There's a reason for the delay, our school managed to start an anime club so I've been really involved in that. But that's not really a reason to procrastinate so without further delay I present to you Chapter six of "After the Losses"
Oh wait, Further Delay
Disclaimers: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist
Spoilers for chapter 102
Every nerve screaming, drowning out her own voice. Another distant voice telling her that the surgery was almost over, her grandfather trying to reassure her also, wires attached to her arm.
"-UP, wake up." A hand was gripping her flesh shoulder, shaking her awake.
A hospital-like smell filled the air and for a moment the girl thought she was back in her nightmare, thought she still having her automail operation.
"Are you all right RanFan?" asked the blond women, her hand still on her shoulder.
"What happened." Asked RanFan looking around the room she was staying in. The Rockbells had been kind enough to let her and Riza sleep in the infirmary and the others in the basement.
"You where thrashing around in your sleep, bad dream?"
"I'm fine, I just need to get out of here for awhile," need to get away from the smell anesthetic.
"Will you be fine by yourself?" Asked Riza, looking out at the still dark sky "it's still five-thirty."
"I'll be fine, thank you Ms. Riza" she said as she donned a coat, tucking the left sleeve in so that it didn't get in her way.
"At least take Black Hayate with you, he's good company." She said nudging the small dog awake, while attaching a leash.
RanFan accepted the leash with a word of thanks before heading out the door. Resembool was, as she soon discovered, a simple town with simple people who were content to live by ranching and tending to sheep. "Simple" was something she didn't get enough of.
Because of left arm, or lack therefore of, her pace was kept slow as she shifted to the right and then had to shift left again, her canine companion followed every misguided step, staying at her slow gait. She had to admire the women who had trained him.
She came across what seemed to be a field with a few stone slabs residing on it, when she got closer she realized it was a cemetery. It was comforting somehow, to see a place that didn't have fresh graves, to know that at least this place hadn't been affected by the battle that had scarred her in so many ways.
She slumped against the simple wooden fence that encircled the cemetery; again she wondered what turn her life would take, where she would go. All those months ago she never would have thought she would be in a foreign country, petting a small dog while a metal contraption covered her stump of an arm.
"I wonder if things are any better in Xing." She thought aloud.
"I imagine they would be, but then again I don't know."
She jumped, then staggered from the unbalance of her arm before removing the dagger strapped to her ankle.
"You're the young lady from Xing, correct." Asked the man, completely unfazed by the blade held two inches from his throat, in his hand he held the leash to a much larger dog.
"It's nice to meet you again." He held out his other hand.
She looked at him for a second before noticing the milky white film that covered once bright eyes. She lowered her unseen weapon and took his hand, as they shook hands the large dog suddenly jerked, causing Roy to fall to the ground.
"Hey, Hayate come back here." He yelled as the dog started towards the real Black Hayate. "Honestly, I don't know what's gotten into that dog, usually the Lieutenant has so strictly disciplined."
"Um, Colonel Sir, that's not Hayate, that's Miss Rockbells dog."
"Oh" he said trying to cover his embarrassment "I thought he seemed heavier, anyway you can stop with the "Colonel" thing I'm not really sure if I'm still with the military."
"Yes, I find myself in a similar situation." She said without thinking.
"Oh really, I thought Xing didn't have a formal military force."
"We don't, but every clan is like a nation within its self, the royal guard system works as protection for the clan or rather each clan's officials."
"So it's all for the one on top then ."
"In most clans it is, but the young prince puts his people first." She hesitated "I fear that will be his downfall, I fear that was his fall."
"Do you think he's fallen?"
"I don't want to believe so, but the people of Xing hold fast to old customs and superstitions; it's likely that they won't accept a ruler who is possessed by a demon." She said flatly.
"Heh, don't we all have our demons."
"What about you Mr. Mustang, have you fallen."
"I'm not sure, but if I have I know that those around me won't let me stay on the ground, I mean you wouldn't let him, would you?"
"I suppose your right."