Chapter 4
Arriving at the destination the train slowly began to stop into the station in Central City. The doors of the train opening for the first time in some many odd hours it's been traveling. People flowed out of the train one by one at each of the doors.
"Oh thank goodness! I never thought I'd be so happy to finally get somewhere that's not home." Rin exclaimed the moment she was out the door. She stood and put down her luggage as she started to stretch her muscles.
The other five walked out behind her, also glad to finally be off the train. The journey that began as a fun entertaining one had somehow gotten less fun. Ever since earlier that morning after Rin and Roy's little confliction there was a bit of tension in the air of their cabin. The other still tried to have conversions, trying to ignore or rid the room of the negative vibes, but somewhere in between a spark of anger came from either Rin or Roy.
Once everyone was off and had their things Mustang had immediately dismissed himself to make an important phone call. Once out of earshot, the conversing presumed. "So what were you two mad at each other for again?" Havoc asked. He'd wanted to know ever since the Colonel had come in the cabin drenched in water. He would have asked earlier but with all the anger and tension in the air being so thick you could cut it with a butter knife he just didn't feel the need to be scorned by anyone.
The person, who the question was directed to, Rin, clenched her jaws for a second but made a smile on her face. "Jean I don't know what you're talking about. No one's mad."
"What are you talking about? I can tell by the way you and the chief were glaring daggers at the other. You were practically at each other's throats."
"I still don't know what you are talking about." She sat on a bench not far from where they were standing. "Also glaring isn't very lady-like. Ladies are classier than that."
"You are definitely not a lady then." Taylor stated bluntly. Rin then glared at her. "You see, that's two points Taylor."
Before they got to start arguing Mustang was back. "Listen up! I've just received the arrangements for our stay here. I also have to meet with the Fuhrer along with Tarin."
"Are we staying at a fancy hotel?"
The Colonel smiled. "Even better; we'll be staying with a friend of mines that works in the Central H.Q. He insisted we all stay at his place and wouldn't take no for an answer." He looked over at the younger Silvers' face and saw her with sad puppy doggy eyes. "That's doesn't work on me Taylor." Then Lynn joined in with Taylor's sad eyes. "Not even with you Lynn. Don't worry he and his family lives in a nice sized house and have enough room for all of us."
"Family?"
"His wife and baby daughter, they're good people. So you two head there with Hawkeye and Havoc while Rin and I head to see the Fuhrer."
Rin dropped her bag on the ground and looked at him as if he grew another head. "Roy says me and him are going where now?"
He grabbed her bag and her arm and was dragging her away even though she resisted. "I was told to take you to see Fuhrer Bradley when we got here. I'm not about to be in trouble with him because you want to act like a little kid. And let go of that bench!" He yelled at her. Rin was holding on to the arm of a bench, resisting his pulling and yelling at her. People had begun to stare and the others felt embarrassed, but Mustang and Rin didn't bother. "I said let go, Tarin!"
"No, I can't go see Fuhrer King Bradley like this. I've been on a train for hours, which means I'm not correctly sanitized. I hate feeling like this. Let me go with the others so I can-"
"Your too late, they left." He let go of her and she fell. He watched her look around to see that the others had already left like he said. "You can get yourself cleaned later or maybe when we get to the Fuhrer's office. I'm betting he has a private bathroom and you have clothes in your bag you can change into. Now come on, we're keeping him waiting."
Rin looked up and saw his hand stretched out to help her up. She stared at his hand before grabbing it, pulling herself up and brushed the dirt off her clothes. "I guess since there's no way out of it then. All right."
-X-
Inside Central Headquarters, Mustang and Rin were walking down the hall towards the Fuhrer's private office. Mustang walked with a straight serious face, but still looked like he does this everyday, which he sort of does. Rin walked not far behind him observing everything. It's been years since she last seen the inside of this place. It looked the same; she saw a few people that she barely remembered seeing last she was here but no one she actually knew nor the vice-versa. She almost felt out of place and begun to wonder was it really a good idea to come back here. Not paying attention she had ran into Mustang.
He looks down at her with a questionable look on his face. He had saw the confused looks on Rin's face when he first looked back to check on her. He also found it weird that she didn't realized his quick glances. "Are you okay, Tarin?" She nodded her head and changed her glaze to some other direction. "Tarin tell me the truth. If you're not all right then just tell me."
