Chapter 5 was getting so large that I'd to divide it in two parts, so here is the first part. Enjoy
Chapter 5: Home, at Last.
The three of us arrived to the Rockbell's house; the table was already put on. From the Kitchen, a blood lusted Winry came out wielding a giant wrench with her right hand
- Didn't I tell you that breakfast was almost ready! – She said, and we feared a proof of her mighty, but then she looked at our faces and said – It seems that you have settled down some things; so, it's okay. Come here quickly, everyone is very hungry here.
We six were eating (counting Den), When Pinako asked us – And now that you have finally returned your brother's body, what are you boys are planning to do?
- Oh! We think we could have a normal life from now, am I right "niisan"? – Al said. I glared at him, not believing what I was hearing. I think he would say something about my automail limbs; but he remained quiet. "He's thinking on something" I thought. I know he thinks that I'm dangerous when he doesn't know what I'm thinking, but he is equal or even more dangerous than me.
I was going to ask him why when he suddenly began to spoke again – Oh! And we also have to found a way to help this little kid. It seems that he doesn't have any family, so we think we could take care of him until he could defend by himself, isn't that right Ed?
- Hmm, yeah! – I said, quite confused; "when we decided all of this things?" I asked to myself. "Well, I just can't say him No". Anyway I was thinking the same thing.
- I'm glad to hear that – Winry said, smiling – I hope us to be neighbours again
- Hehe, we'll be, we'll be – we answered at the same time.
After we finished eating, Al asked me to go outside for a while. At the garden, he finally asked me:
- What do you want then, to buy a new house, or to rebuild our old one?
- well, we'll have to buy a new one, cuz even I couldn't rebuild our house, there've passed 6 years since we burned it, and there should not be neither a rake where it was.
In fact, even the burned tree had flourished again, and the ashes were covered by new grass. It was as if there had never a house there.
- And, well, you know that house will bring us bad memories – I continued.
- But we are still the owners of that terrain. And we could safe some money if we build a house there – he said, smiling.
- Well, you're right; we should do it. We also should gather for the proper materials first. A house is not something that you could easily build with alchemy.
- Don't worry. Let me do it, I have an idea for a house
- But Al, you'll finish too tired after that, and a house need too many materials to build it only with alchemy, so…
He didn't let me finish, he clapped then and his twin arrays started to shine and after gathering some energy, he touched the ground and the entire environment started to change. Trees around started to Melt, wind started to run faster, and earth an mood started to gather where Al was doing the alchemy reaction, I couldn't believe it, after a while, a complete house came out for the reaction.
- HUHHHHHH?
- Well, I'm surely not an architect, but I think this would be of our likeness. What do you think "niisan"… niisan? Bah! C'mon Ed! Don't say that I've surprised you, It was quite difficult though, but not impossible. Well, shall we go into?
After recovering, I followed him; it was a spacious home: kitchen even with a cooker, living room with fire place; and dining room, one bathroom, three bedrooms and a library. It also had electric, water and sewer system, it only lacked of normal furniture.
- I'm sorry but I didn't think about the furniture.
- Don't worry, I'll do it
I went outside and made three beds, some chairs and tables, and some bookshelves, then with the help of Al and Anthony, who had just arrived to see what we were doing, we got them into the house.
- Well, the problem of the house has been solved – I said after finished – but we still have the problem of the money. We didn't have any, I think I have to search for another job… (Sigh)
- Well, you still have your State Alchemist Account in the Bank – Al said.
- But they sure take me as a death person; I've been disappeared for more than two years and they surely had erased the Fullmetal Alchemist from the registry.
- Well…not exactly
He brought out from his pocket a silver watch, a state Alchemist watch
- WHAT! – I shouted
- You never asked me how I made a life for 2 years – he answered, calmed – I became the Fullmetal Alchemist at the eyes of the new state, and I was able to help to establish the new order while searching a way to be with you again. I also helped to change the view that the civilian had of them, and they aren't called dogs of the military anymore, so you have a better reputation now… don't look at me at that way! How do you think I'd have lived if I didn't do that? And no, I didn't kill anybody.
There was something I didn't like about the Idea of my brother being a state Alchemist, I just couldn't stop glaring at him.
- Oh, well you should make a quick travel to Central, use your benefit of free travel and take out your money from there. It's better that you go alone, so you could pass unnoticed.
-…………..what do you mean with "pass unnoticed"?
