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Chapter 1	By : ChaCha92 Category: Fullmetal Alchemist > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 131 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist and make no money from this story

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He is going out of his mind.
If he ever gets laid up in a hospital ever again, Maes swears he’s never going to bitch about being bored.
It’s not that Kisa and Kyo haven’t done a fantastic job taking care of him over the past week despite their circumstances. It’s just that at least in a hospital he can count on getting a magazine or a newspaper to read. Maybe there’d be a visitor or two during the day. If not, there are always doctors and nurses checking on the patient’s condition and maybe spending a few minutes chatting with them. Depending on the injury, the patient might be lucky enough to leave the room to go for a short walk or get a ride in a wheelchair.
Each day he only gets to look forward to ten hours of either staring through the shadowed gloom of the ceiling or struggling to sit up to stare at his surroundings. Even if he were mobile enough, he doesn’t dare contemplate leaving the hut.
The twins make up for it when they are home. Despite coming in exhausted at the end of each day, they spend the rest of their time before going to bed seeing to his every need and talking to him.
Unfortunately, during the day he only has his thoughts to keep him company, thinking over all the things he’s learned and so far they’ve been bleak, unsettling, depressing and fearful.
The twins shocked him when they explained that the nightmare they’re currently living started when they were eight. Now they’re thirteen and have endured all this for five years. Since then, they’ve had to watch their large family dwindle down to the three. Their parents, five older brothers and the spouses and children of the two oldest brothers slowly died off from being sent to reeducation, overwork, malnutrition and other diseases.
He recalls that night when Kyo first started explaining when it all began after he and Kisa made sure there weren’t any eavesdroppers outside.
“The People’s Army claim reeducation is a way to ‘reeducate’ people into participating better in their new way of life, but we all know by now that anyone sent for reeducation is never seen alive again. We’ve heard rumors they’re sent to torture prisons.”
Kyo paused as Kisa excused herself and left the hut. Sighing heavily, he continued without commenting on her departure.
“Our father and three oldest brothers got sent to reeducation not long after we got here. We later heard they were marched out into the nearest field and had to dig their own graves. Once they were done, the soldiers shot them as they stood in the holes they dug. Now the soldiers of the People’s Army don’t waste the bullets. They supposedly use tools like pickaxes or sledgehammers. The cadres definitely do that when they deal out death sentences.”
That explanation certainly went a long way in helping Maes understand better the twins’ fear of getting caught. It also adds to his brooding thoughts during the long hours.
Besides, Kyoko is lousy company. He alternates between pitying the poor woman and despising her brusque attitude. Kisa had pointed out to him that Kyoko used to be far more personable toward guests, but losing her husband and children and slowly wasting away has made her bitter and caustic.
Although it’s a good reason for the older woman’s behavior, it doesn’t stop Maes from getting annoyed with Kyoko, especially when she denigrates the twins, Kisa in particular. However, there are moments when he can truly sympathize with the woman’s plight.
Sighing into the stillness, he figures it could be a lot worse. He’s in a very bad situation, but at least he’s not in the hands of the enemy.
It’s been hours since the twins left for the day. With a few grunts and a mumbled curse, he struggles to sit upright to ease the ache in his tired back. With nothing better to do, he pulls out a few photos of his precious wife and daughter. A small smile graces his lips as he recalls certain memories and wonders what they’re up to today.
“Are those pictures of your family?”
Maes looks over in surprise at Kyoko who is gazing up at him over from where she’s laying on her side of the dead fire.
“Yes, they are,” he admits honestly and then asks, “But how’d you guess?”
“Because you have the look of a happy family man,” she explains, her tone soft and sad. “It’s the same look my husband Yasu used to have.”
He lets the silence stretch out, uncertain how to respond when she surprises him by speaking again.
“Yasu was a simple family man who had the misfortune of being known as a supporter of the monarchy. Although, he wasn’t a political activist or any sort of outspoken supporter, one night he became one of the disappeared.”
“Disappeared?” Maes asks in confusion.
Kyoko’s eyes continue growing distant as she nods.
“Azambra has been in political strife for years, but the time after the coup changed everything. Once those bastards in the People’s Army took over, their perceived enemies began disappearing. The soldiers showed up one night and knocked on our door. They said they needed to speak with Yasu and ask him a few questions. Yasu was not a man to defy authority, so he readily agreed and they said he’d be back by morning. We never saw him again.”
Maes waits patiently in grim silence as she pauses, struggling to control her emotions.
“Rumors spread that the disappeared were taken to the sports arena where the national football team used to play their home games,” she continues. “It was whispered the People’s Army converted it into a makeshift prison and interrogation center. Some rumors said the entire field became a graveyard and when they ran out of room, you could see black smoke billowing into the air day and night carrying the stink of burning flesh.”
“As further insult,” she grits out hoarsely, “those bastards forced me and my two children from the home Yasu built for us. I ended up burying my youngest son on the road to this hellhole and buried my oldest son last year when he died from dysentery.”
Closing his eyes against the horrors her words conjures up, Maes’ heart aches for the grieving mother as she silently cries until regaining control again.
“No mother should have to watch her children suffer or end up burying them,” she states bitterly. “I’m glad Yasu didn’t live to watch our boys die.”
Maes lets the silence stretch out again. There is nothing he can say that’d be appropriate and not end up sounding insulting. He’s surprised when Kyoko speaks again.
“I hope you’re lucky enough to see your family again.”
Maes answers with the only thing he can think of to say.
“Thank you.”
Without another word, Kyoko shifts away from him onto her side. Maes listens to her anguished tears as he grimly gazes down at the smiling visages of Elicia and Gracia.
Another week passes and Maes is now certain he’s going to die of boredom before anything else can kill him.
Although he’s moving around better, his wounds are slow to heal. Not surprising as he’s not exactly recuperating in the best conditions. Plus, he’s still in no shape to even think of trying to make it back to Amestris. He’s got to be stronger before he can make the attempt or he will die trying.
Glancing outside through the doorway, he notes the long shadows. Good. His boredom for the day will soon be over. Easing back into a sitting position, he smiles as the twins come trudging in from their day.
Maes doesn’t bat an eye when both immediately change out of their dirty clothing into cleaner ones. He simply closes his eyes to give Kisa some privacy while Kyo turns his back to her. He was shocked the first time they did that without any regard to their privacy, but Kyo explained afterward that although their old customs would find the situation extremely scandalous, to attempt to seek privacy just to change would be viewed as suspicious by the cadres.
Once they’re done, Kisa begins making them the usual bland rice she makes every night and like clockwork, she apologizes when she hands Maes his bowl.
“I’m sorry I can’t offer you better or more to help you regain your strength, uncle.”
“Kisa,” Maes smiles softly, shaking his head fondly. “What you made is fine. You’ve got to work with one cup of rice a day for each of us as our food rations, so it’s not like it can be helped.”
“She should stop making excuses,” Kyoko scolds as she finishes her rice.
