Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Metal and Tears ❯ Dogs of War ( Chapter 3 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Maes Hughes was sitting behind his desk cluttered with paper, and puzzling over his new prisoner report.
“She saved....Scar?” Suddenly the door burst open and in stomped a visibly angry, Edward and Alphonse Elric. Edward slammed his metal fist onto the wooden desk cracking the surface.
“Where is she Hughes?! Where did the damn Fuhrer put Kiri?!” Hughes laughed nervously trying to make the atmosphere more enjoyable as he scratched the back of his head.
“Well Edward, heh.... you see your friend caused quite a stir among the units when she protected Scar, so the Fuhrer had her locked up in one of the prison cells below.”
“How do we get her out?” Edward’s voice was now quiet and deadly. Hughes jerked upright a look of uneasiness plastered across his face.
“Ed, it will take some time to get through the paperwork, but...”
“I DON’T CARE ABOUT PAPERWORK!” He screamed slamming his hand back into the table causing the first cracks to get longer. Edward gritted his teeth and turned to leave.
“Why did she do it Maes?” Why did she try to stop him, then turn right around and save his life?” Edward’s back was remained turned as Hughes answered the only way he could.
“ I don’t know.” Both Elrics turned silently and walked out, down to the cells where they hoped Kiri would be.
Kiri sat in one of the dark corners of her cell with her knees drawn up to her chest, arms wrapped around them. Her head throbbed from her exertion and each heartbeat sounded like footsteps in her head. Footsteps? Suddenly Kiri’s head snapped up. She was sure that there were footsteps approaching. She stood and looked to the cell door and the two soldiers who stood guarding it. She saw them salute and then she heard a disembodied voice.
“Good job gentlemen, you are dismissed for the time being. Thank you.” The soldiers saluted again and then both left. Kiri’s hair on the back of her neck prickled as she watched a middle-aged, dark haired man step into her sight.
“Who are you?” She asked warily eyeing the rapier at his side. He adjusted his eye patch, then, suddenly, in a flash of light, the man was gone and in his place stood a lithe, spiky, green-haired male with an evil smirk that had just coalesced on his lips. He wrapped his hands around the cell bars and leaned in close to peer into the darkness.
“Just a friend.” He produced a key from somewhere and unlocked Kiri’s cell door, and then stepping inside, he leaned against the wall. Kiri’s fists clenched uncontrollably and her breath became short and ragged with the adrenaline rush she was suddenly aware of. She realized in the pit of her stomach, she was afraid.
“What is it you want?” She suddenly cried out immediately regretting the action.
The male’s eyes narrowed and his smile grew wider. The next thing Kiri knew was that she was on her back, the male’s weight crushing her. She coughed sharply, her breath burning in her chest. His voice was right next to her ear as the youth made his intentions known.
“We know what you are…Alchemist...” Here he paused and raised himself onto his elbows still keeping Kiri’s hands pinned by her side and pulled from a pocket on his side, a small red stone.
“What the--“ He simply smiled.
“This is the ultimate power source, its one of many Philosopher’s Stones that we’ve created.” Kiri’s eyes widened and she gritted her teeth.
“Get that thing away from me….” The smirk almost instantly disappeared.
“That mistake is one that we’ll make you regret for a long time.” It was then that pent of fear that Kiri had forced down shattered into a scream.
Edward and Alphonse made their way down into the lower level prison cells where more serious sentences were carried out and back into the corner where Kiri’s cell was supposed to be. Alphonse suddenly stopped and laid a hand on his brother’s shoulder.
“What is it Al?” Edward asked turning.
“Something’s wrong brother, can’t you feel it? “Edward stopped and concentrated. The lights were bright and glowed warmly, but something had brought an unnatural chill into the air.
“You’re right.” He said glancing around.
“Which one is Kiri’s cell?” Alphonse pointed to the one far in the back, Edward nodded and removed his glove in order to transmute his arm into his signature blade. Then, inching forward he made his way to the cell door. The closer they got, the more the brothers heard a soft voice shuddering in the dark regions of the hall. When the Elrics were within a few feet, Alphonse suddenly burst into a run to the noticeably open barred door, and, much to his horror, looked inside.
Kiri lay on her side facing the stone wall, her shoulders shaking violently.
