I don't own FMA
Ling and the others stayed in the office for awhile with Al, before Fuhrer Grumman came looking for them, informing them that the officers were waiting for their special guest so they needed to go and start the celebratory dinner.
"We can't leave everyone waiting, how will that look for the Emperor?" He said looking at Al with concern, wondering what had happened.
"But what about Al? We can't just leave him on his own, what if he has a concussion or something?" Ed asked worried that Al could have a series head injury. Roy thought about the problem for a moment before looking up at Armstrong.
"Alex do you think that you could stay with Al whilst we go to the dinner?" Roy asked.
"Off course, I would be more then happy to stay with Alphonse. He can tell me about all the things that he has learnt from Xing." Alex replied.
"Alright well we will be in the dinning hall if you need us. Please let us know if anything happens." Grumman said giving Alex a stern look.
"I will take care off Alphonse in your absence Sir." Alex replied saluting as they left the office to go to the waiting general who were probably getting angry for being made to wait.
Al lay on the couch and pouted, why couldn't they have just left him to rest there on his own? It wasn't like they couldn't trust him.
Ah but they can't trust you. They think that you might wonder off and get hurt again.
'I can take care off myself, everyone knows that.'
But that was when you were in that suit of armour, face it they all think that you are a soft, quite weakling who can't do anything without having someone there to hold your hand. They don't believe in you.
'BROTHER BELIEVES IN ME AND SO DOES WINRY AND EVERYBODY ELSE.'
Is that why he asked those two chimera's to go with you when you went to Xing two years ago and made you think that it was your idea?
'He did that because I was still weak from when I got my body back, things are different now.'
Really? Then why don't you try and go to the bathroom and see what happens.
Al thought about it before trying to stand up making Alex rush to his side in concern.
"Alphonse what are you doing? You need to rest." Alex said forcing Al back down with his large powerful hands.
"But Alex I need to go to the bathroom, please let me get up." Al said in explanation. Alex sighed and releasing Al, helping him to slowly stand up. He went to follow Al to the bathroom when Al stopped and stared at him.
"I will be fine Alex, you can wait here for me."
"But I was asked by the Fuhrer to keep an eye on you to make sure that you are ok."
"Your not in the millatery any more, you don't have to follow his orders." Al said frowning up at him when he started following him again, Takeo snickered in the back off his mind.
"Alex the toilets are just there I won't be too long." Alex looked down to where Al was pointing and noticed that May and Lan Fan were standing near there talking to each other about something
"Ok but if you aren't back in five minutes then I will come in to find you." Al nodded, that did sound reasonable. He slowly walked over to the bathroom, staring at May and Lan Fan who hadn't noticed him walking towards them.
"There is definitely something wrong, the feeling that I get from him is like someone pouring ice water all over me." May said concerned, trying to think of what could have happened to have caused this.
"I know, but what can we do? We aren't even sure what it is that's inside off him." Lan Fan replied.
"I'm sure that there is something evil there, it's just trying to get him to talk to us so that we can help him." Just then May and Lan Fan shivered and they turned to see Alphonse standing there glaring at them with angry golden eyes.
"What was that you were saying May? You think that I have something evil in me?" Al said with hurt in his voice, May gulped she hadn't intended Alex allowing him out off the office. Al noticed May looking towards Alex and the stare that she was giving him.
"Oh right I'm supposed to be in the office, well you see I needed to go to the bathroom, which so happens to be the door you two are standing in front off. So if you wouldn't mind stepping a side so that I can do my business and then go back to the office that I am supposed to be watched in." Al said with bitterness replacing his usual calm and quite voice. May stood there frozen to the spot and didn't know what to do, the feeling off something evil emitting from Al's soul had made her powerless to do anything. Lan Fan could feel it too and bowed her head politely to Al, who stood there glaring at them and moved away from the door to give him room to get by.
"We are so sorry, we did not realise that this was the men's bathroom." She said as he walked by her and walked into the room. Lan Fan looked at Alex and beckoned him to come to them, walking away from the door so that Al wouldn't hear what they were saying.
"Mr Armstrong, when Al gets back I recommend that you keep him in the office until the others come back from the celebrations." Lan Fan said.
