Konoko: YO, how's it going? I'm a little pissed because I have over six hundred hits and only 32 reviews. Come on people it's not hard. I have people who have me on alert and haven't even reviewed. I ain't playin' people, I'm crazy as hell, I'll burn DOOOWN. If I don't get no reviews don't nobody get no reviews! Just kidding, but I will find you people and ask you why you haven't review while holding you at gunpoint!
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Cruel Angel
Chapter Six: Brief Reprieve (Answers That Question)
"Ed…"
Ed's eyes opened to the slightly rocking ceiling and a pair of crimson eyes over him. The room was dark and empty with the only light being the moon pouring through the windows as the landscape passed at an alarming speed. Ed's head pounded and his eyes couldn't focus well. He didn't even remember falling asleep again. He moved to touch the soreness at his neck as the memory of the events of the morning played back. It was a surprise to him that he wasn't the least bit afraid. How long had he been out and where was Mustang? He had a few choice ways to communicate how pissed off he was at moment. He tried to sit up but was stopped by his Ishbalan friend. He slowly pushed back down on the boy making him lay down. The Ishbalan smiled gently.
"You shouldn't move yet. You lost a lot of blood and we had to transfuse more of it into you. It was a bit difficult seeing as how your blood is so unique. But you'll be okay."
"Where's Mustang?" Ed mouthed angrily.
"Don't worry about him right now."
"Why!"
"Because he's about to have a hard time as much as it is and I'm not defending him, but I'm just letting you know; what happened tonight was not his fault. There other things happening right now and he just got caught up in it. So keep your anger to yourself for now, okay, Ed?"
Ed started him with confusion but assented to his request and relaxed against the pillow. However, even he knew that the Fullmetal was not satisfied and what what he said didn't quell an ounce of the anger behind those golden eyes. He needed to take his mind off it. A thinking Fullmetal was a dangerous and unpredictable Fullmetal. Justice smiled and brushed the blond bangs from ed's face gently watching ed's eyes fall halfway shut. Justice leaned down and placed a light butterfly kiss on the younger boy's lips feeling the softness he'd dreamt of from the first time he'd laid eyes on the young alchemist. The blond felt a light shudder run through him at the small and almost insignificant contact. His skin was lit with small electric buzzes that he had never felt before. Ed looked up at him in surprise with a straight blush across his face. Justice smirked.
"That's how a real alchemist gives a goodnight kiss. If you're silent, I'll give you a real kiss. I promise it'll take your breath away better than anyone ever could."
With that he left a flabbergasted Ed closing the door to the car. With a shuddering sigh, Ed lay back down on the bench seat that had been comfortably transmuted into bed so that he could rest. He pulled the pillow beneath his head feeling a sudden rush of butterflies in his stomach. He'd heard of this hot rush of feeling before and had felt it once and a while with Al but never so strongly. What was Justice doing to him?
Roy sat in the company of the girl Shauda who sat sketching at a small book peeking above it at him. Her amber eyes peered at him and moved the pencil accordingly. She then smiled shyly at him with pink dusting her round cheeks and turned the book toward him so that she could see the likeness she had drawn of him. Roy gazed at the image seeing a sketch of him looking off into the distance and cradling Ed in his arms whose eyes were closed to the world and head resting against Roy's chest. It seemed so real that he came close to hoping they would breathe. She gave an anticipating stare that showed she was waiting nervously for his approval. There was something childlike in her demeanor like she hadn't realized that her body was nearly full grown. He smiled at her and nodded his appreciation.
"It's good, you're very talented, miss…?"
She smiled brightly and made up her mind to speak to him. She spoke in a soft melodic voice sounding each word carefully so as to not mess up. "I'm Shauda. What's your name, Mr. Eye Patch?"
"My name is Roy Mustang."
"I don't have a last name but brother promised he'd give me one when the time came."
"Well, he's a lucky brother to have such a talented and pretty sister."
To his amusement she turned crimson hiding her face behind her hands in shy embarrassment and whispering a soft thank you. The car door slid open and Justice stepped in running a stressed hand through his hair. Shauda looked up at him and moved over to allow him sitting room. Mustang couldn't help but smile at how childish and innocent she was. This was the type of blood he never found appealing; taking innocent life was something he never did. It haunted him ever since he indulged in it his first night as a vampire when he fed from Michelle. He never wanted to take another innocent ever again. The boys he begun taking interest end were all male prostitutes and pimps with more blood on their hands than should've ever been. The dirty blood was sweet to the senses and it curved the craving for Ed's addictive blood. Though he would never be able to say that innocent blood wasn't the most potent, adrenaline filled and sweetest nectar the earth had to offer. Justice petted her head as her breathing all but stopped. He then looked at the Major General with a serious expression.
