Touka Koukan

Chapter II: Thunder Cloud Alchemist

Author's Note: Nothing much to say, really. As I'm typing, the first chapter sits and waits in my hard drive so I can't say thank you to any nice (or critical) reviewers who happened to wander across my fic. :sniff: I bet the reviews were horrible. I didn't like the first chapter but it's unfixable. XP

On a crisp morning such as that day it would have been a sin deadlier than pride to stay inside the stuffy caboose of a train, yet that was what Alphonse Elric was doing. He couldn't complain. He had joined up for the army himself without any pushing or hinting from his family or friends. Not even Roy dared approach Alphonse with an offer. He'd made up his mind to go look for his brother using the military's resources at his disposal.

Alphonse missed Edward. Five years had done quite a bit of twiddling with his memory but he could gather that his brother was a compassionate person but sensitive about being called short. They fought a lot but he loved his brother so much. Pinako-baachan had told him a lot of stories, along with Colonel Armstrong and Lieutenant Havoc. They talked about Edward's acute sense of right and wrong and some grand adventures his brother had gone through. They all commented on their likeness, except that he was a lot smarter than Ed. He had asked several times where was he when so-and-so happened and the story tellers grew uncomfortable, squirming in their seats, looking guilty as they drew up the same story of why. His brother was a military jackal and he couldn't come with him. One reason he'd joined.

He looked up to his brother, in awe that he didn't need a matrix to use his alchemy. In physical fighting everyone agreed that Alphonse could beat his brother to the ground. He remembered all the fights they had. He remembered the day they had caught that fish. And their mother.

He didn't wear the military uniform. The long-sleeved ebon shirt was under a light blue vest. His other accessories and pants were gray. He had snuck into the room Edward stayed in and had taken his red coat and suit case. He felt he needed to keep his older brother with him, however possible.

"I'm going to get Niisan back," he said, resolved. It was a promise they had made together. He knew it. The train whistled and began to slow, easing into the platform.

Stepping in to the gold digging town's train station was like walking into a mine shaft. It was covered and the walls and ceiling looked more like they pulled out a section of a mountain and placed the track through the tunnel. It was even more stifling in there than the caboose. It couldn't be helped, he'd just have to get out soon. Alphonse hefted the suitcase and ran out into the sunlight, past the workers and into town. The people talking around him, the marketplace, the children, everything would remind him of Liezenbul and Doublis. It seemed he could not escape them even if he wanted to.

"Uncle, may I have this?" a girl a few years younger than him asked, tugging a black-haired man's sleeve. She held a cute purse with garish beads stuck to it, trying to look fanciful. It resembled a clown's costume caught in a hand bag, but the child seemed to like it.

"Of course, Elisa," he smiled.

She held the purse to her chest. "Thank you, Uncle Belrush."

Did he have an uncle? Thinking about it, the closest thing he had to one was Mason-san, Curtis-san, Brigadier Mustang and Colonel Armstrong. Captain Hawkeye, and First Lieutenant Ross were like aunts and Lieutenants Breda, Fuery, and Havoc and Sergeants Bloch and Farman were his cousins. Pinako would always be his Grandma and Rose was like a sister and her baby, was like a little brother. Winry . . . He didn't know what to make of Winry. He liked her before, but she was too old for him. She was more like, a sister.

Geh. What he needed to focus on was the Tringham's. "Russell and Fletcher Tringham. Leaf and Vine Alchemists, accepted a year prior. Russell nineteen years old and Fletcher fourteen years old. Lives in Zenotime," he recited from the file. "The habitation is relatively small compared to the tree house." He sighed. It was Brigadier Mustang who wrote up the information, what the heck did he mean by tree house? Damn that man, him and his word puzzles.

He didn't bother dwelling on it for long. He could ask around, Zenotime was a small town. Everybody knew anybody, after all. "Excuse me," he said, waving to a young woman. "Would you happen to know where the Tringhams live?"

She looked him up and down. "You're a State Alchemist, right?" So she saw his pocket watch. Not surprising, actually. He had it around his neck like a pendant.

"Hai," he nodded.

The woman had a grim expression, like she didn't know whether to be pleased or furious that a military jackal had run through town. He doubted he was the first, or the last. Zenotime was having a prosperous plantation now that the red water was finally dug out and disposed of and occasionally officers were sent to check on them. Some did a bit more than that, however. Bad rep. That was all. "You're going the right way, and pretty close. Keep walking until you find a large building made of glass and walk around it. A green home should be somewhere there and then you can ring the doorbell."

