A/N: *yawns* Hello guys… Sorry for not updating earlier, I was a bit busy writing Chapter 12 and watching Higurashi. What a great anime that is…with perfect torture scenes… (Yes, I enjoy being creepy. ;D)

elysenjazz: YOU WELCOME YOU WELCOME YOU WELCOME YOU WELCOME…

Dashita Tichou: You ARE very special. ;D

FlyingInMySleep: Yeah, well I just decided to do that randomly, not that I know how those things work… I've never bothered to check it myself. -.-

ENJOY!

CHAPTER 11

Roy Mustang walked into the inn with a handful of books in his arms. It was hard enough finding books in Amestrian language and the librarian had gotten mad at him for walking noisily in the library and had yelled at him. That old hag. The stuff he was doing for the brat, just to regain his trust.

Oh well, it was going to work. He was sure of it. Edward couldn't keep a distance forever. He'd given him a hug that day, to snap him back to reality. How cute. He was only fourteen after all…

Well, he hoped this lead would pay off. Though, he felt bad about lying to Ed. He wasn't after anyone. He had just wanted to accompany Ed. He was going to figure it out soon though. Would it make him lose more trust? He didn't want Edward scowling all over the place. He had to get back on the track and begin insulting Mustang more.

Now now…he walked towards their room and took out a key. Though, the room was empty.

Great. Just great. Maybe I should have just pulled rank and ordered him to-

Nah, not a good idea when you're trying to make someone happy.

He dropped the books on the desk and saw a scribble note in neat handwriting.

"Went to get some food. I won't leave the inn though. Ed."

Roy sighed. Well, he hadn't returned for a good fifteen minutes and they hadn't eaten anything since breakfast.

He locked the door and went to the lobby.

"Looking for Mr. Tyler, sir?" the old man in charge asked.

"Yes. Where is he?" Roy said, looking around.

"He asked me if there waz a restorant around 'ere. I went to find a map but when I came back, he waz gone. I found tis on the floor." He responded, taking out a fashionable round black hat that Ed had called ugly earlier. Though, it did suit him.

Roy's eyes widened as he took the hat and began examining it. Edward wouldn't just drop it off. And he wouldn't go and run off somewhere. Unless something happened to him…

Damn it! How would they even recognize him?

Mustang ran out the door, hoping he would find Ed before anything happened to him.

The headache came just before Ed opened his eyes. He was in a really dark place and he couldn't see anything. He realized his hands were tied behind him, and he hit his head on something as he tried to sit up.

What had happened to him?

They were in Drachma, and he had gone out to get food, didn't he?

Oh…

Now he remembered what happened.

Great. Just great. Mustang's going to kill me… If he finds me that is.

His hands and feet were both tied, and he was in a dark enclosed space.

Oh no, what should I do now? Should I wait for Mustang to save me? Oh please, I'm scared. Ed thought sarcastically. He shifted his hands till his palms faced each other and clapped, the blade rising out of his automail. He cut the ropes on his hands and feet and felt the material above him and sides.

A trunk? Was he in the trunk of a car?

Well then, it was going to be easy? He clapped his hands and put them against the roof.

Nothing happened.

Ed frowned. The car must have been made of several metals, making it impossible to transmute.

Oh well, Ed thought. Guess I'll try to cut the trunk open.

He began stabbing the roof of the trunk. Nothing. It didn't even budge.

Why was he here anyway? Who had brought him there? Had people his identity? Were they planning on starting a war? And what had happened to Mustang?

He could hear some noises outside. There was a man talking in Drachman. Another guy answered him in Amestrian.

"I tink hiz ancestors are from Xerxes. Hiz eyes and hair are both golden."

"He might be Amestrian, but I don't know. I'm sure hiz father haz lot of money." said someone with a familiar voice.

Oh great, Ed thought. All they want is ransom and I'm here worrying about my identity being discovered.

He began hitting the cover of the trunk, hoping to make some noise.

And he knew he succeeded, because it went silent.

Footsteps were coming his way.

The trunk opened and Ed squinted his eyes at the sudden burst of light.

It was the room-service guy with the glasses from the inn.

"You." Ed growled, kicking his leg towards the man. He got him on the ribs and there was a crack.

"You brat!" the man growled, catching Ed's leg the second time he tried to kick as he held one hand over his broken rib.

Ed saw what the man was about to do, as the man let go of his leg. He tried to get up, but it was too late.

The trunk closed, hitting his head on the process.

Darkness.

Roy Mustang found himself asking questions to the people in the street. It was a really little town, he would find Ed right away, right?

"Excuz me, did you see a young boy around this tall around here? He waz dressed in black and had blond hair." He asked to the man in charge of a bar.

"I saw someone carrying a boy tovards the garage, they told me he waz their son." Roy nodded, thanking him.

Garage? Carried? They had knocked him out?

He arrived at the garage soon enough and peered inside. There was a middle-aged guy sitting on a chair. "Where iz Ronald? He very late. Maybe he not find the man?" he asked in broken Amestrian.

"Probably. I gave him the ransom note minutes ago." said another man. He was standing with his back resting against the trunk of a car, holding his hand to his chest. His eyes were hidden from the light reflecting on his glasses but Roy knew who it was.

The same guy from the room service.

That bastard…

So…where could Ed be? If they were only three people then they would be keeping him in front of their eyes, right?

"Who iz this kid anyway? He has a blade on his automail, and he kicked me so hard, one of my ribs broke." The man muttered.