"So let's get down to business. Your Brigadier General will be on the next train with the rest of what's left of Intel. I choose to travel alone because of who I am and the subject of my research is completely restricted to anyone other than me, General Million, and the Fuhrer."
"How in the hell did you become a State Alchemist? You're an Ishabalan; if anything they should've shot you sight. At least that's what they normally would do."
"They would've but I have much to offer to people like Marshall, information. I'm going to prove to you how valuable and outcast Ishbalan is to the brass." He pulled a copy of the Cruel Angel Thesis and passed it to Mustang. "Now listen because I'm only explaining this once. As an alchemist yourself you should catch on quickly. You know of all the trouble one goes through to create a philosopher stone and the high costs of receiving one?"
Mustang nodded. "The thousands of souls that have to be gathered in order to forge it…"
"Yes, but Ed and Al went around everything that justified a stone and brought Al's body back from the Gate. They were the first to succeed in bringing the Gate to earth and actually achieving what was desired without cost. Therefore they have broken the limitations set down before anyone could even spell alchemy. They have crystallized their alchemic powers and souls into two stones. Inside that book contains the original element of true alchemy. You see equivalent exchange was set down by the very first alchemists, or the Omni Alchemists, in order to set boundaries on alchemy; boundaries to keep anyone who gained the knowledge from creating chaos and seeking an apocalyptic stone that is even greater than our meager philosopher's stone."
"The first alchemists actually wrote down their findings and set rules in a book? Why was there no record of it and how did you get it?"
"Not in so many words," Justice replied shaking his head. "See there were only two copies, both hand written, and I was given the first by a man named Hoenhiem Elric. He was kind to me and somehow saw the potential I had to become a great alchemist from the moment he laid eyes on me. He taught me the basics and well…I took it from there. That's how I was able to learn all that I know and then some. That's what led me to Edward so easily. The second I found when I met an old woman who was not elderly by choice. Her name was Dante; the most kind, caring, and greatest alchemist I could ever wish to know. She gave me the book saying that she had been expecting me. I learned more from her and the depth of her knowledge never ceased to amaze me. I had to leave her though…war was coming to Ishbal and I had someone there I needed to protect. Needless to say, I failed. When I was able to venture from the containment camps I went to see her to get help from Shauda…that's when her former student told me that she was dead. Killed by the very homunculus that she created, I couldn't believe it because I had met Greed before…but I suppose the evidence was all there." Justice smile turned grim. "Imagine…being only a few steps behind Edward. If I would've known then I would've saved her but I guess Ishabala had other plans. Still, Dante was my last hope for helping my sister."
"What happened then?" Roy asked curiously.
"Well, if I didn't do something my sister was going to die. Her former student, Izumi Curtis took us end and taught me how to brew a simple medicine that would clear her lungs for months as long as she didn't get excited and it was taken once a week. Though, I admit the woman was a bit frightening, she was the kindest person I had met in years. She said that I resembled someone who she had lost a long time ago. She was the only motherly figure I had had in my entire life. She took care of my sister and me until we were strong and able to take care of ourselves. She praised us because of how quickly we caught on and bested her in alchemy. During our short time with her, she told me about Edward and Alphonse and I became fascinated by them. After all that happened to them imagine having the iron will at sixteen and fifteen to continue on. But she'd just tell me that I was just like them. Then she described them to me and I remembered immediately that I had seen them both before. I was in a camp that was constantly attacked by mercenaries when I first met them. You know of that don't you?"
Roy nodded quickly wanting to hear the rest. He continued. "I was there. They, along with Scar, saved our lives. I never forgot his face that was when I began to learn more from Izumi that she hadn't even taught Ed. Izumi wasn't stupid nor was she blind. She knew that equivalent trade was set down for a reason. Taking more than what you could give was an upset to the natural balance of things, true enough. But, she told me that she made the mistake of making her students believe that equivalency was the law of the world. Everything had to fair the world to function. In truth, it never was. This alchemic principle was set for the use of alchemy only to prevent chaos in the balance of things both natural and science by one who sought far too much. I was taught by all three alchemists that equivalency was a fail safe. But now that Ed and Al knew that equivalence could not be a factor in what they wanted we all knew what would happen. We just had to wait for it. So, I took off and studied every book that Dante possessed and a few of her own notes left to me. Then I went back to Ishbal seeking the old man who knew about the Grand Arcanum and I searched ruins of past temples for traces of the answers I sought. I found so much more than any alchemist should ever know. That's when I applied for a state alchemy license and bribed the new Fuhrer into allowing me in. There were secret areas of the first branch that only I knew about. I had to see them. After everything I've absorbed, I finally understood this book and I tracked down everything that had to do with this book as quickly as possible. One answer was left and eluded me still even with all the knowledge I gained…no one ever made a real and true dyed-in-the-wool philosopher's stone. Not even Scar…"
"Why does that bother you?"
