Monday, May 15, 2006

FINIALLY FINISHED CHAPTER... whatever this is
I kept my eyes on the ground frustrated. The wind was blowing my hair lightly just enough for it to get in my face. I pushed it behind my ear I stopped for a moment and looked around it was dark out. I should go home. I looked around again to find out where the hell I was. “Oh crap.” I was at least a few miles away from my bakery.
I looked at a near by sign I gave a short sigh, “Well hell. This will take forever,” I hit my forehead noticing I was talking to myself, “shut up stupid.”
I turned down a street walking as fast as I could. I started to jog after while and caught up to a run then to a fast sprint. I was getting tired but I only tried to go faster. I felt like my heart was being crushed I couldn’t shake a thought from my mind, that more people will die. I thought of my friends for a second. What if Mercy is killed… or Havoc… I tried hard to shake it out of my head. I couldn’t help but clench my teeth together to stop the fear that was rising in my heart.
I looked around to see my progress I was maybe half of the way there, “Hell in a hand basket!” I started to run again. I was losing my breath I slowed down and put my hands on my knees to catch my breath.
“Aki? Is that you?” I heard a familiar voice call out. Looking up it was Riza.
“Hey Riza. Nice to see you out of work for once.” I smiled casually. Her hair was down I never really realized how long her hair was.
“I know. It seems every time I see you you’re in a hospital bed.” She joked.
“It’s not like I can help it.” I sighed.
“You should be more careful. The Lieutenant worries a lot about you.” She smiled.
“Ya I can tell.” I scratched the back of my head.
She looked at her watch, “I should get going. I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” she started to walk away she turned around after a few feet, “Oh and I hope that you don’t get shot again. The colonel says that he’s just about ready to shoot you himself.” She laughed.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I gave her one last smile before heading off again. I looked at the bakery for a few seconds. I took a deep breath before walking in. I opened the door with a blank expression on my face.
“Is that true that you went out with the colonel?” Mercy shouted.
I looked at her frustrated. I patted her head, “Yes now drop it.” I paused, “Mercy, we need to move to an actual house. There is no way I’m raising you here.”
“Moving? I’m fine here though. I’ve almost been here my whole life.”
I scratched my head, “We’re moving that’s final.” I walked up stairs.
I caught a small glimpse of what Katie said before I closed my door, something along the lines of, “What’s with her?”
I sat on my bed and drifted off into the back of mind I was swung back into reality by a knock on my door. “Aki?”
“Come in.” I sighed. Mercy peered in the door, “hey kid what’s up?”
“Remember what I asked earlier?” she sat next to me.
“About Roy?” I questioned raising an eyebrow.
“No! About teaching me alchemy.” She fumed.
“Right alchemy. No. I won’t teach you a thing until you promise to not go after the philosopher’s stone or try a human transmutation.” I poked her in the forehead.
“But-!” she exclaimed.
“I don’t want you to go threw what I have to.” I looked at my auto male arm making it into a fist, “This is the price I’ve paid to bring back Justin’s soul. Think of the price you’ll pay to bring back her life.”
“I don’t care what the price is, I’ll bring her back!” she yelled.
“No you won’t. You’ll fail and you’ll be gone forever from all of our lives.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember the Elric brothers? Alphonse lost his body due to a human transmutation. Ed lost both his left leg and right arm for his mother and brother. I can’t betray my old friend.”
She lowered her eyes.
“Your sister made me promise that if she left I would protect you with my life. I can’t let her down.”
“She said that.” Her tear stained face looked at me.
“Stop crying. If you don’t I’ll start crying. You know how much I hate that.” I said in a calm tone.
“Listen I have a cot in the attic I’ll get it out but you have to help me. Okay?”
She nodded drying her tears. I stood up and offered her my hand she got up with out my help I smiled. We both walked out I looked at everyone downstairs they stared back.
“Hey you dumb Asses can you help us? I need to get a cot out of the attic. So help or you die.”
“I guess I’ll help. Though I really don’t want to.” Kafele stood up and walked next to us.
“Any others? Oh come on!” I pouted.
“Oh no not the pout! I couldn’t stand it then and I can’t stand it now!” James looked away trying to ignore it. He looked at me again I was still pouting.
“The pout commands you James.” I said sweetly.
“Aw fine!” he stood up and stomped up the stairs next to us.
“Okay! I think we have enough people! Let us go my mindless slaves to work!” I walked over to the attic. I pulled on a small rope a latter came down. I climbed up, “Kafele come up here you need to help me find it.”
