Disclaimer - I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist
Chapter Thirty-Three - The Secret of Human Transmutation
Mustang was sitting at his desk when he heard a knock on the door. By the sound of the knock he knew it wasn't Havoc, who had a tendency to bang on the door as though trying to knock it down. "Who the hell needs to talk to me this early in the freakin' morning?" Havoc was the only one who made a habit of annoying him at this time of morning.
"Enter."
The door opened and Nick stepped into the office.
"Fullmetal," Mustang said in surprise, gazing over at young boy who had just entered his office. "You're here early."
Nick nodded. "I needed to ask you something and it couldn't wait."
Mustang leaned forward and folded his hands together. "Shoot."
"I need permission to leave Central for awhile. I have something I need to do and Col. Havoc said that I had to have your direct permission, something about tightened security for State Alchemists or some such nonsense as that."
Mustang shook his head, knowing that he was about to anger the boy. "Sorry kid but I'm afraid that's out of the question. Since it's been established that you are Hunter's prime target I want you to remain in Central where you can be closely guarded."
Nick's eyes narrowed. "Oh come on! I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I've survived Hunter's attacks before."
Mustang refused to budge. "That may be true but you're a valuable asset to the military and I want to make sure that you're safe."
"But. . ."
"You remain in Central. And that's an order Fullmetal."
Nick could tell by the tone of Mustang's voice that there would be no persuading him to change his mind. That tone stated, plain as words, that the discussion was over. Nick glared at his superior for a second before he whirled and left the office.
"Dammit," Nick swore under his breath as he left the office. "I can't believe this. I finally get a lead on where the homunculi might be and I'm ordered to remain in Central. This sucks."
Nick walked outside, into the courtyard, and sat down beneath a large tree. He came here often. Sometimes alone, sometimes with Kaori. The spot was a favorite of theirs and they often spent time beneath its branches, just talking.
"I need time to think," Nick said to himself as he sat down beneath the tree.
"What do you need to think about Nick?" a voice asked from behind.
"Hi Kaori," Nick said without looking up.
Kaori sat down beside Nick. "What's on your mind?"
As he debated what his answer should be Nick stuck his hand in his pocket and absently played with his watch. He'd had it for so long that he'd grown accustomed to it's familiar weight. Suddenly making up his mind Nick pulled the watch from his pocket and unclipped the chain from his belt.
"Kaori, I'm leaving."
"Where are you going?"
"I'm sorry Kaori but I can't tell you that."
"Why not?"
Nick could tell by the sound of her voice that he'd hurt her feelings but it couldn't be helped. This was something he had to do and he had to do it alone. It was simply too dangerous to involve other people. "Because I don't want anyone to follow me."
Suddenly Kaori understood. "You're not supposed to go are you?"
Nick's gaze went to the ground but he didn't answer Kaori's question.
But Kaori didn't need for him to answer her. She already knew the answer. His body language had given him away as clearly as a verbal confession. "You can't disobey orders Nick. You'll get into big trouble."
"This is something I have to do Kaori, whether I have permission or not. And I have to do it alone. One man has already died because of me and I refuse to let that happen to anyone else I care for. Especially you."
Nick reached out and picked up Kaori's right hand. He turned her hand palm up and placed his silver pocket watch in her hand, closing her fingers around it. Then he kissed the back of her hand.
"Nick. . ."
Nick stood up and gazed down at Kaori. His golden eyes held a look of sheer determination. "I'll end this once and for all Kaori and then I'll come back to you."
And without another word Nick turned and walked away.
Tears slid down Kaori's face as she watched Nick walk away and she clutched his silver pocket watch so hard that the knuckles of that hand turned white. "I can't believe he's just gonna walk away. Just like that."
As he walked away Nick refused to look back. He knew that he'd hurt Kaori deeply and for that he was sorry but he was also confident that he'd made the right decision.
"I can't risk their lives any further. This is my fight and I'll finish it. On my own terms."
Mustang was walking down a hallway in Central HQ, searching for Nick. His anger over their earlier argument had diminished and he had an errand for the boy to run. He was hopeful that the task would be enough to satisfy the boy's desire for something to do and take his mind off his desire to leave.
Mustang searched for nearly an hour but found no sign of the boy. He walked toward his office but stopped at the office that was located just down the hall from his own. He opened the door and stuck his head inside.
"Havoc have you seen Fullmetal?"
"Not recently sir. But he was out in the courtyard with Kaori early this morning so she may know where you can find him."
