Chapter 5

The Night the Devil Came

"We should be out there hunting him down!" Mustang shouted but the man behind the desk shook his head.

"King Bradley gave me his orders to keep you here. Might I request you a room for tonight, Colonel?"

"Like hell, I'm staying here." Mustang hissed as he took his gloves out of his pocket. Renee grabbed them and tossed them to the man at the desk.

"Roy you heard what King Bradley said, we have to stay here. Scar is out there killing alchemists and you want to go out there and fight him?"

"Well why not?"

"He'll wipe the floor with your face is what he'll do! Give Colonel a room to stay, specifically a room without a balcony and on the fifth floor."

"Right away, Major." The man replied as he started looking at keys.

"I'm not going to have you out there fighting a serial killer who has killed alchemists that worked in the force longer than you." Renee said as she held onto his hands. "Don't you notice the connection? He's killing alchemists that fought in the Civil War. You were one of the greats; he must be here for you." Roy looked out the windows and saw smoke from a building a few blocks down. Could Scar be after him?

"Colonel? Here's your room key." The clerk said and Roy snatched it from his hands and headed up the stairs.

"I better not be paying for this." Roy snarled at him and left Renee with the clerk.

"King Bradley has already told me to send him the bill." The Clerk replied to Renee. She only laughed.

"Better not to tell Mustang or he'll rack up on room service and beer. I'll make sure he stays here." She waved at the clerk and took the stairs two at a time before reaching her floor where she saw Winry waiting for her. Winry looked up and a smile grew on her mouth as she rushed over to Renee.

"SO?! Did you guys kiss?"

"Hell no what do I look like? I already told you, Winry. He's just an old friend and nothing more." Renee replied and opened her hotel door. A rush of air blew past her and she landed her back as two boys tackled her.

"Make him go away!"

"He just barged in and started screaming about how he wanted to tear us to shreds!"

"EDWARD!" Renee screamed as she stormed into the room and saw Ed eating leftover food. "GET OUT OF MY ROOM!" She threw him out the door and Winry closed it behind her.

"THEY STOLE MY FOOD!" Ed screamed behind the closed door.

"GOOD!" Winry screamed back. "Anyway, who is Scar?"

"A man killing State Alchemists. So far he took five lives and one mutation. According to Ed it was his friend and her father turned her into a mutation to save his State Alchemist license. What a sick pig."

"No kidding, so Mustang wants to go out and kill this bastard?" Winry asked as she pulled the clips from her hair out and tossed her purse onto the coffee table.

"Yeah… he killed a couple of his friends but he won't be able to leave his room unless he wants to fall to his death." Renee snickered. They heard from outside an explosion and Winry covered her ears as the windows shattered. Darkness.

"Scar is still on the loose in Central." Havoc said to Roy who sat beside him in the car on the way to work. Since the hotel's windows shattered from the fourth floor down Roy had no choice but to be escorted back home and guarded by officers to keep him safe from Scar. Whatever that explosion was… it left the hotel with an incredible amount of damage and numerous people to the hospital. Renee and the others left the area unscratched but passed out until help arrived. Roy was left to share his apartment with Ed and Al while Winry and the Blanche children stayed with Hughes who lived only a few blocks away. He hated the idea of them staying with the god most annoying person in the world but Bradley didn't trust Roy to have girls at his place, what an old hoot.

"Is King Bradley asking us to hunt him down?" Mustang asked as he glared at Ed who sat in the back seat. That little ass was snoring all night leaving Mustang with zero hours of sleep.

"Yep. He even wants Elric and Blanche to stay in the city and help us kill him." Havoc replied as they pulled in front of Central Commands' Main building.

"Why do we have to help?" Ed groaned as he opened the door and stretched his arms out. "I rather go on the mission we were assigned."

"Shut it, runt. Where are the others?" Mustang asked.

"Inside. I'll meet you in a few hours." Havoc replied as he drove off.

"I'M NOT A RUNT, YOU SICK BASTARD!"

"Really? Someone could mistake you for a doormat." Roy replied and Ed's face to red in anger. He wanted to say something to this oaf but the glaring face of Renee Blanche pulled him back and he muttered under his breath.

"Restless night, Colonel?" Hawkeye asked as she saluted him. He waved her away and stood in the room as the others gathered around him.

"Alright… I need Elric to sniff him out, get him to come out from the shadows." Mustang said in a bored voice. He just wanted to kill this Scar and go home and nap. Elric eyed him and stuck his tongue out. "My team will be standing on Bradley Street where you'll lead him to so we can shoot him down. Renee, keep a watch on Elric and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

"Whatever you say." Renee replied.

