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Chapter 1	By : ChaCha92 Category: Fullmetal Alchemist > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 129 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist and make no money from this story

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Izumi is not pleased.
Standing next to the reception desk, Sig’s imposing presence looms next to her as she scowls at the decrepit lobby. Ignoring the bored-looking soldier sitting behind the reception desk working half-heartedly through a stack of folders, she barely contains her irritation and annoyance at coming all the way across town to this formerly abandoned, multi-story hotel. This little excursion is not only taking her away from their butcher shop for most of the morning, but it’s inconveniencing Sig since he insisted on accompanying her. Mostly, she’s irritated at herself for agreeing to do a favor for someone she has never met. They wouldn’t be standing in the middle of a dingy, rundown lobby if she hadn’t given her word.
Thanks to her big mouth they must wait for word from the supervising colonel regarding their request to see Kisa Namikaze. It’s another irritation on top of the existing pile. She’s not irritated at a girl she never met, but at some general all the way in Central abusing her connection with Ed and Al to check on someone old enough to take care of herself. A child, she can understand, but a fifteen-year-old? If the girl is that flakey she shouldn’t be attempting to immigrate from Azambra to Amestris.
Sig and Izumi’s attention is captured by the arrival of a corporal. The young woman strides over to the desk. She hands the sergeant a note. After dismissing the corporal, the man reads the note before looking up at Izumi.
“Colonel Jakkals would like to speak with you, but can’t at the moment,” the sergeant explains. “He apologizes for the inconvenience, but grants you permission to visit with Ms. Namikaze since she has been cleared medically until he’s available to meet with you.”
Crossing her arms, Izumi asks, “Where is she?”
Looking across the lobby, the sergeant addresses a soldier standing guard at a nearby doorway.
“Locate Kisa Namikaze, private.”
A black haired woman who entered the lobby before the sergeant issued his order approaches the desk.
“Kisa is outside in the courtyard with the children.”
Izumi eyes the woman, noting she’s dressed like a typical Azambran in a colorful wrap skirt, simple blouse and headscarf.
“I saw Kisa when I took my children to go play with the others,” the woman continues.
“Do you mind showing Mr. and Mrs. Curtis to Kisa?” the sergeant asks.
“Not at all,” the brunette smiles. Turning to Izumi and Sig she clasps her hands in a prayer position at her chest and bows. “Nice to meet you. I’m Chika Shizuka.”
“Nice to meet you too,” Izumi nods. Before she can say anything else, the woman gestures for them to follow.
“This way.” As the couple fall into step behind her, she continues chattering away. “Since it’s a lovely day it does well for the children to be outside playing.” In a lower voice she adds, “It’s sad Kisa doesn’t have any family for her to take care of, but it does free up her time to watch the children for the rest of us and they love being with her.”
Leading the couple through the long, winding hallways, Chika doesn’t seem to mind that neither is bothering to try responding to any of her statements.
“It’s wonderful that Kisa has friends in Amestris,” she comments. “With your help perhaps she can find a good husband. Her parents are deceased and unable to arrange the marriage, so she’d likely make a poor choice on her own, especially considering her prospects are not restricted to Azambran men anymore.”
Frowning, Izumi asks, “I understand Kisa is only fifteen, why would she be looking for a husband now?”
Chika stops dead in her tracks to incredulously gape at Izumi before understanding lights up her features.
“My apologies,” she smiles. “I forget Amestrians aren’t as family centric and don’t encourage young women to marry before they’re too old. Amestris is still a nice country even if the customs are a bit odd and detrimental to the growth of its population.”
Not giving Izumi or Sig a chance to respond, Chika continues down the hallway, ignorant of their flabbergasted expressions.
“With a little refinement Kisa has the makings of a good wife,” she blithely states. “She just needs to drop the silly idea of working to support herself or she’ll chase off all the eligible men. Most men want a woman who will devote herself completely to her family. A woman with her own career would only commit herself partially and that doesn’t make for a strong, healthy family.”
Izumi mutely shakes her head in disbelief as Chika rambles away. She briefly considers arguing, but realizes it’d carry very little weight with the woman. Instead, she muses on Chika’s words. Especially how denigrates Kisa’s desire to support herself. If this woman’s attitude is common among the other refugees, Kisa must be under a lot of pressure.
It’s not much longer until they emerge outside into a large courtyard. Chika pauses to look around. Shielding her eyes from the bright sunshine she searches for Kisa, giving Izumi and Sig the chance to take in their surroundings.
A chain link fence encloses the courtyard and guards patrol the perimeter. The predominantly dirt area is defined by meandering stone paths and half-dead shrubs struggling for life in what obviously used to be a lush garden courtyard for hotel guests. Some aged Azambran adults sit on crumbling stone benches or rickety apple crates, gossiping as children of varying ages run and play throughout the courtyard.
“There she is,” Chika mutters more to herself before dropping her hand and leading the couple off to a far corner to their right.
They approach a small group of children surrounding a small Azambran woman with her back to them.
“Kisa!” Chika calls out, prompting the figure to turn around to face them.
The urge to smack Ed into next week for pulling such a stupid joke briefly rages in Izumi until she realizes the military wouldn’t allow even a former state alchemist to hide among the incoming refugees. Then she remembers Ed is still studying abroad in the west.
Bowing in greeting, Chika explains to the look-a-like, “Mr. and Mrs. Curtis would like to see you.”
Still reeling, Izumi doesn’t hear the blonde’s soft ‘thank you’ and only sees her nod.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go back inside,” Chika finishes before returning to the building, obliviously leaving Izumi and Sig to continue gaping at Kisa in shock.
“It’s my honor. I’m Kisa Namikaze,” she introduces herself.
Her soft, husky voice further proves she isn’t Ed. He wouldn’t swallow his pride enough to wear a skirt and don fake breasts and is wholly incapable of faking the decorum this girl is demonstrating.
As Kisa straightens up from her bow, both she and Izumi notice all the children gathering around Sig, staring and gaping up at him in awe. Too used to children giving him a wide, fearful berth, Sig looks over at his wife in uncertainty and confusion. Izumi can only look back and give him a baffled look and a shrug. Kisa blinks in surprise before coming to her senses.
Blowing a sharp breath through her teeth she scolds, “You’re all being rude! Stop staring and properly greet our guests!”
Startled, all the children snap their eyes to her and the younger ones twitch as if stung before bowing and greeting in a staggered chorus of either, “Welcome,” or “It’s my honor,” to Izumi and Sig.
Once finished, all of the kids crowd closer to Sig, staring up at him.
One of the older boys, who Izumi guesses is about ten, asks Sig, “Are you ‘Mikio the Great?’”
