Author's Note:
Normally I don't have these in the beginning, but I figured I'd have to put this warning sign up top:
If you haven't read my other fanfiction, "The Wind Alchemist," before starting this, STOP NOW!
This is a sequel series, so please go back and read "The Wind Alchemist" first, so that you can better understand this story!
Thank you!~
"Never enough…"
"For me, for me, for me…"
"For me…"
Manami was welcomed with thunderous applause, and she rose from the piano to face her audience and gracefully bow.
It had been two years since she first performed here, at the Central Grand Hall. This hall, this piano… they were all the beginning of Manami's newfound fame, following in her mother's footsteps to become a famous pianist. On top of that, she was considered a beautiful vocalist as well.
Manami bowed for a few more moments, managing to catch one of the flowers that flied onto the stage from the audience. She grinned, holding the flower close to her chest as she gave one final bow, before exiting stage right.
She was immediately welcomed by Cedric Richter, her manager, who was accompanied by two bodyguards.
"Perfect performance as usual, Manami." He beamed at her. "One of your best shows yet!"
"Thank you, Cedric." Manami smiled back at him.
It was really thanks to him that Manami had gotten as popular as she was now. Sure, her first performance was broadcasted on the radio across the country… but it was thanks to Cedric that Manami had articles in the newspaper, shows and rehearsals were booked, constructive critiques were given, and so on...
"Have you seen Alphonse?" She asked.
"He's waiting for you at the stage exit." Cedric answered, adjusting his glasses before gesturing to the two bodyguards. "These two will escort you both to your car."
"Great." Manami went to tuck the flower she was holding into his coat pocket. "Thanks, Cedric!"
She went to walk past him, the bodyguards at her heels, and Cedric turned to watch her leave with a satisfied smile on his face.
One of Manami's bodyguards stepped in front of her to open the door for her, revealing just the person Manami wanted to see: Alphonse Elric, holding a big bouquet of roses. At least a dozen, maybe two.
"Oh, wow..!" Manami beamed at the sight.
"Brother and Winry requested the extra dozen as a 'sorry we couldn't make it' gift…" Al chuckled sheepishly, handing her the flowers that she took with both hands, before he leaned in for a soft peck on her lips.
"You were spectacular tonight, as usual." He complimented her.
"Not as spectacular as you look in that tux." Manami smirked, making Al's cheeks flush.
"Miss Kami, Mister Elric, we must be going…"
"Right…" Manami nodded to the bodyguard, who reminded her that they weren't out of the woods yet.
They were exiting out of the back of the building, yet Manami and Al could already hear a crowd outside.
Nowadays, it was hard for Manami to slip past the fans and paparazzi on the night of a concert.
Al smiled and went to offer his arm, which Manami moved her bouquet to hold with one hand so that she could link her free arm with his.
"You ready?"
"Yup."
The couple approached the back exit, and the bodyguards opened the door and were first to step out.
"Make way!"
"Behind the red line!"
Manami and Al followed them to be welcomed with flashes and screams.
"Manami Kami!"
"There she is!"
"We love you, Manami Kami!"
Al looked down to Manami as they walked, observing her as she acknowledged her fans. She even knew which way to look and point a smile, just as the camera flashed.
He swore, it was a talent in itself…
He was so proud of her.
Al and Manami took the first train back to Resembool the next morning. Manami only stayed in Central as long as she needed to for her performances; not because she disliked the life of stardom she had there, but because she liked the peacefulness of being home more.
Over the last two years, they were making up for the lost time that they were all off traveling...
Al found himself looking at Manami more, studying her features… her skin, her now long hair, her body…
She had really grown up.
Though, he had grown as well. He had come a long way since he got his body back. No longer the frail boy on arm crutches, Alphonse now stood tall with broad shoulders and a square jaw. He was fairly toned, having trained with brother with daily hand-to hand sparring matches.
But now, Al was realizing that he was feeling differently… about multiple things.
Every time he looked at Manami now, he would get this sense of longing… despite already being close to her. How could he want more?
It made him think about home, too. He enjoyed being home, but still couldn't help but wonder how the night sky would look… from somewhere else.
It wasn't that he was unhappy, not by a longshot… but, he was curious.
"You okay?"
Al snapped out of his thoughts to see Manami standing in front of him and blinking in confusion.
"Did you hear what I said?" She asked.
"N-No… I'm sorry!" Al chuckled nervously. "I kind of spaced out."
"Hmm..." Manami turned to walk down the familiar dirt path, towards the Rockbell house.
"Do you want to talk about something?"
"..." Al thought for a moment, contemplating his words.
"... I'm just kind of reflecting, I guess…" He finally said. "On everything that's happened since we came home."
They stopped once they reached the top of a hill and could see the Rockbell house far in the distance. There was something moving in front of it, which they assumed was Den.
