Roy took to the wheel, driving the same way I did before we unfused and I put my seatbelt on, sitting behind Ed, Al sat behind mustang.
I leaned forward between then, taking a grip on Ed's seat.
"So what's the plan?"
Roy looked to me and grinned.
"From what I got from you, you felt it was alright she die, correct?"
I hid my eyes and looked to Ed..then Al, who was most attached to her. I slumped back in my seat and folded my arms, gazing out the window.
"I..can't stop you... she has no right to take the lives that she has... and there's no way to bring them back..." I tightened my fist, knowing I could bring small animals back to life..but always failed on larger animals. Roy knew this and he whipped me a somewhat gentle stare.
"Shiba... would you try, for me?"
I groaned and grabbed my forearms with my hands, and brought my feet up on the seat, sitting in a ball somewhat, having my face blocked from Ed's if he decided to look back at me...with those eyes..
"I...don't know if I can do it... I'm scared.."
He smiled.
"Shiba...if theyve already died, you have nothing to lose, right?"
I grew uncomfortable...did he forget that Ed and Al didn't know of that secret?! I wanted to smack him, but I wanted to keep in my ball.

"What are you asking Mustang!?" Edward asked hotly.
"Or did you honestly forget the laws of Equivalent Exchange!" He gripped his arm and narrowed his firey eyes.
"Once someone's dead...that's it...end of story."

Alphonse said nothing. Shiba was right...Kiri didn't have any right..not to take lives like she had..He turned and caught her gaze.
"Shiba...if you think it's for the best..I won't stop you or Colonel Mustang...but..." He fell silent, and looked out over the landscape that whizzed by in a blur. Perhaps..this was for the best.

He smiled and sent his narrow stare to Ed, whipping his arm from his grip.
"Oops, I forgot you didn't know..." He grinned, knowing full well what he was doing, and looked back at me, I glared at him, flipping him off and closing my eyes.
Crap... now he knows...he's gonna hate me for keeping it from him this long...
"C'mon Shiba, tell him what you can do! I'm suprized you kept it from him this long...
I sunk deeper in my seat and covered my face. I didn't need Ed getting ideas in his head... I didn't want to fail.

I looked over at Alphonse and took a tight grip on his massive hand, outstretching my arm across the seat between us.
"You don't need to be there, Al. I know I do...to tell her goodbye and ask her... why.." I muttered, looking to him. I closed my eyes again.



Armstrong heaved a heavy stance and raced towards her, punching the wall she was near and sent it into flying daggers every which way. He folded his arms, after flexing and watched her closly.

"Damnit Colonel, Just drop it! Can't you see she's got enough problems as it is! Heartless Bastard!" Edward jerked back over to his side of the seat and plunked his chin on his fist. The tension in the car was almost more than he could take. He didn't want to think right then...if he thought...he was going to go crazy with possiblites..and if that was all that he thought about, then if it came down to it..he wouldn't be able to keep Shiba safe. He wondered if he would even need to.

Alphonse returned the grip, looking at his friend sadly.
"We all need to be there....I wonder...if Scar will show up as well....I wonder if he even knows.."

She didn't move. Thousands of blades pierced her body and pinned her to another wall, Kiri didn't make a sound. She merely jerked one out of her shoulder and stepped forward, taking the others with her, they fell to the ground with a hollow thunk and she twirled the other around in her palm as her body reconstructed itself.
"Very well....it seems you have no intention of letting me pass...alive." She threw the dagger back and clapped her hands, drawing water from the air itself, it wasn't noticable to the others, save for maybe a few chapped lips, but to Kiri...it grew colder and she wound the water around and around her body, like a living line.

Roy sent him a glare and a somewhat evil grin.
"What's the matter Fullmetal? Afraid of the truth! WELL SHES RIGHT THERE! Take a good look at her! She has the power, the no one else does! Shes the power you've been looking for!"
I kicked the back of his seat and rolled down the window, and took my hand from Al's, covering my ears. I...wanted to tell him all this time... but not like this. I pulled my legs up to my chest again and groaned, rocking forward and back... I was about to go mad if he didn't shut up...


Blocking the dagger that came his way, Armstrong watched in amazement how she controlled the water and recovered her wounds, and he flexed again and ran up to her and gripped her around the neck, stopping her magic of alchemy. I looked into her eyes, nose-to-nose and glared, pushing her into a wall hard.
"Don't make me crush your esophagus right here... I'll do it, if Roy was here..but I had no intention of killing you... he's taking too long..." he growled.