Rin sighed. "Well first I'd appreciate it if you would just call me Rin like I told you. And it's just that I haven't been here in such a long time. It's almost feels like I'm out of place or something. And I haven't seen one person that I actually remember from when I use to come here."
"I'll help you with that first request. With that other part it might be because people continue to be switched around. The ones you might've known must have gotten promoted or just transferred." Just as he looked up he saw a familiar face when they saw him. "I can introduce you to someone I know to help you feel more comfortable, maybe. Hey Maes, I want to-"
"TARIN!" The man had run right pass Mustang and went for Rin. Hughes went right up to her and grabbed her in a bear hug. "Tarin Silvers. I haven't seen nor heard from you in years. How has my favorite southern belle been?"
"Hey! I told you to stop calling me that. I'm not a southern belle, I just live more on the country-side is all. I've been fine by the way."
"That's great." He said he set her back down on the ground. "You never kept your promise to keep in touch either. You've missed so much since you were gone. I'm married to Gracia now; here are some pictures." He brought a wallet full of pictures of his wife.
"Wow Maes, I'm proud of you. I knew you guys were meant to be. Gracia's so pretty in this picture and that one too."
"And it gets better." He brings out another wallet of pictures; almost scaring Rin. "We have beautiful little daughter too, her name's Elicia. She's an angel. Isn't she just adorable?"
"Yeah, she is. She looks just like Gracia. You're so lucky to have such a beautiful family."
"Yes, I have been blessed with the two most-"
"Hey!"
Hughes and Rin both turned back to Mustang. With all of their commotion they had completely forgotten about him and that he was even there. Maybe even forgot he existed for a minute.
Mustang was a little confused at the whole thing. His brow twitched in annoyance and a vein pulsed on his forehead. "You two… know each other?" They nodded and the vein got bigger. "And you didn't tell me this earlier, why Maes?"
"She made me promise not to give out too much information about her after she was discharged. And I, being the honest and good friend I am, choose to fulfill her simply request. And come on, how can you resist that face of hers?"
"Shut up." She growled and elbowed Hughes in the rib. "And Roy, you did try to get information about me and you lied." She leered at him. The confused look on Mustang's face changed to realization. "Yeah, glad you remember. The only reason I'm not going to kill you for doing so is because I hope you learned a moral from this, is all." She then started to make her way to the Fuhrer's office again.
"Be careful Roy; she's feisty and hates a liar." Hughes whispered.
"Yeah, I've noticed that not long ago." Mustang said quickly before he sped up to Rin. Once he had caught up they were in front of the Fuhrer's private secretary. After confirming they had a meeting with him, she let them go in.
Inside was Fuhrer King Bradley, sitting behind his desk. "Welcome you two. Please come and sit." They walked to the chairs in front of his desk. Both saluted before sitting. "It's good to see you again, Colonel Mustang. I was really hoping to have seen you earlier than this today."
"We are sorry for not being here sooner sir. We had a small mix up in the schedule and were delayed."
Bradley chuckled. "It's quite all right; I've heard everything I needed to know from Major General Walters." He looks to Rin just as she slightly flinched from his last statement. "And it's very good to see you too Miss Tarin Silvers."
"It's nice to see you too sir." She said in a quiet tone which made Mustang a little curious of her. She also only made eye contact with the Fuhrer when she talked. "It has been a while."
"It has been quite a while, hasn't it? I was pleased when Walters told me you had accepted our request for you to come here. It must have been a tough decision for you to make with what happened, but you seem to have recuperated just fine by the looks of it." He paused. She still hadn't looked him in the eye or direction as a matter of fact. "Well now time to get down to business. Tarin, are you ready for what is in store for you if we wish to continue to go along with this?" Bradley watched as she straightened her posture in her seat and nodded.
Mustang felt that something was amidst. "Sir, I don't mean to question, but what the reason for bringing her?"
"… You didn't tell him then, did you?" They both turned to Rin who shook her head. Bradley continued, "You may have guessed by now that we want her to re-enlist in the military." Mustang nodded. "As well she is to also become a State Alchemist and we have scheduled her to take the State Alchemist exams privately in a few days."
"What?"
-X-
A/N: Dun dun dah! It's the dreading-ness of a cliffhanger. I personally hate cliffs but I'm tired, it's getting late, have school (gotta wake up at damn 5 in the morning) and I'm starving but no one's up to cook for me. *cries* (Such a pity for such a pitiful young woman.) I know right. I'll get the next chap up soon. Hime and Emi out. (I can speak for myself. But thanks for the caring.)