Notice: This contains inlets of FMA Manga, FMA Anime, and BBI. (BBI: Bluebird's Illusion so it may get a little confusing. -.-')
WARNING: Does contain spoilers for Manga, Anime, and possibly BBI
Announcement: This is an AU (Alternate Universe for both series)
Disclaimer: I do not own FullMetal Alchemist. Himuro Arakawa does. T.T I do not own Naurto. Masashi Kishimoto does and I'm quite fine with that actually.
Endless Moments
By: Scifijesus
Chapter 4: Bringing Me Down
Sasuke hadn't moved as he watched the supposed sixteen-year old Amestrian look around aimlessly for someone or something. He was stopped by Kakashi-Sensei for a minute. Sasuke had picked up every word both had said for neither was that far off.
Ed hadn't looked at Kakashi-Sensei while they spoke, which, Sasuke mused was rather rude of the foreigner. He followed Edward's gaze to a man, one other 'State Alchemist' or something of another. The man supposedly had firepower, no pun intended, but could control fire to his will. His name was Colonel Roy Mustang.
Edward walked right up to this Mustang character and saluted slightly only to burst out a moment later with, "Colonel."
"Yes FullMetal?" The man looked down at the blonde.
"I have a request. Al and I-"
"Want to go back to Amestris. Al may go if he wishes, but you know he won't leave you here and we both know that, FullMetal, you are staying here."
"But-"
"The answer is no. Unless there is something else, you are dismissed."
Ed frowned, saluted, and glared, "Yes sir."
Sasuke watched as Edward stalked off with steam rising from his ears. He turned his attention back to this Colonel. He was now speaking with a blonde woman.
"Sir," she said, "You might've said that a bit cruelly."
"Maybe," he paused, "But we both know it's for Edwards own safety. I'm glad he didn't find anything out."
The woman nodded.
"Hawkeye, we had better not discuss such matters here and at this time. Let's enjoy this night!" The Colonel picked up a glass and drained its contents into his mouth. The woman, now known as 'Hawkeye' only gave the Colonel a sideways glance with a stare that said, "This is going to be a long night."
Sasuke stopped his musings of these two Amestrians. Edward Elric was an odd one, yet he also figured that they, Konoha as odd to the Amestrians. From what he'd gathered, children or people under the age of eighteen were not allowed into the Amestrian Military, Edward a large exception. The ninja system was in a way, the military of his country but they had a different set-up where they 'kids' were safe from any harm. Edward on the other hand leapt into dangerous situations, but whatever for, Sasuke could only guess.
Then there was Alphonse, the little brother, although Alphonse was much larger than Edward. Sasuke wondered what it was truly like to have an older brother that actually cared. He'd sworn revenge on Itachi who labeled him worthless, but he had to wonder, was that really the case? Sasuke had a slight envy toward Alphonse, his 'big brother' always there. But then Sasuke didn't need or want anything from anyone in that sort of way. He was strong and he'd show Itachi that he was not worthless.
Sasuke turned away. He'd spotted Naruto bugging Sakura and not far off Kakashi-Sensei talking with Edward again.
"Naruto! Go away. Can't you find someone else to bug?"
"But Sakura!"
"NO! Go away!" Sakura yelled harshly and stalked off leaving Naruto to stand alone. He was immediately grabbed by several young children, the leader, Konohamaru, the grandson of the Hokage.
"I heard that the Amestrians were staying six months to a year in Konoha."
"If this is about learning that ninja stuff, I told you no."
"May I ask why?"
"It's nothing forg-" Edward stopped short.
"Hmm?" Kakashi asked, but cut himself short as well. Sasuke had paused any other though as he saw a needle protruding from Edward's neck. The teen tilted to the right and fell. Kakashi caught him and gently set Edward on the ground. He immediately called another over to find Edward's superior officer.
The sudden event played before Sasuke's eyes, as it hadn't fully computed into his mind. Sasuke blinked. Kakashi—Sensei tool the needle from Edward's neck. Sasuke blinked again.
