More Than You Know

MORE THAN YOU KNOW

A Fullmetal Alchemist Fanfiction

by CHIKARA

Chapter One: Complete and Uncut

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DISCLAIMER: THIS IS FOR THE ENTIRE STORY, I WON\'T WRITE IT OUT EACH CHAPTER, SO READ AND UNDERSTAND NOW =D

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST IS NOT MINE. ALL CHARACTERS, PLOT, ETC, ARE COPYRIGHTED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. (Hence the title FANfiction) I\'m just a bored gal who likes to mess with the character\'s heads. Yay. =P

---

The fretful, monotone air was broken that evening by the shrill phone\'s ring that cut through the silence like a knife. Roy Mastang jumped at the distraction, slamming on hand on the receiver and the other on a cup of coffee he had nearly knocked over in his haste to stand. Muttering to himself, he shoved the phone between his shoulder and chin and adjusted the mug with both hands, pulling it back unto his desk and straitening the white cloth across his desk.

\"\'ello?\"

He recognized that voice - Hughes. Great, right about now he need a call from a friend, someone to talk to while he finished up his filework, and maybe got a few hints toward the \'Philosophers Stone\' Hughes seemed interested in lately. But, he thought to himself, if Hughes started ranting about his lovely daughter and wife again, he\'d be talking to a dialtone in half a second flat.

\"Hughes? I thought it was your day off.\"

\"Yeah, it is, but your shift ends at six, right?\"

\"Yep.\"

\"Well, a friend of mine invited me out to the slave market with him tonight. I just got my packcheck in and everything, and my wife seemed happy with the idea. We really need someone to do the work for her and take care of my baby, you know. Anyway, I thought I\'d invite you out. We\'re leaving at six.\"

Roy raised an eyebrow. \"Hughes..\" he warned.

\"What, don\'t have the money?\"

The room seemed awfullly quiet again to him, now. But instead of snapping back an answer as he was inclined to, he put on his best stoic voice and told him that no, he had more than enough for a slave.

There was a pause on the line. \"You\'re not against it?\"

\"Well, no.\" And that was the truth. Slavery was a topic he had silently dismissed, something he never gave a thought to on a serious scale, and never once had he gotten an invitation to purchase one. But...why not? Less work, more help, and...certainly, much less stress. He had never given it a negitive thought, but never a positive one either.

\"No, I\'m not.\" he answered finally.

\"Well...\" Hughes began, but Roy cut him short. \"Listen, I have to help Havoc with some reasearch files, and I\'ll leave early. We can go at four.\"

His voice perked up. \"Really?\"

\"Yeah. You\'re friends driving thought.\"

Hughes laughed. \"Right. By the way, Colonel, did I tell you about my daughter\'s birthday? She\'s turning three tomorrow! Isn\'t that adorable?\"

\"Priceless.\" he muttered, tossing the phone back at the reciever.

---

There were two places Roy had been to that seemed so darkly dramatic - one being the President King Bradely\'s office, and the other belonging to a tramp of a woman he had once dated for a day or two. Roy, Hughes, and Ross (who turned out to be the friend) entered silently, keeping their cash tucked in their back pockets and looking around with interest. It seemed high in class, oh yes, what with the auctioneer standing by the podium in a black suit and leather boots and the curtains draped over the auction stage. There where chairs set up in rows, all sturdy and cleaned, and Roy scanned over the room with interest, letting it fill his senses. The first thing that caught his attention was the crowd, half of them already sitting down and flipping half-heartedly through their wallets, the other gathered around the slave\'s bench, chattering loudly and pointing. Hughes watched them with an eyebrow raised, looking somewhat curious if not sceptical, but Ross was already halfway over.

\"Come on.\" Roy muttered, following her, and Hughes fell into step next to him, rubbing his chin.

\"I think my wife would like a woman, something who cooked good and would babysit nicely, most of these men seem the labor type.\" he began aimlessly. \"But I\'m not looking for a partner, of course, so I\'ll have my ears rather than my eyes open -\"

\"Mm.\" he muttered.

