Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or Shaman King.
A Second Chance
Chapter 2: Getting Acquainted
Ed looked at the man in front of him in disbelief, all of his earlier uneasiness gone. "Are you serious? This is Asakura Hao? This is the man that has been stealing my fame?" He regarded Hao like a bug that he was about to squash and laughed. "You must be kidding me."
Hao was silent, but the corners of his mouth curled up into a small smile. This could be easier than I had anticipated, he thought. "You're not much yourself, shorty," he told Ed, smiling wider when Ed jumped at him, only to be held back by Al.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A MIDGET WHO YOU CAN'T SEE WITHOUT A MAGNIFYING GLASS?" Ed demanded, struggling fruitlessly to escape from Al's grip. He pulled at his brother's metal arms, twisting and turning in every direction, but to no avail.
Hao was enjoying the spectacle immensely, but pretended not to notice Ed's current predicament. "You shouldn't be so loud," he murmured, looking away, the corners of his eyes crinkling with mirth. "Someone will think that someone's trying to destroy the building…"
"That's it! Al, let me go! I'm going to give that bastard a piece of my mind," Ed fumed, struggling even harder against his brother's grip.
Suddenly, Ed heard fingers snap and he cringed reflexively, expecting a huge crash to follow, but was met with silence instead. He looked up and saw Hawkeye lower her hand. So it wasn't Mustang snapping. He let out a sigh of relief.
"Hagane no, calm yourself," Roy said authoritatively, breaking the silence. "Asakura-san, have a seat."
The two obeyed, Ed depositing himself unceremoniously onto the couch while Hao settled himself comfortably on the couch across the table.
"You both know why you have been called here. As state alchemists, you are required to complete certain missions for the military; this is being one of them. Asakura-san, you will act as the guide on this mission, as you are most familiar with the land and Ed, you are to be the leader. You will map the land, investigate it, and report back to me when you are finished, understood? Any questions?" The Flame Alchemist regarded his two subordinates with a calm gaze. When they just sat still, not responding, he nodded. "Okay then, just a few more things and then you can leave. Asakura-san, come here."
Hao got up and walked to the Colonel in his relaxed, controlled manner. His hair trailed behind him like a cape and his white poncho-like cloak billowed around him.
Roy waited for Hao to stand in front of him and then motioned to Hawkeye, who reached into his desk and pulled out a round metal object. As she handed it to Mustang, light flickered off of it and Ed recognized it immediately. It was the state alchemist seal.
Roy took the watch and gave it to Hao, who accepted it with a silent smile and deposited it in a random pocket beneath his white cloak.
As soon as the metal disappeared under Hao's cloak, Mustang began to talk again, "As you are no doubt well aware, all state alchemists are given a second name. For example, Ed is known as the Fullmetal Alchemist as I am the Flame Alchemist. From now on, you will be known as the Spirit Alchemist…"
Hao nodded. The name wasn't all that creative, but it would do. After all, he did not need a big name here. This place was just for more power and influence if he needed it, but that was doubtful. He could probably kill all the humans without the alchemists, especially since he would have Yoh on his side soon. So for now, being well known as Hao Asakura in Tokyo was good enough.
From his position behind Hao, Ed watched this exchange of words with a raised eyebrow, wondering why Hao would be called the Spirit Alchemist if Mustang wasn't even sure if the rumors were true. Pushing the thoughts out of his mind, Ed waited until Roy motioned for him to come forward. When he did, Ed strode up to Mustang's desk where the colonel had seated himself as Hawkeye led Hao out of the room with Al in tow. The two alchemists watched them leave, paying close attention to the newest addition to Mustang's group of subordinates. Finally, the door shut behind the others with a soft click and Roy sighed.
"Regretting taking him on?" Ed questioned, smiling at the resigned look he was being given.
Roy frowned. "Actually, yes in a way, but it's to late to say no now." He looked thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head and turning back to Ed. "Anyway, this is the last time you'll get a chance to change your mind so make sure you know what you're saying. Are you sure you want to take this mission?"
Ed let an exasperated sigh escape him. "When I say something, I mean it," he informed Mustang. He of all people should know that when Ed decided on something, he didn't take it back.
The Flame Alchemist snorted. "Like when you said that you wanted to become a state alchemist, regardless of being a called a dog of the military, and then decided better of it several years later and quote, 'quit'?" he scoffed.
Ed scowled. "That's different."
"I'm sure it is," Roy retorted.
"I don't need to hear this so unless you have anything else of worth to say, I'm leaving." Ed didn't bother waiting for a reply and proceeded to exit the room instead, scowl ever present on his face. As he walked through the double doors on the other side of the office, Mustang smiled at his retreating back.
"Don't let me keep you!" he called after the young alchemist.
"So, how do we get to this Tokyo, Japan anyway?" Ed asked, yawning widely and eyes squinting shut. He stretched his arms out and collapsed onto the bed beside him. They had been on a rather uneventful train ride to the East District and Ed was not feeling quite so alert anymore.
