Chapter Two. . . Hello again (P.O.V. off)
Ed watched the girl leave in stunned silence. Her brown amost black hair bounced as she walked. Al stood frozen beside him. "C-Crimson. . . ?" He said, not beliveing his non-existant ears. "She- . . .She's Crimson?" Ed took a deep breath. " Coming Al?" He said as he turned away. To his serprise, Al began walking in the other direction. "Alphonse," He called. "This way!" Al shook his head. "Brother, we already lost her once. Don't you remember?" Al said over his sholder. Ed stayed silent. He did remember.
Flashback
"Edward, Alphonse," Trisha Elric held a crying Crimson in her arms as she called to her sons. "Ed, take her. Al, come with me to Crimson's house." Trisha moved the sobbing six-year-old into her older son's hands. "We need to tell her mother. . ." Once Trisha and Al had left, Ed turned to Crimson. "What happened?" The eight-year-old asked. "M-my Dad-ddy is d-dead. . ." Ed froze. "M-mommy wants to go away, but I don't wanna leave. I wanna stay with you and Al and Winry and Miss Trisha. Can I, Eddie?" Ed didn't know what to say. He kept silent, rubbing her back in a soothing manner. "We'll see." Was all the younger Edward could say.
End Flashback
Crimson p.o.v.
"Damn egotistic alchemist with a god complex." I muttered crossly as I stormed away from my old friends. After a moment, I paused. "What am I doing?" I murmered to myself. I felt a cold hard hand place itself on my sholder. "Are you really who you say you are?" Al asked from behind me. I stared over my sholder at the suit of armor. "Well," I begain. "I knew you weren't Edward, for starters. The younger Elric brother." He nodded. "I suppose."
"If you're really Crimson," Ed said as he came up beside Al. "Then I'll need proof." Al moved his hand off my sholder. "Why don't you boys let me treat you to something to eat?" I asked lifting my large backpack over one sholder gently. "Then we'll talk." I spun on my heel and after an impationt hand motion, the Elric brothers followed.
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"It's one of the best places in town." I told the boys as we walked up one of my favorite cafes. "C'mon!" I grabbed Ed's sleave an pulled him inside, giving Al the only option of following. I led them up to the counter. "Hey, Vannessa." Something slammed into the counter from underneath, causing the boys to jump.A girl with short spiky blonde hair came out. "Ow," She moaned, rubbing her head with one hand. Ed's eyes widened as he noticed her automail peaking out under her sleave. "I'm gonna get a concussion If you keep scareing me like that." Vannessa muttered. She noticed my guests. "And who are thease hansome young men, Crims'?" She asked. "Short blondie's quite the catch." Al and I tensed, and we each grabbed one of Ed's arms. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING SOMEONE THE SMALLEST ANT IN THE WORLD WOULD CONSIDER A CRUMB?!?!?!" Ed screamed. All three of us were blushing madly.
Once Al had managed to calm Ed down (and trust me, that took the pationice of a saint.) I sent them over to a table in the back. "Well, they sure are lively." Vannessa chuckled. "How'd you know them?" She asked as she went around to fill our order. (Two buns, and a coffee) "They're. . . childhood friends." I answered softly. Vannessa paused. "Childhood friends?" She repeated, stareing at me with a questioning look. I nodded. "Sweetie," She came back over and placed the food and drink in front of me. "Are you sure they can help find him?" I nodded again. "Alright. I won't question your jugement."
As I started to go back to the table, Vannessa placed her metal hand on my arm. "My offer is still open, Crimson." She said with a pleading look. "Please come live with me." I smiled sadly at my friend. "I've told you, I need to find my brother, Morter." Vannessa sighed, but released my arm. I walked over to the table. Ed stopped mid-sentance. "Here." I handed him the one bun and took a big gulp of the coffee. "So, you wanted proof?" I asked. Al nodded. "Yes." I sighed, still a little moody from my conversation with Vannessa. I reached down into my bag, pulling out a small bundle. "There. Its a picture of us as kids." Ed took the bundle and opened it. His face stayed completely expressionless. He flipped to the next one, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. I looked at him questioningly. He handed me the one photo. A blush flowed over my face. It was of me and him when I was about five and him seven. Ed was holding my hand, and placeing an kiss on my cheek. Al looked over my sholder. "Brother, you did that?" He sounded like he was holding back a laugh. Edward didn't answer. "Oh, and I have," I reached back inside my bag to pull out my most prized possesion. "This." I placed the glass rose on the table gently. The light hit it at just the right angle, sending a ranbow of color to splash over my face. I stared into the red bulb, almost hypnotised by it. Ed and Al shared a look of disbelif before looking back to me. Unfammilor voices began to fill my head.
The one we seek is near,
useing the blood of whom she holds dear.
A forgoten song stilled in her head,
Filling her soul with dread.
Find the place where an old dream lies,
before the castle falls from the skies.
"Crimson?" I jumped. Ed stared at me concerned. "Y-yes?" I said uncertainly. "Are you okay?" Al asked. I shook my head to clear it. "Yeah, I'm fine. No worries." I managed a fake smile. Al nodded. Ed didn't look too covinced, however. "Alright. Let's go." I blinked. Ed stood, and made a grab for my bag. As he lifted it, something fell from one of the outer pokets that weren't closed all the way. A necklace fell and tinked against the floor. It was a solid silver cross with a snake coiled around it. Ed and Al stared at it. Quick as the snake on my necklace, my hand shot out and snatched it off the floor. Before either of them could ask any questions I took my backpack from Ed and made my way to the door.
I glared over my sholder. "The next train leaves in an hour, and the next one doesn't come 'till afternoon the day after next." I told the frozen alchemists. "Well?" Vannessa stared at me with a knowing look. She sighed, and walked over to wisper in Ed's ear. She talked for a few minutes. He thawed. "What?!" She gave him a look. "Take care of her. She'll need it." I stared hard at her. Vannessa walked over and gave me a hug. "Be careful," She murmered into my ear. I nodded, and before she could say any thing else, I had spun on my heel, and left the cafe.
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