Chapter 8

Scar went outside, careful to be shrouded by crowds and shadows. Clara was being kept in the locked room. He made her rest to help heal her wound. The military were crawling everywhere in Central. He knew he had to get them out of there as soon as possible. Unfortuenatly, he didn't want to risk worsening Clara's condition anymore than it was. He also wanted answers about Clara. The only person who probably know anything close to Clara's situation was Edward Elric. It would be difficult to find them and not fight them. He decided to walk around the Central Headquarters, he had better luck finding them around there than anywhere. He kept to large crowds and kept his face covered, only raising his head to see over people. Just a few minutes into walking, he heard Edward's punchline.

"Who the hell are you calling short?! I'll show you what short can do!"

"No! Brother! Don't!" He headed towards the yelling. Alphonse was holding Edward back from attacking Mustang.

"Well... sorry I couldn't see you over a crowd. It's just..."

"What?! Huh?! Say it! Do it... See what happens..." Ed growled. Scar watched from the shadows, being careful not to show his face. Mastang waved Ed off and climbed into his car, leaving them alone. It was his chance. Ed scratched his head and starting walking down the street towards him, Alphonse following him. Scar hid himself between two houses, waiting for them to get closer.

"Man! I hate Mustang! He's always just trying to get on my nerves!"

"Brother, you should just learn to ignore it. I mean... I wouldn't see you in a crowd either-"

"What?!" Edward yelled. Scar grabbed his collar and threw him behind him, then grabbing Al's armor and pushing him into Ed. He stood in front of them.

"Hey!! What's the big idea?!" Scar lowered his hood.

"You!!" Ed clapped his hands together.

"No. Stop." Scar said. Alphonse stopped his brother.

"What are you doing?! It's Scar!" Ed fought with his brother's grasp.

"He's not going to attack us, brother." Scar nodded.

"I just need to learn something from you two. I know you're after this thing called the philosepher's stone, and that you know much about it."

"Yeah... what about it?" Ed crossed his arms.

"There's similar case with someone I know... it's close to the Homonculous."

"Uh huh..." Edward crossed his arms, not trusting Scar at all and clearly stating it in his facial expression.

"What exactly... are the homonculous made of?"

"Human lives... or at least that's what they feed on. I think they're born from the philosepher's stone as well. Why?"

"Hmmm... have you ever heard of... any homonculous that had sudden personality changes?"

"Personality changes?" Ed scratched his head.

"Well... no... but I think it'd be understandable... I mean... a philosepher's stone needs to be planted in a host body. A live one I think... and then some sort of dominant being takes over that body."

"The hosts body... what if they're original spirit fights back?"

"Gez... you have a lot of questions... I don't know... it might start a reaction. Or... huh..." Ed rubbed his chin.

"Scar, do you know someone exactly like this?" Al asked. Scar didn't answer. He lowered his gaze.

"If they have a philosepher's stone... can they regenerate?"

"Well yeah. It's exactly like the homonculous."

"They don't need equal exchange. So they can do anything! If they're head is chopped off, they can regenerate. But for some reason... they can't do alchemy. They'll be alive for eternity. Or... until their power runs out," Al said.

"What if they fight? Can they just have a sudden change in attitude?"

"Still stuck on the behavior thing?" Ed said.

"Well... they just get really into the battle... just way too into. Maybe they turn so monsterous that they stop thinking and just kill." Scar nodded.

"I see..."

So when she gets suddenly... so ravinous... she may not be able to distinguish one person from another... that's very dangerous...

"It may be because of the stone... Why do you want to know this?" Ed asked.

"You've already taken care of her, Edward Elric. I'm surprised you didn't see it." He left.

"Hey! Wait!! What do you mean by that?!" Ed and Al ran to the mouth of the allyway. He was gone.

"Gez... what the hell was that all about?"

Scar unlocked the door and closed it behind him. Clara was laying down, an arm over her eyes and arm across her stomach.

So... everything the Elrics said is so similar to Clara... she couldn't be a homonculous... They regenerate instantly. It takes a while for Clara to heal. And when she battles... it doesn't take a while for her attitude to change. It's almost instant. She also uses alchemy... the homonculous can't use it at all. And that symbol... those markings... what the hell does it mean? And in her memory as well... those military dogs said there was 'only one in the world and they found it'. Is Clara something different from the homonculous? I shouldn't think too hard...

"Clara... how are your wounds?" He asked. She groaned.

"I have... a headache..." She whispered.

"I can dim the lights... but your wounds? How are they?"

"Fine... the pain is gone..." She muttered. Scar nodded. Clara rolled over onto her stomach and groaned.

