A/N

Once more I do not own FMA. I just thought it was time to write this again. Also I have just finished writing this story and all that is left is to finish putting the rest of the chapters up. Well that and trying to make sure I've made things clear enough. So enjoy till then.

Chapter Eleven

A Price to Pay

Ed sat up in the bed the next morning and stared at Roy. He was pretty pissed. Winry just sat in the chair by the bed. Deciding to stay out of this one.

"What do you mean he's gone?!"

"He left yesterday."

"Where the fuck did he go?!"

"He didn't say. He just told me that you and Al were in great danger and that I should keep an eye on you."

"In danger from what?!"

Roy just looked at him. He knew what Ed would do if he told him everything now. Especially about what his father had attempted. He decided he would only tell him part of it right now. It was going to be bad enough trying to keep him in the hospital bed with what he would tell him.

"You're dad was sent up north to kill something called a homunculus. It's a false human created through alchemy. And their hella strong according to your father. This could be what Husskisson and his cult was involved in."

"A false human?" Ed questioned. Winry looked just as perplexed.

"Yea. I didn't believe it either. But this may be why they took Husskisson's body. They may be trying to bring him back this way. But your father said that these things wouldn't have a mind of their own. That it was easily shaped by its creator. And that the soul may not return to the body. It may or may not gain the memories of the person it was molded from. But if these guys are trying this, then they must have some form of memory."

"This is nuts Mustang."

"I know Ed. But you're father wouldn't make this shit up."

Ed took the time to think for a moment. If this was what was going on and his dad was this freaked out about this then they could be in real trouble.

"Okay. Let's say all this is possible. How do we take one out if we have to?"

"Your dad didn't say. I think he want's you to stay out of this one."

"Well he could have at least told us in case we had no choice but to fight one."

"Ed? I know you don't remember much about your dad since you were so young when he left. But you'd still know him better then anyone. What is he thinking?"

"He wants to finish this to repent. He went off to die basically." Roy grew a shocked expression on his face while Winry gasped.

"How can you say that so casually?" Winry asked.

"Because he knows there's nothing he could do to stop his father anyway." Roy said. "Hohenheim can be a stubborn man. Just like you Ed."

Ed just huffed and looked away. He had hated his father for so long when he just up and left like that. But then he learned the truth. After that he really wanted to see his dad again. And all he had gotten were a few moments with him talking about alchemy no less. Not the kind of conversation he would have wanted to have with him the first time they met again. His dad was gone again and he wouldn't get that chance now. He loved his father. He really did. But he had to stay strong at the moment. So he stayed turned away so the others wouldn't see that he was crying.

"Ed?" Winry questioned out of concern. He just shook his head.

"Roy? I know he told you everything. You better tell me. Don't hide anything from me."

"Ed, I'm not hideing anything from..."

"Bullshit!" Ed screamed as he cut him off. Like you said. I would know my father best. He wouldn't tell me something. And you're not telling me something either! Tell me!"

Winry looked to Roy. She seemed to be lost. She thought he should know but at the same time she knew how he would react.

"I can't Ed. You just rest and don't worry about it."

"Don't tell me not to worry about it! That's my father! And he's going off to do something I can't let him do it! Al would be sad!" He was looking at them now. Tears streaking down his face. "Roy? Where did he go?"

Ed sounded so hurt. Roy sighed as he looked at him. It really hurt him to see him this way. But what could he tell him?

"Ed. I really don't know where he went. He wouldn't tell me. I'm sorry."

Ed pushed himself off the bed and slowly stood up.

"Ed! Don't!" Winry yelled as she ran over to help him as he almost fell over. He took ahold of her arm for support.

"I'm okay. But I have to do this."

"You're still hurt Ed!"

"She's right Fullmetal. Lay back down."

"No! This whole thing...I know it's not over! And dad's involved somehow! What did he say to you Roy?"

"You'll go whether I tell you or not, won't you?"

"You know me Roy."