A scream erupted from another part of the field. Sasuke immediately identified it as Sakura. He took off in the direction of the scream when he was stopped by a child. It was Konohamaru and he was grasping his arm with one hand. Konohamaru was with Naruto, wasn't he?
"They took 'im," Konohamaru winced.
Sasuke knelt in front of him, "They took whom?"
"Naruto. They took Naruto."
Sasuke frowned. He wanted to know who were 'they' and why 'they' would take Naruto of all people. And did Sakura's scream have anything to do with that event? And did it have anything to do with the attack on Edward.
The thirteen-year-old ninja patted the younger on the shoulder. "Go tell the Hokage everything after a doctor looks at your arm."
Konohamaru nodded and took off as fast as he could. Sasuke went in the direction the Hokage's grandson had come from. What was going on?
Sasuke had gone to the place and found himself near the edge of the forest. Several ninja were there already helping out two other little children all of whom were with Naruto. There were signs of a large scuffle, but not big enough to create a disturbance to alert the people at the celebrations. He tried to trace their tracks but somehow they'd just vanished, as if nothing had ever been there.
Truthfully Sasuke had only gone a several minutes when he returned to the former scene. The Colonel Mustang character suddenly strode up swiftly with Hawkeye behind him. He had a frown and a glare on that masked worry, "What's happened to FullMetal?"
Kakashi-Sensei stood while Iruka-Sensei (whom had arrived in the time span Sasuke was gone) stayed sitting next to Edward. The people around them looked worried, actually more curious, and most were ninja. As soon as any family heard of this 'attack' they'd have headed straight to the safety of their homes.
"Senbon," Kakashi-Sensei said looking down at the needle he held in his hand only confusing Roy Mustang further.
"It's when the body is put into a temporary metabolic state, a drug so to speak," Iruka finished.
When the needle had hit Edward, his eyes were open wide with shock, the drug immediately working. They'd closed his eyes, which seemed to ease a little tension. Seeing a person's eyes open while lying completely motionless on the ground was not the most easing of sights.
The Colonel looked from one to the other then stated rather harshly, "Bring him inside the lodge."
"Who're you, imposter?"
All eyes turned to see Kakashi looking, rather glaring at…Kakashi and holding himself at knifepoint.
The Kakashi held at knifepoint seemed to grin evilly, "Oh? Well it seems my little disguise has been found out. Excuse me Colonel, Copy Nin," he paused swinging his legs, tripping the Colonel, and throwing Kakashi-Sensei as well as knocking aside Iruka-Sensei all in one move, "I've got to go, and I'll be taking my baggage with me."
The false-Kakashi picked up Edward and evaded a blast of flame that came from Roy Mustang. He was next seen crouched upon a branch with Edward slung over his shoulder. In another more feministic voice the false-Kakashi smirked, "Ta, ta, suckers."
With a 'poof', bother were gone.
The Colonel took immediate action, glaring at both Kakashi and Iruka, "Did either of you have any part in this?"
Iruka-Sensei shook his head in disbelief and Kakashi-Sensei stood, holding his side, "Never."
Roy Mustang didn't look convinced, but left it for the moment. He glared at every one of the adults in the surrounding area then started issuing orders, "Hawkeye, have the remaining citizens go to their homes. This place is not safe as we thought it to be. After that, I want you to help heighten security measures around here. I must inform the Führer."
"Yes sir," Hawkeye saluted and trotted off to do her job. The Colonel stomped off.
"Sasuke." Sasuke turned to see Kakashi approaching him. He looked worried, "Where is Naruto and Sakura?"
Sasuke was rather befuddled at the question. He had no idea where they were. All he could manage in a monotone voice was, "I was told by Konohamaru that 'they' took Naruto, possibly Sakura too."
Kakashi nodded, patted him on the shoulder saying, "You'd best go home," and walked off, moreover dizzy looking than anything.
Sasuke could only stand where he was. Both were evaluating the situation. There wasn't much at this point either could do because of the little information. The best they could do right now was regroup and exchange info to figure out what was going on. And heighten security measures on all of Konoha.