Maes watches Kisa’s eyes drop in shame as she silently moves to give Kyo his share. He feels bad for the verbal abuse the girl endures. Nothing she does is ever right in Kyoko’s eyes and the older woman never misses a chance to point out her failure at becoming a proper woman.
“Sister isn’t making excuses, Kyoko, so quit making stuff up to make her feel bad,” Kyo snaps angrily.
“Her inability to live up to mother’s teachings proves my point,” Kyoko snaps back, launching into a tirade. “She’s always apologizing for something and stating it’s for reasons beyond her control. She’s failed to learn despite mother’s best efforts. And part of that is our brother’s and your fault! All of you treated her like she was one of you, usurping our mother’s attempts to bring Kisa up right. She should be preparing to get married and starting a family. However, thanks to you boys and the People’s Army, she’s incapable of fulfilling her proper role!”
“Sister is smarter and deserves better than just being a perfect housewife like you and mother,” Kyo hisses angrily. “Neither of you ever gave her enough credit.”
“Please stop,” Kisa pleads on the verge of tears. “We’ll be overheard and we shouldn’t waste the precious time we have left fighting.”
“You’re both just waiting for me to die so you can forget your upbringing,” Kyoko scoffs.
Kisa rushes out of the hut in tears, effectively ending their argument, while Kyo glares angrily at Kyoko.
“Why do you always tear sister down?” Kyo finally asks quietly. “Can’t you see she’s doing the best she can? There’s no way in hell she can become a proper woman like you want with the way things are now.”
Kyoko is silent before wearily answering, “Kisa still holds out hope I’ll survive. She claims to accept I’m dying, but it’s a lie. How can she look to the future if she’s clinging to those lies?” she asks, pausing to let Kyo think about her words. “I’m doing what I can to break Kisa of her fantasies. She’s incapable of surviving on her own.”
Glaring at her younger brother, she adds, “You and our brothers always treated her like one of boys, but you also shielded and protected her. She doesn’t even know how to protect herself like a boy, so what will happen if you die? Do you really think she’ll survive on her own?” she asks. Not giving Kyo a chance to answer, she continues, “I’m trying to get her to embrace our parent’s teachings, so she can find a husband to take care of her. Otherwise, our entire family is lost with no legacy left to remember us.”
The silence stretches out as Maes and Kyo finish eating and Kyoko settles back down on her bedroll, too tired to continue arguing. Kyo dishes out the remaining rice into a bowl and then gathers up the remaining dirty dishes and leaves, likely to find Kisa and make sure she eats something.
Maes knows the boy won’t be back until much later. It’s his turn to be gone that night. Ever since Cadre Osamu stopped by nearly two weeks ago, the twins have alternated being gone for about three or four hours every night. Neither reveal where they go, but they usually return tense and withdrawn.
He worries if Kisa is okay, but is relieved when she returns not long after Kyo leaves with their clean dishes in hand.
Maes watches the girl in silence as she works around the hut. He can tell she’s upset, but there isn’t anything he can say, not without risking triggering more of Kyoko’s cruel words. He doesn’t like the woman’s twisted logic, but their situation is far too dangerous for him to challenge her on Kisa’s behalf.
And, in a sense, Kyoko has a point. Even he can’t deny the likelihood of the twins surviving isn’t very good. They obviously aren’t in the best health, especially with the meager rations they’re given and there’s no way they can supplement those rations, not without risking punishment.
Kisa once explained scavenging for wild fruits or berries is perceived by the cadres as ‘personal enterprise’ and is punishable by death. Not that they don’t risk it, but they have to be very careful not to get caught. Unfortunately, even wild fruits and berries are very hard to find as people are quick to harvest them as soon as they can.
It had taken awhile, but Maes finally understood Kyo’s statement that first night regarding there being no one to sell their scavenged items to. All commerce has effectively been eliminated. They can’t even buy or sell anything to supplement their rations.
It certainly doesn’t help that the twins keep giving him more than his share. He didn’t fail to notice Kisa gave him more rice than anyone else. He also noticed her gradually giving him most of rations they scavenged off his comrades.
When he challenged them on it, Kyo’s feeble excuse was he stumbled into their hell and doesn’t deserve to suffer with them. So he tried being stubborn and insisting they stop giving him extra food, prompting both to threaten to sit on him and force-feed him. Brats.
Sighing softly, Maes follows Kisa’s lead and lies down. He knows she’s going to stay awake, just like he will, until Kyo returns home. Her mind is probably still too active to shut down anyway, but it’s clear she’s not interested in having any sort of conversation to occupy the time until Kyo returns and he’s not going to push her.
Not for the first time he wonders how in the hell things could’ve been allowed to come to this in Azambra. He has no trouble understanding how the surrounding nations can turn a blind eye to what is happening. Having been a part of the Ishavalan extermination he knows first hand just how cruel Amestris can be.
Maybe further conversations with Kisa and Kyo will reveal the answers. He’s just not sure if there’s enough time for him to find out.
Two hours later his musings are interrupted by Kyo’s return. He listens as the boy moves around the hut before laying down on his bedroll.
“You and uncle don’t have to wait up for me, sister. You both need your rest,” Kyo whispers quietly, breaking the silence.
Kisa doesn’t answer, causing Kyo to sigh wearily. Maes decides to try lightening the mood.
“As a father it’s in my nature to worry needlessly and wait up until the children are home safe and tucked snugly in bed,” he states solemnly.
He can hear the amusement in Kyo’s voice. “It’s easier than being woken up by the police knocking on the door explaining they arrested said children and being asked if you can bail them out, isn’t it?”
“I’d let you rot overnight,” Maes quips, causing Kyo to chuckle softly. Becoming serious, he adds, “I know you probably can’t talk about what you do, but I hope you two aren’t doing anything dangerous.”
“If I tell you where we go and what we do, will you think less of us, uncle?” Kyo asks hesitantly after along pause.
Maes is a little taken aback by the statement, but quickly recovers to firmly reply, “Never. I’d never think any less of you two.”
The silence stretches out so long, Maes wonders if Kyo drifted off to sleep from exhaustion.
“The reason we warned you about being very careful about what you say is because we never know who’s listening,” Kyo finally whispers quietly. “Sometimes, we’re the ones listening.”
He lets Maes mull over his words for a few moments before continuing.
“When we were younger, sister and I were recruited and trained as informants. We had always been small for our age, so we were perfect candidates. We could easily crawl underneath huts like this one and listen to what’s being said inside. We’re not as small anymore, but we’re very good at sneaking up to listen through the cracks in the boards. Every night we go to other huts around here or in different camps. Our job is to report on anything contrary to the edicts and teachings of the People’s Army.”
“You have to spy on your neighbors?” Maes whispers in surprise.
“Yes,” Kyo admits, his hushed voice heavy with shame. “We’re not the only ones, so we can be spied on just as easily. That’s why we’re so careful with our words. The consequences of saying the wrong thing usually means death for an entire family, either being executed by the cadres or getting sent to reeducation.”
