"Roy? Hey, Roy?"

"..."

"Oi, earth to Roy"

"..."

"ROY"

"What!" Roy's head shot up from where it had been resting. Face down on his desk. He glared as hard as he could while trying not to appear sleepy at Maes who stood smirking in front of his desk.

"You were drooling"

"I did not" Roy protested while trying discreetly wipe drool from his face, which resulted a wider smirk from Maes. "Really, the instant you get the chance you take a nap. You know, I'm starting to think Ed has a point when he calls you lazy bastard." Roy resisted the urge to throw something at Maes. They were alone in the office, save the Elrics, but it didn't count since they were working. It was actually a bit scary how well they could concentrate. Edward had once been reading a book in the office when Roy had started to slack off in Hawkeye's presence and when Hawkeye started firing he didn't even so much as blink. And he was sitting next to Roy's desk. One of the bullets hit the wood half meter away from him.

"You do know that if Hawkeye caught you sleeping she would shoot you." Maes asked casually, as if he was talking about daily occurrences, which he actually was.

"She won't be back in a while." Roy said ignoring a pointed look from Maes that clearly said:

That's what you think.

"Well, back to the business, I had actually information about the transmutations." Maes said while gaining a serious look on his face. Roy's interest peaked and he sat straighter in his chair.

"Hm? And what did you find out." Maes pushed his glasses bit higher before answering:

"You were right, there is something fishy about them."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"I'm not done yet, don't interrupt." Came the reply. "I suspect there is real connection between the cases. The set-up, materials and even location are similar. It's as if it's been planned by same person." Roy leaned forward, placing his elbows on the desk. He sliced his fingers together and rested his chin on top of them. "It is certainly possible. The alchemist don't have any motives. In order to attempt a human transmutation you have to be desperate enough that it dims your judgment according to Fullmetal. I believe we can trust his judgment on this. Alchemists are scientist. Our desire for knowledge and sometimes power is the next thing that could be their motive." Maes looked at Roy with a hint of worry. "Could it be? Would any alchemist be so blind from the thirst of knowledge and power?" Roy nodded without hint of doubt. Maes leaned to Havoc's empty desk. "You know, I am starting to hate this case too. With our luck we'll run into power hungry idiots."

"Oh, we will. I can assure that." said Edwards wry voice from the corner he and Al were occupying. Maes and Roy looked at him questionably. "How so?" Roy asked. Ed pointed at the arrays. "There is definitely same person behind these. The alchemists made their own adjustments, but they are based on same theory." "And the one who came up with this is power hungry." Al piped in. "Some of the symbols are very tricky. They are powerful in transmutation, but only if one knows what they are doing. The one who made these was arrogant."

"We know that type." Ed continued. "The whole build up of these circles, their structure, speaks volumes about the maker. Whoever made these is very intelligent and knows it too."

Roy nodded thoughtfully. He had seen his fare share of that type too. Alchemy was a wonderful science. It held so many secrets and so much power and potential. The saying that from all the humans, alchemists were closest to God was not a saying for nothing. Many, many alchemists got drunk on the power and secrets. The sheer amount of knowledge was enough to make alchemists dizzy. Roy had heard stories about alchemists who, upon reaching an answer after life's worth of research and studying, experienced a sort of euphoric experience. The pleasure and love some held for alchemy was stronger than pleasure from sex and love for other humans.

From the circumspect and calculating look Maes had in his eyes he guessed that his friend was thinking along similar lines. "What have you found out thus far?" Maes asked. Ed let out a frustrated sigh, hand running through his hair leaving it sticking out at odd angels. "These are definitely for human transmutation, but-"

"but there is something else, too." Alphonse finished. Roy cocked an eyebrow.

"Something else?"

Ed nodded, staring at the circles absentmindedly while scribbling with his left hand. "If this was only human transmutation, some of these symbols are unnecessary. They could be just to stabilize the transmutation, kinda like an insurance, to make sure that it will work-"

"-but as the guy who designed this was anything but stupid, and also arrogant-"

"-it just doesn't suit him. He is clearly confident enough to need any, also the design is enough as it is-"

"-so they are completely unnecessary."

"Whoa, I get headache when I try to follow you two speaking like that." Piped in Havoc, who returned from lunch break along with Breda, Fuery and Falman. Roy and Maes ignored him as did the brothers.

"What do you think they are for, then?" asked Maes. There was a glint in his eyes, he knew there was a peace hidden in the transmutation circles. A piece that might help them to see the whole picture behind this mess. Roy sensed it too. For now, they were missing too many peaces but...

