possible."
"I know! I know!!" Envy left. Gluttony walked up beside Lust.
"I'm so hungry! Can I eat someone?"
"No... you should be full after who you just ate. The fat old official... Heh... An Ex- State Alchemist seems to have a good life. He didn't seem at all worried about his physical form..." Gluttony sucked on his finger.
"But I'm still hungry..."
~~~~--~~~~
A few more weeks passed by. Clara had begun to hone her homemade fighting skills quickly. The tree she practiced on had began to get worn. The bark was shedding away from where she kicked and punched. Her speed was increasing and her worriedness had faded away. Muscle carefully sculpted her lean body into a thin, but powerful being. Her eyes became more sure of herself, her face was more firm and healthy. Her hair grew out to her waist. Color had slowly returned to her skin, but she still retained a pale tone. Winry and Pinako soon began to understand that Clara was trying to become someone different. They didn't protest to it. Winry was only concerned with her scheduale. Clara would stay out late at night and go for a few days without food every now and then. The day came when Edward and Alphose called for Clara to return from Resimbool. Their phone call came during the day. The sun was high. Clara was swimming in the river, against the current.
"So, Edward... when do you plan on coming back here? I've been making some pretty nice dinners. I'm waiting for you to have one with us," Pinako said, waving Winry off to get Clara. She ran out of the house and down to the river.
"Clara! Hey! Come back to the house! Edward's calling!" Clara poked her head from the water and waved back.
"I'll be right there!" She yelled. Clara dove back into the water and arrived at the bank. She climbed out and tugged on some clean clothes and dry shoes. She ran up the hill to quickly meet Winry.
"Come'on. Grandma's talking to him right now." They hurried back to the house. When they arrived, Clara saw a serious expression on Pinako's face.
"Oh! Winry! Here, Edward wants to talk to you!" She handed the phone to her. Winry took it and started talking.
"Clara... come with me. We need to talk." She lead Clara to the other room.
"This is a very serious matter. The military... Well... I suppose you have a horrible past with them... Edward and Alphonse have just recieved a poster with your face on it... I'm not trying to pribe or anything... but... what busy did you ever have with the military?" Clara's face suddenly turned to fear.
"Military..." She whispered. She began to shake all over.
"Clara. I understand it may be horrible... but why would the military be putting you on the top peg of the wanted list? Above this Scar man?" She asked. Clara backed herself against the wall.
"It hurts..." She whispered.
"Hmm?"
"It was all them... please! I don't want to go back to them!" She cried.
"Clara! Edward wants to talk to you!" Winry called. Clara let out a whimper of fear and found the window with her hand. She turned and jump through it.
"Clara!!" Pinako yelled. Winry came into the room.
"Where's Clara!?" Winry yelled. Pinako raced to the window.
"Tell Edward!"
"Edward? Clara... she's just! She just ran off!"
~~~~--~~~~
Clara let out a series of stressed breaths. The sudden memories of her past in the cramp cell flooded back into her mind. She had barely arrived at the train station as the next train arrived. She slipped onto the rear car and laid down on the floor. Her heart was racing and her head was pounding.
Wherever this train goes... please... don't let it be anywhere near them!! She curled into a ball and closed her eyes.
"I don't know what to do..."
You should definatly just turn yourself in. Her eyes snapped open.
"What?"
Run away!
Just kill youself. They'll catch you anyways.
Get as far away from them as possible.
Run away from the world!
They'll kill you if you get caught!
We don't want to die!
Just run away.
They'll all understand!
Clara grasped her head in her hands.
"Who are they?! What're these voices?!! Go away!!"
Sister!
She froze. The voice was so fimiliar.
Clara... just get away from here! Hide! Don't... agh! Don't let them find you! Just hide... stay hidden...! Get away from here- Gah!!
The whistle blew loudly outside. Her thoughts were cleared. Clara jumped to her feet and leapt out the back of the car. Before her, a loud, and large city was laid out. All over, blue coats. She went to her knees.
"No... no!!" She cried. It was a military city. The worst place she could possibly be. Central. A friendly hand touched her shoulder.
"Are you alright miss?" Havoc asked. She peeked over her shoulder and immediatly bolted off into the crowds. He scratched his head, confused.
"Huh... well... that's weird..."
~~~~--~~~~
Clara was hidden in an allyway. She was buried in a mass of old crates and broken barrels. Her entire body was shaking. Fear swirled in her mind.