"Because though my research I was able to find out a fact that was truly the truth behind all truth; the philosopher's stone isn't a stone at all. It isn't any mineral or substance that could possibly be remotely related to a stone, it never was meant to be. Through misunderstanding we have translated the horrors of the philosopher's stone instead of the blessings. You see in translating everything the phrase that describes the stone as a 'great soul within a bloody shell' which has commonly mistranslated as 'great many souls within a shell of blood' hinting that the color is blood red and it takes numerous souls to make it. So, my question was what is it and how will I know when I see it?"
"What else could it possibly be?"
"I just recently discovered a breakthrough but…I rather not discuss it yet. Just know that it is an essential key to what our enemy's are after. Now back to what I was suppose to explain before I got side tracked. Take a look at the title page; there are nine signatures there."
Roy opened the worn book as he was told and sure enough he found a set of hand-scribed names. Justice turned the page for him to the hand drawn images of the same number of people. The first was a beautiful woman with blond hair and oceanic eyes reminding him of Clara. She smiled in soft mischevious way. Her name was scrawled beneath her image.
"Aquarius?"
"She's the last descendant of the omni alchemist Aquarius. She was the woman who used her water alchemy to raise Aquaroya from the depths of the lake and created a wonderful city surrounded by water. She was the first Star of Aquaroya but like all the omni alchemists her name and bloodline have been lost in history until Clara was born. Aquaroya was lain to waste because the people who over threw Aquarius. The reason she was chosen first was because Aquarius was the first to fall. The next was the woman we are now going to retrieve." He turned the page to a dark skinned woman with rose colored bangs and a kind face. "Solaris, the kindest and most gentle of them all. She specialized in variations of the alchemic affect in solar light. Basically her alchemy centered on the harnessing of solar light. She was born in Liore though it was much different back then. She was called the Mother of Liore because she brought peace, hope and love to the people through the teachings of god and the miracles of alchemy. Her bloodline was also lost because greed curupted the people. Once again, a case in wanting too much. She was over thrown and killed."
"They all fall because of the lack of equivalency?"
Justice nodded. "Correct. Each one was killed because the people wanted more from alchemy than they could give back and the final alchemist to die set down the laws of alchemy to prevent the repeat of all these events. All the of them are named for the original elements of life: Solaris, Asterius, Lunarius, Florius, Rubius, Stratairius, Aquarius, Shaudaris, and…" he flipped the pages of the book to a young man whose hair was like the sun and his piecing falcon like eyes seemed to hold life itself. The strands of sun hung around his shoulders as he stared out from the page with his golden orbs free of judgement yet full to the brim with sheer will. "…Spiritus. I'm sure you can name all the elements of Alchemy?"
"Ofcourse, it's basic alchemy. Sun, Moon, Earth, Fire, Wind Water, Shadow, and Spirit; what is this all for?"
"To create a stone," he responded calmly.
"A stone? The philosopher's-"
"No, like I said. It's dull in comparison. In our case it's a mere ingredient. I'm not sure how they plan to get it considering they need a pure one; one made by life not death. No the stone they wish to make is called in theory the Cruel Angel stone. It's considered the Final Element because it spawns all other element. Basically it is the very stone of creation. With one of those in possession the world can be made into a paradise or pure hell. The ones who want it are the shadows of the Omni Alchemist and are called those sired because they are sired by the hate and vengeance of the very people who murdered them. I'm sure revenge is the issue here."
"Then we should do something before we run out of options. You know the names of all the descendants?"
"Of course, I've been studying Omni Alchemy for the whole of my life and ever since Dublith, I began to research and locate all the descendants."
Mustang narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "You knew all this. How? How am I to know that you aren't one of them?"
"Because Stratairius was an Ishbalan before Ishbal renounced their alchemic heritage as heresy. I'm an exile living among them though they would never know it. Stratairius…is my ancestor. I'm the Stratairius stone. And my sweet Shauda is the Shaudaris…"
Mustang looked down at the sleeping girl. That couldn't be. A girl like her is involved in something like this? Then again, he had felt something enormous inside the girl that made him give pause every time he looked into her eyes. Justice sighed and uncovered his right arm that showed a small array with eight sybols circling a ninth. Two of the symbols, Mustang recognized as the alchemic symbols for Sun and Water, turned slowly like it had been activated by alchemy. He lifted Shauda's arm and showed the same array. "I don't have much time. I come next after earth."
Accepting this and feeling slightly guilty for asking, Mustang decided not to push that issue. "Who'd left."
"Clara and Rose are already taken. Russell and Fletcher Trigham, myself, Izumi Curtis, Shauda, Alphonse Elric, Edward Elric, and…Roy Mustang. You are one of us as well. You are one of the last to be taken so you have to help Ed in anyway you can. That's why I feel I should tell you now. At the rate they are moving they'll hit Zenotyne in less than a week."