“How did they trick you into becoming an informant?” Maes asks hesitantly, fearing the answer.
“There wasn’t any trickery involved,” Kisa answers quietly, surprising both of them. “We weren’t given a choice. Examples were made immediately of those who refused. Their parents and siblings would be killed right before the candidate’s eyes before it was their turn.”
The silence stretches out again, but this time Maes breaks it.
“We should all get some sleep. You two especially need your rest in order to do your jobs right or you’ll get penalized. We can talk more later.”
It’s a few heartbeats before Kyo whispers, “Thank you.”
Maes listens as the two shift in their bedrolls and fall asleep. He remains awake for a long time. In such a short time, despite being restricted to the hut, he’s learned so much and wonders how in the hell these kids managed to survive this long.
He supposes that’s simply another characteristic the twins share with Ed and Al. At first, he thought they merely looked identical to the two older boys, but even the few hours he spends with them, he keeps seeing more and more similarities.
Both Kyo and Kisa remind him of the Elrics with their determination to keep moving forward. Grinning to himself in the darkness, he finds it ironic that although Kisa looks like Ed, Kyo seems closer to him in personality by being more playful, upfront and quick to defend his sister. Like Ed, she’s observant and then there are those glimpses of a quick temper, especially when Kyo annoys her just right. However, she’s quiet, tending to blend into the background and tolerating a lot more.
As much as he thinks Kyo is closer to Ed in personality, he can see the similarities to Al. He’s definitely protective of Kisa and devoted to her like Al tends to be toward Ed.
Shifting into a more comfortable position, Maes realizes he hasn’t said one word to the twins about her double in Amestris. Suppressing the urge to chuckle, he just knows the boy is going to gleefully torment his sister over that. Since they opened themselves up to scorn by sharing with him what’s obviously a very sensitive subject and telling him about being informants, he’s just going to have to share some of his life and tell them about Ed and Al.
Maes wastes the next two days trying to figure out the best way to tell the twins about Ed. It never seems the right time or he can’t find the right way to bring it up. He considers just blurting it out, but he’s never had very good luck at being blunt like that. For some reason people have a tendency to think he’s joking.
He finally stumbles on his opportunity by accident as the twins sit with him one night before dinner.
“You believed that, Kyo?” Maes asks with a laugh.
Refusing to answer, Kyo pouts while Kisa smirks, “He did. Kazuki liked trying to convince us the unlikeliest things were true.”
“Kazuki is your second oldest brother, right?”
“No, uncle, he’s our third oldest. He was about six years older than us.” When Maes nods in understanding, she continues. “Kazuki could be very convincing, so it wasn’t hard for him to trick Kyo into thinking if he stripped down naked and wrapped a sheet around his body it’d make him invisible like a ghost. When Kyo was skeptical, Kazuki suggested he try it during a dinner party our parents were hosting. I think it was for father’s business associates.”
Blushing with embarrassment, Kyo prevents his sister from finishing the tale.
“Excuse me for cutting your amusement at my expense short, sister, but you wanted me to remind you to wash your headscarf and lay it out to dry or you won’t have anything to protect you from the sun and bugs while out in the fields tomorrow.”
“You just don’t want me to share something else embarrassing with uncle,” she teases, still smiling fondly at him.
“Don’t torture him too much, Kisa,” Maes playfully admonishes. “Kyo is merely being the annoyingly protective, older brother.”
“Kyo’s the baby of the family,” Kisa hisses sharply, surprising Maes.
Arching a brow, he turns at Kyo’s chuckling.
“There’s not much that’ll make sister mad, uncle, but mistaking her for the baby of the family is guaranteed to put your life at risk.”
“Especially when you go out of your way to feed that misconception, little brother,” she snaps, narrowing her eyes dangerously at him.
Maes can’t resist joining in Kyo’s chuckling, causing her to glare at him too before turning away and crossing her arms in a huff.
“So much like him,” Maes muses absently.
“Like who?” Kyo asks in curiosity.
Startled, Maes blinks at Kyo owlishly before his lips quirk into a smile. “Glad you asked. I’ve been meaning to tell you two about a boy I know in Amestris. He’s about two years older than you and his name is Edward. I wasn’t sure how to bring it up, but Kisa looks just like him.”
Kyo gapes at Maes in surprise as a Kisa turns from her pout to frown in confusion at him.
“You know a boy who looks a lot like sister?” Kyo asks incredulously.
“Identical,” Maes nods. “Except for their gender, obviously,” he smirks at Kisa’s annoyed scowl. “And what’s ironic is that they act a bit alike too. At first, I thought they just looked alike, but sometimes Kisa says or does something and I’ve had to catch myself and not call her ‘Ed.”
“You’re serious?” Kyo phrases it more as a statement than a question, prompting Maes to nod again.
“Is that why you looked so surprised when we first met?” Kisa quietly asks, forgetting her irritation at learning her look-a-like is a boy. “Because your face was fierce like an attacking soldier, but then it was like you had just seen a ghost.”
“Yes,” Maes smiles warmly before becoming apologetic. “I’m so sorry for scaring you. I didn’t know if you were friend or foe and I wasn’t about to go down without a fight.”
“It’s okay, uncle, you didn’t hurt me,” Kisa she reassures him, smiling back softly in return.
“This look-a-like must be more intelligent and capable than Kisa,” Kyoko weakly scoffs from her usual place.
Kisa’s smile drops with her gaze to the floor as Kyo scowls angrily across the fire at his older sister.
Warding off another fight, Maes comments, “I don’t know about him being more intelligent as Ed sometimes lands himself and his brother into some idiotic situations. He’s just as capable of getting out of trouble as much as he gets into it. Ed definitely has a worse temper than Kisa and an even fouler mouth. Especially if he thinks you’re calling him short.”
Throwing one last glare at Kyoko, Kyo refocuses his attention on Maes.
“He gets mad if people call him short?” he sniggers.
“Or any variation of that term if he thinks you mean his height,” Maes answers offhandedly.
“I wouldn’t get mad at being called ‘short’,” Kisa mumbles.
“But you would if you get called the youngest,” Kyo teases.
Kisa glares, snapping, “It’s the principle of the matter! It’s also the truth. I was born first.”
“By a whole minute, sister,” Kyo grins at her narrowed gaze.
“I’m going to go wash before it gets later,” she growls before grabbing what she needs and leaving the two males to grin after her.
“Why do you always tease her like that?” Maes asks turning to Kyo.
Sighing resignedly, he explains, “I’m trying to get her to smile more. I miss it. I can’t even think of the last time she’s laughed. I know there’s not much to be happy about, but I hate it’s such a rare occurrence.”
“She’ll smile again someday, Kyo,” Maes reassures the teen.