"Anything stupid? LOOK HERE PAL I'LL LEAVE YOU BLEEDING ON THE FLOOR-" Ed screamed and Renee knocked him on the head with her fist.

"Shut up."

"Sergeant Furry, I want you to stay behind and listen to reports. Report to Officer Falman." Mustang ordered and Furry saluted him. "Alright Elrics and Blanche you three leave first." Edward mumbled as he headed out the door. "Renee?" She turned and looked at Mustang. "Stay on the roofs and watch from below. He might not have a problem with you but I hear falling icicles can kill." Mustang smirked and she grinned back as she ran after Ed.

"Are you sure we should let them hunt down a serial killer?" Hawkeye asked him.

"Is your motherly instincts finally kicking in? Are you hiding something from me that I should know about between you and Michael?" Roy sneered and she glared at him. "They can handle it just fine. Besides… it's a way of seeing how Blanche works in the field."

She loved the way the air moved past her as she hopped from roof to roof. The rush was amazing and her favorite past was gliding through the air to the roof of a building that stood six to seven feet apart. She had to keep her mind sharp and watch Ed and Al below as they tried searching for Scar through the alleys and darker streets.

She was warned about this man named Scar. He was dangerous and he had the power to explode the inside of a person's body with alchemy. Was he a heating alchemist? Blood alchemist? What about metal alchemist? She wasn't sure but what she did know was she had to protect Ed and Al even if it meant her dying in the process. Although Mustang would rather Ed explode from the inside Ed was younger and a much better use. She was useless in hot weather just like Mustang was useless in rain. She chuckled at the thought because above them clouds were forming and from a distance a rumble of thunder echoed throughout the city.

"Renee? You see anything?" Ed called up at her.

"Nothing. It's like he wants us to think he vanished or something."

"Maybe he left the city since we're up in arms." Al replied as Renee hopped to another roof and peered from all the angles of vision the roof had to offer. She saw a few homeless wanderers hiding in the alleys but what the hell did this guy look like? She hopped to a roof three buildings away and saw a man dashing into the alley across the way.

"Ed! Check out the alley at your nine o' clock." Renee said to him and Ed sprinted to the alley where the man was hiding. She listened for anything, a blast, screaming or Ed's signal. It was then she saw Ed's signal and hopped towards the alley.

"Ed!" She looked over and saw a flash of white hair and dark skin and slammed her hands on the ground to block Scar from leaving the alley. "Ed keep him here!" She jumped towards the building where her mic box sat ready to contact Furry. "Furry! We found Scar on the corner of Penny and Commander road!"

"I'll send Mustang there right away!" Furry responded, his voice cracked and broken.

She heard more blasts and a rumble as people shrieked and ran down the streets.

"Get to cover!" Renee shouted from the roofs to the running crowds of people below. She saw Ed was trying his best to keep Scar contained in the alley but Scar was too fast and he smashed Al's armor as he tried to protect Ed from Scar's destructive alchemy.

"Son of a bitch!" Renee cried as she jumped down from the roof to a balcony and then the ground and ran at Scar. Ed sat there talking to Scar, his voice too quiet for her to hear and Scar raised his hand to Ed ready to kill him. Renee saw from the corner of her eye that Mustang's group was heading towards them and she slammed her hands on the ground causing an storm of ice spikes to fly at Scar. He ducked and touched the wall, brick and debris exploding everywhere and cutting her face. She held her cries of pain in and used an ice sculpture punch hitting Scar hard in the stomach and sending him flying into a wall.

"Can you move?" Renee asked Ed just as Mustang and Hawkeye appeared and ran after Scar. Ed shook his head and gasped in pain. His automail arm was completely destroyed and surrounded him in small pieces. Armstrong took off in a run past them and into the alley to follow Mustang and Hawkeye, rain just starting to fall. Edward chuckled as he felt raindrops against his skin.

"Mustang will be useless now…" Edward said just before he passed out.

"He was going to let Scar kill him to save me." Al said as medics picked up Ed and rushed him into a waiting car. "What a fool." Renee picked up Al's broken pieces and wrapped them up into a cloth that she then made into a bag.

"He's your older brother. Michael would've done the same for me." Renee replied and she handed Al's pieces to a waiting officer and helped the others lift Al's body into the same car as Ed. "I knew something was up with you though. He committed the taboo didn't he?" Renee looked at Al sternly.

"So it's illegal in your country too huh?"

"Did he?"

"We were trying to bring back our mother and he lost his arm and leg but I lost my whole body. Without him… I wouldn't be here today." Al sniffed and Renee looked away from him and stared at an officer listening to the radio.

"They lost sight of Scar but Colonel is missing." An officer said. Renee froze.

