(A/N) Sorry you guys had to wait so long. This chapter was no fun. And I had a bunch of finals and such. but school is out so updates every week or every other week. And quick question what should people call Ling? This chapter he is called "Imperial Majesty, Emperor Yao, Emperor Ling, My Lord." well just tell what you think he should be called.

Lan Fan.

He stares at her still body. She is in what looks like a transmutation circle. Or what they are calling a Purification Circle. They had placed her in the medical area of the palace. It was an empty room. She was lying in a bed with Alkahestry written on the bed and all over the room. The room had a slight blue glow. The Alkahestry was constantly there to keep her stable. She looks like she is in so much pain. Ling was mentally kicking himself. More like killing himself in his mind.

Why? Why am I the one who always causes her pain? He thought. She deserves so much better.

He realize he had been there all night. Only a few hours ago Lan Fan was close to death. It was a dreadful sight to see, someone as strong as her almost dead. It's a horrible memory that will live with him forever.

(flashback)

"Lan Fan! Please stay with me!"

Ling's mind was racing. What am I going to do? They aren't going to let me up.

"May Chang!" he shouted looking left and right for his sister "May!" he called.

The guards had manage to push Ling back and duck into the corridor. That's where he found May had already done what he was going to ask. She, now only 16 years of age had carried Lan Fan to the corridor. You could see the fear and panic in her eyes. There was blood all over her
It made Ling sick to his stomach. Lan Fan's blood

"Guards!"
Four men with swords strapped to their hips approached him. "Yes, your Highness?" one man said.

"Go to the woods find any trace of the person who did this. Now! Be caution also."

They bowed their head and one other said "Right away" Then disappeared into the from the hallway into the night.

May was desperately drawing a Purification Circle with Lan Fan's blood. She places Lan Fan in the middle and drops her throwing knife around the circle. May drops to the floor and puts her hand on the circle and gets to work. She is not only closing the wound. She healing her how any doctor would. May is not the same little girl he had met back in Amestris. Right now she is his savior. She knows more about Alkahestry than before. She used to practice day and night with Al. She is stronger too. The fear he saw a minute ago, it was not fear. It was fire. Her eyes were lit with determination. May would die first if she couldn't save Lan Fan. May still feels she owes Lan Fan a debt.

May looked up to Ling.

"Her breathing…. Its faint, but it is there." May was exhausted. Whatever she did drained the energy out of her. "The Stone, Ling! Why didn't I think of it sooner?"

May searched for the Elder with the Stone. Even going back on the balcony, despite the risks.

Ling knew he needed to get Lan Fan to the medical area. May could met him there and use the stone on her there. He scooped up Lan Fan and carried her bridal style. Running down hallways and corridors. He knew that there were guard close behind. But did not care. Lan Fan was his only concern at the moment. Ling kicked the doors open. There he found three doctors, two women and one man, who immediately fell to the ground bowing to Ling.

Out of breath he gasped "Please. Please save her."

He wasn't commanding them he was begging them. Seeing the desperation in his eyes the man took Lan Fan from him and escorted them to the next room. The three doctors were drawing all over the room. Patterns Ling had never seen before. Lan Fan was on the ground in the middle when they were finished one of the ladies said

"You might want to step out."

But he refused. Then three sets of hands were pressing on the floor. Then a horrifying noise struck his ears. Lan Fan screamed so loud that half the palace could hear.
Lan Fan!" he shrieked in shock. He leaped forward but someone was holding him back.

"May, please, she need my help.
"This is the best thing for her now"

He sank to his knees. He couldn't bare the pain but he could not stand to leave her.

"The Stone! May Chang where is it?! Please tell me!"

"Ling" she spoke softly, trying to sooth him in any way possible. "The Eldest of the Fa clan refused to use it on servant. Only if she were truly going to die. But from the looks of it she going to be fine, but in pain."

"No. I am the Emperor and I will not let her suffer any longer." He turned back to Lan Fan, still on the floor struggling to sit still. He whispered so quietly May could not hear him.

"Watashi wa watashi no ai o kaeshimasu"
I will return my love

"Are you Hiro of the Fa Clan?"