"Why? What's wrong? He seems fine enough and he is such a kind and gentle person, I don't see why he would need watching." Alex said confused as to why everyone was eager to keep a close watch off him.
"Listen to me carefully. We think that Al's soul has been possessed by a dark spirit, we are not sure how, but he could be very dangerous. The amount off knowledge that this spirit could possess is uncertain but it could be very powerful." Lan Fan said making Alex confusion worse.
"How do you know this?"
"We can sense it, like an animal can sense danger." Lan Fan explained. Alex nodded his head in understanding, he had heard off the Xinginess ability to sense thing like souls, He was about to ask her a question when Al came back out off the bathroom, a dark gleam in his eyes. He walked passed May without saying a word to her and headed back towards the office.
"Alex, I was thinking that I might go back to my hotel, seeing as there is nothing to do here and I can't go and joint everyone else with the celebratory dinner." Al said glaring at Lan Fan who backed away from him.
"Well I'm sure that we could find you some books to read or something, I'm sure that they won't be more than a couple off hours..."
"I said that I am going back to my hotel." Al shouted storming passed Alex who grabbed his arm to pull him back.
"Alex let me go. What do you think you are doing?"
"I am sorry Alphonse but I was told to keep an eye on you and that is what I intend to do. Now if you would go back into the office I'm sure that May could find you a few books for you to read."
"LET ME GO." Al screamed, clapping his hands together and pulling a dagger out off the wall that he was standing next to. Alex was shocked he thought that once Al had his body back that he wouldn't be able to use alchemy without a circle.
"Alphonse how did you...?" Alex was cut of by Al swinging the dragger he had created trying to make Alex back away from him. May who had been stood there watching in shock pulled herself out of the fear induced stare she had been in and rushed over to help Alex get control off Al again. She ran up behind him and throw her kunia activating it so that she pulled the ground from under his feet. Al fell back in surprise dropping the dagger that he had made and landed hard on the cold tiled floor banging his head again causing it to start bleeding.
"YOU BITCH, WHY AREN'T YOU HELPING ME?" Al screamed, his voice filled with anger so pure and evil that it made her heart sink to her stomach.
"Al I am sorry but I have to do this." She replied trying to control the tears that were threatening to fall.
See what did I tell you? They don't trust you, they think that you are no good and dangerous.
"Why? Why do you have to do this? What have I done to deserve this?" Al asked.
"Al please go back to the office and when everyone gets back was can talk about it." Alex said lifting Al off the floor and guiding him into the office to sit on the couch again. Al started feeling dizzy from the wound that was on the back of his head.
"Where did Lan Fan go?" Alex asked noticing that she was no longer there in the corridor.
"She probably went to tell our his highness what has happened." May said walking slowly behind him, hating the cold feeling that she could feel coming from Al.
In the dinning room, Ling and everyone else was sat talking and eating trying to enjoy the celebrations that were being held in his honour.
"So my lord, I hear that you are the youngest Emperor in the history of Xing. How is it that you managed to obtain this title?" Lieutenant General Trevena asked curiously.
"Well it was very simple, my siblings and I were set a task to do by our father, Emperor Tanaka." Ling replied.
"And what was this task that you and your siblings had to do?" Another General by the name off Webster asked.
"I am afraid that I can not answer that other than to say that it was a very difficult task." Ling said.
"But what was the purpose of the task? Surely the Emperor's eldest child would have become the next in line for the thrown?" Trevena said, a lot off the General's nodded their heads in agreement.
"Well my eldest brother's family was a traitor to our father and he was not able to decide who should be the next one to follow as he did not know all off his children, so he set up the challenge to see who the right person would be to become the next Emperor or Empress..." Just then Lan Fan was standing next to him whispering into his ear about what had happened to Alphonse.
"You don't say, are you sure?" He ask Lan Fan who nodded her head. "Yes your Highness, what would you like us to do?"
"Walashi wa Edowado to ippan-tekina Musutangu to bun de anata ni sanka shimasu. Wareware wa soko ni totatsu made no seigyo-ka da kare o tamotsu yo ni shite kudasai." Ling replied, Lan Fan bowed and headed back to the office to help May and Armstrong with Al.