Serves you right, Roy thought.

"He tried to cut the trunk open, but I dropped it on his head." He said, pointing at the car he was leaning on.

Roy scowled. He put on his ignition gloves and walked towards them.

"He iz already here." The man with the heavy accent said.

The guy from the inn took out a gun. "Hand over the money, or this shall get very dirty.

Roy scowled and snapped, setting the man's arm on fire. The man howled in pain, and dropped the gun on the floor.

"What iz this? He use some crazy magic!" the man sitting on the chair yelled, looking horrified. He got up and began running away. His friend following behind, dropping the car keys in process.

Roy took the keys from the ground and opened the trunk. There was Ed, unconscious, his hair all over his face. Untied ropes were right at his side.

He really did look small.

Roy slipped his hands under Ed's legs and back and began carrying him.

Though after a few minutes, Ed jerked and opened his eyes. He looked up and realized Mustang was carrying him. "P-put me down." He said, surprised. Roy gently lowered him and Ed bowed his head to hide his embarrassment. "T-thanks…" he mumbled. He nearly swayed as his feet hit the ground but managed to keep his balance.

"What happened?" Roy asked, as they walked back to the inn.

"I don't really know either. I was at the lobby, then that room service guy knocked me out. I woke up in the trunk and I tried to transmute it but it didn't work. Then that guy opened the trunk and I tried to get out but then he closed it back. It hit my head…" Ed mumbled, rubbing his head.

Roy looked towards him, a worried expression on his face. "Do you have a concussion?" he asked. "Are you dizzy?"

Ed began looking at him as if he had an axe stuck on his head. "What's up with you, Mustang? Did YOU hit your head somewhere?"

Roy looked away, blushing slightly. "I was just worried about your well-being…" he said silently, handing over the top black hat.

Ed looked down. "It's not like you're my father or anything. Or are you saying that because of what happened a week ago?" he stopped walking.

"No, no." Roy said, surprised as Ed brought it up. "We all know you're well. Anyways, let's go get something to eat."

Ed grinned. "Finally."

Edward woke up early the next morning. He pulled open the draped, and it was snowing. The temperature had dropped. He got up, changed into some warm-keeping clothes and began reading the books Mustang had brought for him. Roy was still sleeping soundlessly in the other bed. Ed took the folder from the desk and went through it again.

I wonder what Al's doing.

Why was the Colonel acting like that? Being nice, carrying his suitcase, coming to get him, carrying him, and not saying one single smart remark... His usual smirk hadn't appeared for a long time either.

Ever since…his split-personality came up? He hadn't called him short or Fullmetal ever since too. He liked that. The fact that he was being called by his own name was nice…

Maybe he really did feel guilty about the whole thing. Maybe Ed should forgive him already. He'd come all this way after all. And all that "the-culprit-might-start-a-war" talk…he wasn't buying it. And he didn't like the extremely nice-Mustang either. He wanted the old Colonel back.

Roy sneezed in bed, waking up in the process. "I can't be getting sick…" he muttered, sitting up. "Ed?" he asked. "How long have you been up?"

"Five minutes."

Roy nodded, getting up. He went to the bathroom and came out in a matter of seconds. "Let's get breakfast." He said. "Put on the hat."

Ed nodded. His hair was still down, and he placed the round hat back on his head.

Mustang took one last look at the files about the lead and went after Edward.

"So, do you like the food?" Roy asked, no interesting questions in his head.

Chewing on the bread, Ed shook his head. He swallowed and raised his head. "Yeah, why?"

"I don't know, just trying to make conversation." He mumbled, looking away.

"Anyways, we're going to the address on the paper after this, okay?"

Ed nodded as he looked into Mustang's eyes with a curious expression. Did the Colonel really care about him that much? Where was all the remarks about him being kidnapped? Or all the mentions about his height?

Across Edward, Roy watched Ed, an unreadable expression on his face. Where was the swearing? And calling him a bastard? Where did it all go?

At the same time, the two looked away, focusing to be looking at something else. Ed finished eating and wiped his mouth on the napkin. "Let's go." He said quietly.

"Right."

"So this is the place?" Edward asked, staring at the abandoned house in front of them.

"Yes. Come on." Roy responded, walking in the front while looking back at Ed once in a while. They entered through the door and began checking the room one by one. The house was made of wood and the floor creaked with every step.

"This place is full of dust." Roy said, coughing. He pushed away the cobwebs in the air with his hand and opened the door to another room.

The room was vacant, just like every other room.

"There's something on the floor." Ed said, peeking in behind Mustang.

"What?" Roy asked. And then he noticed the red stain on the floor.

Ed made a move to go in but Roy stopped him by grabbing him on the arm. "I'll go first." He said and walked inside.

Edward shot him a confused glare but waited by the door.

Roy knelt down and touched the red stain. He brought it to his nose and sniffed it. "It's not blood, that's all I know." He said, standing back up. "Maybe colored water It doesn't smell like fruit punch or anything…"

Just when Ed was about to follow, he saw a motion behind the door.

What was that?

He slightly moved backwards and saw something glinting. A knife..?

Just then, the person behind the door looked at him through the crack. Green eyes…

Ed gasped.

Before he could warn Mustang, the person slipped out behind the door, and began to run with his or her knife, aiming it at Roy.

A/N: Aww, tell me, don't you like how Roy is being so protective and stuff? Hehe, well there you go! THANK YOU FOR READING AND PLEASE REVIEW! ;D