WN: What on earth is this sorcery o.O ANOTHER update o.O haha :) No, I have every intention to get one more chapter out by the end of the week, listening to all the brotherhood themes and endings on youtube to inspire me as I write, thank you so much for the reviews and follows! they give me hope and feed my soul :)

Chapter 9 The traveler from the East.

"I'm a man from Xing, and people from Xing always keep their word!"

"Someone get a doctor... someone who can use Alchemy! I have a Philosopher's stone, take it all!"

"You gave me all that I could ever want; farewell... friends"

"My vassal gave her arm so I could achieve my goal, I couldn't face her empty handed!"

"Hehe why not join me kids, the water's nice and hot! I'll see you in Hell, when you join me I'll be waiting!"

Memories, flashes, pain, suffering, heartache, joy and love flooded their minds, it was too much for either of them to bear... when would their shared suffering stop? So many people; two lives... how did they end up joined together... that Father guy had something to do with it clearly, that or they'd gone through a serious style and overall appearance overhaul; something of which they'd both doubted. Still they knew now where they needed to go. Xing; that's where she would be. They died for their friends; those they loved. Apparently they'd died twice... though how that was possible was utterly beyond him. Still, the second time around at least there was an actual point to it. When they reawakened, they'd begin again. Peace reigned for the time being, or so it seemed.

They still had some avarice left within them but that was mainly due to the compulsive need to protect those possession.. no... those people; their friends. They'd die a thousand times before he would allow any harm to befall them. They still had a long way to go, they had a great deal to still discover; but they would, after all, as homunculi they had all the time in the world...

"Dad.. what's that on his hand?" Khayal stepped back, startled. They'd seen the mark. The oreborous tattoo.

"! Son, get away from him now!"

"But... what's the matter dear?" Rosa turned to look at her husband, who held a protective arm around her.

"That's the mark of a demon... the homunculus... we have to inform the military"

And with that, Halling began to punch in the number to Central HQ.

*Beep... beep... Central Headquarters, Lieutenant Ryder speaking"

"This is an urgent call for Major Edward Elric, we have a demon in our house"

"Look sir, if you have had too much to drink, please don't call the military!"

"Look young lady! if you don't believe me, he's got the mark of one of those legendary creatures! the homunculus!"

"Sir... they are creatures of legend... and besides any threat to this country has since been thwarted"

"Look, please put me through to someone in charge... obviously I need to explain this to someone who'll actually listen"

"Look sir, Major Elric is away on business right now anyway; this is an official military line, so I will tell him you called if you give me your name; but please don't call this line again!"

"It's Halling.. from Youswell"

*Click*

"What the hell... she hung up on me!" Halling was growing more and more frantic by the minute. They'd heard details of these strange creatures who would literally steal your soul, living on the pain and suffering of others... slaughtering all in their wake. On the so called "promised day" that the media had been talking nonstop about, the military were fighting men who possessed a inhumane strength; to destroy the military who reportedly had the same tattoo as the man in his house. He knew that it may seem cruel to kick out the young man in such a state, but if he was one of demons, he had to think of his family. They came first.

Back at Central HQ, Colonel Mustang had been set to head out when he overheard the call that came in; he had been just about to disregard it when he heard the words homunculus.

"Lieutenant! I demand to know who was on the phone!"

"It.. it was someone from the mining town, Youswell.. he was rambling on about him having a homunculus in his house!"

"!"

"Get him back on the phone... now!"

"Yea.. yes sir please don't hurt me!"

A few moments later, he'd been reconnected with Halling.

"Halling, this is Colonel Mustang; I hear you have a homunculus, care to explain how you know what a homunculus even is?"

"..." The exasperated man recounted his tale to the colonel.

"I see... wait... what does this homunculus look like?"

"He's got features like May Chang, a young girl who was heading to Xing a while back, he's dressed all in black.. has long hair... he's... got the tattoo"

Roy stared at the receiver for a few moments in shock. It couldn't be him... he'd died... they all watched him die. It had to be a mistake.

"I'll let the Full Metal Alchemist know, I will make sure that someone will be with you within the hour, your family won't be threatened"

After that. they'd hung up. Halling felt more reassured at least that they'd get some back up soon; he turned to look at the traveler from the east; who was still in the grips of a fever. He did however notice the young man's skin was turning an abnormal grey color...

WN: Short chapter I know, unfortunately being called out due to an emergency! I will however update tomorrow, honest :)