Chapter 7
(A/N: Okay just to get this out and burst a couple of bubbles with this spoiler (if you don't wanna read the note then proceed to the story). The thing that Rin had done is not much of a big of a deal. I just wanted people to wonder about it, so if you become disappointed then I'm sorry for putting your hopes up (especially to you Mikkiz. Uber sorries! :'(. ) Now, story time!
( A/A/N: And I also want to thank all my faithful reader, favorite-ers, and you get the rest.)
-X-
Roy stood somewhere in the middle of a hall waiting outside a door. Tarin had finished the written exam and was now in the middle of her psychological evaluation. Roy was proud that she finished the written part in a good amount of time without freaking out like some people do; but then again she had already taken it before. Roy was calm and all, but he had things on his mind. While he shows a calm demeanor, Roy was confused and a bit upset with Rin. He shouldn't be completely upset really; Rin is a grown woman and could do what she wanted, but that still didn't calm him down of what she had done when he saw her that morning.
Still thinking, Roy didn't notice Maes walking up to him. "Hey there Roy! You must still be waiting on Rin I see."
"Yeah, I am." He rubbed his temples with his index finger and thumb. "She finished the first part not that long ago and is now taking the second part."
"Hey, what's wrong with you all of a sudden? You seem tensed. I bet it's about Tarin, you were so worried about her this morning you almost flipped over the breakfast table."
"I'm not worried about her." Roy received a blank stare from Maes but he saw it as nothing. When Maes slowly started to pull out his wallet of picture Roy caved. "Okay it's about Tarin but I'm not worried. It's just that… This morning when I found her coming here for her exams she looked… different."
"Different? What do you mean by that?"
Just as he was about to reply, the door opened and they both look over to see Rin walking out. She looked at them looking at her and got a little nervous. "Uh… Is there something wrong here you-"
"Tarin!" Hughes plucked her into a bear hug. "Oh my goodness, you cut your hair. You look so cute." It was true; Tarin had cut her hair. What used to be a long majestic waterfall of hair that went a little past her thighs had now stopped to her upper back and was now in a ponytail. "You look just how you use to back then. I can't believe Roy was upset about this."
"What?" Rin looked over to Roy who was unconvincing looking away. "You were upset? Upset about what; my hair?" She asked him. But he didn't answer it, just looked on the other way. She could see the way he was trying to hide how he felt so she began to explain. "Just so you know cutting my hair was my own decision and I thought it'd be better that I have shorter hair when I become a State Alchemist again. So, you know, it'd be easier to do things without my hair being in the way."
"I never said I was upset about you cutting your hair." He still wasn't looking at them.
"Then what's your problem?"
"I don't have a problem."
"Then why are you acting the way you are?"
"I'm like this because…" He paused. Looking at Rin's face, Roy just stood there saying nothing. It's not because he does have an explanation, well mostly it is anyway, but because he couldn't. For some reason he couldn't tear his eyes away from her.
With Rin it was the same. She wasn't giving him the usually 'why-are-looking-at-me-like-that' stare she usually gives. She just looked at him and couldn't turn away either. Probably didn't know she'd been looking for so long.
"Hey you guys."The sound of Maes's voice brought them back to reality. They looked at him, both with a stupid innocent look on their faces. "Wow you two were really staring at each other, weren't you?" They both went wide-eyed but Rin blushed a little pink; Maes laughed. "You two really are something when you're together. And I thought you two wouldn't stand each other."
"I can't stand him at the least." Rin stated bluntly. Roy glared at her from the corner of his eye but she ignored it. "Any hell, what'd make you say that?"
"Well… you two both act a bit cocky, seem to have different views of thing… and I guess that he would hit on you 'til you kill him or you would try to scorch her after being around all of her sarcasm."
"Hey! I'm not as bad as this one!" They both yelled and pointed at the other. "I know you are not saying I'm bad. You're terrible!"
"You are nothing but some long nosed hotshot." Rin shot at Roy.
"Oh am I? Well what about you, you're a little country girl who won't even take an exam seriously?" He retorted.
"Country girl? Who the hell you calling a 'country girl'?"
"The one standing here in front of me, that's who."
"You… you over cocky bastard."
"Sarcastic prima donna."
"Mister likes-to-flirt."
"At least I've had a date in the past month. Unlike someone else I know."
"Oh that's it. I'm gonna beat the-"
"Excuse me but-"
"What?" They both yelled at the person that interrupted their fighting. They find Fuhrer Bradley standing next to Hughes. "Fuhrer King Bradley… sir." They both saluted to the higher ranked man.
Bradley motioned for them to stop. "Well it seems that you two were really having at it I see. And by the looks of things you two have yet gotten on the right foot. Anyway I came to say that the third exam is starting. So Miss Silvers, I need you to follow me to the room where the final exam will be held."
Rin stood up straight at attention. "Yes sir." And she made her way right next to Bradley.
"You too Colonel. Remember you're also here to help with the exams. You didn't forget did you?"
