Disclaimer - I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist

Chapter Twenty-One - The Ties That Bind

It had been several months since Nick's last visit to Central and for once he could honestly say that he actually missed the place. He'd spent the last few months traveling from city to city, searching for clues as to the whereabouts of the homunculi and Hunter but although he hadn't actually returned to Central, he'd kept in touch with his commanding officer, Col. Havoc, via telephone calls and letters. His mission had come to a standstill however and since he didn't have any leads the young boy decided that now was as good a time as any to take a trip back to home base.

When Nick walked off the train at the station in Central he was surprised to see Kaori standing amongst the crowd. Despite himself Nick smiled and walked over to her. "What are you doing here?"

Kaori returned his smile. "I bugged Col. Havoc mercilessly until he told me when you were coming home. And when I found out that it was today, I had to come and see you."

Nick shook his head and chuckled, thinking about how much Kaori must have bothered Col. Havoc in order to get the information that she sought. "Poor Havoc. So even when I'm not around I cause him trouble. No wonder he's never happy to see me."

"That's okay. You can blame me for this particular irritation. And the great thing is, no matter how angry I make him, he won't do anything."

"Oh the advantages of being Mustang's daughter."

Kaori smiled again and then, without warning, she threw her arms around Nick.

Nick returned her embrace for a couple of seconds before he abruptly pulled away, as if he'd suddenly realized what he was doing. "We'd better watch it. If word of this reaches Mustang, court-martial will be the least of my worries."

"You're overreacting."

"I don't think so," Nick said, gazing around the station. He didn't see anyone dressed in military blue and he heaved a sigh of relief. Perhaps he would get to live another day after all. His life wasn't super or anything but he wasn't ready to die just yet. And especially not like that.

"You worry too much," Kaori told him.

Nick shrugged.

"So, where to?" Kaori asked. "I know you've already hung out at the train station longer than you wanted to."

"Well," Nick said, a thoughtful expression on his face. "First I have to check in with Col. Havoc. But after that, assuming he doesn't have any new jobs for me, I'm open to suggestions."

"Okay then. I'll walk with you to Central HQ and after your meeting with the Colonel we'll take it from there."

"Sounds like a plan to me."

So Nick and Kaori left the train station and walked the short distance to the military headquarters. Once they arrived Kaori walked over to a large tree and sat down beneath it. "I'll wait here until you're finished with your meeting."

"Alright. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Kaori nodded and leaned up against the tree.

Nick walked across the lawn, entered HQ and made his way to Col. Havoc's office. As he walked down the hallway, Nick ran into his part time body guard.

Lt. Griffon stopped and saluted. "Welcome back to Central, Fullmetal sir."

Nick rolled his eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you, you don't have to salute me every time you see me? I don't give a damn about rank. I don't even show respect to MY superiors, so I have no right to expect any one to show respect to me."

Lt. Griffon smiled and dropped his hand to his side. "Sorry sir, I keep forgetting."

Nick groaned. "You're hopeless."

"Pretty much," Lt. Griffon said, chuckling softly to himself.

"So, is Col. Havoc around?"

Lt. Griffon nodded. "The last time I saw him he was sitting in his office staring at a stack of paperwork as though he were hoping that it would somehow miraculously do its self."

A roguish grin spread across the boy's face as he thought about his superior. "Yea, that's a favorite past time of his. Guess I'll go and give him a legitimate excuse to ignore his paperwork."

"He'll be thrilled."

"I know. It'll be one of the few times he's actually happy to see me."

Waving over his shoulder to the lieutenant Nick continued his journey to his commanding officer's office and, once he reached the door, he knocked on it lightly. Then he stepped back and waited for an invitation to enter.

"Come in," a voice called out from within seconds after Nick had announced his arrival.

Nick opened the door and entered the office.

"Welcome back Fullmetal," Col. Havoc said, happily pushing aside his paperwork as the boy walked across his office.

Nick sat down in the chair in front of Col. Havoc's desk. "You know, surprisingly enough I'm actually glad to be back."

"So Chief," the colonel said, getting down to business. "Anything to report?"

Nick shook his head. "I didn't find out anything substantial about the Philosopher's Stone OR the strange people seeking to create it."