"Thanks."
Mustang closed Havoc's door and headed off in search of his daughter.
He found Kaori sitting under one of the large shade trees in the courtyard. He paused a few feet away from her and stared at her clenched fists and the tears that slid down her face. Something had obviously upset her greatly because Kaori almost never cried. Over anything.
"Kaori," Mustang called out softly as he walked toward her. "Are you alright?"
"Yes." Kaori wiped at her eyes furiously with the back of her fist, in a futile attempt to hide from her father the fact that she'd been crying. "I'm fine Dad."
Mustang held a knowing look in his eyes as he sat down beside his daughter, but he said nothing to contradict what she'd told him. She would tell him what was bothering her when she was ready. Until then he would wait.
Kaori forced herself to smile as she glanced up at her dad. "So tell me Dad, what's so important that it could make you stop your important work to come out here?'
"I was looking for Fullmetal," Mustang told her. "And Col. Havoc said that he'd seen the boy out here with you earlier."
"He was with me," Kaori said in a quiet voice. "But you may as well stop looking for him."
"And why is that?"
"He left." Kaori choked on those words but forced herself to continue. "He's leaving Central and he refused to tell me where he plans to go. He made it quite clear that he didn't want to be followed."
"HOW DARE HE!" Mustang was furious. He'd expressly ordered the boy to remain in Central where he could be guarded against the homunculi and the State Alchemist Killer but of course the brat had to disobey. "If that boy makes it back to Central alive I'll see him court-martialed for this."
"You won't have to. Nick saved you the trouble."
Kaori held her clenched fist out and when her father stretched out his hand, she unclenched her fist and dropped what she'd been holding into her dad's outstretched hand.
Mustang gasped in shock as Nick's silver pocket watch fell into his outstretched hand.
"He told me that he couldn't endanger us anymore. That one man had already died because of him and he refused to let that happen again." Tears once again flowed down Kaori's face and this time she was unable to suppress them. "He said that he would go and fight them and that he would finish this once and for all."
Mustang's eyes narrowed. "So the boy plans to fight the homunculi on his own." Well Mustang knew how that would turn out. He'd seen it before, when Ed had left the military to fight his own demons, and he knew from those past experiences that Nick was in over his head. Even Ed had had sense enough to know that he couldn't fight them alone.
Mustang stood up. "We have to find him before he gets himself killed."
Kaori gazed up at her dad. "Good luck with that."
"What do you mean 'good luck'? You're coming too."
Kaori gasped. That was the last thing she'd expected to hear coming out of the mouth of her very overprotective father. "Are you serious?"
Mustang nodded. "I realize that I've treated you like a child for too long. You're a talented alchemist and I know that you'll be an asset to us."
Kaori jumped to her feet and gave her dad a hug. She'd waited so long to hear those words. "Thanks Dad."
Mustang returned his daughter's embrace, wishing that he'd told her those words years ago. "You're welcome Kaori. Now come on. We have an AWOL alchemist to track down. Again."
Kaori nodded.
Mustang and Kaori entered Central HQ and quickly walked down the hall toward Mustang's office. And just as before Mustang stopped at the office a few doors down from his own. He opened the door and stuck his head inside the office.
"Havoc let's go. We have a mission and we're leaving ASAP. Meet me in my office."
Havoc jumped to his feet and rushed to follow his superior down the hall to his office.
Once the three of them were assembled in Mustang's office, with the door securely closed, Mustang motioned for everyone to sit down on the two sofas that were positioned across from each other in his office. Kaori sat down on the sofa beside her dad and Havoc sat down across from the two of them.
"Pardon my ignorance sir," Havoc said. "But what exactly is going on?"
Mustang reached into his pocket and pulled out Nick's watch, which he tossed to Havoc. "Your subordinate decided that he'd quit the military and pursue Hunter and the homunculi on his own. And Kaori and I decided that we weren't going to allow that. So where do you stand?"
"Let's go and get him. I worked too damn hard to get him into the military to just let him walk away."
"I thought you'd say that." Mustang turned to face his daughter. "Kaori you're the last person who spoke to Fullmetal. Any clues as to which enemy is his main objective?"
Kaori thought back to her last conversation with Nick. "He's going after the homunculi. He's told me before that Hunter would be less of a threat and easier to take down once the homunculi were out of the picture, since he'll no longer have their protection. So I'm positive that they're his primary target."