A man at least 60 years of age stood before him, all gray hair. He stood just as tall as Ling, but his old age was not very intimidating. They were in the council room. One of less colorful rooms of the palace, but certainly big. It contain a large rectangle table with 25 chairs on each side, one for each Elder or representative for every clan. Then one large chair for Ling at the head of the table.

"Emperor Ling, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Why did you not give not give the Philosopher Stone to Princess May? She obviously has power over you."

"Right down business. You are just like your Father you know." He spoke coldly. It was clear he didn't like Ling much at all.

"Just answer the question."

"My reasons are to simply protect you from the council and the people. You see your Majesty, rumors spread like wildfires." The way the man spoke, you could not tell if he was wise or foolish. It seem as if he had prepared for this moment, as if he practiced telling a story over and over. The Fa clan stayed away from politics because of their small size. No wonder Ling never heard of this Elder. Hiro continued on.

"Word could get out about what the Stone can do. And that you used it on servant. People would no longer believe in the division of the social order. To see their own Emperor in love with his bodyguard, oh how they would run wild."

Ling was in shock that he knew of his love for Lan Fan. But he stood firm. Acting as if he didn't know what he was talking about.

"Oh don't you worry Emperor Yao. No one knows about it but me. I saw it when Lan Fan was half dead after you, her and May Chang crossed the desert coming back from Amestris. It look like you carried her the last 50 miles of so. Am I right? You could see it in, not only your eyes but your soul. Desperate to see her well again"

The man reached into the pocket of his robe and took out a vile with The Stone containing it.

"Here. You may have the Stone if you like but, as an adviser to you the Emperor and as for your father before you, it is in my best opinion that you do not use it on your dear Lan Fan."

Hiro tossed the vile toward Ling. Ling caught it with no motion at all except for his hand.

Ling focused in on Hiro. There was something missing from this puzzle and Ling wanted to find out what.

"You were not the Elder with The Stone. That was the man from the Hayashi clan. How did you manage to get ahold of it?"

"Simple. He had dropped it. So I picked it up and ran to the safety of the corridor. That is where Princess May had demanded it from me. After I continued to refuse she finally gave up and ran to find you and the girl."

"There is something you aren't telling me."

"I will be very blunt. You probably notice by the tone of this conversation I am not very fond of you, actually I loathe you."

"How is this relevant?"

"You see, despite our size my clan was next in line for the throne. It would have continued on the line of emperors from the Fa clan once again. A third generation. And the only way to provoke the right to my clan, you had to have gain something we thought was impossible. Immortality."

Hiro grinned. Like he was up to some mischievous plan. But Ling always believe he was all-powerful. You could call it over-confidence, but that is Ling for you. Hiro would try to manipulate Ling, but will fail miserably in the process.

"You know of your brother Ichiro, right? What a wonderful man. He study hard in politics and problem solving. And he accepted that he would be crowned emperor one day…." The sentence died down. He sighed "You do know what Ichiro means, do you not, your Majesty?" now Hiro was staring out the window not evening looking at Ling. "Well it means first-born son. He took great pride in that name. Shame it goes to waste."

"I have met Ichiro and all my other brothers and sister from each clan. Although disappoint their own clan did not win, they all say they are happy that it is me that will bring this country into greatness"

"He deserves it more" Hiro hissed "Our clan worked hard for that. And you stole it just because you can live longer. We would have brought this country into a new era of wealth and prosperity. But one son, not even one of the top 10 sons of the emperor, managed to sneak his way to victory."

Ling finally saw his plan. He wanted Ling to suffer or return the throne or he would spread disappointing and disapproving rumors about himself and Lan Fan. And he thought the people would want to over throw him if they heard the rumors.

"I swear your Majesty, if you use that Stone I-"

Ling snap and Hiro was cut short

"Or you'll what Hiro? Tell me that! I am your Emperor. You should being bowing before me! You could be tried for treason against me and your country."

Hiro stood shocked. He had expect Ling to full of fear from the rumors he had threaten to start but he could see in Ling's eyes he did not care. Ling turn away from him to control his anger.