Al grinned. "Thank you!" He handed her a bill for her troubles and hurried down. A large building made of glass? Wouldn't that be fun. He chewed on a strand of hair nervously. He'd developed the habit when his hair had grown longer, long enough that the bangs swept away from his face covered his gray eye, for which his State Alchemist name had been derived. His cut was a little more wild from his child hood, dark blond locks going past his ears. The hair would get into his face and he'd push it back in annoyance every once in a while. Still, he liked it. After begging Izumi he was allowed to keep it like that.

Finally there, he was beginning to wonder how the people mearsured here. It was half an hour's walk to the glass building and 'large' was a sad understatement. Elephantine did some justice, but not enough. He peered through the walls, marvelling at the plants. There was a boy about his age who was feeding fertilizer to one of the smaller breeds that they'd been growing. There were various assortments of roses, chrysanthemums, daffodils, lillies, but most of the plants had no flowers and were vines or trees that covered the east side of the wall. The hollow faces carved into the bark scared him.

"Ahhh . . . I'm never going to make it! This in-door garden is as long as the street to get here! Maybe I should just knock right now," he mused. "That should be Fletcher. Would he mind?" Raising his fist to knock, an unexpected kick to the head sent him flying away.

He knew who it was and shook his head, desperate to get rid of the pain. "Idiot!" she hollered. A shadow moved over him. 'Oh God,' he thought, 'I don't wanna die!'

"Why didn't you tell me you were a State Alchemist!" she screamed, kicking his stomach to roll him over. Alphonse stumbled and kneeled in front of her. "Did you think I wouldn't find out!"

"G - gom - m - en n - nasai - i, sensei," Alphonse stuttered, half out of fear and half from the stinging blows.

Russell Tringham was very busy. It didn't help when he saw a letter from East Central Commandaddressing him. "Niisan, did you pretend you were Edward again?" Fletcher asked, bright blue eyes skimming over the mail in his older brother's hand.

"No," he replied evenly, "I haven't done anything against the law for nearly four years."

The younger Tringham bobbed his head. "Yes, and I suppose that means extorting from Mr. Farring last month wasn't illegal? You amost got killed by the police, ya know? It's a good thing you're a State Alchemist or else they probably would have stuck you in jail for a long time." His personality had gotten a little more out-going since the Elrics had last seen him while Russell had sobered up some.

Leaf Alchemist sighed, muttering, "I thought you were sick that day."

"You think too little, niisan!" Fletcher chirped. He smirked as his brother would. He stood on his toes and looked over Russell's shoulder. Noticing it was Brigadier General Mustang's hand writing, he began reading as follows:

Hello again Leaf Alchemist and Vine Alchemist,

As you probably know, the Thunder Cloud Alchemist has followed in Fullmetal's foot steps (pardon the cliche) and has decided to try and use our resources to find his brother. I'm going to tell this to you once. If you don't want to start paying off your bills by being my maid then remember this, you have never met Alphonse and you have seen Edward only a month ago. Say otherwise watch your back and don't go to sleep.

-Brigadier General Roy Mustang

P.S. Don't let Al find this.

Russell sweatdropped.

"I think he forgot a comma," Fletcher observed.

His older brother laughed, ruffling the boy's hair. "This is fertilizer, okay?" He handed the paper and envelope over and Fletcher nodded, running into the back room where all their plants were. The remaining Tringham cleared his table and began sweeping up the room.

This time he'd try to be more welcoming. You usually don't get a chance to make a better second first impression. He did this more for his brother, who seemed to have taken a liking to Alphonse, both sharing common ideals, goals, family, and voice. The last scared the hell out of Russell. Fletcher had an ambitious, intelligent, quick-tempered and mildly touched-in-the-head older brother, Al had an angsty, genius, more-than-hot-tempered and very touched-in-the-head older brother. It fit so well. Of course, Russ was still taller than Ed.

A knock on the door stirred Russell from his serious job of manually taking away all of the mess in the two story house/research building they lived in. Serious because there was an Olympus of trash building in their abode. Sighing, he quickly alchemized the work away. He'd tried avoiding using alchemy as a sort of training to help him grow in strength and restraint. Unfortunately, he was down to one more use of alchemy lest waste an entire year abstaining.

A sharp clang of a bell sounded. Russell had a bit more work to do but kicked it into a dark corner of the room. He erased the matrix and strut to the door. Was it Al? He had only received pictures of the boy whenever he asked for them from the Brigadier. He gathered that Alphonse's memory was lost. Nothing there about alchemy when he was revived, and only pieces of memory about Edward. Russell's suspicion itched. Why would Fullmetal erase those memories? What if this Alphonse was a homunculus he'd heard so much about?

But maybe Edward did pay the price. He alchemized himself in exchange for Alphonse. Human alchemization is never perfect.

Homunculi were the failed experiments, though. Alphonse's alchemization was a success. How could he be artificial?

Fletcher had already gotten to the door and was looking through the peephole, looking stupefied.