Turning to gaze out the doorway, Kyo nods absently, “Because the broken glass will sink someday.” Turning back to Maes, he smiles at the man’s confused expression. “There’s an old saying that pretty much fits what’s been going on here in Azambra. It’s something like when broken glass floats, the seeds will sink, but in time the glass will sink and the seeds will rise again. I know I screwed up the phrasing, but right now, the evil that is the broken glass is in charge of Azambra and the seeds, the people, have sunk in the water. Someday the seeds will rise and make things right again.”
“Still sounds fairly poetic and is a good way of looking at things,” Maes smiles.
“It’s hard holding onto that hope,” Kyo admits with a shrug. “Because everyone is gone, but it’s all we have left. I just hope the waiting will end soon. Anyway, I want to know more about sister’s double and his brother.”
Grinning, Maes shares what he can, but lies about having never met Al. He has no idea how to explain the fact he doesn’t know what Al looks like and doesn’t feel it’s his place to share the reason why Al’s soul is bound to a suit of armor.
It isn’t long before Kisa comes back and starts asking her own questions. She continues chatting with Maes while Kyo takes his turn again as an informant until he returns and they all turn in for the night.
There’s even less for anyone to smile about three days later as the twins go through their normal morning routine. Kyo’s part is to help Maes with the usual embarrassing ritual of struggling to go to the bathroom in a decrepit, old saucepan with the least amount of mess. He can’t lift himself into position without Kyo’s help since his wounds still aren’t healed enough.
He tried doing it by himself once, but slightly tore open one of the larger shrapnel wounds in his side, causing it to start bleeding again. He was trying to avoid asking Kisa because it’s even more embarrassing to have her help him take a crap.
Kisa wakes Kyoko for the day. She hasn’t been sleeping well, worrying over her older sister and getting up frequently during the night to check on the woman. Kyoko’s body bloated from edema over the past few days and she refused to eat more than a couple of bites Kisa managed to coax into her. Kisa really started to worry yesterday when Kyoko stopped talking altogether and grew increasingly unresponsive.
“Kyoko’s dead,” Kisa’s voice cracks, grabbing both males’ attention.
Sighing heavily, Kyo suggests, “Gather what you can so we can swath her body. I’ll help you when I finish here. Then I’ll notify a cadre.”
Kisa’s only reply is to move about the room checking to see what they have that she can use.
Kyo refocuses back on Maes. “I’ve got to go get some help to bury Kyoko. Sister will use some bandages to wrap you up in because we need to keep up with the leprosy lie or someone might question why you look so healthy.”
Maes nods and finishes up so Kyo can help Kisa wrap Kyoko’s body in old clothing.
After Kyo leaves a half hour later, Kisa brings over one of the last three rolls of gauzy wrap and begins loosely wrapping his neck, working up to his head.
“It has to look like you’re still suffering from leprosy,” she explains in a subdued voice. “It’ll also look like you’re still contagious to those who don’t know better.”
Maes studies her face, noting the dark circles under her eyes contrasting starkly against her pale skin. The strain of taking care of Kyoko is clearly evident.
“Are you all right?” he finally asks.
Avoiding his eyes, Kisa pauses in thought, letting the silence stretch out before finally admitting, “I’m scared. Everyone is gone. What if I lose Kyo too?” Tears stray from her eyes as she adds in a hoarse whisper, “I don’t want to be alone.”
Reaching over, Maes gently grasps her hand and squeezes it, causing her to focus on his partially wrapped face.
“You’re not alone, Kisa,” he reassures her. “Your focus should be on surviving right now, not on what could be. It might be enough to get both you and Kyo through this.”
Kisa blinks in surprise, processing his words as he continues smiling gently.
Taking a deep, shuddering breath she mutters, “I need to finish before Kyo returns with the others.”
Squeezing her hand one more time in reassurance, he nods before releasing her to finish wrapping him up. Minutes later Kyo returns with four men. Maes barely gets a wary glance from them as they hurry to remove Kyoko’s body. Chuckling inwardly, he makes a mental note to use the leprosy scare should the need ever arise again.
While the men leave with Kyoko’s body, Kyo turns to Kisa.
“I’m going to oversee Kyoko’s burial. I’ll be back afterward because Cadre Osamu gave us today off from all our duties. Stay and rest because you look tired, sister.”
With her eyes tearing up, Kisa doesn’t answer Kyo, but looks away. Sighing heavily, he pulls her into a fierce hug, which she returns with equal ferocity.
Reluctantly pulling back, she starts pushing him toward the door.
“You can’t keep them waiting,” she urges him, her voice thick and cracking with emotion.
Once he leaves, she goes to fill a bucket with water and grabs a dilapidated scrub brush. Completely ignoring Kyo’s suggestion, she starts cleaning up the area where Kyoko had lain. When she died her body promptly expelled the excess fluid from the edema, creating a large puddle that seeped through the floorboards.
Sitting up, Mae’s removes the bandages from his head, taking his time rolling them up while watching Kisa scrub the floor as best as she can. He can barely make out her soft sobs over the sound of her scrubbing.
“Kisa, can you please come here for a minute?” he calls her over when she’s finished and puts her cleaning supplies away.
He can tell she just wants to go somewhere and cry alone, but still reluctantly comes over to him.
“Do you need something, uncle?” she asks, refusing to look him in the eyes.
Reaching out, he gently pulls her into a hug. She struggles against him a little, gently pushing against his chest to pull out of his hold, but stills when he whispers in her ear.
“If I could, I’d take you and Kyo away from all this right now. I can’t.” He sighs softly when he feels her shaking before continuing. “It’s okay to cry for what you lost, but don’t forget what you have left. There’s Kyo and, for what it’s worth, you can count on me too.”
Kisa stiffens slightly before relaxing further into his embrace and sobbing earnestly into his chest. Maes gently strokes her hair, murmuring assurances and encouragement to let it out. It takes a long time until she finally quiets down, gradually curling until her head is resting in his lap and prompting him to lean over and smile softly at seeing she exhausted herself into sleep.
It isn’t much longer until Kyo returns. He blinks in confusion at Kisa fast asleep and resting her head in Maes’ lap.
“She ignored you and cleaned up where Kyoko laid,” he points over to Kyoko’s side of the fire at the dampened wood. “I called her over and hugged her, saying she should cry, but not to forget she still has us.”
Settling next to Maes’ legs in front of Kisa, Kyo smiles softly while reaching out and gently stroking her hair.
“Sister holds too much in,” he explains quietly. “She never protests or complains about anything and will needlessly suffer for us, protecting us. She’d lie, cheat and steal if we asked her to. She’d be ruthless in trivial things like getting the last piece of cake, but would take a beating instead of snitching our brothers and I out to our parents.”
Smiling sadly down at his sister, he adds, “Kyoko is gone and we can run away, but we don’t have anywhere to go. If we tried leaving Azambra, we’ll probably get shot the moment cross the border.”
“Not if you came to Amestris and I sponsor you two,” Maes muses, causing Kyo to gape at him stupidly.
“Sponsor us…wait, you mean for sister and I to come to Amestris?”
“Yep.”
