(Disclaimer: The Fullmetal Alchemist Characters belong solely toHiromu Arakawa and any other Fullmetal Alchemist makers I don't know about, but Patricia Kansas and the other unknown characters I am writing about belong to me. If this disclaimer is wrong, then please do not sue me.)

KChanDreams: This is the only update today after a long time, but I have to do another essay for a grade. Even Angel has called in absent. Please enjoy this short update and hopefully I can update again.

Chapter 6: Because I Like It

Patricia and Edward walked down the hall in a quick haste. Edward looked at Patricia and asked, "Why did you tell them that it was your decision? I know that you were against the idea."

"If I didn't tell them that, then they will most likely try different methods to get you to quit being my partner and that will trouble King Cedric and me."

Edward nodded and remembered the killing intent he felt from the other soldiers in the cafeteria.

I think they might just kill me instead.

While they were walking, Edward asked, "Just out of curiosity, how long have you been in the military because it seems that you are pretty famous here." Patricia looked at Edward and answered, "I've been working here for eight years." Edward gave a nod. Edward paused and looked at Patricia in disbelief.

"Wait a minute! Doesn't that mean that you were eight when you joined the military?" asked Edward in surprise. Patricia nodded.

"I was the youngest soldier in the military and considered a prodigy," said Patricia proudly.

"Darn it! I was only twelve when I joined. That means you've been in the military longer than me," said Edward in defeat. Patricia chuckled and said, "I worked longer here, so that makes me the leader in this partnership."

"No way, I should be the one in charge!"

"No way, I am older, a veteran, and also taller."

"You are older than me by one year and size has nothing to do with it!"

"You're from the future so you are a basically a baby here, so listen to your elders."

"That makes you an old hag!"

"Who are you calling an old hag, you two-dimensional baby?!"

"Who are you calling a two-dimensional baby?!"

"You obviously!"

After Edward and Patricia had another pointless argument, they continued their walk down the hall. They soon reached a metal door with a huge alchemy circle on it. Edward examined it and groaned.

It wasn't this door either.

Patricia crunched her knuckles and said, "Step back Edward." Edward nodded and did as he was told. Patricia clapped and then placed her hand to the symbol. The symbol glowed brightly as Patricia touched it. The door swung open when the light faded.

Patricia looked back at Edward and said, "Let's go in." Edward nodded and followed Patricia in.

When they walked in, Edward was astonished by the sight of all the advanced equipment in the room. Edward looked at Patricia and asked, "Is this really your lab?" Patricia nodded as the door behind her shut tight.

"This is where I make all my inventions," said Patricia with a small smile. Edward suddenly remembered Winry's smile as she made automail and found himself smiling.

Patricia must love to invent things just like Winry.

Edward suddenly heard a small sound from behind him and turned around. To his surprise, something hard collided into his face knocking him to the ground.

"Intruder!"

Edward looked up slightly and saw a small, purple, mechanical cat flipping in the air. Edward sat up abruptly as the mechanical cat landed on the ground gracefully. Edward pointed at it in disbelief and screamed, "What is that thing?"

Patricia looked toward Edward and saw the mechanical cat standing in front of him with its front legs crossed. Patricia smirked and said, "That 'thing' happens to be my trusted assistant Neko." Edward blinked in confusion.

The mechanical cat, known as Neko, examined Edward and looked at Patricia confusingly.

"Who is this Shorty, Patricia?" asked Neko. Edward growled and yanked Neko off the ground. He shook it violently and screamed, "Who are you calling a Shorty, who needs to be seen by a magnifying glass?!" Neko managed to slip away from Edward's grasp and glared at him.

"I never said all that and I demand to know who you are," said Neko angrily. Patricia held a hand at Edward and said, "His name is Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist number two. He happens to be my new partner." Neko stared at Edward suspiciously.

"So this guy is your new partner?" asked Neko. Patricia nodded. Neko examined Edward closely and said, "This guy better be useful in the lab and as your partner or I will write a report to the king demanding that he fires him." Patricia gave another nod making Edward glare at her.

