Chapter 89: Night of Secrets
The office lay in perfect darkness but the man didn't care at all as he walked into the darkness. Yes, her smell was all over the heavy furniture. The slightly sour but still smell that belonged to her and only to her … the smell that was the reason why he had always been able to find her ever since they had let him out of the prison. He found her desk and opened the unlocked top drawer where he found a pair of fingerless black gloves. She had always been the Black Lady of the town, even as a child. But then he spotted a photo on top of the desk. It showed the Black Lady, her actual toy, her twin and another woman. They looked disgustingly happy and smiled way too bright.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps on the hallway before someone walked straight into the room. He heard that it wasn't the one he wanted to see but it was also a woman. He heard her long hair hit her back as she moved through the room like it was her own. She made her way to the desk before she froze. "Who is here?" she asked with a lethal cold voice and the man in the shadows realised that his little princess had no longer nothing but idiots around her. This woman was a risk, he was sure of it. Suddenly, the lamp on the desk went on and the black-haired woman stared at him for a moment before he attacked her. The fight was hard for the stupid bitch was fighting back with all the strength she had and her long fingernails drew complicate designs in his skin. Finally, he was able to grab a heavy book and knocked the annoying slut out with it before he ran away.
Jun Yao watched his son and his most trusted ally with glee as they finally returned from their little training excursion. Jun Li looked a little bit annoyed but that was normal for her since her skill to spot the chi of another person had seen better times before. It annoyed the hell out of her since it made her weaker and she hated being weak because that made her depend on other people – something she hated. She was used to being strong and she also knew what drained her power from her – without attacking the actual strength she needed to stay alive.
"How did it go, son?" Jun Yao asked with a smirk while Cai bounced around in the living room.
"I successfully tricked her," the prince said with a wide grin. "Junny thought that I would play it nice but why should I do this as long as I want something? And we all know how things are in Xing: who doesn't pay attention gets in trouble – or married, right, my darling?" he wrapped one arm around her waist and kissed her gently. "I hope that you don't mind, father," he added.
Jun Li pouted a little bit. "You don't have to rub it in my face that I didn't concentrated enough," she said before she glared at Cai. "Little boys belong in bed now," she ordered.
"Yes, Jun-Jun," he muttered while he looked down. "But can we work out tomorrow again? I promise that I will concentrate even better than today if you show me another move…"
She sighed while she ruffled his hair. "I will think about it," she said while she stretched. "Well, I am off to bed too, gentlemen. Whoever dares to wake me up is dead, just so you know."
Jade hurried down the hallway while Claudio and Phil right behind her. The state alchemist nearly broke down the door as she tried to open it and she cursed in words her mother would have made her wash her mouth with soap as she spotted the woman on the floor. Like all Mustangs, Jade was very protective about those who were close to her. She remembered the story how her late uncle, Roy's father, had nearly broke every bone in a man's body – just to protect his sisters. Being female, Jade lacked such a physical strength to a certain point but she made up for it with her intelligence. She made her way towards her hurt friend and while she turned Bea around, she vowed that she would take revenge for this.
"Bea…" Phil whispered while he kneeled down next to his fiancée. "Wake up, darling … please…"
Jade, however, collected herself and hurried over to the phone and dialled the number of Jun Li's private phone. The Xingese warrior was not only a skilled healer but also able to track down whoever had attacked Bea. Jade took it really seriously when someone attacked her friends – and if necessary, she would punish the person without the support of her friends. She was a strong state alchemist after all and she wouldn't need the help of anyone to give the coward who knocked out Bea the beating of a lifetime. Jade hated people who attacked the ones she cared for and as she looked over her shoulder and spotted the red bruise and the blood in Bea's face, she grabbed the coat from her chair. That had been the reason why she had come back to the office in first place. "I am taking this very seriously," she said with a deep frown. She huffed. "Seriously enough to go to Elric to make him help me with this problem," she added while she closed the buttons. "Well, I'll be back soon, boys. Take care of Bea and don't hesitate to beat up whoever may come for her to finish her off."
It was night but Roy was still up and walking around in the living room. On the table were the arrays the children had designed during their lesson and it was obvious that the smart and systematic Victoria was ahead of her siblings – just like Jade had always been ahead of him and Phil when they had studied under Abigail. He wasn't worried about Victoria's fast progress because he knew that she was – after all – the daughter of Lynn who had been one of the smartest women he had ever met and Martin who had had the skill of memorising everything he saw, felt or heard.
He stood on the window when a shadow appeared in front of it. He was about to attack when he recognised his cousin in the last second and lowered his hand again and opened the window for her. "I hope you know how lucky you are," he said while he held out a hand. "Well, it's late, so what are you doing here?" he asked while he sat down.
