Midas Touch
By Jodi Marie Johnston
Disclaimer: Full Metal Alchemist is a copyright program and all characters belong to the companies. However all other characters are my own creative works and creations.
Chapter Four: InvestigationEd waited by Aura's bedside for three days and three nights as she slept like the dead. Now and then Ed dozed off and every time he did he awoke to find that her hand was wrapped around his. At first it startled him but after it kept happening he got used to it. On the dawn of the fourth morning Ed had once again fallen asleep. When he finally opened his eyes the bed was empty. Ed bolted up right and looked around the room. He was about to shout for Al when he saw her, standing in the first rays of the sun at the open bedroom window.
"Aura?"
"Hello Ed," Aura said without turning around. From this direction you could not even see her injured side. She looked like a normal teenage girl. Her once shoulder length hair, now hung down all most to her knees and caught the faint breeze as it blew in through the window.
"Aura, are you all right?"
"Sun," Aura said.
Ed came over to her. She was still looking off in the distance. He followed her gaze and watched as a flock of birds took to the sky.
"What is it Aura? What do you see?"
"Beauty," she whispered. A single tear slipped down her cheek.
"Are you sure you are all right?"
Aura turned to look at him. Her eyes were wide and large as she stared at him unflinching. Ed looked back but he dropped his gaze. He looked up too meet her eyes again but she had turned back to the window.
"Aura, I-" Ed started to say.
"Brother?" Al said opening the door as he stepped inside. "I'm glad you're both up. Pinako has made breakfast for everyone."
"Right, breakfast," Ed said as if it was an afterthought.
"Aura, are you coming?" Al asked.
"Yes Al."
Aura walked over to him. He held the door for her as she exited and headed down stairs. Al turned to Ed.
"When did she wake up?"
"I don't know."
"What were you talking about?"
"Nothing really. Al what do you think about her?"
"She is not what she appears to be, I think."
"I agree. Her intelligence is very advanced and yet…"
"Its like she can speak or read any word but doesn't grasp the meaning behind what she is saying."
"Exactly! How can she design automail and still not understand what people are saying around her? Is she faking it? Is so why? I need to find out."
"I don't think she is faking brother. She seems genuine. Its is as if her mind can't process the words themselves for some reason."
"I know Al. But I have to find out more about what happened to her, why she seems to have an innate understanding and ability to use human alchemy and what her plans are."
"Have you tired talking to her?"
"Yes but that hasn't seemed to work and I am running out of time."
"Mustang must be anxious for results."
"Yeah and tomorrow Armstrong will be coming to check on my progress and interview Aura himself."
"I thought you had more time."
"So did I until I got this telegram." Ed handed Al the telegram. It was short and to the point. Armstrong will arrive 11am tomorrow. Prepare report.
"What have you to report brother?"
"Not much. I investigated the circle where we found her and found no overt evidence of alchemy. We both know from known experience that her wound could only come from alchemy so those findings have be baffled. When the doctor was here for Pinako he checked out Aura as well. He told me that she had some sort of birth defect. Her shoulders have extra bones and musculature that was unlike anything he had ever seen. He told me that from the structure of her body that she was born like that. Which means she was chosen perhaps because of this mutation to be treated as she was. What was so special about her arm? Did she lose it for the same reasons I did? Then there is her intelligence to consider. What child would be able to comprehend Winry's blue prints from merely looking at them and then turn around and create an even more advanced version? It shouldn't be possible! And what she did to Pinako! I can't even begin to explain or fathom. It is like she just knew what to do to make her alchemy work. Winry told us that she didn't see an alchemist circle and that Aura didn't create one the way I do, but then again Winry could be wrong. If so, and Aura has all these abilities similar to mine, that means she tried to make a homunculus. Still this does not explain why she couldn't talk at first and why she can't understand common language. I have more questions than answers Al and I have no idea what to report to Armstrong."
"You better try again. She obviously remembers something we just need to get her to communicate that in a way we understand."
"I know. Come on Auntie will throw a fit if we don't go down to breakfast."
Al and Ed headed down stairs. Winry, Aura and Pinako were already seated at the table. Breakfast consisted of pancakes, syrup, milk and orange juice. Aura had a huge stack in front of her and it looked as though she was trying to figure out how she was going to eat all of it.
"Took you boys long enough. Come and sit down."
"Thanks Auntie," Ed said.
"How do you feel?" Al asked Pinako.
"Oh I'm fine dear. The doctor's got me on some medicine and he demands that I stop smoking," Pinako gritted her teeth. "Other than that he says I am as fit as a fiddle."
"Aura, I am going to work on your automail today. I should be done in a few days," Winry said.
"Automail? Good," Aura said.
"I thought you might say that," Winry smiled. "The new design is new so it will take me about four days to make it. Not bad if I do say so myself."
"You did say so yourself," Ed said and Winry shot him a rude look.
"Anyway you want to help me with that?" Winry asked.
Aura thought a moment and looked at Ed as if she knew he needed to talk with her.
"Um, actually Winry I need to talk with Aura for a while."
"Yes," Aura said.
"Well it is about time," Pinako said. Everyone turned and looked at her. "I was just wondering when you boys would get down to the mystery that is our little Aura here."
"She has a point," Winry chimed in.
"Its not that we are not grateful for what you have done Aura, I am really, but we don't know anything about you. Do you understand?"
Aura cocked her head to the side a moment pressing her lips, looking a bit confused.
"We'll work on it," Ed said.
Breakfast was soon over. Winry and Pinako disappeared into the automail workshop to begin working on not only the automail itself but also all the steps that would be required to prep for the surgery process itself. Al and Ed got up and Aura followed them outside. It was now or never and Ed knew that this wasn't going to be easy/