"Okay, that we can work with. Havoc, have you been keeping track of the places where Fullmetal has encountered the homunculi?"
"Yes sir." Havoc jumped to his feet and dashed out of the office. He returned moments later, clutching a map. Havoc sat back down and spread the map out across the table that was positioned between the two couches. Various locations on the map had been highlighted.
Havoc pointed out the cities one by one. "These are all the places where Fullmetal told me that he encountered the homunculi. Whether it's a complete list I couldn't tell you but it's the best I can offer. However I'm not sure that this will be of any help in locating the boy. I've studied this map countless times but I've been unable to find a pattern. The homunculi just seem to pop up in completely random places. The places I've marked don't seem to mean anything."
"Not alone perhaps." Mustang stood up and walked over to his desk. He opened the top, right hand drawer and pulled from it's depths a rolled up piece of paper. He then walked back over to the sofas where his daughter and subordinate sat.
Mustang unrolled the piece of paper, revealing another map similar in appearance to Havoc's. "This may help us to sort things out."
Havoc leaned closer to the table and gazed down at the second map, which also had various locations highlighted. "What is it sir?"
"I've been doing my homework as well. These are all the known locations where Fullmetal has encountered Hunter. Kaori helped me with this particular project but even that doesn't ensure that the info is one hundred percent accurate or complete. I have the same problem with Nick that you do, Havoc. That boy is too secretive for our own good. However I think we have enough information to prove useful."
Havoc's face brightened. "You're the man sir! That was a great idea. Since we know that Hunter and the homunculi are working together we can compare the two maps and see how many of the locations are present on both."
Mustang nodded. "That's the master plan."
Kaori leaned close to the table and gazed at the two maps. As she studied the maps she saw that three of the towns were highlighted on both Havoc's map and Mustang's.
A knowing look appeared in Kaori's eyes. "I know where he's going."
Both men turned to stare at the young girl. "You do?"
Kaori nodded. "I had thought about it before but I wasn't sure. But now that I've seen both maps I'm certain that my earlier hunch was correct."
Kaori placed her index finger on a spot on Havoc's map. "Nick's on his way to Kai."
"How can you be so sure?" Mustang wanted to know. "There are two other cities where Fullmetal fought both Hunter and the homunculi. So why are you so certain that he's going to Kai?"
Kaori took a deep breath. "I know because along with having fought the homunculi there, Nick's fought Hunter there multiple times."
"WHAT?!"
Kaori winced and avoided her dad's intense gaze. "I'm sorry Dad but he made me promise not to tell anyone and I kept that promise because I didn't wanna get him into trouble. He was in trouble enough as it was."
Havoc growled low in his throat. "I told that boy not to go back there."
"True enough," Kaori said. "But you never actually ordered him not to."
"Dammit. After this I'm gonna have to make a detailed list of all the places that boy can't go."
Mustang interrupted Havoc's bitching. "Havoc, go and call Edward. Tell him to haul ass to Central and we'll leave for Kai as soon as he arrives."
Havoc was surprised by this strange and completely unexpected order from the Fuhrer but he nodded and stood up. He walked over to the phone and dialed Ed's number.
After a few rings the phone on the other end was picked up and a feminine voice came over the line. "Rockbell Auto-mail, prosthetic limb outfitters."
"Still going by your maiden name Winry?"
Winry recognized the voice immediately. She and Ed had corresponded regularly with the colonel ever since Nick had joined the military. "Of course Havoc, but it's strictly for business. I worked hard to make that name famous throughout the country and I'm not gonna let all that hard work have been for nothing."
"I see. So is Ed around?"
"Oh I see how you are. Don't want to talk to me huh? What, am I not good enough for you?"
Suddenly afraid that he'd offended her, Havoc said quickly, "No that's not it Winry, I swear."
Winry's laughter came across the phone line. "It's okay Havoc; I was just messing with you. Hold on for a minute and I'll get Ed."
The line was silent for about a minute and a half and then a new voice came over the line.
"What do you want Havoc?"
"Well that's a hell of a way to greet someone."
"That's exactly the way you greet someone who never gives you anything but bad news."
"Well my perfect record shall remain untarnished. You need to come to Central right now."
"Why? What's the matter?" Ed's voice was laced with fear.
"Nick's gone after the homunculi."
"I'm on my way."
After that the line went dead.
Havoc replaced the receiver and then he rejoined Mustang and Kaori on the other side of the room. "Ed's on his way," Havoc said as he took his seat across from Kaori and Mustang.