“Why would you do that? You don’t know us!”
“I can ask you the same thing,” Maes chuckles at the teen. “Why did you two help me? I’ve had enough time to watch you two and talk to you. I think I know you well enough and it’s the least I can do for you,” he smiles fondly.
“It’s not like we have a future here,” Kyo muses. “Even if Azambra is freed tomorrow, it’d be hard finding jobs and there’s nothing to keep us here. Kyoko was the last of our immediate family. The rest I don’t know if they’re alive, but even if they are, they won’t care what happens to us. Since our family home was destroyed before our forced migration we’ve literally got nothing.”
“Starting over in Amestris would be a huge leap in restarting your lives,” Maes reasons. Becoming serious, he adds, “Besides, I may need your help getting back into Amestris. The risk of getting caught increases longer I stay.”
“And with the poor rations, it’ll take you too long to heal and you probably won’t heal right,” Kyo sighs heavily.
“Exactly,” Maes nods. “Plus, I’ve got to get back to see if I can do something about what’s going on here.” At Kyo’s stunned look, he explains, “Things can’t be left alone here. Power mad thugs like the People’s Army always want more, so they’re likely to attempt to infiltrate into other nations.”
“True,” Kyo agrees, his gaze darkening with anger. “Their utopia is failing and their slaves dying out everyday. They’d be looking for new resources to try achieving their goals. But we shouldn’t be talking about this,” he warns with a shake of his head. “I think I’ll take a meditative walk and you can maybe tell me more about where you’re from.”
Maes remains silent and watches Kyo slip outside to scout the area. Absently stroking Kisa’s hair, he patiently waits until the young blond returns, signaling all’s clear before they fall into quietly discussing Amestris. Maes shares what it’s like and tells Kyo more about his family. Periodically, the boy takes random walks outside, making sure there aren’t any unwanted visitors.
Eventually, Kisa wakes up and joins their conversation. She’s surprised and tears up at Maes’ offer to sponsor them. She agrees it’s a good idea before bombarding him with questions along with Kyo.
Seeing their eagerness and the renewed hope shining in their eyes convinces Maes that he’s got to return to Amestris as soon as possible. If they all stay, chances are very good they’ll all die soon and he’d rather see the twins happy and thriving than to let that happen.
Maes’ resolve to return to Amestris quickly is further strengthened a few days later when the twins surprise him by returning to the hut only a couple of hours after leaving for the fields.
“We’ve all been summoned to an assembly of everyone in the work camps, uncle,” Kyo explains while Kisa gathers some fresh clothing for Maes to change into. “I tried getting you excused from it by explaining to one of the cadres that your leprosy has been chronic, which is why you haven’t been able to return to the fields yet. I told her I wasn’t sure if your condition could spread. She said we had to be apart from everyone and just outside the clearing where the assembly will be held, but we all have to be there.”
“Why does this sound like something I probably don’t want to go to?” Maes asks, eyeing the two.
“You don’t,” Kyo admits as Kisa hands him the clothing she found before moving off while he helps Maes change. “The only time we’re all summoned to assemble like this is because someone is going to get punished.”
“Punished, how?” Maes asks reluctantly as Kyo helps him into a clean pair of pants.
“By getting their head bashed in with some sort of tool. If they’re lucky, it’ll be a sledgehammer,” Kyo replies offhandedly.
Maes wishes Kyo is joking, but can tell by his expression he isn’t. He finishes buttoning up the borrowed shirt while Kyo takes a roll of gauze from Kisa and begins swathing his head.
“Please hand me your glasses, uncle,” Kisa asks quietly.
“Okay,” Maes agrees reluctantly, pulling them off and handing them over. “But why? I can see okay without them, but it’s not exactly comfortable.”
“Because it’s dangerous for the cadres to see you with glasses,” Kyo explains. “When those men came to help me bury Kyoko, they didn’t bother looking at you, so they didn’t notice you were wearing them, but the cadres aren’t so stupid.”
“Remember when we were explaining how the People’s Army believe everyone has to be equal?” Kisa asks. When Maes’ nods, she continues, “That also means no one can be smarter than anyone else and they targeted educated professionals early on. Anyone with glasses is viewed as an intellectual and smarter than everyone else, making them superior.”
“Glasses don’t necessarily make a person smarter,” Maes points out facetiously. “I’ve known some pretty stupid people who wore glasses.”
“So have we,” Kyo grins. “But here, perception is everything and can cost you your life,” he finishes seriously while tying off the gauze on his head.
With Kisa’s help, Kyo bandages his hands to add to the illusion of leprosy. The shirt they gave him is long sleeved so they don’t have to go any higher than his wrists. Once they’re finished, Kisa moves off again and comes back with a pair of socks and a beat up pair of sandals that are two sizes too small.
Maes is confused at first by the ragged and worn out socks. The twins have to help him get them on his feet, fitting the oddly sewn split so his big toe is separated from the rest of his toes. He then understands the purpose of the split better when the sandals go on. His toes fit comfortably around the thong in the front of the sandal before buckling the sling strap on his ankle.
Once he’s ready the twins help him struggle to his feet and out the door to join the gathering assembly less than a kilometer away. It’s slow going because of Maes’ still healing injuries, but they arrive in time for a family of five to be trotted out from a rundown shack in front of the crowd, bound and hanging their heads in fear. A kid about Kyo and Kisa’s age is made to stand apart from man and a woman along with two younger children.
A male dressed in a dark brown uniform steps smartly in front while other similarly dressed adults, who Maes assumes are soldiers, stands behind the prisoners.
“My apologies to all the friends of the People’s Army for having to interrupt their industrious duties today to assemble here today to witness the punishment of a traitor and his co-conspirators,” the man declares, pointing at the boy and his family accusingly.
Maes doesn’t recognize the man’s voice, but is sure he’s another cadre.
“This traitor,” the man continues, “failed in his duty to the People’s Army and in turn failed in his duty to all of us. The whole is ineffective when the parts refuse to do their job and commits treason with their laziness. One’s laziness affects everyone. When a friend to the People’s Army turns traitor by not doing their duty, they hurt all of us. We are only successful when every friend does their duty.”
Maes tunes the cadre’s rambling, repetitive speech out. He understands now that the People’s Army could only achieve their schemes through terror and violence since their rhetoric wouldn’t have won the stupidest person over. He would’ve been amused by that thought if the situation weren’t so bleak. He’s not surprised by the soft sobs and crying from the boy and his family, but is unnerved by the eerie silence of the grimly attentive crowd of about fifty people standing in a semi-circle off to one side of the clearing.
Surreptitiously looking around, he notices that the people are in as bad of shape as the twins, many looking weak and emaciated. The only ones appearing in good health are the cadres. It’s clear who’s really benefiting from the hard labors of the people.
His side in particular begins to ache, causing his knees to tremble from the strain. Kyo and Kisa do their best to support him and ease the discomfort. He’s not really thankful when the cadre finally finishes his speech nearly an hour later and another cadre appears with a shovel.
