And his vigor about his work soon dissipated as he saw a bloodied Fletcher.
Ed wasn't thinking of actually going anywhere when he started to walk; he'd only been wanting some time away from his new acquaintances. His feet walked on their own, while Edward, being the genius he is, thought about the most recent alchemical discoveries and theories. When he did realize where his feet were leading him, though, he did not turn back. He did want to see what happened to that old mansion. Maybe it was re-built? Perhaps just demolished to the ground, taking all of the past fake philosopher's stones' experiments with it?
At that thought he frowned. At the time when the building collapsed he thought that the red water would just smother into the earth, returning to mother nature. However, during the time he had spent in the other side of the gate taught him about new materials, and the radiations these materials gave off. The red water already had some effects to peopel who had a whiff of the air near them, so there was a possibility that the area near the building was affected.
Edward changed his focus focus from the most recent results in combining automail and alchemy without tempering the nerves to the now heap of piled rock which he could see even from about half a mile away. As he paced his feet a bit faster, he did not notice a perculiarly violet-eyed hare stare at him, and run off towards the ruins before him as he passed the bushes at the side of the road.
When Ed stepped into what used to be the first floor of the collapsed building, he did not expect it to start crumbling. Nor did he expect for the rocks, thankfully not all of them, to tumble down in his direction. He did expect the rocks to be stained red at some point, as the manor used to hold the red water, but he most definitely did not expect them to react when he accidentally kicked a small, red stone. The stone had turned into a … mouse.
Now Ed was confused. Alchemy didn't allow stones, no matter how much they were soaked in red water, turn into living … well, apparently dead, animal. The components were totally different. He mulled enough courage to clap and touch the animal for a shock, only to his surprise, delight or dismay, the moment his fingers touched the rat, it opened its eyes, bit the finger poking him, and ran away. He decided to follow the rat, to see if the transmutation was a 'success'; if it was, then he would have to shut it down before people had 'illegal' ideas. He started after the rodent, through the tunnel of rocks, seemingly leading him to what used to be a basement.
He had followed the rat until it reached a corner, a dead end. It was weird, to say the least. It seemed like it knew something. There was nothing when he arrived at the dead end, not even the rat. He looked around the area, it seemed like it had been some kind of a dome before it collapsed. Then he saw a hand... a skinny, dried-off hand coming out of a huge slab of rock, underneath it showing a little pool of … dried blood.
Edward's heart started pounding immediately. What was happening? Why was there a corpse- no, a skeleton doing under a piece of rock?! He didn't have an answer. He didn't remember anything but the Tringham brothers and … the guy they used to work for. What was his name again? Aw hell, he was a bad guy; he didn't need to know what his name was.
Ed was trying to think of a plan on how to get him out from under the rock to bury him properly (at least he would have somewhere to be other than just rotting away in a collapsed basement-although it sounded appealing...that guy DID use those crystalized red stones at him and Al...) when hands grabbed onto his shoulders.
Luffy and his gangs had almost caught up with Edward, mostly worried about Edward and the probability of the building's collapse, while Luffy was dreaming up some kind of an adventure. When they reached the mansion, they saw only the glimpse of Edward's very red coat disappearing into the doors. He didn't close them, almost like inviting whoever was following. And of course, follow him they did.
When they got around the place, and finally found Edward, he was running after a rodent, deeper into the mansion. Luffy, intrigued, followed suit, his first mate right behind. Luffy thought it was fun playing ninja, and tailed him inconspicuously, or so he said. Zoro did not bother, and, surprisingly, Ed didn't notice.
When the path did come to an end, Luffy, being the prankster he was, randomly decided to shock a bit our favourite alchemist, sneaking up behind the blonde and suddenly gripping Ed's shoulders. He should have thought about the possible reaction of a well known military alchemist, Zoro mentally chided, as a blinding flash appeared from the alchemist's hands.
Russell picked himself up from the office floor. It was cold, and uncomfortable. It was also uncomfortable that his brother was staring with huge eyes at his mouth. Winry and Roy were securing a jar with a heart air-tight and with alchemy so that it may not be opened forcibly or without the pass code. It seemed to be a pig's, and was still beating in the red water, imitating the human's heart very clearly.
Winry, as Alphonse had said, was in Central. But what Al forgot to mention was that she liked to throw wrenches to friends. Or at least what he thought he was. She was wearing uncharacteristically black, from her black bandana to her black sandals. Her fingers fidgeted on the wrench, her eyes boring a hole in the ground.
Roy Mustang, the Fuhrer, thought Russell bitterly, was already picking up his black jacket to cover his black sleeveless shirt and pants. He didn't want to see Russell for his talent; he wanted other, more personal details. Roy's face was guarded, but the smell in the air gave away his guilt while Russell, with his new enhanced senses, could feel. He sighed. None of the people here were winners.
