July 18, 1904
"See this line goes here." Ed said.
"Hey. I'm bored." Reiko said.
Reiko had red hair, green eyes, and pale skin with freckles. She wore a purple Asian top patterned with Casablanca flowers, black leather pants, and black flats. Her hair was kept up in a ponytail with a purple bow.
"One more second, Rei." Al said.
"All right. We're done. What do you think, Rei? Kuri loves her present!" Ed said.
"I think that's a lousy present." Rei said. "Kuri got a duck plush, I thought you were giving me a fox one!
"That's not the present. It's just an outline for one." Ed said.
They transmuted the fox doll and Rei screamed.
"Rei!" Kuri ran over and comforted her sister.
Kuri was Japanese, with caramel colored skin and dark brown long wavy hair. She had blue eyes. She wore a white shirt edged in red embroidery and dark red capris, with socks and light brown flip flops. She wore a gold pentacle around her neck.
That was our very first use of alchemy. Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth.
An' it harm none, do what ye will. That is the Wiccan Rede's Law of Personal Gain. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth.
Xxx
"They weren't trying to scare you, Rei. They went to a lot of trouble." Cole, their father, said.
"That's right. Edward and Alphonse were just trying to do something special for you." Kimiko, their mother, said.
"I'm sorry about this. It was a misunderstanding." Trisha said.
"But no mistake of talent. You know, I've found even the most gifted folks give up before they do anything of real merit. But your boys have one heck of a start. Look at this work." Kaori, their grandmother, held up the plush fox.
"I know, it's stunning. But they shouldn't know anything about alchemy." Trisha said.
"Well they are his sons, after all." Kaori said.
Xxx
"Okay, boys, no secrets. When did your dad teach you alchemy?" Trisha said.
"How can we learn from somebody who's never here?" Ed said.
"We learned it from his book." Al said.
"You mean, you really understand it on your own?" Trisha said.
"Yeah, more or less." Ed and Al said.
"So, are you upset with us?" Ed said.
"You mean for using alchemy? No, Ed, I'm proud. I think I'll brag to every one I know." Trisha said.
Xxx
"Now, be sure to put the books back where you found them." Trisha said.
"We will." Ed and Al said.
"And when your dad gets back, make sure you thank him." Trisha said.
"Okay." Ed said.
"All right." Al said.
"And that door's off-limits, okay?" Trisha said.
"We hear you!" Ed and Al said.
"There they are! " Al said.
"Get that one!" Ed said.
"No, you can't pull that one first!" Al said.
Dad left a long time ago, when Ed and I were still boys. Mom stared off into the distance a lot, but she carried on as if nothing were wrong. We started studying alchemy, like our father before us. The more we learned, the more she smiled. She praised us. And we competed with each other. We became absorbed in the science that made you feel like you were magic.
Aug 12, 1904
Ed, Rei, Al, and Kuri were all lying down in sleeping bags in the Hikawa main room. Decorated on the ceiling were stars and planets the Hikawas had done.
"When I get my own place I'm gonna put stars on every ceiling!" Kuri said.
"Yeah and we're all gonna be friends forever!" Rei said.
"No, we'll all get married and have families and never be together again." Al said.
"Never!" Ed said. "Cuz we're gonna marry each other! I'm gonna marry Kuri and you're gonna marry Rei!"
"Pinkie promise!" Rei and Kuri said, offering their pinkies to Al and Ed.
Ed took Kuri's pinkie and Al took Rei's. "It's a promise!"
Sept 3, 1904
"Mom!" Ed said
"Look, mom, look!" Al said.
"Whatchya got there?" Trisha said.
"Brother made it. Isn't it awesome? I can still only do this one." Al said.
"Well, I think they're both gorgeous. You two really are his kids, no doubt about it!" Trisha said.
"You think Dad'd be proud, too?" Al said.
"Yes...Once he comes home, he'll tell you so." Trisha said.
"'Kay." Al said.
"I'm going to the Hikawa's!" Ed said.
