I'm soooooooo sorry about how late this chapter is! Some stuff happened on the weekend that didn't give me time to finish it then... I could give detail if you wanted it...

But my dad has accepted a job in ALABAMA (part of the reasons why I didn't post this last week), and part of the deal is that they are paying for our move there. (Wow, right?) But it is to be done in 2 weeks.

2 weeks.

Yeah.

SO, I might not be able to have stuff up for a few weeks, since we'll be much busier than usual. Just a warning.

On with the story!


Edward and Alphonse ended up sleeping in an inn that night, since they stayed too late and would have to catch a train the next day. They both felt relieved at managing to avoid the questions Winry was asking without making her suspicious. Well, not more than she was before. Mostly, though, they just felt guilty at not letting her know what was going on.

The next day, the brothers woke up early in the morning for the train. They got in and started getting comfortable in their seats when suddenly a head popped up outside the window. Upside down. With closed eyes and a goofy grin. Al's fur had poofed up from the appearance of a third person, and once he realized who it was it started to smooth itself down again, although his heart didn't recover from the near-heart attack as quickly.

"LING?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Ed shouted with a red face after getting a little scared by him, although he wouldn't admit that. The teen mentioned pulled open the window and let himself in without invitation, sitting down next to the cat.

"I'm bored. I suppose we're going to Central, right?" Ed nodded his head in response, looking very annoyed by the prince.

"Since when did you have a cat?" Ling went right to work to look at the name on the tag, confirming that it was indeed the Fullmetal Alchemist's.

"None of your beeswax." The older brother was still annoyed by the Xingese kid.

"Apparently, it isn't your friend Winry's either." Ling said nonchalantly.

"Wha?"

"I saw that you avoided her questions related to it before. And did you really come to Risembool without your brother? As far as I remember, you two are always together by the end of the day."

"...WERE YOU SPYING ON US?!"

"That's not important right now-"

"YES IT IS, YOU CREEP!" Al gave his brother a big puppy-dog eye look, which just barely restrained Ed from strangling Ling.

"Why aren't you telling something so simple and maybe important to your friend?" The Elrics couldn't totally tell whether he was referring to Winry, himself, or both. Edward gave no response, but with time Ling's eyes wore him down, which was weird since his eyes were closed.

"FINE that cat is Alphonse." By then said cat had jumped from Ling's side to Ed's lap.

"...What?" Ling opens his eyes a little and stares at Al, who just gives a nod.

"It does have the same aura as him, so I guess you are right. Should I even ask how it happened?"

"We don't know much about how ourselves, but we have been looking for the person responsible. My stupid duties as a State Alchemist haven't been exactly speeding that up."

"Wow, another goal on top of all the others you already had. You should take a breather, Ed."

"I can only dream."

Edward had managed to convince Ling to relax and take a nap or something, since the brothers were going to do the same. He closed his eyes and petted Alphonse meanwhile, which act made them both sleepy, and within some time they ended up asleep.

Ling's POV:

I ended up waking up much sooner than either Ed or Al, and I let Lan Fan and her grandfather in through the window, supposing that she was sick of hanging on to the top of the train. I tried to have a conversation with her, which ended quickly since I do so very often and she never has a lot to say. I also wandered into other carts of the train, making sure to hide if any of the people working on it were nearby. I didn't find anything interesting, so I returned to my seat feeling utter boredom.

I had to wait a little bit before Al woke up, and we ended up playing a card game together, me teaching him one that has been popular in Xing lately. Then I tried having a conversation with him, which actually worked out better than expected. Whenever I asked him something, it would always be something he could answer with a nod for yes, a shake for no, or a shrug. Otherwise, he responded with face and body movements to show emotions.

Once I couldn't think of anything else to say, I decided to just say it.

"I never stopped thinking that your body could still be considered a way to immortality, and the situation you are in now has made my suspicions more confirmed. You were able to transfer to a new body with all of your soul intact, I believe, since your Qui still seems as strong as before. You could just move from body to body whenever the old one starts to not cooperate as well, can't you?"

The response I got was bewilderment, with a dash of shock and maybe anger. I didn't even ask for permission before grabbing the cat and starting to inspect him, trying to figure out where his anchor to the new body was and other details that would help in my investigation.

The Fullmetal Alchemist woke up, unconsciously doing so just about 10 minutes before the train was to stop, and a few seconds after I had starting doing the act. I paid him no mind as he tried to overcome his grogginess, and once he did he looked at me in confusion then in anger, taking back Alphonse from my grasp.

"What are you doing to him?!"

"I was just looking for his blood seal or whatever!"

Ed held up his brother with one hand, using the other to point at one of his ears.

"It's inside of here. Happy?" He placed the cat back on the seat and then reclined back a bit, huffing a little in my direction.

"Someone isn't in a very good mood. Did you need more time to sleep?" I said with a smile, although it could have been taken as me teasing him.

"Maybe, Squinty Eyes."

"Hey, you know that's not something I can control, shorty!"

"DID YOU JUST CALL ME SHORT, YOU IDIOT-" He didn't have time to finish the insult when Lan Fan slapped him. I turned to her with my usual smile.

"Now now, Lan Fan, I don't think that was necessary. This is just harmless exchanges between friends, right Ed?"

"Whatever you say, idiot." He ducked down when Lan Fan swiped again, and when returning upright started to rub the cheek that had a red handprint on it from the successful attempt before.


I'm kinda frustrated that I still am not entirely sure around what episode these events are happening in. *sweat drop* Seems that this story is just kinda in between a lot of the storyline, not actually becoming one with it. Good or bad thing? Should I try harder to weave this into the manga/anime or not?

Oh, one of the other excuses! On Sunday, I suddenly had an idea for a one-shot! But a long one. Like, it might end up about 10,000 words. It doesn't seem like it could separate well into chapters, so it's all just gonna be one continuous long short story. Yup. (So I've been working more on that than this chapter, which made me feel guilty.) With time, it will be awesome and complete! :D Well, hopefully awesome. Don't know what people will think of the idea... But I don't want to give it away yet!

K bai!