Chapter Nine: To Take a Life
I had no idea that Colonel Roy Mustang was sending me with the Elric brothers because he didn't want me to be around while he looked into any information he could find on me. Apparently, the Fullmetal Alchemist wasn't the only ridiculously paranoid one running around in the military. That must've just been a general characteristic of the officers themselves.
As I said, I was completely unaware of this. Back then, I thought my luck could get no better. Alone, with no interferences, for at least a week. I would be back home in Dublith before I knew it, and once I was home, I'd be a whole new person. I wouldn't be seen as a little kid anymore. I'd be seen as the one who had killed the Fullmetal Alchemist.
I could hardly wait.
There were certain things about the outside world that I had absolutely no idea about. I guess that's what I get for being cooped up inside of a manor on the outskirts of town for as long as I could remember.
I had seen a train before, dropping off visitors in Dublith when I would on occasion go out to buy the groceries. However, standing right in front of this giant, loud, slightly terrifying mode of transportation that I was expected to board was something that I could honestly say I had never experienced in my life.
"Come on, Nem," Alphonse said kindly, holding out his large hand helping me up the steps and onto the train.
"You look pale." Edward commented without a trace of concern in his voice.
"I-I'm fine…" I laughed nervously, "Just…just fine."
I jumped at another loud sound that the train made. "Come on, we'd better find seats," Edward said.
The train was almost completely empty, so it wouldn't be too hard to spot a place to sit. A few people sat in the front, and then one or two more in the back, but overall, it was a ghost town. Edward took a seat next to the window, and Alphonse sat across from him. Hesitating, I finally sat down next to the Fullmetal Alchemist.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, the train jerked into motion with yet another loud noise. I let out a squeak of shock and cringed. Edward eyed me. "Nem, have you ever ridden a train before?"
I stared at him with wide blue eyes. I couldn't be sure, but I think that was the first time he had ever addressed me by my name. Or at least, the stupid nickname that they thought was my name.
"Of course I've been on a train before!" I lied defensively, and then swallowed. "Well…maybe not…"
Alphonse's laugh echoed in his armor. "You've never been on a train!" he exclaimed.
I could feel myself blushing. "It's not that unheard of!" I said feebly. Even Edward cracked a smile. I crossed my arms over my chest immaturely, staring over Edward's head and out of the window, watching the trees zoom by. I felt a sudden wave of nausea.
"It takes a little getting used to," Alphonse said, practically reading my thoughts, "and it's not for everyone. Try not to look out of the window too much until you're used to the motion."
"Right," I mumbled, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Edward leaned against the window, putting his hands behind his head and getting comfortable. "Good. Because this is a long ride."
I spent most of the past four hours staring at my feet. I didn't want to look out the window again, because God knows I'd probably throw up. Apparently I had something that the Elrics were calling motion sickness. According to Alphonse, I'd get over it after I rode a train a few more times.
"Food might help, too!" Alphonse piped, standing. "I can go get you something if you'd like, Nem."
I was so exhausted and lightheaded I didn't even register the nickname. My stomach growled in response. "Thanks, Al," I smiled weakly, pausing to note that I had used his own nickname. I'd have to be careful not to do that, or else they'd think I was getting attached. This, of course, wasn't the case. I barely knew the kids, and, in the end, one of us would be dead.
Alphonse walked down the aisle and through a door, which I assumed went to the dining area. I closed my eyes and rested my head in my hands.
"Try going to sleep," Edward suggested. I opened my eyes and glanced at him. "It usually helps make the ride go faster." He added. It might've been the first slightly helpful thing he had said to me since we met.
"Oh," I said, "Uhm…thanks. I guess."
"No problem." He pulled his pocket watch out, checking the time. "What's that say?" I frowned, "There, on the inside."
He closed the watch and stowed it in his pocket calmly. "It says the time. It's a watch."
"That's not what I meant," I rolled my eyes impatiently, "I mean, there was something scribbled on the top part."
He cocked his head to the side. "It didn't say anything, Nem. Maybe you're still feeling sick."
I frowned at him, about to ask if I could have a look at the pocket watch myself, but at that moment Alphonse returned with a tray of food.
"Here you go, Nem." He said brightly, placing the tray in my lap, "That's for you and Brother to share."
