Disclaimer: I'm writing a disclaimer, which means I'm disclaiming something. I'm writing a fanfic. FANfic. Put it together, people.
A/N: OMFG! I updated. I can't believe it. I'm so sorry that it's been SSSSOOOO long. I hope that this chapter is good enough to make up for the LLLOOONNNGGG wait. Again, sorry. So now, please just enjoy chapter six!
Chapter Six
A tense silence reigned in Sister Kate's office as the gathered few waited anxiously for Father Remington to appear. As the head of the convent paced the floor, the Elder and the rather confused pair of Azmaria and Joshua watched, careful to stay out of the path of the irate woman.
It had been the late priest himself that had called for the meeting, stressing the urgency of the matter they had to discuss. Though it had not been said, those who had been told had understood the underlying insinuation of Chrono and Rosette's involvement.
"What could possibly be detaining Father Remington? Was it not he who called us here at this obscene hour?" asked Sister Kate angrily, though the question was directed at no particular person. And, truly, the hour was late. The ornate grandfather block to the side of the head nun's office read quarter past one in morning by the dim lamplight.
Just as Sister Kate opened her mouth to continue her complaints, the door to her office was swung open, and Remington's ruffled figure walked inside. "I'm sorry for my tardiness, but it took my quite a bit longer than expected to find the book I was searching for," he murmured, laying down the aforementioned tome on Kate's desk.
Twitching almost imperceptibly, Kate snapped, "And just what is so important about this book? From what I see, it's just a dusty old volume; judging by the writing on the front, it's not even in English. What is this, German?"
The Elder picked up the old book, examining its covers studiously. "No, it's definitely not German, though the language does seem to have so common factors with it. But, still, I don't recognize it. I would say it's an ancient language, but it's using modern number systems. Just where did you get this, Remington?"
"Let's just say, I came across it a long while ago," said the priest cryptically. "To answer your questions, Sister Kate: the Elder was right, it's not German; it is very old; and it quite relevant. You see, this book was the missing clue sent to me so we could find Rosette and Chrono. Well, in a sense, at least."
For the first time, Azmaria spoke. "Really? We can see Chrono and Rosette again- how can we find them using that book, will it take very long? And--"
Remington's smile now seemed sad. "As I said, Azmaria, "in a sense." We now know where they are, and I'm relatively sure I know how they came to be there, but they'll have to find their way back on their own. We cannot follow them where they've gone to."
Azmaria looked stricken. "But… why? If we know where they are, then why can't we go to them?"
Biting his lip, Joshua spoke quietly. "Maybe it's because… they're gone, Azmaria." Though he did not like suggesting it to the girl he considered his friend, he was relatively sure of his assumption. His memories of his sister and Chrono may have been shaky, but he was hurt by the thought of their loss as well.
As tears leaked from her eyes, Azmaria shook her head wildly, protesting against the very consideration of their deaths. "No! It's not possible! Rosette and Chrono are the two strongest people I know! They couldn't be dead… right, Father Remington?" asked the girl imploringly, gazing up at the man as if his word alone could keep them alive.
He sighed. "Both of you are wrong, in a way. Chrono and Rosette are indeed not among us in this world anymore-" there were several sharp intakes of breath "- but they are not yet dead, either. They have been taken before there time, into another place- another world altogether.
"You all know what purgatory is: the land the dead are sent to have they not done good with their lives, yet have not either done evil. In that place of in between, those spirits lose themselves, never being able to rejoin with mankind among the astral plains, and become heartless, demonic creatures that tear and any newcomer they devour.
"But there is more to it than that, even," continued Remington. "Purgatory is not only the in between for souls, but also for worlds. There are two sides: ours, and the other world- Shamballa, as some call it. The link between the worlds is known as the Gate- the knowledge giver, and also the window to hell. I believe Rosette and Chrono were passed through this Gate when they died and, being deemed to pure, were simply spat out on the other side."
The Elder, being the only one crazy enough to accept this without question, was the first to ask a question. "But why were they there in the first place? If they were pure, wouldn't they simply go to heaven- forget the side trip?"
Remington's brows furrowed together. "I can't be sure, but… I believe that they may have been put there purposely so they would be taken to the other side."
Sister Kate's eyes widened. "You don't mean…?"
Remington nodded. "Yes. I mean exactly that. Apparently, God doesn't wish for their troubles to end just yet."
………………
Despite the merriments of those around him, Chrono found himself distracted early on in the dinner. He kept only half and ear open for the conversation of others, his senses totally dominated by Hoenheim of Light.
The man had not seemed at all impressive on first glance; though tall and handsome, he seemed not to be any sort of incredible. Chrono most likely would've passed him over without much as a second glance in a crowd were it not for the aura he felt around him.
The very air surrounding Hoenheim seemed to distort, and there was a strong scent of perfume just barely covering a foul stench that reminded him of decay. It was almost as if his very presence was unnatural, and Chrono's senses were screaming warnings at him, making his shoulders tense and his fists clench.
Yet, despite this, Chrono was sure that Hoenheim was human. Despite his unsettling aura, there had been no indicator to suggest otherwise, and his children were most definitely not demonic.
So that made Chrono wonder, what exactly was Hoenheim?