"Brother, wait!" Al said. "Brother? Why are you so angry at Daddy all the time?"
"Come on, why do you think? He ditched us. I can't say I hate him. I don't remember him enough. But when Mom thinks of him, she gets sad. That's reason enough not to like him." Ed said.
"I guess." Al said.
Dec 12, 1904
"Come on, Al! You couldn't beat a snail with a broken leg! Hello, Mom! Sorry we're late! Mom?
Mom!" Ed stopped in the house seeing his mom on the floor.
"Mom!" Al called for the doctor.
"We just have to wait. I can tell you, this isn't some sickness she contracted yesterday. She must have been dealing with this for years, not telling anyone." Doctor said.
"Honey... " Trisha said.
"These are all the letters he's sent us. If we mail something to each of these addresses, explaining everything..." Ed said.
"Someone is bound to know where he is, and can tell him to come home." Al said.
"Damn it! I don't want him here. But it's the only way. She has to see him." Ed said.
"Your dad...He left us some money. I've never touched it. I was saving it for you boys.
Use it, and take care of each other." Trisha said.
"Don't be silly. We'll use it with you." Ed said.
"Edward, would you be a sweetheart, and transmute something for your mother? Yes, I know.
A ring of flowers would be nice. You see your father... always... used to make them for me..." Trisha said.
"And that's what we finally understood. The reason why Mom had always smiled at our alchemy. It had reminded her of Dad." Al said.
"Brother, I'm hungry. And I'm cold, too. How are we gonna do this? How are we gonna live without her?" Al said.
"We're not, Al. We're going to bring her back." Ed said.
"Look. It's right here, in his notes. I don't understand it all, but he's written something about human transmutations. If we can just decipher it..." Ed said.
"But Aunt Kaori says human alchemy's forbidden. This book says the same thing." Al said.
"Forget about that. If scientists could bring people back to life, we all know we'd be better off, right? Alchemists tried for centuries, and couldn't figure it out. Slapping a ''forbidden'' label on it was just a way for them not to feel bad about their failure." Ed said.
"But... maybe we should ask Dad about it first." Al said.
"Don't start with that junk again, Al. Mom's life drained away waiting for him. It's all his fault she's dead. He didn't even come to her funeral. No, this is something our dad couldn't do.
But we will. We have to." Ed said.
We used some of the money to find ourselves a teacher. And we learned alchemy from page one. The serious kind. We were done making dolls and roses.
Feb 20, 1910
"Water, 35 liters; carbon, 20 kilograms; ammonia, 4 liters; lime, 1.5 kilograms; Phosphorous, 800 grams." Ed said.
"Salt, 250 grams; saltpeter 100; sulfur 80; fluorine 7.5; iron, 5; silicon, 3 grams." Al said.
"And trace amounts of fifteen other elements. Yeah. That's everything. The physical ingredients of a human body. Now if we can just put together a soul, we should be able to call Mom back from the other side." Ed said.
"Edward, you sure we should do this?" Al said.
"Of course. Don't wimp out on me now." Ed said.
"But, no one's ever done this right. I mean alchemy is Equivalent Exchange. The body content seems simple enough, but what about the soul? What could we possibly offer?" Al said.
"Just hold out your finger, okay? What's a soul, really? When you take out the myth, it's just the spark that starts life. This is our blood. From her blood. That's a fair trade." Ed said.
"There's something foul in the air." Mustang said from far off.
They slapped their hands down.
"Brother... Something's going wrong here." Al said and then started to disappear.
"Al!" Ed screamed.
"Edward! Brother! Brother! Brother, please!" Al screamed.
"No, Al!" Ed reached out.
"And that's the last thing I remember. Him reaching for me, his leg already broken down by the forces of alchemy." Al said.
"What is this?" Al looked down at himself.
"I'm sorry... Al..." Ed said.
"Brother? What happened to you? And me...What happened to me?" Al said.
"There wasn't much time... I used my right arm as material in a transmutation... All I could manage was to attach your spirit to the armor in the corner... " Ed said.
