"ALCHEMIST HIGH"
Rating: PG-13
Starring: Edward and Alphonse Elric, Sakura Kinomoto from "Cardcaptors", Chi from "Chobits" and Kakyo Kuzuki from "X"
Chapter 2 - The Flower Alchemist
The entrance of the school was far beyond breathtaking. The entrance was outside and had a large flowing fountain before you. There was a long hallway towards the library if you kept walking straight after the fountain. Off to the sides were classrooms and two other hallways. They're were students scattered around the place as Ed and Al looked it over. A small boy around the age of six, sat on one of the benches, reading a thick book on alchemy. Three gruff older men were in discussion over different elements of alchemy in the corner, smoking cigars. Down one hallway, a bunch of kids Ed and Al's age were running around, playing a game of soccer and a few others were just walking through the halls to their dorms.
Al and Ed were in awe. The more they saw, the more excited they had become. "Ed, this place is amazing! Look at all the diversity of alchemist!" Al replied, looking around in pure childish excitement. Ed laughed and crossed his arms. "It sure is Al! I think its safe to say that we made the right decision in coming here. It'll prove to be a valuble use of our time. Its quite a place, Miss Kasumi." Ed replied, looking over his shoulder to Karen. She laughed as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, Ed. I'm glad you and your brother are excited to start. Your arrival was told to us in advance, so your rooms are prepared and your classes scheduled. I took care of those measures myself."
"Thank you, Miss Kasumi. For everything ..." Al replied. "Yeah, we really appreciate it!" Ed added. Karen laughed and smiled. "Its no problem at all." Karen took a few steps before them to lead the tour, when she suddenly heard the sound of a transmutation in the distance. Her eyes became fierce and serious as she looked over to where the dorms were. "Not again ..." she whispered. Ed and Al looked over to where Karen was staring, as Karen turned to the brothers and forced a smile so not to alarm them. "I'm afraid I have to attend to a small confrontation between students. You will forgive me that I can't give you the tour ... I'm sure if you wander for a bit, you'll find things on your own."
"Yeah, we have a knack for finding our way around! Don't worry about us!" Ed assured her. Karen smiled towards them and walked towards the sound, followed by the group of State Alchemists quick on her tail. Ed looked towards where Karen walked away with a worried expression. "I wonder what that transmutation meant ..." he whispered. "Yeah, must be something that happens a lot ... for Miss Kasumi to act that way." Al added. "Hm .. well, come on Al, let's start looking around this place! I'm dying to see just what alchemic tools we can start using to sharpen our skills!" Al laughed as his brother. It was nice to see him excited ... it didn't happen very often. "Let's start over in the library! It should be down this hallway I think-"
"Wait, Ed, let's ask before we get lost!"
"Oh come on, I know where we're going-"
"Ed, watch out!"
Before Ed knew it, he had bumped into someone and fell straight down on the ground. Al ran over to see if Ed was okay and who he had bumped into. Ed held his head as he laid there on the ground. "Ow ... well, the floor is definitly granite ..." Ed groaned, while still whincing in pain. Ed then realized he had someone on top of him. "Would you mind watching where your go-" Ed yelled, but interrupted when he found himself staring into beautiful emerald green eyes. Ed felt his face flush as he looked at this young girl. She had short brown bobbing hair and a cute childish nature. She blushed slightly and removed herself from Ed's lap. "Hoe? Oh ... I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!" she replied, bowing in respect towards Ed. Shaking his head and returning to his senses, Ed merely dusted himself off and stood on his feet. He took the girl's hand and helped her up. "Don't worry about it. It was partly my fault too ... sorry 'bout that." he replied. The girl blinked her eyes curiously and smiled, accepting Ed's hand. Once she returned to her feet, she dusted herself off and picked up her alchemy book and papers from the floor. Al helped her out and handed the remaining pieces to her. "Here you go ..." he sweetly replied. The young girl was taken by this large man in armor as she happily accepted the paper. "Thank you so much. That's part of my report, I would be lost without it!" she exclaimed.
