The Quest for the Stone

Author's Notes: Chapter 4 is up all this hard work is giving my hands some aching! Oh revised it!

BOLD- Things that were changed and revised

Chapter 4: Researching

-Headquarters: Colonel Mustang's Office-

The gang sat down on the chairs in front of Mustang's desk. Next to Mustang was his assistant, Riza Hawkeye. Kagome sat down on a chair next to Ed while Shippo was on her lap looking around.

Roy looked at the gang but he was mostly curious about Kagome's presence.

"Okay Miss Higurashi, why do you search for the Philosopher's Stone with Edward? Why is it important to you?" Roy asked as he looked at Kagome.

"You see Colonel Mustang, I have a friend who is in deep ill… the only thing to cure him is the Philosopher's Stone and the Shikon Jewel…" Kagome replied nervously.

Roy's eyes widened when he heard her say "Shikon Jewel".

"You… know about the Shikon Jewel?" Roy asked Kagome.

Kagome nodded and took the Jewel out of her pocket. Roy and Riza's eyes widened. Roy approached the Kagome and looked at the Jewel.

"This Jewel is the second most powerful thing…" Roy said. "It is also used for alchemy too and for increasing power of Sacred and Evil demons right?"

"Yes… I need to find the Stone so I can cure my friend…" Kagome frowned. Roy then looked at the brothers, "Edward and Alphonse, I want you to protect this young girl by all means since she has the hold of the Sacred Jewel or the Shikon." Roy told them.

The brothers nodded.

"Also, Edward and Alphonse… there is a Yearly State Alchemist Review (A/N: It used to be State Alchemist Entrance exam but in the last chapter Ed was a state alchemist already so that's a mistake.) Roy told them.

Ed's eyes widened, "Really?"

Roy nodded, "Yes, so do you agree?"

"We agree… don't worry… I'll be passing it… remember last year?" Ed smirked. Roy's eyebrow twitched and sighed.

(A/N: I changed it a bit, I wanted Nina and Shou Tucker here so here they are!) "By the way, you 4 are going to place under care of Shou Tucker. He's an alchemist here in Central and he has a big library in his home where you can research. He also has a few books about the Shikon Jewel and the Philosopher's Stone." Roy told them.

"Who is Shou Tucker?" Al asked.

-Shou Tucker Residence-

Colonel Mustang has drove the gang to Mr. Tucker's house.

"Wow, his house is big!" Ed said as he looked at the house. "Yeah I know!" Shippo agreed with Ed.

"Now you 4, Mr. Tucker have a four-year-old daughter so you must be in your best behavior." Roy said as he knocked the door.

The gang nodded.

"Kagome, are you going to research more about the stone with us?" Ed asked. Kagome then looked at Ed, "Yeah." Ed grinned, "Good, so you can find more about the stone and how to combine it with yours."

Kagome blushed a bit when Ed grinned. She also felt butterflies in her stomach whenever he grin or show off the toothy smile.

What am I thinking? I like Inuyasha… but… why Edward… why am I falling for him? Edward…

"ARF! ARF!"

"What was that?" Ed said as he turned around. All of the sudden a huge dog was over him.

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"

The dog had tackled Ed down on the ground. The dog panted as he sat on Ed's body. Kagome, Al, and Shippo giggled as they saw Ed's face flat on the ground.

"Alexander! You silly dog!" A little girl's voice chimed in.

"Nina, didn't I told you to tie the dog up?" A man's voice came.

"Hello… Shou Tucker…" Roy greeted.

-In Shou Tucker's Home-

"Ah, Edward Elric… nice to meet you." Shou greeted. "Nice to meet you too Mr. Tucker." Ed said and bowed.

"Edward and his friends are researching about the Stone and some other Alchemy things. The Elric brothers are also studying for the Yearly State Alchemist Review so I want them to stay in your home until the test comes up." Roy said to Shou.

"I see, well… I guess they can stay and study more." Shou replied.

Nina Tucker, Shou's daughter was poking Al's armor. Al was a little bit uncomfortable. "How come you have a big armor?" Nina asked with a puzzled face.

"Well you see… umm… it's a costume…" Al lied and sweat dropped. Nina then smiled, "Oh!" She then glanced at Shippo who was on Al's shoulder. She then tried to hold Shippo's tail.

"Hey what was that for?" Shippo shouted as he looked at the 4-year-old.

"What's that?" she asked.

"This, oh this part of my clothing!" Shippo lied and also sweat dropped.

"Kagome, I see your also looking for the stone too." Shou said as he looked at the young girl.

"Yes I am." Kagome replied.

"Okay, I am going to leave you four now to research. See you in the national Alchemist Test Edward and Alphonse." Roy said as he left the four into Tucker's home.

-Library-

"WOW! THIS IS BIG!" Ed said as he looked at the library. He then ran to the nearest bookshelf and grabbed a book.

"Thank you Mr. Tucker, now let's get started…" Al then looked around and saw his brother already reading. "I guess my brother started already!" Al said as he went to the nearest bookshelf and grabbed a book too.

Kagome then went to Shippo and said, "Shippo, why don't you go with Nina outside so you two can play."

Shippo then looked at Kagome, "You sure she isn't dangerous?"

Kagome giggled, "No, now go play with her and don't go to any place that you don't know."

Shippo nodded and ran off with Alexander and Nina.

Kagome looked for a book that said "Philosopher's Stone" until she found one and grabbed it. She never liked studying or researching but she must so she can try to save Inuyasha from his illness.

-1 Hour Later-

Kagome is sitting on a chair and still reading the book she had. She glanced at Edward who already read 2 books. "Wow, he's fast," she whispered. Ed was reading carefully and understanding each sentence and paragraph he reads.

Kagome was staring at him, he was peacefully reading as if he was in the book itself. She can't stop staring at him for some reason his golden-eyes reminded her of Inuyasha.

Ed then glanced at Kagome who was staring at him.

"Kagome? What is it?" he asked. Kagome snapped out of it, "What well ah!" she tilted over from her chair and was about to fall. Luckily, Ed ran fast and caught her. Kagome blinked twice and saw she was in Ed's arms. She blushed hot red.

"Kagome, be careful…" he said as he let her stand up.

"Thanks Ed, that was a close one." She smiled nervously at him.

"EDWARD! WATCH OUT!" Shippo's voice called out until…

"BARK! BARK!" Alexander shouted and tackled Ed onto the ground. Nina and Shippo ran trying to stop the dog but instead they giggled.

"Hey what's going on?" Al asked as he saw his brother flat on the ground. He too giggled a bit.

Kagome helped Ed out, "You okay Ed?" Kagome laughed a bit. "Yeah… that dog…" he then turned to the dog with a sly smirk.

"You think you can mess with me? Think again you canine fiend! I, EDWARD ELRIC WILL FIGHT YOU WITH MY ENTIRE BODY AND SOUL!" Ed yelled as he chased the dog around the library.

Everyone sweat dropped.

"How immature…" Al sighed. Kagome, Nina, and Shippo laughed.

Author's Notes: REVISED! This takes place when Ed's fifteen! 15! And Shou Tucker was killed when Ed was 12, so I changed it a bit. I noticed something's are confusing here so I revised it.