\"Ohh.\" Ross whispered, shoving through the crowd. \"Look at these. This one looks strong, but I think I agree with Hughes, a woman would be nice...\"

She hovered over to another section that Hughes was currently rubbing his chin over.

Roy watched them with bland curiosity and scanned over the slaves. They all were staring strait ahead of them, the look on their faces a strange cross between determination and stoic emotion. There were several fingers shoved up in their faces, each one making a remark of \"Ooh, this one looks nice.\" and \"Wonder if he\'s strong enough to -\" all of the people looking chattering and giggling and making arrangements about money.

The slaves were sitting on a long, wooden bench, with their ankles chained together to the floor. Their wrists were bound tightly behind their backs, and they were showing no move to struggle against the binds. The age ranges were actually rather wide, Roy thought. Some of them seemed just about eight, while others were at least sixty. But all of them had a number hung around their necks, branding them like cows to be butchered.

Interesting.

\"I\'m sitting down.\" Hughes announced to them. \"I think I\'ve got a pick, but we\'ll see how it turns out. I can only spend so much.\"

\"Uh huh.\" The Colonel muttered.

There was a light tap on his shoulder, just as he was moving on to survay a more petite young woman with his eyes. \"Roy.\" Ross whispered, her eyes flashing slightly. \"We better go sit down as well. It\'s starting soon.\"

Roy nodded and allowed himself to be cast away, the young woman dragging him over by his wrist and chattering noisly about weather or not she was ready to purchase another human. His mind felt slightly clouded.

Roy took a seat oposite Hughes, digging through his paper-clipped yen with a slight frown. Slaves were expensive, at least 20,000 yen. But, then again, alot of men and wemon in the army had a slave. Lately, he had just sort of let that fact go over his head. It had seemed so...natural.

So, when he came into work, (IF he came into work, he reminded himself silently) with a slave, did that mean people would think nothing of it? Would they just shrug their shoulders and move on? Or did that make him lazy, for not doing his own work? Was there some kind of clique he\'d be shoved one-handed into, full of both cruel and shy masters? Or, or...

\"What\'s up, Colonel?\" Hughes asked, snapping him out of his trace. \"You never seem that pre-occupied with thoughts.\"

\"Hn.\" he answered, only to be shusshed into silence by Ross. \"It\'s starting!\" she whispered, settling back unto her chair as the auctioner took his place up on the platform.

Roy cast his eyes upon the man, frowning. In one hand he held a gravel, and another man stood near the stage steps, holding the first slave to be sold by a thick collar thrown around a middle-aged woman\'s neck. She was wearing a thin brown dress that stopped just below the knees, with a low V neck cut and sleeves that looked almost like tears in her dress that she had stubbornly shoved her arms through. Her bright blonde hair was tied back in a low ponytail, all but two locks that she had hanging over her ears and unto her shoulders, and her face seemed rather pale and broken. Roy watched her with doubtful curiosity. She seemed almost assured of a horrible fate that hadn\'t even fallen upon her yet.

The man led her up the stairs by the chain, guiding her to a low block, which she stood silently on. The number on her tag read \"13204\" in bold, black letters. She slung her head down instantly, looking somewhat flustered and abshamed, but Roy saw her raise her eyes out to the curious audience, all of whom were judging her and waiting for the auctioner to begin. She watched them with the air of a newborn baby just now seeing the world, frightened, amazed, awed.

The room\'s low chattering was broken by a deep, loud thrash, which came from the gravel in the auctioneer\'s hand. He was now standing at the podium, flashing bright eyes at the audience.

\"First up, Winry.\" he announced loudly, and everyone\'s eyes snapped to her face, giving her a look over and rubbing their chins with a disgusting air. \"Housework is rated high, as well as skills with looking after family and sexual proformance. Her labor is rated a three of ten. Quite a looker, eh?\" he smirked, giving her a quick eyeshot before continueing. \"A house slave, perfect for jobs of cooking and cleaning, and has an amazingly high ranking in fixing mechanical appliences. Fifteen years of age, no signs of sickness - very active and healthy. Any starting bids?\"

A man near the back raised his hand. Roy regarded him with a sense of disgust. He looked hungry and lecherous, and Roy would bet money that he was only bidding for her body.

