Chapter Four

My Post

Bayleigh alchemized her stomach back closed. The gang watched in confusion.

"I never knew it was there either..."
"Uh huh, I still don't trust you..." Ed shot back glaring at the gun in the holster on Bayleigh's thigh.
Bayleigh stepped back, "I knew who I was shooting at...I knew that Al couldn't die and bullets ricochet...I was careful not to hit you guys..."
"But you still abandoned us." Ed pointed out with a distrustful face.
"I created a distraction, not just for my safety but for yours too. I didn't expect you guys to just stand there… Which you did anyway..." There was silence.
"You clapped your hands to transmute..." Ed pointed out in a calm voice.
Bayleigh's face saddened. " Well what do you expect...I was on the verge of death and most of my body was gone or damaged to the point of nothing...when someone performed human transmutation on me...which I have, apparently, found out about today."
"So, almost dead, eh? Heh, me and Al here went to hell and came back..."

Bayleigh looked up at Ed. "One third of my soul was generated from hell...What are you complaining about?"

Ayumu's Post

"Yeah, that's right...the Philosopher's stone..." Ed reminisced. "Argh! I wish you could remember who alchemized you to life!"
"Brother, now that we have a chance to speak with her..." Al nudged his brother.
"Fine, before we do any more business with you, what do you go by?"
The girl has an interesting name, thought Ayumu, Bayleigh... She repeated in her mind. While in this zoned out state, the others talked of Alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone, a foreign subject to her. It's best to stay out of it, she assured herself, because I'll just be totally off, heh.
"Don't you even want to know who saved you?" inquired Ed.
I wonder if she's going to come with us. Ayumu stared at Bayleigh with conflicted thoughts of dislike, shyness, and confusion.

It showed in her expression and silence when Al asked, "Uh, anything wrong?"
"No, I'm fine..." Ayumu shifted uneasily from foot to foot. Her dislike soon faded as the conversation continued.

If she does come with us... Ayumu glanced back at her wings and sighed, will she accept me?

Will I become even MORE a burden? Ayumu decided to worry later and listen now; their conversation couldn't go on too much longer.

My Post

"I DO want to know who created me... Ah- I mean saved me...I wasn't created. I only know of my murderer...some butcher...sliced me up good..."
Ed and Al froze in shock.
"Yeah, Barry..." Ed said trying to pull himself back together... "He...he scared me..."
Bayleigh's face softened, she could feel Ed's pain.
"But who am I to talk? You- he..." Edward sighed, "It's his fault your body is like that...the metal..." Ed pointed out.
"Yeah, but the stone and rune are another one's work… I can't remember; I was in a dead-like state of mind at the time.

I- was at The Gate..."

Ayumu's Post

Both Ed and Al were transported to that day when they too had seen the gate. The more they had in common with Bayleigh the more they felt they should add her to their group.
"I know what you saw, and we both want to find the same basic solution." Ed murmured.

Of course, the setup was obvious, and Ayumu caught on quickly and anticipated the answer.

My Post

"I know what you saw, and we both want to find the same basic solution." Ed murmured.
"Heh, just two minutes ago you barely trusted me, and now your asking me to tag along with your gang?" Bayleigh said, playing hard-to-get.
"I don't trust you...but me and Al, here, need to find the Philosopher's Stone the same reason you do..."
"Hell, I can't get my body back to normal... Remember? I'm already part generated by the stone. I Am Immortal. There's no way I can become human" Said Bayleigh in a saddened voice.
Ed and Al looked at each other; they understood the logic.
"I'm not gonna show any sympathy, you basically are a homunculus, only with a soul-"
"Gah! I'm not a-!"

"-The homunculi are also searching for a way to become human. I don't know their plan, but I have a feeling that it's a messy one..." Ed said in a dead voice. He was remembering Marcoh's notes.
"Well, if that's the case, then I guess I'll keep on living, I mean...I'm only 15...and I have all eternity to live my life..." Bayleigh was about to walk away-
"Unless...you didn't die of natural causes... Your rune. The only way you can die is if you were to be murdered..." Ed murmured in a sick voice.
Bayleigh had a big lump in her throat.

"I guess I won't be dying peacefully...but hell, I aint going suicide if my mind goes crazy."

"I'll wait for the day when Death picks a fight."

"Well, what do you say? Come with us and find a way to return me and Al's bodies?"
"..."
"Us three live everyday to the fullest, we're up to our necks in fights. There's always a reason to look twice over your shoulder. Back there with the homunculi. Yeah, that's our life. Up for a journey that you may never come back from?"

"I doubt that, but sure. Sounds fun."

"Edward Elrik!"
"GAHH!" the three screamed.

A massive burley man in a State Alchemist's uniform, and a bald shiny head marched into the alley way.

Is that how you spell Marcoh? I have no idea -.-;; Ok, if my document manager isn't being mean again, I'll have chapter five either posted today or tomorrow! Comments, critiques, and flames are accepted (if necessary.)