"COLONEL!! NOT NOW!" Edward clenched his fist and started to throw it back, but stopped.
"I'm not afraid...not of the truth...even if Shiba is what you say...even if...I won't use it...I told Armstrong that..this is our Sin to bear...I won't take the easy way out of things..not if it means extorting Shiba. So..it doesn't matter what she is."


Alphonse lay a hand on her shoulder and tried to calm her down, all the time agreeing with Edward.
"He's right...this was our mistake."

Water splashed to the ground and Kiri lolled her head to one side looking sideways at Armstrong.
"Then why don't you go ahead? Kill me if you can...but if you earnestly try....don't blame me if I FIGHT BACK!" She'd grabbed up a peice of debri that she'd found next to her hand and rammed it into Armstrong's side, twisting it as it dove into his flesh.
"Can't you understand!?" She cried, her tears once again soaking her face.
"I don't want to kill you! I don't want to kill anyone! But it becomes a nessecity when I'm forced into a corner!" She leapt over him and stood there.
"I should have never come to know of Man or their love of Life...I should have died in the desert alone and forsaken. But I didn't...why is that?"

Ed's voice Echoed in my head, and throughout the car, and Mustang fell silent.
My eyes filled up and I looked to Al... I didnt have the guts to even look to Ed as I relaxed my legs, bringing them back down off the seat.
"Alphonse..."

Armstrong's arms flew off her neck to hold his gaping wound as he fell to the ground, gasping for breath. his body quivered in agony as he lay, bleeding.
"Colonel.." he whispered, before he closed his eyes and passed out.

Mustang broke the long silence and his eyes widened at the sight- blood splatter, bodies..everywhere... he opened the door quickly and ran towards Armstrong, who was on the ground.
"ARMSTRONG! ARMSTRONG! CAN YOU HEAR ME??" he yelled at him, he shook his limp body in his arms but got no response. He lowered his head and then gritted his teeth and sent a fierce stare to her, his eyes somewhat glassy.
"I WILL NOT HAVE ANOTHER LIFE TAKEN FROM ME!" He stood quickly and sent a flare her way.

I gasped and jumped out, tears rolling down my cheeks.
"KIRI!" I yelled to her angrily.

"Don't die on me....I don't want another Life to bear...my own is heavy enough." She moved beside him and stopped the bleeding...she only needed him to let her go..not bleed all over the place.

Kiri moved away as soon as she saw Mustang, walking to a safe distance from the dark haired Colonel.
"I didn't take his life..." She leapt out of the way, rolling along the ground to come up next to a few other soldiers that cringed away, shaking as they tried to aim their barrels.
"Don't....if you want to live."

She whipped around to see Shiba...Edward and Alphonse step out of the same car that Mustang had. She didn't make any excuse for herself and merely met Shiba's stare with her own.
"What is it...Shiba....What would you have me do? Disappear? Or shall I be a Lab Rat? An animal for the Military's whims? Tell me."

Roy dragged the heavy Armstrong to the side of the car; he was thankful she had stopped the bleeding, but he'd never tell her so.
Havoc came from behind the lines and tended to Armstrong, who was still out from blood loss.

Roy, now furious at the full extent of damage, he stared her down and waited for my go ahead. He looked to me, then back to her.

I looked up at her and cried.
"Kiri... If you hadn't killed all these men... Roy would have let you stay with me...WHY! I was coming for you! I WAS COMING!" I sobbed and stepped forward.
"I don't want you to die... but I cant stop Mustang if that is what he wishes to do. Kiri..." My voice lowered.
"You know I love you... but this isn't the life I want for you..a life of pain..killing..slaughter..and death. I just wanted you to live.. normally... with me." I looked up at her.
"Isn't that what you always wanted..?"

Roy couldn't wait anymore and he snapped hard, sending a blaze of his fury around the woman and over her body. He held a snap as he waited for her reaction- if she survived the blaze.

I closed my eyes as the blaze lit the whole street up- the darkness... it was hard to know it was dark here, with all the spot lights from over head towers.

"Life...exists at the cost of another....so what if you were coming...by the time that you got here...I may have already been dead....look inside there Shiba." She pointed to the Lab and cringed.
"Chimera....Men and Women....all dead. I wasn't about to go through that....Shiba I--"

She screamed.

