Chapter Four: Back To Central and More Hollow Hunting
Himiko's POV
I breathed in the fresh pine tree air around me, its a bit spicy but it smells nice. I was lazing around on the tree tops again, Kazumi had gone else where, probably to look around the area and maybe find any lingering spirits for me to exorcise.
A soft breeze tustled my hair but that was when Kazumi appeared again.
" Any orders from the Soul Society or are you just going to laze around til you get one? " asked Kazumi, obviously a bit anxious to go into battle again. Her voice and demeanor might be soft and calm but she has a flaw of getting a bit agitated to fight. But who am I to be saying this, it's also one of my flaws too.
" Maybe I will since there's nothing much to do here in Risembool unless you enjoy looking at nothing but sceneries that are nothing more than green. Oh, by the way, have you found Trisha yet? "
" No, she ran off somewhere and I can't exactly sense her spiritual energy. "
" Well me neither. " I closed my eyes and tried to relax my mind but something else popped into thought, " Kazumi, "
" Hm? "
" That boy...Did you think he could actually see me? I mean his eyes were so directed torwards me... "
" Impossible, no human being could see you. We're ghosts in this human world unless you resume your gigai form. "
" Meh, I guess you're right...Maybe he's just delirious " I said, shrugging the matter off. It's most likely I won't be seeing him again so there's no point in worrying about an issue caused by a stranger. A small beeping noise awoke me from my peaceful half-slumber. I pulled out my cellphone again from my pocket and flipped it open.
' Unexplainable damage has been caused near a military warehouse. Make sure you eliminate that hollow before the military themselves conduct an inspection. Head to Central. '
" It seems that hollows are appearing around here more than often..."
" Yeah...I wonder why... " I sighed; sometimes being a Soul Reaper is tiring. No matter how many times you excorcise a ghost they just never stop coming. People need to learn not to die as much nowadays. I sat up straight on the tree branch, my legs dangling underneath me.
" We should get going Himiko. "
" Yeah, yeah, yeah but I ain't as hell gonna take another train ride. I might actually die this time. " I said before I jumped off and landed smoothly on the ground, " But first I gotta find my gigai, I think I left it near the tree..."
" How could you just leave your gigai like that and remember it now?! It could've wandered off by now! "
" Don't worry, it couldn't...Hopefully. " I replied nervously and shunpo'ed back to the tree. Surprisingly, it was still there, sitting peacefully under the tree. I merged with it and spat out the soul candy I had swallowed.
" But I don't wanna take a train! It's so boring! " I complained.
" True, we'll just find other ways then... " Kazumi said. I nodded and took out a soul candy and swallowed it again. I reverted back to my shinigami form/sprit form and my gigai had a life of its own once more, supposedly named Rin.
" Rin, you're gonna take a train to Central City. I'll meet you there ok? " Rin nodded and started to walk torwards the train station, " Alright, that's settled. Now come on Kazumi! " I exclaimed before I transported to Central.
Ed's POV
Me and Al left on the train heading back to Central first thing in the morning and we arrived there earlier than we thought. As we departed the train, Major Armstrong greeted us as our escort, again.
" It is wonderful to have you back Edward Elric! And Alphonse Elric! " I chuckled at his cheerful greeting and we both headed to the Library to continue our research on the Philosopher's stone. Armstrong left soon afterwards to do some other military business.
But it seems that my mind was elsewhere instead of in the documents we were looking at and Al seemed to notice.
" Brother? What's wrong? You seem...distracted. "
" Huh? Oh it's nothing really. "
" Brother, you can't lie to me. There's something on your mind. Anything you want to talk about? "
" No, it's ok Al. Don't worry. " I lied then slapping on a reassuring smile, hoping that Al would buy it. But I knew him, we both knew each other too well. Al looked at me hard and long before turning back to the documents he was looking for. Even though he knew something was on my mind, he wouldn't pester on about it if I decided not to talk about.
Well, at least that's a good thing because if I would have told him, I would've made him worry about some stupid issue that might be pointless. All we need to do now is concentrate on finding any leads on the Philosopher's Stone. I stared at the papers in my hand, the words were there but I can't seem to get them through my head.
Something was troubling me and I knew what it was, as hard as I try, I can't get that face out of my head. That mysterious girl in the graveyard in Risembool. And that monster she was fighting. After a few hours of just plain research, I decided to call it a day and maybe head out in Central for a while to get some fresh air. But before Al and I could make it to the end of the hall, a scream that sounded like it belonged to Fuery erupted from within Mustang's office. Now even though I don't plan on seeing the damn bastard with a god complex, I was curious to know what all the commotion was about so I decided to eavesdrop.
