Chaptire.III
Same Road, Same Reason

"EDWARD ELRIC! YOUNG ALPHONSE!"

Ed and Al stopped dead in their tracks at hearing the humongous voice echoing throughout Central's main courtyard. Syaoran and the group stopped and peered curiously into the crowd for the source of the voice.

"Nii-san…" Al said warily.

"I know," Ed said, looking as if he'd just been told to head to the gallows. "It's too late. We've been spotted."

"Someone you know?" Fay asked.

Ed whirled around and looked up at everyone very seriously. "Just don't say anything. Let me do the talking. Hopefully I can get rid of him, but not if you stupidly strike up a conversation, got it?"

"Ah," Fay said. "He's one of those people, is he?"

Al turned to him and seemed to smile through his eyes. "Major Armstrong is his very own category of people."

The sun was completely obscured as a gigantic man descended upon the group. He stood even taller than Al and was completely bald except for a single tuft of blond hair curling like a pig's tail in the middle of his forehead. One of his arms was easily bigger than all of Sakura. He deposited six bundles of what looked like camping gear on the ground and then clapped Ed on the shoulder so hard it was surprising he wasn't hammered into the ground.

"I heard you're on a mission!" the man yelled. "Good job, my boy! Good job!"

"Thanks…" Ed mumbled, rubbing his shoulder.

"And these must be the foreigners I've heard so much about!" the man said, turning to Syaoran and the others. He extended one giant hand to the crowd. "Alex Louis Armstrong at your service!"

Fay smiled and stepped forward to shake hands. "It's a pleasure."

"What is all this, Major Armstrong-san?" Al asked, indicating the bundles on the ground.

"The Colonel told me you left without provisions!" Armstrong boomed. "You're all traveling the desert, are you not? Then you must have the proper equipment!" He gestured widely to the packs. "Official government-sanctioned survival gear. Courtesy of the military—since you are engaged in a military operation, of course."

"How thoughtful," Fay said, smirking.

While Syaoran, Fay, Kurogane, Sakura, and Al mulled over the packs, Armstrong yanked Ed to the side and leaned in so close that Ed could feel the giant man's blond mustache sweep his cheeks with every word.

"Edward Elric, you do know that a train runs from here to Yous Well, correct?" Armstrong said.

"Yeah, I know," Ed replied.

"The desert is extremely hostile, my boy," Armstrong said. "I advise you take a train instead of traveling the several day's journey through the heat, especially since you have a group to watch over."

"Trust me, Major, I'd be more than happy to take a train," Ed said. He raised his voice and directed it toward the group behind him. "But some people don't keep track of their finances enough to be able to afford a simple train ticket."

Armstrong spun Ed back to face him just in time to miss Kurogane's heated glare. "Are you saying that you've spent your entire military allowance for the year already? I understand that you are young and full of curiosity, Edward Elric, but money management is an essential skill for anyone—"

"Major, there's nothing wrong with my finances," Ed said, putting up his hands. He thrust his thumb to indicate the group behind him. "They're the ones who are broke. And I am not doing those freeloaders any favors. They've gotta earn money just like everybody else."

"I see," Armstrong grinned through his mustache and then stood up straight and saluted miles above Ed's head. "Best of luck to you all."

Ed saluted lazily while everyone behind him issued their gratitude for the gear. Even Kurogane was chided into murmuring a thanks after a elbow to the ribs from Fay.

"Ah, one more thing," Armstrong said. He leaned toward Ed dramatically. "I hear the Fuhrer has taken a personal interest in your progress. Keep that in mind when you write up your reports." He gave a curt nod and headed away, turning back around to wave a few times before finally disappearing from sight.

"The Fuhrer?" Al said, his voice filled with awe. "Really?"

Ed shrugged. "I'd rather have the Fuhrer reading my reports than the Colonel."

"I don't know…" Al said. "This sounds serious, Nii-san."

"Who's the Fuhrer?" Fay asked as he hoisted a pack on his shoulders. "The head of the military?"

Al glanced down at Ed who crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Where did you guys say you're from?"

"Oh, somewhere pretty far-off," Fay said, smirking. "We're quite disconnected from your society, really."

"I'll say," Ed said. "You look like nomads, got no money, never heard of the Fuhrer… Even the Eastlanders know who the Fuhrer is and I'd call them pretty damn disconnected."

"Let's just say that we've come from a lot farther than the East and leave it at that," Fay said, flashing a disarming smile. "We're not always going to be completely on the same level, so please humor us from time to time with information you see as inherent fact. I promise you that we learn quickly and, the more you share with us, the more we'll be willing to return the favor."

Ed glanced up at Al who shrugged.

"The Fuhrer is the head of our government," Al said. "He also controls the military."

"Wow," Sakura breathed from the back of the group. "I guess you can't get anyone higher to read your reports than the Fuhrer."

Ed looked un-phased, but sighed a little when he said, "Nope. I guess not."

Syaoran and Kurogane exchanged glances. They were both thinking the same thing: if they ditched their escort, they'd have the entire military after them as soon as Ed's report could get to headquarters.