"Good. Maybe by the time he arrives we'll have a plan for this mission."
The next day Ed arrived in Central and as soon as he got there he rushed to Central HQ. Ed entered the building and quickly walked down the hall toward Mustang's office. When he reached the office he flung open the door, without bothering to knock.
"Welcome Ed."
Ed walked toward Mustang's desk. "How could you let him go after the homunculi?"
Mustang glared at Ed. "I didn't LET him do anything. He disobeyed a direct order to remain in Central."
"Damn. Do you have any idea where he's going?"
"As a matter of fact we do. Havoc and I have been keeping detailed records of the locations where Nick fought the State Alchemist Killer, Hunter and the homunculi. We compared maps when we learned that Nick had left and with Kaori's help we determined that Nick was most likely on his way to Kai."
"I see. So when do we leave?"
"I wasn't sure exactly how quickly you'd be able to get here so I booked tickets for the four of us on the train that's scheduled to depart tomorrow."
"Okay."
Ed walked closer to Mustang's desk and offered the older man his hand.
Confused by what had sparked the uncharacteristic gesture Mustang took Ed's hand and shook it.
"Thank you for including me in this."
Mustang nodded. "I couldn't very well leave him out of it," he thought to himself. "Even if I'd wanted to. I've grown rather fond of breathing over the years and I'd like to continue to do so."
Ed sat down in the chair in front of Mustang's desk. "So tell me, why exactly are you so sure that Nick's headed for Kai? Not that I doubt your judgment or anything," he hastened to add after Mustang gave him an offended look.
"Kaori is the one who told us that was his most likely destination. She and Nick have spent quite a bit of time together and during this time she's learned that both Hunter and the homunculi have special ties to the city of Kai."
"I see." A thoughtful and somewhat sad expression appeared on Ed's face.
"What's on your mind Edward?"
"This is all my fault."
"How so?"
Ed looked up at Mustang, his golden eyes full of guilt. "If only I'd told him what happened to me and Al sooner then none of this would have happened. I could have prevented it and I didn't."
Mustang sighed. "And if your father or your sensei had told you that they had attempted and failed human transmutation then you and Al wouldn't have repeated their mistakes. So the blame doesn't rest solely on your shoulders Edward."
Unused to this more understanding side of Mustang, Ed was at a loss for words.
Early the next morning Ed, Mustang, Havoc and Kaori boarded a train bound for Kai.
"I hope we're on the right track with this assumption," Havoc thought to himself as he and the others boarded the train.
The others in the group were all having similar thoughts as the train pulled away from the station in Central but no one voiced their concerns out loud. It was as though speaking them out loud could somehow make them truer.
The train ride to Kai took the better part of the day and when they arrived the sun was low on the horizon.
"Okay we're here," Havoc said. "Now how do we go about locating Fullmetal?"
Mustang arched a brow. "I have absolutely no idea."
"Well that's helpful."
"Shut up Havoc. I can't think of everything."
"Stop fighting you two," Ed said, for once deeming it prudent to be the responsible adult of the group, a rarity with him. "Let's go about this logically. The homunculi want the Philosopher's Stone and we already know that in order for them to create it they need live humans in mass numbers. So all we have to do is find a heavily populated area."
Kaori gasped. Now that she knew what they were after and what they needed to accomplish that goal, she knew exactly where they would have to go in order to make it happen. "The orphanage!"
"Ah hell!" Mustang exclaimed. "Come on. We have to hurry."
The others nodded and the group rushed toward the village orphanage.
Nick had traveled all the way from Central City to Kai in pursuit of the homunculi and after a lengthy searched he'd finally found them. And now he was at their mercy. The fight hadn't started out so decidedly one sided but the homunculi had taken the advantage when they'd taken a hostage. As Nick fought Lust and Wrath, Sloth grabbed Maiyumi by the arm. The captured young girl screamed, instantly gaining Nick's attention.
"Stop fighting Fullmetal boy or the girl will suffer."
Nick glared at the homunculus, his hand-blade still upraised. "Damn you!"
Sloth sneered. "We're already damned. So tell me, what'll it be runt, your life or hers?"
The blade transformed back into Nick's auto-mail arm.
"Good choice." Sloth turned to his cronies. "Gather the children."
Lust and Wrath nodded and left to carry out their orders.
One hand still gripping Maiyumi's arm, Sloth walked over to Nick. "Now Fullmetal boy, you will finally prove useful."
Nick arched an eyebrow. "Huh?"
