Return to the Underworld

Chapter 3

"Science?"

Raquel looked at the sheet of paper in her hand, a cigarette hanging loosely on her lips. Ed nodded at her comment, folding his arms as he did so, a gesture indicating that he was serious. The Spaniard shook her head, some of the ashes from her fag dropping on the floor.

"All of these are science subjects." She said. "Are you sure you want to do the Advanced level on all five of your choices? I heard that Chemistry and Human Biology is getting harder and these days."

Ed shrugged, sighing in the process. "I guess it's just another challenge for me." He smirked. "I'm pretty interested in these sorts of things anyway."

"Science your favourite subject?" Raquel asked.

"Pretty much the only thing I'm interested in." He confirmed. Raquel observed him before sighing.

"Well," she concluded. "So long as you enjoy it. But if you start failing at it I'm not going to fund any tutors for you.

"Understood." Ed replied.

He was excited, both at the fact he was going to learn more about the world and the science he has loved so much. He might as well make the most of it, and try to find a way back home. Ed knew that the people inhabiting this world were not aware of the world Ed came from, so trying to explain where he came from would be useless, since the people here would automatically dismiss him and label Ed as crazy.

But Edward didn't mind being called crazy. In fact, back in Amestris he was called crazy anyway, so he was pretty much used to it. However, what did affect Ed the most was the fact that he couldn't use any alchemy in this world.

It was like everything he has worked towards was suddenly stripped from him, like a world famous opera singer suddenly becoming a mute. Ed's very essence is gone, and he suddenly felt like his safety net was taken away from him once discovering this fact.

Alchemy doesn't exist in this world. Ed is going to have to find another way to get back home, to open the door once again that has led him there.

"Raquel?" he asked. "Is there a library around here?"

Raquel laughed. "Kids your age going to the library?" she took another drag from her cigarette. "Your kind ought to be outside, kicking bins over, pressing your faces against windows whilst drunk."

There was a pause between them. Ed raised a brow, giving her a sceptical look. He cleared his throat slightly. Raquel sighed; smoke escaping from her mouth and nostrils.

"Jesus, you're serious aren't you?" she muttered under her breath. "Okay, I'll get Charice to take you there. She'll help you with becoming a member."

Edward nodded, looking at the clock as he wondered when she would return. Raquel suddenly shoved her bag into his arms, making him hold it while she rummaged inside. She pulled out her purse, taking out a few bank notes, before putting it in front of his face. She took the bag away from his arms and placed the money in his hands.

"That's three hundred pounds so you can go and buy yourself some clothes, toiletries, towels and all of that stuff while you're out. Charice will help you," she instructed. "You owe me that money, so don't expect that you are staying here for free."

Her eyes narrowed, giving her the serpent image once again. He really didn't like it when she gave him such a look, a look that seems so accusing and patronising, as if Edward has just caused her a huge hindrance. Ed didn't want to linger on the subject any longer.

"When is Charice coming anyway?" he asked, looking at the clock once again. Raquel shrugged, bending her head back as she stared at the ceiling, puffing her cigarette with satisfaction. Ed heaved a sigh, walking off towards the hallway.

The front door opened suddenly, slamming into Ed as he walked past. He rebounded into the wall, making the hanging calendar slip and fall. He rubbed his head, sore from the impact, before yelling in protest. Charice walked in, her hand over her mouth at what she had just done.

"Shit, sorry!" she said, grabbing his hand to help him stand up. "I didn't know you were there."

Ed grumbled something in reply, seething as she stood there meekly. "Its fine," he lied. "You really got me there, though."

She bit her bottom lip lightly, embarrassed that she has, once again, made a fool of herself. "No you're not," she walked up to him, touching his forehead lightly. "At least it's not bruised. Thank god for that. You must have a pretty big headache though..."

He laughed to himself, putting on his shoes. He stepped back from her, keeping his distance. "It's fine, really."

She wasn't convinced. Instead, Charice rolled her eyes as she huffed into the living room. Raquel called after her, curious about the commotion. Ed shook his head at her once again, cringing that she has boldly gotten so close to him on their second meeting. He stood up, pulled up his loose jeans a little higher, and looked in the hallway mirror to check if there really wasn't a bruise. It felt like there was a bruise, but none had come up, only a light pink mark was left from the impact.

Though he did have a pretty big headache, he had to admit.

Charice came stomping back to the hallway, her green eyes narrowed. Her olive skin on her face was tinged red, due to a mixture of frustration and embarrassment. Ed suppressed a snicker, finding that Charice didn't make any effort to try and hide her annoyance. She didn't seem the type to hide her emotions anyway, he concluded.

"C'mon, we have to go to the library." She sighed, pulling him out of the door by the sleeve of his jumper. It was only a ten minute walk to the library, and it was simple to get there. At the entrance Charice grounded to a halt, her face suddenly becoming redder. She reeled around to face Ed, her hands suddenly raking through her hair to try and add a little more volume.

