Hello, all. Thank you for all your lovely reviews. I'm glad you like the story so much. And I have SO much planned out for this chapter and later chapters... :rubs hands together and grins: Oh, Edward...
Chapter Six: Out of Luck
It was early afternoon when Ed discovered a town in the distance. He had been traveling down a dirt road extending from where they had begun, and the scenery didn't change much. Grass and meadows as far as the eye could see. Maybe a cow, here or there.
The town appeared run-down and impoverished. It was kind of depressing to look at, in a way. But then Edward saw the people. Despite their community, they didn't look half as miserable as one would think. They seemed bright and cheerful, as if they had all the money in the world. Children were laughing and playing with little homemade toys. People were outside cleaning their porches and humming. It sort of made Ed smile.
He wandered in a bit, looking for a place to get lunch. Perhaps there would be some restaurant somewhere. Suddenly, a small force collided with him from behind, nearly pushing him over. Ed turned around to see a scruffy-looking kid, who looked like he desperately needed a bath, lying on the ground behind him.
"S-sorry, mister." He got up and brushed himself off, then took off in the opposite direction Ed was going.
The blonde finally came across a small diner. He stood at the door and reached for his wallet to count his money. "How much did Mustang give me, anyway?"
No wallet.
"Whaa...?" Ed checked every pocket his outfit provided frantically. "Dammit! What the hell happened to my money!" He ran a hand through his hair and started shifting uneasily. "What am I gonna do about fooood..." he groaned.
Meanwhile, Roy was still wandering down his road, wondering whether there was even going to be a town. The sun was beaming down on his head now, and he really wished he'd packed a canteen or something.
Since there was nothing else to think about, his mind wandered back to work...then to Hughes. Edward was going to find out some time. Either by him if he ever had the guts to say it, or by Hawkeye or the rest. How would he react? Would he have the same feeling that Roy had, that feeling like you're in a dream and you're going to wake up any minute? He could tell that Hughes meant a lot to the Elric brothers, so of course it would be bad, but they never had the bond with him that Roy had. He sighed.
Ed had the right to know. As much as Roy disliked Ed, he had the right to know.
He promised himself he'd tell him as soon as he saw him again. It would be difficult, but he could spend this time he had to himself gathering up the courage to speak of the tragedy. Not for Ed's sake, but for Hughes. He'd want Ed and Al to know.
Miles away, Ed was sitting up against a wall, hugging his knees to his chest, having a breakdown. "What am I gonna doooo?" he asked himself over and over. It was late afternoon now, almost evening. Ed's stomach was roaring.
A young woman with dark brown hair walking along the side of the street spotted Ed out of the corner of her eye and hurried over to him.
"My god, you look sick! Are you okay?" Ed looked up at her with miserable eyes. He did in fact look sick, but that was the state he'd always be in when skipping a meal. That was just the way he was.
"I need fooood..." Ed moaned.
"You need a doctor!" The woman put a hand to Ed's forehead. No temperature.
"No, fooood."
"Oh, all right. You can have a big meal at my place, then I'm taking you to a doctor." Ed's heart leapt, and he threw his arms around the woman. "I love you!" The woman stared blankly for a moment, then just shrugged it off, thinking that the blonde was delirious from his sickness.
Ed found her house to have a warm and cozy feeling, much like the house he grew up in with his mother and Al. There were only two plates set out at the table, but she quickly put out a third one and began serving the roasted chicken she had just taken out of the oven.
Apparently following the smell, a small boy emerged from the hallway. "Is dinner ready?" Ed looked up, then sprung up from the chair he was sitting in, yelling, "It's...it's YOU!" He waved a finger at the boy.
The woman looked up at Ed. "You know Billy?" Ed snarled. "That little punk stole my wallet! He's the reason I missed lunch!"
She looked over at the boy and placed a hand on her hip. "Billy, have you been pick-pocketing again?" Billy looked down and nodded. "Yes'm."