Mirroring her husband’s confusion, Izumi asks, “Mikio?”
At Kisa’s soft sigh Izumi looks over as the girl rolls her eyes.
“No, he isn’t Mikio the Great,” she tells the kids, her voice colored with exasperation.
“There’s an Azambran legend about a man named Mikio,” she begins explaining when Izumi arches a brow. “Mikio in the ancient tongues means ‘tree trunk man.’ He had great height and bulk and lived in a village at the base of a mountain. It is said that no beast alive could match his strength. One day the rains endlessly came and the rivers swelled to dangerous levels and the foothills began collapsing into mudslides that destroyed many acres of wild lands, quickly threatening the village. Mikio used his great strength to knock boulders down from the mountainside and immense trees from the forests, building a strong barrier around the fields and village. Thanks to his efforts, the threat was redirected safely to lower lands, saving the village.”
When Kisa finishes, another boy around the same age as the previous one points to Sig, declaring, “You look like Mikio.”
One little girl around eight shyly observes, “He looks strong enough to level mountains.”
“Not mountains,” Izumi chuckles, causing all the kids to look a little disappointed. Smirking, she adds, “Hills maybe, just not mountains.”
She has to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at how they all simultaneously gape up at Sig again in awe and wonder. The poor man didn’t know what to make of it.
Another little girl asks, “Can you play with us, uncle?”
The children erupt into an immediate chorus, begging, “Please play with us, Uncle!”
Izumi smiles with a shooing motion, telling Sig, “You heard them, honey. We don’t want a riot on our hands.”
Sig merely shrugs and nods to the kids, prompting them to cheer and lead him over to a playground set nearby.
Kisa turns to a fondly smiling Izumi, hesitantly asking, “He isn’t used to children, is he?”
“He loves children,” she nods without looking at the teen. “But most are afraid of him because he’s so big and stern looking.”
“It’s probably because these children have witnessed so much pain and suffering that to see someone so healthy and strong inspires their imaginations. Even prior to the occupation, I don’t remember any Azambran being so big. It’s like seeing a legend come to life.”
Izumi looks sidelong, studying Kisa before asking, “They must not have had much to believe in for the past few years then?”
Closing her eyes briefly, Kisa shakes her head before meeting Izumi’s gaze.
“I was taught the king protected everyone,” she quietly admits. “He and most of the royal family were killed as the insurgents took over. I believed my father and brothers would keep protecting us until they were gone.” Pausing, Kisa looks over at the playground then adds, “We all lost those we were taught to place all our faith in as protectors, so I understand why they want to see your husband as Mikio. He’s the embodiment of a legendary hero and is allowing them to dare to believe in heroes again.”
The two women silently watch Sig help the kids along the monkey bars or slide down the slide.
“It’s nice they put in this playground for the kids,” Izumi muses after a few moments.
“The soldiers installed it not long after we arrived,” Kisa explains. “I think they said it was donated by the city since they were renovating a park and would be building a new playground there. Since this equipment is still in good shape they brought it here.”
After a few more awkward minutes of watching the children in silence, Kisa asks Izumi, “How well do you know uncle?”
“Uncle? You mean Sig?” she asks in confusion since the kids called him ‘uncle.’
Blinking at Izumi’s reaction, realization briefly lights up Kisa’s eyes before she closes them briefly with a sigh.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean your husband. It’s Azambran custom to address unrelated, older males as ‘uncle’ as a sign of respect. That is what I call Maes Hughes.”
“Oh,” Izumi replies before admitting, “I never met him.”
Kisa looks at her in surprise. With a weary sigh, Izumi reaches up and rubs her forehead.
“He’s friends with my former students, Ed and Al. Because of that connection, he asked if I’d check on you when you got here to Dublith.”
Kisa frowns in confusion, asking, “Ed and Al?”
It’s Izumi’s turn to look startled before she smirks and clarifies, “Edward and Alfonse Elric.”
Kisa’s face relaxes in understanding.
“Uncle told me a little about them and how Edward looks just like me.”
“So you know?”
“He said we’re nearly identical to each other.”
“You could certainly pass for Ed’s twin,” Izumi comments offhandedly as she glances briefly over to Sig. Just as she looks back, she notices Kisa tense, prompting her to ask, “What’s wrong?”
Kisa takes a couple of deep breaths before trying to smile reassuringly and failing spectacularly. After a few moments, she finally replies.
“Nothing’s wrong. I just didn’t think of it that way and I feel silly for it,” she lies unconvincingly. Finally managing a small smile, she admits, “Ed would be more like a lost triplet since I already had a twin.”
Shocked, Izumi sucks in a quick breath. She opens her mouth to speak when Kisa cuts her off.
“It’s strange to think there’s someone in the world identical to me,” she muses thoughtfully. Her expression flattens into annoyance when she adds, “Though, not half as strange to know that person is a boy.”
“It’s probably worse for Ed,” Izumi smirks. “No man would want to know their double is what they’d look like if they were a girl.”
Smiling slightly, Kisa nods and asks, “Uncle didn’t say much about me, did he?”
Izumi shakes her head.
“After asking me to check on his ward, he only gave me your name and told me you were a fifteen-year-old girl.”
“Ward?” Kisa repeats, cocking her head in confusion. “He’s my sponsor not my guardian.” Thoughtfully she continues, “Unless he means ‘ward’ in the same context.”
“I have no idea,” Izumi shrugs indifferently. “He just wanted to know if you got in okay.” Looking around the courtyard and hotel she comments, “It’s nice to see this old building being used, but the military still could’ve done better.”
“It’s a lot better than the camps,” Kisa replies, following her gaze. “It’s not a shantytown or motley collection of lean-tos and we also have electricity and indoor plumbing.”
Eyeing the girl shrewdly, Izumi reaches a decision.
“I want to hear more about Azambra over dinner at my house. You look like you could use a big meal for a change.”
Kisa frowns in confusion.
“I’m quarantined with the others to make sure we’re not carrying any communicable diseases until there is a large enough group cleared to continue to Central. I won’t be granted permission to leave even for dinner.”
“I’ll take care of it. Just keep an eye on Sig so he doesn’t get lost,” Izumi waves off as she turns and walks towards the door, leaving the blonde with an incredulous expression on her face.
Minutes later a mildly surprised Izumi sits in an upper floor suite that had been converted into the colonel’s office. When Izumi left the courtyard, she was certain she’d have to browbeat someone into getting an audience with the colonel. She hadn’t forgotten what the desk sergeant downstairs said earlier. She just didn’t believe the colonel really wanted to see her.