Ed gawked at her sudden compulsive grooming, and he could give her an unbelieving stare as she started smoothing her clothes down. Charice stood straighter, her shoulders back, stomach in, chest out.

"What are we doing?" Ed asked. Charice only rolled her eyes at him.

"Do I look good?" she asked, her expression serious.

Ed looked straight at her, deadpan.

"You look no different than before," he whispered. "And why are you standing funny?"

She made an exasperated sigh, throwing her hands in the air in defeat. "Oh god, you are so useless..." she slouched forward, sticking out her lower jaw in annoyance. "Look, there is this guy who works in here, and he is gorgeous. And I'm being serious here, I love him!"

Ed burst out laughing, shaking his head as he pushed past her into the building. She followed him hesitantly, hiding in his shadow everywhere he went. He heard her gasp, and Ed turned around to face the trembling teenager. Her eyes were wide, and she bit her bottom lip nervously. She pointed to the library information counter, where someone was stamping some books, his back turned to them.

"That the guy?" Ed asked, pointing at him. Charice nodded. Ed smirked as he went up to the counter, Charice suddenly panicking as she frantically tried to stop Ed from approaching him. Ed kept a firm grip on her wrist to make sure she would not run off, and with his free hand he tapped the service counter bell. "Hey, I'm interested in joining the library."

The young man turned around, giving Ed a smile.

Ed tried to stop his jaw from dropping all the way to the floor. He was tall, with black hair, pale skin and obsidian eyes.

"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that," the man said. "Mind repeating?"

"Roy Mustang?" Ed practically blurted. Charice made a tiny noise in her throat, hoping that no one heard it, and gave a stern look towards Edward. "Roy? W-what are you doing here? I thought you were still in Central!"

Roy looked at Edward, slightly taken aback. "I'm sorry, have we met?" Roy asked, racking his brains as to why this complete stranger knew his name. Maybe they were old friends when they were young. Maybe they met when he was too drunk to remember.

Edward stared at him suspiciously, uncertain why the Colonel did not recognise him. "Ah, never mind," he said, his voice low. "I thought you were someone else then."

Roy laughed, ruffling the back of his raven hair. "It's okay, it's happened to me before," he chuckled to himself. "I guess I really do have a common look. Anyway, how can I help you?"

Ed sighed dejectedly. With the help of Charice concerning addresses and telephone numbers, Ed eventually got his library pass from Roy, allowing him to take out the library books. This should help with the extra information Ed would need, to hopefully find any clues as to how to get home.

Once they were outside the Library, Charice hit Ed on the arm lightly. "What was that all about?" She complained, her voice high pitched and distraught.

"What was that for?" he snapped back, indicating to his arm that she had just hit. "And what did I do?"

She groaned, burying her blushing face in her hands. "Oh god! He must think that I hang around with weirdoes!"

Ed gave her a death glare. "Who you callin' a weirdo?"

She shook her head at him, waving him off. She made a little lovesick sigh as she started daydreaming about her 'Roy-dearest'. Ed didn't quite know how to react and he wondered why she called him a weirdo, when in his opinion she should look at herself in the mirror as well.

"Roy is never going to notice me," she sighed, her lower jaw sticking out in rejection. "He's so good looking too."

Ed laughed again, not caring what she was thinking of his behaviour. "Roy?" he scoffed. "Isn't he in his thirties anyway? How old are you? Isn't it creepy?"

Charice folded her arms. "I'm sixteen." She pouted. "And in case you haven't noticed, I don't fall for little boys. I fall for men. With jobs, cars and money."

He walked ahead, no longer wanting to be involved with such an embarrassing conversation. "Falling on what, your face?" He snickered, loud enough so she could hear. Her reply was another slap on his arm.

- - -

It was raining in Central, and the morgue never looked anymore depressing. It was raining so hard as if the tears of the mourners weren't enough. Winry was crying the most out of everyone there, and she held onto Al's hand so tightly she didn't think she could ever let go.

Al now has a body to cry with, and he cried for his brother. He cried for the loss, and there was this deep disbelief inside him where he couldn't believe that Ed really was gone.

Ed would never return to him. Edward Elric will never return to greet everyone with a stupid grin on his face.

The gravestone was black marble, highly polished, and Al could see himself and everyone around him in the reflection. The raindrops distorted the reflection, and if Al wasn't looking too closely, he could see Ed's face on his own. The blond hair. The golden eyes.

Roy Mustang placed a golden pocket watch onto the gravestone, the chain clinking against the marble; the dull pitter patter of the raindrops ran down the intricate metal carvings before it dripped to the grass.

The rain became heavier. The rain cried on behalf of those that have been affected by the great Edward Elric: The Fullmetal Alchemist.

- - -

Angst angst angst angst angst angst...

OMGOSH I LOVE ROY!

Ahem...