Poison Candy:

Simone’s Notes:

The "kawaii" style is extremely popular in Japan, where it is present in all the manga/anime styles. The school-aged girl in a school uniform is also an erotic symbol in Japan, comparable to the image of a woman in a mini-skirt in the United States. Burusera shops cater to men with lolicon complexes by selling unwashed panties, men can make dates with teenagers through terekura ("telephone clubs"), and school girls moonlight as prostitutes in Tokyo. Together, these create the "strange collusion which exists in Japanese culture between the hentai and the kawaii." Conversely, the great cultural respect associated with old age would make it incompatible with portraying ecchi behavior in manga, except in a greatly exaggerated farce context (typical examples being "Dirty Old Men", Dragon Ball's Muten-Rôshi, Master Happosai in Ranma 1/2).

The case finally got a break. Nately came upon a break in the case. He finally managed to get the picture magnified to Stacey’s eye and clear up the image to identify it.

“Holy cow!” he yelped out. “Thank you technology!” He quickly called up Mustang and Hughes. “Sirs!” he said aloud. “I have found where this picture was taken! Come quickly!” The lt. col. hung up the phone smiling. Mike was walking by when he noticed Nately in a good mood. Curious, he walked into the computer room to investigate.

“Nately,” Mike called to him. “You seem to be in a good mood. What’s going on?” The other lt. col. looked up at him smiling.

“You’ll see in a couple of minutes,” he replied. Mike sat down next to him. Both waited in excitement. Thomas could tell that this was something big. In a couple of minutes, Roy and Maes made it to the computer lab. Both men looked up. Nately smiled at them brightly.

“Oh great!” he said aloud. “I’m so great that you’re here!” The older men rushed over to the two subordinates. The suspense was building up fast.

“What do you have?” Mustang asked. Nately kept smiling and turned to the computer.

“Behold!” he said aloud. Then he showed them the screen. The other three men looked up the close up of Stacey’s eye really well. A little bit of red writing was reflected in her eye. The men were confused.

“What is it?” Hughes asked. Nately kept smiling.

“Well,” he replied. “I decided to look at what Miss Stacey was looking at to find where this photo was taken.” He turned back to the screen. “Now,” he went on. “Tell me. What do you see?” The men studied the picture for a few minutes more. Mike suddenly figured it out.

“It’s Chinese writing!” he yelled out. Mustang and Hughes looked right at him.

“How can you tell?” Mustang asked. Mike said at him.

“While I was looking around for clues on the other cases,” he said. “One of the bodies was found in China Town under this sign!” The four men all looked at each other. China Town was just down south from the Red Light District. Mustang looked down at him.

“Are there any apartment buildings in China Town?” he asked. Mike thought about that for a moment.

“Now that I think about,” he replied. “There is one building called Eastern Palace. But no one has lived there for years.” Silence came over the men. That was enough for them to go and look. Edward had become unpredictable now. He could be capable of murder now. They had to hurry before even worse happened to her. The boys all got up and hurried out the office. The clock was now ticking even faster.

The men took the shortest way to China Town through the Red Light District. Night was rising up quickly. China Town was just now springing to life. Merchants were all around trying to sell passer-bys small trinkets. The smell of food was overpowering. A couple of whores were flirting with men to get them for the night. The men kept looking up at the signs for the Eastern Palace. So far, most of the signs were in Chinese. This was next to impossible. None of the men knew how to read Chinese at all. They thought about asking around. But doubt that anyone here knew English rose in them quickly. But then, hope came.

“Look!” Mike called out as he pointed forward. “There’s an information center up there! And it’s in English!” The men rushed forward to the center. They came to one of the English booths with maps and restaurant flyers. Hughes took one of the maps and opened it up. The men all crowded around to read. They followed the trails with their eyes.

“There it is!” Nately called out as he pointed to the apartment building on the map near to the lake. The men felt a lot better. The lead was speeding up quickly. The soldiers began to hurry down the street to the apartment building. The thing about China Town is that no one really pays attention about who goes in and out of apartment buildings. No one even questioned for soldiers running into Eastern Palace. The inside lobby was vacant. It felt cold everywhere. The men forced themselves to keep moving through the cold. (It was odd since it was late July.) The elevator was busted so the soldiers had to take the stairs.

“Keep going!” Mustang ordered. “We can’t stop at all for Stacey’s sake!”

“Right!” the other men yelled out.

“According to the picture,” Mike said. “Stacey should be on the fifth floor of this building!” The men sped up even more. Time was racing even more. They made it to the fifth floor all beat and worn out. They couldn’t rest at all. Stacey needed them. The men couldn’t quit now.

“Split up and search!” Mustang ordered. “We’ll cover more ground!”

“Right!” the other three men yelled out. Then they all parted and began looking. So far, there was nothing. Hope was starting to fade away. But somehow, the men refused to give up. Something in them was driving them to keep looking. It was for Stacey’s sake was what they kept telling themselves. That hope would pay off big time. Roy and Mike came to apartment 582. Both were waiting on either side of the door. Mustang listened in closely. His eyes lit up when he heard low voices on the other side. He looked to Nately. Someone was in this apartment. Both men stood close together with their gear in hand. They both kept really quiet. Reed picked the lock too easily and they both rushed into the apartment.