"Is it Al?" he asked.

The younger one shook his head slowly. "No. I think it's . . . Izumi Curtis."

Russell paled. "N - no . . ." He back pedalled into the wall, bumping into a vase and almost knocking it over. Mrs. Curtis's reputation preceeded her. The Leaf Alchemist lunged forward and grabbed Fletcher, tugging him down. "Did she see you?" he demanded. "Tell me she didn't see you!"

The Vine Alchemist recalled the stories that had been shared about Izumi and her husband. Each time he remembered one, the color drained from his face. "Niisan . . ." he stuttered. "She saw me." Silence passed. The two tried to work out the solution. From what Winry had told Colonel Armstrong who had told Brigadier Mustang who had told them, Mrs. Curtis was a housewife crossed over with a violent, maniacal bitch. Mr. Curtis was huge, scary, and had enough muscles to impress Colonel Armstrong. Fearsome duo? Even in Zenotime, that was an understatement.

"Niisan," Fletcher trembled, "I'm scared."

Splinters burst from their door as a hulking mass ripped it from its hinges. Twin yelps rang out as the two drastically contrasted husband-wife team dragged in a boy. By their guesses, he was Al. "You," she said, pointing at them. "Do you know Edward Elric?"

Brigadier General. He turned the name over and over in his head. He had come back three years before, having recovered from what was thought to be serious injury that may have life time effects. The only scar that would last his life was the unwanted and uncalled for farewell present from the last President. Now, Hakuro was their President and doing quite a good job of keeping any wars from escalating.

A sum of the power being shifted to political leaders got mixed reactions. Mustang didn't like it. What made congress men so much more efficient than those in the army? They were not the war-mongering tyrants trying to feed their own ego, as the public had thought. Insensitive bastards. They didn't know what war did to soldiers. Still, he would be President soon. He was being promoted. He could sense it. Hakuro and himself had been on level playing fields for some time now and he was starting to gain favor and the upper hand.

He read through the latest report by Thunder Cloud. This was just recording the status on the living conditions and such of the Ishbal refugees. The boy was thorough. Much better at solving problems and writing and giving reports than his brother.

Word games were a lot of fun with both Elrics, though Al tended to receive the blows and slowly turn them against Mustang while Edward would answer with an onslaught of swearing and insults. Verbal banter was so amusing, how could the Flame Alchemist avoid it? Alphonse was starting to learn chess, as well. Edward already knew how to play. Mustang thought it would be an interesting match to pit them against each other, or work together to beat him. Ah, but the report. How could he pick at the Thunder Cloud Alchemist this time?

"Hmm, Rick and Leo are doing well. The Seig would like more water because the well has been dry . . . too small living quarters?" Roy sighed. Al was too kind for his own good. If they spent money on the Ishbal people then the citizens would be infuriarated. They didn't seem to understand that the late Fuhrer was at fault for the Ishbal massacre and that their loved ones were killed because of homunculi and the nerves lost by idiotic soldiers of both sides. Unfortunately, he lumped in with those idiotic soldiers. He had no real proof, however. If the truth spread to just one more person the legend of the Philosopher's Stone would only grow more appealing in its danger and success.

Alphonse was the first perfect case of human alchemization and Edward paid the price to give him that. Still, the question remained, how could Al's memory be so selective?

"I'll make everyone forget about the kenja no ishi!"

Black Hayate whined and rested his muzzle on Roy's lap. The Flame Alchemist petted the black and white dog, smiling at the canine's keen empathy. "Yo, Mustang," Jean Havoc greeted, sitting down at the table. "I'm the first one here, huh?" His cigarette was put out on the tray and he went to light another one.

"It would seem," he replied curtly.

Lieutenant Havoc breathed in, letting out a halo of fine smoke. "What's wrong this time?"

"When everyone's here I'll tell you," the Brigadier General said, enjoying his brevity. When he looked up from his papers they were there. "Ah, Lieutenants, Sergeant and Warrant Officer. Welcome. I find it hard to believe few of you haven't been promoted yet, since you are all very punctual." He eyed them with his usual teasing glance.

"Please, spare us the pleasantries," Havoc said, rolling his eyes.

"Brigadier Mustang, what is this all about?" Fuery asked.

First Lieutenant Ross nodded. "I would like to know as well as the whole room. What's your motive for bringing us here?"

His fingers laced under his chin as he regarded the group. It was fortunate they were not discharged from the army in the first place. "This is about Thunder Cloud."

A murmur descended and not soon after questions of concern began rearing.

"What's wrong with Alphonse-kun?"

"Is he dead?"

"Did he find out about Edward-san already?"

"Al didn't . . . you know . . . ?"