"You shouldn't be putting weight on your stomach yet. It won't help it heal at all." She rolled back over and kept her arm over her eyes.

"Do you want some water?" She shook her head.

"Scar..."

"Hm?"

"The floor is really hard... I think... that's what's making my head hurt so much..." She whispered. Scar looked around the room. His jacket was too thin to suffice as a proper pillow. There wasn't anything he could use.

"Well... there isn't anything here to-" He was cut off. Clara had quickly settled herself in Scar's lap. She had a smile on her face.

"The pain is fading..." Scar blushed a little. He couldn't help but smile. He petted her hair.

"Are you comfortable?"

"Mmm... hmm... it's warm..." Scar felt his heart grow warm again, it was beating faster every second. He grunted and shook his head, trying to shake the feeling off. Clara opened her eyes and stared at him.

"Something bothering you?" He shook his head.

"It's... nothing..."

"Don't lie..." She said, an innocent look in her eyes. Scar kept his gaze from her face.

"I'm just... confused." She tilted her head to the side.

"About what?" Scar put a hand to his face, embaressed.

"Something I'm feeling..." He muttered. Clara sat up and leaned in. Curious eyes gazing at him.

"Emotions? Well... I'm not good at those... but... I can try to help!" She smiled. He shook his head.

"No... you already said no to me onc-" He stopped. He stared at Clara. His mistake obvious. Clara only stared.

"I... said...?" She took a moment to think. She gasped and put a hand over her mouth. Her eyes gazing at Scar's, surprise in them.

"Oh..." She gazed to the side, a little emberassed.

"I see... um..." Scar scratched his neck.

"It's nothing... you don't have to worry about it..." He muttered.

"Well... what... kind of feelings?" She asked, keeping her gaze to the floor. He shook his head.

"Tell me." Her voice was kind and comforting. Scar knew she'd understand, but he also knew she might reject him again.

"Mmm..." Scar gentle took Clara's chin and kissed her. It was only a few seconds, but she understood. He turned his gaze away, ashamed. Clara blushed and put two fingers on her lips. She felt fear creep into her mind, but she knew Scar meant it in a completely different way than what she knew it as. He roughly pushed himself away from her.

"I'm sorry... I know it just reminds you of your past... I just... I'm sorry..." He muttered. Clara lightly took his face between her hands and turned his face to hers. She kissed him back. Her heart raced. Faint traces of memories flew in her head. Memories of fear, anger and pain. They were intense. She ignored them and focused all her thoughts on Scar. His face cleared the memories away and brought comfort. They broke apart. Scar could only stare at her.

"Clara... you... did you..." She nodded, keeping her eyes to the ground.

"I... I'm over coming the past... please... don't think that I'm still stuck on it..." She whispered. Scar nodded.

"Yes." She lightly grasped his hand and held it against her cheek.

"As long as it's you..." She whispered. Scar only stared.

"Me?"

"You're nice, you're comforting... you've protected me for so long... I'm fine with it all..." Her eyes were soft and understanding. He could instantly see the growth in her. It seemed as if she had turned into a completely different person.

Completely different person. No... what if it's the philosepher's stone? This may not be the Clara I first knew... He slipped his hand from hers. He stood up.

"I think it's time for us to go..." He said. Clara lowered her gaze and touched her stomach.

"Yes..."

She may not be fully healed yet... but we must escape Central as soon as possible...

"Clara... from now on, you have the personal option as of whether or not you want to stay by my side..."

"What?"

"I know there are times when it's too dangerous for you to be around me. When those times come around... you're free to leave my side for a while and then refind me. It's all your decision." His knuckles cracked from clenching his fists so hard. Clara stood up, still holding her stomach.

"Scar." The look in her eye changed.

"This is what I've trained for." He glanced at her stomach. The bandages were still fresh. There wasn't a spot of blood on them.

She must have regenerated already...

"If you're ready... we'll leave as soon as possible..." Clara nodded. She tugged her shirt over her stomach. Scar opened the door and looked around. He pulled his hood up over his head. They ran out of the underground. Clara kept her hand on her stomach. A slight pain was still there. Something was bugging her. She felt as if something was out of place.

"Envy... you're pretty late..." Lust tapped her arm. Envy growled.

"Ahh! That damn little twit was giving me trouble. It's been figuring out how to use it! I can't wait to beat the living shit out of it again..." He sat down on the ground, rubbing his neck.

"It doesn't matter... did you do it? Is it in her system?" She asked. Envy nodded.

"Yeah... I put the thing in it's gut like ya asked. No problem!"

