Title: Underwater (Sequel to Blood Plague)

Author: SwiftFeather

Date Started: August 13, 2007

Chapter: Crime

Description of chapter: A kid commits a murder and frames Edward Elric for it.

Rating: K+

It was dark in the alleyway in Central. A young boy with braids stood there, a person wearing military uniform falling to the ground in front of him. A few more bodies lay strewn around in a bloody mess. Roy Mustang hissed and turned, running away. The boy in red coat didn't want to give chase, cursing and he dashed out of the alleyway. "Hey!" Someone shouted, but the blonde boy continued running, rain streaming down his face.

Edward Elric sneezed as he went back up the stairs to his apartment and opened the door. Alphonse was waiting for him, a big suit of armor sitting on the bed. "Edward! Its raining and you go around, running like that." Alphonse scolded like a parent. Edward laughed.

"Sorry… I was out for something." Ed said, evading Alphonse's questioning looks. He sat down on the ground, fumbling inside his suitcase. "What are you looking for?" Alphonse asked, looking at Edward.

"Oh… nothing. Just the report I did for that darn colonel. I need to submit it to him." Ed said. "Ah! Found it!" Ed exclaimed, taking out a crumpled piece of paper from his suitcase. "Time to sleep…" He said as he slapped the piece of paper on the table so that he can take it the next morning.

Edward got off the taxi, yawning as he approached the Central Headquarters. He was tired, and he told Alphonse not to come along with him, for he'll be back soon.

Ed stepped into the compound and he heard 'chk-cak' sounds around him, the sound of guns. Looking around, Edward watched as men in military uniforms surrounded him, pointing guns at him. A man walked out from the crowd. It was Roy Mustang. A short guy was beside him – almost as short as Edward himself, standing beside Roy, looking very serious. He might just be Ed's age… but he was older, probably in his late teenage years (18 years old). He was silver haired and golden eyed, and it reminded him of a certain someone he met a month ago. Somebody called Pine.

Edward frowned and looked at the colonel. "Hey colonel, I got the report right here… you don't have to be so uptight about a small report." Ed said nervously, walking towards the colonel. Then someone ran out in front of colonel Mustang. "Edward Elric. You are officially arrested for murder." Roy said bitterly, looking at Edward with fierce eyes. Edward tensed, looking at the person. The person in front of Roy was holding a tranquilizer gun, aimed at him. The person was Riza Hawkeye.

"What the hell are you talking about? I didn't kill anybody!" Edward said, gulping. Then he leapt up in the air was Riza fired a shot at him. The dart missed. Edward was panicking. What the hell did I do? WHAT THE HELL… I DIDN'T KILL ANYONE!? Edward dashed towards the men. The men tensed, all freaked out. What's up with these people?!

Then something hit his back, and he heard Roy Mustang shout , "Ed, don't you dare hurt my men!" Edward pun around and noticed a dart sticking out of his shoulder, and his vision dimming. A numbness spread towards his limbs, and he felt drowsy. He watched as Roy ran towards him.

Edward felt arms catch him as his vision spun, and his eyes closed.

Edward woke up sometime later, feeling a throb in his head. He reached out with his automail arm, wanting to feel the cool metal on his head. But instead he felt a dull plastic. "Huh?" Edward looked at his arm. Someone had changed it into a temporary plastic arm while he was asleep. His leg was still the same one that Winry had helped him make. He sighed with relief, and Roy Mustang came in, his gloves on. He stood at a corner and eyed Edward wearily. Two armed guards were behind him.

"What's the meaning of this, colonel?" Edward asked, grinning.

Roy tensed. "Edward. Why did you do it?" Roy asked, clenching his teeth. "The blood you've spilled upon the streets… of our military men. Why did you kill them? And why did you try to kill me?" Roy said, looking at him coldly.

"Huh? I… didn't…" Edward said, his face blank. "I didn't murder or… kill anyone." Edward muttered. Roy was frustrated. "You'll be justified on court tomorrow, and we're taking your silver watch. You're now suspended, until further notice." Roy said, walking out of the room, his back stiff and face pale.

Edward was shocked. "Wha…? What the?" One of the armed guards left with Roy, and only one remained. Time passed. Edward couldn't do anything. There was no more noise from outside. The only guard in there looked over at Ed. Edward caught a glimpse of silver hair under his beret.

"Hey… its you." Edward said.

The guy tensed. "Um, yes. I have heard much about you, Edward Elric. I don't think you're the one who killed them… but, they sort of caught your face on tape, so there was no denying it."

"What?! I am NOT the killer!" Edward said, getting up. The man looked at him, nodding somehow. "Tch. I believe you." He smiled. "I suppose it wasn't you. Maybe, you will want to try to get to the bottom of this?" The man offered. "I can help out. I am called Richard." He said, looking at Edward. Then he checked outside before coming back to unlock Ed's chains. "there, don't know where that metal arm of yours is… I think its with the colonel. You get out now, and I'll try to distract the others. I meet you again, somewhere, later."

Edward grinned. "Thanks, I owe you one." Ed ran out of the room, still feeling sore. His arm felt weird, but he ignored it. Who the hell impersonated me anyway? Edward thought. He soon found his way out without getting caught and fled to the warehouses at the sides of Central.

Edward went into Warehouse 8, the first from the left and hid behind boxes of ammunitions, panting. He sat there, his body feeling strange. That damn tranquilizer…He thought and sighed. Winry was supposed to come sometime… and Edward wondered how long he slept. It was night time in Central now, and Ed supposed he slept for the whole day.

He was hungry, and he wasn't admitting it. Perhaps he should just walk around… and ask for some food or something. Edward got up ad shuffled off into a more secluded part of Central, walking around with the rest of the shady characters. Ed wondered when he'd meet with Richard again.

A woman stepped in front of him, looking strangely down at him. She took in his appearance and smiled. "You want some food? You look hungry…" She whispered. Edward blinked up at her, and he nodded. "Yeah, thanks."

The woman smiled and led him along the streets before turning into a small house. "Come in…" she said. Edward wasn't sure about that place. It was stinky. It was dark. And it was full of bubbling stuff, and their stenches that seeped from the test tubes made him feel sick. "Err… I think I'll pass, Madame…" He said, feeling faint. The woman stepped out, holding a glass of juice in her hand. "Here… don't worry, its orange juice."

Edward stared at the juice. It looked fresh, and clean. Edward smiled. "Alright." He said, and drank the whole cup. It was rather refreshing… "Thanks… I think… I'd be on my way." He said, walking out of the door and continuing down the street.

The woman watched as Edward walked away. "It is done here, Colonel. Your sharp skills are great." The woman said. She remembered what the colonel had told everyone yesterday night, when he was hurt.

"Listen! If anyone of you sees this boy, do all your means to get him! He's with long blonde hair that's braided and with golden eyes…" The colonel said, before limping back to the headquaters. "Best if he's alive… he must be alive, okay?"

The woman was pleased. "Yeah, he'd be alive… but barely."

Edward continued walking along the streets, his insides boiling. His head felt heavy suddenly and his slid down onto the ground, panting. He felt sick. His head was burning up and Edward coughed feebly. He couldn't carry on…

Why…? Why is my head hurting so much…? I feel sick… what's going on… Edward thought. He shuffled around lazily, not catching a sign of Richard.

"Where the hell is he?!" Edward said aloud, burying his face in his hands.

Ed was devastated.

Finally, finite. Wasn't much time typing this… schools around bothering me. :( so won't have much time… so the next chaps gonna take longer, but stay tuned!!!!

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