"Oh, no...But... what about Mom?" Al said.
"You shouldn't look...It wasn't human." Ed said.
"I don't understand, Ed! What happened? Your theorems and equations, they all seemed right." Al said.
"The theorems weren't the problem, Al. It wasn't the math. It was us." Ed said.
Xxx
Kuri Hikawa opened her eyes. There it was again. The sound of the killers footsteps as he stepped forward. Blood dripped off the blade where he had sliced her skin—or was it his own?
Kuri backed up, coward that she was, no weapon, no way to fight back. Kuri hid in the cupboard.
"Stay there, sister," Rei whispered. "Don't make a sound."
Kuri bit her lip. She tasted blood.
Nothing could convince her to move. Kuri was frozen. Kuri closed her eyes against the fear. Then she heard her parents screams as they were being murdered.
What was that? Was she crying?
No...that was blood. Pouring from her eyes. What was this pain? The anguish of death...the pain and darkness that came with the end of life?
The last two lights came into view. One that Kuri could not feel, could not read, frozen to her power. That thing out there, it wasn't human, she couldn't feel it. The other being out there was Kuri's twin, her Rei. The only one whose heart beat same as hers.
Caught by the hands of the monster, Kuri's mouth opened to scream...and no words came out. The blood from her eyes pooled into a circle, crystallizing. Kuri gazed at the hideous thing in awe and fear. Swirling within the little orb...light and dark...everything and nothing...her life flashed inside the tiny orb. The Shikon no Tama.
She grasped the orb in her hands as the homunculus Envy defiled her, gripping it as if it could save her. It couldn't. His face changed to Ed's, mocking her feelings.
She screamed, and the Shikon no Tama flashed, a bright silver light, she heard a cry of pain from the homunculus, then Rei's voice, crying out her name. The shape of a fox.
Then, darkness. Bliss.
Xxx
Kuri got to her feet, headed to the bathroom, stepping over bodies. She took a shower, then dressed and came out. "The Elrics. We have to go over there."
"Sister you need a hospital. A rape kit..." Rei attempted.
Kuri waved it off. "I don't know what your talking about Brother. Nothing like that ever happened. Stay here. When I return I expect it clean and ready to receive patients. Grams will be home any day and we need her expertise on prosthetics."
"Sister..." Rei tried again, but realized it was kinder to let her live in her own reality she had clearly created.
Kuri walked to the door of the house, and slowly opened it.
There was the distinct sound of someone screaming. A flash of light, and then darkness.
"Kuri!" it was Al that saw her.
The transmutation was done, Ed was bleeding on the floor, and the suit of armor that was speaking to her was Al.
"Can you help him? Please help him!" Al begged her.
Kuri stepped forward, hands on her mouth, tears pouring down her cheeks. "I will help. But I can't carry him far. I'll get him to the Hikawa Compound. Grams will know what to do."
Kuri lifted Ed, and followed Al to the Hikawa Compound.
"Al," Kuri said quickly. "I-I'm so sorry. So…So sorry. Someday, I'll make it up to you."
"Make what up?" Al asked, confused. "You saved us, Kuri!"
"No," Kuri said. "I should have gotten there sooner."
May 3 1910
"Well, that explains a few things. A human transmutation. I've never seen such a furious reaction before. Pardon me." Mustang said.
"A State Alchemist?" Al said.
"What are you doing here? I have no time to entertain dogs. Can't you see these boys are hurt?" Kaori said.
"Take it easy, ma'am. I'm just checking the mail." Mustang said.
"One of our letters! Then you know where my dad is?" Al said.
"I only wish, kid. We've been looking for Hohenheim for a long time, and we're still only kicking up dirt." Mustang said.
"Well if you didn't have any information, why did you come? You sure as heck aren't going to find their dad here." Kaori said.
"Let's call it nostalgia, or misplaced curiosity. Whatever it was, I'm happy I came. If these boys can try human alchemy and survive, their dad just dropped a wrung on my priority list." Mustang said.