\"20,100 yen.\" he said proudly.

Some glances were exchanged. Roy\'s attention, meanwhile, was caught by Hughes, who was digging furiously through his wallet.

\"24,000 yen!\" he called out, causing Ross to jump.

Roy could have laughed for not realizing it first. High ranking in housework and family skills. What a great fit.

The man hesitated, frowning slightly, and then waved his hand in a sort of surrendering gesture.

\"24,000 yen, anyone else?\"

The room fell silent.

Roy jumped at the loud slam of the auctioneer\'s hammer. \"Sold, for 24,000 yen!\"

Hughes rubbed his knuckles together, grinning proudly. Ross, however, looked disgusted.

\"You,\" she snapped, her voice rising slightly to a more shrill pitch, \"Did not just purchase a sex slave, did you?\"

\"Of course not, Maria, dear.\" he said, putting an arm over her shoulder. \"She can take care of my baby and help out my wife. And you accuse me of gutterthoughts?\"

Ross huffed and fell back in her seat.

\"Sexual Proformance.\" Roy muttered, keeping his eyes on the auctioneer.

\"What\'s up with you?\" Ross offered, one eyebrow lifted.

\"I\'d be surprised to see a slave sell with a low proformance.\" he muttered, watching the next one be led up. \"Most of the people here seem to be interested in just that.\"

She muttered something darkly, folding her arms over her chest.

\"I\'m certainly not.\" She stated. \"But then again, I don\'t think I\'ll be buying today. I may think it over a bit, I\'ve already got a slave, so I\'d need someone of different abilities.\"

\"Hn.\"

\"Next, Jane Tucker.\" The auctioneer shouted out the crowd as they settled down again. \"Here\'s a very strong woman, mid-rated -\"

\"You know what,\" Ross whispered to him as Jane stood silently on the block. \"Slave Owners rename their slaves after recieving them, have you ever heard of that? I\'m only telling you in case you\'re interested in one. It\'s to make them forget about their past life, or something. Supposed to be a healthy encouragement. The woman I have, Lulubelle, she\'s great with housework, but, her old name used to be Bridgette. I never fogot that either, because I always wondered to myself about if she really did forget about the Bridgette side in her. But, I guess it\'s better that she does, that she moves on and takes up her place.\"

Roy shrugged, closing his eyes with annoyence as the gavel slammed down again. Ross shuddered, whispering her distaste in that disgusting man who Jane was just sold to.

\"I\'m never violent with her,\" she went on to say. \"Besides, she\'s such a kind dear, does everything I ask and more. I try to be nice back to her, thought it is a bit awkward, but part of me still wonders if she only acts that way out of fear. It\'s sorta creepy.\"

\"Next!\" He called in a strong voice, breaking Ross\'s conversation quickly. He waited for the next slave - a man - to be brought up, and Roy found his attention caught quickly. He looked very young, about thirteen in age, and his hair was a shocking color of blonde, grown long and tied back in a thick braid. He was wearing torn shorts, a dark black color, and a belt thrown over that. Roy could easily see why. He was strong, his body well toned, but all in the same, shockingly thin.

The boy\'s right arm was missing, as well as his left leg up to the knee, and was replaced with sturdy automail attachements. Roy gawked in silent wonder at the scars across his bare chest and leg, and kept his eyes locked on him as he was led up to the low auction block. He stumbled on it carefully, and turned his eyes up stubbronly to the crowed.

Roy blinked. Golden eyes. He\'d never seen such a shocking appearence before. Even to a man like him, it seemed attractive, exotic. His irises moved slowly over the audience, watching the coarse faces and wandering eyes on him. He peered softly at them through long, yellow bangs, and then silently lowered his head as his hair fell into place, hiding those gorgeous eyes once more.

The auctioneer slapped him.

The shocking smack of flesh against pale flesh stunned the audience into silence that was soon broken by a giggle. Then another, followed by a hush and a few shaking heads.