"How... why? Why am I here?! I hate this place... it's... it's back in Hell!!" She cried. A small dog wandered into the allway. It sniffed the ground then headed to the pile of crates Clara was hiding in. It whined and wagged it's tail. She took no notice. Her eyes were glued to the ground. It barked a few times. She flinched and quickly looked at it. It kept barking.
"Stop..." She whispered. It barked louder at her voice. A grin spread on his face. His tail still waging in joy.
"Stop..." Her voice grew darker. Her eyes went from plain fear, to insane rage.
"Shut up..." She growled. He stopped barking and whined. A crazy smirk went across Clara's face. Her eyes still wide, a crazed look in them.
"That's right... now come here... come here..." She hissed. The dog whined and hesitantly moved forward.
"Come here..." She hissed again. She held out her hand, still shaking. It sniffed her fingers carefully, then licked them with joy. An evil grin went across Clara's face. With a quick motion, she grabbed the dog neck. It yelped and barked in fear.
"Quiet!" She hissed. There was a spurt of blood. The dog was silent. She threw it to the side, a fresh corpse. A few splats of blood were on her face. She brought her knees to her chin and buried her face in them. Fear came back to replace the rage. Her shaking continued.
"I... where is he... Scar..." She cried.
~~~~--~~~~
Scar looked around him into the night. The streets were calm. A few military were strolling down the streets, doing a lousy patrol job. He kept the hood over his face and ducked his head out of the light. The small crowd leaving the train made enough distractino to allow him to climb to the roof of a nearby building, out of the sights of the military. He ran as fast as he could towards a darker end of the street. Leaping down from his perch, he landed in a dark allyway. Old crates, trash, and barrels filled it. He flattened himself against the wall. His breath was fast, but he kept it quiet. He peered out from the end of the allway, making sure the place was clear. He heard a shuffling sound from behind him. He whirled around. No one was there. He saw something further in the allyway. It wasn't moving. He walked slowly towards it, keeping his right hand in front of him in case he had to attack. He heard something squish beneath his feet. He looked down.
"Wha?!" He whispered. What he saw was a dismembered, bloody corpse of an animal. A mound of bloodied corpses were in front of him. A pool of blood surrounded them. He took in a breath, the stench of their death filled the air. A few crates clashed to the ground behind him. He turned around and held his right hand out.
"Who's there?!" He growled. A small figure emerged from the pile of crates.
"Is... is that you...?" She whispered. Scar lowered his arm. His breath still. He could hear her frightened breaths from his position.
"Please... is it... is it you... this time?" She cried. Scar moved towards her.
"Clara..." He whispered. Her eyes peered up at him. She gave him a weak smile. Her hair hung down below her waist now. It was neatly combed with some pieces of trash in it. Scar immediatly saw the changes in her, even in the dark.
"What are you doing here? I least expected to find you here of all places..." She gave him a weak giggle.
"I got on a train and... I didn't know where it was going... I was hoping to find you," She lied. Scar noticed the splats of blood on her face.
"Is that... your blood?" He wiped a bit of it off of her cheek. She moved her fingers to her face and wiped it off.
"No... no... I... uh... I don't know where it... came from..." Scar remembered the pile of dead animals.
Clara... what have you been doing while I was gone?
"You've changed. Where were you?" He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and lead her to a laying crate, motioning her to sit down.
"I... I was in Resimbool... Edward told me to go there with Winry. It was fun! I... I saw their old home... and... I..." She twidled her fingers.
"What?"
"I... well... I... I was... training... there..."
"Training?" Clara kept her gaze away from Scar.
"What do you mean training?"
"I... you might be mad at me... I was... training... to fight... um..." Scar was slightly confused.
"Mad at you...?"
"But it was just for self defence! I mean... it's not like it was professional... or anything... I uh... I taught... m... myself..." She explained in haste. Scar couldn't help but smile at her nervousness.
"I understand. I don't see how you thought I'd be mad..." She smiled and gazed into his eyes.
"Oh... good...''
"But..." He glanced down the dark allyway.
"Why are there so many dead animals down there?" She froze.
"Dead?" She whispered. She clenched her hands together.
"Dead..."
"Yes... they were... torn apart. It looks as if they were thrown back there... Was that where the blood on you face came from?" He asked. Clara took in a few quick breaths.