………………
Casually, Roy cast a glance towards the two he had seen with the Elric brothers. Once or twice before he had tried to ask Ed about them, but the stubborn pipsqueak (Ed suddenly turned around and glared at him through the window; Roy shuddered) hadn't let out any information on them. It made Roy wonder if they had a reason to cover something up, or if Ed simply hadn't known anything.
From his position to the left of the window, it was hard to see them clearly. Still, the boy's long, bright purple (Roy wondered where he'd gotten the dye) stuck out clearly, and his bright red eyes also called his attention. The girl was also attention grabbing, but for a different reason- Roy probably would've flirted with her had it not been for the way she kept glancing at her companion. It clued him in that his attempts most likely wouldn't have been welcomed.
"It's peaceful here, quiet," said Hoenheim. The light reflected off of his glasses, hiding his eyes, and making his friendly smile seem fake.
Suddenly, Ed got up and started shouting something at Winry (it sounded suspiciously like "I AM NOT A BEAN!", but Roy wasn't sure), who in turn through a conveniently placed wrench at the angry boy's head. He slumped back into his chair, clutching his head and groaning painfully.
"Well," Hoenheim amended, "in a way. I've been traveling for a long time, so home seems so anyways. Besides, this country is great! Its rulers are as fair and uncorrupt as always, right?"
Roy felt as if Hoenheim was mocking him. He frowned, and looked away from the older man. It was quiet for a while.
"Ed and Al's friends seem nice, don't you think? I've never met them before, but they do give off the impression," said Hoenheim suddenly. His voice was quiet, solemn, belying the levity of his words. "But the boy, he has a look in his eyes… the look of someone who has seen too much, done too much, and not come out unscathed. An old look."
Roy looked back to Hoenheim. The blond man had his hands folded, his elbows resting on his knees, and his head hanging down. It seemed almost as if a great weight had been placed on his back, and he was struggling to rise under it. "You should never trust someone that lives that long…" he murmured. His eyes rose to meet Roy's. "No one."
Roy only nodded. The porch fell back into silence.
………………
Dinner had died down, and now everyone was beginning to settle it. Rosette and Chrono were a little lost, neither knowing there was around the house, or even the majority of the people around them.
A very small woman with a stern but kindly face smirked up at them. "I suppose you might not know, but I'm Pinako. This is my house. You can stay here for a while, if you like—I'm not going to ask you for payment, but maybe you could help out a bit while you're here," she told them. "For starters, you two can do the dishes. I'll show you to your rooms afterwards."
The two nodded. This was something they were used to: Rosette's antics often got them kitchen duties.
"Hey, Chrono," asked Rosette, "do you think we'll be here for very long?"
Shrugging, he responded, "I'm not really sure. We don't know how we got here, and we haven't had a chance to ask Edward and Alphonse about it yet. Why?"
"I guess I'm just a little worried about Azmaria and them," said Rosette. "I mean, I thought I'd never see them again, and now, I have the chance! I guess I wish we could just get this over with and go home."
Chrono laid a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure everything's jake! They're strong; they can last a little while longer without us."
Rosette smiled at the small devil. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
They stood like this a moment longer, before a clearing throat interrupted them. They both blinked, before turning and blushing. Pinako stood there, holding a smoking pipe to her lips. "Those dishes aren't going to do themselves you know," she said, a taunting cheer in her voice. They nodded again, and turned to the sink, busying themselves with the menial chore.
………………
It was a rote process they had going. Every time they saw each other they'd argue, insult each other, and hold awkward conversations about how his automail was holding up. Then, she'd ask him what was happening. He'd lie, tell her everything was alright, even when they both knew it wasn't. It was their routine, and Ed expected it would continue that way for a long while.
So did she. Even as she stood there, tears welling up in her eyes as she watched him try to be strong, try to pretend that nothing was the matter with him, with Al, she knew that she wouldn't be the one to break the tradition. She would ask, but she knew he wouldn't tell. Sometimes, she wasn't sure she really wanted him to. But Winry knew, Ed needed someone to show they cared enough to interfere, so she did.
Schieszka was a welcome distraction. The girl seemed to know when Winry wanted- needed- her to prattle on about the latest book in her mystery series, when Winry needed her to just keep talking so as to drown out the voices in her own mind scolding her about letting Ed go, about never trying hard enough, about not caring enough.
Al was Ed's distraction. His little brother was his world, his everything, and he needed it to stay like that. He couldn't stray from his goal, and if he let someone else in, he might do that. So he needed to keep himself focused on Al, so he wouldn't have to hate himself for ever forgetting him.
So they both kept telling themselves that everything would end soon, and that there wouldn't be a need for them to continue ignoring themselves. That if they could just be patient it would all end. It was a hard hope to handle, but they would deal. They had for a long while.
………………
A/N: Oh, it's over already? Well, that's about as long as I was aiming for, so I hope you all enjoyed it. Also, sorry for the crap EdWin. I don't read it, so I don't really have any old material to work with. Also, I'm sorry if it's never really a big focus, because A) I can't write romance, and B) I'm trying to have this fic focus more and Chrono and Rosette, and I'm already struggling with that majorly. Putting Ed and Winry in as a main focus would kill me.
Also, I'm sorry to say you shouldn't expect regular updates. In order to maintain this fic, I'm writing sporadically and need to be inspired to write well. The good news is there's almost no way that it'll take me half as long to get out the next chapter now that I'm OFF HIATUS! WOOT!