18 hours later in the Ishbalian village.
Mirosuji finally arrived at his hideout in the Ishbalian outskirts. The only safe place for him now. He sits down on the dirty blanket on the ground and takes the stolen file from under his shirt. "Finally I've got the truth. I can't believe that this file was once read by the great Fullmetal alchemist himself." Mirosuji opens the file and starts reading it.
"I knew it all along!" he suddenly screams in triumph after hours and hours reading without a break. "Oi! Miro you're back!" a young male voice suddenly says. Someone pushes the blanket before the doorway away and three people enter the small hideout. Without thinking, Mirosuji puts the file into his bag, which stands beside him. A young man, 17, an old priest, 58, and a young girl, 6, enter the room. "Oh, hello," Mirosuji says smiling when he recognizes them. "Miro-chan!" The young girl flies into his arms, crying and sobbing. "I'm so glad you made it back safe!" she says. Mirosuji laughs friendly and says: "You don't have to worry about me."
"But I was!" the girl screams, still sobbing in his shirt. "Oh yes? Why were you?" Mirosuji asks. "Because I thought that they were too good for you to handle on your own, Miro-chan," the girl answers, lightly blushing. "Hahaha, you give me too little credit, Keira-chan," Mirosuji says, laughing softly. "*Sniff* But what if they had caught you? Who was going to secretly feed me sweets when I'm sad?" the little girl asks. Mirosuji smiles again. "I would break out of prison just to do that, Keira-chan." Keira's expression changes from sad to happy and she smiles innocently.
"I have always been wondering how Keira always got those sweets. Way to go Mirosuji," the young man says, his voice slightly disappointed, as if he felt betrayed. "I'm sorry," Mirosuji says apologizing. "Don't tease Miro-chan so much, big brother! He's a nice man," Keira says. "With sweets," she adds. Mirosuji laughs amused and puts Keira on his lap, so she sits comfortable. "Hey, hey, Miro-chan. Did you bring me any sweets today too?" the girl asks.
"… hmm. Let me see." Mirosuji puts one hand in his bag and starts searching for something. "MIRO!" the young man says indignant. "What?" Mirosuji asks surprised. "Don't feed her so many sweets!"
Mirosuji gives Keira a lollypop. "She'll get fat!" the young man says.
"Neeeh, she won't."
"Geez, are you even listening to me?"
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Thank you," Keira says and she takes the lollypop from Mirosuji. She rips it out of the wrapping and puts it into her mouth. "No problem dear."
"Hahahaha, it's good to see you back in good health, my son," the old priest says highly amused. "Thank you, father Scar. I'm glad I came back in one piece," Mirosuji answers polite. "So how did it go?" Scar asks, while he sits down on the opposite of Mirosuji so that they are facing each other. "I got it," Mirosuji simply answers. "You did!" the young boy says astonished and very happy.
"I had to blow my cover though, but I got it in one piece."
"Let me see! Let me see!"
"Calm down Seron."
"Easy, my son. Behave yourself," the priest says to the young boy. Seron calms down a bit, but is still trembling with excitement. The priest turns to Mirosuji again and asks: "May I see it, my son?"
"Of course, father." Mirosuji takes a black leather notebook out of his bag and hands it over to Scar. Scar opens it and looks through the file. He's deeply in thought, or reading, Mirosuji can't tell the difference. The man took care of him since he was a kid, but he never quite understood him. However, he does know that father Scar can't read. "Need help father?" he asks gently. "Huh? Oh, yes please," Scar says and he gives the notebook back to Mirosuji. Mirosuji looks quickly through it to get an idea what's actually in the notebook. "Okay, the beginning is all just basic alchemy. But after that it gets more and more important."
"What does it say?" Seron asks. "Let me see. Human transmutation… chimera's… simply putted, the whole pack of forbidden alchemy," Mirosuji answers. "That is quite interesting, my son."
"And later on… the writer, he… he speaks of a plot."
"What? A plot? Of what?" Seron asks.
"Of the… homunculus?" Mirosuji answers trembling.
"What does this all mean?"
"I haven't figured that out yet, but…" Mirosuji can't finish his sentence because Seron cuts him off. "A Humoncuwhat?"
"Homunculus."
"What the hell is that?"
"Seron, you really need to pay more attention to me," Mirosuji says. "Humpf… says who?" Seron replies offended. "I say," Mirosuji answers simply.
"Yes I can hear that!"
"*Sigh* Homunculi represent the seven death sins in human form."
"Oh those things."
"Pride; sloth; wrath; lust; gluttony; envy and greed," Scar sums up, "the seven death sins that can drag the most faithful man to the fire pits of hell." "Yes, but it's said that the Homunculi, on the promised day, wanted to destroy this whole nation. The Elric brothers stopped it," Mirosuji explains. "Ah the Elric brothers, nice boys. Good souls," the priest says. Mirosuji nods. "I once met them, those Elric brothers. The short one had a temper, but he believed in what he did. And he was different from the others, very different."
