THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GATE
By Umi Mikazuki
Beta reader: Trina Sheep-chan
Disclaimer: I do not own Ed, or Al, or any other character from Fullmetal Alchemist. Although I wish I did…
This is set after the final episode, but with the ending…tweaked…a little. So, beware! Spoilers!
Summary so far: After Ed attempts to bring back Al, he is transported to the other side of the gate, but not in the early 20th century like the anime. Instead, he comes to the year 2005 and meets a woman named Rachel. She is currently letting him stay at her apartment and helping him adjust…
Chapter Two: Never Go Shopping With A Woman…
A fifteen (or is it fourteen?)-year-old Al sat nervously in the living room of Pinako and Winry's house. Roze and her baby, who had come with him, were upstairs, still asleep.
He had arrived on the doorstep late the previous night, wearing only a pair of khaki pants and carrying Ed's red jacket in his arms. He had felt so emotionally drained and physically worn out that he had almost passed out right there. Winry had helped him to the couch, where he had gratefully fallen asleep. Now, after getting a good night's rest, he had to explain how he wasn't a suit of armor anymore. There was also the issue of only having Ed's jacket, without the teen himself present.
Winry handed him a cup of hot chocolate, "What happened, Al? Where's Ed?" She sat down next to him.
"…"
"If you don't want to talk about it yet, we understand."
"No. I need to get it out now." Al said sharply. Taking a deep breath, he began the story, "The homunculus had me captive, and Brother was coming to rescue me…"
The memories came in a flood as his tale continued. He told them about Dante and Hohenheim being centuries old, using the stone to transfer to new bodies every few decades. He told them about how Gluttony was going to eat him and create a purer form of the stone, about how Ed was sent to the other side of the gate, only to return and be killed by Envy, their half-brother. With his voice choking, he told them how he had sacrificed himself to bring Ed back.
"…and the stupid idiot had to do the same for me. Now he's gone." Al finished bitterly. "I refuse to believe he's dead. He can't be."
Winry was crying, hugging Ed's jacket to her chest tightly. "Ed…Ed's gone?"
Pinako's hands were shaking so bad she dropped the cup she was holding. "It's too unbelievable. Our Edward can't be gone. He's too headstrong."
"I…I need to be alone right now," Winry left for her room, bringing Ed's jacket with her.
"Pinako?"
"Yes, Al?"
"Thank you."
Walking over to the teen, she embraced him, "He'll come back. Don't worry. That boy's too stubborn to give up."
V
"Wake up! I made pancakes!" Rachel shouted, opening the curtains and letting the sun shine right in Ed's face. Cursing, he pulled the covers over his head. In response, she grabbed the covers and yanked them onto the floor.
Ed curled into a ball and glared at her, "Damn it, Rachel, I'm tryin' to sleep!"
Looking at her watch, the woman said, "It's past noon. We need to get you some clothes today. Now, get dressed, and come downstairs for brunch." Pointing at his black pants hanging over a chair, she arched an eyebrow.
The pants were torn and bloodstained, definitely not fit to be worn again. Wait. If his pants were over there, what was he wearing? It was kinda drafty… Blushing, he grabbed the blanket in an attempt to remain modest. Rachel merely smiled at his embarrassment, "You're wearing boxers, the important parts are covered. There's some of Shio-kun's clothes in the dresser for you." With that, she turned around and left the room.
The teen growled and hastily got dressed. He came downstairs and leaned against the fridge. Handing him a plate piled with pancakes, Rachel directed him to the table and commanded, "Eat. You're still growing." Grabbing her own plate, Rachel joined him.
After a few minutes of silence (besides eating sounds), the woman jumped up, "I always forget milk!" Ed made a face. "You don't like milk?" Rachel frowned.
"I loathe it…" he all but growled.
"But if you don't drink your milk, you won't get any taller…"
"You sound just like Winry."
"I sound like your girlfriend? That won't do, I have a fiancée!"
"…SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"
"Okay. Whatever you say."
"…"
After getting her milk, the two finished their meal in silence.
V
Rachel decided to walk to the mall, what with it being such a nice day. Unfortunately, as soon as they exited her apartment building, they realized that everyone else in the city was walking to their destination. Vehicular traffic was no better. The air was punctuated with the sounds of car horns blaring and people complaining.
"Such is my fate, living in a large city…" Rachel squared her shoulders, grabbed Ed's hand, and dove into the masses of humans.