“Fine…” he climbed up with me. He was walking around the attic it was pitch dark. “OW!! I think I hit something.”
“That would be the caught smart ass.”
“Shut it.”
I flipped him off. Giving him the death glare before someone turned on a light. “Where the hell are you?” I started to search for him. I ran into something, “that you?”
“Yes.” I took my hands back.
“Good. Now help me get the cot down.”
“Do I have to?”
I hit him across the head. “Shut up and help damn it!”
I picked up an end of the cot he picked up the other side. I carried it down the latter. “Whoa! Heads up!” the cot fell down almost landing on me.
“Watch what you’re doing dumb ass!”
“Sorry!” Kafele shouted back at me.
“Ya you better be! You almost amputated my toes off!” I said picking up the cot.
We all grabbed a corner and picked it up carrying it to my room. I pushed the door open with my hip and rotated the cot so it could fit threw the door. We all put the cot down and started to set it up.
I stood up triumphantly, “Finally! I finished!” I smiled.
“ ‘You?’” Kafele yelled sitting on the small bed.
I stood in silence “Uh… well…” I said bleakly, “oh shut up.” I hit him in the head, “now if you guys want you can leave. Of coarse I have work tomorrow so I would like to go to sleep at some point in time.”
“Good I’m out of here.” Kafele stood up shoving his hands into his pockets.
“See you tomorrow Aki.” James followed him.
“Aki do you really go to bed this early?” Mercy stared at me in interest.
“When you’re in the military kid you have to get used to it. That and the colonel would kick my ass if I was late again.” I moaned.
I walked out onto the staircase telling everyone to go home or I’d kick they’re asses. Nicollette scowled at me and go up telling me to bite her. Glared at her for a moment and stuck my tongue at her. “Leave damn it. I need to sleep and I don’t have time to waste.” I sighed.
“Don’t have to tell me twice.” She walked out the door. I gave a short sigh. Katie looked at me and laughed uncomfortably.
“I’ll be leaving to…” she sped out the door.
“Mercy. Let’s get some sleep okay?” I smiled at her she was standing in the doorway of my room. I walked over and messed up her hair I ran over and jumped onto my bed almost falling off the other side. I sprawled to stay on and ended up falling on my side hitting the ground with a hard thud.
Mercy clapped with a smile. I grabbed the bed and jumped back onto it. I looked at the ceiling without noticing I started to sing,


How can I repay you sister of mine?
How I can I expect you to forgive?
Clinging to the past I shared our blood.
And shattered your chance to live.

Though I knew the laws I paid no heed.
How can I return your wasted breath?
What I did not know has cost you dear,
For there is no cure for death…

My vision blurred and I could feel hot tears running down my cheek. I covered my eyes with my hand to disguise my expression. I couldn’t hide my sobbing. I sat up drying my tears the best I could. She looked at me, “Aki? Why is it that your life is filled with so much pain and death?” the room fell silent.
“I can’t answer that. I’m still trying to figure it out for myself, but I promise you that I won’t let you see as many deaths as me. I never want to you to go threw the hell that have to withstand.” I laid my head back onto my pillow. The room was dead silent all that could be heard was the soft cry of a cricket, “now get some sleep. It’s getting late.” I turned over in my bed the light flicked off.
“Ya night.” I heard her bed creak as she lay on her bed.
-----------------------------------------------------*-----------------------------------------------------
“Havoc?” I yelled. I was running blindly threw a building looking for him. I ran past an open door something caught my eye I stopped and looked into the porthole. I widened my eyes in shock, “oh god…” I cried. I walked over to the mangled body I dropped to my knees and turned over the body slowly hoping that I was wrong. I felt tears well up in my eyes I looked at his face, “Havoc!” I held his cold body in my hands and hugged him tears fell onto the ground, “I’m sorry!” I repeated. I looked at him again blood drooled from his mouth, his eyes shut, he looked like he was at peace the serene look on his face made it look like he was asleep. I cried over his body as I remembered everything we had done. “This can’t… you promised...” I sobbed. I grabbed my own gun and put it under my chin. Tears came down my cheek I clenched my teeth hard. Ready to pull the trigger, “I’m sorry… for everything…” I pulled the trigger.