Kiri felt her body turn to ash all at once, then slowly reconstruct...she looked up, her skin plastered to her skull, half scorched from the blaze. Her one good eye widened and she lay where she'd fallen. Not wanting to live through that again...true..she'd 'died' before..but nothing like this...being shot and stabbed was nothing to being burnt alive... she wrinkled her nose as it reformed and narrowed her eyes...there was that smell...one of burning flesh and hair.
"All for the fact that I am not Human..." She turned a sad gaze to Mustang, not bothering to move.
"If only...I had been born...things...might not have turned out this way. For the first time...in..this half life..." A thunder clap over head and it began to rain...hiding her newest tears from sight.
"I think...." Her voice wavered.
"I'm frightened.....Death....at last...scares me..."

I took a deep breath and looked to her, the rain pouring over us.
"Kiri...I.." i felt like a monster, and I cringed and started to walk towards her.

Roy stood, motionless as he was drenched.
"Dammit.." he muttered, trying to spark a flame..anything.. but it was no use. He hid his eyes.

So much pain...and suffering... I wanted it to end... I looked to Ed.. I could never ask him to do it... My alchemy wasn't there; I was just a normal girl now... I cursed...my tears mixing with the rain that ran over my face.
"Kiri... i wish things would have been different for you.. I do... but... you did this to yourself.. you dug your grave..." I sobbed, finally reaching her. Her body was still recovering and I looked into her eyes for the last time.
"I love you. Please.. forgive me." Spreading my feet apart, I clapped loudly and jammed my fingers into her sides and she glowed... after about 10 seconds, the glowing subsided. I looked to the ground, gasping. What was left... nothing but a puddle of blood and her clothes. I fell to my knees and looked to the dark sky, reaching my hands up to the sky...waiting for God to take me next... My body burned from head to toe for pulling an alchemy trick like that... it hurt.. the rain poured over me... I cried hard... then fell backwards into the mud and her blood.
"Kiri..." I said under my breath. My vision grew blurry... the droplets seemed like bricks hitting my face; it seemed she reached her destination as the rain fell harder; it felt as if it were a signal from her. I could only smile; the rain turnt cold, then warm again. I closed my eyes exhaustedly.

Kiri only looked up at Shiba and smiled.
"I didn't do it...my grave had been dug since the moment I was created...it was only a matter of time before I walked into it." She reached up her hand and pressed it gently against Shiba's cheek and smiled.
"Live..Shiba...Live for me...taking my life means taking on my burden and living for me....but do so happily...find the peace I couldn't." She lay back and recieved her judgement, passing from the world in a blaze.

Edward and Alphonse moved beside Shiba and lay their hands on each side of her shoulders, helping her up.
"It couldn't be helped..."
"Shiba...."
"K-Kiri...." All heads turned as Scar broke their ranks. He stood there for a moment then crossed over to where Shiba was.
"Kiri..." He hung his head and sighed.
"Even..at the very end...I was useless." He muttered.

[im crying now dammit... I feel so bad.. dont be mad at me Hatch >.>]

Her words and her stare was etched into my memory for the last moments... and i knew they would be for a long time. I screamed aloud, facing the ground as I was helped to my knees.
"KIRIIIII!!!" I screamed, covering my face. Every motion I made..even breathing was a task...my body ached... and I sent a sad gaze to Al and Ed.
"I'm..sorry..." My shoulders bobbed up and down as I sobbed. My exhaustion and sadness was evident on my face.

I heard that familiar voice... I looked slowly over at Scar and cried even harder..seeing his expression was almost too much to bear...
"Aniki..." I said. I gripped his pants and looked up at him.
"Please forgive me Scar.... I.. had no choice... I want you to do something for me though, Scar.." I slid my hand down his pant legs and looked to the ground, still covered in blood, as I sat in it.
"Take my life."

((Awwww...*hugz* Don't feel bad!! This isn't the first time she's died =3 It happened in my fanfic too))

Alphonse and Edward both recoiled at her request.
"WHAT GOOD WILL THAT DO!?" He cried.
"HASN'T THERE BEEN ENOUGH DEATH FOR TODAY!?" But with a nod, Scar knelt by Shiba and sighed.
"As you wish....Go with God Shiba.." For a breif moment..his hand covered her face...and red elecricity sparked along his arm....then it died. Just like that. He let his hand fall from her unable to do as she wished.
"I can't...." His hands shook and his voice wavered.
"It..it wouldn't be fair...to just let her die...and then..to be relieved of your Sins so quickly...no....you must live...and remember. It is both our weight to carry... you, who ended her pain...and I who did not stop you." He said nothing more, but moved to retrieve the blood-stained clothing. A small pebble rolled out of her shirt as he moved to lift it, and he coverd it with a hand before studying it.
"Elrics..." He said at last.
"Here." Edward moved to take the object from him and opened his palm.
"What is it?"
"Her last gift to you...it's what you've been looking for isn't it?" There in Edward's palm lay a small red Stone.
"If you'll excuse me...." He stood, the clothing bundled in his arms and started back the way he came.
"I'm sure she'd want...to be buried....."