"Give the boy back his money."
"Yes'm." Billy reached into his pocket and pulled out Ed's wallet. He handed it to the blonde, glaring defiantly. Ed stuck out his tounge and took it. After the exchange of dirty looks between Billy and Ed, the woman introduced herself, and Ed did the same. Her name was Rebecca.
Eventually, they started eating. Ed seemed as if he was going to eat his fork and knife and then move on to his fingers, he ate so fast and thoroughly. Billy and Rebecca stared in amazement.
"So...Edward, was it? What brings you to town?" Ed looked up, eyes widened, as if thinking Oh yeah!
"Oo gaw anee akemists in thish twn?" Ed asked, food falling out of his full mouth.
"Pardon?"
"Sorry. Are there any alchemists around here that you know of?" It'd be best to confirm the killer's target, so that he could catch him in the act.
"No. We don't know any alchemists. Are you an alchemist, by any chance?" Ed nodded.
"Well...did stranger besides me wander into town today?"
"Hm...oh yes! There was one tough looking old man. Looked real mean, had cold eyes. I told Billy to keep away from him, and you should do the same." Ed's eyes widened. Perhaps...this was the killer?
"Do you know where I can find him?"
"Did you hear what I just said? He looks dangerous."
"Look, I'm searching for someone, and I think this guy might be it. Can you tell me where I can find him?"
"Well, he's been spending a lot of time down at the bar. He's got dirty blonde hair- I mean 'dirty' as in both color and unclean. He's also got a scar..." she ran a finger along her forehead, "right about here. You can't miss him."
Ed finished up his meal, and nodded at Rebecca. "Thanks for everything!" He waved and hurried out the door. This could be it...he'd beat Roy at something! He could just see it now.
Ed walked into the town he and Roy were supposed to meet at, dragging a tied up killer behind him. A triumphant grin spread across his face as he saw an ashamed-looking empty-handed Roy.
"Hey Mustang, I caught him."
"Golly gee, Ed. I feel like such a dork and a loser right now. I think I'm gonna cry." Roy placed a hand over his eyes.
"Yes, you are a dork and a loser, but don't feel bad. I'll still be your friend!" Roy gasped.
"Thank you Ed! I'm not such a friendless loner after all! I may be a total retard, but at least I have you!"
Ed smirked and laughed a little, despite how wierd Roy's last sentence sounded in his little fantasy.
He found the bar Rebecca told him about without any trouble and strode inside as casually as he could. He wasn't told to leave, surprisingly, though he hardly looked twenty-one. But when he sat up on the bar stool, the bar tender glared at him and told him he couldn't order any drinks. Ed thought that it wouldn't be the best idea to argue, because he couldn't win anyway.
He surveryed the place, and sure enough, his eyes fell upon a middle-aged man who fit Rebecca's description perfectly. Ed gulped; he was tough-looking. Kinda scary. But this was his mission, and he had to fullfill it. Besides, he had to see the look on Mustang's face when he brought the criminal back into town.
The blonde slowly got down from the barstool and made his way to the suspect, trying to look as tough and manly as he could.
"Hey." The man looked up when he heard Ed. His eyes were cold, and the alchemist could swear he saw a faint glow of crimson in them.
"Whadda you want?" His voice was heavily slurred. If Ed's prediction was correct, the man would be passing out very soon. The blonde slowly sat down and attempted a smile.
"So...you been in town long?" The man belched and wiped his chin with his sleeve.
"Nope." Ed shook his head. This wasn't going to get him anywhere. He may as well cut to the chase.
"So, what do you got against alchemists?" The man looked at him funny.
"Whaddaya talkin' 'bout? Wha, you're an alchemist?" He waved a finger in the blonde's face.
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not." The man's eyes flickered, and a malicious grin spread slowly across his face. He immediatley reached with both arms across the table and grabbed the blonde by the throat. He then walked around the table and held Ed up against himself, putting his arm across the blonde's neck and pulling a gun out of his jacket pocket with his free hand. He jammed it into Ed's temple.
