Disclaimer: See Chapitre 1

Chapitre 4: The Strength to Fight

((The Hanshin Republic))

The man named Sorata turned away from the window with a grin, "And this is an empty room in an old traditional apartment house that my Honey and I manage."

Sorata then went on to explain how the world works: currency, countries, and history, etc. Mostly stuff I didn't really care to hear. I heard a snort behind me and glanced over my shoulder to see Kurogane sleeping in the back. I couldn't help but smirk, 'He's in for it,' I thought.

Just as I predicted Sorata noticed the sleeping man as well and shouted, "YOU! WAKE UP!" However instead of doing anything to him that I could see something invisible seemed to whack him in the back of the head with a sharp crack. Our group of misfit travelers went into alert, looking for the source of the attack.

Kurogane rubbed the back of his head and jumped up, "What was that? I didn't feel an enemy! Who did that?" He whipped around to Sorata and growled, "Bastard you threw that didn't you?"

I shook my head, "I was watching him…he didn't have anything in his hand to throw. Besides…you grabbed the back of your head. Obviously if he threw something it wouldn't hit you there," I explained.

Fai nodded in agreement, a strangely serious expression on his face, "It had to come from above."

Our host stood dumbfounded, staring at us like we were all ignorant, "What? It was my kudan, what else?"

"Kudan?" we asked. I wondered briefly is kudan was a type of alchemy used in this world. But his man hadn't even clapped his hands to activate a circle or anything.

Sorata blinked, "You don't know?" He then laughed, "Of course you don't…you all come from different worlds! You wouldn't know." Sorata scratched his head and then elaborated, "Everyone in this world has a kudan attached."

"What kind of technique is this kudan? You used the word attached," Kurogane asked.

Arashi, who had been extremely silent, spoke in a cold, low voice, "Even if you come from another world, once you entered this one, a kudan will be attached."

I automatically had a visual image of a leech tackling me and 'attaching' itself. I shook my head, 'This is all nonsense,' I thought.

The older woman made her way to Sakura, "I cannot say where her memories went but if someone has picked them up it will become the cause of a fight. However when you get your kudan…it will help."

"So…this kudan was originally meant for battle?" Syaoran asked.

Sorata smiled, "What you use it for or how you use it is all up to you. One look can answer a hundred questions. If you want to see what your kudan is…the only thing you can do is see it with your own eyes."

I yawned, "Yeah, yeah." I turned to Mokona, "So…is there a feather on this world or not…I have someone I need to get to and the sooner we find the feathers the sooner I can do it."

"It is still a long, long way away, but…this country has one," Mokona said in a serious tone.

I smiled and turned to Syaoran, "So…shall we find this feather of yours?"

Syaoran nodded.

Our host stood up and grinned, "Well, I owe Yuko-san a favor so while you're here on this world I'll vouch for you."

Sorata grabbed Arashi's hand and shared a smile with her. She blushed and he continued talking, "This is an apartment building. We've got room. You can use these rooms until you go to the next world."

Syaoran bowed his head, "Thank you very much!"

Sorata looked at a watch and gasped, "It's midnight already. It's time to sleep. I'll show you to your rooms. Fai and Kurogane, you don't mind sharing do you?"

Fai grinned and stood up, "Nope! I'd love to room with Kuroran."

"WHAT WAS THAT?" Kurogane shouted, "Why do I have to stay with a complete stranger!"

Fai laughed, "I'm not a stranger…I told you my name didn't I?"

I ignored them as they left the room and turned back to Syaoran and Arashi, "You two can use this room."

Syaoran smiled, "Thank you very much."

Arashi looked down at the sleeping girl with a frown of concern, "And the girl?"

"I…want to stay by her side," he said with a concerned look.

I looked away, knowing all too well what he must be feeling right now.

"Very well. But you must get at least some sleep for yourself. You have no idea what awaits you or what will happen in this country. When there is a chance to sleep, you should sleep," Arashi said. She then bowed and left the room with Sorata.

The door clicked and I turned to Syaoran. He wasn't watching me but had already settled down next to his princess. I sighed and sat next to him, my back to the wall. "Listen…Syaoran…"

Syaoran looked up, his brown eyes locking with my gold ones. His eyes reminded me of my own eyes when I looked in the mirror: fierce…full of determination…and tragedy…well…at least that is what sensei used to say they looked like. "I didn't get a chance to say this earlier but I want you to know…I'll help you as much as I can on this quest."

Syaoran blinked, "Really?"

I nodded, "I…know what it's like to not have the person that's important to you be by your side. I am in a similar situation to yours…I have to get back to my world…to see my brother. But…I've also been in your shoes…I once journeyed all over my world in search of something to save my brother…so I know this journey is probably going to be very difficult…I don't want anyone to go through what I went through…so I'm going to help you out," I explained.

The boy watched me closely as I said all these things with a serious expression. When I finished he smiled, "Thanks Edward-san."

I smiled, "Just…Edward…or Ed is fine." I looked down at the princess then back at Syaoran, "Don't worry…we'll save your princess for you…she'll be just fine." I don't know when I became such an optimist but I knew Syaoran needed to hear some reassuring words right now. He nodded and I yawned, "Well…we better go to sleep…sounds like we're going to have a big day tomorrow."

Syaoran stretched out next to Sakura and I made a place for myself next to the wall. I stared out the window for a bit before nodding off to sleep.

My eyes shot open, something was not right. My thoughts were confirmed as I found myself standing in what appeared to be a large black room. I looked down and found that the floor was slightly reflective and I could see myself. I knelt down, placing my hand against the cold surface, "I…can't be dreaming…can I?"

Clank.

I spun around at the noise and my heart skipped a beat, towering before me was the exact likeness of the armor I had put Alphonse in all those years ago. The only difference was that it was not worn from battle or scratched or anything. The armor was shiny and brand new, sparkling despite the fact that there was no light in this place. I couldn't help myself but to step forward, "A-Al?"

When the voice replied I knew it wasn't Al, the voice was deep and powerful sounding, its depths echoing around me and inside the empty armor, "I…am the master of those who utilize metal. I have been searching for a suitable subject for a very long time. Do you wish for power?"

I looked down at my automail hand before back at the armor, nodding, "Yes."

"You may take me if you wish power," he paused, cold red eyes staring into my very core, "but what will you do with it, child?"

I scowled, "I'm not a kid!" The armor said nothing, obviously waiting for an answer, "I will make sure no one suffers…not like I had to."

The armor stepped forward, arms gripping my shoulders as I was reminded once again how short I was, "You have a strong heart and a will of steel. You are the one I searched for."

I felt something cold and heavy envelop me and then my eyes snapped open and I found myself once again in the room, daylight pouring in from the window. I winced, shielding my eyes from the sun. Had that just been a weird dream? I looked down at my automail, it felt…lighter than normal. My eyes drifted back to the window, "What kind of world is this?"

Author's Note: So it's been a couple of months...no biggie...I'm back now. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and Edward's kudan. I guess there were a lot of things it COULD have been...but I felt a kudan that looked like armor!Al was best. Please review guys.