“Try not to flinch and don’t turn away,” Kyo whispers to Maes.
Maes’ only response is to take a deep breath as the cadre steps behind the youngest child. He struggles not to react at the sickening sound of the shovel making contact with the back of the little girl’s skull, knocking her forward to the ground. He swallows thickly as the cadre drives the shovel down into her throat, causing the twitching body to still while the parents wail in dismay and the remaining children cry harder.
“This is the fate of traitors,” the rambling cadre declares loudly over the crying as the other cadre continues with the younger boy. “Not doing your duty affects the whole. Parents have to do their duty to bring up a child right so they don’t forget this.”
The shovel-wielding cadre wipes his brow after the second child and hands the shovel off to another to continue with the parents.
Maes doesn’t fail to notice the rest of the cadres closely scrutinizing the crowd, carefully studying every person as each blow lands on the condemned.
“This traitor,” the cadre points accusingly at the boy as the shovel impacts with the father’s head, “brings dishonor on his parents. They should’ve done more to raise their children to understand the true meaning of duty and honor. If raised right, this boy wouldn’t have been so selfish in not fulfilling his duty to the whole.”
In all, it had taken an hour for them to get to the hysterical boy and drop his body next to his family’s corpses while the cadre makes a grim sight standing in front of the bodies in the blazing, midmorning sun and nonchalantly continues his inane rambling.
“We’re all equal and no one should hold themselves apart from the rest. The People’s Army works for everyone’s good and anyone refusing to aid in our good efforts is being subversive and committing treason. It is important that we all work hard at our assigned duties to strengthen the People’s Army.”
Pausing dramatically and letting his gaze slowly sweep the crowd for emphasis, the cadre concludes his speech.
“Today everyone will have the day to contemplate what they have witnessed. Use this to bolster your resolve to strengthen the People’s Army because our good works benefit everyone, not just the few. So we are obligated to fulfill our duties to continue benefiting the People’s Army, your army. Dismissed.”
Slowly the crowd melts out of the clearing. Some dared to cast furtive glances at the bodies already attracting a swarm of flies. As the twins help him walk, Maes finds it unnerving the crowd remains silent with no one murmuring or commenting on the disgusting spectacle they had just witnessed.
Neither twin said a word during the entire walk back to their hut. Once there, they both ease a groaning Maes onto his bedroll who sighs gratefully at being off his feet. His side feels like it’s on fire and throbs painfully with every breath.
After returning his glasses, Kisa grabs a bucket and leaves Kyo to free Maes from his bandages.
“That was rather unforgettable,” Maes carefully ventures after Kyo removes the wrap from his head.
Kyo doesn’t comment, but pauses long enough to pointedly glance at the walls and floors before gazing intensely into the older man’s eyes. His silent message clicks instantly. Maes nods his understanding, they shouldn’t talk about it.
Kyo finishes removing the bandages when Kisa returns with fresh water for them to drink. No one said much for the rest of the day, which Maes concludes is a good thing since later that night and several times over the next few days his sharp ears picked up unusual noises outside and underneath the hut. He isn’t such a city boy not to know it’s not an animal moving about. He’s certain it’s an informant.
It’s well over a week later when the twins finally dare to discuss the punishment they witnessed.
One night after dinner Kisa returns from washing the dishes to sit with Kyo near Maes, quietly murmuring, “All clear.”
Maes looks at her in confusion while Kyo gapes in surprise.
“You think it’s safe to discuss that now?” he asks his sister.
“Yes,” she nods. “They don’t have enough informants and typically ease off after a week to resume the normal patrolling routine in other camps. I’ll stay alert just in case.”
“You always do, sister,” Kyo smiles fondly before looking back at a still confused Maes and dropping his voice down to a soft whisper. “The boy who got punished with his family was a former classmate of ours named Haru who was also an informant. The cadres never point out who the informants are and they’d never say the real reason why he got punished. We overheard a couple of cadres gossiping that he had been assigned to spy on his best friend’s family and lied about what he heard and got caught.”
“I’m surprised they assigned Haru to spy on Jiro’s family,” Kisa admits softly. “The risk of an informant lying to protect their friends and family is too high despite the threat of punishment.”
“Me too,” Kyo agrees. “But they wouldn’t know that Haru and Jiro were best friends unless Haru told them. He probably thought there’d be no way he’d get caught.”
“There are too many eyes and ears and he shouldn’t have taken that risk,” she muses.
“Haru was stupid,” Kyo shakes his head. Refocusing back on an attentively listening Maes, he explains, “We had seen early examples made of those who refused to spy. You just saw it. Cadres don’t just punish the individual, but everyone they think might be involved.” Sighing heavily he adds, “I wish I were that brave.”
Kisa’s gaze drops while nodding sadly in agreement.
Maes remains silent. He considers saying he would’ve done the same in their shoes, but doesn’t want to insult them with that lie. He would’ve been stupid enough to either refuse to comply with the edicts of the People’s Army or tried escaping with his family at the first signs of trouble.
“Maybe we need to start planning to leave for Amestris as soon as possible,” he finally ventures, shocking the two out of their reverie. “The longer we wait, the harder and more dangerous it’s going to get.
“You’re still serious about sponsoring us?” Kyo asks hesitantly.
Maes’ head tilts down as his eyes narrow into an, ‘Are you kidding?’ look before saying, “If it was a joke, it had to be one of my worst ones. C’mon, of course I’m serious!”
The twins gaze at each other before joyous grins spread across their faces. Turning to Maes, both clasp their hands in the prayer position but place their hands at their foreheads and bow deeply.
“Thank you, uncle,” Kyo whispers gratefully. “You have no idea what this means to us.”
“It’s far less than you deserve for helping me out like you two have,” Maes smiles fondly as they straighten up. “Let’s get out of here and later we can figure out who owes what.”
The two blondes grin again and nod, falling into a discussion of what had to be done in preparation so they can leave as soon as possible.
Over the next few days Kyo and Kisa gradually steal whatever extra foodstuffs they can get their hands on from different camps during their nightly rounds, despite the stores being heavily guarded. After Kyoko died they both had to spy instead of taking turns, but it’s proving to be a benefit since both can bring back extra food during the night.
It’s another week before they’re nearly ready to leave on the eve of the camp meeting day. Once a month everyone who is physically able gathers in the main meeting hut to listen to the latest lectures from the People’s Army. Many make the effort to attend because not only does it mean a break from the fields, but also means better food is served during the evening meal.
The twins agree it’s the perfect time to leave since informants are exempt from working the night before the meeting. They spy the night of the meeting.
The kids plan to abandon everything except some precious mementos such as photos and a few family heirlooms. Two days before the meeting Kisa returns Maes’ uniform to him from where they’d hidden it.
Kyo and Maes are organizing the knapsacks when she returns from scouting outside with the uniform tucked under an arm.
“Here’s your uniform, uncle,” Kisa says, handing him the small, neatly folded pile.
