Chapter 2
Gohan sat at the window that was once barricaded before his little skirmish with the Ishvalan warrior several days ago, looking out into the desert area that Ishbal now resembled. Once proud buildings that housed the faithful Ishvalan people was now nothing more that ruins and rubble, it wouldn't be long till the sand covered these monuments and the traces of the war that had taken place.
Faint bangs could be heard off in the far distance, the war was going downhill for the red eyed people of Amestris; it was sickening how a nation could do this to its own people. The demi-saiyan let out a low groan as he began to stretch, he'd grown stiff from sitting at the window too long. Getting up he left the heat of the sun where he had been perched like a cat all day and began to wander around, helping out where ever he was needed in this makeshift hospital that they Rockbell doctors where running.
He hadn't had a good chance to talk to them since his fight with the scar faced Ishvalan, they were continually busy treating new arrivals from either side of the conflict taking place on Ishbal's sandy grounds, the all too familiar stench of death and blood stained the fresh air around the demi-saiyan.
The teen stopped near the main entrance into the building, he sensed a ki or chi as they said in this word heading towards this location. The chi itself felt vaguely recognizable, it didn't take long to figure out why as soon an Amestrian soldier, one that had been treated hear not too long ago and high ranking from what he remembered him saying. He was breathing heavily from his run here, sweat dripping down from his face. "Where are the Rockbell doctors?"
His shout rang throughout the entire building, it didn't take long for they married doctors to come and see what the commotion was. He called the doctors over to the other side of the room, wanting privacy with the two doctors he owed his life too. Gohan was thankful for his saiyan genetics, while his hearing was nowhere near as good as his master Piccolos, his was a great deal better than that of a human, allowing him to eavesdrop on the conversation, while he knew it was wrong to do he couldn't stop himself, his curiosity getting the better of him.
The high ranking officer spoke in ragged breaths, still out of it due to his sprint here, or it might have been that his injuries were wearing him down, but what he spoke angered the teen to his core. The blond haired Rockbells, the Amestrian military were growing tired of treated Ishvalans going back to fight after being treated by the two surgeons, the saw the husband and wife as a nuisance and where sending an alchemist to stage their demise.
The state alchemist they were sending went by the name of 'The Red Lotus Alchemist' and that he was on his way, the military man began to beg them to leave before it's too late. He must have felt like he owned the doctors that saved him from perishing on the battlefield. He quickly took off after gulping down a large cup full of water.
The Red Lotus Alchemist, while he had a vast amount of knowledge squeezed within his brain, he had no idea who this alchemist was, all he knew was that state alchemists were given titles once they enter the military and passed the state alchemist exam. Yuri Rockbell began to explain the situation and how they needed to evacuate, pleading for anyone who could help to assist those with serious injuries.
Gohan stretched his senses out, trying to pin point where this alchemist was and what he found shocked him, he sensed one man on his way towards the makeshift hospital, not too far away, but in the exact same position, he sensed something powerful and what felt like several human life forces. It didn't feel natural and if things kept going the way they were going then he'd make it here before everyone got away.
Gohan went to leave the establishment but was stopped when he felt a soft hand touch his shoulder, he turned to look into the blue eyes of Sarah. Blood stained her clothes from patients she had been working on, a curious look etched on her face, "Where are you going?" concern dripped from each word she spoke.
The young demi-saiyan gave her a smile, "Going to use the restroom before we leave, I'll be back in a minute." He didn't want to lie to her, and she probably saw through it as plain as day, but he needed to stall for these people to escape, he owed it to the Rockbells.
-A Second Chance-
Sarah Rockbell didn't know what to think, in the short time she knew the boy she knew he cared deeply for his fellow man, shown by the fact that he did whatever he could to help those injured and he didn't seem to care what race you where from, he treated everyone equally, she also knew he was incredible skilled in fighting. He had opened most of his stitches while protecting them and was still able to fight of a much larger and stronger opponent in her eyes and come out ok.
She didn't want to let him out of her sights, she had a feeling on what he was about to do, she wouldn't let a child go out onto a battlefield to protect them against a state alchemist, he'd most likely die, it should be an adult that should protect them. But she let him go against her better judgement, she had people to help get out of here. She truly hoped the young Gohan had just gone to the bathroom outside and that he would be back at any moment.
She felt sick for letting him go but what is done is done, she had to focus on saving as many people as possible, when everyone was out she would go looking for him if he didn't come back, it was the least she could do and she wouldn't forgive herself if something happened to the boy.
She just had to have faith that the teen would survive, but remembering his eyes which reminded her so much of each and every traumatized soldier told her he knew what he was doing and that he wouldn't die, the spirit she saw within him was like a burning fire which would never be extinguished no matter what.
-A Second Chance-
The young hybrids feet sunk into the ground ever so slightly as he walked on the sandy grounds, he was whistling a tune his mother once hummed to him as a kid to help him sleep. He stopped in his tracks as his target came into sight. He had to admit, he was gravely disturbed from the amount of chi's that seemed to be coming from this guy.
The guy himself was in a gray trench coat, his blue Amestris military clothing was visible underneath it though and his black hair was tied into a ponytail, two strands falling onto his face. His pale blue eyes where fixed on the demi-saiyan, a satisfying smile was plastered on his face.
Gohan stopped his whistling as the man was getting very close. "I take it your The Red Lotus Alchemist?" The state alchemist let out a chuckle. "My reputation go's as far as Xing, that's surprising."