Something dawned on Sasuke. Edward, he did not trust as well as most of the Amestrians. But Edward, or so he'd heard never wanted to come to Konoha in the first place, saying he and his little brother had more important and better things they could be doing. Sasuke had always assumed they were some type of threat, but rather they, Konoha was a threat to the Elric brothers. The way the brothers acted, that was confirmation enough. Konoha was an obstacle neither could get around. Defeating it in a battle was impossible and evasion too was impossible because Edward's superior officers would not let him out of their sight. 'Safety' was supposedly assured and said of, but it seemed the Amestrians failed in their attempt, looking at the event that had just happened.
And to think, Edward and Alphonse had no idea of this 'protection'. Sasuke only figured by Edward's character that he wouldn't allow anything remotely familiar to the word 'bodyguard'. Sasuke had heard of the "random selection" of who went and who stayed back home but could it all have been a farce only to fool Edward and Alphonse so that Ed's officers could ensure their protection and that neither would just take off?
Sasuke sighed. Maybe he was thinking too much? One thing was for sure, Sasuke wanted to know who was behind this and defeat them. Sasuke had somewhat of an unspoken allegiance to Konoha and many, if not some of its people. And though he'd never openly admit it, Naruto could be considered a true friend. He'd brought him back to reality during the invasion of Konohagakure from the-village-hidden-in-the-sand. He owed him that. And there was Sakura. She'd always had a crush on him, which wasn't the most pleasing of things, but she'd always been there to support them. Sakura was smart too, which often helped in many matters. He wasn't in love with her as she obviously was, but seeing past all that romantic fantasies, Sakura could too be considered a true friend. He'd get his friends back and take down those who'd done this.
But he'd need a little help. Sasuke swore that the people who took Edward Elric were the same as those who kidnapped Naruto and Sakura.
---
Colonel Roy Mustang hadn't gone to inform the Führer of what had suddenly taken place. Somehow he'd known that the Führer already knew. Yet presently, Roy wasn't thinking of that.
Edward was his subordinate and had been placed under his jurisdiction during the stay at Konohagakure. Edward would not have gone on this diplomatic mission in the first place, but Edward was having way too many close calls with the Homunculi. The only way to get Ed away from that was to get him out of the country. And the only possible conceivable reason anyone could think up was for Edward to come along with the main throng to the Ninja country, of course for diplomatic reasons. He was safest that way and Edward was one of their most valuable State Alchemists so they just couldn't let Edward go where he pleased. Plus, he was only sixteen, still a minor by national law. But they'd failed.
Roy was not sure if the Homunculi had any part in the abduction of Edward. He too had run-ins with the creatures. He'd killed Lust by burning her with flames over and over and over. He only found it pissed off one of the other Homunculi…the fat one…Gluttony was it? That Homunculus was after his head, literally. At least he had one down.
Edward had told him in a report that Greed had been killed, but then there was another Greed running around. This Greed was a former friend of his, a foreigner from Xing, the twelfth son to the dying emperor. His name was Ling and he was looking for the philosopher's stone to make the Elixir of Life to gain immortality. If it was for the dying emperor, or for himself to outlive all his brothers and sisters, Edward didn't really know. Ling had been injected with an extremely refined amount of red water and so Ling became Greed. Edward's friend died that day.
As for the other Homunculi, to their knowledge, Sloth had died by Edward's hand. The former Pride who had been locked away in a cell in some god-forsaken place had killed himself over and over. He had too much of an ego to let himself live an empty life to rot away in a cell. Edward knew there was a Wrath, but he couldn't say whom, as he didn't know. Ling had told him it was someone high up in the military, but didn't get the information to him in time; Roy only guessed they'd been interrupted during their conversation. Lastly there was Envy, the shape-shifting Homunculus and Edward's archenemy. Edward didn't know why Envy hated him so much, but in return Edward only hated him back.
