Redemption
An FMA fanfic by Steph O'Dell and Zev
(She helped lots! w)
Chapter 2—Visitations
Edward and Alphonse stood beside one another, shoulder to shoulder. "You asked for it!" Edward yelled.
"And we're gonna give it to you!" Alphonse finished.
Snark didn't look scared or impressed. He challenged Alphonse and Edward fists forward. The boys moved in perfect sync, beating him back with kicks and punches. Their brotherly synchronicity was nearly flawless. Snark flew back into a barrier, and struggled to regain his footing. Alphonse and Edward got ready again, waiting.
Snark changed tactics quickly, and threw a nearby cement barrier at the boys. Edward cartweeled out of the way, and Alphonse hit the block to redirect it safely so it wouldn't injure anyone. Snark grinned.
"You go out of your way to protect people…it's so noble." His tone was mocking.
Alphonse frowned. "People don't need to be hurt needlessly. But I don't expect you to get that."
Brystan stood back with Katharine, and stared. "Those boys…they're incredible. I just can't believe those two…are so skilled." He blinked.
Katharine smiled a little. "They fight to protect what's close to them."
Brystan grinned. "Getting intellectual on me, huh, Katharine?"
"Always," she replied.
Edward threw punch after punch at Snark, who blocked them. Alphonse picked up the cement barricade that Snark had thrown earlier, and threw it back at him. Edward dodged the projectile. Snark smirked, and knocked it away carelessly.
It was a split-second realization for Edward. The barricade was headed for Umi. His mind ran on overdrive.
She'll never move in time…I have to help her…
He took off in a flat-out sprint, the adrenaline going harder and faster than it had during the run down the building. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as he moved. He scooped Umi up in his arms, and ran a ways away, skidding to a stop. He looked back as the barricade impacted.
How the hell…did I do that?! he thought, flabbergasted.
The reaction from everyone else was the same. No one had seen Edward move. They had thought Umi had been hit. The realization Umi was safe, and that Edward had somehow managed to pick her up and take her several feet away in the split-second the event had occurred was dumbfounding.
"Brother…" Alphonse said, astounded. "You moved…so fast…"
"No one can move that fast," Katharine said.
Brystan clenched his teeth. "So that's…that's what those scientists did…"
Katharine was surprised. "What?"
Brystan looked at Katharine. "The scientists manipulated their genes, making some traits so dominant they became almost super-human. Alphonse's strength, and Edward's speed…they've been super-manipulated."
"My God…" Katharine said. "Super Soldier Therapy…I thought it was a myth…"
"Apparently not," Brystan replied bitterly.
Umi stared at Edward. "I'm suddenly reminded of Barry Allen."
"Huh?" Edward asked, confused.
"The Flash," Umi said. "He's a…DC comic book hero…he could move almost as fast as light."
Edward blinked. "That was…the weirdest feeling…like everything slowed right down…but I was still moving normally."
Snark stared. "What…what the hell are you freaks?"
Edward sat Umi down again. "A couple of freaks looking to kick yer sorry ass." He cracked his fists. "I thought you were supposed to bring her back alive?"
"Hey man, I get paid no matter what," Snark said. "I could care less."
"ASSHOLE!" Edward screamed, slamming his fist into Snark's face. He had moved super fast again, in his anger. He didn't have control of it yet, and it seemed to turn on whenever his adrenaline spiked rapidly.
Like when he got pissed off.
Alphonse was helpless to stop Edward, knowing full well catching Edward would be impossible. Snark was beaten almost senseless within a few seconds. Edward stood over him, panting with rage, and trying to calm down. Alphonse put his hands on Edward's arms, and felt his brother vibrating in his anger.
"Brother, you have to calm down," Alphonse started.
"And why should I?" he snapped angrily at Alphonse. "This ass obviously doesn't care about the lives of others, so why should I care about his?" His eyes became hard. "He's no better than trash."
Alphonse flinched at Edward's cruel words, and grabbed Edward by the arms. "Brother! Stop! Don't you see? That's Envy talking! You have to snap out of it!"
Edward shook Alphonse off of him, and wound up his arm, bringing his fist down heavily on Snark's face. He grinned at the sickening sound his fist made as it slammed into the man's face. He wound up, and hit him again. And again. He wound up a fourth time, smirking.
"I'm going to enjoy putting you down," he said, darkly, enjoying every moment.
Umi threw her arms around Edward, and he grew instantly limp. He let go of Snark, letting the giant man hit the ground, and slumped to his knees. Umi held him tightly, whispering soothingly to him.
"It's okay, Edward. Please, stop. Go back to the way you were before."
Edward's eyes softened, and he began to cry silently, the realization of his cruelty crushing him. "How…could I…?"
Umi held him tighter, still whispering soothingly under her breath.
He panted heavily for a moment, trying to sort out what had just happened. As it all dawned on him, Edward screamed angrily into the night sky, his voice ringing with anger and pain, and heavy with rage, as if he'd been cheated. And in a way, he realized, he had.
Edward's moment of weakness had let Envy dig a little farther into his body. He clutched his arm in pain, gritting his teeth to hold in the cries. He suffered silently, not allowing himself to show any weakness.
Alphonse watched his brother quietly, his eyes filled with the sadness he felt for them both. As far back as he could remember, Edward never showed his feelings, good or bad, to anyone, trying to be strong enough to support both him and his little brother. And the sadness and pain Edward felt spilled over onto those close to him. Someone, it seemed, always ended up crying for Edward, who could not himself.
Brystan unclenched his fist, his feet moving without him thinking about it. He walked slowly over to Edward, and knelt in front of him, gathering him in his arms. He held Edward as if the boy would fall apart, and stroked his hair gently.
Edward could hold his feelings in no longer. He sobbed into Brystan's shoulder, releasing years of pent-up tears.
William shut the car door on Snark, and sighed. "That's that, I guess." He scratched his neck, feeling lost and a bit fatigued. "I need a smoke…"
Katharine smiled at William. "You should cut down on those things."
William shrugged helplessly. "I really should, but I can't. It's involuntary now." He pulled a cigarette out and lit it, pulling a drag with gusto. "Funny thing is, I started smoking back in high school to impress chicks. Nowadays, it's the smokes that turn them off of me."
"It's called irony, Will," Brystan said, a half-smirk on his lips.
William had arrived shortly after Katharine had called him, and the three agents had quickly apprehended all the men and put them in the back of William and Brystan's cars. Now they stood, watching the Elrics out of the corner of their eyes, and chatting about nothing in particular.
Edward sat on a cement barrier, his eyes clouded. He seemed lost in thought. Alphonse sat beside him, trying to comfort him without touching him. Edward had shrugged off all of Alphonse's earlier attempts at comfort.
"So, Miss St. Claire is alright?" William asked to no one in particular.
"Yes," Katharine answered. "She went back to her room a while ago. Thankfully, she wasn't hurt in the fight."
William looked relieved. Brystan's quick eye caught William's hint of blush.
"She's 18, William. That's 9 years younger than you. Don't even think about it." Brystan's voice was stern, and had a sharp edge of warning to it.