“Thanks,” Maes smiles. “It’ll be a lot easier for us if I have this on when we cross into Amestris. It reduces the risk of getting shot on sight.”
“It’s best if you wait on changing into it until we’re closer to the borders,” Kyo suggests. “It’ll be risky for you to change, but you’re in no condition to make it through the humid jungle with such heavy clothing on.”
“No kidding,” Maes rolls his eyes. “It was miserable having it on when you two found me.”
Unfolding the jacket to inspect the damage, he’s surprised to see most of the blood washed from it and the damage mended.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t get all the blood out or sew it right,” Kisa apologizes. “I had to improvise because we didn’t have the right soap or the right thread.”
Smiling again, he pulls her into a hug, saying, “All things considered, you did a fantastic job.”
Kisa returns the hug before pulling back. Maes and Kyo grin at her embarrassed blush as she goes back to gathering anything else they need.
“We’re leaving at nightfall after sister and I come home from the fields,” Kyo explains, packing items into his knapsack. “We’ll have all night to get as far as we can before our absence is noticed when we don’t report to the meeting the next day.”
“The cadres will probably think we got sick, brother,” Kisa comments, bringing over some more food items.
“Which means they won’t be in a hurry to check on you two until you fail to report that night as informants,” Maes muses thoughtfully, closing up his knapsack after packing his uniform.
“It’s a good days’ head start,” Kyo nods, finishing up his knapsack he moves it and the one Maes just closed up off to the side. “And they’re not going to know which direction we’ve headed, nor will they rush to notify the patrols. The cadres are just as susceptible to getting punished for their failures, so they’ll try to find us on their own first. They’re not as good at tracking like the patrols, so that’ll buy us more time.”
“Let’s get some rest since tomorrow will be a very long day,” Kisa suggests, laying down on her bedroll while Kyo and Maes follow suit.
Closing his eyes Maes drifts off, hoping they’ll all be back in Amestris within a few days and looking forward to introducing the twins to his family.
Like clockwork Kyo and Kisa drag themselves in from the fields the following day. Kisa wastes no time preparing and serving dinner. After cleaning up, the twins change into fresh clothing and lay down for a nap with Maes waking them late into the night.
The twins help Maes to his feet before retrieving their knapsacks and quietly slipping out into the inky jungle. Fortunately, Maes is more mobile and doesn’t need either of the twins to support him, but they need to take frequent breaks and can’t move very fast because of their collectively weak conditions.
They’re slowed down further over the next couple of days thanks to the frequent rain showers that often hit without warning. Although hard to move in, the rain provides good cover for them, making them difficult to be seen.
Three days into their journey Maes gets another good reminder of Kisa’s similarity to Ed.
Late in the afternoon they take a long break to rest and nap. They easily find a large cluster of bushes like the ones Maes hid in when they first met nearly two months before, which Kyo and Kisa call them Sanctuary bushes. Maes thinks it’s a fitting name. After crawling inside, Maes settles against a tree, while Kyo gathers their knapsacks and gestures for Kisa to sit next to Maes. When done, Kyo turns back and sees his sister scowling with her arms crossed.
“What?”
“Uncle is still healing and we should be protecting him from exposure by sitting on either side of him. I’m not sitting in the middle,” she grouses.
“Do I smell that bad?” Maes quips facetiously.
Gold eyes narrow further at him.
“We all stink,” she grinds out. “That’s not the point and you know it.”
“Just move next to him and rest, sister, we’re just doing what real gentlemen are supposed to,” Kyo sighs wearily.
“Gentlemen?” Kisa quietly questions incredulously. “That’s garbage! It has nothing to do with you two being gentlemen and all about you feeling macho protecting the weak little girl! If you two were being practical then it’d make more sense to flank uncle because he’s still injured!” she snaps, pointing at an amused Maes in emphasis.
Kyo gently steers her by the shoulders and none too gently shoves her against Maes.
Gazing intensely into her eyes, he says, “As usual, sister, you’re blowing things out of proportion and making it bigger than it is. Neither of us called you a ‘weak little girl’ nor is either of us feeling particularly ‘macho’ right now. You’re stuck in the middle. Get over it.”
Kyo promptly plops down next to her, completely ignoring her vengeful glare.
“You might want to stop scowling like that, sister,” Kyo blithely suggests, crossing his arms and closing his eyes. “Otherwise, your face will stay like that permanently.”
Maes grins as Kisa’s glare intensifies at a seemingly oblivious Kyo. Although the subject matter is significantly different, her rant was similar to Ed’s where she took a seemingly harmless comment and made it out to be much worse than it was. It also had to have been the quietest, angry rant he’s ever heard. Just another amusing reminder of how much she’s like Ed sometimes.
The next three days are tense as they continue heading northwest to the Amestrian border. The frequent close calls with the patrols are too numerous to count. Maes is definitely impressed at how well the twins blend into the shadows whenever they had to hide.
Despite the normally four-day journey taking six, he knows they’re only several hours to the borders. They slow down further when the twins started spotting a significant number of landmines dusting the entire area.
At the sixth one, he comments, “Boy, you two have really sharp eyes to spot those. I barely noticed them.”
Kyo sighs heavily before shocking Maes by explaining, “We weren’t just trained as informants, uncle, we were also trained to spot and disarm land mines. The People’s Army still hunts the rebel factions and they claim the rebels like using land mines.”
“I don’t think that’s true. The rebels wouldn’t be hiding in this direction, brother,” Kisa comments. “I think it’s the People’s Army that likes to use them and they need us to spot them because I doubt they keep track of where they lay the fields.”
“I think you’re right,” Kyo nods his agreement. “Anyway, we were trained so if the need arises, we’d be called to find and clear out any land mines so the soldiers of the People’s Army can attack the rebels with fewer casualties.” Shrugging at Maes’ shocked expression, he adds, “This just happens to be the first time we actually used our training.”
Remaining silent, Maes shakes his head at the gall of training children to find and disarm mines. Although it’s working to their benefit, it still makes him angry.
Despite being slowed by the land mines, they reach the borders late in the afternoon. Climbing up to a nearby ridge they look down at the border and realize to their grim disappointment that crossing may be near impossible.
Several foot guards heavily patrol the No Man’s Land dividing Amestris and Azambra. Not wanting to give up so easily, the three continue searching for a possible crossing point, finding a rocky gully less than a kilometer away with some overgrowth that might cover them long enough to cross the border. It transverses the short border fence made of barbed wire making up the borderline by about ten meters. It’s a meter and a half deep, but very narrow. Although the main fence is taut across the span of the gully, barbed wire had also been dumped into a pile to fill the opening. With the guards patrolling nearby, chances are extremely high they’ll be shot on sight.
Dejectedly they find a secluded area nearby to safely talk without risking discovery.
“We should wait until nightfall to see if it our chances of sneaking through improve,” Maes sighs wearily. “It’ll still be extremely risky, but we’ll at least have the cover of darkness.”
