Chapter FiveMoving Forward

1st Lt. Hawkeye's office, Central HQ – Central, Amestris – 1842 hours

As he walked up the steps, Ed tried to find a way to tell Al all that had during the debriefing. How would he be able to handle yet another tragedy in their lives? He paused and leaned against the wall, deciding he was not yet ready to tell his younger brother. Like I said, God must really hate me…it was so long ago, yet our lives never get any easier. I was the one who tried to bring Mom back…he shouldn't have to suffer like this all the time.

He heaved a heavy sigh. "It's no use just standing here," he said out loud. He slowly went up to the top of the flight, then pushed open the creaky stairwell door. After a bit of wandering, he found himself outside of First Lieutenant Hawkeye's room.

"Hey Al, it's me," he said wearily as he knocked. Hawkeye greeted him and gave a salute.

"Hello, Edward. Are you all right? I'm sorry-" Ed cut her off, not wanting Al to hear the news just yet. He was the one who had to tell him.

"I'm fine, thanks. Al, are you ready to go?" he stepped inside and went over to his brother, who had been reading silently, absorbed completely in a book.

Al realized who it was and got up quickly to say hello. "Hi, Brother! How was the case? What was it? Will you be able to finish it quickly?"

Ed glanced at him solemnly. "I'll tell you when we get outside. Come on, let's go." He began to walk out as quickly as he came in.

"Um, okay," said Al, noticing the apprehension in his voice. He knew something was wrong. Ed, what happened up there? He thought. He went quickly to the door, eager to find out what his brother was hiding.

Hawkeye grabbed Ed's shoulder gently, causing him to stop suddenly in his tracks. His heart began to beat slightly faster. "We'll speak with you in the morning, Edward," she said compassionately. For one rare moment, her eyes softened and showed overwhelming warmth, a striking contrast from her usual reserved gaze. A small, but worried smile formed on her lips. "Be safe…" The Lieutenant whispered as she closed the door behind them.

Central, Amestris – 1851 hours

"Okay, Brother. Tell me what happened. I know something's wrong," Al said as they walked down a deserted street, leaving the Headquarters in the distance.

Ed ignored his words, and continued walk silently. If anything, his pace had picked up. Al began to have some difficulty keeping up with him.

"Brother! Tell me!" he yelled, but he received the same response.

"There's nothing to tell, Al. There's just a little uprising Mustang wants me to look into," Ed was struggling. He searched, but couldn't find a way to tell him. He knew, though, that he would have to give in soon.

"I know that's a lie. What's so bad about this case that you won't say what it is? We're supposed to tell each other everything!" Al started panicking. He stopped short and watched as his brother kept heading up the alleyway. Suddenly, Ed paused as well, with a sigh.

"Fine, Al, you win," He led him over to a dark, secluded corner of the alley. It took him a moment to find his words, but finally he spoke. "Hughes..is dead." His hand began to form a fist again as he remembered when he first heard what happened. "The case..is for me to investigate into his death."

Al didn't move nor say a word. He was in utter shock, the same degree Ed had felt in Mustang's office. He backed up against the wall away from his brother. The cold steel clanged as it hit the bricks. "How, Brother? How?" He yelled in distress, as the sudden grief overcame him, quickly traveling through his body. Even though the armor was hollow, he could feel the heartbreak flow through him, like poison through his veins.

Ed approached him slowly, trying not to overwhelm him with the astounding news. "Mustang told me he was shot. It looks like Hughes was investigating deeply into the Homunculi and Lab Five…I think he got too close to the truth, and paid for it with his life." He was about to continue, until he sensed something was wrong--Al began to cry. At first, it was barely audible, but Ed knew to be quiet. His brother's painful sobs soon echoed throughout the hollow armor. "I'm sorry, Al.." he whispered. He approached him and leaned up against him, trying to be of some small comfort.

"Who did it, Brother?" Al asked, his voice quivering. "Who would do that to him?"

"The Homunculi. I know it's them. He must have found out some secret they didn't want let out." Ed stepped back and looked up at Al, his face sad, yet hopeful as well. In an attempt to end the uneasy moment, he began to focus on the case. The sooner they started, the sooner they could end the tragedy and avenge Lieutenant Colonel Hughes. "Now..let's go. I don't want this left unanswered any longer. I need to find some small justice, for Gracia and Elysia. I can't even imagine how they feel…"

Al remained close against the wall, his eyes focused on the ground. "I can't do this. I can't. I don't want to think about it. I want our old lives back!"

A worried smile came over Ed's face. "Al…" he said, not sure what to do. Their eyes locked in a tense silence. Suddenly, his brother flinched as if to run. Ed grabbed him by the arm and pulled him backwards. "Alphonse! Please listen. You and me made a decision. Our old lives are gone. We have no choice but to move on now." He paused momentarily to catch his breath. "I know it's hard, but I need your help. Think about Hughes' family. They don't have any idea what happened to him..who killed him, why.. We can't let the Homunculi go on like this. This is the end. I'll get revenge for those we've lost."

"Brother…" said Al, thankful to have someone like Ed always there for him. He thought of Elysia and old, faded memories began to come back…of Nina. He remembered how sad she had been not knowing where her mother went and not being able to talk to her. Elysia doesn't know anything about her dad's death..and her mother can't even give her any answers. They have the right to find out what happened.. Al straightened up and made his decision then and there. "Y-you're right. It's not fair to Elysia and Gracia. It's our job now to find out what happened to Hughes. But…you can't get revenge, Ed. We said we would never, ever, kill. You know we don't have it in us to take a life anyway."

Ed sighed. "Ah, Al, I know…but," he didn't finish. Yet again, he was at a loss for words. He did want to kill the Homunculi, to get payback for the many people they once knew. But his brother was right. They had learned better than anyone the value of a life, human or non-human. They both could never kill, no matter how worthy the cause. Greed…you did so many awful things, but..even now I still can't live with the fact that you died at my hands.

Gradually, a pit began to form in his stomach. He couldn't linger on the subject any longer, and was genuinely starting to feel sick. His head ached immensely, so much that he began to feel the effects of a dizzy spell. The whole day's events were just too much to handle. "Let's go," he said abruptly.

Al was startled, not hearing the response he was expecting. "Uh, okay. But where? Where are we supposed to go now?"

"Remember Sciezka? It seems she was working close to Hughes and has some good information about the case. I think we ought to pay her a visit," Ed said, putting on his coat. He rubbed his head, trying to ease the pain.

"Sciezka?I remember her. She helped us out a lot writing out Marcoh's notes after that big fire.. But,doesn't she live far away from the Headquarters? We had to have an escort last time," Al noted. "I guess we should go back to-"

Ed tensed up at his words. "No. I don't wanna go back there right now. We'll walk." The long trip will give me some time to think things out…he thought. And, I just can't look at that awful building now..

Al nodded, not questioning his words. He knew that his brother had a good reason for his choice, and felt it not his business to ask.

The two exited the alleyway quietly and headed out to begin the lengthy walk to their friend's house.