Col. Havoc sighed and leaned back in his chair. "You know Chief, you're lucky that you inadvertently catch enough bad guys to earn your keep around here or else. . ."

"Don't start that," Nick warned, casting an irritated look in the colonel's direction. "I make your job a hell of a lot easier and you know it."

Col. Havoc chuckled but Nick noticed that he didn't deny that statement.

"So," Nick said, a smirk appearing on his face due to Havoc's silence. "Do you have any missions for me?"

Col. Havoc looked over at the boy, surprised. "Another mission? You just got back and you've been gone for a month. Do you WANT another mission so soon?"

"Not particularly," Nick replied honestly. "But since when does it matter what I want?"

"Get out of here," Col. Havoc ordered (though not in an angry tone). "I don't want to see you anywhere near here for the next three days."

Nick stood up. "You're the boss. But you know where to find me if you change your mind."

Col. Havoc nodded and watched as the boy left the office. Despite the fact that the kid was completely irreverent he really did make things more interesting and Havoc would be very bored, and way busier, without him around. "He really is a good kid."

Not that he'd ever tell Nick that of course.

His business with Col. Havoc complete, Nick left HQ and rejoined Kaori out in the courtyard. She gazed at him as he walked toward her, as though trying to gauge what had transpired by the expression on his face. Nick knew that was what she was doing and he forced his features into his best poker face.

"Good news or bad news?" Kaori asked as he came to stand beside her. Having tried to read his emotions and failed she had to resort to asking the question.

"He doesn't wanna see me anywhere near here for three days."

Kaori smiled and took Nick's arm. "Good news."

Nick freed his arm, causing Kaori to roll her eyes. "So now what?"

"We could go to the park," Kaori suggested. "Unless, of course, you think my dad might get mad if he catches us there."

Not missing the slight note of frustration in her voice Nick said, "I saw Mustang skulking around HQ so I think we should be safe."

"You're hopeless," Kaori said with a sigh.

"Come on," Nick said, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze.

Kaori smiled at the small gesture. He hadn't held her hand for long but for now it was enough. "One day he'll get over this completely unfounded fear of my dad."

Nick and Kaori walked to the park and casually strolled down the shady, tree-lined paths. Every so often Kaori would glance over at Nick and smile softly. She didn't say anything to him, she just smiled.

After about the fifth time she did this, Nick looked at her questioningly. "What is up with that?"

"What?" Kaori asked innocently.

"You know what," Nick said, his gaze intense. "You keep looking over here and smiling. So what exactly do you find so amusing?"

Kaori shook her head. "Nothing."

"Don't lie to me," Nick said.

"I'm just happy that you're back, that's all." Kaori turned to face him, her expression sincere. "I've really missed you."

Nick blushed, the statement taking him by surprise.

Kaori gazed down, her cheeks slightly red as well. "Nick," she said after a slightly embarrassing pause in the conversation. "Do you ever wish you hadn't left home?"

Nick thought about the question for a few minutes before finally answering. "I won't lie to you, sometimes I do wish that I hadn't left home. When I left I hurt the people I love most in the world but at the same time I'm confident that I made the right choice. I have to do this. For me. . .and for them."

"But don't you miss your family?" Kaori asked.

"Of course I miss them. But it's not like I never get to see them."

"I guess," Kaori said. "But I think if I had a sibling I'd want to be near them all the time."

Nick smiled. "That's a misconception that stems from being an only child."

Kaori made a face.

"Don't get me wrong," Nick said quickly, noticing the look that she was giving him. "I love my sister and before Harmony died the three of us used to have loads of fun together. But there were fights, lots of them. Trust me when I say siblings shouldn't be around each other all the time. It's not a good idea."

It was subtle but Kaori picked up on the change in Nick's voice when he'd mentioned his dead sister. She also noticed the sad, faraway look in his golden eyes. Hoping that talking about it might help him in some small way, Kaori placed a hand on Nick's shoulder. "Tell me about your sisters Nick."

Nick's gaze went to the ground and for a moment it looked as though he was going to ignore Kaori's request. But then he spoke in a quiet voice. "Aiya and Harmony were twins, born five and a half years after me. Both girls had pale blonde hair and large, expressive blue eyes. It was their eyes that always got to me and they could get anything they wanted from me with a mere look. As a matter of fact, Aiya still can. The three of us were almost always together, playing one game or another in the open meadows that surrounded our house. It wasn't always fun, we fought same as any siblings, but I loved them and they looked up to me."