"Nob'dy move, nob'dy say anything, got it! The kid's comin' wi' me!" Nobody in the small bar dare go against the man's word. Ed made a tiny sound of protest, only resulting in the gun being pushed harder against the side of his head. The man dragged Ed out of the bar and walked him down the street, looking for a way out of town.
"This town ain't worth much," he muttered to himself before looking down at Ed. "Alright kid, my name's Keith, and you'll be workin' for me. Got it, punk?" He dug the gun harder into the blonde's temple. Ed grunted.
"What do you want with me? What can a kid do for you?"
"You said yer an alchemist, didn't ya? Alchemy should come in handy with my...profession. See, I dun much like to pay fer things, get what I'm sayin'? I'd much rath'r take things by force."
So this wasn't the murderer. Keith was a robber.
Shit, well wasn't this fun? I guess my little fantasy won't come true after all.
It wasn't until nightfall that Roy found a town. By then, his feet were horribly sore, and he felt like he could collapse at any moment.
Now how should I do this... the Colonel thought to himself as he observed the sleeping town. In the end, (without narrowing down his search by asking around like Ed) he decided on propping himself up against a building where he had a pretty good view of most of the area. He'd just have to keep his eyes and ears alert to any sign of movement; any sign of someone not inside their house, fast asleep like all the rest. He felt rather comfortable sitting after walking all day, but he kept himself wide awake, determined to pull an all-nighter. He had to if he wanted to catch this killer. A scenario ran through his mind, about what would happen after he caught the criminal.
The daring and handsome Roy smirked triumphantly as he walked into the town he and Ed were supposed to meet at, dragging a tied up killer behind him. He saw Ed, who looked beat up and dirty and defeated, and waved.
"Edward, I have caught the criminal."
Ed's eyes widened as he spoke in a high-pitched tone, "Oh, Roy! You're so much cooler than me, and better and smarter and stronger and handsomer!"
Roy nodded. "I know I am. Let's head back to headquarters, and we can celebrate with a round of drinks!"
"But Roy, I'm just a little kid,"-he said with emphasis on the word "little"- "I could never get into a bar. You couldn't sneak me in anyway, because I'm too puny and short," he whined. Roy patted him on the head.
"It's all right, little one. You'll get taller someday. Maybe."
Ed's eyes lit up. "Oh, Roy! If I were a girl, I'd totally fall in love with you!"
Roy snapped awake at that last sentence. What the freaking hell? He rubbed his eyes. "How long have I been asleep?" he asked himself. It was still very dark out, except for the radiant moonlight flooding the streets. No sign of activity, but then again, he had no idea if he had missed anything while asleep.
He looked up at the stars. What a beautiful and comforting sight... He sighed and closed his eyes without realizing it. Looks like he needed sleep more than he thought.
This time, Roy didn't wake up until morning. And the only reason he did wake up was because of the shouting of townspeople and the mass confusion in the streets. The Colonel got up slowly; he was rather stiff from sleeping up against a wall. He made his way over to a policeman who didn't look as busy as the others.
"What's going on here?"
"You just get here? A beloved elderly man of this town...he was a doctor who could perform miracles...was murdered last night." Roy's eyes widened.
"These miracles...were they alchemy?"
"How should I know? I just heard about him from one of the townsfolk. You should ask one of them." Roy nodded, but didn't bother asking anyone about the "miracles". It was too obvious. The man was a doctor who performed alchemy, and he was killed by the murderer he was after. While the Colonel was asleep. Perfect.
He bit his lip and paced back and forth. What should he do? There were many more directions he could have taken off in this time, and only he could go after him. Damn. Roy took a deep breath and decided to head back to the town he and Ed were designated to meet at.
"I guess my little fantasy won't come true after all."
Poor little Edward...whatever will he do? Mwahaha...I'm so evil. I have so much in store for the little shorty. Please review!