Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Calling of Kurai ❯ Hatred Awakens ( Chapter 6 )

Hi, sorry for the extreme lateness but I’ve been very busy with school and life and typing just didn’t seem to have time to fit in right now.

Before I start I’d like to thank everyone who reviewed. I love to hear from people who read. Anything makes me feel better and I like to know if people are enjoying the story.

Disclaimer: I don’t own FMA. Arakawa does. As if you didn’t know that already.

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Calling of Kurai:

Chapter six: Hatred awakens

“Ar…Archer!” Roy could barely get the words out as he looked at the towering creature before him. It was so hard to believe that at one point in the past this huge, metallic monster had been cold, cruel-hearted man who thought of war as no more than a chance to get promoted.

“Mustang!” Archer screamed both lifting his fists in order to strike.

“Colonel!” Roy finally snapped out of the initial shock to feel Riza pulling on his arm. Both ran, narrowly dodging the impact that would have easily killed them.

“Old friend of yours?” Kasai asked as he ran over to where they were.

“Hardly. He’s…” Roy started to explain before being interrupted by Riza. Turning, he could see Archer transforming his arms into rapid-fire guns. “Get to cover quickly,” he shouted. The three quickly darted into an alleyway narrowly missing the barrage of bullets that followed.

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“Ah-ah- choo!” Breda let out a mighty sneeze before rubbing his arms. “I wish I brought a bigger coat.” It seemed that, while there had been chilly fall weather back in Central, heading North it felt more like winter.

He stepped out of the train to get a look at the clock. “Where are they? There’s only 20 minutes left ‘til the trains leaves.” He sighed and looked around for someone to watch the luggage, thinking that he might need to go check and see what happened.

However he quickly realized that, while earlier the station had been filled with workers loading luggage and supplies onto the train, there was no one to be seen.

“What the… where did everyone go?” He moved further out onto the platform to get a better look around. “What is going on here? Wait…” he looked towards the counter where they had met the old man. “Damn. Doesn’t look like anyone’s there. Maybe he’s in the back room.”

Moving towards the counter, Breda saw the man lying on the floor in the middle of the room, unmoving. Panicking, he found the door and entered the room.

“Sir! Sir!” He reached out and shook the man by the shoulder. “He’s dead. But wait…,” getting closer, Breda covered his nose as the smell of rotting flesh reached him. “This smell, why didn’t I notice it sooner?” Pulling back on the man’s shirt, he saw that large portions of the body were rotting away. “This man… he’s been dead for awhile. But how is that possible? He was just talking to us earlier.” Jumping up, Breda moved back slightly.

‘What’s going on here?’

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Fuery fell against a wall holding his left arm, just above the elbow. The wound wasn’t deep but it was bleeding rather badly. Hearing a cruel laugh he looked up to glare at the woman before him.

“My my, as much as I hate that woman, she certainly does have a lot of male companions.” Tetsu giggled as she retracted a spike back into her stomach. “They’re all cute, too.”

At the sound of gunshots, both Tetsu and Widow had stopped fighting and entered the room to where Falman and Fuery were fighting the cloaked man, Nos Rosuto.

Widow ran over to Nos. "What are you doing?! You know very well that the only reason that you're here is to move the supplies on the train. You can't very well do that while you're fighting with these fools."

Nos smirked, pulling away from Falman. "Sorry, I just thought that someone should 'chat' with our guests while you two were pointlessly arguing."

"Nevermind that. We'll take care of these two. You get back to work."

"Speaking of work, weren't you supposed to report to the madame awhile ago?" Noticing Widow's posture stiffening, his smirk widened. "I guess not."

"That's none of your business," she snapped. Nos, unfased by both her tone and glare calmly walked back into the main room and out of sight. Widow turned to Tetsu who was still teasing Fuery. "Tetsu, have as much fun as you want with these pests. Just make sure you kill them this time."

"Really?! As much fun as I want?!" She leered wickedly at Fuery who paled and moved back a few steps. "I can't wait. Your blood covering your bodies, the walls, the floors. I can't wait. I'm going to enjoy this so much!

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The sound of bullets stopped only to be replaced with Archer’s monstrous yell.

“This doesn’t make any sense,” Roy said harshly while rubbing his face with his hand, “How can Archer be back? Who made him into… into… that?!”

“Are you sure he was dead?” Kasai asked. “It may just be a form of alchemy.”