Kaori watched Nick's facial expression turn dark.

"That's why it was so devastating when Harmony died. I'm the one who led her and Aiya to the cave that claimed her life. If it hadn't been for me they never would have went there and Harmony would still be alive. It's my fault she's dead."

A solitary tear slid down the boy's cheek.

In tears herself, Kaori wrapped her arms around Nick and pulled him into a tight embrace. "It wasn't your fault Nicholas. These kind of things are called accidents for a reason. They're nobody's fault."

Nick allowed Kaori to hold him for a few minutes and then he slowly pulled away. The tears were gone and his eyes were bright. "I haven't spoken of the accident in years and the fact that I just shared those memories with you now should show you a measure of the feelings I have for you. Even if I don't always show them."

Kaori smiled as she thought about his words. It really must have been difficult for him to share such a painful memory with her and yet he had. That meant a lot to her and she found herself able to forgive him for his minor flaws.

"So," Nick said, interrupting Kaori's thoughts. "You've heard plenty of stories about my childhood. How about, for a change, you tell me about yours?"

"My childhood?" Kaori said. "My childhood was boring."

Nick smirked. "That won't get you out of it. Now tell."

Kaori sighed. "Fine. I grew up in Central with my mom and dad, both of whom you've met. Dad was very busy with the military and he spent a lot of time away from home, dealing with one thing or another for the military. I think that's one of the reasons why Mom and I became so close."

Kaori had tried to keep her tone devoid of emotion but Nick was extremely perceptive and he picked up the slight note of loneliness. Nick placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Kaori placed her hand on top of his and smiled. "There's no need for you to feel sorry for me Nicholas. It wasn't that bad, don't get me wrong. Dad and I did spend time together. He's the one who taught me alchemy. That was our special time together since Mom's not an alchemist. It was just me and him."

Nick had a hard time picturing Mustang as the doting daddy but despite that difficulty he was sure, to Kaori, he had been.

"So who taught you alchemy Nick?" Kaori wanted to know.

A thoughtful expression appeared on Nick's face. "My dad taught me when I was really young and then, not long after my eighth birthday, he took me to meet his old teacher Izumi who continued my training."

Kaori smiled. She had known he'd be modest with his reply when asked that question. "Yea but how did you begin?"

Nick looked slightly sheepish. "I taught myself the basics by reading some of my dad's books but it was no big deal."

Kaori shook her head. She thought it was a VERY big deal. "You were four Nick and you don't think it's a big deal."

Nick's eyes widened. That was something that he'd never told anyone. "How did you know that?"

Kaori smiled. "When you first became a State Alchemist your mom and dad spent a few days in Central, with my family. Your mother told us the story at dinner that first night."

Nick blushed.

"Don't be embarrassed about it Nick. You should be proud of your talent."

"Hmm," Nick said thoughtfully. "So if you already knew then why did you ask?"

Kaori smiled. "It was a test."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "A test?"

Kaori nodded. "Uh huh. I asked that question to test your arrogance level."

Nick smirked. "So did I pass or fail?"

"You passed," Kaori said and watched as a satisfied grin appeared on the boy's face. "But you'll be reevaluated from time to time."

"And why is that?" Nick wanted to know.

"Because I saw that self satisfied smirk," Kaori said.

"Oh."

"Well," Kaori said, gazing around. "We've certainly got our exercise for the day. This is the fourth lap we've made around the park."

Nick made a face. "I've been boring you so much you've kept count of how many times we've walked past that tree? That's sad."

Kaori punched him in the ribs. "Oh shut up."

Nick started laughing and, after a few moments, Kaori joined in.

"You're hopeless you know that?" Kaori said through her laughter.

"I've been told that a few times," Nick said. "I've actually begun to take it as a compliment."

"You're weird."

"Thank you," Nick said with a smile. "I take that as a compliment as well."

Kaori shook her head. "Of course you do."'

A/N - the end of another chapter and Nick and Kaori are bonding. Isn't that sweet? Ed and Mustang are gonna have simultaneous strokes when they find out. Please leave a review and tell me what you thought. Til next time this is Hitsu-taichou signing out.