She doesn’t wait long until the colonel enters the room. As he comes around the desk to sit in front of her, she studies the stocky man. His dark brown eyes and the soft lines of his face give him an approachable appearance and the most severe thing about him is his close-cropped black hair typical of ranking officers.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Curtis. I’m Colonel Jakkals. I apologize for the delaying in seeing you earlier. However, your visit with Kisa gave me enough time to complete what I was doing so I can speak with you.”
Izumi masks her surprise that Jakkals’ demeanor matches his appearance. He certainly isn’t the military type in her opinion. She met enough officers to believe it must be a requirement to have the longest, crookedest stick surgically implanted up their ass.
“It went fine,” she replies. “I want to take Kisa home for dinner and possibly stay overnight.”
The colonel momentarily falls silent to consider it.
“Okay.”
Blinking a few times in surprise, Izumi’s gaze becomes shrewd.
“Why are you giving permission so easily? Kisa mentioned she’s supposed to remain restricted as a precautionary quarantine. What are you up to that you’d breach protocol?”
Leaning back in his chair, Jakkals ignores her question to ask, “How familiar are you with Azambran customs? Especially regarding young girls?”
“Not a lot,” she readily admits. “But the woman who showed my husband and I to Kisa was enlightening enough to make Azambrans come off as marriage obsessed.”
Nodding, the colonel spends a few minutes briefly explaining Azambran customs and attitudes towards marriage, causing Izumi’s disapproving scowl to gradually grow more pronounced.
“An unmarried girl like Kisa with no family protection is at great risk,” he emphasizes, clasping his hands together on the desk and leaning forward to bore into Izumi’s eyes. “She’s viewed as an easy target, especially by Azambran males, regardless if they’re married or not. Although, she’s staying with another family, she’s still at risk. I’ve already had to increase patrols significantly on the floor she is staying on and my men are under orders to keep a close eye on her when they see her. However, we can’t guard her 24 hours a day. It’s my job to see to the safety of all the refugees, but with so many under my watch it’s very difficult, especially in her case.”
Relaxing a little, he sits back in his seat.
“When Brigadier Gen. Hughes informed me that you were coming I had a background search conducted, clearing you as a security risk,” he explains. “When I received word you arrived earlier I needed to review Kisa’s file and is the reason for the delay in meeting with you. She has already been attacked twice so far and I don’t see the situation improving. Your request to take her home presents a golden opportunity to solve this problem.”
Flipping open the top file he reads, “Kisa has been cleared medically by two reputable pathologists and is free from any communicable diseases.” Closing the file he adds, “For her safety, and if she’s willing, I’d like for her to stay with your family until there are enough refugees cleared for travel to Central. I trust you and your husband to monitor and protect her until then.”
With her arms crossed over her chest, Izumi considers the situation. It’d mean the girl is in her and Sig’s care for a month. Coming to a decision, she looks up at Jakkals and nods.
“I’ll accept responsibility for Kisa.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Curtis,” Jakkals smiles. Pushing a notepad toward her, he hands her a pen. “Please give me your phone number.” As she jots it down, he adds, “Kisa should take all her belongings with her. Sometimes we have to move families from one room to another and her things may get lost or ignored in the move.”
Opening another folder from his desktop, he pulls out a document, signing and stamping it before handing it over to Izumi.
“This is my permission for Kisa to stay off site should you need to present it as proof.”
“Thank you, colonel. I better round up Kisa and my husband before it gets any later.”
The two exchange goodbyes as Izumi leaves the office to return downstairs. Kisa still stands off to the side as Sig still plays with the children. The girl looks over as she approaches, her slight smile morphing into shock when the older woman explains what transpired.
Blushing in embarrassment, Kisa grumbles, “Colonel Jakkals makes it sound like I can’t take care of myself. I managed to fight off the two men and the soldiers came in time to arrest them.”
Izumi eyes the young blonde.
“He is worried about the one time you won’t be able to fight off your attackers.” Huffing indignantly she crosses her arms and glowers, “And is it that bad a prospect to stay with us for a month?”
The girl looks horrified and stumbles over an apology, saying, “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to offend you! I didn’t mean it like that!”
Closing her eyes, Izumi indifferently waves it off.
“Just shut up and go get your things. Colonel Jakkals says to take everything with you. I haven’t got all day and still have dinner to make.”
Thoroughly abashed, Kisa nods and promptly leaves Izumi to watch as Sig excuses himself from the children and walk over. Once she finishes telling him what’s going on, he nods once in acceptance.
“Is it wise we should leave her unaccompanied?” he asks.
“It doesn’t take more than one person to pack a bag,” Izumi scoffs. Frowning she muses, “But it wouldn’t hurt to make sure she doesn’t take too long. I’ll be right back.”
Leaving Sig again, she walks back inside to ask at the front desk how to get to Kisa’s room. Within minutes she’s navigating through the fifth floor corridors, coming upon a scene that certainly causes her brow to arch.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in going up to the roof with you,” Kisa firmly tells the three men surrounding her. “Now let me pass because I have someone waiting for me.”
A young man with bright red hair grabs her left arm, twisting it painfully if her grimace is anything to go by.
“We aren’t giving you a choice,” he growls, yanking her closer. “We’d prefer if you came along quietly or we can arrange your silence. That, we’re giving you a choice on.”
Without warning, Kisa slaps him hard, trying to yank her arm free. Recovering quickly he backhands her. However, in the next moment his body slams into the nearest wall and crumples to the floor into an awkward heap.
Looking up dazedly, he follows the gaze of his two friends staring in shock off to the side and sees Izumi standing in the hallway, scowling fiercely at them with her arms crossed.
Kisa takes advantage of their stupor to quickly step over to Izumi.
“We should leave before things get worse,” she rushes out while worriedly eyeing the three men.
A sinister smirk crosses the older brunette’s lips.
“Oh, it’ll get worse alright.”
Picking himself up off the floor, the redhead charges the two women with a primal yell.
“Stay out of the way,” Izumi orders Kisa.
Obeying, Kisa presses herself against the nearest wall and watches in amazement as Izumi swiftly steps aside and clothesline him with her right arm. The redhead’s legs swing upward, causing him to slam painfully onto his back and knock the wind out of him.
Watching their leader get taken down prompts the other redhead into action. He rushes forward with his fist cocked. Izumi effortlessly deflects the blow, responding with a quick series of punches culminating with a powerful kick to his nether regions, taking him out of the game with a scream of agony while curling in on himself.
Undeterred, the remaining thug growls, “You’re gonna pay!”
Izumi watches in disinterest as the remaining brunet also attempts to punch her only to have a massive hand stop his blow mere centimeters from her unflinching gaze. He barely has time to look up at Sig’s massive form in terror before soaring down the hallway and out the window, screaming in terror the whole way. The drying shrubs dotting the courtyard below save him from certain death.