“Impossible,” Kasai turned to Riza who was currently peering around the corner, keeping a lookout for any danger, “I killed him myself after he attacked the Colonel.”

“Then he really is a Homunculus,” Kasai bowed his head as if in deep thought.

“But why?” Roy asked aloud. “Who is willing to risk death by performing a human transmutation to revive Frank Archer?” Roy ran a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. “Who would have that level of skill and intelligence?”

Kasai looked over to Roy. “The cult of Kurai. Using Kurai’s theories anyone, no matter who they were or where they died, can be revived as a homunculus.”

“Aren’t they afraid of rebounds? I’ve never heard of a human transmutation that didn’t involve injury of some kind.”

“I assume that the cult has so many followers that the leaders can use a few a pawns and then throw them away when they’re done.”

Roy looked at Kasai before glancing over at Riza who was still diligently watching the crazed Archer rampaging in the street. “Kasai,” Roy turned his attention back to the other Colonel, “when you were researching Fallen Grove and Kurai’s Cult, did you ever come across the reason why?” At Kasai’s puzzled glance, Roy explained further, “What I mean to say is, Kurai originally made the formula of human transmutation in order to revive his daughter, right? Why would this cult create homunculi of people they did even know?”

Kasai waited a moment before speaking, “I wasn’t able to get that deep into Fallen Grove’s records, I’m afraid. However judging from what we’ve seen, I’d guess that the appeal of immortal, tireless servants that do one’s every bidding might have something to do with it.”

Roy thought about that a moment. It made sense that a small village could use the homunculi to further their development.

Wincing at a loud crashing sound followed shortly by a crumbling building, Roy looked over at Riza who was now crouching as if ready to fight or flee, depending on the circumstances.

“Colonel!” Riza yelled, jumping back from her spot shortly before Archer’s fist crushed through the wall scattering dust and debris around her.

“Hawkeye, are you okay?!” Roy asked, panic evident in his voice. He scanned the area quickly but the dust clouding the air was making it hard to see if she was alright.

He let out a sigh of relief when she jumped out of the cloud coughing, but okay. Catching himself quickly, he held out his hand ready to attack.

“Wait,” Kasai said holding out his hand toward Roy.

Roy looked towards Kasai only to find the Colonel still looking towards the now clearing dust. Archer was now standing directly behind Riza glaring at her intently.

“Hawk…eye…,” He threw his arms in the air before raging again, “Hawkeye!” Archer through his fists into the surrounding buildings causing them to shake violently.

“That fool, he’s completely lost it.” Kasai cursed before turning to Roy, “Colonel Mustang, we’ve got to retreat before these building crush us!”

Roy nodded them signaled to Riza. “Lieutenant, pull back.”

Riza slowly started towards Roy but her movement quickly caught Archer’s attention. Yelling again, he started charging, while dragging his fists through the buildings causing pieces of rubble to shower from overhead. The three fled just seconds before the two building crashed to the ground in a heap of debris and a cloud of dust.

“Just great,” Roy muttered as they ran, knowing that Archer was most likely unscathed, “Not only has Archer been made into a homunculus and targeted and identified me, he’s now set his eyes on you, First Lieutenant.”

Kasai smirked before adding, “Yes, it seems that his immense hatred of you two has overridden the very orders he was created to fulfill.”

Riza narrowed her eyes at Kasai mirth, “Charming way of putting it, Colonel Kasai.” Kasai noticed how her sharp eyes seem to analyze him even while they were running for their lives and quickly muttered an apology.

Reaching another street, they stopped to catch their breaths.

“Colonel Mustang,” Kasai started once he could talk again, “we need to get to the station before the train leaves or else we’ll be trapped here with that monster.” Roy shook his head, still hunched over at the waist, desperately trying to work air into his laboring lungs. “What do you mean, ‘no?’! The entire reason for coming to the Northeast was to go to Fallen Grove to see if we can save those people who were captured and find out why the others were killed. We won’t be able to do anything if we’re killed.”

“I’m not leaving…. without... my men...,” Roy panted out before standing up and looking him dead in the eye,” I will leave no one behind.”

Kasai stared at Roy in complete shock as he let his words sink in.

“Colonel,” both Roy and Kasai turned to look at Riza, “we should keep moving. It will be easier to find the others if we don’t have to bother with Archer along the way.”

Roy nodded and they moved towards the center of the town. ‘I wonder if the others are having as much trouble as we are.’

