Shoulder? In a sling. Head? Wrapped in bandages. Mental state? Screwed. This was how my week went. Being walked outside with The brothers or Winry, sometimes everyone. Keeping an eye on everyone I passed as my mind showed them as dead in my nightmares. Sleep was impossible to get anymore and was now declared insomniac. Food tasted like sand and water like rust, not to mention nothing stayed down for very long. Is short, being melted from the inside was way better than this.
Ed and Al left to go get some medicine for Izumi while I shivered under a blanket. My mind still seeing blood on my paws and the taste of the red liquid still fresh. "Kai? Come on, you have to tell me whats going on. you've been like this for days, tell me what's wrong." Winry said from my side. I shivered again as my mouth started to move. "I- I killed so many...I didn't mean it... I c-can still see them, dead on the streets. How come you guys can't see them? Why is it that I can still hear their screams?" My voice was barely a whisper, but Izumi was still able to hear it. My blanket was jerked away and I was drug down to the basement where a pissed Envy sat in a cage.
"So, you finally decided to visit? Huh? What's wrong with the mutt?" Envy asked, standing up to get a better look at me. Through my eyes, I could still see him cowering in fear before my beast form. Winry held me upright as Izumi stared Envy down. "I want to know what you gave Kai. It caused her shifting to run wild and now she is hallucinating continuously. What have you done to the girl?" Her strong and powerful voice did little to break the humonculos.
Envy sat back down with his eyes trained on me, searching for a reason to my behavior. I growled in warning as his eyes locked with mine. Winry stepped in and looked down at the boy. "Why are you so stubborn? We just need to know what you gave her." Envy leaned back and contemplated his answer. Giving me one last glance, he sighed. "I have no idea what it's called, but the effects were supposed to be parallelization. Not this crap." I felt my wolf jump at the sound of his voice, taking every inch of strength to keep it on a leash. My wolf wanted his blood more than anything and I was going to die before I let my dreams become reality.
Izumi crossed her arms as Envy relaxed. "Prove it." The foliage was taken aback by her request. "How am I supposed to do that? The drug was a powder and I stuck it in her when I stabbed the wolf! There's none left." Winry gasped and looked at my shoulder, easily taking the bandage off to look at the wound underneath. Puss oozed from the gash making me gag from the smell. Both females had a look of horror, even Envy had a sympathetic face. I crinkled my nose and looked away, my empty stomach twisting in a knot.
I was taken back upstairs and placed on the couch, ordered not to move and left alone. My vision went red as I heard my wolf howl in victory, thinking it would have it's fun after I'm gone. -Too bad, wolf. If I die, you're coming with me. This is my body and I refuse to let you control it.- I got a growl in response as black spots filled my vision to replace the red. My bones began to burn as my wolf form tried to surface, making me fight to stay human.
An older lady came in to help, looking over my arm and feeling my temperature. "Her body is too hot no wonder she's hallucinating. Girl, get hot water. Izumi, hold this one down. She is going to fight once I start cleaning that wound of hers." She instructed. Soon I was in a restraining hold and I whimpered. "It will be over soon, just relax and let the Dante work."
I grit my teeth as the woman started to reopen my wound and clean out the infection. The room soon smelled of sickness as the woman worked. Dante worked quickly but efficiently, soon stitching up the gash and wrapping it in clean gauze. "Now, she needs to rest and get that fever down. Keep her cool and that wound dry, you don't want her getting another infection." She then bid us good bye and Izumi followed behind her.
Winry stayed beside me that night as my fever soon broke. The morning came with both Winry and myself on a train to regroup with Ed. Seems that he got himself into a fare amount of trouble while I was out. Oh yeah, I also had Envy in a small version of his box. I shrunk it so that it could fit in my pocket and now I had an Envy style mouse tucked away. As if I would just let him go, he's far too cute to do that now.
On the train, Winry was busy with some mechanical problem and I got to chat with my new miniature friend. "No matter what you say, I will not tell you about myself." The small mouse huffed and turned his back to me. I gave a sigh and place the box on the window sill. "Well, then enjoy the view. I'm going top side to get that air I need." Before I could get up I heard Envy squeak out. "Would you take me too?" So, I stuffed him in my pocket and climbed out the window. "Hey, Kai? I don' think that' such a good idea." I heard Winry say as I pulled myself on top of the car. "No worries, my dear blondy. I shall not cause much damage." I giggled down to my friend and settled myself in the center of the train car, the perfect spot.
Digging out the box, I place Envy beside me. "And here you have the wide open sky with no sight restrictions." I sighed, flopping back to view the clouds roll past me. "You sure are a weird wolf girl. Tell me, are you a chimera?" I shook my head and turned to the mouse boy. "Honestly, I'm not quite sure what I am anymore. First off, I'm half Ishbalan. Second, I was bit by a wolf/dog...All I know is that it was huge and canine. And now I have the ability to change into a wolf at will. Even if I am terrified of the beast getting loose." I mumbled the last part, though I'm sure he heard it anyway.