Peeling herself from the wall, Kisa trails after Izumi and Sig when they step past the incapacitated forms of the other two men over to the shattered window. Peering down, all three watch soldiers rush up to check on him groaning atop the bushes.
All the other Azambrans in the courtyard gather around in curiosity as one soldier calls out, “Get a stretcher over here!”
“Yes, sir!” an unseen voice answers.
A couple of the children look up and notice Sig standing with Izumi and Kisa in the window.
“It’s Uncle Sig!” they point out to the others. Much to Izumi’s amusement all the kids start cheering and chanting, “Mikio!” and “Uncle Sig!”
“I thought that would scare the kids, not have them cheering,” he hesitantly waves back.
Kisa considers it a moment.
“It’s because these men have been causing trouble for everyone, so the children know someone just put them in their place. Seeing you at the window confirms it.”
At that moment soldiers rush into the hallway, attracting their attention from the window. A lieutenant takes in the two unconscious men and notices Kisa. Relaxing his stance he glances over his shoulder.
“Get stretchers and take these two to the infirmary. I want a guard on each one,” he orders.
Two take off down the hallway while the others check on the two groaning redheads.
Turning to Kisa the lieutenant sighs, “They finally attempted to drag you off, didn’t they?”
“What do you mean, ‘finally?’” Izumi scowls before Kisa can reply. “If they were a threat why weren’t they arrested before?”
Stepping closer he explains, “Azambrans are currently hardwired not to report any infractions. We’ve noticed how predatory these guys have been behaving, but didn’t have proof and they were careful not to get caught. Without anyone to file complaints against them, our hands were tied.”
Out of the corner of her eye Izumi notices Kisa’s head bowed in shame.
“I’ll testify these thugs were trying to force Kisa to go to the roof,” she huffs. “They threatened her when she refused.”
“I encountered them after leaving the room.” Kisa finally speaks up. “They refused to let me by and grabbed my arm to keep me from leaving.”
“Are you willing to sign a statement of testimony?” the lieutenant asks, eyeing her uncertainly.
Kisa hesitates before nodding. The lieutenant smiles at her encouragingly.
“Please come with me to file a report.” Turning to the soldiers remaining in the hallway, he orders, “I want that window boarded up until we can get it fixed.”
The men acknowledge the order as more soldiers return with stretchers for the injured thugs and the lieutenant leads Izumi, Sig and Kisa downstairs.
It takes an hour for their testimonies to be typed, proof read and signed off by all three of them before the lieutenant releases them.
“May we stop and see the children before we leave?” Kisa asks Izumi and Sig. “I’d like to say goodbye”
“Sure,” Izumi agrees, knowing the kids would be particularly upset if Sig doesn’t say, ‘bye’ to them.
They head outside and find all the children at the play set. Izumi is amused to watch the kids disappointment at Kisa leaving then become even more upset to learn Sig is going with them.
“Please come back tomorrow and play with us, Uncle Sig,” one older boy begs, setting off another round of begging.
“He has to work!” Kisa scolds.
Seeing their disappointment, Sig scratches his head, saying, “I can come back at the end of the week.”
At that statement a rousing chorus of cheers erupts from the kids. Izumi grins in amusement while Kisa fondly shakes her head at them.
“Please come back with Uncle Sig to visit, Kisa,” a couple of the kids ask as they take their turns hugging her goodbye.
“I will,” she fondly promises, returning the hugs before leaving with Izumi and Sig.
The first few days staying with the Curtis’ are interesting for Kisa, to say the least. Since their first meeting she realizes they aren’t what they appear to be. One thing she particularly notes about Izumi is that she’s kindhearted. It can even be said she is kind to a fault.
Which leads to another thing Kisa learns; never tell Izumi that.
One morning a small group of neighborhood kids stop by and knock on the back door in the kitchen when Kisa is putting away the dishes. Being the closest, she opens it.
“We need Mrs. Curtis,” a boy about twelve demands.
Despite it being a rude way to ask, she isn’t sure if she should scold them like she usually does since she still knows practically nothing about Amestris. She doesn’t get a chance to reply either way when Sig steps into the room.
“Who are they looking for?”
“Your wife,” Kisa replies over her shoulder.
He glances briefly at the open doorway behind her and nods before disappearing. Already getting used to his taciturn way, she turns back to face the children and is surprised to see the doorway empty. Baffled, she leans out and sees them cowering off to the sides. Confusion melts away as she realizes this is what Izumi meant about the local children being scared of him. She’s about to say something when she hears Izumi step into the room behind her.
She glances over her shoulder as the brunette demands, “What do you brats want?”
“Can you fix our bat for us?” the boy asks, bravely stepping forward holding a splintered baseball bat as Kisa steps aside.
“What the hell did you do to this?” Izumi demands, taking the bat to examine the near complete break in the middle.
“We were just playing ball when Tommy,” the boy pauses to jerk a thumb at a smaller boy to his left who glares back at him, “threw the bat hard behind him and it hit the fence.”
“Baloney,” Izumi scoffs. “You boys were trying to kill rats with it again, weren’t you?” She easily stares down the guilty looking boys before huffing in irritation, “I can’t fix this. You’re going to have to buy a new one.”
“But you have to!” the boy protests.
“We don’t have enough money to buy another one!” another cries.
“Maybe if you boys didn’t blow your allowance on sweets and pooled your money together you can easily buy a new one,” Izumi scolds. Shoving the bat back at them, she adds, “Manage your money better and stop using your bat to kill rats. It’s disgusting.”
Most of the boys mumble sullenly as they trudge off, leaving one who appears about ten behind.
“What do you want, Carl?” Izumi demands.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a wind up tin toy shaped like a car.
“Something popped inside and now it won’t work,” he explains to Izumi while holding it out. “It’s my little brother’s favorite toy. I told him not to be rough with it, but he’s just five. Can you fix it?”
Izumi sighs softly down at the hopeful little boy. Gesturing for him to follow, she sets the toy on the table.
“Sit. I’ve got to get the toolbox.”
“Can’t you just clap and make it better?” Carl plaintively asks.
“Just because there’s an easy way, doesn’t mean you should be lazy and use it,” Izumi snaps while leaning into a long cupboard on the far side of the room to pull out the toolbox. “Put effort into maintaining things so they’ll last longer and mean more.”
Carl just rolls his eyes and leans his chin on his hand. He watches Izumi pull out a screwdriver and open up the toy.
“It’s not too bad, the coil was wound too tight and popped and a gear slipped out of place,” she murmurs.
Within minutes she has the toy reassembled and hands it back.
“There you go. Keep trying to teach your little brother to take care of his things better. I don’t know how many times we can fix that,” Izumi instructs, ruffling the grinning boy’s hair.
