Chapter Ten

Author's Note: Edward and Mustang have a chat and all that good stuff, but something else happens??!?!!!

Edward stared up at the ceiling, making pictures out of the little dots. It was now past one in the morning, Winry was taken to her dorm after supper and Alphonse had joined Lieutenant Hawkeye and gang on their patrol. Once everyone left the house it had become unnervingly silent. Ed went to go lie on the couch and Mustang disappeared into the back.

Lifting up his metal arm, Edward admired the handy work. He flexed his automail leg and was amazed at how precise the designed was to his other leg. Winry was as passionate about mechanics as he was with alchemy. She had a gift, in more ways than one. Ed found himself blushing after realizing where his thoughts were heading.

"I'm not going to get any sleep tonight." he yawned. "I guess four days is enough." The young alchemist stood up, stretched and entered the kitchen. One small light was left on in the other room, but he could see everything clearly in the darkness. Opening a cupboard he grabbed a glass and filled it with tap water. Edward looked out the window, there was a breeze blowing the leaves in the trees. (assonance!) The summer rains are coming. He thought as he took a big gulp. After wiping his mouth he headed out to the bathroom.

Hot water surged from the faucet, filling the air with a sticky humidity. A large mirror was placed above the sink and two, glossy slitted eyes stared at their owner. One was blue the other green. This was the first time Edward had really seen himself. He took in every feature. The pointed furred ears, slightly enlarged canines, intense eyes… He looked down at the rest of his body, his tail was swishing side to side. Whether by anger, excitement or by it's own accord, he didn't know or care. Ed stared at his hands. What made

him exceptionally mad, maybe from his own pride, was that he had shrunk. Not more than two or three inches, to compensate for the tail and extended limbs, but that hit him low. His clothes were too long and he had to roll up the sleeves and pant legs. "You are going to pay." Edward said in a whisper, but it nearly came out as a growl.

Exiting the hazy bathroom, Ed began to the living room again when he spotted a small staircase to the right. As one can understand the heightened curiosity, Edward approached the flight. Mustang's house was only a single story so he deducted that it lead to a small attic or loft. Ed climbed the stairs and entered a little room. It contained dozens of dust

laden boxes. In the furthest corner from the entrance was a windowed door. Edward headed for it. As he reached the knob he found it to be unlocked and quietly pushed the door open. A telltale gust of damp air caressed Ed's skin. He stepped out onto the landing and closed his eyes as a repetition of the gentle wind engulfed his body.

"So you couldn't sleep either."

A voice interrupted Edward's trance. He looked over his shoulder and saw Mustang sitting on the edge of the roof, legs dangling. There was another uncomfortable silence. Ed felt a compound of emotions arise inside himself, there was a mix of fury, companionship and … respect. Arrogance usually overwhelmed the last two, but something about the tranquility of the atmosphere balanced these feelings in Edward.

"Yeah, it seems like ninety-six hours did the trick." he replied, taking a spot next to the Colonel. Becoming tired of silence that tailed after each of them speaking, Edward looked over at Mustang to further their fruitless conversation when he spotted a deep scratch on his forearm. The one he gave him. "I'm sorry." Ed mumbled

"About what?" Mustang turned to his subordinate. Ed pointed to his arm. "Oh, it's nothing… I'd say we're even now."

"Even! Yeah right! You chase me down half the city, going all snap happy, I hardly think that's even. Jeez, were you trying to kill me or something?" Edward asked feeling a bit more relaxed.

"Well, I did view you as the enemy so…" Mustang glanced out over the still street bellow them, a smirk was forming on his face.

"You're so evil! I can't believe you tried to kill me!" Ed's ears twitched a little, but he paid no mind to it.

"If you had just revealed yourself, I probably wouldn't have had to kick your butt." Mustang said.

"Hold on a minute! I had just regained consciousness and was wounded. I could beat you any day if… if I wasn't…" Edward trailed off, staring up at nothing in particular. This time the silence was welcomed. "…You know we may spend our entire lives reaching for a certain goal, an ambition, but when we're pulled aside,… removed from reality… we find out that we haven't taken one step in the direction of our desires…I raise my hand and it seems like, from my perspective that I can grasp the moon if I just close my fingers

around it." Edward lifted his hand toward the navy sky. "But from where your seated, I am a million miles away… Colonel, I'm backsliding… my goal, my desire for the return of Al's body has become blurred. I don't know if it's because of what has happened to me or if… it's something else, but I can't live in reverse anymore. I have healed and can use my body efficiently… Another obstacle has risen to meet me on my journey and I must meet it head on." Edward said as he continued to watch the white moon.

Mustang sighed. "I've been up here debating on my earlier decision… It's seems like nothing I say will stop you, commanding officer or not…"

"I never meant to disobey you… well, maybe sometimes, but in serious situations such as these, I…" Edward paused and looked down at his hands once more. "I was heading back to Central, I…" tears began to form in his eyes. "It's just whenever we get a little closer to what might be a lead. Something cuts us off at the legs…" Ed flinched as he felt Mustang put a gentle, but hard hand on his shoulder.

"You don't fight alone… remember that."

Edward smiled and glanced back up at the heavens. "You know she likes you… a lot."

Mustang's expression faltered a bit at the sudden change of topic.

"Hawkeye." Edward said.

A distant look covered Roy's face, he began to say something when there was a quick movement to his left. He turned to see Edward leaping off the roof in a swift stride. Mustang stood up a saw Fullmetal meet someone in the dark lane between his house and the next. The figure was black and had glinting green eyes.