"Does the Fuhrer know of this?"
'Yes, he wants me to alleviate the stress on him so he charged me with taking care of this. Besides, if anyone made that stone they would have power greater than the militaries and we all know that Marshall would visit hell before he allowed anyone else to gain the upper hand on him. Plus, he wants me to see if it is possible to harness the power that they are after. He's that pathetic. Though, I give it to him that he knows a good vantage point when he sees one otherwise you and I would not be sitting here discussing such treacherous forms of alchemy."
"I have to agree on that one. So, why do we all look like exactly the same."
"Atavism affected by the number of times the gate has appeared on earth. Your ancestor is the right hand man of their leader. The leader is much smarter than we could ever hope to be but we have awareness and knowledge on our side. If we play our card right, we'll be able to save all those on that list."
"And what happens if we're too late?"
"…then those who have been taken by them will die."
Ed gasped softly. He shook his head and covered forehead with his hand. Listening to this conversation outside door of the compartment, he had found himself between a rock and a hard place. Once again the answers weren't there. This was so much like the past five years yet now everyone was at stake this time and all of them were people close to him. Ed knew what it meant. Back researching and learning. If they could figure out what the stone was that they wanted to create. If he knew then he could figure out a way stop them on his own. There are answers to everything, he just need to know the right questions. He wouldn't let this get better of him. If Justice knew something then he could learn and carry the weight on his own. He glanced at his automail arm. Yes, he could carry that weight…he always had.
The train whistle sounded scaring Al from his daydream as the early morning train pulled in. He sat on a bench along side the lieutenant in the warm morning of the town closest to Liore. He lifted his eyes hopefully watching some people unload things from train. He was about to put his head down when he saw a blonde haired figure from the train onto the platform. Long braided hair wiped in twilight wind along with the white fabric his trench, which, held the serpent cross upon the frabic. Al rose, still wearing the red one and ran to the stranger enveloping him from behind and nearly knocking them both to the ground.
"Ed!"
Ed gasped as the hair supply was cut from his lungs. He steady himself and pried Al off looking him over frantically. Al shook his head.
"I'm fine, really I wam! Oh…" Al's amber eyes fell on his brother's neck. "What happened to you?"
Ed blinked and rubbed his neck looking away. Smiling in a carefree way he shrugged and took his baby brother's hand placing it against his mouth not caring who saw. Against it he mouthed "Don't worry about it." Al only cast his eyes at the Major General and nodded slowly. So that was what the pain was he had felt this morning, but if Ed said it wasn't important then it wasn't important. For now. Ed hugged him again and looked over at the blue-eyed compainion who stood watching with curiosity. He gave Al a questioning glance in which he was repaid with a smile.
"That's Second Lieutenant Yuko, he's been taking care of me since I've been in Liore."
Ed nodded in understanding. Al held him at arms length and looked him over admiring the new white coat and the skintight leather pants along with the turtleneck tank. The gold band around his automail leg marked it in a secret way that only those who knew him would know. He liked this knew Ed right down to the hoops in his ear. He was even more satisfied that the golden hair remained lengthy and beautiful making him want to run his fingers through it right now in front all the strangers. Deciding against it, he settled for the light brush of his brother's hair beneath his fingers as he embraced him once again. He loved the way his brother felt against him and even though it had only been such a short time he missed his brother as much as he had missed breathing when he was nothing more than a suit of armor. Ed smiled and looked over his own shoulder at the boy who stepped off the train. He turned to help a young girl onto the platform. This new boy, in Al's eyes, was very good looking and it was shock to find himself gazing into beautiful blood red eyes that shined with a kindness and power that he's never seen before. The Ishbalan smiled at the younger Elric making a slight blush form on his cheeks.
"Who's that?" he whispered.
Ed smiled and motioned for the Ishbalan to come over to him. The bronzed skinned alchemist stood by Ed and outstretched his hand to Alphonse with a greeting smile. "I'm Justice and you must be Alphonse. Ed speaks a lot about you and I see you're even better in person."
Al blushed and looked at Ed with an arched eyebrow. He received a small smile in response and Al knew everything was okay with this one. He smiled at Justice returning the welcoming expression. The girl behind him peeked at Alphonse with a shy rose color dusting her cheeks. Al blinked in surprise at her and Justice pushed the girl gently in front of him as she tried to shy away from Al hiding behind the raven bangs that cradled and framed her lovely little face. He was completely thrown off by her appearance. She held an uncanny resemblance to Shauda, the shadow woman whom had left her mark in his mouth. This girl was a complete duplicate of her save for her raven hair; it was too mundane in comparison to the dark plum colored hair her twin. Justice watched the measuring gaze as Al looked over his sister. His first thought was that Al had seen her. He'd seen the Shaudaris woman and there was no mistake in the look in his eyes that she had left her mark on him. This was going to be a long journey.