"Bea was attacked," she said with gritted teeth while she started to pace around. "Oh, when I get my hands on the bastard who did that do her I am going to tear off his skin bit by bit … I am going to kill him slowly." She looked at her cousin over her shoulder. "You know how I can get, right?"
He nodded slowly. "Yes, your temper can be worse when Izumi's if you get really angry," he said with a smirk. "Well, I really don't want to be inconsiderate, but…"
She looked in his direction, indicating that she was listening.
Roy looked at Jade who was pacing around in the room and was more than happy that she didn't cry. He hated to see her upset and even though he knew that Jade Mustang hadn't cried in a long time and that she showed her grief in another way by now, he told himself that she was just angry. He walked over to her and grabbed her upper arm before he led her to the couch. "Jade," he said gently, "I need to ask you for a favour. I won't lie … it will be dangerous but … you are the only one who can do it."
She smirked while she nodded slightly. "Dangerous for a normal person or dangerous for me?" she asked while she took out a little notebook. "Well, I will do whatever it may be what you ask from me."
It was better for her to focus on a new mission instead of worrying. She had done what she could do best: managing a situation by taking care of everything and leaving afterwards to get more help.
"At the same time when I first came to study under Riza's father…" Roy sighed. "There was another student, an older boy. He studied under Lady Hawkeye and I hardly saw him. I just know that he had to go when he stole something from one of the girls. I never knew what … but last night, I remembered that there used to be a really old book in Lynn's room … and one day, it was gone. I ask you for this favour … because the case should interest you for two reasons. Firstly, it was stolen from your best friend and secondly, it was about your field of experience: to break codes…"
She was silent for a moment. "I'll get to read it first," she said and he knew that it was her twisted way to say that she would do the job. "Give me everything you have on that guy. I will track him down in les than four months, so I will be back in time for the end of the summer break of the parliament."
He smiled at her. "I knew that you would do it," he said, "but I want you to go with a partner – and Phil is stuck in the capital since Bea's parents are going to visit them and you know how parents are when it comes to meeting the future children-in-law." He chuckled. "By the way, did you already drag Claudio to Barley? He has to meet our lovely mother and your father…" he smirked at her blush. "Aah, it's still so much fun to annoy you, Jade!" he exclaimed. "You are crimson in your face!"
She glared at him with all her might. "So, who will be my partner?" she asked with a frown.
"Well, the mission will be most likely in the East and we don't have many people from there…"
She shook her head. "Don't tell me that I have to go on a mission with Elric," she complained. "He hates me. The first change he gets, he will leave me to die on dirt, Roy!"
"Jade," he said and grabbed her shoulders. "I know that you and Fullmetal don't like each other at all but for the sake of the mission, can you try to get along with him? The cover story Riza and I made up requests that you play his older sister. Claudio can go with you if he wants to … and we considered if we should allow Victoria to join you … because technically, the book belongs to her seeing that she is Lynn's oldest child – even if she beats Nick just by minutes. And she likes you. Furthermore, her break starts soon enough too and … well … you understand … Laila and Cai are so close that Riza thinks that we should already plan the wedding … and Nick and Elicia are close too. Vicky always feels a little bit left out … especially since the twins are too young for her to play with … and I want her to enjoy her summer break … and I don't want her to study all the time…"
His cousin rubbed her temples. "Mom would so kill me if she would know that I am taking a little girl on a mission with me," she said, "but I will do it – considering that it would be fun."
"Jade," he said seriously, "I hope that we will see each other again soon. You know how dangerous a high-skilled Water Alchemist can be … and why I can't go after him myself."
She nodded silently. "Fire and water are natural opponents," she stated calmly. "Well, I'll be on my way back to the office. I just needed to get away from everything for a moment. Honestly, after all we went through I still can't deal with a hurt comrade. It makes me feel terrible."
"At least you have enough common sense to leave before you can blow up everything – including evidence," he said. "Well, Jade, I see you in the morning for the details of your mission. Oh … and don't tell Phil any details. Riza and I know that facts, the rest should assume that you are on a vacation."
"What about Laila and Nick?" the woman asked. "Those two are always getting in trouble – and I can imagine that Olivier would assume that something is wrong too. Furthermore – everyone knows that I would rather kill myself than going on a vacation with Fullmetal."
"Jade, why can you don't act your age and go along with him?" he sighed.
She glared at him. "It is a matter of pride," she suddenly announced. "This boy asked me honestly how I cheated during the written examination! He believes that it is impossible to get the full score! And he said that if someone would have had a chance to get the full score, it would have been him! He is so arrogant and yet he claims that Phil and I are the arrogant ones!"