" Brother, I don't think it's good to eavesdrop... " whispered Al as we knelt beside the door and I pressed my ear against it.
" Don't worry Al, we won't get caught... "
Inside the Office
" Colonel Mustang! It's back! It's back! And I'm sure of it this time! "
" What's back? Tell me! " Demanded Mustang from his desk.
" It's the ghost from the warehouse! I saw it with my own eyes last night! " Mustang slumped his shoulders a bit and his left eye began to twitch in annoyance.
" Fuery..."
" I swear its true! There was also damage at the warehouses! They appeared out of nowhere! "
" FUERY..." Mustang was becoming annoyed with this deja vu act and he definately won't waste his time like before. Fuery immediately ceased his rants on seeing a ghost as Falman, Havoc and Breda all stared at him.
" Kain, do you seriously think that it's a ghost and not hallucinating the warehouse to be number 13 again? " asked Havoc.
" I said it was true! Don't you believe me?! Then come tonight and I'll show you! " said Fuery.
" Fine, fine fine. I'll volunteer to walk the baby home tonight. " joked Falman. Fuery glared at his remark but at least he was glad that someone can come and see for themselves that it was true.
Outside the Office Ed's POV
" Ghosts? Che.. " I sniggered, hardly believing what I'm hearing.
" There's no such thing as a ghost, right brother? "
" Yeah, you got that right. " I said but then something in the back of my mind clicked to all of this. I don't know why but I have a weird feeling.
" C'mon Al, let's head out in town for a while.. " I said before getting up and walking away from the door. Al and I wandered around Central til it got dark. At that point, we headed back to HQ to our dorms for the night.
Next Day
" COLONEL MUSTANG!! WE SAW THE GHOST!!! " shouted Fuery and Falman at the same time as they bursted into Roy's office. The colonel glanced up from the paper he was reading with one elbow propped on his desk with a look of annoyance written on his face.
" There were these giant footprints and strange noises like tearing metal and then there were claw marking that appeared out of nowhere along the warehouses walls! " exclaimed Fuery on the verge of fainting.
" Its true! I saw it with my own eyes! " added in Falman.
" Enough! I will NOT waste MY time on some pointless ghost myth...AGAIN! It's probably your imagination. " Mustang shouted as he ceased the two from ranting on any longer.
" But-! "
" No! Just drop it and head to the mess hall...You don't want to miss lunch... " commanded Mustang. The two didn't bother to protest any longer, keeping to themselves that they did see what they saw last night and quietly left his office before he snaps again. As they left, Roy sank lower into his chair, sighing tiredly while rubbing his temple to prevent an oncoming migrain. It makes him wonder how they were accepted into the military in the first place. Dealing with a bunch of superstitious idiots was the last thing he needs to top off his mountains of paperwork and the headache. Life was truely, unfair.
Himiko's POV
Upon arriving in Central, the oh so civilized city, I began to search for the military warehouse that was haunted by a hollow. The place was rather big, and lots of people were roaming around the streets. Needless to say, being in spirit form is quite handy when it comes to bustling cities. People who you walk by don't push you out of the way when in a rush of some sort nor do you get jumped by some mugger while passing an alley way.
" So...where is this Military head quaters or whatever you call it here?! " I asked after hours of walking around in circles in search of military grounds.
" Umm...I think its over there.. " Kazumi pointed out as I followed her gaze at a giant white building with a green flag and a chimera hanging in front of it. It looked somewhat like a bank building. I stared at the large building not in awe of it's massive size but disbelievingly considering that even a retarded person couldn't miss it in a mile...And I missed it 4 times!
" I feel so stupid... " I muttered under my breath, cursing mentally at how idiotic I was. Kazumi must've heard since she was chuckling quietly to herself. I ignored her chuckles and proceeded torwards the building but I had no intentions on entering it. I looked around, trying to figure out how large the military property was.
" Maybe we should try searching over there.. " suggested Kazumi, gesturing over to the west side. I shrugged and headed torwards the direction. After a few more minutes of searching and walking, we finally came across some warehouses; 12 in total. I surveyed the area as I walked down the path that was directly in the middle of the swarming warehouses. I came across an empty dirt ground beside warehouse number 12 and there were faint imprints of large footprints. As I knelt down closer to inspect it further, I concluded that they indeed belonged to a hollow since were of monstrous size and looked almost animal.
" Yup, definately a hollow is here... " I muttered.
" Look, claw marks that was scratched into the walls... " Kazumi spoke up, looking at the long, thin lines that was etched into the warehouse. I sighed and stood up, resting my hand on the hilt of my zanpakuto.