Almost immediately, Ed began to feel claustrophobic, being pushed and shoved by the crowd. He looked at Rachel weaving through expertly, seemingly without anyone else touching her. Quite the opposite of himself.
Grinning, Rachel looked back at the struggling teen, "You will soon learn the ancient art that is crowd walking, young grasshopper."
"You're crazy. You know that, right?"
"Yep. Just a few more blocks, and we'll be there."
It was more like twenty blocks. Finally, the pair made it to the mall.
V
Winry didn't come downstairs for three hours. Her face was still a little puffy, but she put on a cheerful smile, "Hey, Al, we need to get you some new clothes."
"Right now?"
"Why not? Grandma, we're going out! Be back soon!"
V
"Rachel?"
"Yes, Ed-kun?"
"Why can't you carry some of this stuff? Half of it is yours."
"That's what you're here for! Slave labor!"
"I should have known to never go shopping with a woman…"
Ed was carrying six bags of clothes and other things his host felt he needed for himself, as well as seven for Rachel. Hers were considerably heavier, containing more mangas, DVDs, and anime paraphernalia than new outfits for herself. All she carried was a little bag with a few pieces of jewelry in it. Sighing, he trudged along behind the woman.
With a hop, she turned around, "Are you hungry? It's almost seven." She pointed at the food court, "We can get dinner here."
"Yeah, a little." Actually, he was ravenous. Damn his teenage body!
Standing in the middle of all the food places, Rachel put her hand on her chin, "Hmm…Chinese, Mexican, burger joint, Italian…ah! Chik-fil-a! Find a seat for us, while I order." With that, she fairly ran over to the place, finding a spot in the mile-long line.
Ed stared at her, wondering how an adult could be so…hyper all the time.
V
Winry held a shirt up to Al's back, "No, too big."
"Winry, don't you think I have enough clothes now?"
A dangerous gleam appeared in the mechanic's eye, "You need to make up for four years…" Smiling, she thrust a heap of pants into his arms, "Go try those on."
He knew better than to argue with his childhood friend when she was like this. Al ambled over to the changing room.
Winry's smile faltered a little, as she noticed how much he looked like Ed. Well, besides height and hair and eye color. The corners of her eyes began to sting, 'At least one of them is alive…NO!' Furiously, she wiped at her cheeks, 'He's not dead!'
"Winry?" Al sounded hesitant.
She snapped out of her gloomy thoughts, "I'm okay. Just give me a sec."
Concerned, he asked, "Do you want to go back home?" 'She's really taking it hard.'
Giving him a weak smile, Winry shook her head, "No. I'm fine. Now let's see how those pants fit."
V
Rachel yawned, "I'm beat. Let's go home." Stretching her arms, the woman pushed Ed in front of her.
The teen's arms felt like lead. Rachel had relieved him of a couple of her bags a few hours ago, but there were still a good number of them. "Please tell me we're not walking back…" Ed didn't think he could last that long.
She looked at him incredulously, "No! We're taking a cab! My feet hurt." Waving furiously, she hailed one of the yellow vehicles down.
Almost immediately, one of them pulled over and popped the trunk. Ed hurriedly dumped the bags in and collapsed in the back seat.
"Very dignified." Rachel raised an eyebrow, climbing in and giving the driver her address.
"I think it's deserved," he smirked at her. "So, at what ungodly hour are you waking me tomorrow?"
She laughed, "Ungodly hour? You can sleep as long as you want tomorrow, granted you do a few household things for me. Consider it equivalent exchange for letting you stay."
"Like what? Cleaning?"
"Yep. Shio-kun is coming over tomorrow night, and the place needs to be spotless."
Ed looked at her, "Are you going to tell him the truth about me?"
Rachel patted his knee, "No. It's your story. For now, I'll say you're my step-cousin."
V
"It must feel weird to be able to taste again, huh, Al?" Winry leaned on the table, smiling at him.
"Yeah, it does. I can definitely get used to it, though." The teen laughed. He pushed away the bowl, his stomach content. "I'm a little tired, so I'm going to go to bed. Goodnight, everyone." With that, he walked upstairs.
"Goodnight, Al." Winry and Pinako chorused.
V
Criticism is VERY welcome! Just do it in a respectful way, please. Flames are evil, and the people who write them should die very slow, agonizing, painful deaths…
Well, there's chapter two for ya. Hope you enjoy it.
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