hello again readers! i'd call you by name, but i don't really know who you are. but that's not really the point. the point is that you're here to read a damn good story. that's right. keep reading. READ!
-----Part 7-Message for Roy-----
Recap- Ed and Al smuggled you onto a train that is headed for Central City. You got to talk with Ed and he told you about the human transmutation thing. Now you're almost to Central.
Start- You stepped off of the train platform and looked around in amazement. This place was huge!
"Are there always this many people here?" you asked.
"Yeah, pretty much. This town is pretty big. But others come pretty close." you heard Ed answer. You just nodded.
Now you knew why your dad had called home small, there were probably more people in the train station then there was in the whole town of Trezanga!
We're not here to sightsee you reminded yourself. Turning to the Elrics, you asked,
"How are we getting to Central?"
"Oh yeah, gimme a sec, I gotta call Mustang and get us a cab." Ed said, though he didn't seem very excited about it. As he ran off, Al looked at you and asked quietly,
"Aka, are you sure you want to do this? We can give Roy the letter for you..."
"No." you answered, "I'm already here, and I made a promise I'd do this. Besides, it's not like I'll be going home anytime soon."
Al laughed nervously. "Yeah, erm-I guess we kind of made that impossible for you." You just shrugged.
"No big really, I talked to Ed a little on the train. He told me about you guys' house, and I gotta admit that it makes sense. I don't think I could go back without Hojo." you said.
Al grabbed your shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. "It'll be alright, I promise. Me and Ed will help you." he said encouragingly. You smiled and nodded.
These guys are so understanding you thought I didn't know decent guys like Al existed. And Ed's not that bad either you thought. Suddenly, Ed was back.
"Speak of the devil." you said with a smirk.
"What? Al, what'd you say about me behind my back?" Ed asked suspiciously.
"Nothing, just that he thought you were lazy, ugly and short." You said with a laugh.
"WHAT? AL!"
"Aka, you traitor! Wait, brother, don't-" Too late. Ed had jumped up and stolen Al's head.
"BROTHER! GIVE IT BACK!" yelled Al's headless body as he chased Ed around the station. People started to stare. You were keeled over, trying to breathe between laughs.
A loud honk interrupted the scene. Ed stopped in mid step, staring at the car and giving Al a chance to snatch his head back.
You watched in amazement as the tallest guy you'd ever seen stepped out of the car.
"Oh, hey Armstrong! Didn't know you'd be the one to pick us up!" Ed called to him.
"Greetings Elrics, I am pleased to see you again!" replied Armstrong in a deep, booming voice. Looking down at you, he asked,
"Ah, and who is your little friend?"
Little...? you thought
Within three seconds. you wereshoting towards him with high fists. Al, remembering the 'small' incident in his armor, quickly ran forward and caught you in mid-air before you hit Armstrong.
Squirming violently, you tried to escaped Al's metal grip.
"Aka, calm down!" Al yelled. You finally stopped and stared at the ground. Al slowly let go of you and let you drop to the ground.
"Sorry..." you muttered, not meaning a word of it. Armstrong gave a booming laugh.
"That's quite alright, I'm rather used to behavior like that from Edward!" he told you.
"Hey! I'm not that bad!" yelled Ed.
"Yes you are." Al and Armstrong said in unison. You and Ed exchange a glance and look away, blushing.
"Whatever, can we just go? The faster this meeting with Roy is over, the better." Ed says. You roll your eyes under you sunglasses.
"Gee Ed, glad to know you think this meeting is sooo important." you said sarcastically. Ed pales and starts flailing his arms around.
"Nuh-no! I-I mean, of course, it's important, I mean-yeah! It's important! So, um, let's uh-go! Let's go!" stammered Ed. The three of you laugh as Ed blushes and goes to the car, mumbling under his breath.
You smile to yourself. Ed kind of looks cute when he blushes... you think, and then mentally give yourself a black eye. WHAT? Cut it out dumbass! You don't date! You're here to see Roy, not drool over guys! you thought to yourself angrily. Blushing at your thoughts, you hurry to the car and take a seat next to Al.
Your gaze fixes upon the window as you try to make your blush go away. Your attention catches the many people walking around.
I still can't get over how big this place is you thought.
"So, what is your name?" asked Armstrong. Starting, you turned to him.
"Um, it's Akaro..." You said, the name feeling strange on your tongue. Ed noticed and looked at you strangely, but you avoided his gaze.
Suddenly, the car had stopped in front of a giant white building, with a golden dragon on it. You recognize the dragon symbol from your dad's pocket watch.
Dad... you thought sadly, recalling all the times you made him show it to you. Shaking yourself out of it, you step out of the car with the others and walk up the many stone steps.
I'll deliver this letter dad, I promise
Armstrong and the Elrics lead you along a maze of hallways, talking a bit as they went.
"So Elrics, having luck on your mission?" inquired Armstrong.
"No new leads yet, but we did get some clues here and there." answered Ed, sounding a bit aggravated.
"Mission?" you asked.
"Brother and I have been researching something for about three years." Al answered.
"Three years? The mission must be really important." you said.
"More than you know..." Ed said softly. You gave him an odd look, but he didn't meet your gaze.
You all continued walking in silence until you came to a large set of wooden doors. Next to them on the wall was a golden plaque that said 'Colonel Roy Mustang.' You noticed that Ed was wincing at the doors.