\"Keep your head up.\" he snapped, his eyes flashing dangerously, and then he turned the audience, slamming down his gavel for silence. The boy, meanwhile, did as he was told, bringing his thin face as well as his tag, which they could now read as \"13206\", back into the audience\'s view. This time around, however, his eyes were completely stoic, and there was a scarlet bruise visible just over his left cheekbone.

\"Edward Elric.\" The auctioneer announched. \"Please forgive that, he\'s just turned thirteen and hasn\'t quite grasped the ropes yet. His face contacted slightly, his tone of voice rising in more of a nasty pitch. \"However, he responds strongly to physical correction. Ed ranks unusally high in sexual proformance and physical labor. He\'s quite the strong one, with extra advantages because of his automail limbs, so he\'s handly for hard work. A great looker, an exotic slave, as you can see, very attractive and young. Starting bids?\"

A woman thrust her hand quickly in the air. \"25,000 yen.\" she shouted proudly, settling back in her chair.

Roy watched the boy with curiosity. His eyes still stared straid ahead, unmoving and emotionless. The bruise on his cheek was slowly turning from red to purple and giving him a remarkable appearence in contrast to his body.

\"29,000\" the perverted man in the back shouted quickly, and Roy bit his tounge at the sight of Ross throwing her head with frustration into her hands.

\"35,000 yen.\"

There was a few bland blinks, then complete silence. Ross and Hughes were staring at him with utter surprise, though there was something like pride on Hughes face, and it took him a moment to realize the bid came from his own mouth.

\"Sold for 35,000 yen!\" the auctioneer said happily, slamming his gavel down on the podium, and there were a few whisperes beginning to scatter along the room\'s exterior. Roy almost laughed. What luck that he had a job that supplied so much money. He smiled to himself, settling back down into his chair.

\"Well?\" Ross demanded as he lay his head against his folded hands. \"Quite the man to burn money, arn\'t you?\"

\"You could say that.\" he muttered smugly.

---

Hughes led the way to the back, shoving his yen impatiently in the slave handling woman\'s hands. The man pocketed it greedily, let Ross by, and then cocked an impatient eyebrow at Roy. \"Didn\'t you buy that screw up?\"

Roy blinked. \"What?\"

\"Ed\'s famous for his sexual ranking.\" she laughed bitterly, but voice held no joy. \"Fucking whore. Enjoy him.\"

For a minute he didn\'t know what to say, then he simply shoved the wad of yen into her hands with a look of disgust. She stared after him, giving him one more teasing laugh before turning to the next customer.

The auctioneer was waiting in the back, currently unchaining Winry and removing the irons from her ankles. Hughes watched with disconcern and quickly took her leash and stood aside as Roy entered.

\"Hey Colonel.\" he greeted, grinning in spite of himself. Ross watched him curiously, glancing over at the auctioner and quickly backtracked.

\"The-\"

\"UGH,\" The man was gasping, \"You fucker, stop struggling!\"

The Colonel watched with dawning horror as Ross took a step backward and gave him a clearer view. The auctioneer had both hands slammed down against Edward\'s wrists, pinning him to the wall. Ed had his teeth grinded together and eyes squeezed tightly shut, struggling wildly, trying to kick at him but failing since the chains were only half way undone. The look on the auctioneer\'s face was pure anger, something that made even Roy cringe in fear, and soon he found himself closing his eyes when the now fermilar sound of abuse rang out, accompanied by Ed\'s shrill cries.

There was a pause filled only with Ed\'s soft hysteria, and soon there was another sharp scream, almost piercing, something that made nearby slaves and customers turn. Roy kept his eyes tightly closed, seeing only the darkness inside his eyelids, and when he opened him, the sight that greeted them as a shaken Hughes and a tacken aback Ross. Across from them, he turned nevously to see, was his new slave, shaking, with a deep, scarlet whiplash across his chest. He watched with a sort of bland horror as Ed stood doubled over, clutching at the wound, which had now began to bleed heavily, blood dripping softly unto his fingertips and lower toward his navel.