Finally, the answer came. "Through the gate."
Ed opened an eye to glance at his partner. Despite the long, nearly five-hour road trip, the man's voice was the same as it had been before: calm and even. Ed studied him for a moment, but was unable to penetrate through his mask. "What gate?"
Suddenly, there was a loud crash as Al sat himself on a chair, which immediately broke under the weight of the metal armor.
We really need to get something better for him to use for a body, Ed thought. He can't stay in that suit of armor forever. That was why they had been looking for the Philosopher's stone. He reached down to help Al up, frowning.
Noticing the frown on his brother's face, Al waved off his help. "I'm fine nii-san," he assured Ed. "And don't worry," he added, whispering. "Everything will work out."
Ed nodded and withdrew his hand, glad that Al was an optimistic person. But I will find a way to get you back to your normal body, he vowed silently to Al.
Hearing this thought, Hao came upon an idea. "Why don't you take his spirit out of the armor and let him roam freely without that metal shell?" he asked.
Ed's frown deepened. How did Hao know that Al was just a spirit? "And how would I do that, supposing that it was even possible?" he asked, testing to see if Hao actually knew how to do what he suggested.
The Asakura shook his head at Ed condescendingly and motioned for him to move to the side. Once Ed was out of the way, he kneeled down next to Al and took the helmet off.
Ed watched with curiosity and suspicion as Hao murmured something, but all he could catch was "spirit…" Suddenly, there was a flash of soft white light and a deformed round ball resembling Al's head appeared above Hao's hand, glowing a steady shade of dark green. The armor fell to the ground, clattering, a lifeless heap of metal once again. Ed jumped up in surprise and advanced on Hao, eyes flashing with anger. "What the hell did you do to Al?" he demanded, his gaze darting from side to side, frantically looking for the rest of his brother's body. "If you hurt him in any way, I'll kill—"
He was cut off abruptly when Al's voice cut in, tentative and halting. "N-nii-san?"
Ed's eyes widened. He could hear his brother's voice and could see the Al-shaped head's mouth moving, but couldn't seem to comprehend that the mouth was where the voice was coming from. "Al? Where are you?"
"Here!" Al's shouted, but as he was unable to point, Ed just continued to look around with a confused expression.
Sighing at the blond's obtuseness, Hao held up the hand with Al's spirit on it and stuck it in Ed's face. "Watch," he ordered. As he pulled his hand away from Ed, green tinted winds encircled Al's 'head' and consumed it. Within seconds it was gone, pulled into a small mass of swirling air. Spontaneously, the cyclone of wind burst outwards revealing Al as he was when he still had his body. However, from his hips down, his form curled into a trailing line of smoke.
Ed let out the breath that he had been holding. "Al, is that really you?"
Al didn't know how to respond. "I—I think so."
Ed looked at Hao in disbelief. Although the shaman had gotten up and was currently lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, he seemed to know about everything that was going on around him. Ed watched him for a while as he laid there, breathing comfortably. Unable to decipher anything else about Hao from his countenance alone, he turned back to Al. "Are you okay?"
Al nodded. "It feels different. Kind of soothing actually."
Ed just shook his head, still not completely believing it. "Can you move?"
Al's arms swung up and down and his head turned in every direction possible. "Hai, but I'm not so sure if I can move from one place to another since I don't have legs anymore.
"So it's not that great after all," Ed said, dejected. "Can't ghosts float around though?" he said after a moment's thought.
Al became sulky as soon as he said that. "I'm not dead yet," he pouted, a cloud of gloom settling around him.
"No you aren't," Ed agreed hastily, "but try floating anyway."
Al cocked his head to the side. "How?"
"I don't know. Wriggle or scoot or something."
Al tried both plus a few more movements, but none of them seemed to do anything. They worked on it for nearly and hour, but Al didn't budge a single inch.
Ed scowled. "Dammit. This sucks," he shouted. He could have sworn he heard a chuckle from the other side of the room, but when he whipped his head over, he was greeted by the sight of Hao's back.
Al had to agree with Ed. "But at least I'm not just a bunch of metal anymore," he pointed out.
The Fullmetal Alchemist slumped over. That was true, but they were nowhere near their goal of bringing Al's body back fully. However, they were closer than they had ever been before.
Al smiled sadly at Ed. "We owe him nii-san."
As much as he hated to admit it, Ed knew it was the truth and it couldn't be denied. Now they were indebted to someone they barely even knew and could end up having to kill. Why does life hate me so much? he wondered.
As Ed climbed back onto his bed, Hao smiled, still facing the wall. "You okay with staying there for the night?" he heard Ed ask. Still smiling, he turned onto his other side and watched the two brothers talk before shutting his eyes.
Meanwhile, Al nodded in answer to Ed's question and Ed shut the lights off. Tomorrow was soon enough for investigations.