Mustang didn't know whether to turn green or kill himself laughing. "No, he's perfectly alive without any knowledge of Edward's rampant escapades and, by all reports, has remained sexually inactive," he said in an even tone. "However, he has started paying more and more attention to the jobs Fullmetal covered and is in Zenotime as we speak."

Sergeant Bloch rubbed his chin. "So he's going backwards?"

"Yes, and I can't do anything about it," Roy sighed.

Ross shot a glare at the lethargic officer. "Brigadier General Mustang, you are his commanding officer. Can't you with hold information and not give him these missions?" She had the same look as Hawkeye, becoming just as ready to pull the trigger as the lieutenant.

A look of indecision flickered in his expression. The room was silent as the military underlings of Mustang studied their leader. Lieutenant Ross was the first to speak, saluting, "I apologize, Brigadier General Mustang. That was out of my rank." She knew her place in the army, even if she didn't like it. It was treasonous to speak to a commanding officer like that. The wrath of the higher-ups can be swift.

Steepled fingers laid themselves on the table. "No need, First Lieutenant Ross. Ahem. Thunder Cloud has remained oblivious," Mustang said, catching up from where the outburst had cut, "but these cover ups will not last much longer. If he runs into someone who can not be bribed by the military or does not know his condition, the chances that he'll learn everything about his brother are enormous. We can't lose another state alchemist to the Philosopher's Stone."

It dawned on them what the Brigadier General wanted from the assembled team. "You want us to be damage control !" Havoc demanded.

"Brigadier General, I don't think it's wise to keep everything from Al, we should tell him," Sergeant Farman said. "Or at least tell him enough for him to stay at peace."

"That's a death wish," Mustang retorted. "Do you want the Curtis's and Rockbell's to kill us all?" The company paled at the thought. "If Ms. Rockbell or Mrs. Curtis wanted Al to know, they'd have told him already."

Fuery blurted out the thoughts that had plagued him since the conference topic had been introduced. "Is Edward-san really dead, then?"

Once more, Mustang's office was devoid of any sound. "His records in the army's listing states that he's now a colonel," Lieutenant Ross murmured.

Breaking the unbearable contemplative silence, Havoc asked, "So, why isn't Captain Hawkeye here?"

"She's on a leave of abscence," Roy replied, grateful that Havoc could break the ice easily enough with the military officers. (Too bad he didn't have that kind of luck with women.) "And before you ask, Armstrong-taisa is on a job."

"Really?" Fuery blinked. "Is he gathering intelligence with some men again?"

"Something like that," Farman answered for Roy, "he's delving into the hangings at Central."

Breda raised an eyebrow. "Hangings?"

"You haven't heard yet?" Mustang murmured.

"There's a bunch of suicides at Central and all of them tied a rope to their neck and jumped from the same building," Jean said. "It could all be because it's a great spot to hang out (Pardon the pun), but the victims were grabbing at their neck and there was blood on their hands and their fingernails looked like they were clawing the wall, as if they didn't want to jump. There were actually long red streaks on the walls and some even left whole pieces of their flesh."

Cain shivered. "Maybe they didn't want to die after all?" Breda offered. "Having second thoughts after the jump and it's too late."

Mustang shook his head. "No, because one was found early enough."

Ross nodded. "A young male, Francis Black. He claimed someone tied the rope around his neck and then pushed him," she said.

"He died soon after from suspicious cause," Denny Bloch said, "so he couldn't be questioned further. His story looked very bad, though, because it changed constantly. Since Francis was a college student aiming high with a reputation some officers believed he made up the story to cover up the fact he was under so much stress and needed help."

Roy stood. "In any case, that is beside the point. First Lieutenant Ross and Sergeant Bloch are going straight to Zenotime. Lieutenant Havoc and Lieutenant Breda, you're heading to Aquroya and Sergeant Farman and Sergeant Fuery will travel to Youswell."

"Hai! Mustang-junsho!"

"Here that? I can get a feel of Psiren's ass!"

"I hope Alphonse-kun hasn't already left."

"I heard they hate the military. Maybe we should pack a gun . . . or a tent."

"Maybe Al won't find any of those guys."

"How are we supposed to know who to tell that Alphonse is the armored guy! He's tall but not that tall."

"Taller than Edward."

To be continued

I had to put the last part in, sorry. :cough: The devil made me do it.

I like the 'tree house' bit. I put that in on a whim and it seemed a little like Mustang. He does appear to be the type who plays with crosswords all day and obssesses over word games, ne?

Oh, and I will have the next chapter up next week, guaranteed. After that you can expect for me to curl up and die for a few months or get obssessed with something else. (Not likely, my obsession dies when I see the Hagaren movie and not until.)

Next Time; Chapter Three: Ignorance is Bliss

Edward: I could have done better. Now I realize the error caused by my hastiness. Al . . . I'm sorry.