The inside was next to empty. Very few furniture was in the living room. Everything was in plastic covering. But Mustang and Reed kept themselves focused. They listened for any voices in any of the rooms. Nately heard a soft shuffle to his left. Mustang heard someone sobbing to his right. Both men looked at each other. They didn’t say anything but they knew what to do next. Nately went to the left and Mustang went to the right. Both find what they needed.

Nately came to the bedroom. The door was opened to a crack. Reed noticed that someone was looking at back at him. The lt. col. prepared to approach this person. But yet, this being seemed to be pretty harmless. However, looks were deceiving. So, Nately stayed on his guard.

“Name yourself!” he ordered in a strong yet soft voice.

“Alex Shepherd,” the lamb whispered back to him. Nately was thrown back now. He wasn’t expecting this at all. This was a normal teenage boy before him. What was he doing here at all? The lt. col. began to think the worst for him.

“What are you doing here Alex?” he asked. “Are you being held captive here too?” The lamb nodded in silence. Nately was almost convinced.

“Okay,” the solider said. “But how can I be sure that this is not a trap?” Alex opened the door wide. To Nately’s horror, Alex was a mess. The lamb was completely naked with bruises, burns, bites, and cuts all over his body. Blood was dried all over his flesh as well. The lamb looked up at him trembling. Nately was speechless and pale. “Oh my lord!” he thought in a panic.

“So,” he said managed to say at last. “Is this… Edward’s doing?” Alex nodded in fear. Nately’s eyes grew big in fear. “Damn!” he thought. “Mustang warned us about Edward, but I thought that he would go this far!” The lt. col. tightened up some. “Is… Stacey in this building as well?” he asked. Alex nodded at him again. Nately really began to think the worst now. There was only one thing left to do now.

“I’m going to look around in the bedroom, okay?” he said calmly to Alex. The lamb just nodded and moved aside. Reed began searching for more evidence of child molester in the bedroom.

Roy followed the crying down the hall. He came to a large door. The major general took in a deep breath and opened the door. Inside looked like a photo studio. White was all over the room. Mustang kept up his guard the whole time. He suddenly heard a camera clicking and crying around the corner. Roy began to hurry to the sounds. He found Edward trying more pictures of Stacey. This time, she was dressed in nothing but a lacy black bra and panties. Her undies were skimpy on her developing body. Stacey was sitting on a stool in a sexual pose. The girl’s sweet cheeks were stained with heavy tears. The alchemist incubus seemed to be mocking her as he took more pictures.

“Aw what’s wrong Stacey?” he asked in a cruel tone. “What are you crying for? You’re a star! Stars are supposed to be always happy! Come on, smile for me slut!” The lights flashed even more.

“No more,” Stacey whimpered out in tears. “I want to go home. I can’t take this anymore.”

“Aw, why?” Edward asked aloud. “I’m not done with you yet!” Then, Edward felt a cold steel barrel to the back of his head.

“No,” Mustang hissed to him. “You’re done!” Edward just smiled at his boss. Stacey looked up with big eyes of fear.

“Well, well, well,” he said out loud. “Look who shows up! You finally solved the puzzle!”

“Let her go, Edward!” Roy ordered. “Let her go and we won’t have a conflict.”

“And if I don’t?” the alchemist challenged. Mustang drew in another breath.

“I’ll have to arrest!” he said aloud.

“Well, go on!” Edward barked. “Arrest me!” Mustang knew that he had to, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He must have still seen Edward as a friend. The alchemist knew that too well.

“Chief!” someone yelled out to him. Both men and Stacey looked up. Nately and Alex were standing in the doorway. The lt. col. had sheets in his hands.

“What is it, Reed?” Roy asked.

“I looked in the bedroom for more evidence to build a case against,” he began. “I had semen and vaginal fluid stains all over these sheets.” Mustang frowned in disappointment.

“And how old is Stacey?” he asked the man.

“Thirteen.” Nately replied. “Plus, he has been abusing this boy here too.” Mustang finally toughened up. He now had the evidence he needed. He turned back to the alchemist.

“Edward,” he said aloud. “You are under arrest for murder, arson, two counts of kidnapping, and child molestation. You have the right to remain silent.” The major general turned to Nately.

“Reed, get Hughes and Thomas,” he ordered. “Take the boy and Stacey with you and contact Dr. Howard as soon as you can! These kids need help!”

“Sir!” Nately said as he saluted. The lt. col. walked over to the girl and helped her off of the stool. Then he took Alex out of the room with him and her. Mustang turned back to Edward.

“It’s all over now,” he said. “Give up and turn yourself in!” The major general heard him snickering coldly. He became pissed off quickly.

“And what the hell is so damn funny?!?” he hissed out loud. Edward stopped laughing and looked at his boss out of the corner of his eye.

“No,” he said aloud. “It’s not over yet!” Then he transmutated his hand and slashed Mustang in the thigh really fast. Roy was lucky to back away as soon as he could. He fell backwards with a thud. Edward looked at him smirking.

“It’s all just beginning!” he corrected. “The fun is only beginning here! You can bet on that! I will be back!” Then he disappeared into the floor. Roy just sat there panting. “Damn it!” he thought in anger. Mustang pushed himself back up to his feet. The monster had gotten away. Edward would be free to torment more innocent people. He didn’t understand what Edward meant, but the show was diving into the next darkened act. The only way to stop this was stand up and act, because was now against them.