"What's with you?"
"I hate this guy's office." Ed answered, "He always asks me stupid questions."
"Akaro, do you want us to go in with you?" Al asked. You shrugged.
"You can come if you want." you told them.
Secretly, you were hoping they'd come. Ed nodded.
"Yeah, we'll go with you. Armstrong, stay out here, okay?" he told the muscle-man.
"Of course." Replied Armstrong.
Ed gave you a small glance before pushing the door open and walking inside. You trailed after him, Al bringing up the rear.
Looking around, you saw that the office was pretty big, two desks and a few bookcases.
The smaller desk sat at the side of the room and was occupied by a women with blonde hair and fierce brown eyes. At the bigger desk sat a man with messy black hair. Both were wearing military uniforms like Armstrong's. Roy stood up and smirked at Ed.
"So FullMetal, how's the goose-chase?" he asked.
"Just fine, thanks for asking." growled Ed through gritted teeth. Roy's smirk just grew bigger.
"I'll take that as a 'No, because I'm too short to see over my own fat head.' answer."
"WHAT?" yelled Ed, "WHO ARE YOU CALLIN SO SHORT THAT MUSHROOMS LOOK LIKE TREES?" he shouted with flailing arms and an anime vein. (You've all seen it.) Then Roy noticed you.
"Oh, and who's your friend?"
"Akaro. I have a message from Hojo Maron." You told him, not wanting to waste time. Roy's eyes widened a bit at the name.
"Hojo? It's been a while since I saw him, how is he?" Roy asked. You looked at the ground, unable to say it. Al did it for you.
"He's dead. Some assassins killed him." He said quietly.
Roy slumped into his chair and stared at his desk, and out of the corner of your eye you saw that the blonde women was acting the same way.
"Hojo asked me to give this to you." you said quietly, handing Roy your precious letter.
Roy's hands shook a bit as he took it. Staring at the seal for a bit, he opened it and began to scan through the letter. You watched his face and saw that his eyes widened with each passing line. Finally, he put the letter down and closed his eyes, then looked at you when he opened them again.
"Do you know what this letter contains?" He asked. You shook your head. You'd been avoiding having to look at it.
Roy nodded and stood up. "I'll assume that you are Aka then, he mentioned you in the letter." You looked up at him in surprise.
"He mentioned me?"
"Yes, he said that if the letter ever got to you, it would be from his adopted child, Aka." You dimly nodded.
"Yeah, that's me..." you said quietly. Then you perked up again. "What was the letter about?" you asked. Roy shook his head.
"I'm sorry, but it is safer for you that you don't know." He told you sternly.
"What? Come on Roy, it's from his own dad! You can't be serious!" Ed exclaimed.
"I can, and I am Full Metal," Roy said, "The contents of this letter is officially marked as military business."
"But-"
"Let it go Ed." you interrupted. Before he could protest again, you looked at Roy and said, "I understand that I can't see the letter. So I just have one question. When is the next State Alchemist Exam?"
"WHAT?" Yelled Ed and Al in unison. Roy stared as well.
"Why do you want to know?" he asked. You looked out the window. "To join the military, why else? One, if I'm a State Alchemist, then I can see the letter. Two, my father was killed because he was a State Alchemist. I'm going to find out why. And three, I can't go home now, I have to do something with my life." Roy continued to stare at you.
"Becoming a State Alchemist isn't that easy. You have to be extremely skilled, not to mention the fact that you have to fight wherever we tell you."
"Aka can do that." Ed suddenly said. "I've seen him. He can fight and use alchemy better than most of the people I've seen. You can consider him as one of my suggestions." Ed said. Roy looked at him suspiciously.
"Are you sure you're not-"
"I'm sure Mustang, I wouldn't just encourage anyone to join the state." Ed said.
"Let him try Roy." Came a voice. Startled, you realized that it had come from the blonde women.
"The worst he could do is not make it, and it's not often that a State Alchemist considers someone else good enough to try." She said, her voice full with authority. You looked back at Roy and saw that he was beginning to cave.
Wow, maybe Ed and Al was right about this guy and women you thought. You suddenly paled.
Shit! What if he finds out about me? There's no way he'd let an Ishbalan or a girl be a state alchemist, much less someone who'd both!
"Fine, you can try it. The next exam is in about three weeks. Either you're ready or you aren't. Now leave, I have important business." You nodded and followed Ed and Al out.
"Thanks Ed." you said quietly.
"I meant what I said." he told you. You stared at him, shocked.
"Don't look so surprised! If you're responsible for half the bruises that were on those jerks who killed your dad, you can definitely punch. Not to mention the trick you did with the red lightning." he said. You looked at the ground, embarrassed.
"I still don't know how-"
"That's okay, Ed and I can help you, right brother?" Al interrupted. Ed gave him a nod.
"Right! You heard Roy, We have a month to train you. Besides, we were thinking about taking a break anyway, it's not like our search is in a critical point!" he told you. You gave them a smile.
"Thanks guys, really." you told them.
"Don't thank us yet, we're still the ones teaching you! Now come on, to Central Library!" Ed yelled, grabbing your arm and dragging you after him. Al laughed and followed. You smiled to yourself. These guys really aren't that bad...
well, that's that. at least for now. tune in next time to see aka meet another guy from roy's unit!