If you don't know what a yari is, it is a Japanese spear-staff. The yari Ed transmutes is the one he uses in the first episode when he tries to poke at Cornello's bird-demon thing. The dragony one…you know? He uses it almost all the time...

Hope you like this story! Please read and review!!

SCARE TACTICS

Part One

Edward Elric didn't scare easily.

Despite their many attempts and concerted efforts otherwise, this fact was something that his disgruntled comrades at Eastern Command had realized, because no matter how many closets they jumped out of, or how many frightening masks they popped around corners wearing, or how many break-in-through-the-window-and-pretend-to-be-a-masked-murderer routines they put into motion, practically nothing scared the even keeled Fullmetal Alchemist. (They did, however, discover along the way that the boy had an unreasonable phobia of spiders, even if they were ridiculous pink-and-purple-polka-dotted ones with huge cartoon eyes and that squeaked when squeezed, but of course, the terror only lasted as long as it was required to destroy the object resembling said eight-legged creature.) After studying the specimen in all types of environments and using all kind of fear tactics, the four men had come to the conclusion that, indeed, Edward Elric was not one to scare easily.

What they didn't realize was that they were trying to bring out a skittishness in Edward that simply did not exist. After seeing the product of his and Alphonse's failed human transmutation, there was little left in this world that could truly frighten him. (Excepting, of course, spiders, because those little monsters were just plain icky, and also leaving out the wrath of his alchemy teacher, Izumi Curtis, because that woman was just plain terrifying when she flew off the handle!) The only thing Edward was truly afraid of was losing his brother, a thought that was usually imbedded in the minds of all older siblings when they realized there was another they had to look after. He'd already lost his brother once, and by sheer desperation and willpower, he had managed to miraculously bring his soul back. If he lost his brother a second time…well, he didn't know what he would do, but it would no doubt end with him going off the deep end—if, of course, other people had prevented him from jumping to some horrid death before that.

However, there was something else that could put a tremble in Edward Elric's steady knees, and that was a feeling of utter helplessness. It was a rarity for him to be unable to defend himself, and the last time he'd ever felt that way had been at the hands of Barry the Chopper when he was twelve. At that time, the man had removed his automail arm, and had thusly almost cut him off from his greatest weapon—his alchemy. Little had Barry realized that Edward had previously performed alchemy with chalk and circles before realizing that he could transmute by just clapping his hands, and thusly the man had been fully unprepared when Edward had scratched the transmutation circle on his chains and turned them into a weapon to fight with. So, even then, Edward hadn't been truly helpless, though, certainly, to his twelve year old perspective, it had been pretty darn close. Now at fifteen, he had been pretty sure that he'd seen everything that could possibly frighten him. He'd been through the Gate of Truth. He'd faced down the homunculus that looked like his mother. He'd even taken down Greed, who, at first glance, had seemed impossible to beat. So, eliminating the terror of his teacher's anger, there was little left in this world that could really scare him.

He was about to find out the fallacy of that claim.

It was rather late a night as he wandered through Dublith's streets, heading from the city's main library where he'd done some solo researching and making his way back to the Curtis residence. Honestly, though, Edward preferred traveling at night. It was quieter, and there were few people who could bother him. Besides, Dublith was a pretty small town, and he could easily take care of himself. Those were the thoughts running through his mind when he became aware that he was being followed. Edward felt the skin of his forehead twitch in irritation. Really, didn't these people have lives? Deciding it would be better to deal with the situation sooner than later, Edward allowed himself to be herded into a gathering of secluded alleyways, all of which ended in dead ends. He turned right at the first corner and rushed down a few steps, turning around to face his pursuer. The man pulled up short as he rounded the bend, clearly caught off guard at being confronted.

"Who are you and what do you want with me?" Edward demanded, hands never leaving his pockets, stance easy but alert. The guy looked like a pushover with the brim of his ball cap pulled low and his shoulders hunched in an attempt look inconspicuous. For a moment, the man didn't say anything, so Edward pulled his hands out of his pockets.