"Well, let's get going," Ed said, picking up the last pack on the ground and slinging it over his shoulder. "We're leaving late as it is. The sun's coming up quick."

"I think the sun is already having an effect on me," Syaoran mumbled to Kurogane as the two took the lead following Ed toward the endless desert in the distance. "I could've sworn I saw pink sparkles floating all around while that Armstrong man was here."

"You saw them too, huh?" Fay said, coming up from behind. "Good thing I don't need my eyes examined then."

"I thought they were pretty," Sakura said sheepishly.

The sun was nearing the top of the world by the time the group reached the limits of Central's outer borders. The desert sprawled out before them, stretching far into the wavy distance.

"Hyuu," Fay whistled, hiking his pack further up his back. "Would you look at all that sand."

"It's a desert, you moron," Kurogane growled. "It's made of sand."

"It's so bright out," Fay said. He shaded his eyes as he looked toward the sun. "And rather hot."

"It's a desert!" Kurogane said. "What were you expecting? Snow?"

"The landscape is so barren, too," Fay said, cracking a grin.

"It's a desert!" Kurogane roared. "A DESERT!"

"Careful, Kuro-sama," Fay said. He wagged a finger. "You're going to waste all your desert energy."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kurogane said, thumping his chest. "I have plenty of energy for anything."

"Sounds exhausting," Fay said.

"Come on," Ed said, shouting over his shoulder to the group behind him. "We have to keep moving if we're going to find shelter for the night."

"We'll head for that outcropping there," Al said, pointing into the distance where a few peaks of jagged sandstone jutted out of the dunes. "There's an oasis near there where we can replenish our supply of water."

"You two seem to know your way around the area," Syaoran remarked to Ed and Al.

"Heh, well," Ed said, crossing him arms with a sly grin. "When you get lost in the desert for four days, you learn your way around."

"You mean when you get abandoned in the desert, Nii-san," Al said. "We only ended up out here after you threatened the taxi driver."

"Hey!" Ed said, whirling on Al. "I was not going to stand for that kind of abuse."

"What abuse?" Al said, crossing his arms with a clunk. "He didn't know he was talking about you when he called the Fullmetal Alchemist short. It was just a description."

Sakura stifled a giggle while Fay outwardly snickered.

"Just drop it, okay, Al!" Ed snapped. He turned the Syaoran. "All you need to know is that I know this place well enough to not get lost in it. It's going to be a long trip, but, as long as you four can survive, I'll get you where we're going."

Syaoran narrowed his eyes, but nodded. "Understood."

The group walked in silence for a few miles. Sakura spent the time staring up at the vultures circling overhead while Fay kept watch on the little lizards that went scurrying across the sands at odd intervals. Kurogane walked a few paces directly behind Ed and Al with his hand on his sword hilt. Syaoran took up the rear, his eyes glued on the back of Sakura's head.

Al slowed his pace to let Fay and Sakura, who were walking side-by-side, catch up a bit.

"Aren't you hot in all that?" Al asked Fay, eyeing his huge fluffy, white robe. The tail of it dragged behind him, kicking up sand. He had the big hood up so his face was enshrouded in shadow.

"I could ask the same of you," Fay remarked, indicating Al's armor. "All that metal must be acting like an oven."

"No, I really don't feel anything," Al said. "Least of all the heat."

A chill went down Sakura's spine when she heard the words. Al's tone was indefinable, but carried some strange wistful longing. It was the same tone she heard from ghosts sometimes when they spoke to her of the things they'd lost.

"Now, I find that very difficult to believe," Fay said. "It's probably over one hundred degrees out here."

He playfully knocked on Al's arm and the metal echoed hollowly. Fay's expression fell for just a fraction of a second. The momentary lapse in a grin on Fay's face was lost on Al, but Sakura saw it.

"Then again," Fay said, his grin back. "Maybe it's not so hard to believe…"

Al grabbed his arm and remained silent.

"To answer your question," Fay said. "I'm stifling in this coat."

He pulled up the sleeve to show Al the sweat glistening off his arm. "But it's better than a sunburn."

"Is it cold where you come from?" Al asked.

Fay nodded. "It snows all year round. Without protection, you could freeze to death in a matter of hours."

"But you," Al said, turning to Sakura. "You're dressed differently. It's like you two come from totally different places."

"We do," Fay said. "Actually, you could say that Kurogane and I are just tagging along with Sakura-chan and Syaoran. It's Sakura's journey, really."

"Oh, no, Fay-san," Sakura said, shaking her head. "You, Kurogane-san, and Syaoran-kun have done so much for me that I couldn't possibly consider any of you 'tag-alongs.' Without you three, I really don't know what I would have done. I certainly never would have made it this far. Of course, I owe a big thanks to others as well." At this, she gave a big squeeze to the stuffed animal she carried.

"How long have you been traveling?" Al asked. He was very confused, but didn't want to press anyone too hard for information. He figured that, by asking easy questions, he'd glean more information than if he actually asked more straight-forward questions.