"I wish I could have the honor to have met them. They had a lot of knowledge," Mirosuji says, dreaming of the knowledge the Elric brothers' possesed. "Yes, but the boys are amongst our ancestors now. They are in peace," Scar says. Mirosuji nods. "Poor guys."
"Huh? Huh? I don't get it. Who were they and what are homunculi?" Keira asks, unable to understand what the grown ups are talking about. "Ask your brother," Mirosuji says. "Big brother?"
"Yes, what is it Keira?"
"What are homunculi?" Keira asks.
"*Sigh* A homunculus is a very bad person?" Seron explains to his younger sister. "Like someone who steals my sweets?" Keira asks. "… No. More like a person who kills you, Keira," Seron explains tired.
"Oh… he kills just for sweets?" Keira asks, still not fully understanding what Seron is talking about. "You could say that. They're really mean and have strange powers."
"Strange powers? Like what?"
"I can't explain. You'd better ask Miro, he knows."
"Miro-chan. What kind of strange powers do these humanculia have?" Keira asks to Mirosuji. "They're called homunculi, Keira-chan. And their power depends on which sin they represent," Mirosuji explains calmly. "Aha," Keira says, pretending to understand it. She also seems to be deep in thought, but suddenly asks: "So does that make big brother a homunculus too? He's a real glutton, you know?"
"Oi! Keira!" her big brother screams indignant. Mirosuji and Scar laugh over Keira's innocence. "Hahaha, not really Keira-chan," Mirosuji answers, while he wipes away a tear. "What? Did I say something wrong?" Keira asks indignant. "No, Keira-chan. But a real gluttony will eat anything… even human beings," Mirosuji explains. "Oh! But big brother doesn't eat humans, right big brother?"
"Hahaha! Okay, that's enough of that. Seron, Keira, go and help you mother with the dinner preparations. Mirosuji and I have much to talk about it," Scar says, still enjoying the fairly conversation. "Bah… okay father Scar."
"Bye Miro-chan! Bring me more sweets next time too, okay?" Keira says, while jumping up from Mirosuji's lap. "Sure thing," Mirosuji answers, smiling to the little girl. Keira smiles back and runs after her brother, out of the tent. "So, my son. Where were we before we were so brutally interrupted?" Scar asks, his voice sounding a bit sarcastic at the last part of his sentence. "…the promised day…" Mirosuji recalls. "Ah yes. The Elric brothers and the promised day," Scar says. "I suppose you have more knowledge of that then I do, father," Mirosuji says, referring to the fact that Scar was there when the promised day happened, 30 years ago. "Well, I was there, but I only know flitters of what some other people know about it. I do know that the Elric brothers are heroes. Not your everyday heroes, nor divine heroes. But heroes they were."
"Yes, I have read much about them when I studied in Central," Mirosuji recalls. "Mirosuji, this file you've got here. It contains much information about the truth behind the promised day and the disgraces of the Central army. They will come after it, no matter what. So what will you do now?" Scar asks seriously, knowing exactly what the truth is. "I know that, father. That's why I will leave the village, seek a quiet place and plan my next move from their," Mirosuji tells him. "I see. We will all miss you here, especially Keira. She loves you so much. So please stay for the night," Scar says, offering Mirosuji one last night at the village. "Of course I will, father. I assume I still have t do my chores, right?" Mirosuji asks. Scar laughs. "What do you think, my son? You're our new hero and a hero never does any chores."
*Dong…Dong!* "Sounds like dinner is ready, my son. Are you coming with me?" Scar asks, while getting up. "Yes father." Mirosuji puts the notebook away in a safe place and stands up, to walk after the priest, out of the tent.
Next day, 9:00.
Laquisha walks a bit closer to the Ishbalian village. "So this is the place where that coward ran off to, huh?" she says to the young corporal next to her. "Let's get him," the young man says. "Wait up, Mustang. We'll first question the people here. We're in peace with the Ishbalian people, after all," Laquisha says. "Don't you think they will get suspicious?" Kain Mustang asks.
CORPERAL MUSTANG,
AKA
THE LIGHTNING ALCHEMIST.
Full name: Kain Mustang.
Call name: Kain.
Age: 20.
Gender: Male.
Origin: Amestrian.
Rank: State alchemist.
Alchemist name: The lightning alchemist.
Hair: Blond with the same haircut as his father, Roy Mustang.
Eyes: Brown.
Skin: Blank.
Specifics: –Son of Riza Mustang Hawkeye and Roy Mustang.
–Doesn't work under his father but under Lieutenat General Rundall.
–Isn't an offical state alchemist yet, but already has an alchemist name, which is more a pet name then an offical alchemist name.
Story: Son of Roy and Riza Mustang. He's the laughing-stock of his father. Gets scolded allot by his father, whereafter his mother punches his dad. Also a very shy person.
"Nah… It'll be fine," Laquisha replies and she snaps her fingers. Armed men rush into the village and begin questioning people. "Let's get our butt to work, Mustang. Hey you girl!" Laquisha yells to a little bypassing girl. The girl stops, runs towards Laquisha and says: "Hello!"