"Not much of a talker, huh?" he continued, and he clapped his hands together, touching the wall and quickly transmuting his favored, dragon-emblazoned yari and holding it out before him.

"Good, I hate it when people talk too much."

He leapt forward from his leading foot, the yari held out to his right side, ready to strike as he ran by. He sliced viciously at the man's shoulder and stopped his momentum, turning to grin wickedly at the man. This fight would be over sooner than he thought.

But, when he looked at the man's shoulder, there was no indication of the wound he'd just inflicted.

Edward stared hard at the man, who broke into a grin of his own.

"You've got some skills," the man said, and he lifted his face so that Edward could lock eyes with his—two bottomless indigo pools that were cold and soulless. Edward had never seen eyes so empty before. The man's grin widened crazily.

"But so do I," he continued, and Edward's surprise grew when he realized that the yari was melting in his hands.

"What the—?" he began, dropping the remaining remnants, but then his eyes flew back up to his opponent, who was right in front of him before he even registered the fact that the man had moved.

"Nighty-night, kiddo!"

Blackness.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Izumi was meditatively sharpening a knife when the clock in her front room chimed the three o'clock hour. Alphonse looked up from his book.

"Brother's not back yet?" he asked.

"Doesn't look like it," responded Mason, who stood sweeping absently in a corner. Alphonse studied the clock for a long moment.

"I hope nothing happened to him."

"I wouldn't worry about him," Izumi finally interjected, never breaking stride as she scraped her knife against the sharpening block. "He can take care of himself."

"I know, but…you know how Brother can get sometimes, Teacher."

"Yes, I do. And I also know that sometimes he can become very absorbed in what he's reading. No doubt that's what happened, and he's probably on his way as we speak."

Alphonse sighed and looked back at the clock.

"I hope you're right," he replied. Izumi stood up, forehead twitching as she brandished the newly sharpened knife.

"Are you saying that you doubt me???" she demanded angrily, and Alphonse panicked, waving his hands frantically in effort to calm her.

"N…n-n...n-n-n-no, ma'am!!!"

"You better not!!!"

"I'm not!!! I swear it!!"

Before the woman could press the point further, a rock smashed through the front window, shattering glass and bouncing across the hardwood floors. For a split second, no one moved, until Izumi, rage now channeling towards the rude interruption, stormed forward and grabbed the offending object. She noticed that there was a folded piece of paper tied to the rock with some heavy string, and she untied the knot, loosening it so that she could slide the paper out into her hand. With practiced ease, she unfolded the paper with one hand, scanning its contents silently for a few seconds, her expression unreadable.

"Teacher?" Alphonse dared to pipe up. The woman didn't respond, only closed her eyes and refolded the paper, placing it in the pocket of her black pants.

"What's going on, Izumi?" Sig asked, stalking heavily into the room.

"It's nothing, honey. All of you stay here. I'm going to go hunt down the punks who threw this rock and give them a piece of my mind."

The two men and the boy all looked at one another in mutually silent confusion while the woman lightly stepped out the front door into the night-drenched street beyond.

She walked a little ways down the street, heading right, her shoulders straight, fists clenched, feet stomping, and there was an energy swirling about her that no one could comprehend. She stopped when she reached the first alleyway on her right and turned into it, leaving the circle of dim light from the lamppost out by the road. Her dark eyes squinted determinedly as she forced them to adjust to the gloom, and as she waited for them to dilate properly, she ran through the message written on the rock-delivered note.

Missing someone? Turn right out your front door and stop at the first alleyway on the right. Come alone.

She knew only one thing: Edward had better not be in trouble. That's when she saw it, the bright red mass laying belly down and motionless at the end of the alley. The figure lay somewhat on his left side, the mass of tousled blonde hair trailing around behind his shoulder. Izumi sped forward, heart skipping a beat.

"Ed," she called, reaching for him. He didn't stir when she grabbed his shoulder, and when she rolled him over, he followed the motion limply. Izumi went cold to the bone when he was completely exposed to her view.

