Title: Rain
Author: AkizukiSakura
Pairing(s): Roy/Ed
Spoilers/Warnings: As far as I know, the spoilers are minimal. This diverges from both the manga and the anime, and I wouldn't be surprised if I get some facts wrong anyway (like the ages they were when each major event occurred). Also, this is YAOI. Don't like it, don't read it. Period.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist. I make no monetary profit from the writing and posting of this, or any, fanfiction.
Notes: For the most part I have everything straight in my head. Now, all I have to do is write it. Sorry for the delay; explanations (read: excuses) are at the end.

Normally proser132 beta's for me, but I chose not to in this case because it's only an interlude. Please read the author's notes at the end.

Interlude

If this was how Ed had felt when Al had been wrenched away and doomed to several long years in the Gate, Al could understand the fortitude that his older brother possessed to give up an arm after having just lost a leg. Horror wiped the younger Elric's mind almost completely blank as he stared at the spot where Ed had been only moments before.

He might have stayed like that for much, much longer had a furious snarl not escaped the man responsible for this chain of events. Al's expression snapped to Ed's captor. The man had been calm and collected only moments earlier when Al and General Mustang burst in on him, but now he looked as though his whole world had collapsed around him. Al was sickened to note how similar Dmitri's expression was to Ed's when his older brother had discovered the method to creating a Philosopher's Stone.

Thinking of Edward galvanized Al into action. He didn't know if Dmitri had even acknowledged his existence yet but he wasn't going to be polite and wait. He lunged towards the man and swung his fist upwards in an anger-fueled uppercut aimed at Dmitri's jaw. Unfortunately for Al, Dmitri chose that moment to realize he wasn't alone. A quick sidestep saved the perpetrator from unconsciousness. It was times like this that Al almost missed his armor; one blow from an iron gauntlet would have knocked the man down with barely a fight. As it was he only managed to clip Dmitri's jaw.

Al ignored the painful sting spreading rapidly through his hand from the impact of bone-on-bone and scowled at his adversary. "What did you do to Brother?" he demanded, not at all mollified by the way Dmitri cradled his clearly bruised jaw. If Al expected Dmitri to be cowed by the punch, however, he was doomed to disappointment. The clearly older man was giving Al an appraising look that he didn't like one bit.

"Alphonse Elric, I presume?" Dmitri questioned genially. His words were a little slurred in his effort to not move his jaw too much, but Al was more concerned with the fact that this criminal knew his name. A moment later he realized that it wasn't really a stretch for Dmitri to know his name; the man had clearly been watching Ed and Al for a very long time. Being surprised over something that must have been easy to figure out was stupid.

Before Al could respond, Dmitri spoke again. "You won't even be able to find Edward, much less reach him." There was bitterness in the man's words, and Al was startled to realize that Dmitri was speaking out of regret rather than taunting him. "All those years I struggled, and yet, at the last minute, you managed to blow my hard work to the winds. This is not something I can easily overlook…"

Al took a step back in spite of himself at the venom that crept into Dmitri's voice. As it turned out, that step saved him from a nasty impalement on a section of the wall; he had not even noticed the tiny array inscribed on the wall until Dmitri activated it. Inwardly he berated himself. Mistakes can cost you your life! he reminded himself. As always, he was mildly amused at how similar his inner observer sounded to his teacher. However, now was definitely not the time to be thinking of Teacher.

Having been attacked first, Al had no qualms at all about exchanging blows with his adversary. A flash of light indicated that Dmitri was activating the array once more, and a moment later another spike of wall shot out. There was no time to think anymore. Al dodged the spike, braced his hands on the protrusion, and leapt over it, clenching his fists. Shock flickered over his adversary's face; obviously Dmitri did not know that Al, too, was proficient in fighting hand-to-hand. Even so, the man's surprise faded quickly and Dmitri revealed a surprising adeptness for fighting as well when he ducked the punch Al aimed at his jaw.

Al landed and spun, shifting immediately into a defensive stance in anticipation of Dmitri's retaliation, but Dmitri was already on the move – toward the passageway. Al scowled. He was trying to escape! Dmitri disappeared into the passage as Al took off after him. To Al's astonishment Dmitri was a lot faster than he looked, as evidenced by the fact that Al couldn't quite catch up with him. The other man was fast enough that Al couldn't see him at all by the time the door hove into view.

Bursting through the door, Al glanced swiftly around, fully intending on pursuing Dmitri further, and skid to a halt as his gaze fell upon Armstrong. The large man was examining his gauntlet, and at his feet was an unconscious Dmitri. Al leaned on his knees as he caught his breath, unable to suppress the smile that came to his lips. "Nice reflexes, major," he commented when he was able, approaching. He knelt to inspect the prominent lump on Dmitri's forehead.

"It was no trouble, Alphonse Elric!" Armstrong announced grandly. "When I heard the rushing footsteps, I knew that something must be happening, and I did not recognize this man when he exited. He did not halt when instructed, so I gave him a demonstration of the beautiful muscles and artistic abilities that have been passed down through the Armstrong line for generations!" The blonde mustache twitched. "Where are Edward Elric and the brigadier general?"

Al, used to the major's eccentricities by now, merely sighed. "I'm not really sure, major. We reached the basement level just as this man had my brother in a transmutation circle. He activated the circle, but…" Al hesitated, glancing up at Armstrong. The man was staring down at him, arms crossed and expression serious. Al knew that plenty of people assumed Armstrong was all brawn and no brains, but Al knew better. The exam to become a state alchemist wasn't something easily passed, even by someone who had studied. Plenty of questions were theoretical.