We were back in Risanbol and Envy and I had become somewhat friends. He still seems sore to the fact that I can kick his butt from her to Hong Kong though. I found Ed waiting for us with a disheartened look, Al just behind him. This was not going to be a good day.
Turns out that I was right. Greed, another Humonculus, was killed by Edward. Dante, the woman who helped me, was the boss of everything going bad in Amestris. And we have been pulled right in the middle of it all. "Well, I get sick and all this stuff happens. Remind me to never get injected with crap again." I said, my head meeting the table with a loud thud. "It's not my fault you had gotten an infection." Envy squeaked from my pocket. The voice shacked Ed and Al into silence, funny how I am always around when they give a reaction of surprise.
"Oh yeah, forgot I put him there." I mumbled as I dug through my pocket and pulled out a mouse Envy. "I am not going to ask why you have a mouse in a box." Ed said, giving the mouse a glance. "You will when you find out who it is." Envy smirked, which is surprising in itself. The shrimp and the armor both shrieked and skidded away from the table. "Oh guys, don't be so dramatic. It's just Envy in a box."
A few minutes and an explanation later, Ed and Al were up to speed with the Envy thing. Also on my near death infection that was healed by Dante. I was silently praying that she didn't do anything to my arm as they told me about the humonculi and that she was controlling them. "Well, this is all a big rainbow of sprinkles that we've managed to get into. How are we going to solve this big problem?" I said, thumping my head on the table again. "You know, the little brain you have left is going to be pudding soon." Envy pipped in after the third thud. "Ha ha...I think it just did actually. What if Envy here tells us where Dante is?" I was met with eyes that questioned my sanity.
My suggestion wasn't that bad! Ok, so I know that Envy wouldn't help us out. But that does not mean that I should be put in the corner! The others were making plans to head south again, trying to catch scar dude for answers. I on the other hand, was thinking of a way to find this Dante lady. -Ok, no help from the friends or frienemy. So, Dante is in control? Then...She would want a front row seat of everything happening...Right?- My thoughts went in circles as I stayed seated in my corner, Envy sitting beside me cause shorty didn't want him around.
For some reason, my thoughts never stayed in my head. With my voice in perfect condition, it was quite hard to shut up sometimes. Envy caught every word of my mumbled thoughts and decided to give an input. "You should look for somewhere where you could see from all angles." I looked down at my little mousy friend. "Kinda like in the middle? Like..." My mind clicked. "Central."
Ed and Al went south to find scar and I went straight for the Capitol. If Envy wanted me to go there, then something was going down. Envy was in my pocket again as I ran over the train cars, not the smartest thing to do but I always thought better while on the run.
I made it to the engine and turned to run back, forgetting that I was on a train and the wind was blowing down. Needless to say, I was kissing the train car and then the ground in four seconds flat. "Well... that could have gone better." I grumbled. A cracking sound came from my pocket making me look to see what happened. Envy tumbled out and grew to his normal palm tree size. "Oops." Was all I could say.
"Man, is it ever nice to be out of that box!" The humonulus said as he stretched his arms. I was still on my butt as I looked up at him. "Yeah, sorry it was so small. Can't exactly fit you in my pocket being all normal sized and all." I laughed, hoping that Envy would try to kill me. He just looked down at me and smirked. "Come on, it's a long walk to Central." I blinked, not killing me? Can't argue with that. "Right! Though, how fast can you run?"
It was a new record! Envy and I beat the train to Central! Time for fireworks and booze! Yeah right, as if anyone would believe us. Well, me anyway. Envy just rode on my back like a lazy butt while I was forced to run like a dog, quite literally I might add. -Good thing is, the demon wolf didn't try to take over...or was that all in my head as well?- Once we walked into the busy streets, I could feel every eye on me. Being a giant wolf/dog can give you some attention. One officer walked up to us and looked at Envy. "There is a leash law here. If this is your...dog...Then it must be collared and leashed at all times." Boy did I have a bad feeling about this.
Sure enough, Envy stole a collar and leash and tied them on. Great, fan-freaking-tastic. I walked ahead of the boy and sniffed around, sure Envy knew where Dante was but I didn't know what she had planned. -What a way to be thankful. Hey Dante, thanks for saving my hide. You're evil and I'm gonna kill you now. Yeah, wonderful way to say how grateful you are.- I mentally complained as I walked down an ally, my claws scrapping the concrete as I listened for anyone else who might be here.