William was startled, and then indignant. "I wasn't…I mean, I'd NEVER! That is…" He shook his head, and tried again. "What I mean is, she's a very nice young lady, and I'd hate to see her hurt. I'm just thankful she's alright, that's all."
"So you say," Brystan countered. "But honestly, Will, you keep looking at her with that happily ever after look of yours."
William sighed. "I can't help it. She has the most gorgeous legs I've ever seen."
Brystan gave William a look, and William nearly cried in shame. Katharine sighed, and walked over to Edward.
"Are you alright, Edward?"
Edward didn't look up. "I'm fine. Just let me be for a while."
Katharine sighed quietly. "You two boys need rest. Why don't you go back up to the room and sleep?"
Alphonse nodded slowly, but Edward didn't budge.
William used the opportunity to escape Brystan, and approached Edward tentatively. "You wanna talk, kid?"
Edward didn't move, but a few pieces of hair fell across his face. He was silent for a moment, and then he spoke. His voice was choked with emotion.
"I almost…killed that man," he said. "I almost beat him to death. And…I liked it." He put his face in his hands. "I actually enjoyed the feeling I got when I hurt him. It…it sickens me now…how cruel I was…I…I don't think…I can face anyone again…"
Alphonse hugged Edward, and this time, Edward didn't stop him.
William was quiet. Having not been present for the fight, he could only imagine. Snark looked pretty bad, and the sombre atmosphere was enough to prove it had been a very violent encounter.
"Kid…people die. It's a fact of life. Everyone gets hurt, and everyone fights. No one is exempt from that. No one."
Edward shook his head violently. "I've killed before, and I never want to do it again! It was hard enough then. I couldn't live with myself if my hands were stained red again."
William felt a twang of shock. He never imagined Edward to be a killer. He looked so young and innocent. Like a teenager who rebelled against his parents by refusing to do his chores, or played his music too loud.
Alphonse chose his words carefully. "Brother…Majahal was an accident…"
Edward gritted his teeth. "What about Greed? Or Sloth? Were they accidents too, Al?!"
Alphonse jerked his hand back, momentarily taken aback. "But Brother…"
Edward gritted his teeth, tears trying vainly to form in the corners of his eyes. "Damnit! I never wanted…"
William and Katharine backed away as Brystan made his way over to Edward. Even Alphonse backed up. Brystan looked at Edward, his warm brown eyes now hard. "Get up, Edward."
Edward didn't move.
"Stand up, Edward. Stand up on your own two feet." Brystan's hand twitched.
Edward lowered his head more. "No…" His voice was quiet and shallow.
Brystan gritted his molars together, and grabbed Edward roughly by the shirt collar. He yanked the boy to his feet, and glared at him intensely.
"Move forward, Edward." His voice was still full of sympathy, but his words were hard. "You have to walk forward, under your own power, or nothing will ever change."
Edward's eyes began to clear a bit as the words rang a familiar chord.
Get up, Edward…Get up…and move forward. You have two good legs. Now use them…
"Shut up!" Edward screamed back, his voice upset and close to tears. "You don't know anything!"
"I know enough," Brystan said. "To know when someone gives up and wallows in their self-pity. And it makes me nauseous."
Edward glared into Brystan's brown eyes. They were wet, and tears clung to the corners of them, threatening to spill over. Edward felt a sharp stab of guilt.
Brystan let go of Edward's shirt. Edward stood, shaky, trying to figure things out.
"I…I can't…" he said. "I…I don't want to hurt anyone!"
Brystan paused a moment, and then slapped Edward smartly across the face with an open hand. It connected with a sharp slap, and Edward's head snapped to the side from the blow. The two stood for a moment, neither moving. Everyone stared in shock.
"Brystan…" William's cigarette fell out of his mouth in shock. "You…you hit him…"
Katharine covered her mouth with her hand. Brystan hadn't hit anyone like that. Ever.
Alphonse had cried out as Edward was struck, but made no movement now. He couldn't move, even if he wanted to.
Edward finally looked back at Brystan, his cheek red in the vague shape of Brystan's hand. He rubbed his face slowly, and looked ashamed.
"I…I'm sorry, Edward…" Brystan looked unnerved that he'd actually hit Edward, and rubbed his hand unconsciously.
Edward shook his head slowly. "No…I needed that." He paused a beat, and then walked back into the building. Alphonse followed shortly after.
"Brother!"
Katharine looked at Brystan. "What the hell got into you?"
Brystan looked upset. "I didn't mean to hit him, I just…" He shook his head. "I have no idea why I did that."
Katharine patted Brystan's shoulder. "I think that's what he needed though."
Brystan chewed his lip. "I guess…"
Everyone was tense the next morning. Umi sat in-between Edward and Alphonse in the back of Brystan's car. Katharine sat in the passenger's side seat, checking her Blackberry™ for messages. Brystan drove in silence, his knuckles white.
Umi wanted badly to break the silence, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Edward looked out the left window, watching the scenery quietly. Alphonse looked out the right window, and nervously checked his watch.
Finally, Brystan spoke. "It's a long flight to the West coast. Hopefully, you'll be able to sleep on the plane, so it won't be quite so boring."
The boys made small grunting noises to indicate they'd heard him, but didn't say anything. Umi chewed the ends of her hair nervously.
Katharine put her Blackberry™ away, and pulled out an envelope. Inside were everyone's plane tickets. She triple-checked them.
"We're a bit early," Katharine said.
"The lines are always murder," Brystan admitted, pulling into a stall in the area marked for car storage.
"Especially since the crashes," Katharine added casually.
Brystan sighed heavily. "I just want to get on a plane, and get out of here."
Edward looked at Brystan, his face blank. "So, what's the deal, anyway?"
Brystan looked back, startled. He had a thought suddenly. "Edward…have you or Alphonse ever been on a plane before?"
"I wouldn't say 'plane' so much as a rocket-powered aircraft." Edward's voice was flat.
Brystan grinned nervously, still on knife blades with Edward since the night before. "Oh…well, it's not so bad, really. It's a very smooth, safe way to travel."
Umi shuttered a little. She hated planes.
Katharine opened her door, and got out. The others followed suit, and retrieved their bags from the trunk. Edward looked at the car, slightly disdainful.
Brystan's standard-issue work car was a black sedan. It had nice hubcaps, an ashwood dashboard, and leather heated seats. It got 30m/g. All in all, it was a nice car.
This was not Brystan's work car.
Brystan's daily driver was a '67 Dodge Charger, in canary yellow, with black bumblebee racing stripes. The car had definitely been around the block a few times. It had dents and scrapes and exposed primer and rusted spots, and the motor made an odd, and rather disturbing noise in second gear. And the interior was rather worse for wear. The covers on the seats had holes where the padding was coming out, and a spring had broken in the back bench seat, and constantly poked the passenger in the middle. It was the kind of car even car thieves thought twice about stealing.
"Your car's a piece of junk," Edward had said flatly when he'd first seen it.
Brystan had simply laughed, and popped the trunk open. "Nonsense! I've had this car since my dad gave it to me! You couldn't get a better car!"
Edward had looked at the car again, and wrinkled his nose. "It looks about ready to fall apart."
"Okay, so it's a little loud, and guzzles gas, and the catalytic converter smells like something died in it," Brystan had admitted. "But she's a sleeper, waiting for the driver to put the pedal to the floor so it can open up and scream."
