Enter the Devil's Nest

Greed, Dorochet and Rusta entered the "Devil's Nest". Rusta didn't think a hide out could be so lively. Anywhere you looked you could see drinking and gambling.

"Here's some bandages," Dorochet said while handing the package over "Think you can do it yourself?"

"Yeah I got it" Rusta replied as she dabbed the blood off her neck.

Rusta went over to the bar and sat down. The cut wasn't that bad, just a little freaky to look at. As she started to tend to her neck, she heard someone speak to her:

"Well, well, I guess we did get to see each other again," said a voice

Rusta turned and saw the small bald man from before, but this time he had a tale!

"Maybe I just never noticed…" Rust thought.

"Yeah, hi" she said as she made a quick glance at it

"I shouldn't stare at it, even though it is weird," Rusta thought to herself as she dismissed the thought of it.

"You know we never got to meet each properly. What's your name?" the bald man asked.

"Rusta"

"My name is Bido"

"Hey look, its the burn out." said a tall pale man with long black hair pulled into a long pony tail. He wore a red jacket and matching pants with a black undershirt.

"Shut up Kimblee" said a woman who had blonde hair, tan pants, a black shirt and a large red tattoo on her shoulder. "Hey kid, how ya feelin'?" she asked.

"Fine."

"What happened to your neck?" she asked.

"Long story" Rusta told her. She really didn't feel like going into what happened.

"Well my name is Martel. And this... this is Kimblee"

"Hi."

"So is it true-"

"Wanna play cards?" Martel said as she cut Bido off.

"Sure."

They all sat down at a table and dealt out the cards. They continued on like this all into the night until everyone went to sleep. That's when things got even stranger.

Late a night all sorts of strange scratching noises were heard.

"What is that noise?" Greed asked.

He got up and started walking towards it. Others were also trying to find the source of the noise. They then came to the back room and there was Rusta drawing transmutation circles on the walls. The scratching sound was the sound of her pen.

"What the hell? What are you doing?" Greed asked

No answer.

"I think she's sleepwalking" Martel commented. "She did this in lab 5. Everyone thought she was just insane. I never thought she could be sleeping."

Dorochet walked up and pulled the pen out of her hand.

"There, now she'll stop writing on the walls at least" Dorochet said.

Slowly Dorochet noticed his sword being pulled out of its sheath. Rusta held it firmly before he could stop her. Slowly she took the sword and was about to cut her finger.

"AH!" Dorochet exclaimed as he pulled his sword out of her hand and handed her the pen.

"Well that didn't work. How about we get her a piece of paper?" Greed said.

Soon enough the entire wall was covered in paper that Rusta was now drawing on.

"I don't care about you guys, but I am going back to sleep" Kimblee said as he turned and walked down the hallway.

Chaperone

Rusta awoke to the sound of crinkling paper. She opened her eyes, surrounding her was, what appeared to be, thousands of balls of paper. Rusta dismissed the paper everywhere as late night partying. She walked to the bar and opened cabinets

"Nothing but peanuts and booze... Guess I'm skipping on breakfast," she said to herself. "Ah!" she exclaimed as she hit her hand to her forehead. "I have to give that notebook to that alchemist!"

She was about to head out as she grabbed the notebook. She was walking to the door, till she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Hold up. Where are you going in such a hurry?" the owner of the hand said.

Rusta turned.

"Greed! I have to return this journal to this guy I met yesterday."

"Not that coward that I beat up the other day right?"

"No, of course not."

"Fine," Greed said as he gave a shrug. "But someone's gotta go with you. Well, well perfect timing Kimblee." Greed said as he saw Kimblee walk to the bar. "How 'bout taking the kid to the market?"

"What? I'm no ones baby sitter."

"Its not an option"

Kimblee scowled.

"Whatever. Lets go." Kimblee grumbled as he proceeded up the steps, followed by Rusta.

The two walked down the dusty ally. An awkward silence hovered over them.

"Out of all the people in the Devil's nest I had to go with Kimblee," Rusta thought as they walked.

For some reason Kimblee gave off this vibe that made Rusta a little nervous. She wasn't quite sure why.

"So," Kimblee said breaking the silence, "how did you kill that scientist?"

Rusta stared at Kimblee. What was he talking about? She thought maybe he was trying to be funny, so she stayed silent and looked away as they walked.