"Good job, Envy." He said from his chair. A shadow draped over his face.

"Thank you, Father."

"Now we just wait. She'll come to us in no time."

"And at that time, we'll begin our operation, right Father?" Lust asked.

"Yes... We will gather the sacrifices one by one..."

Mustang and Hawkeye boarded the train. Edward and Alphonese followed. They were going to East City. Once the train stopped though, they would part ways. They were going for their own reasons.

"So Edward... I hear that girl you rescued, Clara, had run away. I wonder why?" Mustang sipped some coffee.

"I don't know... from what I heard, she acted panicky and just... ran..."

"Edward, you probably questioned her too much. You should know by now that women don't like to be pressured into things," Hawkeye said.

"I barely asked her anything!" He snapped, jumping out of his seat. His expression calmed a bit, he sat back down.

"It was just... when I told Granny about what I found out about her... Pinako asked her... about her past... She must've gotten scared, thinking she would be contained again. Dammit... I probably should've have asked Granny to ask her..."

"Edward, it's between us of what we know about Clara. Obviously, the higher ups really want her. But when I saw her in that bed, I could tell it was a mistake. I don't know what the military did to her. But whatever it was, they want to keep it a secret."

"Those damn dogs!" Edward punched his seat.

"Why would they do anything to Clara? She seems so nice," Al said. Hawkeye nodded.

"She probably is a really nice girl... oh..." She looked up at Alphonse and Edward.

"What did she look like? I mean, I've never met her, I could try to look for her."

"Oh well... brown hair, pale skin, I mean really pale. I could tell she was kept in some sort of cell for a long time."

"Blue eyes and a really shy personality. She looked maybe a few years older than brother."

"So... basic build, I'm guessing?"

"Nah. Really skinny. Almost starved. And yet she was healthy enough to be living in a regular household." Edward held his fingers up in the air, holding them an inch apart.

"Maybe... sixteen... Hmm... There are few girls who are really pale and skinny with blue eyes from what I've seen. I'll keep a look out for her."

"Thanks. I just hope no one has gotten to her yet... especially Scar..." Ed said.

"Edward, just to let you know... If she does get caught..." Mustang's eyes got serious.

"If it's not by me or any of my men or any or my allies... I'm almost powerless to help her out. Apparently, she's on the wanted list, right next to Scar's name."

"What? Are you serious, that high!?" Al said. Mustang nodded.

"If we find her, we'll contact you."

"Yeah... but be careful when getting her. She seems to be scared of the military. She has the same powers I do." Hawkeye took in a slight breath.

"She doesn't need a transmutation circle to do alchemy?"

"Nope... and better yet, she's a hell of a lot better at it that I am."

"Ed, how do you know this?" Mustang asked.

"Right before I picked her up, I saw her fighting someone. She looked enraged. I mean really pissed off. She was holding her hands to the ground and sending all sorts of weapons at her enemy. Then she just... passed out. I saw Scar there... that's why I suspected him to be her enemy." Mustang nodded.

"So Scar had picked a fight with her, correct?"

"Apparently so... I don't know why..." The train came to a halt.

"Looks like we're here..." They all stood up and exited the train. Mustang and Edward shook hands.

"Let's make a little wager."

"Oh really? What is it?" Ed grinned.

"Whoever finds Clara first."

"Heh... no worries there! I travel more than you! It'll be a piece of cake! Ha!" Ed smirked. Mustang saluted him. Ed saluted in return.

"Good luck."

"Yeah..." They parted.

Night time covered the town in darkness. Clara looked around the streets, they were deserted. She ran across the street, Scar right behind her. They ducked inside a stable. A few horses were asleep. Scar peered over the gate. It was a straight shot to the open country hills. Clara lightly petted a horse muzzle.

"Shh..." She whispered to it softly. She woke another one, keeping it quiet.

"It's clear..." Scar muttered. She handed him a pair of reins. He took them and lead the horse out of the stall.

"They have shoes on so we have to be fast..." Clara whispered. She hoped onto a brown horse, waiting for Scar. He climbed onto a black stead slowly, unsure of the animal. She moved ahead of him, his horse followed. They broke out into a run. The clacking of their hooves were deadened as soon as they reached the grass. Scar went ahead of Clara, holding tight to the reins, trying to keep his balance on the horse.

"We'll head west. Then south," Scar said. Clara nodded.

"Right..." The moonlight was at their backs, a fresh breeze blew across their faces. Clara's gaze was distant. She kept a hand on his stomach still. The voices in her mind were faint, but numerous. She tried her best to ignore them, to not worry Scar. Their travels began again.