He sighed deeply again. "Sit down Ed. You won't like this."
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Kimbly entered the dark room and looked around cautously. Something about this wasn't sitting right with him. The hooded figure led him through the room without a word. Kimbly had trouble keeping up with him because he couldn't see anything. Yet this hooded man wasn't having any difficulty at all. At last they came to a door and the hooded man un-locked it and swung the door open. Light from the room beyond poured through and Kimbly had to cover his eyes from the blinding light.

"Enter Kimbly." The hooded man spoke. His voice now in a desturbing low growl. He just shook it off and pushed passed the figure. As he passed though he got a look at the figures face and tried to turn back out of fear. But it was too late. He was violently shoved into the room. The door slamming and locking behind him.

"Shit!" He slammed himself as hard as e could against the door. Repeating the action over and over.

"That won't do any good Kimbly."

He stopped after hearing the voice. That voice shouldn't be posible. Slowly Kimbly turned around.

"How? You're dead?"

Slowly the man emerged from the shadows. The lips of the once dead man curling into a smirk.

"Death is only a temporary thing for me."

"You were killed! You can't come back from the dead!" Kimblee said while pointing a shaky finger.

"Well I have. In a way."

"In a way? What's that supposed to mean?"

"It doesn't really matter for you. I need you to do something for me."

"Huh?"

In a flash the man was directly in front of Kimblee, his hands wrapped around his neck. Kimblee struggled to breathe but it was to no avail. He was starting to black out. He could still see the the smirk still visable on the mans face as his eyes slowly closed.

"Damn...you...Husskisson..." Then his eyes closed and he saw no more. He dropped Kimblee to the floor and called his servant into the room. The hooded man entered and bowed before him.

"Yes master." He straightened back up and slipped his hood off. His face was that of a grotesue figur who's face had been burned off. Or chewed on. Either way something really terrible had happened to this man.

"Take this body to the transmutation room. Have it prepared."

"Yes master."

"And one more thing."

"Sir?"

"I want to see that Elric boy again. The older one. I need you to do something to make sure he comes to me."

"I have just the way master. Leave this to me."

He just nodded as Kimblees' body was dragged from the room. When the door closed and the room was once more silent Husskisson turned back to the shadows. "If you only knew how much power resided in you young Elric. What you're really capable of. Hm. Well I guess you'll find out soon enough." He made his way back to the shadows, grabbing a rather old book as he exited.

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Ed was dressed and out the door before any of them could stop him. He couldn't believe what his father had been involved in. What he had done. He wanted to beat the dumb asshole for it. But at the same time he wanted to stop him before he got himself killed. But e really had no ides where to look. So he just picked a direction and walked. Or more like gimped along. He was obvoiusly still in pain. And he was still rather dizzy. After all, he had just woken up from a coma.

He rushed right by a rather shocked Alphonse. He turned around upon seeing his brother rush passed.

"Brother? What the hell are you doing up? You should be in bed!"

Ed turned around to make some sort of retort but stopped short when he saw a cigarette perched betwwen Al's lips.

"Um...Al? When did you start smoking?" Ed had on the most confusing look.

"You were stressing the living hell out of me! I couldn't help it! Now why the hell are you up!?"

"No time Al. Just keep an eye on Winry till I get back." He turned around and began to walk away again.

"Brother!" But Ed paid hi no head this time. He just kept on walking. He didn't want his brother to get involved in this whole mess. Especially when he knew things were about to get a whole lot worse.

Al watched as his brother dissapeared down the sidewalk and around a corner. He actually thought this may be the last time he would see his brother. He just had the sickening feeling in his gut. He took a deep breath and turned back around to see Roy and Winry standing there. The look on her face was breaking his heart. He walked over with a soft expression on his face. He wanted to be nice so as to not upset Winry. But she was already upset. He looked at Roy as he passed. He could tell that whatever had happened this man had been involved. He stopped by Winry as he threw his cigarette down on the ground.

"What happened Roy?"

"Why does everyone keep sking me that today?"

"Because you know something I'm sure we all need to know."

"Damn you Elrics are persistant. Don't go running off too when I tell you."

"We'll see after you tell me. So I can figure out how retarded my brothers being now."

"You have ranking's for his retardedness?"

"Shut up Roy. Now tell me."

Roy just sighed for what seemed to be the hundreth time that day. "Fine. But I swear this is the last time."