"We think that they have their own hidden meaning. They are definitely not for show." Al answered for Hughes. Ed nodded. "Yup, the guy is hiding something. He doesn't want us to know what exactly these circles are meant to do."

"Can you figure out what the real meaning is?" Roy asked.

Ed scratched his head. "Yeah, but it might take some time. We have no idea what they are meant to do and how, so we are standing on a shake ground here." Roy nodded in understanding. It was easy to understand circles when you knew what they were for, but if you didn't it was another matter entirely. As an alchemist, he knew it well.

"Hey, Falman." Ed directed his gaze at the officer working diligently behind his desk. He raised his head when he heard his name being called.

"Yes?"

"Would you please collect this book for us from the library? It could provide great help for us." Alphonse asked while holding a peace of paper for Falman to take. He took the slip and nodded his head.

"You might find it difficult, that book is very valuable, but with my signature you should have the permission to get it." Ed added.

"What is it with that book that makes it so valuable?" Asked Breda while Falman left.

"It is very old, that's all." Ed shrugged. Al shot a look at Edward. "Brother, that's not all." He turned to look at the office. "It also is about very old alchemy, ancient actually, from Xerxes. Books about Xerxes are very rare, not many alchemists can recognize ancient alchemy from Xerxes. Actually, the book Falman is getting is the only one in central library."

Hughes whisteled. "Well, that is rare."

Mustang's eyebrows rose. "If they are that rare, how come you know about it, no, let me rephrase that; how come you recognize Xerxian alchemy, I am assuming that is what those circles contain."

Edward nodded in affirmation. He leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head, adapting somewhat indifferent look. "Our father was an alchemist, and pretty good one at that, our house was full of books about alchemy, several of them were about Xerxian alchemy."

"We learned alchemy from books by ourselves so we are very familiar with it. We could recognize it anywhere." Alphonse continued.

The use of past tense didn't go unnoticed from anyone in the office, but they knew better than to ask. Something about Edward's posture seemed to scream fuck off despite his relaxed muscels and Alphonse's head was slightly down turned, as if he was a bit upset.

Mustang sensed the atmosphere and quickly asked: "Why do you think he is using Xexian alchemy?" Al tapped his pen against his helmet, deep in thought. "Probably for safety precaution." He said, receiving an agreeing nod from Edward. "This guy really doesn't want anyone finding out about these cirlces."

Havoc digged out a cigarette and stuck it to his mouth, leaving it unlit. There where children in the office after all. "Seems hell lot of secretive to me." He mumbled around his cigarette.

Hughes nodded in agreement. "Yes, a bit too secretive to me."

Suddenly, the office door was banged open and Hawkeye marched rapidly in. "Colonel. We just got information about new human transmutation." Mustang shot up from his seat behind his desk, as did everyone else in the office, including the Elrics. Hughes straightened, also alert and ready. "Where?" Mustand questioned.

"At a warehouse in the eastern warehouse district. It seems that the transmutation occurred yesterday night, but it was only discovered today." Mustang nodded in understanding. "Hughes, Hawkeye, Havoc and Breda, you come with me to the scene. Fuery, go get Falman and search for any information you can find on the alchemist. We will inform you when we know the name."

They saluted, Fuery left the office in search of Falman and Mustang started to walk after him.

"Colonel, can we come too?" They turned to look at the brothers. It was Alphonse who had asked, but Edward was also standing and ready to leave. He was slightly pale, but his eyes didn't waver when he looked Mustang at the eyes. He stood straight, shoulders slightly relaxed, but stiffed from adrenaline not fear. His eyes were determinate and his jaw had a stubborn edge. Next to him, Alphonse stood tall, his hands in loose fists

Mustang held their gaze, looking for sings of fear. They were anxious and nervous, but not afraid. "You can come, but you must let us go in first. We will call you later." The message behind his words was:

We will clean it first. Then you can come in. You don't need to see it.

Ed and Al understood but didn't argue. They nodded to confirm they would obey the order.

"Good, now lets go."

So yeah, I'm not dead. This is just the first day in a long time when I am not stressed. School sucks, as you all know.

Now, I know I chose that this happens in anime world, but I'm gonna take bits and peaces from the manga if I see the need. Like the bit about Xerxes.

If you wonder why I call people sometimes by their given name and sometimes not, it is because I change the pov slightly when I feel like it. Ed calls Roy Mustang and Hughes calls him Roy. Same with everyone else. Sometimes simply just third person, and then I adress them how I want.

Now that summer is coming I hope to update faster. Thank you for reading this!

Love

Saki-nee