"No sir." Roy walked right behind the Fuhrer and Rin as they made their way to where the last exam was going to be held.
-X-
It was now time for the third and final part of the exam: the psychical exam. It was being held in a large stone room. The room was very bland and hollow; minus the ones either their as a spectator, the Fuhrer, or the one taking the exam. The spectators sat up high in a specific area where they would not be interfering. King Bradley stood near a back wall on a small platform with some guards standing by encase. And there was Tarin Slivers, standing in the middle of the room, alone.
"Now we will begin the final part in the State Alchemist exam. You may begin at anytime."
Rin nodded to her superior. Taking a deep breath she reached into her pocket and fished out a pair of fingerless gloves; slightly different from the ones from the other day. After finishing she stood there looking at Bradley, then at the spectators which Colonel Mustang was a part of, and then back to Bradley. "Excuse me sir? Before I start, may I please have some volunteers?"
"Yes you may."
"May I get one of our lovely spectators?" She gestured towards them; they all looked in little shock.
"No."
"How about you?"
"No, no. I have to watch over your exam as well." He chuckled. "But I will let you use a few of my guards if you insist."
Rin sighed and then nodded to him.
After confirmation, a few of the guards began to proceed closer to Rin. Each had up their own weapon in need for defense.
Rin smirked as she looked at the two that were in front of her. They almost flinched from her stare. "Don't worry you guys. I don't bite." She assured them. "But I ain't goin' easy."
After a moment of hesitation, they charge at her, weapons in front. Each one tried to hit her with the knife part of the rifle guns. They jabbed and stabbed but all missed. After dodging so many times, Rin decided to kick it up a notch. She clapped her hands together and when the guards flinched she took that shock as an advantage then elbowed the one in front of her in the chin and kneed him in the stomach. The others backed up a little to see their fellow comrade fall to the ground. After a devious smirk from Rin they all came back charging, again.
Getting a little bored of this, she clapped her hands together and stomped her foot. The next thing was a bunch of medium sized stone pillars shot from the ground. The pillars headed toward the guard and only a couple of them were able to get out of the way before getting hit. Those lucky few who dodged used their rifles and shot at the pillars which momentarily began to crumble.
"Wow," Rin said surprisingly "you guys are tough."
They all continued to attack, back and forth. Apparently these guys have learned through experience that when you are fighting an alchemist you shouldn't give them time to be able to transmute. They were giving it all they got.
As quick as possible, Rin moved out of the way of the rifle's knife. "Hey! That could have really stabbed me. Or even killed me for that matter." When another jab came at her she decided it was time to finish this. She did a couple of back flips far enough to get at a good distance from them. After analyzing the gap in between she began to do her signature transmutation. Clapping her hands together and stomping her foot on the ground the amazing happened. Diamond crystal-like stalagmites came out of the ground. They headed toward the guards who were now scared out of their minds and running the opposite way. A couple of them got caught in the crystals but were just stuck in between, nothing life-threatening.
Rin looked across the room to Bradley and then the spectators and did a bow/curtsy. "And finish."
Mustang and the others looked in awe. As for Bradley…
"Thank you for that demonstration Miss Silvers." He smiled to her. "You can report to my office in about half an hour, there I will give you the results to your exam." With that he walked out of the room."
-X-
Roy stood at the entrance of Central H.Q. And what he was doing was vaguely obvious. Waiting for Tarin started to seem like something he's been doing a lot lately. It was something he had actually gotten used to. As he waited he was thinking.
'This has been a long yet interesting day. A day for a private exam for only one person is something I may not ever get to see again. Not only was it for an extraordinary alchemist, but a retired State Alchemist; that was definitely something you don't see happening. As for Tarin, I was sort of surprised she was so calm throughout the entire time I saw her in between the day. And as for her performance a while ago, even though this may be a little different for me to say.
'That was incredible. I know I have seen Rin's alchemy before, but seeing it in action is a different story. I'm betting that since that was only a presentation of what she could do, Rin maybe way more powerful than that.' Roy sighed crossing his arms over his chest. 'Makes me wonder about her-'
"Yo, Mustang!" Walking out the door, Rin went over to Roy. She stood in front of him, she swaying from side to side on her feet with her hands behind her back, like a little kid.
Roy uncrossed his arms and put his hands in his pockets while starting to walk off into another direction; with Rin in tow of course. "So," He spoke up after a few minutes of walking, "how did your talk with Bradley go?" He could've sworn he heard her giggle.
"What do ya think?" She dug in her pocket before pulling out a silver pocket watch. It had the Amestris symbol on it. It was the pocket watch used by State Alchemist for identification or you help boost up their alchemy. The brown haired girl grinned from ear to ear before twirling around and running up ahead.
Roy smiled as he watched her up ahead. "She's definitely gonna be a handful."
-X-
(A/N: Hopefully I'll post another chapter on either Christmas as a present or New Years. If not, I'll like to wish everyone and the families a happy holidays.)