"A lot's changed, that's for sure." Manami hummed. "Yet everything is still the same, here. It's nice."
She didn't see, but Al's eyes widened in that moment.
Everything… was still the same here.
In that moment, Al realized why he was feeling strange… he didn't dislike being home- he disliked the lack of change.
After traveling across the country, meeting so many different and doing so many different things, why wouldn't he have the itch to do so, after staying in one place for so long?
He finally looked back to Manami, forcing a smile.
"Yeah…" He slowly went to take her hand in his, smiling down at her as she looked up at him.
"You sure you're okay?" She raised a brow.
Her question made his smile fade a little and he averted his eyes, giving himself away.
"Something's wrong." She frowned a little.
"No, I just…" Al trailed off, giving up with a sigh.
He knew how much had changed for Manami, and he didn't want to sound unsupportive of her new profession by voicing his opinion… especially since he wasn't entirely sure it was a justified feeling.
"I didn't want to tell you, but I didn't sleep well last night." Al lied smoothly, offering her a reassuring smile. "I keep spacing out, so I don't think I'm thinking straight."
"Why wouldn't you want to tell me that?" Manami asked.
"I didn't want you to worry?" Al smiled sheepishly.
"..." Manami sighed, looking down to their hands. "Still… it worries me that you think you can't tell me something. Especially something as silly as that."
Al felt a twinge of guilt.
"I'm sorry…" He stepped forward so that he could plant a kiss on her forehead. "I'm not thinking straight. I normally don't think that I can't tell you anything at all, Manami... you're easy to talk to!"
"I hope so." Manami looked up at him, managing to crack a smile.
"Nap when we get home, then?" She offered.
"Mm," Al nodded, smiling back at her. "That would be perfect."
"Welcome home!" Winry greeted Al and Manami as they walked through the door. Ed was laying on the couch nearby, waving at them as they came in. Pinako must have been in the kitchen.
"Looks like timing worked out!" Manami commented, seeing luggage still by the front door.
"Yeah! Ed and I got back a few hours ago." Winry explained, approaching them to hug them.
"I'm sorry we had to miss your performance, Manami… it was just there was this big order, that couldn't be pushed until after—"
"No sweat!" Manami shook her head. "Really! You don't have to go to every single concert, you know. You all probably know the music I play by heart, by now…"
"We go because we like to support you." Al smiled, putting a hand on Manami's shoulder.
"Would've rather been at a fancy concert than in Rush Valley…" Ed groaned from the couch. "Winry worked me like a dog…"
"And I thank you very much for your help!" Winry rolled her eyes, and Ed grunted as he raised his flesh hand, now no longer malnourished-looking, to wave dismissively.
"By the way, Granny told me that some shingles need to be fixed on the roof." Winry smiled sweetly, yet nervously to Ed. "I told her you would do it."
"What?!" Ed barked, shooting to sit up. "I'm still sore from all the work you made me do in Rush Valley! I think I've earned a day off!"
"It's just a few..!" Winry put her hands together in front of her face, pleadingly. "Please! I'm scared to fall if I go up there!"
It didn't take much for that thought to win Ed over. He didn't want Winry to fall and hurt herself. With a heavy sigh of defeat, he plopped back down on the couch.
"I'll do it later…" He grumbled.
"If that be the case," Al spoke up. "I think Manami and I are gonna take a nap."
"Oh, really?" Winry asked, blinking in surprise. Ed glanced at them out of the corner of his eye.
"Well, Al said he didn't sleep well last night, and I could use an hour or two more of shuteye after a concert." Manami explained with a small smile.
"Alright… let's catch up later though, okay?" Winry asked, earning a nod from both Al and Manami before they went upstairs.
A few hours passed, and Ed had decided to finally get his errand over with and head to the roof. The small pitter patter of his steps above was enough to wake Al up from his sleep, and he looked down to see Manami in his arms, still fast asleep.
He would usually wake up before her, but would always take a few minutes to watch her sleep. Studying the way her chest rose up and down, timing her slow yet steady breaths…
And he suddenly got that feeling, once again.
What was it?
"..." Al leaned over her to gently kiss her on the temple before getting up and leaving the room.
He knew that once Ed started hammering on the roof, that it would wake Manami… but he still didn't feel much better than he did this morning. He would have to tell her what's on his mind… but he didn't want to talk about it right now.
Al went downstairs to be welcomed by the smell of apple and cinnamon. He entered the kitchen to see Winry working at the kitchen counter.
"I smell a pie!" Al called.
"It's for dessert tonight!" Winry looked over her shoulder to smile back at Al. "I'm making tea to go along with it, too. I kinda feel bad I'm making Ed work so much, and the best way to thank him is with tasty food and drinks."