Edward sighed as he pulled his bag out of the trunk. No matter what Brystan told him, the car felt like a rusted-out hunk of junk.
Brystan locked his car tightly, and patted the roof over the driver's side door softly. "Sorry, baby. I have to leave you here for a while. But I'll be back, I promise. Daddy loves you." He quickly kissed his car before turning and running to catch up with the group.
"What were you doing?" Katharine asked.
"Oh, just putting my baby to bed," he replied, half-joking.
Katharine shot him a look before turning back to the building's front doors. "Men and their cars," she muttered under her breath.
Umi fidgeted in her seat on the plane. She had a deep-rooted terror of flying, and kept fighting the urge to jump up and dash off the plane before it took off.
The group had waited in line for almost an hour before they'd had their baggage checked. Then they had to wait until they could actually board the plane, and then again to get their tickets checked. Umi had clung to Edward's arm, desperately fighting the phobia she had eating away at her insides.
Edward and Alphonse sat on either side of her now, harbouring her escape. Brystan and Katharine sat across the isle, far enough out of earshot where Umi couldn't hear them, but close enough for them to see her at all times.
Umi yanked open a bag of peanuts, and began munching on them furiously.
Edward and Alphonse didn't seem nervous about the flight. However, Edward had remarked how cramped he felt. He then pulled out the small airsick bag from the armrest of his chair, and looked at Brystan.
"If it's such a smooth, safe way to travel, what are these for then? The Easter egg hunt?"
Umi felt like she needed the bag right about then.
Alphonse poked at buttons, seeing what they did. Edward stared vacantly out the airplane window, having stolen the window seat, much to Alphonse's irritation.
"Why do you get the window seat?"
"Because I'm bigger, that's why."
"But you're not bigger!" Alphonse said pointedly. "You're half an inch shorter—"
"SHUTUP!" Edward had blasted. "That's EXACTLY why I get the seat! I'm older, and what I say goes!"
The two had become silent after that. Alphonse continued to sulk.
Umi couldn't stand it anymore. She shot to her feet, banging her head on the luggage compartment as she did so. She clutched her head and yelped in pain. Edward and Alphonse looked at her, and Brystan and Katharine stood up.
"I need to leave! I need to get off of this plane!" She knew she was panicking, and felt herself hyperventilating. Edward carefully stood up, minding his head, and gently, but firmly, held her.
"Calm down," he said. He calmed her down as best he could shooting Brystan a confused look.
Brystan gave a soft smile, and a shrug.
Katharine stepped in. "Umi, what is it?"
Umi clung to Edward. "I…I hate planes. I hate flying. I want off. I want to get off this thing!"
Katharine looked at Brystan. "I think she has a phobia," she replied softly.
Umi clung to Edward, her nails digging into his back. Edward was definitely uncomfortable. She was squeezing him until he was breathless.
Alphonse gently pried Umi off his older brother.
Edward tried to catch his breath as Katharine sat Umi back down, and rubbed her back gently.
"I'm starting to regret this decision," Edward grumbled.
"Calm down, Edward. It's not her fault," Brystan said
"I think I'm starting to hate planes," Edward griped quietly.
The ride was far too long for Edward. He'd been forced to endure Umi's panic the entire way. She clung to his arm, whimpering and mumbling manically under her breath about falling out of the sky. It unnerved him terribly.
On top of that, the food was tasteless. Edward hated tasteless food. Eating was one of his favourite things about life. Tasteless food ruined it for him. He felt a deep-rooted hatred for the airline company suddenly.
To top off the awful experience, Edward got airsick. It was a horrible feeling, having that tasteless food come back up to haunt you for a second time…or a fifth, in some cases.
Edward was not a happy camper when they arrived at Vancouver International Airport. He had an understanding of why Umi hated planes.
Alphonse looked relieved to get off the plane as well. He looked a little pale, and complained of stomach discomfort. He hadn't eaten the food on the plane, saying it hadn't smelt right.
Brystan sighed unhappily. It almost seemed to him like everything that could go wrong in his life was. He rubbed his neck, and made a face. He hoped things would be better once they met with Mr. St. Claire.
Even sick, Edward was able to make sarcastic quips about the baggage claim. Brystan gave a tiny smile. Edward was a bright spot in his dark mood.
"We'll see if we can get you boys some Pepto Bismol," Brystan said to the boys.
"Sounds like it'd taste like dung," Edward said rather queasily.
Brystan smiled. "Well, it's medicine. It's not supposed to taste good. But it'll help your upset stomachs."
"I like the taste," Umi said quietly to no one in particular.
Everyone looked at her for a beat, and she squirmed, embarrassed.
Katharine looked up, and spotted a man in a chauffeur's uniform, holing a sign that said 'CABANOT' on it.
"I think our ride is here," Katharine remarked.
Brystan blinked. "Sonnofagun, it is too."
Edward and Alphonse stifled giggles. Edward wanted so badly to say what he really thought of the chauffeur's uniform, but he didn't think it would go over well with everyone. And the fact he felt a particularly strong wave of nausea didn't help either.
Brystan approached the chauffeur, and introduced himself. The chauffeur nodded, and replied his name was Dominik McCaffry. Edward squinted at Dominik. The man looked familiar. Alphonse, too, was studying Dominik closely. The man had blond hair, most of which didn't want to sit very well under the hat. He had silver eyes, and a sprinkle of light freckles across his nose. He greeted everyone with a shy smile.
Edward realized, suddenly, who Dominik reminded him of. He looked about how Fletcher Tringam would have looked as an adult. The sudden realization made him make a couple of gagging noises, and shuffle away quickly. Alphonse followed after his brother, laughing nervously.
Dominik looked a little upset, but helped Brystan and Katharine with their bags.
Edward whispered to Alphonse in a harsh voice. "Doesn't he look like—?"
"Yeah," Alphonse admitted quickly. "A lot like him."
"If I see someone who looks like Russell, so help me, Al, I'm going to punch him out. I don't care who he is." Edward was grinding his teeth.
Alphonse laughed nervously again, and drug Edward outside.
Neither of the boys had seen a limousine before, and were taken aback by it. They sat in the limo, stroking the leather seats, oohing and ahhing incredulously.
Brystan sat back, smirking a little. "It's pretty nice," he said. "It was awfully nice of him to send the limo to come get us."
Dominik smiled from the driver's seat. "Yes sir. Mr. St. Clair was very particular about that. He seemed very happy this morning. Usually he's very quiet and sullen, so it was a nice change. I guess he wanted to thank you for everything you've done for him."
Umi bounced on her seat a little, giggling despite herself. She seemed excited. Brystan caught Edward smiling at Umi with a soft, vacant look, and smiled to himself.
"Minifridge," Katharine stated.
"Huh?" Brystan said, distracted. He looked over, and sure enough, the limo was outfitted with a minifridge. He whistled. "Now that's nice."
Katharine stopped Brystan. "Not for you."
"Why not?" Brystan whined.
"I know you. You'd have more than you could handle," Katharine said, her tone one of scolding.
Brystan looked crestfallen. "No, I wouldn't. Honest."