"Don't agree with it so easily," said Edward angrily. Neko smirked at Edward and said, "I'm a girl, so don't call me an 'it' and call me Neko-Sensei." Edward glared at Neko.

"No way!" screamed Edward. Edward looked at Patricia and asked, "Why did you make this robot of yours so annoying?" Patricia crossed her arms at Edward and stated, "Neko isn't a robot. She's armor with a bonded soul." Edward gasped in surprise and looked back at Neko.

Neko nodded and removed her head revealing that she was empty. She pointed at the blood symbol in her armor and said, "Patricia made this symbol, so I would be in this armor." Edward looked at Patricia confusingly.

"Why?" asked Edward in disbelief. Patricia smiled and said, "Because Neko wanted to move around. Her original ten-year-old body is brain dead and is expected to die in a couple more years, so I granted her wish of moving around by bonding her soul with this small armor I made. Her body will die sooner without a soul, but at least she can move and have her freedom."

Edward clenched his fist and asked, "Is Neko really OK with it?" Neko nodded.

"I just want to move around, until my body dies. I am grateful for what Patricia did to me," said Neko as she screwed on her head.

Edward remembered Alphonse in his huge armor and sighed. Edward suddenly realized something and looked down at Neko.

"Why a cat armor? Wouldn't it have been nicer to have a bigger body?" asked Edward confusingly. Neko chuckled and said, "Because I like it better." With that, Neko jumped onto a mechanism and began to toy with it.

Patricia chuckled and said, "I did want to make her a bigger body, but she chose that body in the end." Edward looked at Patricia and asked, "So you bonded her soul to that armor because you felt sorry for her?"

"I did feel sorry for her, but I felt like it was my fault that her body was brain dead."

"Why?"

"Her body became brain dead because she was shot in the head during one of my missions. The shot was originally aimed at me, but she took the blow. That's why I also felt obligated to give her this new body, while she is still alive."

Edward could sense the sadness in her voice and remembered his brother once again. Edward looked at Patricia and said, "I bonded my brother's soul to a suit of armor after I failed at bringing back our mother." Patricia looked at Edward in surprise.

Edward showed his automail arm and said, "My younger brother and I did forbidden alchemy and paid a price. I lost my leg and my brother lost his entire body. I was only able to save his soul by sacrificing my right arm." Edward placed his arm down and said, "I always thought my brother blamed me, but he never did. That's why I asked you about Neko, but you shouldn't feel guilty because it isn't your fault."

Patricia smirked at Edward and punched his left arm. Edward looked at her confusingly.

"Don't talk like you know everything already, Edward," said Patricia playfully. Edward rubbed his arm.

Patricia then placed a hand on his right arm and said, "So you tried to bring back your mother in your time and failed. The price you paid was pretty harsh. I wish I knew that pain when I did the same alchemy." Edward looked at her in surprise.

"You did it too?" asked Edward in disbelief. Patricia nodded.

"I did, but unlike you and your brother, I succeeded in bringing back my dead mother," said Patricia. Edward was shocked.

"What was the price?" asked Edward.

"There was no price in my part, but I gave something away for free to get over my guilt a bit," said Patricia. Patricia removed her jacket and then held up her right arm. Patricia tore off the skin of the arm surprising Edward revealing an automail arm.

"I cut my own arm and burned it. Then I made this automail arm and joined the military gaining the name Fullmetal Alchemist," said Patricia seriously. Edward stared at her metal arm in disbelief.

She cut her own arm when she didn't pay a price?

Patricia then placed a hand to her arm fixing the torn skin. Edward was once again surprised.

"How did…?"

Patricia slipped her jacket on and said, "I can use alchemy without a circle ever since I was young." Edward's eyes widen.

"How is that possible?" asked Edward wondering if she saw the gate as well. Patricia smirked and said, "Not telling. I don't know you that well, so nothing new." Patricia walked pass Edward and said, "Let's see the storm system, Edward." Edward nodded and followed her.

Edward stared at Patricia's back wondering what other secrets she was hiding from him.

Neko watched them walk off as she messed with a machine.

That boy is strange. He made Patricia talk about things she refuses to talk about. Who is he really?