"This is Shauda, my sister."
Al looked up at him with an innocent look of incredulity. He couldn't tell what had baffled him more. "Shauda…your sister."
Justice nodded and hugged the girl tightly. "Yes, my sister."
"Hi…" she said softly.
Al smiled and waved at her. Mustang finally joined then and he and the younger Elric regarded each other in silence. Ed and Justice looked between them with confusion. Mustang knew what was coming, either a look of disgust or of rage; either one would be the least he deserved after breaking his word with Alphonse. He would accept it if the other asked for him to never come near Fullmetal ever again. Al approached him so that they were face to face even though there was a height difference. His amber eyes held quiet fire that Mustang took as rage considering it was paired with the seriousness of his face. What the younger brother did do, however, wasn't exactly what he expected. Al smiled brightly at the general.
"Thank you, for not breaking your word."
Mustang blinked at the beaming boy in complete shock and total bewilderment. Alphonse definitely was the more complex of the brothers. Ed himself was like a puzzle cube he was still trying to solve, five years and only two sides. It'd be another five years probably before he solved any other parts of them…
Ed looked upon Rose in the silence of the containment center with a vacant expression. The girl rocked back and forth holding her ears, trying to keep out the demons tormenting her. Her dress was torn from her fits and strand of her hair lay on the floor from constant pulling. She mumbled, whispered, and yelled occasionally but stayed in one place. The guards reported that she wasn't violent unless provoked. She had fought, screamed and bit when they brought her in but once human contact left her, she calmed. She sat in the darkest part of the room shying away from the light and pulling her feet away from the rays of electricity. Rose screamed for the lights to leave her alone. Ed shook his head hopelessly. Close to him he felt Al shiver at the sight of one of their good friends. This wasn't fair at all. Ed pulled away from the group who observed rose's behavior. He went to the door and moved to unlock it. The guards protested with the notion that they couldn't insure his safety if she became violent again. Ed ignored them and slowly opened the door; Justice's voice stopped him from entering.
"When you go in, call her like you did for Clara. Even though we can't hear you, she will."
Ed only shrugged at him. It was true he had called out Clara's name. It was strange whenever he thought of it. When he opened his mouth, he heard his voice and apparently Clara did as well, but Hawkeye and the other soldiers who were there did not. For the life of him, he couldn't remember how he did that. Mentally shrugging, he entered the room cutting out the lights so that the only light in the room came from the open door spanning out of reach of the Liore woman. He slowly approached her with steady steps causing her to come from her hiding place and look at him with those empty black eyes. They were filled to the brim with tears but her face had softened in the dimness of the room. She seemed more peaceful since the light had left her. He kneeled down in front of her and tilted his head with a grim smile. She felt the skin of his face with both hands and ran her fingers over his cheeks as if she were mapping his face like a blinde woman. Her tears fell in heavy streams as her eyes met his and she quickly looked away as if his golden orbs of neutrality had burned her very core. She sobbed and fell against him clutching his jacket while her body shook with her crying. Ed held her close and heard himself whisper to her, "I'll save you…I promise." He didn't think he would be heard by anyone but he was sure she did hear him; he could tell by the way she held him tighter. To his surprise she had silently slipped into sleep and fell heavy against his body. Careful not to grasp her too tightly with his automail arm, he gently lifted her into the bed and covered her resting figure. This was best. As long as she had fallen asleep in his arms, the monsters would keep away from her. He smiled to himself at his old saying. He remember that from so long ago. He'd wrapped an arm around his brothers chubby little waist and forced him to lie down.
"Don't be stupid. I'm scarier than any monster that could be in the closet! As long as you go to sleep while I'm holding you, they wouldn't even wanna come in and get you. They'd be too scared of me!"
That had always been the quickest way to shut his little brother up so that he could get some rest. He'd never say but he missed being able to do that while Al was trapped in that armor.
Al smiled at his brother's thoughts. He remembered those nights as well and had missed them more than Ed could ever know. It was all right though, they had each other now, and they would both make sure the monsters didn't come for them or any of their friends. Al turned at the sound of his name finding himself looking at Mustang.
"Alphonse, I have a request for you."
"Oh? What?"
"You most likely won't want to do this, but would you consider achieving you State Alchemist certification?"
Somehow Al saw where this was headed and he couldn't decide whether he hated it or didn't care. "Why would you want me to do that?"
"Intelligence is short on people and I need someone who wil pay close detail to everything in order to see that the department functions properly."
"You want me to head Intel…wasn't that…" Al could tell that he need not finish that thought by the sudden flash of pain in the ex-colonel's good eye. Hughes…
"It would be just you," he continued his tone never changing. "It would be you and your brother. More things seem to get done properly when it's both working and not just Fullmetal. I was hoping you would complete the exam and become a proper state alchemist. That way, you would automatically receive the rank of major. It's up to you though. After all, your hotheaded brother isn't going to appreciate me offering a position in the military to you."