Edward restrained a laugh. It was almost too funny to watch Brystan and Katharine argue like a married couple. A sharp memory of the General and his first lieutenant made him sombre again. His face fell.
Brystan looked at Edward, surprised. "Are you okay, Edward?"
Edward looked up a little, and then became sombre again. "Yeah…just…a memory. That's all."
Alphonse looked at Edward. He said nothing, but his eyes told Edward that he was sorry. Edward tried to smile for Alphonse, as if to say it was okay.
The mansion where Mr. St. Claire lived was huge. It had a beautifully manicured lawn, with bright flower gardens scattered around, and simple but tasteful ornaments and statuettes scattered along the path from the driveway to the house itself.
Edward and Alphonse looked up at the imposing white mansion and were speechless. Everything was grand and commanding, like the palace of a king.
Umi looked as nervous as she felt. She hoped her father would be a kind man; strong, gentle, and caring, with a gentle attitude and a warm hug. She seemed to have her father already engraved in her mind of what he should be, and was terrified it wouldn't be anything close to what he really was.
"I…I hope he likes me," Umi said quietly.
Katharine hugged her. "Don't worry. He will."
Edward looked around, pretending not to be impressed. "You know, a guy with this much money could probably fudge a few facts without a problem. He'd probably be able to make up some crazy story about how his kid got kidnapped—"
"Don't start," Brystan warned.
Umi gave a whimper, her eyes scared and wet. Edward felt guilt about his cruel joke, and laughed nervously, sweating and scratching the back of his head.
Katharine shot Edward a look.
The front doors were huge. Edward and Alphonse gawked up at them as Brystan rang the doorbell. There was silence for a moment, and then the door slowly opened.
Alphonse grabbed Edward's arms out of reflex as Edward tried to lunge forward at the man who'd answered the door.
"RUSSELL!" Edward screamed angrily, writhing in Alphonse's grip.
The man was indeed the spitting image of Russell Tringam. He had the same narrow silver eyes and medium length blond hair, swept over one eye, giving him a rakish look. He seemed slightly startled to be accosted, but made no movements against the distraught boy.
Alphonse got Edward under control, and apologized to the man. "I'm so sorry. You just look exactly like someone we, uhh, knew."
"He stole my name, that scum!" Edward spazzed angrily. "I'll never forgive the cocky prick! I swore if I saw someone that looked like Russell Tringam, I'd punch him out. Now let me go!"
The man straightened the jacket of his butler uniform, and gave a half-smile. "I'm sorry to say, I don't know anyone by the name of Russell Tringam, and I'm sorry if he upset you. But I assure you, I'm not him."
Alphonse finally managed to calm Edward down, and apologized again. Edward stalked down the front steps angrily, trying to cool off by walking.
The man let Brystan and the others in. He introduced himself as Carlos Sorensen. He took the bags Umi was holding, and led everyone into the foyer. Alphonse ogled at the impressive staircase that arched around and split into two separate paths that connected to the second floor. Carlos stated that he'd inform Mr. St. Claire of their arrival, when they all heard a call at the top of the stairs.
"Umi!"
The girl looked up, and saw a man looking down at her, his face full of relief and joy. He raced down the stairs, and swept Umi up in his arms, hugging and kissing her ecstatically.
When the man finally put Umi down, Brystan hazarded a guess. "Mr. St. Claire, I assume?"
The man looked at Brystan. "Yes. But please, Brystan, call me Raiden."
Alphonse studied Raiden St. Claire carefully. He was surprisingly tall, almost 6 feet, and was slim. He had a strong build on him, but had very effeminate features. His gold eyes were narrow, and bright, constantly studying the faces of those around him. His hair was almost 4 feet long, and shocking white in colour. The purity and vividness of the white was startling, almost like the colour of fresh, pure snow. The tresses hung loose until halfway down his back, and the rest was bound in cloth. The heavy ponytail swung with his movements, almost like the tail on a restless cat.
His clothes were simple and tasteful, consisting of expensive fabrics and rich designs. He had a few pieces of jewellery, all gold—a ring on his left ring finger, a small bangle on his right wrist, and an extravagant clip-and-chain on his left earlobe. He looked no older than mid twenties, but Alphonse was careful not to make assumptions. Umi was, after all, 18.
Raiden caught Brystan's hand, and shook it warmly. "I can't thank you enough for bringing my daughter back to me, Brystan. Words alone cannot describe my gratitude."
Brystan blushed slightly, and gently pulled his hand away. He seemed uncomfortable around the man.
Katharine leaned over slightly, and whispered to Alphonse. "He seems almost flamboyantly gay, doesn't he?" She didn't seem happy saying such a thing.
"Huh?" Alphonse felt confused. The definition for the word gay he was familiar with was obviously not the term Katharine was using. "Well, he does seem kind of excited. But he just got his daughter back. I can't blame him for being happy."
Katharine smiled a tiny smile to herself, and wisely stopped the conversation there.
Raiden embraced Katharine openly and warmly, thanking her profoundly for aiding in Umi's return. While Katharine stammered out that thank weren't necessary, Raiden deftly groped her.
The reaction was quick. Raiden was punched in the back of the head by Brystan, and kneed viciously in the groin by Katharine. The hits were simultaneous, and Raiden collapsed in pain. Alphonse seemed slightly distraught, and stammered a few times.
Raiden shakily stood up, still doubled over in pain, but smiling weakly. "It's all right. I'm sure I deserved that." He laughed weakly, and leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath.
Umi stared at Raiden, a bit taken aback by his outlandish behaviour. She wasn't sure what to do, and hesitantly approached Raiden, nervously stammering if he was okay.
Raiden managed to straighten up, and smiled widely at Umi. "I'm all right, dear. Really, no need to be worried." He tentatively hugged Umi again, being carefully not to scare her or make her uneasy. He stroked her hair soothingly. "I'm sorry. I really am relieved to have you home again."
Umi made a soft purring noise, and hugged Raiden tightly. Whether or not Raiden really was her father, she seemed convinced that he was. She clung to the kindly man now with all her strength, happy to have her father back.
Edward had re-entered the mansion, and was now standing with Alphonse, looking Raiden over. He gave Alphonse a questioning look, as if to ask, "Is he really her father?"
Alphonse shrugged.
Raiden finally disengaged the hug, and told Carlos to take Umi's bags up to her room. Carlos did so, and Raiden turned to face Brystan again, more seriously this time. "Well…you're probably exhausted from your trip. Why don't you stay a bit, and rest up. I insist you stay for dinner, at least."
Brystan cleared his throat. "Uhh, well, I should probably go back to Washington as quickly as possible. I have a very demanding job, after all. I never know where I'll be going next, or when for that matter."
Raiden waved it off. "If that's the case, I have a jet at my disposal. I could take you wherever you need to go. They contact you via your cellphone, don't they?"
Brystan blinked. "Well, I, uhh…that is…"
Raiden clasped his hands together. "Then it's settled. You'll spend the night. I have plenty of guest rooms, so don't be shy. I even have a few with connecting bathrooms."
Brystan choked when Raiden said 'connecting bathrooms', knowing full well what he was hinting at. He looked at Katharine, who looked blankly back at him.