"You don't have to be so tense. Dante doesn't even know where I'm at, so she wont know you're here either." Envy sighed out as I stiffened at a familiar scent. -Yeah, but does she go on afternoon walks?- I knew my question wouldn't get to him, so I settled with pulling him in another direction. "Hey! What's gotten into you?" Envy said as I pulled him behind a corner and peeked around. The woman who passed didn't look like Dante, but she sure smelled like her. Like rotting flesh and wolfs-bane, a bad mixture for my poor nose.
Envy peeked around and saw the woman as well, by his reaction, he knew it was Dante as well. "Good thing your nose works, fuzzball." He said, him receiving a growl in response. As soon as the lady passed, I pulled Envy from our spot and I tracked Dante's scent to where it came from. Central headquarters.
I found the door that led down below Central, gasping when I saw the underground city. "And this is where Dante stays. Nice place, huh?" Envy said as he pulled the leash for me to follow. -Yeah, if you're into the whole deserted city underneath a crowded one. Then Yes, this place is perfect to hide out in and watch the world burn.- My mental sarcasm continued as the palm tree led me deeper into the city. I noted an opera house that was in pretty good condition for what was surrounding it.
Envy took us to a large building and up a few flights of stairs. A sent hit me that had me reeling. Joey was sitting on the floor, when he heard us come in I was almost tackled to the ground. "Kai! I missed you so much!" He yelled, taking my breath away easily. "Wrath, she needs air." Envy said, immediately the boy let go. -Wrath? No way, Joey sounds way better for you.- I thought and nudged the boys chest in greeting. "It seems that whatever Dante plans will come with the brothers. She doesn't know about you so do what you want." With that, Envy left me with Joey/Wrath. -Now I need clothes.- My brain said as I pulled at Joeys shirt.
I was soon able to get clothes. Not the best things, but things to wear anyway. Joey found me a black shirt with a V neckline that was cropped to show my stomach. Shorts that went to my mid thigh and I rejected the shoes. Barefoot was way better. I decided to scope out that opera house I saw with Joey tailing behind me. When I walked inside, Dante came in from a side room. -CRAP!- And I was up in the rafters with Joey in my arms. "You're good at jumping." The boy whispered in awe. I nodded my thanks as Envy appeared and started talking with the hag.
"Envy, so glad you decided to show up. Are the Elric brothers on the right path?" She asked, her voice laced with malice. "Yeah, no need to worry. They should be here by tomorrow. Then you get your stone, just as planned." I knew Envy was part of the bad guys, but I was hoping he would switch over. Oh well, I get to kick his butt again. " Excellent. Now about this pesky wolf." I saw Envy freeze, guess she knew about me after all. "Can you handle killing her? It may tip Edward over the balance." I gave a silent huff and crept to a spot over the talking pair. "Of course." Well he just lied, usually he would be all boastful and crap. I suppose he kinda switched, like one quarter of the way.
"I wont let him hurt you." Joey whispered and I ruffled his hair. "Don't worry, people find it rather difficult to kill me in any way." I whispered back before returning my attention back to the two below. "Good, then why don't you bring her down from the rafters?" I face palmed "Well crap. no scene in hiding now." I said and jumped down from my spot. "Lovely, now. Envy, keep her in a cell somewhere. I don't need her wondering around and messing things up." She waved her hand and I scooched over to an expensive looking vase. "You mean like this?" *CRASH!* I swear Dante's face was one of shock and anger that was completely funny to see.
Totally worth it, even if I ended up with a few broken ribs and a bloody nose hanging upside down in a room. "Well, guess you don't have nice things." Envy smirked as I swung by my ankles. "Nope, in fact, I don't even have any stuff. See, Joey found these clothes for me even." Envy face palmed as I smiled. "This is not a good thing." He said from behind his hand. " I know, but I can't change it either. I am flat broke with no income. Why do you think I stuck around the pipsqueak? He was loaded!" I got a smirk from that as I started to swing in circles.
"This is so boring!" I yelled from my spot in mid-air. The palm tree just shook his head. "Quit your whining, you brought this on yourself." I huffed and pulled myself up to reach my ankles. "Yeah, well...that vase looked funny anyway." I was able to bite at the rope a bit before I was whacked in the side. "No escaping." The demon guard said and I gave him a pout. Edward and Alphonse would be here soon and I was not going to be a punching bag on the sidelines! "Fine, no escaping... But maybe just a quick change will do." Envy faced me as he tried to stop me. Too bad for him, can shift to my wolf without even trying.
My paws slipped from the rope and I landed on my feet. -Take that palm tree!- I thought as I ran towards the opera house, somehow knowing that is where everything was going to happen.
(A/N: Whoa! Another chapter and this one is LONG!
BTW Suicide Forest: Thanks for the reviews! I forgive you because life does indeed happen. Glad you like the fic! Hope you continue to read and love!