Al smiled warmly and tilted his head. "What are you after?"
"Huh?"
"Before I answer, I want to be sure about what you're after? You can't want to get the promotion for obtaining another prodigy. I can see it in the way your asking me; giving me a chance to back out freely while offering a chance to be part of something. Tell me what you're after and I'll give you my answer."
Mustang nodded, sometimes he swore Al reminded him of Hughes in the way he analyzed everything.
"Guess I don't have a choice…"
Ed came out of the room after ascertaining that Rose was sleeping deeply and closed the door leaning against it solemnly. Justice was in a chair waiting while Shauda sat drawing once again. Mustang and Al turned their attention to him when the lock clicked. He gave them a stoic face and stood straight up looking at Justice and speaking in his own way. Justice nodded relaying the message.
"He say that we need to do something and we need to do something now. First, we need to get to the Tringham brothers and get them to Central where we can watch them."
"They're in danger as well?" Al exclaimed.
Justice nodded and Ed mouthed to him. "Will keeping them from Russell and Fletcher slow them down?"
"Yes, it would slow them down if we guard them. They can't take the stones out of order."
"Is there a pattern in the order?" asked Mustang.
"Yes. It's in the order of the deaths of the Omni Alchemists. They died within the same year so naturally they would take revenge in the same line. As I said before, Mustang, we don't have a lot time.."
Ed looked back at the glass room where Rose lay silently in the dark. They had to make this right before something truly horrible happened in the mists of all this…
Chains clinked in the darkness of the blackened ruins of an Ishbalan temple as the prisoner of them tugged away in vain attempt to escape the pain of well deserved punishment. Shady plum locks lay against the floor as her attacker kicked her in the stomach. She cringed from the shock as she felt blood flow from her deep inside her onto the stone floor. She cried out as she was pulled by her hair onto her feet and cast in front of a looming figure.Her eyes remained on the stains of her blood on the floor not willing to show the fire of defiance in her eyes to him. The figure covered in black knelt down in his beautiful velvet black trench coat that spread out around him like a black pool and reached out to touch the plum colored hair letting it slide through his gloved fingers. His sun-kissed hair covered his face from her view as he gently touched her cheek in adoration.
"How many times must we go through this, Shaudaris?" he asked her softly.
She lifted her head. "I'm sorry…he just…"
The man's deep laughter that followed sent shivers in her spine. "Don't . I don't blame you. Everyone else here blames you but I do not because I like you we are all a prisoner of the emotions we left this world with. Don't think that you suffer alone. The only thing that keeps them," he gestured to the other cloaked figures. "from disobeying is the fear of me. But you…I'll never have you fear me. You've loved Asterius and I for too long to fear either of us. Stand."
Shaudaris stood to her feet with the help of his outstretched hand. Her shackles clinked and rattled as she straightened herself.
"Go to this Justice. Lead him to where he needs to be. They'll try to take both pieces of the earth stone away thinking it will help. It will only made only make things better for us. Stay to the plan and no more foul-ups. Do it the way I told you."
Shaudaris nodded and sunk into the floor through an array leaving the others in the dark room. A woman walked to the man's side, her white hood pulled down low. She tilted her head in his direction.
"She's compromised; she always has been, Spiritus."
"Don't think I don't realize it. Don't worry, as long as I have the key to her freedom she won't screw up. I promise you she'll come back like the loyal dog she is."
Shauda sat up and looked around curiously at her surroundings. She was in a small room and voiced bounced off the walls from a small table in the center where her brother along with his new friends sat. She smiled playfully and slid off the wooden bench making her ways towards them. They all had the funny book big brother always had open and she wondered what for. She remembered that she couldn't read well and big brother always rewrote the alchemy books in simple terms for her to study on her own. He had never rewritten the funny book for her. He said he could barely understand it. She knew he would never lie to her so that was true enough to satisfy her. She crept over to the table where little Blondie had his nose in the funny book. She peeked over his shoulder startling the color from his face. Justice and Blondie's brother laughed at him making her laugh as well. She liked best of all when Mister Eye Patch smiled as well. She smiled at him and gave him a hug in apology. She couldn't understand why he turned red when she did but he was nice and warm despite his weird skin on his arm.
Justice snickered at Ed's face as his sister nuzzled him. "She likes people who are warm."
"Then she'd love Al," he mouthed.
Justice looked at Al who blinked nervously and turned back to his book. "Um, no that's okay brother. She likes you more."