Raiden turned his head to look at Alphonse and Edward, his eyes twinkling a little. "Ahh, these two must be the Elric brothers. I've heard about you two." He extended his hand towards the boys. "It's nice to finally meet you. You must be Alphonse," Raiden said, addressing Alphonse first.
Alphonse looked shocked, and shook his hand. "Yes, sir. I'm Alphonse Elric."
Raiden smiled, and turned to Edward. "And you're Edward, am I right? The older brother." He added the last part not as an afterthought, but as a fact.
Edward refused to shake his hand, but nodded. "Yeah. I'm Edward Elric."
Raiden smiled. "Splendid! Of course, I'm inviting you two to stay here as long as you like. Mi casa et su casa."
Brystan arched an eyebrow. "Hold on. I'm the one who's supposed to be looking after those two. And besides, I could never ask you to do such a thing—"
"Nonsense!" Raiden said, cutting Brystan off. "I have plenty of room here, and besides, Umi is rather attached to them. I don't mind having them here at all. In fact, I'm extending the offer to the two of you as well. I'm aware that you don't have permanent residence, Brystan, and I'd feel horrible not letting you stay here."
Brystan adjusted his tie nervously. "Well, that's very generous of you, but it's much more convenient in Washington. And besides, my car is there—"
"Not the car again," Katharine muttered under her breath.
"All easily fixed," Raiden explained. "Your car can be flown here on a transport plane, and like I said, I have a jet at our disposal. Not to mention, several excellent sources of information in the area that would be indispensable for the boy's research."
Brystan looked a tad overwhelmed. He sat down on a nearby chair, and ran his hands through his black hair.
Katharine looked at Brystan, and then at Raiden. "I don't understand why you're doing all of this."
Raiden laughed warmly. "Because. You helped me regain something precious to me. I've been living here alone, save my staff, for eighteen years now. And money doesn't buy happiness. I've been terribly lonely. I need to start living again. And I want you two to become good friends of mine. I hope that's possible."
Katharine looked at Raiden for a moment. "I'm sure he'd need time to think this over. It's all a lot to take in all at once."
"Of course," Raiden said, good-naturedly. "Have dinner, and sleep on it. We'll discuss it more tomorrow.
"And as for my lovely daughter," Raiden continued, focusing on Umi again. "I'd like you to come with me. There's someone I'd like you to meet."
Umi smiled happily, and followed Raiden upstairs. Alphonse watched them leave the room, his eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"He certainly is a strange man," he commented.
"I don't think the term 'strange' quite covers it," Edward replied dryly.
The person Umi was asked to meet was a rather small, short woman with fluffy brunette hair, and large brown eyes by the name of Sylvia Doherty. She wore wire-rimmed glasses, and had a few tiny freckles sprinkled across her cheeks. She seemed very warm and friendly when she smiled. Umi liked her right away.
"Sylvia is my seamstress," Raiden explained. "She sews all my clothes. And I've asked her to sew something for you. A dress, to be exact."
"Really?" Umi asked, surprised. She looked at Raiden with wide, excited eyes. The man smiled kindly.
"Of course! I hope you'll be wearing it at the ball I'm holding next week. A lot of my colleagues will be there. It will be the first function I'll have hosted since you went missing." He gently hugged Umi. "It's going to be very special, I hope."
Umi blushed happily. She'd never been to a party of any kind before, and she was excited. She promised to wear the dress with pride, and Raiden smiled happily. He told Sylvia to do her stuff while he got everyone set up, and left the room.
Sylvia nervously introduced herself properly, and asked Umi what kind of dress she'd like. Umi blushed shyly.
"I…I've never had any really nice clothes before," she explained. "They'd give me some clothes they had around whenever I outgrew or wrecked something. I don't think I've worn a dress in years."
Sylvia was shocked, but smiled again. "It's okay. I'll work from a pattern then. But I'll need your measurements. So I'll need you to take your clothes off. You can keep your undergarments on, of course."
Umi went red in the face, and put her hands over her cheeks. "I…I-I'm sorry…I'm so shy. Of course…" She carefully undressed, folding her clothes neatly, and putting them on a chair. She took her leggings and boots off as well, and was soon standing shyly in her undergarments.
Sylvia carefully took Umi's measurements with her tape measure, and then handed Umi a slip to wear. She thankfully slipped into the thin piece of lingerie, fingering its softness, amazed.
Sylvia held swatches of cloth up to Umi, hemming and hawing over the colours and textures. She held up a swatch of white silk. "White looks nice," she said. "But it might come across as risqué. After all, white is symbolic of weddings." She laughed nervously. She looked at the fabrics again, and held up a piece of pale blue satin. "What about blue, to match your lovely hair?" She smiled, satisfied. "It looks nice. What do you think?"
Umi touched the swatch, her face flushed and happy. She'd never touched anything so rich before. Sylvia smiled wider, despite herself. She walked over to her table, and began unrolling the pale blue satin, measuring how much she'd need. She leafed through a few patterns, frowning. "I'm not sure what pattern to use. "It's really you're choice, after all." She handed Umi a thick book. "Take a peek. If you see a dress you like, tell me, and I'll see if we can do it for you."
Umi leafed through the pages slowly. She saw many interesting dresses she liked, but none really caught her eye. Finally, she saw something she liked. It was a floor-length dress, with long sleeves that ended in ruffles from the elbow down. The neckline was low, but respectable, and the back dipped low. There was a few rows of ruffles at the bottom of the dress as well, accenting it in a simple, yet elegant way. Umi looked up at Sylvia. "What about this one?" she asked.
Sylvia looked at the dress, and smiled. "It's beautiful. This one's in white, but I think light blue would do really well for you. We could modify it a bit. Raiden mentioned a mock corset…"
Umi shook her head. "No, I want this exact dress." She bit her lip. She hadn't meant to sound selfish, but she felt a strong connection to the dress that she couldn't explain. She apologized. "I-I'm sorry, I hadn't meant to sound so selfish…"
Sylvia waved the apology off. "It's no big deal, really. Remember, you're the boss here, not me. If you want that dress, then I'll happily make it for you. And white does look good on you." She smiled, and her warm grin made Umi more at ease.
"Will I look good, do you think?" Umi asked nervously.
Sylvia smiled. "You'll be the bell of the ball."
Edward looked at the ceiling as he lay on the bed. Alphonse was in the bed next to him, unpacking his bags, as little as there was to begin with.
Edward sighed loudly, and Alphonse turned to look at Edward. "What is it, Brother?"
Edward turned his head to look at Alphonse. "I was just doing some thinking. Mostly about what we have to do now."
"You mean, find the sword of Damocles, right?" Alphonse replied.
"Yeah…" Edward said, turning his head to look at the ceiling again. "I mean, how do we even start? I don't even know what we're looking for, really."
Alphonse tapped his chin. "Maybe Raiden knows. He seems to know a little about everything. He even knew you were the older brother. Most people get us confused."
Edward gave Alphonse a look. "You forget you're not a tin can anymore. It's not so hard to tell us apart when you're human, you know."
Alphonse poked Edward playfully. "I kind of miss being mistaken for you, Brother."