“I will! Thanks, Mrs. Curtis!” he declares before rushing out the door.
Shaking her head, Izumi steps over to close the door. Turning around she’s startled to see Kisa at the table replacing the tools back into the box. She completely forgot about the girl.
Recovering her senses, she states, “You don’t have to put that away, Kisa. I’ll take care of my mess.”
“I’ll do it,” she quietly replies. “It was very nice of you to fix that little boy’s toy. A lot of people wouldn’t have taken the time to help a child who isn’t their own. You’re a very kind and generous person to do that.”
“I’m only fulfilling my neighborly obligation!” Izumi growls, leaning terrifyingly close over the startled girl bending back away from her. “I’ve got better things to do with my time than to coddle brats!” Seeing Kisa is sufficiently cowed, she huffs, “Now if that’s all the nonsense, I’ve got a shop to run.”
Straightening up, Kisa watches her disappear from the room. Her terror quickly subsides as she muses on what she witnessed while putting the toolbox away.
Later that morning she’s helping in the shop when Izumi decides the front windows need washing. Using a mop, she wets the glass with soapy water while Kisa follows using a broom with a towel draped over the head to wipe off the excess. Both turn when a man in his early twenties approaches them.
“Excuse me, ma’am. I was wondering if you have some spare change to share with the down on their luck?” he asks Izumi, holding out his hand.
Several moments pass as his smile drops and he recoils slightly at Izumi’s fierce glare.
“Nice shoes,” she growls out. “Looks new. Try them out by walking around and looking for a job. You’re strong and healthy enough to find something worthwhile.”
Recovering, the man glares back before stalking off.
Kisa follows Izumi’s lead by quietly resuming their task, but she noticed the man’s appearance was very well kept. Even though she’s barely been there a week, she’s noticed the locals struggling financially aren’t nearly as well dressed.
A couple of days later Kisa insists on helping Izumi. Snatching up a broom, Izumi shoves it into her hand with irritably grumbled instructions to sweep the floor. The young blonde happily complies when an elderly woman accompanied by two young children enter the shop.
“Good morning, Mrs. Warin,” Izumi warmly greets her before looking down at the two children. “And how are you two doing today?”
“Harry lost a tooth yesterday!” the little girl happily declares pointing at her brother who grins to show Izumi the missing front tooth. The old woman smiles warmly at the two children before looking at Izumi.
“We’re all doing well, Mrs. Curtis. Harry and Marion certainly keep me on my toes and have been adjusting to living with me.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Izumi nods. “What can I do for you, Mrs. Warin?”
Mrs. Warin digs out a small coin purse and empties it on the counter.
“Please give me as much of your cheapest meat that this will cover. It’s the last of my savings until the policies on my daughter and her husband pay out. I’ll just have to make it stretch for now.”
Izumi counts out the change before murmuring, “I think we can make this work. Besides, you’re in luck. We have an excellent special running today.”
Having been forgotten again, Kisa silently watches as Izumi wraps up several pieces of meat and a couple of large soup bones before slipping them into a paper sack and handing it to the woman, which she knows costs considerably more than the change in her coin purse.
“Thank you, Mrs. Curtis,” Mrs. Warin states. She ushers the children toward the door. “We’ll be back once we have more money.”
“Looking forward to it,” Izumi waves as they leave the shop.
“Are those two children her grandchildren?” Kisa asks, startling Izumi since she suddenly appeared at her shoulder.
Recovering, Izumi looks at the teen gazing out the window in the direction Mrs. Warin had left.
“Yes,” she answers as her gaze follows Kisa. “Mrs. Warin’s daughter and her husband were killed in a train derailment about three months ago. Fortunately, both took out life insurance policies, but it’s taken time for them to pay out. It has been tough since she’s a widow with only her husband’s meager retirement fund.”
Pulling her gaze back to Kisa, she asks, “Have you finished sweeping?”
“Yes, Aunt Izumi. Is there anything else you’d like me to do?”
Startled, Izumi gapes at being addressed as ‘aunt.’ Kisa smiles warmly, but wisely makes no comment on her generously giving Mrs. Warin a discount when there isn’t any special.
“Well, c’mon then,” Izumi huffs. “Let’s lock up and go make lunch for the boys.”
Kisa nods before putting the broom away and following her to the kitchen.
Izumi also learns a lot about Kisa. She isn’t stupid enough to think Kisa would act like Ed. Just because she looks like him, doesn’t mean she’s as big a loud-mouthed idiot.
One late afternoon Izumi is closing up the shop for the night when Kisa enters the room just as she is locking the door and hanging up the ‘Closed’ sign.
“Aunt Izumi?” Kisa hesitantly asks.
Izumi smiles inwardly at being addressed as ‘aunt.’ It took a little getting used to, but she likes it.
“Yes, Kisa?” she asks turning to the teen.
“What can I help you with?”
“Kisa,” she sighs heavily, resting one hand on her hip and the other on the counter. “I’ve told you several times already, you’re a guest. You don’t have to help out every single day during your stay with us.”
“I want to help, so what can I help you with?” Kisa insists.
Izumi sighs again at the determined look in the girl’s eyes. It’s eerily similar to Ed’s and she doesn’t feel like testing whether she’s just as stubborn as that mule.
Knowing she will continue bugging to the point of annoyance, Izumi caves.
“Go get the broom and dust pan and sweep up the back butcher room so Sig and Mason can go clean up.”
Kisa nods and promptly leaves to carry out her task.
Moving about the storefront to draw the shades and finish closing up, Izumi is impressed the girl isn’t the type to be waited on hand and foot. However, she recognizes Kisa isn’t in the best health to do a lot of heavy work.
After everything is done, Izumi goes to check on Kisa. The blonde is drying the dustpan she used to pick up the bloody entrails and other discarded parts after she washed it clean.
Izumi notices how pale Kisa is and asks, “Are you feeling okay?
“I’m fine,” she blatantly lies.
Huffing in disbelief she orders, “Go get cleaned up while I start dinner.”
Kisa nods and leaves the room. Still suspicious, Izumi quietly follows her to the bathroom and sighs in irritation when she hears her retching inside a few moments later. Wanting a straight answer, Izumi leans against the wall and waits outside the door until the blonde emerges. Stepping out, Kisa is startled to see Izumi.
“Um, did I take too long in using the bathroom?” she asks feebly, despite suspecting why Izumi is waiting. At the older woman’s arched brow, she sighs softly and reluctantly admits, “I can handle blood and other bodily fluids, but nasty, gaping wounds and gross things like the entrails I swept up make me ill.”
“You should’ve said something, Kisa,” Izumi scolds with a disapproving frown. “Or I wouldn’t have asked you to do it.”