"I want you out of this house, immediately. I've had enough lives wrecked by the state." Kaori said.
"The name's Lieutenant Colonel Roy Mustang, State Alchemist. Pay me a visit at Central sometime." Mustang said.
June 30, 1910
Rei walked into Ed's room and locked the door. "Ed I don't want to tell you this. But I think you and Al deserve to know. The Hikawa family was massacred by a man with a tattoo like this." He showed Ed a picture. "The man then raped Kuri and then left her for dead. He...wanted me to see. I-I will never forgive him. I will destroy him. I am an avenger!"
"S-Someone raped Kuri...killed your family...and I was too busy making a mistake like this to help her! I just...I-I failed her..." Ed sobbed. "How can she look at me..."
"This isn't about you, idiot! You have to think about her! She is in a state of blissful ignorance! Don't mention it to her! Understand!" Rei yelled.
"Y-Yes!" Ed said.
Xxx
Rei walked into the dark room where Al sat alone. Dawn was just breaking, and she had just awoke, her red hair jumbled around his face, dark eyes poking out as he examined the big suit of armor.
She ran a rough hand over the cool metal. It reminded her of the automail prosthetics she, Kuri and Grams created. It was beautiful in its own way, and he stared in awe. But it also made him so very sad. Al, her Al, was now inside a suit of armor.
Her lifted his head and looked inside at the blood rune, reaching out.
"Please don't." Al's soft voice said.
Rei jumped.
"Good morning, Rei." Al said.
"Rei! You're on! I mean, you're awake! I'm sorry, I was just, uh... what about... I can... um..." Rei said, blushing.
"Are you ok?" Al said. "It's ok if this freaks you out."
Rei shook his head. "Nah. I was just thinking, now you're a shiny. I might just steal you away."
Her eyes glinted gold.
Xxx
"There's some money in the house, in a closet." Ed said.
"I'm sure it's safe. There are more important things to worry about right now." Kaori said.
"That's not what I'm saying. I want you to take it as payment. For automail. I can't go through with my plan lugging around a couple of stumps. I'm gonna visit that man, Mustang, and become a State Alchemist." Ed said.
"I was hoping you weren't conscious to hear that talk." Kaori said.
"He's not the only one I've heard from. The teacher we had told us about State Alchemists They've got access to the federal library in Central, with books on alchemy no one else has. They'll pay you, and fund your research, and those pocket watches amplify alchemic reactions." Ed said.
"Please tell me that's not all your teacher said. What about State Alchemists being the military's attack dogs, called into war to mow down the lives of people the state tells you are bad. Did your teacher mention that? In the attacks that took the lives of my sons, there were alchemists involved. When war comes again, are you ready to do the same?" Kaori said.
"I don't wanna be chained to the state any more than you. But I'll do whatever it takes to fix things." Ed said.
"Fix you, or the world? Make sure you ask yourself that." Kaori said.
July 13, 1910
Kuri approached Ed. Al was in the other room with Rei.
"Hey Ed, I don't...I don't know how to say this." Kuri said.
"Come on out with it then." Ed said.
"Al can't remain in a body without his soul for more than...29 and a half days." Kuri said.
"Th-that's nowhere near enough time!" Ed said.
"The full moon is tonight Ed. I can use reikohaidan to bring her body back...for one night a month. But if it isn't done now, the first time, then yes, she will die. I need you're help. It was your blood seal after all." Kuri said.
Ed was shocked. "And maybe after that you'll teach me this 'reikohaidan.' If it can do that..."
Kuri smirked. "Only if you teach me alchemy."
"I see, so you already learned Equivalent Exchange. Sure, I'll teach ya." Ed said.
Kuri held out her pinkie. "I promise I'll do all I can to put you both back together. I'm walking this path with you Ed. No going back. That's a promise."
Ed grinned and took her pinkie. "Promise!"