"So, how did you kill him?" Kimblee asked, his hands in his pockets, having a leaned back sort of posture as he walked.

"I didn't kill anyone." Rusta said finally, stopping.

"Oh? That was what was floating around at the Devil's Nest," Kimblee said "So then why were you in lab 5?"

Rusta looked at the ground, looking for an answer.

"I don't know why," she said softly.

"Too many crimes to count?"

"No, I... It's... It's complicated"

"Fine, let's just go drop off that book thing," Kimblee said, starting to walk again.

The awkward silence hovered over them once more, until Rusta broke the blanket of silence.

"So, why were you at lab five?" Rusta asked curiously.

"Why do I have to tell you if you didn't tell me?"

Rusta fell silent. "I guess that's fair," she said softly.

They walked in silence. The sun was already high in the sky when they came to the fountain. Rusta couldn't speak. She just looked forward and around the square. After what felt like the longest awkward silence in history something broke the silence.

"Miss!" the man called as he ran up to them.

"Oh! Hi, again. Here you are one journal filled with transmutation circles," she said handing it over.

Perhaps it was Rusta's imagination, but it seemed as if Kimblee was eyeing the book with a certain curiosity. The man paid no attention.

"Wow, you certainly filled this. Here is your payment. 200,000 senz (about $2000)" he said handing her the money.

"Thank you!" Rusta said taking it.

"No. I should be thanking you. I must be off. I need to get back to studying. Say would you like to come over to my house for dinner? You could bring your friend there," the man said motioning to Kimblee.

Call Rusta crazy, but she thought having Kimblee over would be a bad idea. "Thank you for the offer but no thanks. We actually have plans," Rusta lied.

"Alright then. Some other time. See you later," he said with a wave and walking away.

"And what exactly are these plans?" Kimblee asked looming over her.

Rusta tensed. She was really really starting to hate Kimblee; he gave her the creeps in one of the most intolerable ways.

"Nothing. Let's go." Rusta said walking off trying to keep her voice level.

Kimblee shrugged. The two started to walk. Rusta noticed food vendors and that remineded her, The Devils Nest had a complete lack of food and drink for minors. Rusta grabbed a basket and started to fill it.

"What are you doing?" Kimblee asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Peanuts and beer do not make a meal," she replied.

"You should just go out when you're hungry."

"Not if I only can leave with a chaperone," Rusta said shaking her head.

"That's right if it weren't for me you'd probably have been attacked right now." Kimblee said with a smirk.

Rusta ignored him and paid for the food. She walked off and Kimblee followed. As they walked past the various stores Rusta stopped. Kimblee turned.

"What?"

Rusta said nothing and walked up to a stand selling swords. They were mesmerizing. There was one in particular she couldn't take her eyes off of. It was long shiny. The handle hand a woven pattern with white diamond shapes on it. The blade was engraved with a pattern that curved all along the blade.

"You have a good eye Miss. That's the best sword here," the merchant said to her.

"How much is it?" she asked still staring at it.

"It is high in strength and quality. Made from the best steal and inlaid with diamond dust. Cost is 10,000,000 senz." the merchant replied. He was old with squinty eyes. To Rusta he looked Chinese.

"Nice try kid. You don't even have enough. I bet you can't even use a sword," Kimblee said from behind her.

Rusta just stared at it. "I feel like its mine already though," she said.

"How about this," the merchant said to her "since you seem someone who would take good care of it, if you beat me you can have the sword."

"Deal," Rusta said finally looking at the merchant. Then she was suddenly nervous, she had never used a sword before. She had never even held one. What am I thinking? She shouted to herself in her head.

She and the merchant went over to an open area. Kimblee watched with an amused smile.

Rusta stood, a worn sword from the vendor in hand. She took a breath, and stood firmly. It felt like she had done this a million times. The old man held the sword Rusta longed to have in her hands.

"Ready..."

Rusta stood focused; the old man looked the same.

"GO!"

((AN: Finally, I posted this after writing it forever ago. Sorry for the delay. I am actually surprised this is my most popular story. (Well according to the FF stats. it is my shortest and most faved... Not to mention I got the most comments on this. (I love comments as I have said) But I digress. Thanks so much for reading! The next chapter should come out quicker. However I have several other stories I am neglecting *sweat drop* Anyway, thanks!)