His face was gone.

It took her a minute to get the gears in her head to start working again, and she was completely relieved to find that the object in her arms was merely an Edward-shaped dummy and not the genuine article himself. There was, however, no mistaking that the clothes were Edward's; they still carried his clean, vanilla scent, and the way the smell hovered heavily around them indicated that they had been removed recently. She realized that the blonde hair was just a wig, but it had been meshed in with the dummy flesh so perfectly, that it looked like real hair with a real hairline. She grimaced, knowing all to well that there was only one person who possessed the skill to make such a perfect, life-sized human replica. However, before she got up to leave, she noticed that there was something etched into the spot where the face should have been. However, she couldn't read what it said in the darkness around her, so she lifted the limp item and carried it to the roadside lamp.

Surprised? Come down to the abandoned Dublith Living Complex construction site in two hours, and your protégé might be returned to you unharmed.

Izumi looked around her for a long moment in silence, studying the rooftops of the surrounding buildings. She caught sight of a figure atop the building to her left and glared at them. For a moment, neither she nor the other said anything or moved, until the other person finally turned and disappeared into the night. Izumi, meanwhile, waited for a few more moments until she, too, moved away, carrying the dummy with her the whole way home.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Kidnapped?? Brother?? Why??" Alphonse sputtered in disbelief.

"I don't know. But I'm sure I can guess," Izumi answered.

Sig studied the dummy intently.

"Izumi…you don't think it's…" he trailed off, and she nodded.

"I do. Which is why I can guess why Edward's been kidnapped."

"Who?" Alphonse asked. "Who did this?"

Izumi paused and reached out to pick up her teaspoon, stirring her tea idly for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. She held the cup to her lips.

"They call him 'The Doppleganger'. He specializes in transmuting dummies in the exactly likenesses of people, much as he did with that one."

She nodded to the Edward-shaped dummy.

"Normally, he transmutes a face, but I guess he decided it would be funnier to use this to deliver his message."

"What's his real name?" Alphonse asked when she paused to sip at her tea. Izumi looked at him over the rim of her cup and then lowered it a second later so that she could stare at him suspiciously.

"I'm hoping you're asking out of idle curiosity and not because you're planning to go off on some daring, whirlwind rescue."

Alphonse balked.

"Teacher! He's my brother!"

"Indeed, but the note was addressed to me, and, thusly, this is my responsibility."

"But, Teacher, I—!!"

"No buts, Alphonse! You're staying here!"

She pointed a finger at him threateningly.

"If I see so much as a spiky shouldered shadow in the near vicinity of that old complex, I'll destroy you myself."

Alphonse wanted to protest again, but knew better than to push his luck on this one.

"Yes, Teacher."

"Good. Mason!"

The man snapped to immediate attention.

"Yes, Izumi!!"

"Make sure he stays put. Got it?"

"Yes, ma'am!!"

That decision behind her, Izumi moved out of the room to try to find someway to kill the next two hours.

"You'd better be alright, Ed," she muttered to herself as she moved upstairs.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Hey! Hey! Sleepin' Beauty! Wake up!"

Something icy cold and wet was held against the right side of his neck, forcing him further out of the achy, black darkness. He moaned and his head lolled to the left weakly.

"Rise and shine, Goldilocks! We've got some business to discuss!"

There was an odd squelching noise nearby, and icy cold water soaked his face, startling him.

"Wakey-wakey, kiddo!"

With near Herculean effort, Edward opened his eyes, blinking them a few times in the dim lighting of the lamp hanging above him.

"Finally! Sheesh, you act like I hit you with a whole building or somethin'!"