"Hm…" Fay said, bringing his hand to his chin. "That seems like it should have such an easy answer, but it's very hard to tell. We've traveled all over the place, you see. Places in different time zones and that have different calendar systems… How long do you think we've been on the road, so to speak, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura blushed and looked down at the sand. "Um, well… I really couldn't say. I've been asleep for much of the trip…"

"Ah, yes. That would distort your perception of time, wouldn't it?" Fay said. He yelled ahead: "Oy, Syaoran, Kuro-pyon! I have a question!"

"It's Kurogane, damnit!" Kurogane fumed, but he stopped long enough to let Al, Fay, and Sakura catch up. Syaoran pushed forward to join the conversation. Ed was still plugging ahead, not paying attention to anything but the horizon.

"How long would you say we've been traveling?" Fay asked once the two were close enough.

"Tch," Kurogane said. "Seems like ages with you always around."

After a few moments of contemplation, Syaoran shrugged. "It doesn't matter. We're here now and we'll hunt for the feather for as long as it takes."

"I'd say that's a great answer, Syaoran," Fay said, nodding deeply. He turned to Al. "The short answer to your question is: it doesn't matter."

"And the long answer?" Al asked.

Fay traded glances with Syaoran and grinned. "That's classified."

"Would you all hurry up?" Ed yelled, his voice carrying over the dunes on the biting desert wind. He was barely a dot on the horizon. "I'd like to get to our destination someday!"

"Don't mind my brother," Al said as the group picked up the pace. "He doesn't make very good first impressions."

"He has a military personality," Fay said, flashing a smile as if he were paying Ed a compliment. "Still, he seems young to be involved with the armed forces."

"Nii-san's older than his height suggests," Al said, smiling with his eyes. "But, yeah, he's the youngest person to ever be accepted into the military. He got his certification when he was only twelve years old. He had to get special permission to take the exam and everything."

"Impressive," Fay said.

"But what was his motivation?" Syaoran asked, looking at Ed in almost a new light. "Why hand his life over to the military like that?"

It was a few moments before Al answered.

"The military provides Nii-san with the money and knowledge we need to accomplish our goal," Al said. He turned his head toward the four. "See, we're trying to regain something we've lost."

Sakura's heart fluttered, and she said, "What do your parents think of Edward-san being in the military?"

"Our parents are…" Al faltered for a moment. "Our father, well, we think he's still alive somewhere. Maybe. As for our mother… She's dead now."

"I—I'm sorry," Sakura said.

"Don't be," Al said. "It's not your fault she died."

"It's just…" Sakura began. "My father passed away a long time ago. I had forgotten about his death and, when I remembered, it was like he died all over again. So… it's almost as if he died twice."

Al was quiet for a long time before he said, "I know the feeling."

"You do?" Sakura said.

Al nodded. "It's not that I forget about her, but she did die twice."

Al stared straight ahead at his brother who was trudging long with his pack on his back and his hands in his pockets. After a few moments, Al looked back to Sakura and the group and said, "Nii-san would probably kill me if he knew I told you that."

"Don't worry," Syaoran said quietly. "We won't say anything."

"And who are we going to tell?" Fay said. "Besides, we're bound to learn a bit about each other during this trek. Things are going to slip out and be pieced together."

"Frankly," Kurogane mumbled to Al. "I have no freaking idea what you mean."

"Guh! It's so frustrating to just sit up here and watch 'em all traipse around in the desert weak and tired! It's like watching sitting ducks!"

"Mind yourself, Envy. We are on strict surveillance-only orders. We make no moves until we're instructed otherwise."

Envy, Lust, and Gluttony sat upon a rock face to the south of where the group was walking headed north. Envy was pacing back and forth on a ledge, every so often staring violently at the group that was quickly becoming little more than a lump of shadows in the distance. Lust sat primly on a flat part of the rock while Gluttony ate small boulders and the occasional lizard or scorpion he came across.

"If you ask me, I think the old bat's gone completely bonkers. It would be so easy to simply pick off Chibi-san and the tin can and lead the other four back home for the old woman to look at. I mean, if she wants to know so much about them—"

"You never go blind into a battle," Lust said, shaking her head. "We don't have any idea what those four are capable of. I got the impression that they could be very dangerous."

"Pfft," Envy said. "How could they be any more dangerous than Chibi-san, huh? I've seen the limits of the human condition and, I gotta tell ya, I wasn't too impressed."

"Oh, you think you've seen the limits of the human condition, do you?" Lust said, leaning forward and smiling savagely. "I think we have barely scratched the surface."

A/N: I feel I must apologize about the huge, horrible delay with this chapter, my friends. I just had a hard time with the structuring of the character introduction. Anyway, the next chaptire will be a lot more exciting and, with any luck, won't take me another six months... :P Thanks for reading and remember: reviews motivate me to update! They're the only way I know people are still interested! Also, you can always come remind me to update through my blog (linked in my profile). I'd love to hear from you guys!