The second to last chapter! Hooray! Thanks to BlackBrightField2007 for reviewing number 5.

Disclaimer: The now-over FMA belongs to the one and only Arakawa-sama.

Alone in the Crowd

Since the transfer of his subordinates, Roy Mustang's office felt very empty. Well, technically it was, save for he himself, the pieces of furniture, the books and the paper works. It had been a long, long time since he did the paper works on his own will, not that he was that willing, or, maybe he had never done it on his own will before. He was always reluctant about these seemingly useless paper works, and now there were no subordinates to help him with it. Bradley had scattered them all and even taken one hostage. And as much as he did not like or enjoyed it, he had to bear with it, because one fishy move and all would be lost.

He had signed those paper works almost non-stop since his arrival at the office that morning. His arms were tired and his legs were stiff from being cramped in the small space under his desk. He glanced at the clock. Ah, it was almost lunchtime. He supposed it wouldn't hurt to take his break a little bit early. His paper works were almost completed, after all. There was nothing on his schedule today, too, save for paper work, so he needn't hurry at all. He stood up from his chair and stretched a bit. People would never guess that sitting could be so tiring.

He walked to the cafeteria. It was still quite empty, since he had taken his break ten minutes early. He decided he should let his legs could use some exercise, so he did not directly get his food and sit down. Ah, right. He hadn't had any toilet breaks since eight and his bladder was demanding to be released. He walked, not so casually, for who could be casual in such a situation, but his way of walking could not be categorized as tense or ready to attack, either. Well, whatever his walking style was, he spent almost fifteen minutes in the toilet just because it was so full. He didn't get it – it was not yet lunch break yet how could the toilet be so full? Unfortunately, being a Colonel did not mean he could suddenly get to the forefront of the queue, so he had to wait patiently, as patient as one could be for waiting for exactly thirteen minutes and eight seconds.

When he arrived back at the cafeteria, it was almost full already. He really had no idea how it could be so full in a matter of minutes. He was sure he hadn't been away for so long! Grumbling, he entered the queue. He was stuck in a long queue twice this day! He finally was able to get his food. His dark eyes searched the cafeteria for signs of his- no, now she was the Fuhrer's First Lieutenant. Anger always rose whenever he reminded himself that she no longer belonged to him, no longer worked under him. But it was his own fault anyway; he had been the careless one! He snapped out of his thoughts, looking for the First Lieutenant once more. But for once today, he couldn't find her. Well, maybe the Fuhrer held her back… for a meeting, maybe? A not-so-friendly meeting between a human and a homunculus? He sincerely hoped that wasn't the case. Since he couldn't find his usual lunch company, he sat down by himself at a table at the corner and started eating. He didn't have much time to waste; soon he would have to go back and lock himself in his office again, signing paper works like crazy, as much as paper works could drive someone insane.

The cafeteria was crowded and noisy; officers were chatting among each other happily. They really had no idea what was going on here or who they actually served, he thought. Sometimes he wished he hadn't discovered the dark secrets of the government of Amestris. That would have saved him from losing his precious subordinates. He sighed. He couldn't change the past, and he wasn't about to sit and whine about it. His knowledge might be harmful to him and his now-ex-subordinates, but he might be able to save lots of people with it.

Even though the cafeteria was so crowded, even though the people around him were so noisy, he couldn't help but to feel alone. Sitting alone like this, he never felt lonelier before.

He quickly finished his food and went back to his office for more torturous hours of reading and signing those evil things they called paperwork. He hoped he would be able to see her tomorrow, and nothing more happened to her.

point d'orgue

She glanced at the clock in the large meeting room. It was already time for lunch break, but it seemed this meeting wouldn't end soon. The Fuhrer was discussing with the council of Generals about… something. She wasn't sure, she hadn't been paying attention. How could she pay attention with such a heavy murderous aura surrounding her? She was somehow sure that the homunculus that played as the Fuhrer's child, Pride or Selim whichever it was, was here. She could feel that murderous intent from the shadows. She shivered involuntarily. When Pride said he would watch her everywhere, he meant it. The feeling of being watched had never left her since their little encounter outside the Fuhrer's Mansion.

She almost heaved a sigh, but refrained from doing so. Showing a sign of weakness or weariness in front of the homunculi wasn't going to be good. She really wanted to have that lunch break of hers… now, because she knew the Fuhrer would let her have a substitute lunch break after this meeting ended. Not that she was hungry or anything, she had actually lost appetite since she knew she was being watched even when she was doing something as harmful as eating, and who liked to be watched while eating after all? But lunch breaks were the only way she could meet the Colonel. She knew he had been worried about her safety since her direct transfer to the lion's cage. And she didn't want to worry him more just because she was held back by something like this stupid meeting.

"What do you think about it, First Lieutenant?" the Fuhrer suddenly addressed her, surprising her out of her reverie.

"Pardon, Sir?" she replied with a question, surprised.

"You were spacing out, First Lieutenant. Please refrain from doing so next time," the Fuhrer scolded- no, warned- no, his tone wasn't that sharp. His tone was almost strictly military, but it was as if he was telling a child what to do at the same time.

"Yes, Sir. Please forgive my inattention," she apologized… not so sincerely.

"Forgiven, First Lieutenant." The Fuhrer then continued his seemingly heated discussion with the council of generals. No, only some of the generals looked heated; the Fuhrer himself looked perfectly calm. It was odd, to her, that he was actually Wrath among the homunculus. His face and attitude did not show it at all… but of course, appearances are deceiving.

She glanced at the clock again. Twenty minutes had passed from the start of the lunch break. She almost couldn't resist sighing, but resisted anyway, since she still could. In the room full of higher-ups debating, she found herself feeling oddly lonely. It was not like she was completely ignored in the conversation; she had been addressed more than several times, and it was actually rather flattering, for she was only a First Lieutenant and the people that addressed her were generals. Still she couldn't shake this feeling of loneliness ever since her transfer to the Fuhrer's office, and especially since her encounter with the shadows- Pride.

In this room full of people, she felt lonely like she never felt before.

A/n: I must say I am rather satisfied with this. This idea has been staying in my mind since before I completed number 1. I hope you like it, too. And uh, well, review please?

EDIT: FFN messed up with my separator lines D: point d'orgue is my separator line... for now. I will take a look and fix the previous chapters. Please tell me if you found something confusing (as for no separator lines).