Even so, Al didn't want to go through the story more than once. "Let's get him to Headquarters. I'll tell you there, along with everyone else." Armstrong looked like he might want to object but, to Al's relief, he simply knelt and picked up Dmitri.

"Let us depart, then, Alphonse Elric."

"…and when we got there, he had Brother in the middle of an array. I'm guessing Ed was drugged, because he wasn't restrained at all." Al sighed and Riza could tell he was obviously displeased with the afternoon's events. "When the array was activated, it brought up some kind of gate. Not the Gate," Al added hastily when everyone looked at him in shock. "Just…some kind of portal. Before I knew what was happening, it was grabbing for Ed, and the Brigadier General went after him."

"And it took them both… I see…" Hawkeye fingered the butt of her pistol idly and stared absently through the window of her absent superior's office. Twilight had fallen, cloaking the city in a dusky red hue that was rapidly fading to the deep blue of night. "It's not like him to rush into a situation like that," she observed mildly. Though she could almost feel the questions directed at her for that comment, she chose not to elaborate. Her comrades were extremely devoted to the General, but that did not make them the most observant people around.

With a sigh, Riza turned her attention to Al and Armstrong. "Well, you two are our alchemists," she stated. "What do you suggest we do?" She knew that technically Al wasn't military, and that Ed would murder anyone who tried to recruit him, but she also knew that trying to leave the younger Elric out of these proceedings could have potentially disastrous results. Besides, Al was a genius in his own right.

"Well, we took him to a cell for the time being and the Major searched him." Al's glance flickered to Armstrong. "Though, we came straight here after, so I don't know what, if anything, was found." There was a distinctive invitation in Al's statement. Armstrong seemed to pick up on it readily enough, for he began sifting through his pockets and laying his findings on Roy's desk. As Armstrong worked, Al turned to Riza. "We didn't have time to search his lab, though, so after we talk to him I'd like to go back."

Riza smiled wryly. The ever-polite Alphonse Elric had phrased his statement as a request, but she knew he wasn't really asking permission. Even if she tried to tell him no, she knew he'd go anyway. "Be discrete, Alphonse. It's going to be very difficult to cover up the Brigadier General's absence, let alone Edward's. I'm not sure how long we'll be able to maintain the charade. That being said, whatever you find…"

"I'll definitely let you know," Al promised as he turned to the small pile of items on the desk and began sorting through them.

Havoc chose that moment to speak up. "Hey, how exactly are we going to cover this up, anyway? There are still piles of paperwork that the General left behind. If they don't get routed soon…"

"I can forge his signature," Falman asserted stiffly. Everyone turned to stare at him and his cheeks tinged a faint red. "It was to his recommendation that I learn to do it, 'just in case'." He coughed faintly and added, somewhat hesitantly, "I believe he simply wished to get out of his paperwork sometimes, though."

Breda snorted, clearly amused, and quailed under Hawkeye's stern stare. About to speak, she noticed that Al had gone pale. Concerned, she walked over to him and put a solicitous hand on his shoulder. "Alphonse?" she questioned gently, following his gaze. Surprise overrode anything else she might have said. Resting innocuously on Roy's desk was a single, flawless red stone. She drew in her breath sharply. "Is that…?"

Al's expression turned grim. "Yes," he replied just as quietly, "it is. And it's a complete one, though it's severely depleted." Al frowned, his grip on the desk tightening until his knuckles turned white. "How did he get a hold of a Philosopher's Stone?"

A/N: Man… It's sort of funny, but the hardest decision I had to make here was deciding once and for all whether I could capitalize ranks or not… Ultimately I decided I would, though I'm fairly certain you aren't supposed to. Oh well.

So, this is really short. It's only about 1500 words, but it's meant to be short because it's only an interlude. I'm only updating it now because I figure it's better than nothing... Originally I had planned to upload this along with chapter five, but I got hit by the worst case of writer's block I've had in a long, long time.

I think it's because I found an awesome mod for Minecraft called 'Equivalent Exchange' and I went into a Minecraft binge for a while. Anyway. I haven't just been slacking off playing computer games, I promise. A lot of the delay here came about because we're moving soon and I'm trying not to procrastinate in the packing this time. Also, my daughter is finally getting teeth, and ohboy is she fussy! Trying to pack up my house and deal with her fussy, inquisitive little self is definitely not easy.

I also have to admit that the number of 'Wow, this is a lot like The Saffron Soul' comments I was getting really put a damper on my spirit. Hopefully by the end of this little story everyone will see that it really isn't that similar. If not, they obviously haven't read it to the extent that I have. If you want me to systematically list all of the similarities and differences, I can. Constructive criticism is nice, but please stop mentioning the similarities already. They make me want to cry. /end slightly-peeved-mini-rant

This interlude is un-beta'ed. Why? Because I'm not going to bother my beta with a little 1500 word thing.

For my last note, I have a poll in my profile that I'd very much like if everyone took the time to vote on. Even if you don't review. The reason is: I'd like to know what I should focus on. Rain is pretty much planned out; it just needs to be written. I'd like it if everyone would vote on what they'd like to see from me next so I can research accordingly.

That's all for now!

AkizukiSakura