"Keep it up, and I'll put you back in that tin can," Edward growled, equally playful. He rolled over, and began tickling Alphonse mercilessly. Alphonse laughed uncontrollably, and tried to fight Edward off. "Stop, Brother! I can't breath anymore!"
"I win!" Edward announced triumphantly, plopping back down on the bed, grinning from ear to ear.
Alphonse smiled breathlessly at Edward. "Yeup. I just can't keep up with you."
Edward frowned a little. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
Alphonse looked innocent. "Nothing. It's just, you're so energetic all of a sudden. I'm still kind of tired out from the trip."
Edward rolled off the bed, and headed for the door. "I'm going to go have a talk with Brystan," he said suddenly, and opened the door.
Alphonse smiled a little. "I'll finish unpacking then." He knew Edward wanted to talk with Brystan alone, and wisely decided to let them.
Edward smiled at his brother, and closed the door behind him. He walked down the hall, and then down the staircase. He stood in the foyer, utterly lost. He scratched his head, sighing.
"Can I help you?"
Edward jumped at the voice. Carlos had come up behind him silently. Edward cursed under his breath. "I didn't hear you."
"I'm very sneaky-sneaky," Carlos replied, half-jokingly.
"Funny," Edward quipped back, making a face.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Carlos restated his previous question.
"I'm actually looking for Brystan. Seen him?" Edward asked, still looking at Carlos warily. He looked and sounded like Russell, and even acted a bit like him. It unnerved him terribly.
Carlos ignored the look. "I believe I saw Mr. Cabanot in the library. He seemed to be reading."
"Great. Uhh, whereabouts is the library?" Edward asked, feeling stupid.
"I'll show you," Carlos said, ushering Edward through a door. He led Edward through a few halls, and eventually they ended up at a set of oak doors. Carlos opened the door a crack, and motioned for Edward to let himself in. He then left down another hall, leaving Edward alone. He shuttered momentarily, and walked into the library, shutting the door behind him.
The library was huge. It had two floors, and most of the walls were covered in bookshelves. Some of the shelves had wheeled ladders on them to assist in the collection of books. He gaped at the collection in amazement.
There were a few solid maple tables in the middle of the room, along with some comfortable-looking chairs. Brystan was sitting in one of them, silently reading a book. Edward couldn't see the cover, so he had no idea what it was about. He approached Brystan hesitantly.
"Um…Brystan? You busy?"
Brystan turned to look at Edward, and he saw Brystan was wearing small, wire-rimmed glasses that made him look almost like a librarian or a professor of some kind. (A.N.: Brystan + glasses sexy) Edward quickly noted the book was a self-help book on teenagers, and Edward suppressed a giggle.
"No, not at all, Ed. What did you want to talk about?" Brystan put his book down, and looked at Edward warmly.
Edward took a seat, his eyes fixed on Brystan. "I didn't know you wore glasses."
Brystan smiled a little. "Mostly for reading. I'm supposed to wear them when I drive too, but it's too much of a hassle."
Edward nodded understandingly, even though he didn't understand at all. He cleared his throat, and began to say what he had come to say.
"Uhh…I was just thinking…I mean, you're supposed to be taking care of us, right? But if we had a decision about something, you'd let us make it, right?"
"Right," Brystan replied, slowly.
"Well…" Edward paused, not sure of how to continue. "We need to find this sword, so I can get Envy off my arm, and maybe get some answers as to what the hell is going on. But…it could get dangerous, and…I think you should stay out of it." Edward braced himself.
Brystan was quiet for a moment, deep in thought. Then he spoke. "Actually, Ed, I think you need my help more than you realize." He looked at Edward over the rims of his glasses.
"How so?"
"Well, you'll need records on the project that created you two, right? And I can get those for you. Not only that, but you might need classified information, information I might be able to get for you. And on top of that," he smirked a bit. "You'd need a bodyguard."
"How do you figure that?" Edward said angrily.
"You don't know much about the world, much less any of the men after you. I'll admit, you're a good fighter, and could probably hold your own in a skirmish, but let's be honest, Ed. What do you know about the technology of today? I'll bet you wouldn't be able to use a computer, or navigate a highway by yourself. I know there are times even I have trouble doing the simplest stuff. It's a complicated world, Ed. I just want to help." Brystan looked at Edward softly.
Edward was silent for a moment. "Fine. I see your point. But what about the sword then?"
Brystan smirked. "I can help you there too. I had a professor in college who just so happens to be a world-class archaeologist. And, as luck would have it, he lives close by. In Washington state, as a matter of fact. That's just across the border." He smirked triumphantly.
Edward blinked. "You mean, he can tell us about the sword?"
"He'd probably even help you find the thing too, if you asked nice enough," Brystan replied proudly.
Edward hesitated. "What's the catch?" he asked warily.
"No catch," Brystan said. "Of course, I'd appreciate it if you'd let us help you, Ed. That's why we're here. To help you." He squeezed Edward's hand, and smiled. Edward felt his face get warm. He turned his head away, embarrassed.
"So, what's this guy's name?" Edward asked.
"Dr. Virro Conrad. He retired from teaching some years back, and now works full time as an archaeologist. Although I think he should retire soon." Brystan shook his head. "He's got to be pushing sixty by now."
Edward smirked. "So, can you set up a meeting with him?"
Brystan closed his eyes, and steepled his fingers. "I already have. We're scheduled to go down and meet him sometime tomorrow. Raiden agreed to lend us the jet."
Edward felt grudging admiration for Brystan. The man was efficient. Frighteningly so. In that respect, he was eerily like Roy Mustang, and it unnerved Edward even more.
"You scare me, Brystan," Edward said darkly.
Brystan opened his eyes, and smiled. All traces of the Roy-like intensity he'd had a moment earlier vanished, and Brystan's familiar warmth shone through again.
Edward looked over at the books, absently. His eyes caught the word 'Alchemy' and he focused in on the words. He stood up, and walked over, pulling the book from the shelf. The title read, 'The Practical Applications of Modern Alchemy.' He began thumbing through the pages, totally absorbed in the text. Brystan stood up and left, seeing that it would be impossible to pry Edward away from his book once he got right into it.
Edward's eyes darted over the words, growing more and more astonished. The information in the book was familiar. In fact, he realized he'd read the book before.
It was a book from his world.
He threw the book on the table, and grabbed the next book on the shelf. This one was all about alchemy as an apothecary form. He moved onto the next one. It dealt with early attempts to make lead into gold. Book after book he scanned, looking for another familiar piece of writing.
Eventually, Edward came to the end of the Alchemy section, and realized he'd gone through every alchemy book Brystan had. He sat down in the chair by the table heavily, holding his head in one hand, chucking darkly. He couldn't believe his luck.
"I see you made quite a mess of my library," Raiden said softly from the doorway. Edward looked up.
"I…I apologize," he said, looking down at the books on the floor. Raiden chuckled, amused.
"I assume, then, that you found what you were looking for?" Raiden asked, his eyes glittering mischievously.
Edward smirked, and held up 'The Practical Applications of Modern Alchemy'. "Where did you find this book?"
Raiden shrugged. "A garage sale, perhaps. I have a habit of collecting books. I find them all over the world. That one's not particularly familiar."
Edward said nothing, but his face was set in a grim look. Raiden knew something.