Roy Mustang left the office. Russell tried his best not to follow blindly as his nature told him to, and instead went to Fletcher, hugging him tightly and repeating apologies and promises.
After a few more steps, Lust turned back to him and greeted Gluttony by his name. Russell was brutally shoved to the back of his mind, as was Fletcher away from his brother, and Gluttony followed out of the office to his partner.
The humans were left wallowing about their loss in the back of their minds.
Alchemy flashed, temporarily blinding the swordsman, rubber man and the alchemist. Luffy and Zoro had closed their eyes during the transmutation, missing the glory of the process. Ed's right arm, now formed into his most famous short blade, was placed at Luffy's neck, while a huge lance was pointed at Zoro. By the time the eyes have gotten used to the darkness again, Edward removed the two weapons away from the 'intruders'.
"I thought I said I'd be back soon," muttered Ed, sounding slightly indignant.
"We wanted to know where you were going!!" piped Luffy, eager about something as always.
"Let's get out of here," said Edward, guiding them away from the crushed skeleton, in an attempt of escaping another story of his more… indignant escapades.
"What about him?" asked Zoro, pointing at the pile of bones. Too late.
"I don't know," said Ed, offhandedly. It wasn't a lie; he didn't remember who it was. But he wasn't about to let people force information out of him, "maybe it's one of the people from the village."
"Then we ought to give him a funeral," said Luffy, abruptly turning around towards the dead end. "How?" asked Edward, his discomfort not showing through his voice, but loud enough in his mind. "I can't use my alchemy; the whole thing will crumble down."
"But we can't let him be like this!!" said the pirate, pulling at the bony hand…which broke. "Ah." In the back, Ed, who secretly knew the man-not his name though- was freaking out by the turn of the situation.
After a small squabble over what to do with the skeleton, and the broken hand, it was decided to cover it up with earth. Luffy suggested putting up a memorial in front of the mansion, but Ed was against it, knowing it wouldn't be very welcomed by the town's people.
Zoro glared at the blonde, irritated by the fact that he wasn't telling needed information, but soon turned his eyes away to see a rodent with bright violet eyes staring at him... no, actually, it wasn't staring ar him. Zoro followed the line of viewof the rat as discreetly as possible, and found Edward in the end of the glare. Zoro frowned.
By the time the whole crew gathered up by the entrance of the mansion, and went away to the inn to get their bags and catch the next train to Central, Zoro had placed the odd memory into the back of his mind, half throwing away as useless thoughts.
Watching the group go further away from the mansion, the violet-eyed mouse turned into a greenish-black haired man, wearing black crop top, a short headband and fingerless gloves and shoes. At one side he had a small sac, full of the little red stones he'd been collecting.
"Fuck his luck, "said Envy, raking a hand through his green locks. "I guess he'd have to wait for now," and with that, Envy turned into a hawk and flew away towards Risembool. The Forest Maze Alchemist could wait. He needed to put Greed under control. Besides, it was easier to do the job further away beforehand.
Before leaving the inn, Ed checked in with the HQ while the rest of the group was watching a street performance. There was a person who was bouncing balls on top of his head while juggling 4… 5 objects in his hands, alternating between juggling in one hand and tossing them across, and his feet playing with a cat. Although the crew was not that fascinated by the act, the people were certainly fascinated by the pirates. The crowd, mostly women, came and came, mostly looking at Franky and his 'metallic' chin, Usopp and his long nose, Luffy with his weird clothing, Zoro and his three swords, Chopper and his awesome cuteness, and Sanji with his charms. There was a small group of people around him boring holes in his back, too. He had had the predatory stares before too, only, this town had much more women than men, and that made the people hungrier about men than women in Central… Shivering, Ed wished whoever was near the phone to pick it up fa-
"Fuhrer Mustang's office." – Breda? The office seemed like it was constantly changing people to pick up the phone now. Maybe the next would be Fuery, thought Edward idly. "Hey Breda, what's going on there?" said Edward.
"Hey, Boss! Nice to hear from ya! We're kind of busy right now-it's the last day of our work week- there are tons, I mean freaking TONS of paperwork that our beloved leader has bestowed upon us. I swear, if he didn't put that law about having miniskirts in the womens' uniforms department, I wouldn't even bother in the military!" Edward couldn't help himself but smirk at the last line. Roy Mustang DID do whatever he had promised his office crew before, and that miniskirt issue he did not drop. Even Hawkeye, although she never wore it, was obliged to have them. Edward turned his attention back to the man over the phone as Breda spoke again.
"So, is there anything that I should hear-and pass it on?"
AN: Thanks to Alch3mist for reviewing!! I added a bit to the first sections here so it would make more sense!! Does it flow okay? GOD I hope so, because this is one of the hardest part that I went through, and this was one of the parts that I had writer's block issue!! PLEASE tell me how it is!!
mrawgirl09