A/N: Well, I finally got around to updating again. This chapter's longer, so I'm happy. I went to my friend's grave and I suddenly had an outburst of ideas for like...ten new chapters. So, expect another chapter, soon...or not...

Let's just get to the story...

Enjoy!

CHAPTER NINE: Two feet closer to the edge...

Ed shuddered as Al tried to comfort him. But being a giant suit of armor, it was kind of hard. "Brother, it's gonna be all right, now! Don't worry, you aren't dead...you were...but not anymore!" Al said, truthfully.

"I died..." Ed finally calmed. "How...did I die?" Al sighed. He hated this, hated the story, and he never liked to tell it to people.

"You died...by a Homunculus named...Hatred. She stabbed you..." Al said, his voice shaky and echoing. "And it was through the heart...that she stabbed you at." Al finished. Ed placed a hand over his heart and smiled warmly.

"I see now...but...tell me this: what's a Homunculus?" Ed asked, obviously unsure. Why was Ed so...blank? He didn't have any memories...but why? Maybe he didn't develope them like others did. Or maybe not...

Al sighed and explained what a Homunculus was. "It's an artificial being. What I mean is, when a Human Transmutation fails, that's what becomes of it." Al nodded and Ed tilted his head like a curious dog.

"Oh. Well, I have one more question...," said Edward, "what's a transmutation?" Ed asked and Al just gasped.

"It's an alchemical process. Like this:" Al drew a circle and clapped his hands together and touched the circle. It flared up and moments later, where the circle was was placed a cute, little statue of a cat. "Alchemy is bound by the laws of Equivalent Trade and it's principles. You cannot create something from nothing." Al said, proud of his work.

Ed was curious, so he clapped his hands, and spotting a glass of water, Ed touched it slightly and it glowed a nice shade of blue at first, then changed to a deep and dark crimson red. Al jumped back, but as the light dimmed, Ed looked at his work and approved it as his 'masterpiece'.

It looked like a smalled glass fountain with water squirting nicely into the small glass structure below it. "Like that?" Right then and there, Al knew he wasn't a Homunculus. Whether or not, the light of alchemical power was red.

Al went over and did a sweatdrop, though, in reality, Al wouldn't be able to do that, he somehow managed to. "Yeah...like that." It's definently the work of my brother's..., thought Al.

Ed smiled wide and turned to Al. He clapped his hands then placed them onto Al's armor. "I know you're empty inside, so lemme give you a body..." Said Edward.

Al jumped back and looked down at Ed who followed all of Al's swift movements. Al gave up and let Ed do what he was trying to do before. The light flared brightly, but as it started it was purely red,and Al's armor dematerialized and inside was a boy, just a bit taller than Ed himself. "There. See? You have your own body now!" Ed removed his hands and looked around for a mirror. "Here." Ed found a mirror and handed it to his younger brother.

Peering into the mirror, Al saw he did, indeed, have his very own body again. "I'm...human...again..." Al said shaking in fear. "How did you...and...but..I..." Al studdered then gave up. "Thank you!" Al jumped at a grinning Ed and squeezed a hug onto Ed. Ed started laughing historically. "What's so funny?"

"You're...YOU'RE NAKED!" Ed bursted out in laughter as Al blushed ever-so deeply. "HAHAHA!" Ed shouted in laughter.

Al ran upstairs and fetched some of Ed's old clothes. Changing quickly, he came back down stairs and saw Edward still laughing slightly. "Wel...welcome back..." Ed said. Al blushed and glared at Ed, who incidently started laughing again.

Later on that evening, Ed had fallen asleep on the couch and Al sat at the kitchen, thoughts pouring into his mind. He was very confused on how Ed had been able to give him his old body again. But he kew it was really his. He some how knew...he just...felt it...

Even so, he wanted to know how Ed was able to retrieve it from the Gate. Sighing, he placed a hand on his forehead and stood up. Removing his hand, he then placed a hand over his heart. He could feel it beating. Pumping the blood needed to keep his body alive.

How did he do it? And...

Al looked into the living room. Oh how he hated himself for letting his brothereven see his own grave.

But...was Ed his brother? Or...

What was Ed, anyways? Did Al truly succeed in bringing him back? Or was it afluke that he somehow passed with out noticing? Ed did't have the seal on him anywhere...did he? Al walked over to Ed who slept peacefully on the fluffy couch. He stared at his still form. His mind just wandered, though, and Ed suddenly said something. "You want something, Al?" Ed said, eyes still closed, his body lying in the same old position as before.

Al jumped back and shook his head rapidly, saying, "No! No...it's nothing!" Ed just turned his head towards Al and opened his eyes.

"Hm...okay, whatever..." Ed smiled and Al sighed heavily, trying to get his body to calm down. He hadn't expected Ed to just come and say something, right out of the blue. Oh well...

Morning arrived early the next day. Birds twittered about and sang beautiful songs. The flower buds on the trees bloomed beautifully as the sun started to ascend and line the trees and horizon. It was a truly beautiful sight. Al was te first to wake that day, so he decided to make breakfast. Ed was still on the couch, snoring his head off and dreaming of being taller. Ed's eye twitched slightly as he snuffed the aroma of bacon and eggs. Sitting up sleepily, Ed stretched and lookedoff into the kitchen. It was bright out, so Ed squinted to see Al making food.

Standing up, Ed walked over to the kitchen table and looked at the empty plate before him. "Hm...Al...what's for breakfast?" He asked, staring sleepily at the kitchenware before him. Al looked over his shoulder and smiled.

"Nice to see you're finally up. I'm making bacon and eggs. Does that sound good?" Al said, obviously waiting a reply. Ed looked up and nodded slightly before sitting down. Yawning, Ed looked at the plate again and waited for the food to come. He was tired.

Ed wore nothing, save for a pair of pale blue boxers. Ed had no automail limbs either. Al was glad to see he looked normal, and didn't have metal limbs. But, Al still wondered about how he succeeded in transmuting him back to life.

What was his sacrifice? Did Ed having no memories be a clue to why Ed was successfully transmuted alive? He wanted to know, yet, he was too far away from the truth to find out.

He felt two feet closer to the edge, yet still so far away. Al watched Ed everyday, taking note of his actions, reactions to things, and other characteristics as well.

Two feet closer to the edge, and he's about to break...

A/N: I updated! YAY! I'm surprised. I had no clue that I could remember so many things when I'm depressed. I realized that this chapter may not make much sense as of right now, but later, I assure you, it will! Anyways...I'm due for a report to the Colonel, in real life, and sadly...it has to be done in the next week. So if my other stories aren't updated today, then you'll be waiting another week. (Heh, not like it matters. This one took...eh...who knows how long it took...but it took long than a week! Lol.) Anyways, Please be courtious(Please excuse my pooor spelling and English. I'm surprised I was able to learn as much English as I do now!), and review for me! The more reviews I get, the more the quicker I'll update! OwO