“I couldn’t refuse a simple request when you’ve done so much for me,” Kisa firmly declares.
Izumi stares in shock before lightly cuffing the girl on the side of the head and gently grabbing her in a headlock.
Ignoring Kisa tensing up she softly replies, “There are plenty of other tasks needing to be done that won’t make you sick. It doesn’t make you incapable or disrespectful to admit you can’t do something. It makes me feel like a horrible person to ask you to do something that makes you queasy.”
Kisa’s head snaps up to stare at Izumi’s gently smiling face.
Izumi shifts her arm around her shoulder and squeezes, saying, “If you’re feeling up to it, I need help preparing dinner.”
Kisa mutely nods before following Izumi, her mind swirling in confusion.
Izumi, Sig and Kisa make sure to visit the kids at the hotel twice a week. They miss Kisa not being there to play with them every day and are overjoyed to see her and, especially, Sig. He is still very popular and the story of how he took care of three thugs spread to any new arrivals, so he has quite the fan club, much to Izumi’s amusement.
Izumi and Sig collect toys and clothing donations from their customers in the butcher shop, giving the toys to the kids when they visit and leaving the clothing at the front desk for the soldiers to distribute among the families.
After one of their visits, Izumi steps into the butcher shop with Kisa and Sig trailing behind her.
“Has it been busy, Mason?” Izumi asks as Sig disappears to change into his work clothes.
“Other than a few customers, it’s been slow,” Mason replies sullenly.
Crossing her arms, she asks, “What’s wrong with you?”
“I was hefting a side of beef onto the block and the sharp edge of a bone caught on my apron and tore it,” he explains, coming around from behind the sales counter to show her.
The tear is a good five-inch diagonal slash on the lower left side.
“So?” Izumi arches a brow. “Get a new one. We’ve got plenty.”
“But it’s my favorite apron!” he declares in exasperation. “It’s broken in just right!”
Rolling her eyes, she mutters, “Why do all the men in my life insist their favorite things are broken in just right as an excuse not to get a new one?”
“I can fix it for you, Mason,” Kisa quietly offers, startling Izumi who once again forgot she’s still in the room.
“It won’t be the same!” Mason laments.
“Either let Kisa try fixing it or get a new one, Mason. You don’t have all day to debate it,” Izumi scowls.
Looking indecisive, Mason hesitates briefly before untying his apron and handing it to Kisa.
“I’ll do my best,” she promises. Looking at Izumi, she asks, “May I use your sewing basket?”
“It’s in the hall closet on the top shelf,” she replies, jerking her head toward the other room.
Kisa nods and disappears through the doorway. Izumi watches Mason sullenly leave the room before rolling her eyes and moving behind the counter.
After cleaning the apron, Kisa spends the rest of the evening and all of the next day working on the tear. Izumi declines all her offers of helping out, pointing out each time that if she doesn’t finish it soon they’ll never hear the end of it from Mason who is still sulking over not having his favorite apron.
Kisa finishes repairing the damage before dinner is ready. Entering the kitchen where the others are helping Izumi with the cooking, she shows them the finished product. Mason holds the apron up in stunned shock as she explains what she did to Izumi and Sig.
“I still had a seam when I fixed the tear, so to hide it I embroidered a butcher’s knife over the seam with Mason’s name stitched inside the blade. That’s why it took me so long.” Turning to Mason she apologizes. “I’m sorry. I know men typically don’t wear embroidery even if it bears their name, but it was the only way to cover the seam without using a patch. I thought you’d be less happy if it looked like a quilt. On the plus side, the additional stitching strengthens the repair, so it’ll last longer.”
“I love it, Kisa! Thank you!” Mason declares ecstatically while startling her with a hug that lifts her feet off the floor.
Releasing her, he happily disappears from the room to go hang it up.
“You did a really nice job on it, Kisa,” Izumi compliments. “I’ve got some other sewing projects I’d like you to take care of for me.”
“I’ll be happy to do it,” Kisa eagerly nods. “I know you prefer to do all your own housekeeping chores, but I can lighten your burden a little bit by doing that.”
Sig snorts in disbelief before wisely ignoring his wife’s glare to move off and check the pot simmering on the stove. Izumi focuses back onto a confused Kisa and rubs the back of her head in embarrassment.
“Well, to be honest, I hate sewing,” she admits reluctantly. “It’s one of the few things I’ll sometimes cheat using alchemy with. Or I’ll throw the torn clothing out or turn them into rags. It’s tedious and I hate stabbing my fingers with the needles.”
“I didn’t know you practice alchemy,” Kisa states in surprise.
Izumi sighs softly, preparing for the barrage of questions.
“Sewing can be tedious and frustrating,” Kisa replies instead, surprising the woman. “It’s like knitting, weaving and crocheting. You either enjoy doing it and have the knack for it, or you don’t. I enjoy sewing and will gladly do all of it for you.”
“Deal,” Izumi grins before moving over the stove to shoo her husband away who is taking his third taste of the contents.
The following morning when Kisa sits down in the living room to mend some of the items Izumi gave her, Sig quietly appears with four shirts and two pairs of pants.
“Don’t let Izumi see these. I hid them so she wouldn’t make me throw them out,” he explains.
“I’ll fix them first then hide them so she won’t see them,” she promises, earning a smile from the gruff looking man before he disappears again.
Later that day before the shop closes, she enters the storefront where Izumi is reading the newspaper. The older woman looks up and smiles at the teen.
“I finished all the sewing, Aunt Izumi,” Kisa declares, stunning her.
Finding her voice, Izumi replies, “That was a lot I gave you, including some very bad tears.”
“Most were along the seams and reparable,” Kisa shrugs. “They aren’t exactly as they were before, but are wearable.”
“I think once you settle in Central I’ll be sending you regular care packages of any clothing we need fixed,” Izumi grins.
“I’ll be happy to do it,” Kisa smiles back. Hesitantly she adds, “I’d like to try making you a new dress.” Izumi stares in surprise as she continues, “I want to do it as a small way of saying ‘thank you’ for everything you’ve done.” She blushes slightly, adding, “I can’t think of any other way except to make you something useful and hopefully something you’ll like.”
Recovering her wits, Izumi smiles.
“You don’t have to, but if that’s what you want to do, then, yes, you may make me a dress.” Her smile becomes a smirk as she adds, “I don’t know if you’ll want to since I’m very picky.”
“It’ll simply be another part of the challenge since this’ll be the first dress I’ve ever made.”
“You never made one before?” Izumi asks in surprise.
“I’ve made shirts, skirts and headscarves as I’ve needed them whenever I could get material, but I’ve never tried anything more complicated like a dress or pants,” she explains. “I’d like to at least try.”