"They... they were chasing me..." She whispered.
"Hm?"
"They... they wouldn't leave me alone... I told them to leave... and then... I... I just... I blacked... out..." She murmured. She started to shake again. Scar felt pity for her.
It must be linked to that weird symbol on her head.
"It's alright..." He ran his fingers through her hair and fiddled with a strand of it.
"Your hair... it's quite soft now... it's much longer... too..." Clara lightly pushed his hand away. He gently grasped it in his rough hand.
"You seem much healthier now... your tone is darker."
"The sun does that..." She whispered. Her hand felt so warm in his. She lowered her gaze. His heart felt somewhat lighter. He didn't understand it very well. A tear fell on his hand. His eyes snapped right back to Clara. He could hear her breath studdered. She was crying.
"Clara... are you... are you alright?" He brushed away her hair and held her chin between his fingers.
"I'm... I'm just happy you're alright... I didn't... I didn't think you'd want to see me again!" She sobbed. He shook his head.
"No... I've been searching for you. I've been wanting to see you again. For a long time." Scar gently petted her cheek. She grabbed his hand and cried into it. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her gently. Her shuddering body moved against his calm one. He pressed his hand to the back of her head. He hugged her tightly.
"Clara... stop crying... if you're going to change... then stop crying... stop crying... there's no reason to cry anymore. I'm here. I won't leave you again."
"Aw. Isn't that just sweet?" Envy announced as he entered the allyway. Scar leapt to his feet and stood in front of Clara.
"I didn't think you had a soft side to ya Scar boy! And to think it's for the little twit! Haha!" Clara peered out from behind Scar, only to feel rage once she saw Envy. Her nails dug into the wooden crate.
"What do you want?" Scar growled. Envy laughed.
"I only want the little idiot behind you. Father really wants her restrained right away. I gotta tell ya Scar... I'm surprised you still care for it!"
"It? Her name is Clara!" He snapped.
"Oh? It took a name? Tch! Like I care! Clara... is an it! That's all there is to it! So give it to me so I can remind it some proper rules that it forgot about! Come on! Hand it over, Scar!" Envy grinned. Scar revealed his right arm.
"I'll destroy you before you touch her-" He felt a whoosh of air go past him. He saw Clara running towards Envy.
"You!!" She roared. She leapt towards Envy. He swiftly dodged a bone splitting attack. Her hand rammed into the ground where he once stood. She veered around to face Envy.
"You little bitch!! I still wonder how the hell you learned to use it!!" Scar saw the spot on her forehead glowing again.
"Clara..." She screamed at the top of her lungs and lunged towards him.
"I'll deal to you... and hundred times what you did to me!!! Come back here you little bastard!!" Envy swirved around and managed to kick her jaw. She let out a screech; a crack rang through the air. Envy grinned. Scar stared in horror.
"Clara!" She shook her head, her jaw out of place. She slowly grasped her jaw and snapped it back in place. She let out a low growl. Her eyes glowed with rage.
What... what's going on with her!?
"Hehe! Come on you little witch! I got permission from Father to beat the living shit out of you as long as you're still alive!! Come on! Attack me again!" Clara got down on all fours and glared at him with hatred from Hell.
"You... you won't escape again... I will have you head! I'll eat your organs for future meals!"
"Oh! Quite morbid aren't we?" Envy teased. Clara cracked her knuckles. Her hands turned into claws. Scar couldn't see her as Clara anymore.
"Clara! Stop!" He yelled. She froze and gazed at him.
"Scar?" She whispered. Envy grinned.
"Ha!!" He leapt at her and buried his fist into her gut. Blood spilled on the ground. Scar cursed and ran at Envy.
"No!!" He swung his fist at his head. Envy tried to dodge, he was too slow. Scar landed his blow and pushed Envy away from Clara. He gathered Clara up in his arms and began to run.
"Get back here you bastard!!" Envy yelled. Clara's breath was ragged. Her warm blood flowed from her wound and onto Scars arms.
"Clara... hang in there! Stay with me! Don't you dare die!" He growled. She grasped his sleeve; her grip weak. Envy ran after them.
"S... stop it... Scar..." She whispered.
"Huh?"
"You'll... you'll get... hurt..." She coughed, blood spilling from her lips. He bit his lip. Anger filled his heart.
"Damn you Envy..."