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Falling against the nearest wall, Brosh reached up to finger the new scratch on his cheek. Looking back up, he saw that Tetsu had changed her sights again, this time to Falman.

Her sadistic smile widened as Falman stumbled and fell to the ground. Shooting out a spike that could have easily pierced his heart, Falman narrowly rolled out of the way before it could strike. While his evasion would have upset a normal killer, it only made Tetsu laugh with glee. She was like a cat, toying with its prey before the kill.

Brosh looked over to Ross who was standing out of the way of the current fight. Not only was there danger because she was unarmed and slightly disoriented, due to her captors treatment, but unlike the men, Tetsu wouldn’t bother with toying with her: She’d go right for the kill. Not only was she an easier target, but it took a lot of strategy to get Tetsu to avoid her. ‘Damn, she’s in danger here. What can we do?’

“Sergeant Brosh,” Fuery called out snapping him out of his thoughts, “Are you okay?”

“I was just thinking. 2nd Lieutenant Ross is at high risk given the current circumstances. She needs to get out of here.”

Fuery shook his head, “That would only put her alone with that cloaked guy.”

“Damn, we have to think of something,” Brosh’s brow furrowed as he thought about it. “Couldn’t one of us go with her and distract the guy while she gets to safety outside.”

“That’s a good idea, but,” gesturing towards Tetsu and Falman, “we’ll have to distract her first.”

Thinking about it for a moment Brosh moved away from the wall. “I have an idea. You take her and go.”

Before Fuery could say anything, Brosh ran forward and pointed to the far wall, “Look, a snipe!”

Tetsu rolled her eyes. “I’m not falling for that one again. I’m not stupid.”

Brosh, about to panic was interrupted by Falman, “That’s not a snipe; it’s a Red-crested Pochard. Odd though. It should have flown south for the winter by now.”

“Huh?” Brosh and Tetsu asked in unison.

“The bird.” Falman pointed, “Over in the window.”

“Re…really?” Tetsu quickly turned to the window to see a small duck-like bird with a brightly colored red head. “Oh wow, it’s so pretty.”

Brosh, though stunned for a few seconds, signaled for Ross and Fuery to escape. Moving to the doorway the two quickly darted out into the other room.

Tetsu shook her head and turned back to Falman and Brosh. “Anyway, back to the fun.” She paused and looked around the room. “Where’d that annoying woman and the cute guy with the glasses go?” Before the two could come up with an answer, Tetsu dismissed her own question with a huff and a shrug. “Oh well, I’ll just have my fun with you and find them later.”

Fuery peered around the edge of the door once more before moving on towards the warehouse’s exit.

“C’mon, 2nd Lieutenant, this way.” He moved forward a few steps but stopped when he saw Ross staring into the main part of the room that was surrounded by the metal crates. “What is it?” Moving up next to her, he saw the cloaked man, Nos Rosuto, standing in the center in a trance-like state. Though his lips were moving, no words could be heard. “What is he doing?”

Ross’s eyes narrowed, taking in the scene, “It looks like he’s is chanting something.”

“Chanting?” Fuery asked. “Didn’t the spider lady say something about him moving cargo? He’s not doing anything remotely similar to that.”

Ross nodded, equally perplexed. ‘What is going on here?’

Hearing a chuckle from the man, the two ducked lower fearing that they had been caught.

“My, my. Looks like we’ve got visitors all over town. Guess I should send the welcoming committee.” He smirked shortly before returning to his chant.

“Visitors?” Fuery asked aloud. “Oh no, the Colonel and the others.”

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“Da mn, where is everybody? Did they decide to play hide and seek?” Havoc yelled at the empty street while rubbing his arms from the coming evening’s chill. “At this rate we’ll miss the train and have to wait a day.

“2nd Lieutenant Havoc,” Armstrong voice called out down the road. “Come look at this atrocity!”

Havoc walked over to see Armstrong bent over some kind of dead animal. “What is it?”

“It looks like a chimera of some sort, but it appears to have been shot to death.”

“All perfect shots to the vitals. Lieutenant Hawkeye’s work for sure.” He looked around before moving towards a shop on the side of the road. Inside he saw the remains of a soldier surrounded in fresh blood. “Poor guy must have been that creature’s snack.” About to stand up and move away, Havoc was startled to see the body move slightly causing more blood to come out of the it’s wounds. It twitched a bit more before it moved no more. “That was weird. Hey, Armstrong we’d better go and find the Colonel before…,” turning Havoc could not complete his sentence at the sight he saw.