“Well, I’m definitely curious to see how it’ll turn out,” Izumi smirks. “How about we go get what you need right now? The boys can watch the shop.”
Kisa nods and leaves the room to get ready. Soon the two women are walking through Dublith discussing the dress. Izumi describes her favorite black dress, promising to show it to the teenager when they return home so she can get some ideas from it. She explains the dress is starting to show its age, but she loves how it moves and how comfortable it is.
When they arrive at the store, the clerk helps Kisa figure out how many yards she’ll need based off of Izumi’s description. Then the woman sets out several bolts of material in a variety of colors and weaves for them to look at and feel.
“I’m sorry you wasted your time showing us this, but this is pointless since it’s going to be black,” Izumi informs the clerk, dismissing the entire selection.
Before the clerk can reply, Kisa quietly points out, “It should be a different color.”
Crossing her arms and arching a brow, Izumi firmly replies, “If it’s going to be based off my old dress, it should be the same.”
Izumi is certain the blonde will back down and watches the teen inwardly debate before meeting her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Aunt Izumi,” Kisa hesitantly apologizes, “but most of your clothes are black and white. I don’t want to make you something so somber and boring.”
Reaching out, she pulls out a bolt from the middle of the pile. It’s a blue cotton that feels soft to the touch.
“I think color will suit you well, Aunt Izumi, without straying too far from the hues you like to wear.”
Izumi’s inscrutable expression belies her inward amusement at the slight fear in Kisa’s eyes. She’s impressed the teen is standing up to her and insisting the dress be made in another color than black.
“Fine,” Izumi huffs for show. “It can be blue.”
Kisa smiles in relief. She waits while the clerk cuts the yardage needed and gathers the thread and fasteners. Meanwhile, Izumi wanders off through the shop, idly looking at the different patterns and colors until it’s time to ring out when she insisted on paying for the materials despite Kisa’s protests.
“Shut up,” she orders the teen. “You’re going through the trouble of making me a dress. Save your money for when you get to Central because you don’t know what you’ll need yet.”
Kisa reluctantly backs down at her reasoning while the clerk finishes wrapping up their purchase and they leave. As promised, Izumi brings out her favorite dress for her to use as a guide when they returned home and Kisa spends the rest of the day working on the dress.
The next morning she asks Izumi, “Are there any chores you’d like me to do for you?”
“No,” Izumi replies, surprising the teen. “I want you to work on my dress. You said it’s the first one you’re making.” With a smirk, she adds, “Plus, I want it sooner, not later.”
“Okay, I’ll get to work on it,” Kisa smiles, having grown accustomed to Izumi’s wit.
Two days later Izumi is closing up the front shop for the night, locking the front door and flipping the sign to ‘closed’. She turns when she hears someone enter the room behind her.
“I finished the dress, Aunt Izumi,” Kisa announces. “I laid it out on your bed so you can try it on to see if it fits right and what adjustments I may need to make.”
“Already?” Izumi blinks in surprise. “I thought it’d take longer because it’s more complicated than a skirt or a shirt.”
“I thought so too, but your old dress didn’t have a complicated design and was easy to copy. I’m just not certain if I’ll have to adjust the seams or something,” she explains hesitantly.
“All right, I’ll go try it on,” the older woman smiles in amusement.
Kisa follows Izumi to her bedroom and patiently waits outside the closed door. Walking over to the bed, Izumi’s amusement melts away; the dress is not what she’s expecting.
Picking it up, she holds it out, studying it in amazement. It’s nearly identical to her favorite black, sleeveless dress. Aside from being blue, Kisa added some very pretty embellishments. Stitched in black thread is an intricate scroll-like pattern that creeps from the left side of the bodice, where it partially encircles the breast, then drapes over the shoulder down the back to the waist before trailing around to the front over the hip.
Snapping back to her senses, Izumi removes her clothes and puts on the dress, spending a few minutes studying herself in the standing mirror in pleased surprise.
“Kisa, come in here,” she finally calls to the teen.
Kisa promptly enters, closing the door behind her. Stepping over to Izumi, she closely examines the seams to see how it’s fitting her body.
“Looks like I’ll have to take it in a little at the waist,” Kisa murmurs. “It’s gathering a little. Not much, but enough.”
“I didn’t even notice,” Izumi replies, looking down at her side where Kisa is pinching the fabric to figure out how much to take in.
“I did and I want it to be perfect for you.” Straightening up, Kisa looks at Izumi and apologizes. “I’m sorry it took so long. I would’ve been done much sooner, but the embroidery is what took the longest.”
Izumi glances down at herself before looking back up at the teen.
“Thank you,” she sincerely states. “It’s beautiful and I love it!”
“You’re welcome,” Kisa replies with a soft smile, relieved and pleased she likes it. She’s surprised when Izumi grabs her in a crushing hug.
Releasing the unsteady blonde, Izumi grins, “You did a great job on it. I may have to frequently visit you in Central to get more dresses made.”
“I’d like that,” Kisa replies, blushing at the compliment.
“Now that you’re not busy, help me with dinner. Go and get things started for me while I change,” Izumi orders.
Smiling, Kisa nods and disappears from the room. Izumi looks at her reflection in the mirror one more time before changing and heading into the kitchen.
When Izumi agreed to watch Kisa for the rest of her stay in Dublith, she thought it’d be awkward and uncomfortable since the girl is from a completely different culture. Such moments turned out to be rare and only in the very beginning thanks in part to Kisa’s quiet and accommodating nature.
Making it all the more fun for Izumi to trick her into talking.
It isn’t often that Izumi encounters a girl Kisa’s age that isn’t talkative about herself or her personal interests. Sometimes she offers scant information as a passing comment related to the current topic or situation and does answer questions, but it’s clear some answers come more easily than others. It usually isn’t much, but Izumi is able to infer enough to fill in the blanks.
Whenever Kisa does speak about her family she steers clear of detailing how they died. Izumi immediately noted the girl acutely feels their loss and admires how she’s doing her best to move on and live her life.
About a week before Kisa is due to ship out to Central, Izumi kicks off one of her favorite topics, Ed and Al, particularly how much the older Elric looks just like the blonde. She is well aware Kisa isn’t happy her identical twin is a boy and frequently teases her about it.
“Are you excited to be heading up to Central soon?” Izumi asks while they clean the living room.
“Yes. I’m eager to see uncle again,” Kisa smiles, pausing in polishing the coffee table to look across the room at her.
“He certainly sounds happy whenever he calls on the phone,” Izumi smiles back as she picks up the small pile of newspapers accumulating on a side table. Walking across the room, she dumps them into a wastebasket by the door. “You know,” she continues, walking back to the sofa to fluff and arrange the cushions, “Moving closer to Central brings you that much closer to meeting Ed.”
