Kenzi hardly spoken to anyone since leaving the north in Amestris. She hardly spoke, merely nodding to shop owners and such as we made our way to travel to Xing. The only time I had heard her speak was when she was asleep. She'd let out these small noises from her throat most of the time, but there had been one time she said something audible, making me wonder what the hell happened to her in Briggs.

We had just gotten into Xing, being escorted by Ling's royal guard into the capital city where Ling now resided. I looked to Kenzi, ready to tell her to look to something I thought would interest her and noticed she was rubbing her forehead. Giving her a look of worry, I wondered what she had been doing. As I suspected, she had no idea I was looking toward her.

"Taylor," Ling called with enthusiasm. Apparently, he had gotten the letter. "I was expecting you."

I put on a smile. "Thank you for letting us stay here, Ling," I said as I went up to him, unafraid of the guards meant to protect him. I bowed in respect for royalty.

Ling raised my body, looking to me. "Around me, treat me like the Ling you knew from when I was in your country." I nodded as he looked beyond me, to about where Kenzi was standing. "And who is this desert flower?"

I smiled, at least taking the compliment for what it was instead of looking deeper into it. "Ling, this is my younger cousin, McKenzi. We call her Kenzi."

Ling walked past me to her. He scanned her over. "Looks as if the sun was merciless to you."

Kenzi nodded silently. I gave her a stern look, wondering what he problem was with being polite. But it did give me a better chance to look at her. Her cheeks were red and she looked pale. I didn't know if it was from the heat or if she was sick.

Ling went on. "I knew Taylor from when I was in Amestris. Shame I never got to meet you. Though, I did meet a few other blondes." Kenzi nodded, trying not to show her discomfort, trying to hide it. I frowned as she began to sway a little. "Two of them were brothers and the other one was their friend I asked to be one of my wives, Winry."

Oh, shit, don't mention the name Elric, Ling. She had to leave an Elric brother when we left the country. Mention that and she might break down in tears.

"Although, I do see Alphonse a lot. I merely hear news about Edward."

"Edward?" Kenzi asked in a mere whisper. Her face looked almost depressed, like she wanted to cry.

Ling nodded. "Yeah, he's quite famous in your country for his alchemy. His last name is Elric."

As Ling turned to start on a story about Colonel Elric, McKenzi swayed a little more. I stepped toward her, meaning to steady her, but missed her as she collapsed on the floor of the throne room with a thud.

"Kenzi!"

Ling turned around, finally realizing what just happened. "What happened?"

As much as I wanted to retort back with some smart ass comment, I couldn't, more worried about my cousin. "She just collapsed. Do you have a doctor?"

Ling shook his head a little. "Not the kind you want. I do have another Amestrian familiar with those medical practices, but he's been more like an ambassador than any learning our alchemy."

I didn't care if it was Dr. Knox himself at the moment, I just wanted to know McKenzi was going to be alright. I gently touched her forehead, then pulled my hand away quickly. She was running a high fever. I looked to Ling worriedly.

"Come on, I know where we can put her. It'll be her room anyway. Just let me get Alphonse to carry her there and so he could check her out. Winry's taught him some about sicknesses and such since he got his body back," Ling said as he stood, going to call on Alphonse.

It had been a while since I had seen Alphonse. I had seen him just as he was leaving Central from the hospital, after having gained weight and didn't look as frail. I think the last I saw of him was when he visited Edward in headquarters. But there he was, nearly running to me and Kenzi, who lied motionless on the floor.

"What happened here?" he asked, his eyes toward Kenzi.

"She just collapsed. I just checked her forehead; she got a high fever, Al."

Al nodded and picked her up in a single bound. "Let's get her to her room and I can start to help her. Most of it is going to have to be on her."

I nodded, knowing she was a fighter. "Okay."

Al walked to her room with me beside him. "Where was she before this?"

I took a breath, knowing we were in a different country under royal protection like Al was, and I knew Al could be trusted. He proved that a long time ago. "She was in Fort Briggs, under protective custody." Al nodded, obviously listeing as he looked to her. "She was with your brother."

Al tensed a little. "Ed?"

I nodded. "I placed him under bodyguard duty over her there. Kenzi needed to hide and Ed could do it."

Al nodded. "Makes me happy that brother still helps people when following military orders more."

I nodded, glancing to Kenzi to make sure she was still breathing. Then I went back to Al. "He's a colonel, I'd imagine he matured some when he earned the title for himself."

Al chuckled. "I still don't see my brother in that sort of position. Sometimes it still feels like last year when we were trying to get our bodies back."

I chuckled. "Same here. I am still trying to get used to your human body."

Al walked into a wonderfully furnished room that had colored cloths draped in front of the windows. Colorful pillows placed around the room. Al placed her in the bed that had clusters of a red cloth that was brighter than the jacket she was wearing. He pushed hair from her eyes.

"It's definitely a fever. Do you mind if I treat it while you talk to Ling about everything's that's happened? I promise not to do anything but that."

I nodded. "Of course you can, Al. Thank you for helping me." I glanced to Kenzi, debating on telling him that she was possibly in love with his brother. But I didn't. Instead I stopped myself at the door. "Hey, Al?"

Al looked from Kenzi to me, already appearing to make notes of what he needed for her. "Yeah?"

"You look good," I said as I walked out to meet with Ling to explain the reason why I was staying with him with my younger cousin.

Al smiled, nodding. "Thank you, Miss Mera."