Those Days After

A/N: This is my first Fullmetal Alchemist story EVAH. I don't know how good it will be. I shall try my hardest! Please don't be too mean if you review… Though with the way that it's written, it's probably one of my better stories.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Written by: YAJJ

These days were the hardest of them all. To everyone else, it'd seem like they should be the best! After all, Al was back in the flesh and blood, and Ed had gotten his arm back, though he'd chosen to keep the leg as a reminder. Yet, especially after years of this, after years of not having to make sure that Al was being nourished correctly, in fact hardly even having to watch him at all, it was difficult to get back into the swing of things.

But, it was the right swing of things. And to Edward Elric, 17-year-old Fullmetal Alchemist- the youngest State Alchemist in the history of Amestris- that was all that mattered. He still had his job and he got to keep his title (Mustang had said that his leg qualified) and he got to keep his brother as well. As long as the swing of things was right around Central, he would happily take up the role of Mr. Military Man First Lieutenant Elric and Al's near-father and anything else he needed to, honestly.

Al's memory was gone, though. That was the part that haunted him. Wiped like a slate, everything after their mother's transmutation, at least. He couldn't celebrate in his elder brother's joy of having him back, in the flesh as he was supposed to be, because he couldn't remember not being in the flesh. As far as he knew, it was Ed that had gotten the short end of the stick after the transmutation, and he hadn't been harmed at all. He was so confused that when he asked Ed how he'd made it up to First Lieutenant in the military if he'd never been in the military, Ed just told him to pretend that that wasn't the case. After all, they were a super-special pair of kids. Though why, Al didn't think he'd ever know.

Since getting their bodies back, Ed spent a lot of time in the office. He had no reason to be out and about, so he stayed in. And as long as Al was allowed to stay with him, that was fine. Al could read and do whatever else he wanted while he worked, and he'd have hundreds of people to keep an eye on him.

There wasn't much that littered Ed's office. It was spread out much like Mustang's, with a few sitting places and a table and desk, but there was close to no decoration. One thing, though, he made sure to keep. It was an even bigger reminder than his leg was of why to never mess with the laws of Nature. Al's old armor stood in the corner by his desk, tall and proud and as empty as it had ever been. It still had the blood seal on it, though a little smudged. They were just lucky that since Al's soul was no longer in there, it didn't matter. It stood there and watched over Ed as he worked, watched over Al as he played, and honestly with it around, Ed felt safer than without it.

Brigadier General Roy Mustang stopped in to see him every once in a while, to check that he and Al were doing all right, much like a father. And as many times as Ed yelled at him for getting too 'into his business' he was glad that he and Armstrong and Ross and Falman and every other person came to check on them, because he felt that he had a family. And he could tell that, as much as it confused Al to see them come in and start talking to him about his favorite things that they shouldn't know about, the now-10-year-old felt the same way.

Al was fighting. He was a fighter, and always had been, though not quite like his brother. He was fighting to not get confused about anything, to not be afraid when one more military person walked in to say hello, to just accept his brother as a State Alchemist- as the Fullmetal Alchemist. But it was hard. The last thing that he remembered was Ed being 11, was something disgusting wrapping around his arms and legs and every other body part, was the fear in his brother's eyes as he yelled for him. So what, now Ed had grown by six years and he'd stayed the same age?

Though they'd been doing it for years, both Ed and Al were still amused by alchemy. Well, Ed was amused by how amused Al was with alchemy. The first day after Al got his body back, when Ed brought him into the office, the day went fairly slow. So, to pass the time, Ed took a seat beside his brother on the floor and started to perform some simple alchemy. A small, beautifully crafted horse would appear there, along with a dog, a tiny version of Al's old armor and, to Alphonse's amusement and great joy, a tiny kitten curled up, looking to be asleep. It didn't take long for Edward's office floor to be littered with tiny figurines, though with one clap of the hands, they went away.

Al watched him, stunned. "Brother, how did you do that? You just transmuted without a transmutation circle!" he cried, pointing at him, shocked but quite happy.