Laquisha kneels down before the girl, so they're face to face, and smiles. The girl smiles back. "Tell me, little girl, have you ever seen this man?" Laquisha asks and she shows the girl a photograph of Mirosuji. "Eeeeehhmmm…." The little girl thinks deeply.
"AW! COME ON! IT'S JUST A SIMPLE YES OR NO!" Mustang suddenly screams annoyed. "Who's the scary man?" the girl asks scared. Laquisha turns around to Mustang and screams angry: "Mustang!"
"Don't be scared, little girl. He's just an annoying idiot. Just don't pas attention to him. I'll deal with him later, okay," Laquisha then says to the girl. "Forget the questioning! If I find him here, which I will, I'll just shoot his brain out!" Mustang screams and he walks away. Laquisha stands up and yells: "MUSTANG! GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE! THAT'S AN ORDER!"
"Are you… going to hurt him?" the little girl asks scared. "WHAT?" Mustang yells, two times as scared as the girl. "No, of course not. So what is your name little girl?" Laquisha asks. "Keira," the girl answers cutely. "Keira, that is a beautiful name," Laquisha says. "You really think so?" Keira asks cutely. "Of course. So, Keira, what can you tell me?"
"Uhm… you know, I'm not allowed to talk to strangers, my brother says so," Keira answers. Laquisha has the feeling she'll melt in a few moment, just by looking at the little girl. "But I'm not a stranger now any more, am I? So can you tell me if you've ever seen this man?" Laquisha asks, showing the photo of Mirosuji again to Keira. The girl thinks deeply again and nods no. "Well okay. Thank you very much for your help, Keira. Say hi to your big brother from me, okay?" Laquisha says, slightly disappointed, while she stands up. "You welcome," Keira answers smiling. Laquisha smiles and turns around to walk away. Keira waves quickly at Laquisha and then turns around to run to her big brother. "Laquisha says. "Yes, madam?"
"He's here."
"How do you know that for sure, Commander?" Kain asks surprised. "The girl lied to me when she said, she didn't know him. I could see the recognition in her eyes when I showed her the picture," Laquisha explains. "…pfft. So what?"
"It also has something to do with that priest and the brother," Laquisha says, turning around to see the little girl talking to her older brother and an old priest with a cross shaped scar on his forehead. "My guess is that he's long gone by now," Kain says, not impressed by the words of his superior. "No, he's here. These people, they are ishbalian's, remember?"
"I don't get it."
"*Sigh* Ishbalian's are famous for their politeness. They will let any tired men sleep here and give him food, no matter who it is. My guess is that he must have been pretty tired after his heist and run to this place. By foot, it takes you half a day to get here, maybe 18 hours because he had to be careful. So he was tired and these people helped him out, gave him food and a place to sleep. He could still be sleeping somewhere here. And I've got a plan," Laquisha explains, grinning evilly at the last sentence. "Which is?" Mustang asks suspiciously. "We're gonna burn him out," Laquisha says calm, like she's reporting the weather. "Burn?" Kain asks surprised and astonished. "Call the men back and let them stand guard around the village," Laquisha orders strict. "A…are you sure?
"Yes. Mirosuji is considered a land's traitor. He doesn't deserve any better."
"But what about the other people in the village?"
"That's the other reason we put our men around the village. This fire must look like an accident. The soldiers will 'save' the people and bring them to the new settlement the state is building for them," Laquisha explains calm. "Your mean the one they refuse to use?" Mustang asks. "Yes. This way, we'll catch two birds with one stone."
"…Alright."
"Only the priest, the little girl and the boy are to be taken into custody. But do it quiet."
Mustang puts his gloves on and says: "Don't worry, Commander. I won't blow anything up."
"I'm serious, Kain. It must look like an accident. I don't want to get the blame to be placed on our army," Laquisha says emphatically. "Yeah, yeah."
"Well at least you've got the weather to support you, lightning alchemist." Laquisha lights a cigarette while Kain runs away to give orders. "Hmm… just you wait, Mirosuji Khasem. For this will be the day that I put an end to your miserable life."
*Kgggtt* [radio]
'Ready when you are Commander,' the radio squeaks with young Kain's voice. Laquisha takes her own receiver from her belt and says: "Good. On one… three…two…"
"HOLD ON!"
"WHAT?"
'Is it on 'now' or on 'one'?'
"Huh? What? I DON'T GIVE A DAMN! JUST DO IT!"
'O-Okay!'
*snap! BOOOM!*
Laquisha just stands up straight while the shockwave hits her and her men. "Nice boom it seems the kid is worth more than that old father of his." Laquisha takes her receiver again and switches the channel. "Hello HQ. Here Brigadier Rundall. I've got some problems in the Ishbalian village, something exploded and the village is on fire now. We need help and support to save as many people as possible. I repeat we need backup at the Ishbalian village."
Laquisha switches the receiver on a low volume, attaches it to her belt again and looks at the fire, grinning evilly. Loads of soldiers run into the village to 'save' the Ishbalians. "Oh how I love this," Laquisha says softly, whereafter she screams to the men: "Save as many as you can, men!"
FILE 086029.