- Nothing… nothing.
- Well whatever, I shall go to say goodbye to Winry and Granny Pinako.
I was heading to the Rockbell's house when I heard a well known voice screaming "WHAT, THE ELRIC BROTHER'S HAVE JUST RETURNED!" Fearing a massive hug, I climbed to the second floor using some carts that were there.
- Where did my brother go? - Al asked to himself while approaching to the door. "How I warn him?" I thought, but it was too late, the door opened and from there Alex Louis Armstrong appeared.
- OOH! I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU ALPHONSE ELRIC!
- AAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH! I…miss my suit of armour
"Poor Al" I thought amused "well, it was time that he feels Armstrong's hugs"
- And, Where is your brother? – The huge Alchemist asked to my squeezed brother.
- Ur…Er… I…was also searching him. Maybe he'd hided somewhere, and because he is so small, it'll be difficult to find him.
- WHO ARE YOU CALLING… – I covered my mouth, "Argh! Damn my temper! I've just discovered my hiding place" I thought. Then Armstrong showed one of his particular smiles and punched the ground. I lost the equilibrium and fell where they were.
- Oh! You're so mean! – I said, glaring to Al, he was grinning – just do me a favour and tell Winry to prepare the surgery room, I'm going to need it
- Ok, I'll do – he said, grinning even more
And then I stood, waiting for the unavoidable.
- OOH! I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU EDWARD ELRIC!
- AAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH! ... My ribs.
The now Lieutenant Colonel (LC) Armstrong told us that he'd been assigned to be the protector of the east towns between central and East City and he took Rizembul as his Centre of operations.
In the house we also found Rose, Lior's Holy Mother
- Hi boys, long time no see – she said cheerfully.
- Hi Rose, what are you doing here? - Al asked. I remained in silence.
- Because Lior is still being rebuilt, I had to search for another place to take care of the orphans, and thanks to the help of Mr. Armstrong and Mrs. Rockbell and all the nice people in this town, I can use an abandoned house for it. Mr. Armstrong also uses to help me taking care of then, I only hope he doesn't get troubled in his work about that.
- OOOH! Not Problem Miss Rose, It's also the duty of the protector of these towns to ensure the happiness of the more needed – LC Armstrong claimed, shirtless and shining.
- Two years have passed but you're still the same softy - I said laughing, his shine marks fell into the ground.
- But I've recently received some good news – Rose spoke again – and they said that the orphans' house in Lior is almost finished and I could go there in a month. These kids will finally see their wonderful hometown as beautiful as it was.
After a while, she said – well, I have to take care of the children, see you later
- Bye – Al said
I was also to say goodbye, but she approached to me and talked to my ear – you've done a great job with your brother, but don't forget about yourself – and then she left the house.
- You're still bothered about what she said the last time, aren't you.
- Yes, I think so.
- Well, she seemed to have changed her priorities. But you can't blame her about still having some affection to you.
- Maybe you're right. Well, you're the one who can read people's hearts – I said smiling. He blushed.
- Are you leaving so fast? – Winry asked to me
- I'm only going to go to Central to take out my money from my account. I won't stay even a day, so I'll be here tomorrow morning.
- Well, just don't delay; I want to check out your automail before I leave.
- Leave? Where are you going to go?
- I work now in rush valley in a workshop of an Automail master called Arnold Garfield, I was only here visiting my Grandma as I do every month, I've stayed longer thanks to your suddenly appearance.
- Hm! Well I'm glad to hear that you've started your own path; but we'll miss you here.
- And how do you think I'd lived in those 6 years? You'll finally have a spoon of your own medicine.
It's an eight hours travel between Rizenbul and Central. I took the ten o'clock train to go there. Before leaving Al said – I'll be waiting you at 6 o' clock on the station, so please don't delay –
- Ok – I replied, smiling.
Without Al, the trip was very boring and lonely. I kept the eight hours sleeping and thinking about all the opportunities we would have since then; but then a fact came to my mind. If I went to take out my money, the military (particularly that bastard, Roy Mustang) will know about my return and they'd surely search for me and our plans for a normal life will finish in nothing. It was a risk that I had to take.
When I arrived to Central, I rushed to the bank to load my money.
- Please, miss. I want to take out some money from my account.
- Your name please and Id. Please
- Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist – I showed the silver watch.
- Oh! It has been a while sir – she told me – I see you have returned to your original look. It seems that you got tired of the dark blonde hair and the Emerald contact eyes.