I opened my eyes wide I sat up and looked around I was still in my room. The sun lit the room I looked at the clock it was five in the morning. I rubbed my eyes trying desperately to forget everything. I got out of my bed and looked at Mercy’s peaceful face. I smiled a little I walked into my bathroom and looked into the mirror. I sighed and turned on my shower. I sat there for what seemed forever. I finally got out drying my hair I pulled on my uniform. I combed my hair and tied it up into a tight bun. I walked out the smell of food filled my nose. I wandered down stairs “Hey!” Mercy smiled. I sat down at a small table. She looked at me in concern, “What’s with the face kiddo?”
“Last night while you were sleeping… you were yelling that you were sorry. What were you dreaming about?” I looked at her I never talked in my sleep.
“It was stupid. Forget it.” I sighed.
“You were crying Aki. What were you dreaming about?”
“More death what else?” I sighed moodily.
“Whose?” Mercy asked me getting impatient.
“Jean’s.” I sat down and shielded my eyes from the light, but I was really covering the tears.
“Aki? Are you…?”
“Shut up… I want to see you watch people die and not cry!” I pounded on the table.
“Your right I’m sorry. I forgot what you’ve gone threw.” She looked down her eyes becoming shadowed.
I stayed silent for a moment until I raised my voice to change the subject, “Mercy. I’ll teach you everything I know! Everything about alchemy!” a smile lit up her sad face, “after all… your all you’re my ‘daughter’” she smiled tears forming her eyes to the brim.
“ ‘Daughter…’” she said with her heart in her throat.
“Ya kid. I’ll be here. You’ll have a home to go to not to mention a family.”
“Ya and you have to go to work in a few minutes.” She laughed. I looked at the clock.
“Oh shit!” I almost fell out of my chair at the time, “see ya small stuff. Aww crap! The colonel is going to kill me or worse discharge me!” I panicked.
“Don’t you mean- oh never mind.” She sighed.
I zipped out the door my stomach growled loudly. I punched myself to make it stop. I flinched at the self-inflicted pain. I ran up the steps of HQ trying not to slip and fall. I signed myself in and walked up to Roy’s office. I stepped in and looked around. “Damn lost that bet!” Falman handed Breda a stack of cens. I rolled my eyes shutting the door behind me. I looked around something was missing.
“Hey where’s Havoc?” I questioned looking around suspiciously.
“You’ll see in a moments time.” Riza said not looking away from her book. I looked around a little afraid of being tackled by him. Instead the door opened Havoc had a stack of paper work. He set them in front of me. I looked at them like it was my last meal.
“Courtesy of the colonel.” Havoc sighed.
“Damn him. I’ll give him credit for not giving me paper work in person though.” I hit my head on the desk, “he knows I hate paper work.” I sighed.
I grabbed the first paper and started to read it. Filling out forms, reading, filling out more forms, and more reading the process continued while everyone was talking about the up coming assessments. “DONE!!!” I rejoiced.
“And they all rejoiced…” Breda said plainly.
“Yeaaaaaaaaaah….” Havoc said dully.
Everyone looked at Breda and Havoc like rabid squirrels had just maimed them and stole their wallets. Roy walked into the office we looked at him, “Hey colonel.” I glared at him.
“Major it’s nice to see you at work for once.” He smirked.
I sighed, “I should punch your face in for giving me so much paper work.”
“I could have you discharged for threatening your superior.”
“I wouldn’t have to see your smug ass face.” We exchanged glares.
“Quit it you too. You’re going to burn holes in the wall.” Breda joked.
“The real reason I’ve come here is to tell Aki that,” I raised an eyebrow at him, “you have a longer shift today.”
“You better be joking or I’ll be forced to stab your face until people can’t recognize you.” I glared.
“No joke Frost.” He smiled.
“DAMN!” I moaned hitting my head on the table again. “You’re the reason I go threw so many punching bags.” I pointed to him glaring.
“I’ve seen her shred one up once. She set it on fire to.” Falman commented.
“She set it on fire too?” Furey’s eyes widened.
“Remind me to never get on your bad side.” Breda inched away.
“I’ve seen her toss one across the gym before.” Riza mumbled.
“Yes and all because of you.” I shot Roy a death glare.
“Not my problem you have anger issues. That’s your problem not mine,” he raised an eyebrow at me.
“The only thing I have a problem with is your attitude and your smug smile.” I rested my head on my balled fist. There was a knock on the door we turned to look at it.
It opened wide a thin, pale man stood at the doorway. “Major you have a visitor.”