“It’s going to be interesting meeting him,” Kisa replies offhandedly.
Noticing her slightly flat tone, Izumi straightens up to arch a brow while placing her hands on her hips.
“You don’t sound terribly excited about it.”
The teen gives her a flat look
“It’s bad enough he’s a boy, but everyone has described him as rude, arrogant and short tempered. That doesn’t make me eager to meet him.”
“I dare you to call him ‘short tempered’ to his face,” Izumi challenges. Crossing her arms, she smirks, “What? Being the youngest in a family dominated by boys didn’t prepare you for what you’d look like as a boy?”
“I am not a little baby girl barely toddling after her brothers!” Kisa vehemently hisses, surprising Izumi. “Kyo was the youngest and needed a minder like our brothers or he’d never find a pair of matching socks!”
Izumi gapes at the seething blonde clenching the polishing rag tightly in her fist. Slapping a hand to her face she bursts out laughing, prompting the teen’s glare to become flintier.
“Had you been louder and ranting about being short, I might swear you were Ed,” she manages after a couple of minutes. Ignoring Kisa’s scowl, she grins and mischievously points out, “You’re still the youngest girl of the family, regardless if Kyo was the youngest child.”
With a huff Kisa crosses her arms in irritation.
“Have you even seen pictures of Ed and Al?” Izumi asks, still amused at the pouting girl’s irritation.
“Uncle didn’t have pictures of them,” Kisa sulkily shakes her head.
“I’ll be right back,” Izumi grins and leaves the room.
She returns minutes later clutching a photo album. A still sullen Kisa just finished polishing the coffee table to a high gloss and sets the rag she’s using aside when Izumi beckons her to sit on the sofa with her.
“These are the most recent photos I have of those two,” Izumi explains as she flips through the album toward the middle.
Finding the page she’s looking for, she places the album in Kisa’s lap and points to a photo in the center of the page.
“This was taken a year ago when they briefly returned for a visit.”
Sitting back, Izumi watches in anticipation of an amusing reaction from the young blonde. Her eagerness turns to confusion as Kisa grows pale and begins shaking before unexpectedly shoving the album back at her and rushing out of the room with a strangled, “Excuse me!”
Frowning, Izumi studies the innocent photo of her former students dressed handsomely and smiling back at her.
Closing the book and setting it aside, she rises to her feet and makes her way through the house to the guest room. Listening at the closed door, her frown deepens in concern when she hears Kisa sobbing. Not even bothering to knock, she opens the door and steps inside.
Kisa huddles facing into a far corner on the other side of the bed, her body shaking with deep sobs. Easing down next to her on the floor, Izumi waits a few minutes to be acknowledged in some way.
“What’s wrong?” she asks in a firm tone. “And don’t tell me nothing.”
It takes a few more minutes for Kisa to somewhat halt her crying with several deep, slow breaths.
“Alfonse is identical to Kyo,” she hoarsely manages, resting her forehead against the wall.
Shocked by the revelation, Izumi sits in stunned silence, watching the girl’s heart break apart again while deep sobs wrack through her body. She remembers Kisa admitting her twin had died just a few months before.
Closing her eyes briefly in dismay, she can easily imagine how painful it must be for Kisa to be suddenly confronted in such a blunt way with the knowledge there’s also a living double of her beloved late brother.
Opening her eyes to sadly look at the grieving girl, she sighs heavily and pulls Kisa into a hug, letting her cry herself into an exhausted sleep. Eventually Sig comes looking for his wife and is surprised to find her sitting on the floor holding an unconscious Kisa.
Not giving him a chance to ask, Izumi quietly orders, “Place Kisa on the bed for me.”
Without argument, Sig gently lifts Kisa and eases her onto the bed while Izumi grabs a throw and covers her. Then the couple silently leaves the room, gently pulling the door closed behind them.
After explaining to both Sig and Mason over dinner what happened, Izumi prepares a plate of food while the men clean up and carries the tray to Kisa’s room.
She’s not surprised to find the teen lying awake in bed, curled on her side and staring out the window into the fading twilight. She moves over to a side table and sets the tray down. She perches on the edge of the bed next to Kisa’s knees. Both sit in silence until Kisa finally breaks it.
“I’m sorry for reacting like that, Aunt Izumi,” she softly apologizes. “Kyo joked about it when uncle told us about Ed, but I still never imagined Alfonse is identical to Kyo.” Taking a deep breath, she adds, “There’s no changing the fact they look alike, so I had no right to get so upset.”
Izumi places a gentle hand on Kisa’s calf, prompting the girl to look at her.
“Don’t apologize,” she smiles softly. “You have every right to be upset. I can only imagine what it must be like for you, so don’t be afraid to let some of that grief out of your system. It makes it easier to accept and move on.”
Kisa closes her eyes briefly, causing a stray tear to escape. She looks back when Izumi sighs heavily.
“There’s no shame in grieving. Take all the time you need to think about it, but at least try eating something. I’ll check on you later.”
Kisa nods before resuming gazing out the window, ignoring the tears streaming down her face. Izumi sighs again softly before rising to her feet and leaving.
Kisa doesn’t necessarily become more open after that, but Izumi notices she seems a little more at peace. She muses the girl’s breakdown wasn’t enough to ease all her grief, but probably helped a little.
Before they knew it, it’s time to take Kisa to the train station to board with the rest of the refugees for Central.
While the soldiers work through processing the 200 plus crowd, Izumi and Sig spend the time chatting with Kisa after she checks in. When the soldiers begin ushering the refugees on board, the three say their final goodbyes.
“Get that annoying general you call ‘uncle’ to call us as soon as you can so you can let us know you got in safe,” Izumi demands as she pulls Kisa into a hug.
“I will,” Kisa promises, returning the hug before Izumi releases her so Sig can take his turn engulfing her with a hug.
“Work on getting healthy again so on your next visit I can begin teaching you some self-defense,” Izumi orders when Sig releases Kisa. “You need to know how to defend yourself in a city like Central.”
“I promise,” Kisa smiles warmly. Bowing deeply and raising her clasped hands to her forehead she sincerely adds, “Thank you so much for everything.”
“You’re welcome,” Izumi smiles before gesturing in a ‘shooing’ motion. “Get on board before they leave you behind.”
Kisa’s smile turns into a familiar grin as she steps away to take her turn boarding.
“Have a safe trip,” Izumi calls out.
Kisa pauses to return the couple’s wave before disappearing into the crowded car. Izumi and Sig wait until the train departs from the station and fades from sight before leaving for home.
- 6
- 7
- 8
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Chapter 1