"Back to what were doing. The book pretty much explains itself. It talks about a door of paradise marked by the tree of life. That would be the Gate that every alchemist who's performed the Black Work has seen. They say this stone that they seek will be born from this door and bring a new paradise on earth called the Final eden or an apocalypse called the Black Eden. They need each element of life to pull in the energy needed to unlock the gate and call out this ultimate power from it. Each person who is a holder of the stone bares the mark on their right arm. You and Al don't have the mark because you don't have your original limbs."
Ed nodded silently to himself while Shauda pulled up a chair and made herself comfortable with her head on Ed's lap. Ed looked down at her in surprise and looked at Justice questioningly. Justice shrugged. "Just let her do it. She won't get in the way. Anyway, all in all we have all the information we need and no clue what to do about it."
Ed shook his head and pushed a sheet of paper toward them.. It held a list of questions. "We need to know what exactly is the ultimate power, what do they plan to do with it, and what is the fail safe."
"Brother's right, you can't have a perfect transmutation. There has to be flaws that can be exploited to either stop it when something goes wrong or ruin it completely. Think about it, what made them forbid human transmutation when they could transcend the laws of alchemy, as know it? What made them set boundaries when they could have had made this thing that was even more powerful than the philosopher's stone and took over everything? Something had to have stopped them from greeting that far until now. What changed for them to be allowed to do it now?"
Roy shrugged. "It's a good point but we don't have enough to go on here in Liore. Our best chance is to get the Tringhams and get back to Central to use the libraries there."
Ed agreed to this. Being back in Central meant more security, which meant they could work with much more ease and they could have books from the other HQs imported if needed. Besides, they needed to get a move on. The door opened drawing their attention to the lieutenant who walked in with coffee. Yuko glanced around the room and gave an amused smile.
"Jeez, the world doesn't have to stop for coffee, gentleman," he said setting mugs on the table.
Roy shook his head at him. "You found out when the next military train is pulling in?"
The blonde glanced at his watch. "Yes, sir. In about ten minutes. Brigadier General Hawkeye told me that Fuhrer Marshall slowed them down with questions about your whereabouts. She phoned me a minute ago and said they were prepared to leave for Zenotyne when you are."
"Roy arched his brow. "I didn't tell her about Zenotyne…"
"I did sir. I figured you'd be in a hurry. Permission to go with you, sir. With all do respect, I think I'll shoot myself if one more civilian glares at me."
"By all means, do it. I wouldn't mind having one less blond to worry about."
This cost him glares from Ed and Al as well as Yuko. He nodded. "Sure the more the merrier," he sighed. "But pulled your own weight!" he added quickly. Sure, Yuko was loyal, a good sharp shooter trained by Hawkeye herself, for god's sake he was about as reliable as Havoc on vacation in brothel. Then again, you gave him order and he followed it, even when it wasn't as discreetly as Roy would've wanted it. What was it with blondes?
He heard Justice sigh tiredly next to him. "We need more time then they're giving us. That's why we have to get to Zenotyne. It's all we can do to by time."
Ed sat quietly watching the way Justice seemed tired as the Ishbalan touched his forehead in sudden exhaustion. Al must've noticed it as well.
"It'd be best if we all got rest before we left so that we can be on our toes."
Yuko leaned against the wall. "Sure, rest so we can all walk on eggshells. That's fine with me."
Roy wasn't listening. His eye was on Shauda who seemed truly dead to the world and not in comical sense. The girl had paled and she was so still he couldn't tell if she was breathing or not. The slight rise in her chest told him she was but still, she didn't seem alive.
"Major General?"
Roy turned to Justice. "What?"
"Do you mind us getting some rest?"
"No, we all need it. Yuko let the Brigadier General know that she and the others are to rest as well. It's going to be a long night."
Ed stared up at the ceiling absentmindedly thinking about the night before. He could still feel the force of Mustang's mouth against his the way his fangs had slid across his neck. It was wrong but admittedly, he wasn't afraid this time. He touched his neck with a slight blush wondering what it would have been like if Justice hadn't stopped them. Closing his eyes he pictured the scene again, this time he was in control and they weren't in some dank alley in the middle of Central and he could voice all his emotions from Mustang's touch. They were at home, in the darkness and safety of the black silk sheets of Mustang's bedroom. He felt Mustang, no, Roy's mouth at his throat while his hands roamed over his entire frame. The nails of his flesh hand dug into the man's back leaving red trails against near-colorless skin his lover. He shuddered as he felt those needle sharp fangs slowly break through his skin in a painful yet pleasure-filled experience. He felt his body arch at the feeling as he felt his blood being sucked softly from the open wound. Roy's hips grinded against his own rubbing against the most sensitive part of his being and making moan out load.
A knock on the door brought Ed from his daze making him blink a couple of times before he realized he was in the exact position of his reverie. This was disappointing considering his arms were wrapped around air. Sighing and shaking away flustering image he went to the door and opened it to find Justice there. The Ishbalan smiled and let himself in knowing Ed didn't care. Ed shut the door and plopped back down on his bed with Justice joining him at his side. He noticed how Ed's cheeks were slightly flushed and his breath uneven. He smirked playfully.