Al laughed. "Don't mention it. So, what were you in such a rush for?" he asked. "Oh, I was on my way to the library. I have a book overdue and I was going to meet up with a friend of mine. Oh! I didn't introduce myself! I'm Sakura ... Sakura Kinomoto. I'm fifteen years old and a first semester student. I live in the Mokona Wing."
"Mokona Wing?" Ed and Al replied in unison.
"Uh-huh! Its a specific wing of dorm rooms. There's four in all. The Mokona Wing, The Rayearth Wing, The Windum Wing and The Selece Wing. They are all divided by what year student you are. Only students are allowed to live in the dorms. The Mokona Wing is for first years, The Rayearth for second years, Windum for third and Selece for four year students." Sakura claimed, happily explaining it to them. Her face then suddenly turned to her cute curious expression as she walked closer to Ed and Al. She leaned forward to look at Ed more closely, as Ed blushed again and lean back a bit. "You guys don't know about the dorms? Are you new here?" Ed cleared his throat as Al answered for him. "Yes, we are. My name is Alphonse Elric ... but you can call me Al ... and this is my brother, Edward Elric, also known as the Fullmetal Alchemist."
Within seconds, Sakura's eyes became wide and starry eyed. She grabbed Ed's hands in hers and held them tightly. "Your Edward Elric? HOE! I'm so happy to finally meet you! Your my idol!" she sweetly chimed. Ed laughed and smiled. "Really? I'm really no one special .." he exclaimed, trying his best to be humble. Sakura then jumped from Ed to Al as she held Al's metal hands in hers. "And you too Alphonse Elric! I'm so happy to meet you in person!" she laughed, making Ed and Al feel like honored celebrities. "Are you really attending school here?" Sakura questioned, becoming more and more curious. Ed winked towards her and held up his thumb. "That we are! We're here to be students for awhile and sharpen our skills a bit! Miss Kasumi was going to give us a tour but had to leave suddenly, so we're trying to fend for ourselves." Upon hearing Miss Kasumi's name, Sakura's face turned to worriment for a second. It couldn't be Subaru again ... could it? Sakura wondered to herself. But Sakura's train of thought was interrupted by Al's laughter.
"Heh, although Ed was just about to get us lost!" Al added.
Ed began flailing around like a little boy. "I was not, I have a sense of direction you know!" he yelled, making Al and Sakura laugh. Al then noticed a similarity between Ed and Sakura. "Hey Ed ... look ... for the first time you've met a girl who's not taller then you! Your the same height!" Al happily replied, kneeling down towards them. Ed became enraged again. "WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY? THAT I'M SO SHORT I CAN'T SEE OVER A COFFEE TABLE?" he bellowed. Sakura could only laugh at them. "Your not short at all. I think your just right." Sakura replied, smiling sweetly towards Ed. Once again, Ed's coolness was reduced to a school boy blush, as Ed turned away to hide his face. "Sakura?" Al asked. "Yes, Mister Alphonse." Sakura answered back. "Please, call me Al. I was wondering, would you mind showing us around ... since its our first day and all." Sakura became even more excited as she held her book under her chin and squealed to herself. "Of course! I'd be happy to!"
Soon, the three new friends began walking down the hallway towards the library. Ed and Sakura walked side by side as Al walked closely behind them. Ed had his hands buried deep in his pockets as he glanced over at Sakura. He noticed the alchemy book she held in her hands. It was thick and leather bound and seemed very old. It peaked his curiosity and he couldn't help but want to know. "Sakura .. what kind of alchemy book is that?" Ed asked. "Hoe?" Sakura answered, as she stared down at the book. "Oh, its a book about Botany Alchemy." she replied. "Botany Alchemy? You mean ... plants?" Al questioned. Sakura nodded. "Uh-huh ... its an old use of elemental alchemy rarley used anymore. Back when, it was only used as entertainment purposes and not thought of as much use when it came down to the science of alchemy." she replied, as she gazed up at the orange burnt sky. She closed her eyes momentarily as a gust of wind breezed by and a three flowing cherry blossoms landed in her hand. She closed it tightly and a light of blue shot from her hand, the sound of a transmutation. When she opened her hand again, the petal had turned into a full petaled cherry blossom bud. "But I've studied hard and am trying to perfect flower transmutation into something much more."