I stood up and followed him outside a women with oddly familiar hair stood with her back to me. She turned around I turned pale I tried to run away but she caught me before I could, “No let me go!” I begged.
“There’s no way! You thought you could run away from me couldn’t you!” she tossed me up in the air. I fell to the ground with a hard thud.
“No have mercy!” I sobbed.
“Who are you?” the man who had escorted me out said.
“I’m pissed!” she grabbed me again and tossed me into a wall. I grabbed my head.
“Damn it that hurt!” I rubbed my head.
She grabbed my shirt and picked me up I glared at her. She punched me the face and dropped me, “What made you think that you could just run away without telling me?” she yelled.
“I’m sorry!” I kneeled in front of her.
“An apology is not going to cut it this time!” she kicked me.
“I’ve taught you how to protect yourself! Yet you can’t even use it against me!”
“I’m sorry teacher!” I groveled.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving? You were like a daughter to me!” she snarled.
She grabbed my wrist and threw me up again. Oh yes the good old days of flying threw the air waiting for the impact of “soft” ground. I fell on my back.
“Had enough?” she glared. I stood up and looked at her.
“You know the answer to that, Kari.” I smiled.
“Who the hell are you?” the man shouted pointing to Kari.
“An old friend of mine. Don’t worry.” I smirked.
“I’ve been looking for you.” Kari glared.
“Sorry I didn’t tell you I was leaving. I thought it wasn’t that important.” I said sarcastically looking up at the lounge’s window. Everyone was standing at the window watching the fight.
“Wasn’t important?” she yelled. I snapped back and gave her my full attention. She punched me across the face. I spat out some blood that was forming in my mouth.
I looked at her, “I’m sorry.” I said softly.
“You can try that all you want it will never work.” She scoffed.
I took a deep breath, “I’m sorry alright? I know what I did was wrong, but I had to. I have something I need to do,” I looked at my auto male.
“Revenge your parents?” she sighed, “I thought I taught you better then that Aki.”
I stayed silent trying to form the words I want.
“I taught you about the world around you. I taught you the most important of things, yet you forget as soon as leave.”
I shrink into my shoulders she walked up to me. I winced getting ready for another punch in the face. I was right I got a swift slap across the face I smirked.
“It’s been a while since I got my ass kicked. I’d say half a day. How about it teach?” I smiled.
“Sure. Just because you’re in the military now doesn’t mean I’m going to go easy on you.”
“I know.” I laughed, “Lighten up.”
We glared at each other, “ready?” Kari scoffed.
“As I’ll ever be.” I said sarcastically.
We ran at each other I went to kick her but she grabbed my leg and spun me in mid air, throwing me back to the ground. I caught my fall and jumped back up, Kari looked at me surprised. I ran back at her again I got ready to punch her; she grabbed my arm and tossed me to the side. I hit the wall hard; I coughed harshly into my hand. I was lifted onto my feet I just looked at Kari’s angry face. She started to cough hard into her hand kneeling onto the ground. “Teacher!” I yelled.
She looked at me sadly, “Aki, there is another reason I came out here to see you.” I gave her a questioning look, “I’m not sure if I should tell you yet or not.”
“Tell me please!” I commanded.
“No not yet. I’m afraid of how you’ll react.” She looked at me with meadow green eyes.
“No I’ll be fine. Just tell me.” I started to get concerned.
“No you have work to do. I’ll be leaving I’m at this hotel though. Pay me a visit after work and then I’ll tell you.” She handed me a piece of paper that had Carnation Inn Room 12 on it. When I looked up from the paper she was gone. I shoved the note in my pocket and headed back inside fuming.
I opened the door getting awkward stares, “What?” I raised an eyebrow at them.
“Who was she?” Havoc questioned me.
I gave a laugh, “Her? She’s my old teacher! Don’t worry about it!”
“Wait if you’re a skilled fighter then shouldn’t you have been able to beat her? She looked like she was in her thirties!” Breda exclaimed.
“I haven’t beaten that bitter old women once.” I said through shuteyes I realized something and my eyes snapped open, “no one tell her I said that! She’ll kill me!”
“Oh ho! I got dirt on you!” Breda snickered I hit him with my auto male, “geez! Did you have to use the auto male?” he yelled.
“Oh okay.” I hit him with my other arm.
“Quit it!” He yelled at me rubbing his head.
I smiled, “That’s what you get dumb ass.”
Roy busted down the door, “Major emergency! Scar has been located.”

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