Sloth turned toward the door as Lust and Wrath herded the orphanage's inhabitants into the cafeteria. Only a few children, including Maiyumi, had been in the cafeteria when the homunculi had attacked but Wrath and Lust had managed to quickly round up the rest of them. "You, my friend are going to create the Philosopher's Stone."
Nick gasped as he recalled what his dad had told him about the Philosopher's Stone that day in Central. He gasped as the realization of what the homunculi planned to do hit him. "You can't possibly expect me to use these children as material to create a Philosopher's Stone."
Sloth smirked. "That's exactly what I expect you to do."
"There's no way in hell!"
Sloth's grip tightened on Maiyumi's arm, making the girl wince in pain.
"Stop!"
"I'll stop when I'm holding the Philosopher's Stone."
Nick crossed his arms over his chest. "I refuse."
"Oh you will make the Philosopher's Stone for us Fullmetal."
Nick turned at the sound of the new and unfamiliar voice and saw a tall young woman standing in the doorway. The woman was giving him a look of utmost contempt. "Who the hell are you?"
"Show some respect to our leader pipsqueak. Pride is the only reason we haven't killed you yet."
Nick's eyes narrowed. "Pride. So you're the leader of this depraved group."
"Correct. Now you will create the Philosopher's Stone for us. Because even if you refuse everyone will die, including you and that girl you seem so attached to. However if you do as you're told we will allow both you and the girl to leave unharmed."
Nick bowed his head in defeat.
Sloth tossed the boy a chalk pencil. "Start drawing."
Nick caught the chalk pencil that Sloth tossed to him and began to draw the array required to make a Philosopher's Stone.
Sloth's eyes widened. "You already know how to draw the array for the Philosopher's Stone?"
Thinking back on the day he'd read some private files that had been kept by General Hughes, Nick nodded grimly. "Unfortunately, yes. I raided some private files and found it."
"Nice going kid. Now get to work."
"Don't do it Nick!" Maiyumi screamed.
Nick ignored the girl's pleas and began to draw the array. But as he worked he silently plotted his escape. "Somehow I have to get all the orphans out of this alive."
When the array was complete Nick slowly got to his feet.
Lust and Sloth herded the orphans onto the array while Nick stood by and watched, a horrified expression on his face.
"Don't worry Fullmetal boy," Sloth said. "It'll all be over soon."
"You're right about that."
The homunculi watched hopefully as Nick clasped his hands together. But instead of placing his hands on the transmutation circle Nick whirled around and dropped to his knees. Nick placed his hands to the floor and watched as stone spikes shot from the ground. The spikes stabbed an unsuspecting Sloth in the chest.
Sloth screamed and released his grip on Maiyumi, who quickly distanced herself from the injured homunculus.
"Maiyumi, take the others and run!"
Maiyumi nodded and began to quickly herd the other kids toward the exit.
Lust and Wrath made a move to prevent the children's escape but Nick blocked their path. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Fullmetal!"
Nick whirled around at the sound of the new voice, ready for a fight. But he hesitated when he saw a young girl standing in front of him. Nick's eyes widened in horror.
That slight hesitation cost him dearly. The boy suddenly felt a flesh searing pain in his back and gasped in horror as three thin, black spikes shot from his chest. Nick turned his head slowly and saw Lust standing behind him.
Lust retracted her claws and Nick screamed in pain as they were ripped from his body. The boy fell to the ground and a pool of blood quickly formed under his body.
"Now what do we do Pride?" Sloth asked.
The young girl walked over to the spot where Nick lay in a pool of his own blood. She knelt down and grabbed Nick's jaw, turning the boy's face toward her. "You should have done as you were told Fullmetal but no matter. We'll simply have to find another alchemist to create the Stone. But it's a shame. You were the most talented alchemist that we had to work with. Such a waste."
With that Pride released her grip on the boy.
Mustang and his group were making their way quickly toward the orphanage when they saw a large group of children running toward them. Mustang motioned for the children to stop but only one obeyed.
Maiyumi came to a stop. "Fuhrer Mustang!"
"Calm down and tell me what you were all running from."
"It was horrible," Maiyumi gasped, tears forming in her eyes. "These strange people wanted to use us to make a Philosopher's Stone, whatever that is."
"So Kaori was correct," Mustang said. "So tell me, how did you all manage to escape?"
"Nick saved us," Maiyumi said.
"So Nicholas is here," Ed said.