Then there was this 'Father'. According to Edward, he looked exactly like Hohenheim. Van Hohenheim was Edward and Alphonse's father. (They'd assumed their mother's last name.) The 'Father' the Homunculi knew was not the same man as Ed and Al's father. Edward had also indirectly said in some way that Hohenheim knew the Homunculi's 'Father'. How, he didn't know. That bit of info had surprised Roy. He hadn't really known Hohenheim, but had some dealings with the man concerning Alchemy.
"Well, it seems you've found yourself in a bit of a dilemma, Colonel."
"Sir!" Roy stood saluting the Führer, still somewhat out of it at the sudden appearance.
"At ease, Colonel," King Bradley said. He walked onto the balcony Roy had found connected to the room he, General Comanche, Al, and once Ed had shared. It was the only place he could clear his mind and sit down to think.
"Yes…sir," Roy said rather absently.
"Since Edward Elric is placed in your jurisdiction, I'm giving you part of the command to you."
"Part of a command, Sir?" Roy asked confused.
"General Comanche will be overseeing you as he is the one most well-versed on the relations between Amestris and Konohagakure. The ones who kidnapped the FullMetal Alchemist are also assumed to have kidnapped two Konoha ninja children. Both of you will be working together with several special Jounin to make a search and rescue mission as well as an offensive attack on the ones who did this. We need to eliminate this possible threat of invasion. I suggest you get some rest then get to work Colonel."
"Yes, Sir," Roy saluted again as the Führer smiled and left. Rest? That would be impossible. He cared more about Edward than the teen and all other people knew. Hughes knew, but he was gone. He needed his friend at a time like this.
Roy wasted enough time overlooking what he knew. He needed to get downstairs to the main hall where they'd set up HQ more than likely. Before heading to the hall, Roy found a restroom to splash some cold water on his face. He straightened his hair and his uniform. He was Lt. Colonel Roy Mustang, the Flame alchemist and he would not show the dead worry on his face. An officer did not show emotion, those things only got in the way of the main objective.
Taking one last look at himself, the Colonel walked from the restroom to the main hall. He saluted smartly to General Comanche, "Sir!"
"Ah, Colonel. I was told you were coming down later, but this only helps matters."
"What information do we have so far?" Roy took a seat next to him. The place around them was a buzz of work. The General swung around in his chair and grabbed a clipboard and read off what they had, "We have confirmed everyone is accounted for besides the two Konoha children and the FullMetal Alchemist."
Old news, Roy thought.
The General continued, "We have confirmed it is down by the same group of people and we're looking at the-village-hidden-in-the-mist as seventy-five percent chance of possible identities."
Roy nodded.
"We also know that Edward Elric was brought along for his and his brother's protection measures. The info containing that is classified, but I do know that you know the reasons for such actions. Is it possible that the person or persons you were protecting the FullMetal Alchemist from followed us here as a prompt opportunity to abduct him?"
Roy hesitated but spoke, "It is possible. I'll open up the information if deemed appropriate for the circumstances."
The General gave the Colonel a patronizing stare. He looked back down at the clipboard, "Is there any information you can give us?"
"If…" Roy paused, "they took Edward then it is for manipulation. The two Konoha children as motivation to do what they want him to do."
"What cou-" The General was cut off as a loud commotion was heard at the door. Roy and General Comanche looked up. In came Alphonse.
"I'm sorry sir," Al addressed Roy, "But no one is telling me anything. Where is my brother?"
ANs:
(1) I think I did better with this chapter concerning Naruto peeps. Although Sasuke seemed a bit out of it the whole chapter, and thinking too much on the FMA side. Oh well, I've said before this is an FMA center story.
(2) Doing the bit on the Homunculi and Roy did reveal many spoilers who have not read as far as I have in the Manga… I'm an evil genius when it comes to finding those kinds of things. XD
(3) THANK YOU TO: A Writer Wannabe for giving me some websites to look at as well as Redneckwriter8690 for the google suggestion…I actually found a great site! –Hath totally forgot about search engines in all their wonders-
(4) How was the grammar this time?
(5) Review Responses can be found here: http: (DOUBLE SLASH) www (DOT) anzwers (DOT) org (SLASH) free (SLASH) scifijesus (SLASH) fmamerr (DOT) html
-Scifi Out