"What was that about?" General Hakuro asked frowning at Ling for speaking in his own language.
"I am sorry Generals but I'm afraid that Al has had an accident on the way back from the bathroom outside General Mustangs ofice and they would like me to come and see him, as he is my friend. Edward and General Mustang would you mind accompany me back to the office. I am afraid that I don't remember the way back." Ling explained looking over to Ed and Roy who both looked worried and confused as to what could have happened.
"Off course, I'm sure that Edward would like to go and check up on him." Roy said standing up and saluting to Fuhrer Grumman who didn't look too pleased with the events of the day.
"Make sure to report back to me what happened so that the right forms can be filed out and filed." Grumman said in a harsh tone that sent chills down Roy's spine, Grumman was not happy with him about something and he will probably be hearing about it tomorrow morning when he got to work.
Ed was out the door and waiting for Ling and Roy who were apologising to Fuhrer Grumman. He frowned at the wall opposite him.
'What could have happened? I'm having a bad feeling about this.' Ed thought as he watched Ling and Roy walk out off the room and into the corridor. They walked part way down and then Ling ushered them into a corner checking that no one had been following them.
"Ling what are you doing? We need to go and see if Al is alright." Ed said in frustration wondering why he had waited for them in the first place.
"I am sorry Ed but I wanted to warn you both first before we go in." Ling said in explanation. Ed looked at him with panic in his golden eyes.
"Warn us? About what? What happened? Is Al alright? Tell us damn it."
"Ed calm down and let Ling explain himself ok." Roy said looking back at Ling for the explanation.
"I am not sure what happened but apparently Al is acting really out off character and tried to attack Alex." Ling explained shocking Ed who couldn't believe it.
"But why would he do that? He wouldn't hurt a fly." Ed said.
"I don't know but we can find out when we get there. I just wanted you to be prepared encase something was to happen." Ling said turning to head towards the office again.
In the office Al was laying on the couch with a cloth that May had made for him on the back off his head to try and stop the bleeding.
"Al what is the matter? You do know that we are only concerned for you." Alex said trying to find out what was wrong with the younger Elric. Al just lay there with his back to him, trying to ignore the voice that was snickering in his head.
He he he he, I told you didn't I. They don't trust you. They won't even let you go back to your hotel alone.
'what am I going to do? I just tried to attack Alex. Who was only trying to help me and doing what he was told.
By a man who isn't his boss any more. He didn't have to stay here with you but he did.
'Ed is going to be angry with me when he is told. What's wrong with me? I am not like this.
What? Strong? Independent? Face it you have grown up and they don't like it. They want you to stay dependant off them. I have seen it happen many times.
'Oh will you be quite. This is your fault.'
My fault? How is that?
'Well if you hadn't taken control off me and made me get knocked out some how than I would have been in there having dinner with them, instead of laying here with a gash on the back off me head.' Al argued.
If I hadn't done anything you would be dead now. I saved your life. Al thought about this for a moment, it was true that he did have the feeling that he was being watched.
'What happened? Please tell me I want to know.' Al asked pleadingly.
You won't like it. Are you sure that you want to know? It might be better if you don't.
'Why would it be better? Takeo I want to know, now please tell me.
"AL," Ed shouted as he ran into the office and skidded in front of the couch. "Al, what happened? Are you alright?" He looked at Al's head and saw the blood on the cloth that was on his head.
"Ed give Al some space," Roy said standing behind him. "Hey Al, you don't seem to be having a good time off it today. What happened?" Roy asked with a smile. Ling stood next to May and Lan Fan with a worried expression.
'This feeling I'm sensing isn't Al's soul, there is definitely something else inside off him. Something terrible.'
"Oh I...um."
Tell them that you slipped...
"Al got upset because we wanted him to stay in the office and rest. We tried to calm him but he lost it, for some reason, and transmuted this dagger and tried to stab me with it." Alex explained given Al a serious but concerned look passing the dagger to Roy to examine.
"WHAT? Al is this true?" Ed asked shocked.
"Yes it is but I had no intention of harming any-..."
"I can believe you Al, why would you do that?"