Ed glanced over at him. He'd forgotten for a second that Al didn't have any memory. Of course he wouldn't know. "It must have been all of that intense training with teacher." He replied faintly, waving his hand and then standing as the grandfather clock in every office corner cried out for the noon hour. He turned to his brother and held out a hand. "Come on. You've spent six years cooped up in that thing, you must be hungry." As soon as those words came out of his mouth, he regretted it. He would have kicked himself if Al hadn't been there, scrutinizing him intensely.

Al took his brother's offered hand and allowed Ed to pull him to his feet. "What do you mean, brother? Six years? I think you're confused." He bit his cheek and furrowed his little eyebrows.

Edward chuckled at him nervously. He waved his hand, trying to wave off everything that he'd been stupid enough to say. "Don't worry, so do I. Anyway, come on, it's lunch time. Or do you not want to eat?" he went to the door, opened it, and left, closing it behind him.

Alphonse stared at him in shock, and almost immediately his stomach rumbled. He chased after his brother crying, "Brother! Wait for me!"

Edward had his reminder. He had it standing beside him everywhere he went, chatting with him or just being there. He had it standing in the corner of his office, dutifully watching over them as though a part of Alphonse's soul was still trapped inside. He had it supporting him with every step that he took, clanking in time, as though it were the beat to music. And he had it implanted in his head permanently, unable to leave; in fact, Ed didn't want it to leave. If it left, would he attempt another taboo? Would he kill his brother once more? Whether that would actually happen or not, he couldn't risk it.

Alphonse didn't have any reminder. Nothing but his brother's automail leg; not even a memory to remind him exactly why human transmutation was a taboo. That thought stayed on Ed's mind all day, as he watched his brother nap on the couch. The younger boy had his arm over his eyes, trying to keep the light out of them. It was nearly sunset; seven at night, and after six years of not sleeping, Ed wasn't at all surprised that he took to sleeping on the couch.

Ed started to doodle on the desk, and then decided to instead do it on paper to avoid property damage. He started drawing the first thing that came to his head as soon as he had paper to draw on, though he didn't admittedly expect it to be quite that. The blood seal was there, the one that he'd drawn on Al's armor to attach his soul to it. He stared at it, and bit his tongue in apprehension, waiting to see if somehow magically the paper would come to life, his little brother's soul attached to it. He would have erased it if another idea hadn't popped into his head. After all, Al needed a good reminder.

By the time that Al woke up around eight by his brother's shaking, it was dark. He winced and moaned, whining, "why did you wake me? I was dreaming about Mom."

Ed smiled down at him. "Sit up Alphonse. I need to talk with you now. It's important." He said, uncharacteristically calm. He offered his brother a hand, who took it and allowed his elder brother to pull him up. "Tell me, Al, what do you remember between us transmuting mom and waking up yesterday." He said gently.

Al cocked his head to the side. He furrowed his little eyebrows in thought and then shook his head. "Nothing. After all, didn't we just transmute her the day before yesterday?" he asked. He was suddenly very afraid. What if the transmuting hadn't only hurt his brother's leg, but his brain as well?

Edward didn't answer, frowning a little. It made Alphonse feel like he'd said the wrong thing. "Wr-wrong answer? Uh…" he started to attempt to think of a better one. "No! No, it's not the wrong answer. I was just wondering. But I need you to know something." He dug into his pocket and pulled out a chain, followed by the blood seal and the sign on the back of Edward's red coat. He unclipped the chain and reached behind Al, clipping it again when it was behind him. He released it, and it fell to gently rest on his chest. Al glanced down at it curiously. "What is this? Where did you get it?" he whispered.

Ed grinned at him. "Made it. From one of the lunch trays. Don't worry, I didn't steal it. They let me use it. And it's… a reminder, for you. I have 4 of my own, so I figured that you might need one."

Alphonse fingered it curiously. He smiled a little, and then laughed. "This sign's on the back of that silly little red coat you wear! Er, not little but… you know." He glanced up at his brother nervously, afraid for the yell that normally came from a crack about his height.