"Did I interrupt something, Ed?"
Ed shook his head hoping he didn't noticed how flustering. Justice accepted this though knowing otherwise. "Well, Alphonse went to see if there was anything we might have missed in the temple and Lieutenant Yuko went to meet Hawkeye at the train station. Mustang has gone to his room to sleep away the sun's affects.
"He hasn't eaten?"
"No, he's still well-fed from the other night."
Ed looked away feeling ashamed for actually liking being fed upon by the Major General. Why was it different for him and no one else? Justice wrapped an arm around his shoulders pulling him close. Ed turned his golden gaze to near blood red eyes of his friend. Justice's smile always seemed so warm and knowing and , every time he looked at him, Ed felt calm and warm just like with Al. Still, behind those blood-colored jewels Ed could always see the weight of life upon him. No matter how much he wanted to ask, Ed couldn't bring himself to ask how he came to ability of alchemy with arrays. He couldn't stand to bring pain to his eyes like that which was there whenever Shauda coughed. His thoughts must have plain on his face cause Justice tilted his chin up.
"You stay with far too much on your mind for a teenager. When looking in your eyes, I swear I see the thoughts of an adult with the weight of the world on his shoulders. I don't like to see you look at me that way."
Ed smiled his cheeks warming again. "How do you want me to look at you?"
"They way you looked on the train when I kissed you for the first time. You've been quiet and a promise is a promise Ed."
Ed didn't have time to blink before Justice claimed his lips. His hand rested at the small of Ed's back tilting him back slightly. His tongue ran over soft rose-colored lips asking for admittance. Ed's lips parted beneath the soft probing feeling the soft muscle enter his mouth and explore the inside tenderly. Ed instinctually slid his arms around Justice's neck. He was hugged closer by the unexpected strength in Justice's arms. A hand ran up his spine making him shudder and back down to curl around the band that held his braid. A slight tug and the band was snapped while hishand unraveled the lengthy shower of gold loving the feel of the silk through his fingers. Ed purred against his mouth from the blissful feeling of fingertips running over his scalp. Justice pulled away from the young alchemist allowing panting breaths to enter and escape the boys body. The coner of his mouth quirked in a mischievous smirk as he begun kissing down Ed's jawline toward his neck. Ed lolled his head to the side shuddering and tensing at the feel of the other's kisses so gentle against his skin. He suddeny began to feel a lsight tingle like from befor eon the train. He knew in an instant what it was. It was the sting of alchemy without the procession of the three stages; it was only raw alchemic power and it was the most amzing turn out he ever thought could exist. He'd done it once or twice with Al in experimentation and the results had been stupendous for both of them. However, they had never went that far, so he wondered how far Justice was willing to take this. He shivered when the turtleneck was pushed aside being loose fitting material. Anxiousness clouded Ed's senses and he was barely able to keep still under these ministrations. Justice smirked against his skin and bit down lightly on the erogenous area where shoulder met neck, taking delight in hearing the sharp intake of breath and clawing at his back through his clothing. Even if he couldn't' hear Ed's sound's of pleasure, the feeling of the boy's squirming and clinging was enough to satisfy him. He slowly pushed Ed back against the headboard of the bed and his hands wandered beneath the shirt and ran hot fingertips over Ed's hardened abs up to the scars of his chest then down again to the waistband of his pants. Ed's head tilted back when he felt the sharp intake jolts of alchemy pleasurably charging into his skin and he swore in his mind when Justice's hand slid beneath Ed's waistband while the other supported his back. The hand rested on the warmth between his legs and slowly stroked the younger boy to full hardness. Ed's mouth fell open in a silent 'o' feeling someone being so gently with him there. Having been abused by Manning so much, he had forgotten what real pleasure felt like. Panting and flushed, Ed grasped at the cotton sheets in complete abandon beneath the ishbalan's touch and he prayed for the agony to end but to also last forever. The sudden force of the alchemic charge from Justice's hand sent him over the edge and his mouth fell into a silent scream with eyes wide open swearing he would see the gate again.
Panting and shaking, Ed came down from his high to see Justice sitting there petting his hair with a placid yet slightly tired expression and light tint to his skin. Ed watched him through hazy half-lidded eyes suddenly feeling extremely tired as Justiced reached out and brushed his cheek. He kissed him tenderly before rising. "A promise is a promise, Ed. That was a real kiss from me. Now rest. We have a long night."
Ed couldn't stop him due to the electrified numbness in his limbs. Instead he took the advice and fell into the most blissful and safe sleep he had felt in years. Just for that moment, everything was right in his world even if it had gone black in under a minute.
Konoko; Done. Think of that last part as a parting gift to make up for the boring explanation. Please review!