Xxx
Kuri could feel it coming in the air tonight, though it wasn't until after dusk that she knew beyond any doubt that the tumescent moon would crest between the proud jut of the rocks this very night.
Kuri prepared herself, taking special care to gather the oils, to pull together the herbs, anything that would give Al more of a fighting chance.
Knowing that the element of the Moon was Water, Kuri chose the largest and most beautiful of the conch shells she had collected during the last full moon. Kuri held it carefully before me while Kaori escorted her from the Uchiha compound to the winding path that led down to the southern shore of the river. As they walked, Kuri saw that the light from their torches reflected the pink center of the shell as if illuminating a secret.
With the aid of Ed, Al, Rei, and Kaori, Kuri lit each of the element candles and put them around Al in the transmutation circle Ed had helped her with.
When the moon was high enough in the sky, Kuri raised the conch, signaling silence, and then she and Ed activated the significantly altered transmutation circle.
The transmutation's light was silver, and Kuri helped Ed back into his wheelchair and the two of them stood back silently, waiting and hoping that their power would be enough.
The light dimmed and the candles went out.
"AL!" Ed wheeled himself to the center of the circle and looked at him.
"Brother you idiot! I'm not wearing any clothes!" Al said.
Kuri rolled her eyes. "Ya know it's better if you just sleep and let your soul recharge inside your body."
"Now your the idiot! You think I'm gonna sleep?! I'm gonna run and skip and dance and eat everything in sight!" Al ran inside. "Well? Come on!"
Unseen to everyone else, Kuri noticed Ed's sad smile, remembering that as the moon set, he would once again be bound to a suit of armor.
July 15 1910
"Just bear with us, Ed. It's the highest quality procedure we can do." Kuri said, holding him down as Rei came in with the prosthetics.
"Stay out of the room, Al." Rei said.
"I'm impressed, Ed. Even adults scream in this part of the operation. We're attaching each one of your nerves to the mechanism." Kaori said.
"This pain's nothing. Compared to what he's given up." Ed said.
July 15, 1911
"It's been enough time. We should see what we can do." Ed said.
"To train the mind to its potential, you gotta train the body. That's what our teacher said. But I don't know. How good can you be as an empty heap of steel?" Al said.
"Better than a couple chunks of automail, I know that. Brother, are you serious about being a State Alchemist?" Al said.
"I'm serious about trying. I'm gonna see this Mustang guy, and find out if I have a shot." Ed said.
"I don't want you to join." Al said.
"I've made up my mind." Ed said.
"Then I will, too." Al said.
"You can't." Ed said.
"Brother, are you going to try to bring back Mom again? I mean, we agreed it was a mistake, right? All the bad things that happened... I'll become the State Alchemist. And I'll find a way to get you back to normal, with a real arm and leg again. Then you can forget about all these other things you say you have to do." Al said.
"It's not your burden to carry, Al." Ed said.
"Well why shouldn't it be? I wanted you to stop, but I went along with it, anyway. I'm the one who had the feeling. I should have acted on it. And then you gave up your arm to save me." Al said.
"You've got no place feeling sorry for me, Al, okay?" Ed said.
"But brother... " Al said.
"I'm serious. I'm the one who has to fix things, and get your body back." Ed said.
"Then, you won't try with Mom again?" Al said.
"Well, chances are there isn't anything in this world we could trade for mom's soul. Besides all that, you know, I don't want to risk losing you again, Al." Ed said.
"Good. I'll have to come with you, though." Al said.
"Why's that?" Ed said.
"You're no good without me. You just turn into a jerk." Al said.
"Thanks for the endorsement." Ed said.
"But seriously, we're all we've got. From now on, we can't do anything that could pull us apart." Al said.
Even though we were trying to restore our own bodies, it was still human transmutation we were after, a forbidden science. If we failed the next time, there would probably be nothing left of us. We had no idea what the future would hold, but we knew there was no turning back.
So, on the day we left, we burned down the family home, and all the familiar things inside.
Because some memories aren't meant to leave traces.