[*emoness is consuming mee...*]

I closed my eyes as Scar placed his hand on my head; I said nothing to the boys then he pulled his hand away. I looked up at him for an answer, then nodded, taking a deep breath.
"Youre right... I should live with this pain.. forever." I sighed and took Ed's human hand to pull myself up on my feet; my legs wobbled and I leaned my weight against him, putting my arm over his shoulder.
"Please forgive me Ani- Scar.." I said as he scooped up her clothes.
I watched as he gave the small stone to Ed and I looked at it.
"The...Philosophers Stone?? But how?" I said, fumbling over my own words as I stared at it.

Roy was silent the entire time; he couldn't believe I had accomplished what he couldn't. He brushed off the fact that Scar was there and he ordered the men to recover the bodies that lay about the area. He was tired too; he looked to the lightening sky and sighed deeply. Havoc heaved Armstrong over his shoulder and helped him into a waiting van.
Roy ran his hand through his wet hair and looked up at the sky.
"Sleep well...goddess.." he muttered and closed his eyes, and leaned against the car; he couldn't leave them there, so he waited patiently, letting the rain run over his clothed body.

((*hugz...then bursts out crying* EMMMOOOOO-NNNEEESSSS!! X3 I've got to draw something like this now))

"I don't have the right to say you are forgiven...but.." He turned and looked upward.
"I suppose that has already been answered." He only sighed as she leaned against Edward's shoulder, gaining her balance.
"Live Shiba....Live and be Happy..."

Edward stared....could it have been...that simple....could what they'd been searching for...have lain in the heart of the homunculi that they fought?
"I guess....that was...the driving force behind all the Homunculi...this stone..acted as..as their heart."
"Brother..?"
"I don't know...after all this time...and it's finally here....but...even so, should we? Would it work?"
"Fullmetal...." Scar turned to him and tilted his head.
"Do you doubt even now? If you do..then by all means...find another way...but take it with you. Shiba?" He looked over at her.
"Can you walk? You should be there when all the Ghosts are lain at peace."

[XD what time are u on until today??? I can keep up cause the teacher left for the day and let us go early, but im staying until i have to go normal time >.>]

I looked up at him, my heart sank.
"My sins... will never be forgiven." I muttered and Looked over at Ed..I knew I had the power and skill to do it; I was just afraid of what may happen; I decided not to say anything as he spoke with his younger brother.

I looked to Scar and shook my head.
"I can't walk, not alone." I reached my hand out to him.
"I shouldn't even be conscious... I guess my alchemy powers are getting stronger..." I sighed.
"Please..take me with you. I want to say my final goodbyes..." I looked to the sky as it stopped raining and the clouds rolled away slowly; the morning shone through them.

((That was just my retardation XP I fixed it, that's what I get for drawing while Rping I guess XDD. I'm on till 2:30 today.))

Edward nodded and tucked the stone into his pocket, he looked at Scar and Shiba...then turned to Mustang who seemed to be waiting for them at the car.
"Meh...he can wait for all I care."
Scar took her hand and helped to walk, looking back only once more, to the small area of bloodstained ground that lay a few feet behind him.
"Are you two coming as well?" He queried as Edward and Alphonse both began to follow along behind them.
"Why not?"
"We're going to miss her too..." He nodded and sighed.
"Very well."

Far enough out...to a place where he was sure that no one would bother it, Scar stopped and slowly dug the small grave where he would lay Kiri's things to rest. He wouldn't allow for help...it was just the way he was...but more than that...he considered it a punishment...digging the grave for the very person he'd hoped would have dug his.

[XD I guess youll be on around 9 tonight? Ill look for you <3 I'm always on looking for you even earlier, i get excited when u get on before 9 XD its a rare event]

Roy nodded at Ed who looked to him, he climbed into the car and blared the radio, preparing to wait for them to return. He sat back in his seat and propped his feet up on the dashboard, laying his hands behind his head.

I was startled to be gripped by Scar and I tightened my grip around his massive hand as we walked; my legs wobbled and I just focused on keeping my balance as we walked. I looked back at the boys and gave Ed a sad look, then looked forward again.
Should I tell him..? That I may be able to help..?

I sat in the grass at Al's feet, Ed on my other side, as Scar dug; it was silent except for the chitter-chatter of birds in the trees surrounding us. I closed my eyes and clasped my hands together and sent prayers to heaven; hopefully she would get my apologies and words I wanted to tell to her, and only her.