" Well, I don't sense a hollow around here...Maybe its out wandering the cities or the nearest cemetery looking for spirits to devour. "
" So, what do we do in the meantime? " asked Kazumi, floating beside me.
" Wait til it gets dark I guess... " I said, shrugging carelessly.
" Do you know how long that's going to take?! " exclaimed Kazumi pointing at the clear, blue sky and the brightly shining sun.
" Uhh...A while but bear with me. We're spirits, no need to worry. "
" But what happens when your powers drain?! Then what? "
" I'll revert to my gigai form. " I replied simply. Kazumi gave a tiring sigh then disappeared. I glared at the spot she used to be, 'So she thinks she could leave me here all alone to entertain myself huh? Well, if she's going to be that way then fine'. I decided to take a walk around the maze of warehouses and found a path that lead to another part of the city where there were a couple of houses and shops. When I was finally getting tired of exploring, I settled myself on a nearby tree not too far away from the warehouses and shut my eyes.
Ed's POV
" I'm telling you, the ghost is real! We saw it! "
" Face it, its probably just like last time. It was only your imaginations. " I don't know how long this conversation has been going on but I'm getting pretty annoyed that they kept claiming they saw a ghost or some spirit. First of all, they don't exist and second why would a ghost want to haunt the military grounds? But there was nothing else to do while eating lunch in the mess hall and that conversation seems to be the only one I could hear out of the many other noises.
" Brother, do you really think there's a ghost? "
" Nah, don't be ridiculous Al. You know ghosts don't exist. " Al didn't look too convince but there was nothing more to be said; ghosts don't exist, period.
" Hello, Fullmetal. " I inwardly shuddered at the voice because I knew EXACTL Y who it belongs to. Mr. Snide-comments-with-a-god-complex.
" Oh, hello Colonel Mustang. " greeted Al. I remained quiet and refuse to look at the smug look on his face, which he always seems to have on whenever I'm around.
" Hello Al and no greetings from you? " I knew that question was directed at me even if I wasn't facing torwards him. I can already imagine that smirk on his face, it makes me want to punch it. I heard a chuckle and then him taking a seat across from me.
" So Fullmetal, heard any good ghost stories lately? " It was then that I decided to finally talk to him.
" If you mean the one Havoc and Fuery saw at the warehouses then sure, what about them? "
" Do you think they're true? "
" Of course not, there's no such things as ghost. You don't honestly believe in them do you? " I asked, I couldn't keep the corner of my mouth from twitching into a slight smirk. I mean come on, the Colonel Roy Mustang believes in ghosts? Ha!
" After a little incident relating to that subject, I don't think there is and still don't. "
" So what's with bringing up this subject anyways? " I asked, not really getting the point of this.
" Why don't you and Al go check out the warehouses tonight, see if you can find any other paranormal activities going on there. "
" And what makes you think I'm going to waste my time on something like that and why can't you go yourself? "
" Oh don't worry Fullmetal, I'm sure sooner or later you'll check out the area since they are military properties and I can't exactly go there since I got paperwork to do. "
" Hmph, as if. We've got better things to do, like researching on the stone. And speaking of which...Later Mustang... " I said while getting up and walking out of the mess hall with Al following me. If the Colonel thinks I'm going to go there any time soon, its never gonna happen I can garuntee that. We headed straight for the library and began our daily search for any information related to the Philosopher's stone. I don't how long it's been since that afternoon but time sure flies because before you know it, its dark already(A/N: Little Time skip there, srry its a bit boring but the characters don't do much in daylight...well not yet so bear with me )
" Brother, we should head back to our dorms now. It's getting late. " I agreed to that with a yawn and nodded my head, I got up and placed the books back where I found them. Al and I were about to head back to our dorms when a loud crashing noise caught my ears. It sounded far away but we were close enough to catch it.
" Hey Al, did you hear that? "
" Yeah, it sounds like its coming from around the back of the library. " (A/N: Bear with me I don't know where the heck the warehouses are either )
" Let's check it out. " I said and ran out of the library and torwards the source of the noise. There were more noises when I got closer to wherever the hell it was. Metal screeching, a few crashes and what sounded like large feet pounding the ground. When I finally figured out where they were all coming from, I realized that it was in the huddles of warehouses. Everything was quiet now as I stood in the entrance to the maze, which was pretty strange considering all the noises that I heard, it could've woken up the whole city.
" This is strange, what the hell is going on...? "
" I don't know, the noises were coming from here a while ago... " Al was looking from side to side cautiously, just in case if whatever that was making the loud noises comes out and attacks us, we're ready. I glanced briefly from left to right too but caught nothing but darkness and the white luminous rays of the moon here and there, lighting the warehouses. That's when I caught sight of it...