Her cousin looked at her before he started to chuckle. "You don't get it, right?" he asked.
She shook her head. "That stupid guy just ruins my mood by standing around!" she hissed.
"I would say that he is jealous of your accomplishment," he said. "Fullmetal is someone who always wants to be the best – and he doesn't take it kindly if someone beats him in his field. And you did it. You dared to beat him in his domain. He feels like you attacked him first, so he tries to fight back."
"And here I thought that you would never make sense, Roy -boy," she grinned. "Do you regret that your great miniskirt-plan never came true? I believe that Martin and Charles would be disappointed…"
"Well, at least Armstrong won't kill me," Roy smirked. "Are you heading back?"
"Yeah, I am going to wake up Fullmetal on my way back. He can be of some use for me," she said. "As long as he annoys me, I won't freak out and blow up the place. You know how I can get."
"And you get worse with every passing day," he grinned.
She turned to leave, again through the window before she froze and turned around. "I have to be tired since I didn't wonder about this before," she said slowly. "Tell me, Roy, why do you need a book to help you to break a code? Usually, you just dump the manuscript on my desk and I have to deal with it…"
"It's … personal," he said slowly. "I am sorry but I won't tell you, Jade."
She rolled her eyes and disappeared back into the night.
Roy sighed deeply and rubbed his temples before he raised his head and looked over to the door where Victoria had appeared. She looked like a ghost with her pale face and her scar was visible. She carefully went over to him and sat down next to him. "Was that Aunty Jade?" she asked quietly.
He nodded. "How much did you hear?" he asked while he stroked her messy hair.
"Just something about Edward's jealousy," she replied. "And something about a book…"
"She is getting back a book that belongs to you," Roy said. "The book was stolen from Lynn many years ago – back then, we hadn't the chance to get it back. Now we can do it … and I hope that you allow me to use it for one little thing before I give it back to you. It would help me greatly."
She nodded. "I have no idea what you are talking about but you can have it," she said while she rubbed the scar which was aching once more. She had been just a baby when she had gotten it and on earlier pictures, the angry red gash had been always the most impressing trait about her. She couldn't remember how she had gotten it – and she knew that Jade knew but she also knew that she would never ask the female state alchemist but she had seen the pained face of Breeze Soul whenever the scar had been visible, so it was save to assume that there was a story behind the scar in which Jade had failed to be the heroine, something she usually always achieved.
Edward looked at Jade who looked like she was about to yell at someone – but that was quite normal for someone as emotionally stressed as her. "What's up, Mustang?" he asked while he watched how Phil and Claudio took care of the injured Bea while Jun Li and her escort were searching for traces. The Xingese hadn't been happy to be called that late at night and Jun Li was still in her pyjama while she walked around in the office.
The older state alchemist shook her head. "Just a memory," she said while applied pressure on her forehead to ease to pain inside her head. "Do you know the feeling that you forgot something important?" As she straightened, her sleeves slipped down and for a moment, the angry red stripes around her wrists were visible before she hid them again. "There was something in my past and it is related to this event … I just can't figure out what exactly it was…"
Phil looked at her from the other side of the room. "Bea's injuries look a little bit familiar," he said. "I believe that I looked the same when this crazy guy attacked me for being too close with you…"
Edward watched how Jade rushed out of the room and shook his head. "For someone that emotional, it's really a wonder that she is still standing on her own feet," he muttered under his breath but was confronted with Claudio's glare. The prince walked over to him and looked down at him. "Leave Jade alone," he said. "You know nothing about the things she went through. She saw more than you … and I never saw her complain about anything. In case you forgot: she got injured in the West because you stole files and she had to follow you. And I hate to see her injured!"
"That's enough," Jade whispered before she wiped away her make-up, revealing the scar on her face. It was a deep gash which resembled the scar on Victoria's chest before the healing through Lynn's patented Let-the-scar-disappear-method. "Look at this, you fool," she muttered. "You took this scar instead of betraying your comrades. You can make your own decisions – and if you ever doubt yourself again, it will be the last thing you will ever do. You made it so far, you can survive!"
She remembered the feeling of the cold steel running through her skin … the feeling of fear … the fact that she had known that they would torture her until they would have the information they desired. They had caught her when she had been babysitting the twins for Lynn. Victoria had been on Jade's lap when the men had broken into Lynn's and Martin's house. They had wanted to get the insider information Jade possessed as personal state alchemist of the commander of the Western Area. She had fought back but she had been careful because of the children. When they had realised that Jade would never speak, they had hurt Victoria– effectively sending Jade over the edge. She had knocked them all out, in one single transmutation.