Maiyumi nodded. "But he needs help because he's grossly outnumbered and he's all alone."
That was all the group needed to hear. They took off running, toward the orphanage.
"Pride!"
"What is it Wrath?"
"We should leave this place. Those damn kids escaped and they'll probably bring reinforcements."
"Wrath has a valid point," Pride said. "Let's go before someone crashes the party."
Sloth glanced down at Nick. "What about the runt?"
"Leave him," Pride ordered. "He's a goner and no longer of any use to us."
Sloth nodded and the four homunculi fled the orphanage.
The orphanage was eerily silent when Mustang and his group arrived. "Careful everyone," Mustang whispered.
The group entered the orphanage through the front door and once inside they were shocked to find, nothing.
"Let's split up," Mustang suggested.
The others nodded and each set off in a different direction.
Kaori walked down the hall, toward the cafeteria, and when she entered the large room she was horrified by
what she saw. Kaori barely suppressed a scream as her gaze fell upon Nick, who lay on the floor in a pool of blood.
"Oh please no."
Kaori ran over and dropped to her knees beside Nick. She grabbed his left hand, and although it was still warm there was no pulse. She stared at the horrific wounds in the boy's chest and even though in her heart she knew that no one could survive such extensive injuries she refused to accept the fact that Nick was gone.
"He's not dead," Kaori whispered, shaking her head. She absolutely refused to accept that fact. "He can't be."
She placed her first two fingers to the side of Nick's neck but was still unable to find a pulse.
Kaori picked up Nick's hand again, as though to check for a pulse, but instead of placing her fingers to his wrist she raised his hand and held it against her cheek.
"No, it can't end like this."
A strange, far-away look appeared in Kaori's eyes.
"Human transmutation."
Kaori's thoughts flashed back to the day Nick had returned from the other side of the Gate. It had been the day of Lt. Col. Breda's funeral and Nick had showed up at the cemetery toward the end of the ceremony. Once the service was over Nick had returned to Central HQ with Kaori and her dad and had answered questions about where he'd been for the last year and a half.
Once Mustang was satisfied with Nick's story he allowed the boy to leave. Nick and Kaori had went out into the courtyard and sat down beneath their favorite tree. The two kids spent awhile catching up and then somehow the topic of conversation had turned to human transmutation.
Kaori couldn't remember how exactly the topic of conversation changed to that of human transmutation but that was when Nick had told her about the new theory on human transmutation that he'd developed after traveling to the other side of the Gate.
"Kaori, I have a new theory on human transmutation," Nick told her. "While I was on the other side of the Gate I learned that their world and ours are connected through alchemy. Lives lost on that side of the Gate are summoned to this world and used by alchemists as fuel for transmutations. When I learned that I began to rethink my theory on human transmutation and the equivalent exchange it would take in order to bring someone back to life. One would assume that a life would have to be forfeited but I now believe that you could, in theory, give up the use of alchemy in exchange for someone's soul. Because you are, in a sense, giving life for life. If you gave up alchemy you would no longer be manipulating lives from the other side of the Gate."
Kaori stared at Nick. "So do you plan to test your new theory?" There was a slight trace of fear in her voice.
Nick shook his head. "No. Although I can't say that I haven't been tempted I now know that even though I may possibly have the power I have the responsibility not to do it."
Kaori's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
Nick nodded. "Death is a natural part of life and even though I tried it once I now know that humans shouldn't try to play God."
Kaori nodded.
Nick grabbed Kaori's hand. "I told you this because you're important to me but I want you to promise me that you won't tell anyone else about it. Not even your dad."
"I promise."
Kaori had kept that promise. She hadn't uttered a word about what Nick had confided in her that day. In fact, up until now she hadn't even thought about his theory on human transmutation. But now the words that Nick had spoken to her were coming back to haunt her in full force.
A determined look appeared in her eyes. "I refuse to let it end this way."
Kaori dipped her fingers in Nick's blood and drew the symbol that she used for transmutations on the back of her hand. Then she clasped her hands together and placed them on Nick's chest.
Blue lights swirled around them for a few minutes and then abruptly disappeared. Kaori dropped to the ground and lay there gasping for breath, her face ghostly pale.
Kaori was gazing up at the ceiling, wondering whether the transmutation had failed, when she heard a gasp and then a cough. She turned her head and gazed over at Nick, whose chest was now rising and falling rhythmically. And better still, the fatal wounds were no longer on his chest and the blood that had coated the floor beneath his body was gone.