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After finding the old man dead, Breda had run back to the train to find anyone that could help. The only ones he could find were the Conductor and the workers who shovel the coal. They, too, thought it was rather odd that all the station’s workers had suddenly disappeared.

“I know that there were people, they were loading crates onto the train earlier.” One of the workers, a tall, muscular man, said.

“I know, they loaded our luggage on the train earlier.” Breda looked back towards the town.

“Your party is still not back yet? That’s not good. Missing workers and dead man aside, this train has to leave at 5:30 sharp.” The conductor, an older, short man, said.

“I know you normally wait until that time, but couldn’t you make an exception? It’s very important for us to reach Fallen Grove and having to wait an entire day will hurt the investigation.” Breda tried his best to reason with the older man but he continued to shake his head.

“I’m sorry, but if your party is not back by 5:30, we will have to leave them behind. The people of Fallen Grove are expecting these supplies tonight. If we are not on time, there might be trouble.”

Breda sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Fine, I’ll go and try to find them.”

The second worker, shorter than the other man but just as muscular, stepped forward. “We’d help but we’ve gotten prepare the train’s coal and water supply for departure.”

“I understand.” He saluted and watched the three men return to the train’s engine room before turning to leave. “I wonder what’s in this town that’s taking everyone so long.”

“Do you need help with something, sir?” Breda stopped dead in his tracks at the sound of the familiar voice. Turning to the stations counter, he saw the old man sitting there smiling, just as he had been when they had first arrived. “Are you still waiting for your friends?”

Breda pulled out his gun and aimed at the man. “What are you?”

“Excuse me?” The man’s smile never faltered even when faced with the gun.

“Don’t play with me. You were dead just a few minutes ago. What are you? Are you homunculi?”

“What are you talking…,” the man’s words were cut off by bullet going through his head forcing his body back. No blood came from the wound, having long been dried up.

Though the bullet had been a direct hit, Breda kept his sight aimed for another shot if needed. After a few moments the man returned to his original position, smile still in place. Breda startled and took a step back only to come it contact with another body. Jumping to the side and spinning around, he saw a one of the missing workers behind him.

Reaching out, Breda ripped a part of the man’s uniform away revealing that his flesh was also rotting away, obvious signs of a decaying corpse. Aiming, he shot another bullet, this time directly into the center of the worker’s heart. The body moved back a little but did little to stop the man from moving towards Breda again.

“My, my. Looks like you have a violent nature, young man,” The old man said from his seat. “You’re just like those other soldiers that came through earlier this week.” Breda’s eyes snapped back to the old man realizing that he was talking about General Hakuro’s troops. “Of course, those that stayed behind are now sided with us.”

“What…what are you talking about?” Breda stammered moving his eye contact around as he noticed more and more people showing up from seemingly nowhere.

“Don’t worry,” the man’s smile widened, “you’ll be joining us soon, as well.”

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“You ’re from Central.” Armstrong said to the battered, uniformed men who gathered around him. They said nothing, just stood still, heads down.

Havoc moved out of the building and stood next to Armstrong. “What happened to all of you? Your uniforms are soaked with blood.” His eyes came to rest on one soldier whose arm had been torn off. “Ah, we need to find you a doctor.”

Armstrong put an arm out to prevent him from moving further out. “Lieutenant Havoc, something is not right here.”

Before Havoc could question his actions, a growl from behind caught their attention. Turning around, they could see that the once dead chimera was slowly getting back up onto its feet, blood pouring from its recent wounds.

The once still soldiers also started moving towards the two.

“Damn, looks like we’re in trouble.” Havoc pulled out his gun and checked to see if it was loaded.

Pulling on his gauntlets and removing his shirt, Armstrong nodded.

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Breda mentally counted the continually growing number of men surrounding him. He only had three rounds of bullets with him. The rest of the ammunition they had brought had already been loaded onto the train. Not that it would help much, given the results he’d already seen.

“Are you homunculi?” He asked the old man again, his voice calmer than before.

“No. These men, those soldiers, and I are not homunculi.” He stated calmly still smiling.

“Then what are you?”

The man’s smile softened startling Breda somewhat. “Human.”

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En d Chapter 6

Sorry, lot’s of running around in this chapter, but it’s needed to for the story to run smoothly. Please Read and Review. I like to hear what people think of the story. Constructive criticism is welcomed but if you can point out if I’ve done something terribly wrong.