“Brother!” Alphonse called leaning back out of the door. Edward rushed over afraid of what he might see. When the Elrics turned back inside the cell, Kiri was standing, her back to them and her face twisted in their direction, eyes sunken and hollow.
“Kiri?” She turned and both boys cringed when they saw her clothes blood spattered and the wound that bled profusely from her right forearm. Her eyes darted back and forth and her movements were sporadic as she walked forward, tears pouring out her eyes and down her face. She reached the Elrics and stopped.
“Heh…” She smiled, a gesture that pulled her face into an extortion and made Edward’s skin crawl.
“What happened to you?!” He cried returning his arm to normal. Kiri’s eyes lowered to the ground.
“Lives Ed, human lives…but it makes sense…to keep with the laws of Alchemy… the equivalent exchange has to be taken from somewhere….” Edward couldn’t understand much of what she said after that, but then Kiri pulled her hand away from her arm and looked at her palm.
“And yet what is blood but a red water? Red water for the red stone…” Both Elrics gasped and Edward grabbed her shoulders for an answer.
“Now listen Kiri!” He said earnestly.
“What about the red stone? Who told you about the Philosopher’s Stone?!” Kiri’s eyes were wide and on her face was a look of absolute terror.
“They were here Edward.” She whispered so softly it was almost inaudible as she placed her hands on his shoulders.
“Those that have lived longer than any human. Those that consume…” Here she opened her clenched right fist and the hollows of her face were suddenly lit up by the red glow of the small incomplete Philosopher’s Stone she held.
Kiri shook her head violently and dropped the stone to the ground and clutched her arm, pushing past the Elrics who were too stunned to stop her.
“I’ve got to get out of here.” Edward heard her mutter as he snapped to.
“Kiri wait!” He cried chasing after her, Alphonse at his heels. Edward ran in front of her and extended his arms in an effort to halt her advances.
“If you try to escape then they’ll shoot you on sight, no questions asked.” Tears plopped to the ground as Kiri’s head fell.
“I know, but what am I supposed to do Edward?” Her voice broke with sobs and the quiver of her shoulders almost made him regret his standing. Edward looked past to Alphonse who seemed to share his sentiment, he looked pleadingly at his older brother who sighed and turned to face the hall entrance.
“Damnit, come on.” He started walking off and both Alphonse and Kiri looked at him in surprise. Edward turned back expectantly.
“Are you two coming or not?” Exchanging quick glances of relief, Kiri and Alphonse ran after him in order to make their escape.
A distant alarm was sounding as the three made their way out of the prison compound. Three spotlights flashed on and shone in the rainy night, but Edward shielded his eyes and headed straight for the outer gate, the group had almost made it when soldiers filed out of the security towers and blocked their way to the chain link fence, while still more blocked both sides and behind. In mere minutes the trio was surrounded. The three had turned back to back and stood facing the soldiers when suddenly through the ranks stepped the one face Kiri had wished she would never see again. Every detail the same, the dark short cropped hair and beard, the blue uniform, the long, thin rapier that hung by his side, even the eye patch reminded Kiri of the demonic creature that had opened her cell.
“Edward...” She whispered as her body started to shake once more. He turned slightly and she moved to stand behind him, hunkering down and clutching his shoulders tightly.
“Fuhrer King Bradley,” He said dryly.
“Edward,” The greeting was said offhandedly as if the Fuhrer was distracted by something. In fact, he was. He stood there concentrating on the young girl behind the Elric brothers who seemed to be on the edge of a nervous breakdown ever since the Fuhrer had first appeared.
“what ails you, girl?” He said at last. Kiri only bit her bottom lip until a small trickle of blood ran down and off her chin. The Fuhrer looked then at her arm and then back to her face.
“Where you attacked?” She nodded slowly and to her relief, Alphonse explained the rest for her.
“When she was in the prison cell, she was hurt badly by something.” The Fuhrer didn’t turn but addressed Alphonse.
“Why was she in the prison cell?”
“Because.” Edward said looking sideways.
“She’s the one that helped Scar.” An audible gasp went up around the ring of soldiers, then murmurs, wondering if they should shoot now and ask questions later. The Fuhrer turned his upper body to face the troops.
“Silence, All of you!” the clamor instantly ceased.
“Now,” He said turning back and catching the defiant gaze of the Elrics.