"Anyway," Raiden said. "Dinner's ready. You should eat." He waved Edward to follow, and turned to leave.
"Raiden," Edward said.
The man paused. "Yes?"
"What do you know about the Sword of Damocles?"
Raiden paused for a long while. Finally, he spoke. "We'll talk after you eat, Edward. The food is getting cold."
Edward stared at the retreating figure, gritting his teeth.
Raiden asked a barrage of questions during dinner. Everyone answered them, trading stories and jokes. Edward, however, remained more silent. He ate in relative silence, deep in thought. Finally, Alphonse broke through his thoughts.
"Brother? You've been quiet for a while now…are you okay?" Alphonse looked concerned. Edward forced a smile.
"It's fine, Al…really. I'm just thinking about stuff…" He looked at the table.
"You do that a lot lately," Alphonse said quietly.
Umi looked at Edward and sighed sadly. Edward caught her sigh, and looked up. Umi looked apologetically at Edward. Edward smiled a little, and made himself a promise.
I can't make her cry. Not anymore. When she cries…it's like the sky falls down and crushes the world. I can't stand to see her sad.
Edward grinned for Umi, who smiled back.
Raiden clapped his hands together sharply. "Dessert time!" He called out happily. "Umi-chan made pie!"
Umi blushed, and Edward perked up. Pie…?!
"I-It may not be very good…I-I've never made pie before," Umi explained.
"PIE!" Edward cried happily. "I love pie!" He clapped one hand over his mouth, and blushed, wide-eyed. Alphonse giggled.
I have never done that before… Edward thought frantically. Lousy fanfic writers…
Umi giggled a little, and then started laughing behind her hand. Edward smiled despite himself.
Edward didn't tell anyone else about the book he'd found. When he pestered Raiden again for information, he finally told him about an old document he had that said something about both the spear and the sword. He promised to photocopy it, and have it for Edward by the next day.
Edward slept fitfully. Ghosts of his past haunted the little sleep he had, clawing at him, angry that they could not move on. He woke up screaming, drenched in sweat.
Alphonse murmured in his sleep, and rolled over. Edward panted, trying to catch his breath.
He stood up, and walked onto the balcony. The cool breeze helped him calm down a little, and he stared up into the velvet sky, amazed by the clear night.
"Can't sleep?" a soft voice asked from beside him. Edward turned his head, and saw Umi standing on a balcony next to his.
Edward blushed a little at Umi's nightgown, but nodded to say he had heard. "Y-yeah…nightmares."
Umi softly climbed onto the railing of her balcony, and leapt gracefully across the small gap to Edward's balcony. Edward stammered that it was dangerous, but she landed without injury. She approached Edward shyly, hugging her shawl tighter around her subconsciously.
"Maybe…maybe we can talk a little then. Just until we can sleep." Umi looked at Edward shyly.
Edward felt at ease with Umi. It seemed as if her very presence soothed his soul. He felt drawn to her, but he wasn't sure why.
"Umi…are you happy here?" Edward asked.
Umi looked startled, but nodded. "Everyone here is so nice, and they're so patient with me. And Raiden's a little strange, but he's really sweet." Umi looked up at Edward. "There's going to be a ball next week," Umi went on. "I-I have…never been to a party or anything before. Will…will you come with me…please?" She looked embarrassed to be asking such a thing.
Edward smiled. He wasn't one for functions, and he couldn't dance, but she looked so shy…he nodded, and said he would. "But I'm a terrible dancer," he pointed out.
Umi giggled a little, and even in the dark, Edward could see her cheeks get a little pink. She turned away, putting her hands over her cheeks. He felt a realization dawn on him. She likes me…That's bad. I don't feel the same way about her… He looked at his hands. I don't know how I feel about her at all…
He gave a sad sigh to himself. He still had no idea why, but it felt like something wasn't right. And every passing moment made him feel more and more like he was missing something important.
Umi sighed. "I'm sorry…I realize I've been less than proper for a while now."
"Huh?" Edward asked, puzzled.
"I mean…that I've been a terrible host." She looked at Edward shyly again. "But…I think that soon, things will look better." She smiled at Edward warmly.
Edward paused a beat. "Well, sleep well, then." He felt bad for ending the conversation, but he really didn't have anything else to say.
"You too," Umi said quietly. She turned back to the railing, and Edward offered her his hand this time. She took it, and he helped her back over to her landing without trouble. She turned to look back at Edward before she walked back into her bedroom. "I have this feeling…that something's going to happen tomorrow. I think…you'll find something helpful. That's what I think." She smiled.
Edward grinned. "I sure hope so."
Brystan drove the two of them the entire distance the next day. Edward slept through a lot of it. Brystan was just glad to have his car back. He had rolled the windows down, and had one elbow out the window most of the trip, enjoying the wind.
Edward watched Kent come into view. The entire trip, plus customs, had been about 3 hours. Edward found it mildly amusing to watch Brystan go through the toll, but otherwise, it had been boring. The most he'd seen was trees and some cows and stuff.
He made a face. There was just something about cows that made him a little uneasy. Something about deadlines, for some strange reason.
Kent had a quaint suburb district, and Brystan was able to find Virro's house with little difficulty. He pulled into the driveway of the small, Victorian-style house, and killed the motor. He looked at Edward before he opened the door.
"Ed, I want you to remember, this person is a friend of mine, so please treat him respect." He was serious, and his voice was low.
Edward blinked. "Yeah, sure. No problem."
Brystan opened his door, satisfied that Edward would behave himself. He walked up to the door, straightening his tie, as if nervous. Edward smirked.
"Want me to knock?" he asked.
Brystan was startled. "Uhh…no. I'm fine. Really." He seemed defensive.
Edward rolled his eyes. "Oh, just knock already."
"Okay! Sheesh!" Brystan paused a beat before knocking hesitantly on the door.
"You're really nervous today," Edward muttered.
"I have to be honest…" Brystan confessed. "I haven't seen him since collage. That's at least 10 years."
Edward laughed. "You're lame."
Brystan sighed. "Yeah…"
The door opened, and Brystan lurched to a stiff stance. Edward couldn't see around the doorframe, so he waited patiently.
"Brystan…is that you?" Edward's ears perked. He'd heard that voice before…
"Yes, it's me. Sorry, I should have called before we got here…"
"Nonsense!" Virro said, for it was obviously him. "Get inside, and I'll make you some coffee."
"Great…" Brystan said, obviously relieved. He stepped inside, and Edward slowly followed him up the stairs, and inside as well. Virro had disappeared from view, so he shut the door behind him, and took off his boots. Brystan was hanging up his jacket, when Virro came around the corner. "Living room's over here…why don't you have a seat and rest?"
Edward looked up, and his eyes got very wide. "You!" he blurted, pointing inadvertently. He really hadn't meant to react in such a way, but he had reacted without thinking.
Virro was the spitting image of Maes Hughes, right down to his wire-rimmed glasses. He was older than Hughes, however, and had broad stripes of grey in his hair. He looked at Edward, a mixture of confusion and amusement.
"Who do I remind you of?" he asked curiously.
Edward recovered himself. "I…I'm sorry…that was rude of me." He looked sheepish. "You just look like an old friend I had. His name was Maes Hughes."