Ed and Al looked aweingly into her hand. "Not bad, Sakura." Ed replied. "Yeah, and you don't even use a transmutation circle." Al added. Sakura blushed slightly and scratched her head with her free hand. "I'm really good with flowers. They're the only thing I don't have to use a circle on. I can transmute other things, but if its not with flowers, I need a circle. I'm really not that good ... they're are many others in this school far more superior then I can ever be." she replied, most of her face showing a sign of disbelief in herself. Ed placed his hand gently on her shoulder and smiled. "Don't judge yourself so harshly. You have great potential, Sakura ... you just have to believe in yourself. Heh ... with your gift, I think its safe to call you ... the flower alchemist." Sakura blushed deeply as she held her book up to her face in order to hide. "But .. but aren't titles like that given to the State Alchemists?"
"Says who? Its not a written rule that alchemist second names can be given only to State Alchemists. In my opinion, they belong to anyone who is more then worthy of it. I say you fit the bill perfectly Sakura." Ed replied, giving her a wink. Again, Sakura blushed and nodded towards Ed. "Thank you ... Ed." she sweetly chimed. Watching them, Al just simply gave a chuckle.
As the three of them entered the library, Ed and Al's jaws dropped to the floor. It was far more enormous and elaborate then even Central's personal State Alchemist library. They're were thousands upon thousands of books. There were computers that lined the middle of the library and many students were scattered around, reading, researching and practicing their alchemy skills. Sakura lead the way to the main desk to give back her overdue book, as Ed and Al followed. "Good afternoon Miss Kinomoto ..." a voice replied from behind the desk. Sakura looked over the desk counter as her face brightened up. "Mister Kuzuki!" Sakura replied softly. Ed and Al looked towards this very charming and soft spoken young man named Kakyo Kuzuki. He had long tan hair and a sweet and kind disposition. He leaned on the counter to whisper over to Sakura. "Returning a book, are we?" he asked. Sakura nodded and brought her hands to her face. "Its two days overdue though ... I'm sorry." she answered back. Kakyo chuckled and smiled, taking the book from her. "Well, usually its a fine of five dollars when late for a day. But ... because its you ... I'll waiver it just this once." he replied, placing the book in a shelf behind him. Sakura smiled widely. "Oh, thank you Mr. Kuzuki!" she replied, as she waved goodbye to him and returned back over to Ed and Al.
"Who was that, Sakura?" Al asked. "Oh, that's Mister Kakyo Kuzuki ... he's the head librarian here. He knows all the books here and is really kind and gentle. He's really smart too ... if you ever need any help in your research, the one to ask would be Mister Kuzuki." she replied. Ed looked back towards him with a blank face. "I'll keep that in mind." he replied.
"Sakura!" a voice called out.
Sakura turned to face her friend that had been waiting for her. She ran over and gave her a big hug. "Forgive me! I'm so sorry that I was late!" Sakura pleaded. "No, no .. don't worry about it. I didn't wait long." her friend assured her. Sakura giggled as she held her friend's hands in hers. "Come on ... I want you to meet my new friends." she whispered. She grabbed tightly to her friend's hand and ran over to Ed and Al. "Ed ... Al ... I'd like you to meet my friend ... Chi."
Once again, Ed and Al's jaws dropped to the floor as they stared at a young girl. A few inches shorter then Sakura. She had long white hair and almond eyes and had what appeared to be white metal cat ears from her head. She wore a white dress and had bells in her hair. She smiled sweetly at Ed and Al. "Hello ... Its nice to meet you." she sweetly exclaimed. "Huh?" Ed and Al replied in unison.