Edward tried to focus past the thick, dumb feeling spread throughout his body, and he looked around him, trying to get a feel for his surroundings. The first thing he noticed was that he was half-laying, half-sitting in a blue, porcelain bathtub of some kind. Following that brilliant deduction were two different realizations at once: one, his arms were chained tightly to the handicap railings on the opposite sides of the tub; and two, he was only wearing his boxers and his hair was unbound. Still trying to shake off the lingering stupor, Edward's eyes traveled lethargically to his right, only to meet with two familiar indigo eyes set in an unfortunately familiar face. The man was kneeling beside the bathtub, arms crossed on the blue-tiled rim with his chin resting atop them, his ball cap gone and his brown hair hanging down into his eyes. He grinned ruefully at Edward.

"You're probably going to feel pretty groggy for awhile. I accidentally gave you a dose that was too high for someone your size. Sorry about that."

Edward wanted to slug the man, but the chains binding him were pulled too short, so he settled for shifting uncomfortably.

"But actually, this works to my advantage. At least you'll keep quiet and be easier to control for awhile. I hear you're a real spitfire when you get pissed."

Edward decided to ignore the man, choosing, instead, to study his bindings wordlessly for a long moment, noticing that the ends of the chains were embedded quite securely into the leather manacles clasped tightly around his wrists. He realized, too, that his limited mobility robbed him of his number one weapon, and the dawning realization of his defenseless position made him groan, close his eyes, and sink back down against the back of the tub.

"Come on, kiddo, don't blank out on me again!" the man urged, voice somewhat perturbed, and the icy cold washcloth was pressed against his neck again.

"I need you to be awake!"

Edward shivered and tried to squirm away from the washcloth, uttering an incoherent protest. He didn't like that the man pressed the cloth against his throat. It only made him feel more vulnerable than he already was in his semi-exposed state. At this show of wakefulness, the man retracted the washcloth and reassumed his cross-armed position.

"Now, I'm betting that you're probably wonderin' what a kid like you is doin' here with a fellow like me."

It took monumental effort on Edward's part, but he managed somehow or another to summon a fairly decent glare to aim at the man.

"Well, I'll tell ya. See, I've got a real problem with the lady you learned alchemy from, and I know that you're pretty important to her. So, basically, I'm gonna use you to get back at her. Sound fair?"

Edward really wished he didn't feel so woozy because he really wanted nothing less than to plant a metal fist in the man's kisser.

"Fuck…you…" he managed to slur out. The man frowned.

"Now, now, Goldilocks. No need for such language. I'm not planning to do you any harm…"

He mused on that a moment until he shrugged and nodded his head in an allowing sort of way.

"Well, not unless your teacher gives me a reason to. But anyway…like I was sayin', there's no reason to be like that. Language of that kind only puts me in a bad mood."

Edward's eyes went wide when the man flicked out a switchblade knife and held it out before him, its point aimed towards Edward's unprotected chest. There was a hardness in his eyes that hadn't been there a second before.

"And you don't want to see me when I'm in a bad mood," he warned, tone deadly serious in a low, threatening way. For a moment, the two sat there, staring one another in the eye. Edward swallowed hard, but he didn't say anything.

Finally, after an agonizing moment, the man moved the switchblade away and closed it, tucking it away into one of his unseen pockets. He rose to his feet and looked back down at Edward.

"I'm gonna leave you alone for now. I've got some preparations to make for your teacher's arrival. Just sit tight until I get back, okay, kiddo?"

Seriously, Edward just wanted to slap the man, but he made no movements—didn't really have the energy to move, anyway—and the man smiled at his seeming cooperativeness, turning and leaving the room. Once he was out of sight, Edward moaned and leaned back again, closing his golden eyes.

Well, he thought as he started to sink back into the drowsy blackness, how the hell was he supposed to get out of this one?

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Dun dun DUUUUUUN!!

This is going to be an extremely short multi-chapter fic. Don't be surprised if it resolves itself in the next chapter. I'm not aiming for it to be more than three, so…yeah…

How do you like it so far? Please let me know what you liked or didn't like! I'd appreciate it!

On a side note…what fangirl wouldn't be totally thrilled to find Ed chained in their bathtub in only his boxers?? I know that I wouldn't protest too much about not being able to take a shower, lol!!