Brystan remembered the name, and realized whom Edward was talking about. His face fell inadvertently.
Virro was interested. "You say had. Have you lost contact?"
Edward tried not to look too upset. "No…he was murdered…"
Virro reacted. "Oh…I'm terribly sorry. I had no idea." He seemed upset. "It's just…I always get people saying they know me from somewhere. I just assumed maybe they were mistaking me for your friend."
Edward shook his head. "No, it wouldn't be possible."
Virro blinked. "Oh?"
Edward didn't reply. Brystan cleared his throat.
"Uhh…Virro…I'd like you to meet someone. This is Edward Elric…the person I told you about over the phone." Brystan smiled weakly.
Virro smiled, and offered his hand to Edward. "Well, it's a pleasure Mr. Elric."
Edward took Virro's hand. "Likewise, Dr. Conrad."
Virro grinned. "Well, now that that's taken care of, let me get you two some coffee, and we can talk."
Edward nodded, and followed the others into the living room. He had a seat on the couch, and Brystan look one of the chairs. Virro stepped into the kitchen, which was connected to the living room, to get coffee. He talked to them over his shoulder.
"So, Ed, Brystan tells me you're looking for the Sword of Damocles," Edward could hear Virro smile as he talked. "That's a pretty big item you're looking for."
"So, have I come to the right man then?" Edward asked.
Virro chuckled. "I certainly hope so. An item like that would bring enough notoriety to make the finder famous. I don't think many would turn down the offer. One sugar or two?"
"Two, please," Edward said.
"The problem lies with finding the right person for the job. They'd have to be a first-class rune explorer, and of course, trustworthy. Cream?"
"No, thanks," Edward replied. He hated milk.
Virro walked back into the living room, the cups on a tray. He set it down on the table, and handed everyone their coffee. "Anyway, I have a lot of experience for this sort of thing."
"Oh, really?" Edward tentatively took a sip of his coffee.
"Had a lot of field work, I see," Brystan said, pointedly.
Virro smirked. "Here and there. With this kind of item, it's mostly in the bookwork."
Edward was curious. "What would you be looking for?"
"Old books, any written documents that may hold clues, that sort of thing." Virro sipped his coffee. "It's rather tedious."
Edward put the documents Raiden had given him on the table. "Would these help any?"
Virro picked them up, and looked them over. He looked excited.
"Where did you get these?"
"The person I'm staying with had them in his personal collection. He photocopied them for me." Edward felt the corner of his mouth tug up.
"Son of a…" Virro was grinning. "This could be just what I need."
Brystan was smiling. "Well, that's good news."
Virro put the papers down. "Anyway, what I'd really like to know is why you need this item in the first place."
Edward squirmed nervously. "Uhh…well, you see…"
Brystan coughed. "Uhh, maybe we should—"
"It's okay," Edward said, sighing. "He deserves to know. I mean, dishonesty isn't going to help us here." He carefully took the glove off his right arm, revealing the bracelet embedded in his arm.
Virro was astonished. "What on earth…? That can't be possible." He carefully took Edward's arm, and looked at it closer. "Oh my…It is really buried in your arm. That can't be…" He shook his head.
Edward shook his head slowly. "The only way to get it out is with the sword. That's why I need to find it." He carefully slid the glove back on.
Virro ran a hand through his hair. "What about surgically? Or…"
"Come on, Virro. You know as well as I do what the answer to that is," Brystan said edgily. "They'd start picking him apart like a science project."
Virro sighed. "I think I need an explanation. From the beginning." He sat down, his face grim.
Edward sighed. He started from the beginning, and told Virro the whole story. By the end of it, he was sitting there, stunned.
"Brystan…we both know the government has to be in on this somehow…" Virro was very grim.
Brystan was quiet. "I know," he replied. "That's why I can't go to them for help. I have to go behind their backs."
Edward couldn't believe it. "You're telling me the very people you work for could be responsible?"
Brystan nodded. "It wouldn't be a new concept."
"Unbelievable…" Edward muttered, running his hand through his bangs.
"Anyway," Virro said. "I'll do what I can here. There are a few good resources here, so I'm sure I'll be able to get a good lead going before too long. I'll make sure to keep you posted."
Edward nodded. "We'll keep you up-to-date with whatever we find as well."
"I'll be busy scouring the government's files for anything I can find," Brystan said. "Hopefully, if things go well, I'll have something within a few days."
"Great," Virro said. His pager suddenly went off with a loud beeping, and he checked it. He sighed.
"Apparently, they need me at the site. I hate to cut this short, but I have to go to work." He stood up. "But I hope we can get together again soon."
"Agreed," Edward said. Him and Brystan got their things, and walked to the car. Virro was out in a few minutes, sporting a felt fedora, and an old pilot's jacket. Brystan made a face.
"Oh hell no. What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Virro grinned. "Makes me feel a little more professional."
Brystan sighed. "And how does ripping off Indiana Jones's look do that, pray tell?"
Virro shrugged. "Hey, you only live once. May as well make the most of it."
"You're nuts," Brystan said flatly.
"You're too much of a linear thinker," Virro countered.
"Tell me you don't pack a pistol and a whip?" Brystan sounded hopeful.
"Of course not." Virro laughed. "But I wish I could."
Brystan made a disgusted noise, and got into the car. Virro tapped on his door, and Brystan looked up.
"How's Katharine?" Virro was serious again.
"She's fine." Brystan seemed happy to be talking about something else.
"That's good," Virro said, then paused before he said, "So, when's the wedding?"
"I'll see you later," Brystan said irritably. He rolled up his window.
Edward broke out in peals of hysterical laughter.
Edward was thankful to get back. He was tired, and a little sore from sitting so long, and he was getting pretty hungry. He even smiled a little when Dominick said hello.
Carlos was waiting for Edward when he and Brystan entered. He growled a low, threatening growl in his direction, and began walking to the kitchen. Carlos caught up to him, and cleared his throat.
"What?" Edward asked shortly.
"There's someone here to see you," Carlos explained. "He refused to come inside, even when I insisted. He said that he'd wait in the gardens. He seemed to be quite familiar with you…" Carlos seemed troubled. "Mr. Cabanot, you don't have any siblings, do you?"
Brystan looked puzzled. "No. Why?"
Carlos looked even more disturbed. "I'm sorry. It's nothing."
Edward had a feeling in his stomach. Something was bothering him, and it was only getting worse. He ran past Carlos, and out the back French doors towards the gardens.
The hedges here had been trimmed into large imposing walls. The centre was a large fountain, and a massive tiled sitting area. Standing by the fountain with his back to Edward was a tall man with dark hair. He wore a long dark jacket that came past his knees. Edward looked down at the man's boots, and felt his throat close.
It can't be…it's not possible…
The man turned at the sound of Edward's slowing footsteps. A large eye patch covered his left eye, so he turned around to see Edward.
There was no mistaking it now. Edward stared, wide-eyed.
"Taisa…"
Next Chapter: Things flow in one direction. To go against the ebb would mean severe reproductions. To suffer needlessly in the name of a madman is something I cannot bear to see. You were so proud once, Taisa…what happened to you?