"Go. I may only be a pile of metal right now but I'll take care of brother. Go find, Colonel."

Renee took off in a run searching every alley and street until she saw Hawkeye with a gash across her face.

"He just took off and left us in a smoke mess. I have no idea where either of them is." Hawkeye said as Armstrong nodded in agreement, his shirt missing from the battle.

"Ed and Al are on their way to the hospital. There are officers near the alley where they were. Go there and get that sealed up." Renee said to Hawkeye and left them as she kept searching for Mustang.

"Roy?" Renee kept shouting down every alley and street. "Mustang!" She ran down the last street before Main Street and noticed a pile of rubble. She heard coughing and Scar appeared from behind a garbage bin and stared at her. She grabbed the knife that was attached to her belt and glared at him.

"You're that Princess…" Scar muttered. Gashes and blood lined almost every part of his face and she noticed the large shape X scar that crossed his face.

"Where is he?" Renee spat at him.

"The Flame Alchemist? His location is unknown to me." Scar mused before ran past Renee and she threw the knife hitting him in the shoulder. He kept running and she cursed losing her best knife to some street rat. She continued down the road to a dark alley, her boots clicking against the pavement.

"Mustang?" Renee called out and someone grabbed her from behind and she felt something wet staining her clothes as she tried to scream.

"SHUT UP!" Mustang hissed in her ear. "That bastard might hear you!" She shook him off and tried punching him before she saw his face bloody.

"What the hell happened to you?" Renee said just as a rumble of thunder over them boomed and the pouring rain drop on them.

"I couldn't get a spark to ignite. Some debris hit my face."

"Well you know it's raining… you're useless in rain." Renee laughed as she took off black jacket and pressed it onto his wounds to stop the bleeding. "You're lucky I found you."

"Shut up." Roy mumbled. She helped him back to the alley where the main crime scene was allowing officers to examine Mustang.

"He won't need stitches but next time, don't run off when you know it's raining." A doctor warned Mustang. Roy narrowed his eyes at him and handed Renee her jacket.

"Keep it. Your blood is all over it."

"I'll get it dry cleaned then."

"No you touched it; I'll have to burn it once I get it back." Renee teased. He kicked her and she sat next to him in the car.

"Renee you'll need stitches." The doctor said before he pulled out a box and took out a needle and thread. Renee winced in pain as the doctor gave her three stitches on the right side of her face. He covered it in a bandage and went on to check bystanders who were also hurt.

"Look at us… some street con is killing us off and we're supposed to be the best of the country." Roy chuckled. "I feel useless…"

"Well you are in this kind of weather." Renee replied.

"Well you're useless when it's hot outside!"

"So? Then when it's hot and Scar is trying to kill me then you can be the hero but today I saved your ass. I deserve a dinner from you."

"What time should I pick you up then?" Roy sneered and she looked at him and smiled.

"Seven at Hughes place. Pasta sounds good tonight."

"Damn you, woman."

"Hey you asked for it."

"Aw are you two going on a date?" Hughes gushed as he grinned at them. Mustang shot a look at him and Renee smiled.

"Sorry I won't be attending dinner with you guys tonight." Renee mewed.

"Are you serious? Mustang…"

"Whatever. It's not like I have anything to do tonight." Roy mumbled as he tried to hide a smirk from Renee.

"Edward Elric is in pretty bad shape." Hughes said trying to get off the subject for Roy's sake.

"…I need to go see him. He's my partner." Renee said.

"I'll drive you. Mustang?" Hughes asked.

"I might as well go. He's my responsibility." Mustang hissed as he followed Hughes to his car. When Renee was out of earshot to talk to Hawkeye and Armstrong Hughes elbowed Mustang in the ribs.

"So… is this a date?"

"It's none of your business."

"So it IS a date. Look at you!"

"It's just dinner; we're not going anywhere fancy." Mustang said just as Renee returned with Hawkeye in tow.

"I can see it now… a wedding of blue and red." Hughes teased and Mustang slammed the door in response. What an immature person Hughes was. It was just a stupid dinner not a date. Renee was probably digging for answers about his past and Edward Elric. Still… did he want this to be a cheesy date that he was used to going on? He looked in the mirror and saw Hawkeye and Renee whispering about something and he went back to looking out the window. He was so weak minded against women. All he wanted was to take Bradley's place and bring this country back to its formal glory. Women like Renee were only holding him back. He didn't need a silly girl on his arm to worry about. Renee was different from the other girly silly women. She was tough and a strong alley. She could be used to help him get what he wants. She was revenge against Bradley right? Or no? He didn't know but he felt something hit his heart. A feeling he never felt or was it something he never wanted to feel?