“What have you got to say for yourselves?”
“We--” Edward stopped when Kiri stepped forward and looked the Fuhrer straight in the eye.
“They had nothing to do with this.” Edward noticed her shoulders shaking, and obviously, so did the Fuhrer.
“You’re scared, but you’re standing there trying to prove Fullmetal’s innocence if its the last thing you do.” He paused then smiled.
“You’ve got guts kid, I like that in a person. Look, its clear that you don’t want to go back to that cell, right?” She nodded, eyeing him warily.
“Well, I can keep you out only one way. If you agree to work for the State. In the soldier’s reports that were filed, you seemed to posses a very interesting form of alchemic power that could be very useful to us.” Edward, his eyes wide, pushed his way passed Kiri.
“You can’t possibly suggest she become--”
“A State Alchemist? Of course. That is, if she doesn't want to be shoved back in jail.”
“Fuhrer!” Maes Hughes stepped to the front of the crowd, occasionally, pushing his way through soldiers who had moved too close together.
“Do you realize what that would mean? To place her in as a State Alchemist would be like throwing her to the wolves sir, one wolf in particular, Scar.”
“I am fully aware of the dangers Hughes, and I am willing to accept the consequences.” He then turned to Kiri and studied her face carefully.
“But will you?”
“NO!” Edward cried.
“Kiri don't say anything, if you go back to jail then you’ll be safe and--”
“And Aniki will continue to kill. No, Edward, I appreciate the concern, but I have to do this. It’s my only sure way of finding him, to talk to him. Fuhrer, sir! I accept.” Kiri stood straight and tall, but her eyes still betraying her fear and anger despite her stance. The Fuhrer laughed.
“That’s the spirit!” Then he turned to Hughes.
“Have her outfitted with a uniform and a watch, as well as anything else she may require.” Hughes saluted and then escorted Kiri back into the compound. As the soldiers began to disperse, the Fuhrer turned to the Elrics one last time.
“Any more foolish acts like that Fullmetal, and your license will be revoked, and you’ll be tried as a traitor to the Military. Just be glad I found your friend to be so amusing.” Then the two were left alone in the wet courtyard.
Kiri looked sadly at her new clothes, the blue uniform left a hole in her heart as she belted on her .22 pistol and holster. She turned to the table behind her and picked up her silver watch and slipped it into her pocket. She held her hands out in front of her and looked at her palms. She shook her head slowly and pulled on her issued gloves. The uniform was the fourth she'd tried due to her lithe figure and she was saddend that this one had fit.
"Thank you..Lieutenant Colonel Hughes." She said as he nodded and left, Kiri noticed he hadn't said much and she figured it was partially due to the fact she looked so young to be in the Military.
"I wonder if he has a family?" The word 'family' jogged her heart and she hung her head slightly as she thought about her own.
“I’m sorry Aniki..” She whispered. Kiri moved to the window in the small room she was using, and looked out into the night. The rain had cleared off and the moon hung in its waxing crescent, Kiri gazed off into the horizon and suddenly felt tears roll down her cheeks. Slowly she removed the uniform and lay it aside, then climbed onto the cot she’d been given and softly cried herself to sleep.
Edward stood outside Kiri’s door, hand poised to knock, he’d planned on giving her a lecture about being a Dog of the Military, but instead, had stood there listening to her tear laden, and pointless apologies. He sighed as he turned away, chin nearly touching his chest.
“There only needed to be one of us sleeping on this bed of nails.” He thought sadly as he started back to his own lodgings.
“I just hope we don’t wake up to find we’re full of pinholes.”
Scar sat on top of a long ridge outside Central city. He took down the pair of binoculars he’d gotten from a dead soldier and sighed loudly as he stood, glaring angrily down at the buildings.
“Kiri, if you want to side with these Dogs of War, then expect no mercy from me.” He leapt off and down the ridge away from Central. Now was not the time, if Scar was to make his move, he would have to wait.
The mess hall was loud and cheery, until Kiri walked in. She scanned each face apologetically as she made her way to an empty table far in the back. She carried one of the army’s ration boxes and gloomily read the name brand over and over so she wouldn’t have to meet any eyes, she only had two more tables before she could sit down at her secluded haven. Someone at one table began to snicker and laugh as Kiri passed. While she looked in that direction, the soldier closest to her at the other table stuck his foot out sending her crashing to the floor. He stood acting like it was her fault.
“Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” He said, Kiri tried to stand but was knocked back to the floor with a kick to the face. She landed on her back in a daze and brought her right hand up to her lip. She pulled it back to stare in horror at the crimson stain. A kick to her ribs sent her doubling over as her breath came in gasps from the pain. The voices from the cafeteria got louder, more painful, and jeering as more soldiers joined in on the fun.
“Some--ne--help me---So--” Suddenly the pain stopped. Kiri cracked an eye and through her tears she could see Lieutenant Colonel Hughes holding the first soldier in a headlock, one of his knives flashing in front of his face, the soldier’s wide-eyed stare following the blade’s movements.
“You’re a little out of line soldier.” Hughes said in a sing-song voice.
“Ms. Kiri here ranks up there with Major Armstrong.” The soldier turned in disbelief.
“Yep, the Tear Alchemist.” Kiri’s mouth dropped.
“The paperwork’s been completed and you’re official.” Shakily, Kiri rose to her feet and accepted the papers Hughes had extended to her. He looked away thoughtfully for a moment then back at Kiri who had an expectant look on her face.
“There was something else I was sure....” Hughes got a sly smile on his face then jerked a picture from his coat and immediately shoved it in Kiri’s face.
“OH ISN’T SHE ADORABLE!! IT’S LITTLE ELICIA!!!” He screamed, then began nuzzling the already worn picture. Kiri smiled wincing from her injuries.
“Of course she is Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, but is that what you really wanted to tell me?” Hughes smiled, his eyes soft as he replaced the picture.
“Sharp girl, you’re wanted outside town at the train station. Orders have come from the Fuhrer, now that Scar is gone, you and the Elrics are to take a little trip.” Kiri’s face lighted up despite her bruised face.
“Yes sir!” She cried saluting.
“I’ll go right away!” She ran off, forgetting the blood and box of rations scattered on the floor. Maes smiled after her still holding the solider by the throat.
“Nice girl......she’ll be fine, maybe even keep that Edward in line.” He dropped the man and headed back to his desk job.
“*sigh* Paper work is so boring, maybe I’ll call Roy.”
Kiri got to the train station just as the train was pulling out. Edward and Alphonse were on the back platform of the train, waving and calling for her to hurry. She stopped for a moment gasping for breath, but then shouldered her bag, set her face into a determined frown and ran as fast as she could. Kiri got closer and closer, when she could just reach Edward’s outstretched fingers, she threw her bag onto the platform. She smiled at the Elrics.
“Comin’ aboard?” Edward asked glancing back at the edge of the platform.
“Coming aboard sir!” She saluted and at the last second, leapt off the station runway onto the train and crashed into Alphonse’s chest plate. She stood and blushed slightly.
“Thanks.” They retrieved their luggage and walked into the back car. The group found a few empty seats and sat down. Kiri and Edward took the facing window seats while Alphonse sat next to Edward on the aisle. Edward sighed and flopped back in the seat.
“Well it will be a while before we reach Ishbal.” He commented.
“Ishbal?” Kiri sat upright in her seat.
“You mean we’re going back?”
“Yeah the high and mighty Fuhrer wants to know how that Chimera came to be.” Kiri started, but Edward just waved his hand.
“Don’t worry, I only made simple references to Kasumi so the Fuhrer doesn't know she was your friend.” Kiri breathed a sigh of relief and lay back against her own seat.
“And anyway, we won’t go straight there, we’ll make a pit stop in a little place just off the side where we’ll switch trains the next day to the train that will take us to Ishbal.” Edward closed his eyes and soon his breath came in soft whistles.
“Al, maybe it’ll do us both some good if we follow Ed’s lead.”
“You seem more familiar with us.” Kiri could hear the amusement in Alphonse’s voice as she felt her own eyes droop.
“How do you get that?” A yawn broke her voice but he seemed to understand her question.
“Because, you’re using our nicknames.” Kiri lay her head against the rattling window and snuggled into herself crossing her arms and legs in a more comfortable position.
“Yeah....so I am.” Sleep overcame her at last and her mind turned to faded memories as the train ran its course down miles and miles of empty tracks. Feeling the loneliness surround her, slowly memories turned to dreams.