Disclaimer: I. Do. Not. Own. F. M. A. ...but all those people at the animecon in Floridagot to seethe FMA movie...grrrrrrr

Kouru: ehhh...USH! We're back. In black. With eel kabobs…..

ckc: no, I don't have anything against Amano Ginji but I just watched this behind the scenes thing of Get Backers where they interviewed Shannon McCormick (who plays Akabane) and he was like "eel kabob…" yes. Anyways, I'm back again for the next chappie of Golden Shade. I still don't know why I picked this title but I'm pretty sure that it's staying for good.

Kouru: And many thanks to all the reviewers! It's keeps ckc's self-esteem up! … and gives her the energy to actually wake up before ten in the morning.

ckc: heh heh… hope ya'll have had a good, not depressing, completely sun-shine filled summer because this story will probably counteract all that happiness. Why?

…….

ckc: I'm not sure but it might have to do with all the sad and depressing things that happen to everyone in this fic. (I'm sorry Aru and Edo) SO! Let's begin.

And 'bleah bleah' means thought stuff. 'Kay? NOW let's begin.

Golden-

ckc: oh yeah, I almost forgot. Some of this stuff might sound like weird yaoi bleah stuff, but it is NOT meant to be. I just think that Ed and Al are really close brothers that rely on each other almost all the time but not in an icky, perverted way that some people think of.BLEAH! and FINALLY let's begin.

Golden Shade

'Brother… why?'

Sobbing with exhaustion and grief Alphonse sprinted away from HQ, cursing the predicament he was in. If only Ed were here he wouldn't be in such a horrible position where nowhere, not his home, not Central, was a place for quiet healing. He wouldn't feel all these hurts of a human body; grief, anger, fatigue, and his brother would be here for him… always be here…always…

The young Elric tripped on his own feet, almost slamming into a brick wall that lined the streets of Central, but caught himself in time. Panting, Al leaned against it, kicking himself mentally for what he had just been thinking.

'Idiot. Brother sacrificed himself so that I could have this body. It's what he wanted. It's what I wanted.'

"But not without you."

"Taisa, what were you thinking?" Riza Hawkeye questioned, staring coldy at her commanding officer.

Mustang was sitting, head in his gloved hands and not wishing to meet her eyes. Maes Hughes sat next to him, frowning and berating himself for the mistake he had made. They had all moved, silent as death, after Al had left, to Roy's office. In it was a desk, a fireplace, some bookshelves, and couch upon which they were seated.

Riza continued her cold gaze until Roy finally looked at her and he was smiling grimly.

"I'm not sure. I thought maybe…" He shook his mop of charcoal colored hair and shrugged. "I'm not sure."

The woman took a seat next to him, sighing. "I know. We've all tried to make him forget."

Outside the sky had darkened, clouds gathering together to mirror the emotions of the three officers. There would be a thunderstorm tonight.

Hughes shifted in his chair. "But why should we be the ones to get him to stop living in the past?" When his two friends were silent he continued. "It's not really for us to decide, is it? What if this is the best thing for him?"

"Hughes!" Roy stood up quickly, scowling. "We've let him stay depressed for two years and it's only gotten worse. Al's starving himself! He won't listen to anything. He locks himself up in his office for hours pouring over books on human transmutation! If we don't do something he's going to kill himself!"

"So you think reminding him of Ed is going to make it better?" Hughes shot back. "You think bringing up the past will make him forget what's happened? We are the ones that will drive him to the brink Roy!"

"Stop it you two!"

The two men silenced as Riza stepped between them. "Fighting won't solve anything. For now we should be worrying about where Al is at this moment."

While the two had argued the clouds had broken, rain now pelting the sidewalks and lightning streaking across the black sky. It was near pitch black outside except when a flash of light lit up the empty street. Al was lost in that storm. And to make matters worse, there were two killers on the loose, both targeting men…

Mustang immediately sprang into action. "Havoc, Breda, Falmon, Fuery! Get in here!"

The door swung open as the four officers almost jumped in, and saluted. "Since you four were eavesdropping on us you know our situation. Find Silverfist immediately and bring him to back here. Go!"

"Sir!" The four men saluted once again and left the office. Mustang, Hughes, and Riza were quick to follow, leaving the room empty.

It felt like buckets of ice water were being dumped on him over and over. Al ran blindly through the dark streets, jumping every time the thunder sounded, the booming noise ringing in his ears. He was definitely lost.

Al paused in his frantic race for shelter to catch his breath. He couldn't use alchemy. His chalk diagrams would only be washed away by the rain.

"My life stinks," Al groaned. Lightning flashed above his head illuminating the alley… and a shadow. It was the shadow of a person standing maybe twenty feet away. Al couldn't see their face but they were clothed in some dark material and standing completely motionless.

"Hello?" The person didn't move. The hairs on the back of his neck were standing up, as if trying to warn him of something. He paid them no attention.

"Can you help me? I'm trying to find the military headquarters."

Again he was met by silence. Frowning, Al walked towards the dark figure. "Are you okay? Do you need somethi- Ah!"

Al screamed as something ripped through his side, causing him to fall to his knees. He felt through his jacket to feel blood seeping over his hands. The person had thrown something that had cut through his side entirely.

Drawing in a ragged breath, Al looked up at the shadowed person. "Who are you?"

Another flash of lightning lit up the alley to reveal the unknown person and Al gasped, instantly recognizing the person.

He was clothed in black pants and a tight fitting shirt, crimson tattoos seeping out from under the dark material. They wrapped around his body, creating intricate designs on his pale skin. Golden hair streaked down to his shoulders, the same colored orbs fixed on the person in front of him. Emotionless. Unmoving.

It was Edward Elric.

ckc: DUDE! WEE! I finished the fourth chappie… okay, out of all the chappies this was the hardest to write so far. It might be a little weird and I'm very sorry for taking so long. Gomen nasai! And many, many thanks to all the reviewers once again for reviewing!

Kouru: Pocky!

ckc: anyways, I'll see ya'll later! Zjugri!