Al smiled. He knew that, as annoyed as Ed was getting at her, Winry really meant well, and always knew how to make him feel better. He was surprised that they weren't going out yet.
At least as far as he knew.
"You're not wrong." He nodded.
Thud.
"YOWWW!"
Al and Winry looked up as they heard Edward howl in pain above them. They then looked back to each other, each trying not to laugh.
"Mind giving him a hand? Maybe I should've volunteered you to do it instead…" Winry joked.
"Heh, yeah I'll help…" Al chuckled and went to the back door, slipping on his shoes.
"Manami's probably waking up now, so just let her know where I am."
"Okay!"
Al shot Winry one last smile before he stepped outside, taking a deep breath and filling his lungs with the fresh air. He looked around, seeing a ladder leading up to the roof, and climbed up.
"Brother!" He called, seeing his older brother standing with his hands on his hips. "What's taking so long?!"
"These damn chores are testing the limits of my courtesy!" Ed huffed. "Winry's treating me like her own personal slave!"
Al let out a chuckle and pulled himself up onto the roof. "Winry told me to tell you that she's making tea to go with the apple pie she's baking."
"... oh." Ed loosened up a little, that fact making him feel a little better. "Alright…"
Al stepped up beside his brother, turning to look out at the view of Resembool.
"Wow..!" He gasped. "You can see the entire countryside today, huh?"
"Yeah." Ed followed his gaze, looking out to the hills.
"... it's so vast…" Al said quietly.
"... yeah." Ed replied, just as softly.
They stood there for a long moment, both having thoughts run through their minds. Al realized that this was a good opportunity to talk to Ed about what was on his mind. As much as he loved being around Manami and Winry, it was sometimes difficult to get a moment alone with his brother.
"... brother?"
"... yeah?"
"..." Al looked down for a moment, then turned to look to Ed. "Have you been happy?"
"What kind of question is that?" Ed smiled nervously back to his younger brother. "Of course I have been."
"Of course…" Al chuckled weakly, looking down again. "Maybe I used the wrong choice of words... but, you never felt like... there could be more?"
"..." Ed didn't respond, but turned to look back out to the scenery.
"..." Al took a breath through his nose, mustering the courage to say it.
"Brother…" He looked out as well. "I've been thinking about something lately…"
"..." A small smile curled on Ed's lips. "Me too… and I bet we're thinkin' the same thing."
Al couldn't help but smile a little bit, himself. It wasn't said, but he had no doubt that Ed knew what he was thinking. And to know that he felt the same way… made him feel ten times better.
"And so, my next concert is in July."
Everyone had all just finished eating dinner and were enjoying tea and apple pie for dessert, as Manami was the last to finish her catch-up story.
"It's gotta be nice, working one night every four or five months, and making hundreds of thousands." Ed commented, giving Manami a small smirk.
"At least she's making an income, Edward." Pinako snapped, making him shrink.
"I help out around the house…" He muttered.
"A good chunk of the money I make goes to promotion and stuff…" Manami shook her head. "Cedric handles all of the money management. I didn't think I needed a manager was necessary at first, but man... he's been a lifesaver."
"He's so prepared, he's got backup plans for backup plans." Al laughed.
"That's a good thing." Pinako commented, sipping her tea.
Manami smiles at Al. She was glad to see that he seemed to feel better.
She had her doubts, but it seemed that he really was just tired before…
"Anyway…" Ed set down the fork on his empty plate. "Al and I got one more bit of news for everyone."
The women blinked in surprise as Ed and Al both went to stand up. Manami watched as Al went to stand beside Ed as she dug her fork into her slice of pie as they spoke.
"We wanted to save this for last, because it's pretty big."
"Brother and I were talking on the roof earlier, and… we decided that we want to travel the world!"
"We're leaving next month!"
Manami had just taken a bite of her pie, almost swallowing her entire fork when the Elric brothers made their big announcement.
"!" She felt the food lodge in her throat just as she went to gasp, making her gag a little and cough it up to where she could finally catch her breath.
Simultaneously, Winry had just barely managed to resist spitting her tea across the table.
Author's Note:
I'M BACK BABY!
Holy moly, I just got hit with a HUGE burst of motivation to FINALLY get to writing this sequel, so here I am!
I don't know how often I will update, considering I have a lot more time now thanks to the pandemic (I hope you're all being safe and smart!)... I'm also still planning a lot of stuff out here while simultaneously writing for my Kingdom Hearts fanfiction. I'm also drawing feverishly, trying to improve my skill, so you can find my work on DevianArt under the same name. If you liked my stories, you'll find a bunch of drawings of Manami that I think fans would like!
In short, everything is kind of all over the place, so please be patient with me! I'd like to thank you all again who read through my first part of this story, and I hope you're as excited for this next arc as I am!~