((Yep, I should be at any rate. X3 I'll see you then once I get off here.))

The boys only watched as he worked, and as the sun rose higher, the hole was dug deeper, until at last, covered in dirt and sweat, Scar climbed back out of the hole and wiped his brow. He glanced at Shiba and his face relaxed. He would never tell her...but the reason he couldn't kill her like she'd asked him to, wasn't because she had to live for her and Kiri both...it was because she reminded him so much of Kiri it was scary...true..there was none of the phsyical features there...but..the way she turned, and walked..he couldn't send her to her grave a second time.
Carefully, the clothes were lain in the grave and dirt covered them. A rock was lain over top of it and with Scar's permission, Edward stepped forward.
A single clap, and it read:
I walk among the clouds

"I guess...we should be getting back then..." He sighed and let his knuckles brush along the stone before turning away.
"Indeed...Fullmetal....until we meet again."
"Yeah...." Scar was gone in a matter of minutes, disappearing amongst the trees and winding his way into obscurity.
"Are you going to be alright Shiba?"

My eyes met with Scar's stare, and I looked away blushing. He looked at me so gently.. almost the way he used to look at Kiri. I brushed it off and stood, still shaky and walked up to the tombstone Ed had made...so beautifully.
I looked at the words..and my eyes filled with tears. I found what I could and clapped and touched the stone. My words, under Ed's in script read:
Gone, but never forgotten.

My heart throbbed as I waved Scar off then looked to Ed and Al.
"Let's go...home.." I said with a deep breath escaping my lungs. I took a hold of Al's arm and smiled up at him, still so weak, and feeling weaker now that I used alchemy, yet again.
"I'll be fine, as long as the both of you are there for me... at least for a little while longer... then..." I caught my words and shook my head.
"Then thats it." I didn't even want to think of being alone after they left me; I could never bear this burden alone... my heart ached and I looked to the sky for answers, but found none.

"Why will that be it? Edward jerked around and almost fell back with a cry.
"WHA! WHAT THE HELL!!!" Off to one side of the tomb, shimmered the last remnants of a smiling Homunculus.
I had to day Good-bye....didn't I? She ran a transparent hand over the stone.
"Thank you all....I can't stay long..but I'll make sure to tell Aniki farewell before I'm gone completely. Shiba...why don't you just go with them? I'm sure that after all this...you don't want to be alone...Why do you all have to go your seperate ways? There is strength in numbers after all." She looked behind her for just a moment and then waved.
"Oops..time to go...Shiba...someday..I hope to pass you on the street...and maybe then I can say 'Hello Ane' and you'll turn and smile...and then reply
'Hello Kiri." A light breeze picked up and in a flurry of dust...the apparition was gone.
"Al...did...did that really happen?"
"I have no clue...." The Elrics stared...blinking trying to make sense out of the scrambled thoughts in their mind.

I smiled, my heart raced as I saw the faint smile of her.
I couldn't find my voice... and before I could reply, she was gone. Tears flowed down my cheeks and I could only smile, feeling more at peace now. I looked to Ed and sent him a peaceful grin.
"It did...C'mon... I need a shower and a nap." I heaved myself up using Al's arm and we began our walk. I looked back only once, and smiled as the sun shone on her stone.
"Sleep well, Sister." I whispered.

Roy sat up as he saw us approach. He turned down his music and yawned.
"Lets go, I stood Riza up for you guys..." He grunted. I smiled and winked at him; he sent me a warm smile and let go of a deep sigh he held in as we approached the car.

"Yeah..." Edward fel in step behind Shiba and Alphonse, glancing back over his shoulder still confused.

He smiled as Roy yawned and chuckled.
"What's the matter Colonel? Not tired are we? Surely, not after all the rukous that went on here...by the way....how's the Major?"

I climbed weakly into the car- it was going to be a long ride back to East City and I sighed deeply, every muscle aching.

Roy just waved.
"Oddly enough, after Kiri was gone and the rain began, his wounds healed right up. As if nothing happened to him. Odd huh?" He looked to me and sighed as I curled up in the back seat. I was exhausted, and I knew I was gonna sleep on the way to the city.
"None of the men that died came back though... I was hoping you could help me out there..." he looked to me.
I shook my head.
"No thanks, I'm done for today. I just want to rest... Besides, If I do one more transmutation, I know I'll faint for sure this time... and I don't wanna make one of these boys carry me home." I smiled at Al before closing my eyes softly.

He nodded, feeling defeat; he was unaware of what Ed held in his pocket and he started the car.