After the Light Chapter One: The Graveyard
By Tsukiko
I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist, regretfully, nor do I own "Ghost of You" by My Chemical Romance. I borrowed the names Daniel and Tsukiko from my friend, Shadow Keyblade. I only own my creativity and imagination.
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Soft snow fell from the gray sky, the colossal church-tower clouds emitting powder like prayers. The flakes stuck to my raven hair, melting where my hands clutched my cheeks. The stream of melted snow echoed the tears running down my face from my auburn eyes. Like an expensive chocolate, she used to say. I quietly sang to myself:
I never said I'd lie and wait forever
If I died we'd be together
I can't always just forget her
But she could try…
"Riza, my dear friend….I was so foolish…" I mumbled, curling tighter on the mound of dirt of the grave. After more long, tense minutes I sighed and slowly sat up. Touching the engraved words of the tombstone, I whispered, "Please forgive me…" and continued to sing faintly:
At the end of the world
Or the last thing I see
You are
Never coming home
Never coming home…
Suddenly rustling and crackling came from the forest, with a few curses every so often. I quickly came out of my shock-induced trance and spun around just as a boy came barreling out, tripping over a branch. A mumbled stream of curses followed him as another boy, golden-haired, golden-eyed and wearing a long red coat came into the graveyard.
"Faster route my ass. 'Oh, we'll be there in a jiffy, I promise!'" he mocked. "'Ed, please…it's Riza's birthday and you should pay your respects.' Ugh, I always fall for the sappy stuff from you, Al." The golden-haired boy, who's name I guessed was Ed from what he said, mumbled on. Following him was another person in a suit of armor.
"Now big brother, you know how special 1st Lieutenant Hawkeye was to Roy…Oh! I didn't see you there! I'm sorry…" the group turned to see me in my red-eyed, puffy-cheeked glory.
"Oh, um, th-that's fine You were friends of Riza's as well?" I stammered, turning once again to the grave. The song continued to echo in my head:
And all the things that you never ever told me
And all the smiles that are ever gonna haunt me…
"In a way-" started the boy in armor.
"Nope, hardly knew the girl. But…I suppose you could say that we're 'acquaintances' of Mustang's." Ed interrupted.
"Roy Mustang? Riza always…" I zoned out again, hearing the pain in my voice as I said her name. How do these boys know Mustang?
And all the wounds that are ever gonna scar me
For all the ghosts that are never gonna catch me…
Ed's aurulent eyes were sympathetic. "My name's Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist." My head snapped up, my eyes falling to his waist, finally noticing the silver chain, undoubtedly from his State Alchemist pocket watch. No…he couldn't be! That'sthe Fullmetal Alchemist?!? He saved my town! I cringed as I thought of Xenotime, my "home" town.
"And I'm Alphonse Elric." the boy in armor woke me from my thoughts. "How long have you been here?"
I looked down at myself, grimacing at my stained shirt, wrinkled pants, and travel-worn shoes. I felt the same on the inside. "It seems like years." I whispered.
"So that was you singing…" the other boy, who was sitting on the ground where he fell, forgotten, said in a hushed voice. He seemed to be talking to himself, but was staring directly at me with intense, almost-black eyes. They were like a chasm, and looked as if they held some hidden pain or insight. They bared into mine and held, and for awhile I was incapable of speech.
Finally I could look away. Flushing, I stood and said, "Of course I know who you two are. You're famous- or infamous, depending on who you're talking to. I'm Tsukiko, and Riza was…" my voice cracked, and I looked away, blinking away new tears that threatened to swell up. "Well, that's not important. I knew her well. What's your name?" this was directed at the obsidian-eyed boy.
"Oh…Daniel." he answered, speaking as if he was waking from a daydream or from deep thought. We locked eyes again, but this time only for a few tense seconds.
I laughed half-heartedly, almost heartlessly, and whispered harshly, "That was our best friend's name." my half smile fell. "He died in Ishbal."
Looking up, I saw Ed's eyes harden as he looked into an unknown distance. Alphonse put a comforting hand on Ed's shoulder and whispered, "We can't save them all, brother."
I turned to look at Daniel, who's eyes now hid sympathy and a deep-rooted sorrow. He looked at me inquisitively. "Our?" he asked.
"Oh. Riza and I's." Our discussion fell into an awkward silence, and I took the time to say one final prayer. "Now I really must be going-oh." Realizing that I had no safe place to go, I sighed and started walking awkwardly back in the direction of Xenotime. I had walked all the way there, and now it was time to start the long trek back.
Ever get the feeling that you're never
All alone and I remember now
At the top of my lungs in my arms she dies
She dies….
I walked haltingly through the dense, dark forest, crashing through thorns and bumping into what seemed like every tree. I felt drunk, my head was spinning and my feet were heavy. I came to an unfamiliar river, one that I had not passed on the way to East City. I flopped onto the ground with a sigh and rubbed my now-skinned knees. I looked inside me- something felt dead. What, and who, I used to be…was gone. Groaning as I stood, I began to scavenge the bank of the river, looking for a shallow and still place I could swim or walk across. Then I heard something rustling behind me. The hairs on my neck stood on end- something besides a fox was watching me, following me. I crouched behind a bush, drawing my stolen switchblade from my heel.
"Tsukiko?" I heard faintly, then louder, "Tsukiko?" It was the boy with never-ending eyes….Daniel…calling for me. Confused, I put my knife back and stood.
"I'm here, Daniel." I called. A moment later his face appeared, the worry contorting it turning to relief. "Why did you follow me?"
He ignored the question. "You don't have a place to stay, do you?" he said, concern evident in his voice. That fact confused me more- what was I worth to him, a stranger that he met sleeping in a graveyard?
"No…" I slowly said. "Not really. I live in an orphanage in Xenotime. I walked here when I got the news…I was too late for the funeral. But don't worry about me, there's no reason to…"
"You're shaking," he said, coming closer, "You haven't eaten or slept in days, I can tell. Just come with me and-"
"No. Thank you." I said abruptly. "You don't want me. I'm nothing to you, to anyone." I spoke with finality, turning to walk away, to find a way around the river. But what was keeping me standing where I was? What had been blocking my path all through life? Endless pain. Continuing dread. Tears started to roll down my cheeks again, and I finally started to run away, but Daniel grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.
"Tsukiko…" There was a softness to the way he said my name. I had never heard my name said like that before. Everywhere I went people just treated me like I was worthless, but…
I looked up into his face, tears still quietly falling. The same softness in his voice was in his eyes…his hypnotizing eyes. He wiped away a tear with his spare hand. "Okay." I said weakly. An overwhelming urge came over me, and I hugged Daniel around the shoulders. He stiffened in surprise, then loosened and gently put his hands on my back. "And thank you." I looked at him, half smiling.
"For what?" he replied, then gasped and tightened his grip around me as I blacked out.
At the end of the world
Or the last thing I see
You are
Never coming home
Never coming home…
End of Chapter One: The Graveyard
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I promise my later chapters won't be as depressing.
-moonbabytsukiko