- Uh, yeah! – "this woman must be very stupid to confound me with Al" I thought quite nervous, "but this is good for me"
- And how much are you going to load?
- Er… can I see my account status?
- Sure, take here is your information.
- Ok ……. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!
- It's something wrong sir?
- No, there is nothing from here, thanks I've just stepped on a nail… hahaha.
It was a lot of money. "What had he been doing?" I thought, confused. Anyway I couldn't delay for too much, so I load what I think was enough for a long time and put it in a just alchemized wallet.
I had some time until the train arrived, so I went to visit some old places to remember old times.
"Hm, the central HQ, I hope all of them to be all right, yep! Even that bastard Roy Mustang" I was merged in those thoughts when a voice from the past called me
- Edward? – She said
When I turned to see who she was, I saw a blonde woman with kind but strong orange eyes Riza Hawkeye.
- Lvt. Hawkeye, Long time no see – I replied cheerfully.
- Oh, It's really you Ed! - She said - I thought I wouldn't see you again.
- I'm not a person who can be get ridded off easily
She said that she had a free time so I invited her to a café, I was very hungry.
- So, how are things going on Lvt?
- Please Ed, don't downgrade me – she replied – I'm now LC. Hawkeye.
- Oh! So you're now my superior – I said, making a funny military greeting.
- No! Not really, you have been raised two grades
- Really?
- Yep! One for your job helping to discover the truth about the ex- Führer Bradley and one… well, you surely know now that your brother had been using your identity as a state Alchemist in the time you were in the other world.
- Yes I do……
- Well, the other one was for his job helping to impose the new order and to change the image of the state Alchemists. But now tell me how do you returned
I made here a synopsis about everything that had happened to us since we found the boy, and she finally said.
- Well, I'm going to investigate if we have some information about a lost boy. Meanwhile, you and your brother are the best people who can take care of him, so keep with the good word.
- I will, don't worry
It was just time for me to leave; but before I left. I asked to Hawkeye – Please Riza, don't say Mustang that I've returned. I know that he would get entered sooner or later; but please let me have a time with my brother here, in our world.
- I won't Ed – she replied smiling – I hope to see you soon, Colonel Elric – she made a military greeting
- Me too, LC Hawkeye – I responded to the greeting; and then I went to took the train.
In the return travel something bothered me; I was lost in my thoughts when I saw three dark figures outside the train; I think they were two men and a woman. They were wearing black gowns "Maybe street performers" I thought quite amused, I'd just remembered something that happened 4 years ago. "What the…" I can swear I see a very strange symbol on their shoulders "A four winged sword, could they be… it could be just a coincidence" but when I tried to look again, they weren't there anymore. I thought about that for almost an hour but then meal was served and I completely forgot about that.
I arrived to the station in the early morning; Al was waiting me there.
- You know that it wasn't necessary that you came to wait for me – I said
- I wanted to walk a little before breakfast, so I think this was the best way to do it. Did everything go well there?
- Yes, they did – and I started to tell him about my meeting with Riza.
- Where did you sleep? – I asked him
- In Pinako's house, we didn't want to use the new house before you were here. But let's get hurry; Winry is waiting you with her toolbox to check your automail.
- Argh! And to think I could have forgotten about these painful sessions if I just…- then I suddenly shouted; realizing what I've just said. Then I saw Al, but his semblance hadn't changed.
- Don't worry brother, please be patient, just a little more time… A little more time – he mumbled. I didn't say anything more.
After Winry Checked out my automail and realized that it was good. She prepared lo travel to Rush Valley and Rose was also leaving with all the orphans. LC Armstrong would travel with her.; we accompany them to the station.
- I'll return in a month, please keep safe until then – Winry said us smiling. And Ed; don't even think on breaking the Automail again.
- Don't worry we are in peace now – I replied, quite scared.
- We'll be here waiting for you – Al said – Roles had changed, aren't they?
- As it should be. See you later guys; bye Anthony. Take good care of that child.
- We'll do.
- Bye guys don't get in trouble – Rose said to us
- you too Holy mother – we replied.
- Don't Worry Elrics, she'll be protected by all the mighty of the Armstrong tradition- well, you know who said that.
- O.K. – We replied sweating. After they left, we headed to our new house.
A/N: well, now I can really put what I wanted in the next chapter. Please Review
Next Chapter: The new Elric Brother.