Kaori glanced down at her hand and saw that the transmutation circle that she'd drawn with Nick's blood was no longer there. She sat up and pulled out her necklace, which had the same array as the one she'd drawn on her hand and attempted a transmutation.
Nothing happened.
Kaori smiled. "It worked," she said softly.
At that moment Nick's eye lids fluttered and after a few seconds his eyes slowly opened. The boy stared up at Kaori, a stunned expression on his face.
"Here's the test," Kaori thought to herself. "This will determine whether I brought the real Nick back."
She grinned down at the boy. "So pipsqueak, how are you feeling?"
Nick's eyes narrowed and he sat up quickly. "DON'T CALL ME A PIPSQUEAK!! YOU OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULD..."
"Nick." Kaori's voice was filled with relief and she moved closer to Nick and hugged him fiercely.
"What the hell is going on?" Nick stared down at his chest, which bore no sign of the horrific wounds that he had suffered. "I thought I was dead."
Kaori bowed her head, feeling slightly guilty. "You were. I transmuted your dead body."
Nick's eyes darted to Kaori and he searched her body for any obvious signs of injury. "Are you okay?"
Kaori smiled at his concern. "I'm fine."
"So how did you do it?"
"I used your theory. I gave up alchemy," Kaori told him. "I knew that I shouldn't but my heart wouldn't allow me to simply walk away without at least trying to do something. I had to at least make an attempt to save you."
Nick gazed at Kaori, a serious expression on his face. "Tell no one what you have done."
Kaori nodded. "Hadn't planned on it."
Nick clasped his hands together and placed them to his torn black shirt. There was a flash of blue light and the fabric mended instantly. "There. Now the evidence of what happened is gone."
Kaori got to her feet and then offered Nick her hand. Nick took the hand that she offered him and Kaori helped him to his feet. "Come on Nick. Let's go find the others."
"Who else is here?"
"Dad, Col. Havoc and your father."
"Shit!" Nick swore. "That's one hell of a lineup. You may have brought me back for nothing."
"Nuh uh," Kaori said. "That would seriously piss me off. I didn't give up the use of alchemy in order to restore you to life just so they could kill you."
Nick offered her a smile but it was strained.
"Are you mad at me Nicholas?"
Nick shook his head. "No, I'm not mad. But I do feel slightly guilty that you gave up alchemy so that I could have a second chance that I didn't deserve. I will admit that upsets me somewhat."
Kaori placed a comforting hand on Nick's shoulder. "Don't think like that. It wasn't time for you to die yet. You haven't fulfilled your mission yet."
Kaori didn't give voice to the thoughts that were running in her head however she hoped that she would one day be able to tell Nick exactly what he meant to her. The choice between saving his life and keeping her ability to use alchemy had been the easiest choice she'd ever made and yet even though she wanted to Kaori found herself unable to share that with Nick.
"Someday," she thought to herself. "Someday I'll have the courage to tell him."
Nick and Kaori walked down a hallway, to the library, and that's where they found Ed.
"Nicholas!" Ed exclaimed at the sight of his son. He quickly walked the few steps that separated them and pulled the boy into his arms.
Nick pulled away after a few seconds. "It's good to see you too Dad."
The touching father-son moment was interrupted when the group heard footsteps. They all turned toward the door and watched as Havoc entered the library. "I heard a lot of noise coming from this vicinity and so I came to check it out."
Havoc's gaze came to rest on Nick and he walked over to the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's good to see that you haven't gotten yourself killed Fullmetal."
Nick smiled wryly, inwardly smirking at the irony of that statement. Oh if only they knew. "Thanks to Kaori. If she hadn't shown up when she did I'd be a goner."
"So what happened to the homunculi?" Col. Havoc asked.
"They ran off when they heard you guys approaching," Nick replied. As he spoke Nick silently wondered whether or not he was lying to his superior. Since he'd technically been dead at the time Nick wasn't exactly sure what had caused the homunculi to flee but he wasn't about to tell Havoc that.
"Well," Havoc said. "I guess we'd better go and find Mustang. And Nick, a piece of advice; brace yourself."
Nick nodded. "Yea, I thought it'd be like that."
"So where is Dad?" Kaori wanted to know.
Ed's gaze went to the ceiling. "I heard footsteps overhead a few minutes ago so my guess is that he's up in the attic."
"Alright," Havoc said. "Let's test that theory, shall we?"