"I will not blame the Fa clan for one foolish man." Ling spat the words out now calming down.

"I shall call upon Ichiro to be a reprehensive for you clan. There will be no more elder."

Ling glanced back at Hiro. His face was more disappointed than shocked now. It was obvious that his plan was design by himself. No one in Xing would be that stupid.

"I suggest you hide. And leave immediately. If your clan knows what you have done, you will never be able to regain your honor. Just live a quiet life in your old age. You are dismissed."

"Thank you for your mercy, your Highness" Hiro was bowing. Refusing to look at Ling "And I also hope Lan Fan gets better"

"Hiro, I hope you know I had no intentions of using the Stone on Lan Fan. After all she is just a servant." Those word left Ling mouth as if it were poison. Ling would never speak about Lan Fan like that. But to show Hiro that he had indeed lost, it was necessary.

Now standing in the doorway with his head down, sort of like child who did something wrong, he said "Of course your Imperial Highness. Is that all?"

"No." Ling step closer to Hiro. "Are you reason Lan Fan is lying on her death bed?"

Even though he told Hiro Lan Fan was just a servant it was already obvious that there was something deeper. Ling was studying Hiro. His expression and his chi. He saw that he was full of fear. And he should be. Not many people saw Ling like this. It terrible sight to see.

"No! No, I had nothing to do with it. It was heat of passion that I took the stone. I saw the opportunity and I took it." Hiro then mutter "Bad idea on my part."

Ling was now reassured that Hiro didn't do this. "You may leave."

With that Hiro stormed out the room as quickly as he could.

Ling sank into a chair and sigh with relief.

Glad that pest is gone. Ling thought.

Then a suppressed laugh escaped him. He was so busy trying to get the Stone for Lan Fan he didn't realize something.

It's Lan Fan we are talking about. I don't even think she would let me use the Stone on her.

With that Ling got up and ran to see Lan Fan.

He was back in the medical area where he met May. They just looked at each other with confused expressions.
"How is she? Is she okay"
"Yes, she is okay. But in a great deal of pain. The arrow had a centimeter more until it would have hit the heart. But she is still very lucky she survived. They cleared the room out for you. The Alkahestry is still going. Did you get the Stone? Do you want me to use it?"

Oh how he did want to use it. He didn't want Lan Fan to be in pain, but he knew she would not let him.

"I got the Stone, but i don't think Lan Fan would let me use it on her.:

May smiled gently "Finally came to your sense i see. I wanted to explain to you early but you were set in your way. Go be with Lan Fan. She wakes now and then, saying 'I'm sorry' or 'Is he safe.'" May walked away and out of the medical area. Ling slowly walked into Lan Fan's room and sat down next to her bed, waiting for her to wake.

(End Flashback)

Ling groaned at the memory. All he wanted was for Lan Fan to wake up. He needed to hear her voice to lift his spirits. He was just sitting there, twirling the vile containing the stone in his hand.

Even in her sleep she is stubborn. She wouldn't be too mad if i used it on her...
No, she will never forgive herself. That stupid pride. More like idiocy.

He looked out the window. It was dusk. Then he heard a slight moan escaped Lan Fan.
Ling knelt by her bedside and took her had.

"Lan Fan." he whispered. "My dear Lan Fan, please wake up."

"M-my Lord" she said in a raspy tone. Then cough violently.

Ling felt a great urge to cry his eyes out. But he stayed strong.

"I'm so sorry." she whispered

"What? Why would you be sorry. You saved me." A tear ran down his cheek "You have nothing to sorry about."

She saw the Stone in Lings hand and said "Did you use that Stone on me?"

"I was going to, but came to my senses and realize you wouldn't want me to. Unless you want me to? I'll get May right away."

Lan Fan waved off his concerned and said "It shouldn't be wasted on me."

Ling rolled his eyes. But then came back to his sense as Lan Fan clutched her chest. Right where she was shot.
She coughed again and managed to get out one word before she fell asleep again.
A name he hadn't heard in a very long time.

"Hisoka"
Why did she mention her brothers name?