The auctioneer raised the whip again, and Roy felt something slip up his spine. He threw himself at the man, grasping his wrist firmly and holding tight. The auctioneer turned with wide eyes toward him, and then took a deep breath of relief.

\"Lord.\" he whispered. \"Such a troublemaker. Good luck with him.\" He paused, and then, shaking Roy\'s fingers away, turned back to the teenager. \"Don\'t you dare start anything in your new home. Nothing will change, got it?\"

Ed teeth gritted tightly together in a mixture of frsutration and pain, nodding.

Roy felt something sturdy being pressed unto his palms, and looking down, he saw the now slightly blooded whip resting in his hands.

\"You\'ll be needing that.\" The auctioneer growled.

---

The auctioneer had (maybe a little too forcefully) fitted Ed and Winry with a collar and leash, and now that they were outside into the gleaming sunlight, Hughes was fumbling with the buckle.

\"Stupid thing.\" he muttered, \"I\'m not gonna have her dragging this along in the house, influencing my baby...\" His eyes lit up. \"Oh, Winry, dear, I\'ve got a lovely daughter for you to take care of. She\'s turning three!\"

Winry gave him her best smile, her eyes seeming more alive now. Something had shifted in her faciel expression, and it seemed a large amount of relief had slipped into her bones. Roy could only imagine the fear that she had held in her stomach as she stood on that action block, waiting to be given away. Smiling a little himself, Roy turned to Edward, opening his mouth to speak, and then quickly, found himself closing it again.

Ed was walking alongside him with his head bowed, eyes downcast. All that the Colonel could clearly make out was his full lips, parted slightly in exhaustion. He found himself wanted to reach over and brush the bangs out of his eyes, to get a close-up view of those gorgeous golden irises, but something held him back. Ed\'s long bangs fell over his darkened expression with an air of haunted fear, something that made Roy shiver, and his mind flashed for an instant back to the auctioneer in his fit of rage, raising his open palms and backhanding the blonde into the brick wall he was chained to.

\'Reacts strongly to physical correction\' the words repeated themselves with a ghostly ring in his mind. \'Oh, Lord...\'

\"Something wrong, Colonel?\" Ross asked, dipping down to take a decent look into his face.

\"Erm - no.\" he said, giving her a reassuring look. \"But we need new names for them, right?\"

\"How about Angelina?\" Hughes said, giving Winry a fond smile. \"Since she looks like such an angel.\"

\"How sweet.\" Ross muttered, her arms crossed over her chest. She seemed strangely bitter, but soon she had turned curious eyes on Roy. \"What about you?\"

\"Xiao.\" he said finally. \"From Xiao-yan, which is Chinese for...\"

He paused, thinking, then shrugged his shoulders and continued walking. \"For something.\" he finished dully.

\"Gunpowder Smoke.\" Edward said hesitantly.

They stopped, staring at him, and Roy found himself smiling to himself without the knowledge that the others had froze. \"That\'s right!\" he said cheerfully, \"Gunpowder!

There was a sharp tug at the chain around his wrist, and he paused, looking over his shoulder at the three still bodies that stood, gawking at the boy. Edward, meanwhile, had hung his head, his hands balled into fists. Beneath his long bangs, Roy could just make out his eyes, which were now squeezed tight in preperation for a blow.

\"What?\" he said, staring at the small party.

\"You do NOT,\" Ross began, her voice becoming suddenly full of command as she bore down on Edward, \"Speak unless spoken to, understood?\"

He nodded, golden irises still hidden.

Ross shook her head and continued walking while the other three caught up hesitantly. \"Honestly.\" she said as she fell back in step next to Roy, \"He was right, that boy doesn\'t know his manners.\"

Roy blinked, casting his gaze down to Edward, who was following slowly with his arms swinging by his sides. He frowned, his eyes moving over the teen\'s body and coming to rest on the collar around his neck. \'It\'s like a pet dog,\' he thought, a strange shiver slipping down his spine. \'There are no cliques or companions thinking of you to be lazy for owning a slave. It\'s just like having a pet dog.\'

But something about those thoughts made him guilty.