Sorry this is so late everyone. I've been very busy at school. Since it's thanksgiving, I'll be updating again soon. Enjoy


Al looked up and realised that it was starting to get dark. He must have been out for ages. Goodness, Ed was going to kill him. The streets were almost empty, the occasional person would totter pass, rushing to get home. But Al didn't want to go home. Ed would be mad, and would probably force Al to talk to him. Why did Ed have to know? Why did he have to go poking his nose into other people's business? Suddenly, something hard struck Al on the back of his head. He gasped sharply and whirled around, just as small, smooth stone went flying past his face. Walking towards him was Kurt and Peter. Al felt absolutely sick. He would have given anything to have just died at that very moment. He had been glad that Ed had dealt with them – deep down. He had thought that he would never have to see them again. Well, apparently he was wrong.

"So, Elric. You decided to go snitching to your brother, huh?" Kurt snarled.

"Baby," sniggered Peter.

Al stood up and turned and walked away.

"Where are you going, Elric?" Taunted Peter.

Al began to run. He heard two pairs of footsteps speeding up behind him.

"Why you running?" Sneered Kurt. Al gasped. They were closer than he thought. Al was starting to get desperate now. Where could he go? At that moment, Al twisted his ankle and fell. There was no time for him to get up. He instantly felt the pain – the slapping, the kicking, the punching, the pounding. They were practically on top of Al, punching his face, his eyes and his jaw. Kicking his back and his ribs, slapping his cheeks, standing on his stomach. One of them grabbed his shirt and roughly pulled him to his feet. He couldn't stand. Then, he was slammed against the wall, and then they let go, allowing him to fall back down to earth. He ached all over.

"Brother…help me…please…please," Al whispered as tears began to fall from his eyes. Al cringed as Kurt and Peter laughed at him. He felt so cold, so lonely. He needed Ed, he wanted his big brother. He wished he had trusted Ed more and been more grateful.

"Brother…"


"Officer Hughes!" Ed cried, running up to the police officer.

"Good Evening Edward," Hughes said.

"Hughes, have you seen Al? Asked Ed desperately, "He's been gone for ages."

Hughes looked concerned. "I haven't Ed. But, but I'll keep an eye out for him."

Ed sighed. "Thanks."

Ed walked down the next few streets, but his search was fruitless, there was no sign of Al anywhere. For a brief second, Ed thought Al might have run away. He quickly pushed the thought out of his head. Al would never do a stupid thing like that. Ed wandered the streets aimlessly, hoping that he would come across Al eventually. But the roads were empty and deserted. As he turned a corner, Ed noticed a figure lying across the sidewalk. Ed's heart instantly stopped beating. No. No. What had happened?

"Al! Al! Al!" Ed screamed, running over to his brother. Al lay across the pavement. He was bruised, battered and bleeding. "Al! Al, wakeup, please. Please wakeup." Ed begged. He bent down to sit next to Al. He carefully picked Al up, but Al just groaned in pain. "I'm sorry Al," Ed whispered. "I'm taking you home. You'll be ok. I promise. You'll be fine. We're going home."


Noa and Gracia helped Ed take Al home and make sure that he was ok. They bandaged Al's cuts and put him to bed.

"Those boys did this to him. I'm sure of it," Ed growled.

"Ed…" Noa began.

"I'll never forgive them," snarled Ed, "This time they've gone way to far."

Noa and Gracia smiled sympathetically.

"I'll kill them," barked Ed. "I swear I'll kill them!"

"Edward," Gracia said softly, "You have to look after Al first."

Ed nodded slowly. "Yes, you're right."

"I'm sure he'll be fine Ed," Noa assured Ed.

"Thanks Noa. And thanks Gracia. I really appreciate you two helping us."

The two women smiled at the oldest Elric boy.

"We'll leave you two now, tell Al we said get well soon," Gracia said before she and Noa left. After they had gone, Ed sat down on the end of the bed, looking at Al. He looked so vulnerable and so innocent. Ed just couldn't understand how anyone would want to hurt him?