"BECAUSE I AM PISSED OFF WITH BEING FUCKING TREATED AS A CHILD ALL THE TIME. WHY COULDN'T I HAVE JUST GONE TO THE HOTEL LIKE I WANTED? WHAT HAVE I DONE TO MAKE YOU ALL TREAT ME LIKE THIS?" Al screamed sitting up on the couch supporting himself with his arm on the back of it. Ed frowned down at him, disappointment flaring in his eyes.
"YOU TRIED TO STAB HIM WITH A DAGGER THAT YOU TRASMUTED FROM THE WALL OUTSIDE. I KNEW THAT YOU WAS HAVING SOME PROLEMS AL BUT SERIOUSLY TRYING TO STAB ALEX BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T LET YOU GO BACK TO THE HOTEL. THAT'S ONLY SOMETHING THAT A..."
"INSANE PERSON WOULD DO? GO ON SAY IT. I KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE ALL THINKING."
"Alphonse I think that what your brother is trying to say is that it isn't like you to do something like that. Know everybody just calm down. May do you think that you could heal Al's wounds for him? Before he bleeds to death." Roy said trying to keep the situation under control. May went over to Roy's desk and drew the transmutation circle she uses on a piece of paper before laying it flat in the couch and laying Al down on it before activating it.
Within a few seconds Al's head was healed and Al was able to sit up and stand without feeling dizzy. He stood up and walked towards the door glaring at Alex as he walked by him.
"Al where do you think you are going?" Ed asked in a stern tone.
"Back to the hotel to get ready for my trip. As I doubt I will be allowed to join you for dinner, I bet that the generals have had enough off waiting for you all and gone home." Al replied bitterly, Ed grabbed Al's arm dragging him back into the room.
"You may be having some emotional issues at the moment but that does not excuse what you have done tonight. Now apologise to everyone for your selfishness." Ed demanded. Al huffed and glared at everyone as they stood waiting for the apology.
"I am sorry for being kept as a prisoner in this office while you all had fun, hope that you all are happy." Al replied pulling his arm out off Ed's grip and storming out off the room slamming the door behind him. May sighed a sigh off relief, she was worried for a moment there that he was going to get violent with them again. They all sat on the two couches thinking about what Al had said as he left when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in." Came Roy's tired reply.
"General Mustang, Fuhrer Grumman is hear to see you Sir." Said a young soldier who saluted and stood at attention by the door.
"Fuhrer Grumman, we are so sorry about tonight. I will try to organise something for everyone so that..."
"I'm not here about that. Where is Alphonse Elric?"
"He's not here, he left to go back to his room about ten minutes ago." Ed said in reply. Grumman frowned and turned to talk to a few more men that were standing behind him.
"I want you men to go to Alphonse's hotel and escort him back here for questioning. Quickly now before he is gone." Grumman ordered. Ed, Roy and Alex looked at him in confusion.
"Sir beg your pardon but what do you mean bring him in for questioning? What is he being accused off?" Alex asked politely.
"I am afraid that we have found some Xinginess men dead near to were you had said you found him earlier, and two witnesses say that they saw a person described as Al fighting with some Xinginess men earlier today." Grumman explained. Edward jumped up to his feet and stormed over to him, a sad but confused expression on his features.
"You...you mean to say that you think that Al killed them?" He asked his voice shaking from the shock.
"I'm afraid that is how it looks. But don't worry, I plan to try and talk to him first before coming to any conclusions." Grumman explained.
"But why would Al do something like that? They must off attacked him first or something. He wouldn't just..."
"The Al we know wouldn't but this isn't the same Al that we all know and care about. Something has changed." Ling said voicing his thoughts. Ed gave him a curious look.
"What do you mean? Do you know what's wrong with him?" Roy asked.
"I am afraid that I do but I am unsure as to what it is that has been taking over him. We would have to interrogate him ourselves before we are sure." Ling explained, "the feeling that I got earlier when we were here was not something off this world and it seems that the longer it inhabits Al, the more control it has over him. We need to find out what it is that is inside off him and figure out a way to get it out."
Ooooh, was it Al that killed those two men in the alley? And what is it that Takeo is planning to do with Al? Will update soon. Thanks for reading.