I saw Edward's hand reach out for the biscuit, so I snatched it up quickly and took a large bite. "Aren't you hungry?" I asked the younger Elric with my mouth full.
"Not right now." Alphonse said politely. Edward fumbled with an apple in his hands before taking a slow bite out of it. I got the sense something they had said went over my head. I was getting tired of these two and their secrets.
"How did you get your automail?" I asked calmly, finishing off my biscuit and looking up at Edward curiously. He bit into his apple but didn't seem bothered or uncomfortable by the question.
"Now isn't a good time for that." He said easily, his voice smooth and almost persuading. "We're close to Risembool." He glanced out of the window. It looked like nothing but empty fields to me, but I guess Edward would be able to differentiate. It was his hometown, anyway.
"Oh," I said, stifling a yawn and stretching. "It can't be that long of a story."
"It doesn't go over well when abbreviated," he murmured, taking out his watch again and checking the time for what must've been the third time in the last hour. I couldn't be sure though. I didn't have a fancy pocket watch to keep track of time myself.
He rubbed his gloved thumb over the design on the front of it and put it in his pocket, leaning his head against the window once more. He was obsessed with the thing.
I pursed my lips. That was the second time now that he had avoided my question about his automail.
I sighed and leaned back in my seat, putting the tray with leftover food down in between myself and Edward. I glanced out the window; I was so done with this train ride.
"Shouldn't be much longer, now." Alphonse said in his light, boyish voice. I popped one eye open, staring at his armor. How on earth could such a gentle-sounding fourteen year old boy be so tall?
I closed my eyes and thought about Envy and the others. I wondered what they were doing right now. Soon, maybe I would finally be allowed to go with them. After I killed Edward Elric, maybe they would think I was capable of helping them with whatever it was they did. I smiled a little. It was certainly something to look forward to.
I opened my eyes. The train seemed to be slowing down. I noticed out of the corner of my eyes that Edward was a bit restless in his seat. He lifted up his sleeves, staring at his automail. "Oh, jeez," he groaned, "She's gonna kill me."
She?
"You should take better care of your automail, Brother." Alphonse shook his head sternly.
The train slowed more, and then came to a complete stop. The couple of other people on the train besides us stood.
"Are we here?" I asked. It seemed fairly obvious, but maybe this was part of some train-riding etiquette I wasn't yet aware of.
"Yeah." Edward muttered, standing and grabbing his overlarge suitcase. I looked around for my knapsack, and then realized dryly that I had left it in Edward and Alphonse's room back at headquarters.
Alphonse and Edward stood, so I followed their lead. We walked down the train until we reached the place passengers hopped off. We must've been the last to get off, because after we stepped onto the ground, the door was closed behind us. After a few moments, the train made one last loud, obnoxious noise and began moving again.
I lost interest in it and decided to take a look around. All I saw were farm fields and large houses that dotted the otherwise empty plains.
"Not much of a tourist appeal, is it?" I muttered under my breath. Edward and Alphonse both began to walk, leaving me with no choice but to follow.
After just a few minutes, my feet started to hurt. I must've exerted myself more in the past two days than I had in my entire life. I slumped my shoulders and wiped sweat off of my pale forehead. The blazing sun beamed down on us, but neither of them seemed affected, even Edward, the Boy of Many Layers.
It must've been a million degrees in poor Alphonse's armor; he was probably burning up. Every time I thought about the armor, I was more and more curious as to why he wore it in the first place. I had an angry feeling I wouldn't find out for a while.
"Are we close?" I finally had to ask.
"It's that house up there." Alphonse pointed one of his arms forward, toward a large yellow house in the distance.
I groaned. "That's a no, then." I said grumpily.
Edward checked his watch. Again. He stayed quiet, though. It was clear he was unhappy that Colonel Mustang had told him to bring me along. I guess it was a bit strange that things had worked out so well, now that I thought about it, but I didn't dwell. It was a good omen, and I took it graciously.
The house was finally getting closer. After a few more agonizing minutes, we were walking up the path leading to the yard.
We were only a few steps onto the property when a shout of "Edward Elric!" came from the balcony on the second story, followed by a flying form of silver that hit the Fullmetal Alchemist square in the face and sent him flying backwards.