Did he really look that much out of place because he was a foreigner. "So what can I do for you boy?" The state alchemist began to slowly walk forward, his body slightly tense, he was prepared to fight and Gohan was willing to oblige.
"Well if you would be so kind as to turn around and go back the way you came that would be great." The qualified alchemist let out a small chuckle, amused by the teen's words. "Can't do that." He had finally come within reaching distance "This is goodbye kid." He clapped his hands lightly before trusting forward both.
Moving to his left just enough to dodge the strike Gohan acted quickly, gasping the elder mans right wrist, he used the state alchemists momentum against him, managing to flip him onto his backside with little to no effort with a simply flick of his wrist. The demi-saiyan had gotten a glance at the soldier's hands, alchemic symbols a clear as day on them, used for changing components into explosives; he was thankful for the knowledge he had, he'd have to stay out of the man's reach.
The hybrid backed away as the state alchemist rose from the ground, a smile on his face. "Not bad kid, but I don't have time to waste on you." He trusted his hands forwards in Gohan's direction, red sparks of electricity flowing instead of the common blue when alchemy is preformed.
A rather large explosion occurred where the teen had been standing, smoke covering the battlefield of Ishbal. The state alchemist let out a rather psychotic laugh. "Such a beautiful sound! The stones power is truly amazing." He was about to take his leave when a cough drew his attention back to where the explosion had gone off.
As the smoke cleared the Red Lotus Alchemist could make out the teenagers body lying up against a wall of a building that was still intact, blood dripping down his face, his left arm slightly banged up, his breathing uneven as the state alchemist began his march forward towards him to finish what he had started.
"Got to hand it to you kid, your hard to kill, but I always finish what I start so allow me to put you out of your misery." He was getting closer but stopped when he saw the demi-saiyan chuckling. Gohan fixed his gaze on him, a triumphant smirk plastered on his face, confusing his foe. "What's so funny?"
Gohan tapped his hands together before placing his right palm on the wall behind him. "You shouldn't have let your guard down." A blue glow along with sparks of blue occurred from where the teen had placed his hand. "Check mate!" A fist of stone emerged from the stone wall of the building slamming into the surprised face of the military alchemist, knocking him out cold from the force of the blow and laving a rather nasty looking head injury.
Gohan watched as the adults body fell limp to the floor, letting out another chuckle at his victory. It was a close one, that blast nearly got him but now he knew why he sensed other souls from within the man, however they got there they were being used to bypass the law of equivalent exchange. That was a dangerous tool; he'd have to watch out for that in the future.
He pulled himself to his feet, it was time to get out of here, he knew in his condition he would be an easy target for any soldier, he tried to sense the chi's of those who had been getting treated by the Rockbells but his concentration was far from his best, and he could barley sense what was around him at that moment so he decided to walk in the direction of where the make shift hospital had been, hoping he would eventually find his way back to the group.
His injuries began to take their toll as he travelled through the intense heat. He fell to his knees, breathing heavily as sweat and blood mixed together, dropping onto the hot sand below. Was this how it was going to end, was this all he would accomplish with his second chance.
"No!" his voice was rasped, dehydration starting to kick in. "No, I won't die here!" he attempted to stand but he simply did not have the energy. He dug his hand into the sand, pulling himself forward, grains of sand entering and stinging his wounds as he crawled onwards. He was not giving up, he was going to make it through this, he had survived much worse and come out on the other side.
He had fought for far too long to go out like this; he gritted his teeth as he put maximum effort into his struggle. His struggle to live, to continue onwards, to protect this world, to follow his and make his path in this world.
But even with his determination his body was slowly beginning to shut down, from exhaustion. The bliss of unconsciousness calling out to him as his eyes began to drop of their own will. The demi-saiyans progress came to a halt; the only movement his body made was his breathing.
-A Second Chance-
Sarah Rockbell had been out searching for Gohan for a short while now; having started after she had made sure everyone was evacuated from their area of surgery before going out to look for the teen, her husband following her too.
She had heard the explosion, it had been near and away from all the fighting that was taking place. She had feared the worst, thinking Gohan had been killed and that the state alchemist would be among them at any moment, but as time went on and neither had showed up she began to worry.
Maybe Gohan had managed to stop him but had been injured in the process and wasn't able to make it back, so here she was out in the ruins of Ishbal, looking for a teen not much older than her own daughter.
That's when she saw it, locks of black hair sticking out of the sand, she sprinted as fast as her leg would allow, kneeling down beside the teen checking for a pulse, she let out a sigh of relief, glad that the boy was alive. She began to brush the sand off of the young teen she had known only for a few days. "Yuriy!" her shout echoed over to her partner in marriage who quickly came running up to her.
"Is he ok?" She gave her husband a nod, before the two could proceed on anything the Gohan began to regain consciousness as his eyes fluttered open. "Am I in heaven?" The two Rockbells couldn't help but chuckle at the boy's statement.
The demi-saiyan attempted to move before grunting in pain. "Nope, still alive." He muttered to himself. "Rest Gohan we'll take care of you, don't worry" Gohan ever so slowly closed his eyes to Sarah's soothing voice and fell back into his slumber.
Yuriy picked the boy up, Gohan lay limp in his arms. "Come on Sarah, let get out of here."His wife nodded in agreement as the two began to make their way out of the battlefield.
A/N: Happy Easter everybody. Well I hope you enjoy this chapter; I'd like to thank everyone for the reviews, favourites and follows. Please review if you see any mistakes, it would be greatly appreciated and until next time have a good one.