The others nodded and since he'd once spent some time there they allowed Nick to lead the way. Nick groaned inwardly as he led the way toward the staircase that led up to the attic. "This will not be pleasant."
As though she sensed his inner turmoil, Kaori walked up and took Nick's hand into her own. "It won't be that bad."
Nick appreciated her attempt at cheering him up but he wasn't stupid. He'd disobeyed a direct order from the Fuhrer himself and he knew that Mustang was pissed.
When they reached the stairs, Nick hung back.
Ed, sensing his son's dread and understanding it completely, took the lead and the group began its ascent.
Mustang was searching the large attic, which was divided into several, separate storage rooms, when he heard the sound of someone climbing the stairs. He quickly pulled a white glove from his pocket and then pulled it onto his right hand, at the same time walking toward the stairs.
"Identify yourself!"
Ed poked his head up into the attic, with his hands upraised. "It's just us Roy, calm down."
Mustang visibly relaxed. "Did you find anything?"
Ed grabbed Nick by the arm and pulled him up the stairs, into the attic. "We found a runaway."
Mustang's eyes narrowed as his gaze fell on Nick.
Ed knew that look, he'd been the target of that particular gaze many times himself. And nothing good had ever happened when he'd gotten that look. He felt sorry for his son, but not sorry enough to stick around. "And on that note, I think the rest of us will leave. We'll be downstairs if you need us."
"Cowards," Nick thought bitterly as he watched Ed, Havoc and Kaori hurry back down the stairs.
"Nicholas!"
Nick snapped to attention at the sound of Mustang's voice but his golden eyes maintained their usual look of defiance. And he didn't miss the fact that the Fuhrer had called him by his given name instead of his military nickname.
Mustang walked over to the spot where Nick stood, his right hand inside his pocket. "Lt. Col. Nicholas Elric. . ."
Nick braced himself for the worst.
Mustang pulled his hand from his pocket and offered it to Nick. Confused, Nick held out his hand. Mustang took Nick's outstretched hand and placed his silver pocket watch in his upturned palm. "Next time you go after the homunculi, make sure you take backup."
And with that Mustang walked away, leaving a stunned Nick standing with his mouth hanging open. Mustang was halfway down the stairs before Nick snapped out of his daze. He quickly put the watch in his pocket and ran to catch up.
As he ran to catch up with his superior Nick inwardly marveled at what had just happened. He had, in essence, gotten away with disobeying a direct order from the Fuhrer and he wasn't exactly sure why Mustang had let him off the hook with just the simple reprimand about backup.
"That was weird," Nick thought to himself as he caught up with his superior.
Ed, Havoc and Kaori were all leaning against a wall in the hallway at the bottom of the stairs when Mustang and Nick descended the stairs. Havoc glanced curiously at Nick, a questioning look on his face.
Mustang cleared his throat, instantly gaining the groups' full attention. "Fullmetal's disobedience has been dealt with and is not to be spoken of again."
Ed's face remained stoic but inside he was beaming. The two of them had finally come to terms with one another. "Hell, maybe there's hope for the two of us yet."
"Hurry up Edward or we'll leave you here."
Ed gave Mustang the single finger salute. "Scratch that last thought. Some things are just too much to hope for."
Abandoning his thoughts Ed caught up with the rest of the group and together the five of them left the orphanage. Ed was at the tail end of the group and as they walked Nick fell back until he was even with his dad.
"Dad."
"What is it Nick?"
"When I first learned of all the things that you'd kept from me about your past I was pissed. There were so many things that you'd hidden from me that I thought I had a right to know about and although I did learn about them in time it was never you who revealed the secrets to me. It was always someone else and that only increased the anger that I felt."
"I know," Ed said. "And I'm sorry for. . ."
"I wasn't finished," Nick said, interrupting his dad's attempted apology. "I was angry but not now. Now I understand that you were only trying to protect me. And now that I've faced all the homunculi together I know that you only did what you did out of love. I understand now. And I'm sorry for any disrespect that I've shown you over the years."
Ed smiled. He hadn't even dared hope that he might hear those words and they meant the world to him. "No Nicholas, I'm the one who should apologize. I should have told you everything but I had this foolish desire to protect you, even after you ceased to be a child. For that I will always feel guilty. Forgive me."
"I forgive you," Nick said.
A/N - wow, that was a long chapter and I killed my main character. Oh the horror. But then again I seem to do that kind of thing rather a lot. Anyway, hope that you enjoyed, feel free to leave a review and tell me what you thought.