“It’s only a couple of hours until nightfall. We can rest so we’ll be ready if we have to run for it,” Kyo agrees.
Unfortunately, they discover it’ll be even harder to sneak through at night. They easily spot the guard strolling along the gully up to the border fence while other guards patrol the area on foot, making crossing nearly impossible.
It finally hits Maes that as heavily patrolled the borders are, his squad was probably set up. He wonders if the People’s Army did it to try turning it into an international incident or use it for propaganda because there’s no way they should’ve made it as far into Azambra as they did without interference.
“Uncle,” Kyo quietly calls, breaking into Maes’ thoughts. “You should take my sister and sneak across while I distract the guards.”
“No!” Kisa hisses fiercely.
“Are you out of your mind? There’s no way in hell we’re leaving you behind, Kyo,” Maes grinds out.
“And there’s no way in hell we’ll all make it!” Kyo snaps back. “We’ll be picked off or, worse, captured. I want Kisa to go and start over,” he adds more quietly, meeting Kisa’s angry glare. “She deserves it after everything she’s been through.” Turning his gaze back to Maes, he challenges defiantly, “You can’t sit there and honestly tell me that we’re all going to make it, can you, uncle?”
Maes glowers at the teen while the silence stretches out before Kisa captures both their attentions.
“Kyo’s right.” As Maes gapes in shock, she meets Kyo’s confused gaze adding, “We both will have to distract the guards.”
“This is getting ridiculous,” Maes begins before getting cut off by Kisa.
“I’m sorry, uncle, but either we both go or we both be the distraction. The chance of one of us making it is far better than two.” Smiling softly as her gaze drops, she admits, “I’m a coward. I can’t stomach the idea of leaving Kyo behind.” Taking her brother’s hand she adds, “We’ve been through everything together.”
Maes crosses his arms and glares hard.
“Bullshit! There is no way in hell you’re going to convince me you’ll survive when you’re caught, so I’m not about to let you become martyrs!”
Kyo returns his sister’s smile and squeezes her hand.
“We never thought we’d survive. Not for the longest time.” Turning back to Maes he adds, “But unlike you, we don’t have any family waiting for us.”
“You have a daughter you want return to,” Kisa adds earnestly. “We know what it’s like to lose a father and don’t want her to experience that. You have a chance to be there for her to grow up. You should seize it, uncle.”
Narrowing his eyes as his glare intensifies, Maes grits out, “That’s playing dirty.”
“We had five older brothers, we’re well versed in playing dirty,” Kyo quips. Seeing Maes is anything but amused, he sighs softly. “It may be remote, but we may survive. We’ll get punished, but maybe we’ll make it through somehow.”
“And someone has to tell the world what’s going on here,” Kisa reasons. “If there are people of character and compassion in Amestris, maybe they can finally stop these horrors so no one else will suffer anymore. No one is likely to listen to two kids from a foreign land, but maybe they’ll pay attention to an Amestrian soldier who witnessed it firsthand.”
Maes glowers while furiously thinking of another alternative. They could try traveling up and down the border, but it’s such a short stretch of barely sixteen kilometers. He knows this particular section is the closest to the nearest Amestrian outpost while the rest of the areas along the fence are remote and desolate and they’ll likely die before reaching civilization. It’s also highly unlikely the rest of the fence is any less patrolled. Plus, the longer they stay out here, the better their chances of getting caught.
A traitorous part of his mind thinks about Gracia and Elicia waiting for him, not knowing he’s no longer in Amestris, but trapped in a foreign country. However, he really hates leaving the twins to save his ass and not being able to do a damn thing for them.
Looking into the twins’ determined faces, he reluctantly concedes defeat.
“All right,” he sighs heavily, “You win.”
Both smiled brilliantly, filling him further with self-loathing.
“Would you please do us a favor, uncle?” Kisa asks. When Maes nods, she digs into her knapsack and pulls out a few antiquated books, several photographs and a few other items. Handing them over, she explains, “Some of these are family heirlooms and photos I don’t want to get lost or destroyed. Please keep them for us.”
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Maes grimly takes the items and packs them away.
“Keep them safe until we can come get them, uncle,” Kyo adds. At Maes’ incredulous look, he smirks, “we don’t plan on giving up easily. We may be a distraction to give you a chance to escape, but we intend to take you up on your offer to move to Amestris. Besides, we hear the weather is nice.”
“Smart ass,” Maes snorts. “You two better do everything you can to survive because I’ll be waiting.”
Suddenly, he pulls both into a fierce hug. Surprised, it takes Kyo and Kisa a moment before they return the hug with equal ferocity.
Reluctantly releasing them, he takes another good long look at them.
“Good luck you two,” he barely manages around the brick in his throat. “If you do make it to Amestris, tell any military officer you find to contact me, Maes Hughes. I’ll come get you.”
Kyo and Kisa nod before placing their hands in a prayer position, again high at their foreheads, and bow low.
“Have a safe journey, uncle,” Kisa softly states as they bow.
“You should change into your uniform, uncle,” Kyo suggests, straightening up from his bow. “We’ll get closer and wait a half hour before we start our distraction. If we wait any longer it’ll be daylight.” Emphasizing his words, he adds, “No matter what you see or hear, keep going. There’s no way you’re going to be able to help us, so please don’t waste our efforts by getting caught.”
Maes closes his eyes briefly with a heavy sigh before nodding wearily. Without further delay, Kisa and Kyo disappear from sight.
His hands feel leaden as he changes into his uniform. Fingering the coarse repair job Kisa did, he thinks she did a pretty damn good with what she had available. Once ready, he shoulders his pack and moves into position, determined to make it back home and somehow find a way to help the twins, even if it’s only indirectly.
It’s not long before he hears shouting and the guard at the gully abandons his post to investigate. Pushing himself hard, he rushes forward into the gully and scrambles through the jagged crevice, keeping his head down as low as possible.
Praying to whatever god will listen to let him make it, he reaches the borderline. He struggles to maneuver through the tangle of barbed wire. Fortunately, it’s not hard to lift the jumbled mass to duck under it, but he scratches the hell out of his hands and face before crossing to the other side, awkwardly clambering out the other end of the gully to flat land.
Sparing a brief glance over his shoulder before racing forward again, he prays that Kisa and Kyo will be all right.
A/N: And so finishes the back story/setup for this fanfic.
-The ‘football’ I’m referring to here is the international version commonly known in the U.S. as ‘soccer’.
-The proverb I deliberately butchered comes from a book called ‘When Broken Glass Floats’ a non-fiction account by a survivor of the Khmer Rouge takeover of Cambodia. I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from it for this story. It’s a very good book I highly recommend.
-The socks I’m describing the twins having Maes wear are called ‘tabi’. The Japanese wear them with thong sandals.
-10 meters = approx. 32.8 feet
-1 meter = approx. 3.28
-1 kilometer = approx. .62 miles
Thanks for reading
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Chapter 1