Surprisingly, Ed just chuckled at him and waved his hand, blowing off the end innocently. "I know, I know. And yes. It's the sign of the alchemist, remember? Teacher has it tattooed on her chest, too." He said. He frowned suddenly, and started to pet Alphonse's head, telling the younger boy that something was wrong. "Al, I need you to listen to me, and to never ever forget this. Never commit any sort of alchemic taboo. The losses are far greater than the gains, trust me. Never ever. That's what this is for; to remind you. Promise me that you'll never forget that." He said. He turned to glance back at Alphonse, looking him right in the eyes.

Al was surprised by the emotion in those gold orbs. He could do nothing but nod, though he'd hardly heard what he'd said. "Y-yes, brother…" he whispered. His own tan eyes stared at his brother for a second, but then they looked down at the floor. He felt his brother's hand squeeze his knee gently, and then the State Alchemist stood, shoving himself up rather forcefully. Alphonse stood up beside his brother, wondering what he'd do next.

Ed grinned at him and ruffled his hair softly. "Why don't you and I go out to eat real quick? Just a snack to tide you over until you go to bed. Hmm, what do you think?" He noticed Al's confused expression, and sighed. "Al, I'm only trying to protect you. I've lost you before, I can't do it again. Do me a favor and promise me that you'll never take that off." He said gently.

Al nodded. "Yes brother. And I know that. But… but…" he creased his forehead and chewed on his thumb nail. "Stop that. That's a bad habit to get into." Immediately, his hand dropped to his side. "Brother, I'm confused right now. Can you help me, maybe? You've always been so smart, maybe you'll be able to make sense of everything." Al chose to bite his lip instead of his nail.

"Maybe. What's the problem?" Edward went to his desk and grabbed his briefcase. He closed and locked all of the drawers, and then shut the drapes behind him. Finally he went to the door, and switched off the lights. He opened the door, and waited for Al to follow him.

"What's. Going. On?"

Ed stopped right where he was. He slowly turned to his brother, who looked like he'd be in tears. "What do you mean, Al? We're going out, is that okay?" he said anxiously. He had a feeling that he knew what Al meant.

"That's not what I mean, brother! You know that! It's only been a day since we transmuted Mom, right? Then how are you so much older, and taller and… and in the military! A State Alchemist who can perform without the circles! And… and your leg! It's metal, isn't it! I know 'cause I bumped against it earlier today. How! You work so well on it, you must have had it for months! What's going on?" Tears filled Al's eyes, and he convulsed once. He stared into his brother's eyes.

Edward was hurting from the accusations, and the frightened look in his brother's eyes. "Oh, Al. I wish more than anything that I could tell you. But… it wouldn't make any sense. I'm sorry, brother. But you're bound to get it eventually." He explained.

"Yes, but get what? I just want to understand…"

"Let's just leave it as this. The military wanted to keep an eye on us after we transmuted Mom, so they put me in it. Easiest way."

Alphonse crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. He glared at his brother, an act that Ed honestly didn't know that he knew how to do. "Don't give me that. You're lying to me. Brother!" the younger Elric whined.

Ed sighed. "Please, Al, drop it. It won't make any sense anyway. And I'm not trying to be mean or something, I'm trying to protect you." He crossed over to the 10-year-old and reached his hands up to ruffle his hair. He tapped the necklace around his neck, "just like with this."

Al still looked frustrated, but just after simply having his hair ruffled like that, he smiled, and then laughed. "Yes brother. I know." Suddenly, in an all too Al sort of thing to do, he threw his arms around his brother's neck and hugged him tightly, before releasing him and taking off toward the door. "Well? It's, like, 8:30 by now, it must be! If we don't get going, everything will be closed before we even get there!"

So far as I can tell, the first chapter of my first FMA story is a success! I hope that everyone liked it. :) The next chapter will get more serious based on the actual plot of the whole story, but hopefully this wasn't too bad. :) I won't know all of the information that everyone may think that I should know, though. I have only seen 4 episodes of Brotherhood, but I saw the whole other series (not much, I know, but still) and the Conquerer of Shamballa (yes, technically Ed should be in Germany, but you know what? I don't care! :D ) and not only that, I've read the entire manga... that's out at least. I just read volume 24. So if there's anything that should be corrected, please please do tell me in a review. Now, speaking of which... thanks for reading! Please review! XD

With love...

Ja ne! :-)