New Chapter! Yea! I would have put it up at once, but u know how computers r.. : ) btw, so far the story is strictly rated T, but if something later on should happen I'll give u a warning. And...4 u funny ppl out there, there are no spoliers so just read and use your intelligence. : )

enjoy!

9 months ago

Alphonse moved very slowly stepping off the train and releasing the metal railing from his giant hand. He glanced up carefully keeping a sharp eye on the energetic boy running off and flawing his arms rapidly through the air. Hearing the hollow repercussions of metal after stepping on the ground he took, what would have been deep sigh if he could have, and looked back up realizing he'd lost sight of his brother, "Uh-oh." He slightly sighed to himself knowing it shouldn't be that hard to keep track of one when your as big he was. But then again in a crowd of adults as big as this and Ed being… well, his brother really wasn't that easy to keep track of anyway. "Argh! That train ride was way too long, am I right Al? Al? What the hell!" Al would have smiled, if he could have, as his brother began cursing loudly about him keeping track of Al.

Slowly and politely making his way through the crowd, Al finally caught sight of his older brother rudely making his own way past people and complaining the whole way, "Big brother!" Ed looked up, an enormous grin stretching across his entire face, and he began running toward the big tin. In a quick moment however, a tall man in the crowd held out his arm perfectly close lining Ed as he ran by.

Al was at his brother's side the second he hit the ground, "Brother! Are you alright?" Ed was hunched over groaning and holding both hands closely to his face. The tall man straightened up, brushing off his jacket, "Sorry 'bout 'daht kid! Ya kina small! Hope yer' face ain't too brokin'!" The man turned around laughing as Ed jumped to his feet screaming and waving his arms like a lunatic, "Get back here you ostentatious illiterate ignoramus! Who do you think you're calling the smallest miniature person to ever walk the face of this planet?"

Ed kicked and screamed while his little brother stood holding his arms and apologized to the people starring as they passed by. Eventually Ed stilled heavily breathing and panting, "Too tired…too hungry...to fight…gah!" The armor slowly set Ed onto the ground and sigh yet again, "You okay now brother?" Al looked down at the spastic blonde as he carefully touched his red nose and continually cursed profusely, "Dammit! When do people come off being so damn disrespectful! You'd think he could have at least freakin' apologized. Please tell me you're on my side with this one?" Ed turned around quickly, his sharp eyes like cutting knifes, as he crossed his arms and frowned irritably waiting for a reply.

"Well…yes…" Ed raised an eyebrow wondering why his little brother had hesitated at his answer. He began strumming his fingers against his arm, his frown deepening till he resembled a small agitated child. Al put a hand behind his neck suddenly feeling small to the growing wrath of his older brother, "I…mean…he was being rude and all…" Ed groaned, his anger dropping in an instant and Al breathed a heavily sigh of relief. He never liked it when his brother was angry.

Ed picked up the brown suit case he'd dropped and yawned, "Ah…forget it. Let's get moving Al." The two walked from the train station slowly making there way through town. The sun had begun to set taking with it the warmth of the day. Ed had been talking the whole while when he soon realized no one was answering him and stopped. He turned behind to find his little brother standing in the center of bridge they'd just crossed, like a statue while starring straight into the sinking sun.

Somehow even without his human instincts, Al knew his brother had walked up beside him again and was waiting patiently for him. "Al?" His voice was quiet, gentle and concerned, tearing Al's thoughts quickly off the sun but not his gaze. Ed leaned against the railing facing the rising moon that faced his brother's back. The armor echoed, loudly ringing as Al spoke, "It's been five years…" Ed nodded sadly and Al lowered his head as he sensed the guilt that had quickly fallen over his brother smothering him in a deep agony. It was quiet and the blonde lowered his head grounding his teeth together, "Dammit!"

Al suddenly sat down crossing his legs neatly in front of him. Ed glanced up a little surprised as Al only continued to watch the sun, "Ed... what I was thinking about was with everything we've gone through…we haven't learned a thing have we?" Ed shifted his weight shoving his hands in his pockets and glaring at the moon. He opened his mouth to say something and then stopped shaking his head and taking in some thought.

The moon began to reflect the sun's beams and the light lit up the darkening sky. The armor turned to his brother waiting as Ed took his hands out of his pockets and leaned forward covering his face with his hands, "I'm not following you. I thought we'd learned a lot and we were getting somewhere, you make me feel like it's been for nothing." Al shook his head, letting it clang around in its loose socket. It was times like this Ed really wished armor could have facial features to show emotion.

He looked though his fingers at the armor as Al began making circles on the ground with his finger. Ed pushed his hands back through his hair resting his hands of the sides of his forehead and couldn't help but smile a little at his brother's simply gestures. Through the long years his brother had remained a simply child at heart and Ed wouldn't have him any other way. The thought of his little brother growing up almost made him sick to his stomach.

Al circled at the ground nervously while his brother watched over him satisfyingly. Finally in a small voice Al began whispering, "I didn't mean the stone brother…I meant we hadn't learned anything about…well…" Al's voice faded into such a quiet hushed tone bringing Ed to realize this was either something really bad or something Al really didn't want to tell him. Ed shifted closer to his brother and leaned back starring up in the dreary sky, "Well?"

The metal tin looked up meeting his brother's golden gaze, "We messed up big time, we almost lost each other, yet still we keep throwing our lives around. Edward…getting back to normal isn't worth losing you." Ed sat up straighter, the bright light in his eyes suddenly dropping out like a match touching water, "But Al-" Al held up a hand and stuck up his finger in Ed's face silencing him, "Your always saying it's your burden, that you'll do anything…well don't my feeling's count in on what the heck your doing Ed. We've said it countless times; we're all we've got. So don't do anything stupid."

Ed smiled and Al lowered his arm. The boy began to laugh and Al crossed his arms slightly annoyed, "Ed! I wasn't joking!" he whined, quieting his brother slightly. The boy smiled, his eyes glowing brightly now. He jumped up and put a hand on the metal helmet, "Your something else Al… older you get the more your trying to read my mind and lecture me." Al sighed as Ed stood up and stretched out his arms. He knew he'd never get Ed to promise him anything, but at the least he could tell Ed how he felt. And then maybe, just maybe… "Let's get moving Al."

Al nodded and stood up slowly, the metal clanging through the night. Ed picked up his suit case still smiling and laughing thoughtfully to himself. Al watched his brother walk from behind slowly and carefully keeping his soft red eyes on his brother's back as he walked. And just maybe he wouldn't hold his life out on the line so casually. Just maybe he'd think and wouldn't get himself killed.

most of u know the drill. Thanks 4 your comments!