Disclaimer: In no way shape or form do I own Bleach or Fullmetal Alchemist! I own all the characters I create is all ;)
A/N: Sorry about the very slow update but I've been soo busy with other stuff so yeah but I'm back now! Please review and share your thoughts and blah blah blah...
A day passed by since the Elrics encounter with the strange beings called shinigamis and the Arrancar. Edward and Al were back at central in Roy's office, knowing they'd most likely had to explain everything that happened, even though they really didn't want to talk about it. Ed and Al sat on the sofas in Roy's office while Roy sat at his desk going over some review paper that he made from what he say yesterday.
Roy sighed, knowing he'd have to start off the conversation. "So Elrics," Roy began. "You know I want you to tell me everything that happened so you might as well get it over with and don't you dare leave anything out," Roy warned.
Ed snorted. "Honestly I'm not sure where to even start with all this."
"Alright, tell me then, who were those people?"
"Those were creatures known as Shinigamis, the ones wearing the black kimonos anyways, and the ones wearing the white uniforms were called arrancars," Al explained.
"Hm, I see, go on."
"These are things unlike anything you or I have ever dealt with Roy," Ed's mind flashed back to when he saw Hyorinmaru. "It looked like they weren't even using equivalent exchange. That or it was some kind of equivalent exchange that I can't even wrap my mind around."
"How did you find that abandon house?"
"How do we always find anything Roy?" Ed asked.
Roy smiled. "The philosopher's stone?"
"That's correct, you see we heard from all over that there was a house that was full of books about alchemy and a stone so we thought it was the philosopher's stone. Turns out that there was a book on how to get to the gate way." Al explained.
Roy quietly gasped. "The gate way? Now what in your minds possessed you two to try and open up a path way to the gate way?"
Ed looked away from Roy. "I promised Al I'd get his body back no matter what it took."
Roy stared at Ed. "Um Roy sir we really don't have that much information about what happened, we just had to go on what we observed." Al said.
Roy's gaze shifted to Al then back to Ed. "Are you two sure that there's nothing else you can tell me?"
Ed sighed. "What we told you is all that we know."
The room became filled with silence as all three minds drifted off with thoughts of different things.
"What? What do you mean that the captured failed?" Captain Kurotsuchi asked Toshiro, pretty much screaming in his face.
"Like my captain just said, we tried to capture them but those damn Arrancar got in our way and caused us to lose them." Matsumoto explained.
"I don't give a damn if the arrancars killed all of you!" Kurotsuchi exclaimed. "Your mission was to capture simple prey and you fail! What is squad 10, along with the substitute soul reaper and his companions, in capable to capture just two unidentified things!"
"Kurotsuchi that is enough," head captain Yamamoto said as he walked into the research and development headquarters.
"Head captain!" Matsumoto exclaimed while everyone bowed their heads in respect to Yamamoto.
"Just what happened Toshiro?" Yamamoto asked.
"Sir, we had the unidentified creatures within our grasp but the Arrancar showed up and made it difficult for complete capture and they escaped."
"I see, and did you find out what these things were?"
"They called themselves, what? Alchemists or something?" Ichigo asked everyone. Everyone nodded their heads 'yes' in response.
"Alchemists?"
"Yes they don't appear to have any abilities like us shinigami, or even have reiatsu either," Matsumoto explained.
Captain Kurotsuchi and even head captain Yamamoto gasped. "Then what the hell were they using if it wasn't even reiatsu?" Kurotsuchi asked, outraged.
"I guess it was alchemy, that's what they kept saying right?" Orihime replied timidly.
"Alchemy?" Yamamoto questioned.
"Sorry sir, but I don't think any of us are even able to explain what it was. Somehow one of the unidentified creatures, his name was Edward, he had metal limbs and could change the form of them by just merely clapping his hands together." Uryu explained.
Kurotsuchi began chuckling darkly. "I must obtain these specimens immediately! I want to dissect them now more than ever just to find out even if they're made of the same components as us!"
"Ichigo Kurosaki, would you say that the so called 'alchemists' you encountered were human?" Yamamoto asked.
Ichigo took a few seconds and finally came up with his answer. "Yes Yamamoto I do believe somehow they were human."
"And how about you three?" Yamamoto asked looking at Uryu, Chad and Orihime. "Were they human?"
"Yes," Orihime replied.
"Mm," Chad uttered.
"Well judging by the looks of them they couldn't be what any of us are but somehow I feel they were human. Though feelings are illogical with solving something as important as this." Uryu answered.
"Head captain sir, may I ask why you asked that question to them?" Toshiro asked.
Yamamoto laughed. "Well I just wanted to see if they thought these alchemists people were human. After all, they are human are they not Toshiro?" Yamamoto asked looking at all of them.
"So wait a second," Matsumoto spoke up. "If they are human like we say they are then how is it that they are able to see us?"
"You don't just have to have spiritual pressure to be able to see the dead Matsumoto, sometimes if you've have a great experience with near death situations or even if you watch someone die and it becomes very traumatic for oneself, it enables anyone to see us. We all just assume that only those with spiritual pressure are able to see us." Yamamoto explained.
Kurotsuchi began mutter things under his breath as everyone else still continued on with the discussion.
- - -
"Aw.. Ulquiorra why did we have to leave the battle like that?" Rarna complained for the millionth time. Ulquiorra had decided that after the strange beings called alchemists disappeared he saw there was no point in staying and fighting such worthless trash. "Hey Ulquiorra are you listening to me?"
Ulquiorra continued on walking, ignoring Rarna. Rarna let out a heavy sigh. Grimmjowe was being surprisingly more quiet than usual. Rarna picked up on this. "Hey Grimmjowe, why so quiet man?"
Grimmjowe ignored Rarna too. Rarna became slightly annoyed. "Rarna sometimes you talk too much," Grimmjowe uttered.
Rarna sneered. "Yeah right. You both are being quiet because you both know that we shouldn't have left that battle after those two punks got away!"
"If I recall correctly Rarna, one of those 'punks' began beating you good," Ulquiorra said, deciding to join in the conversation.
"That kid caught me off guard!" Rarna exclaimed. Grimmjowe laughed. "And what the hell is so amusing Grimmjowe?"
"Funny how weak and pathetic you are. I was able to knock that kid back with just one blow to the gut and yet he nearly took you out."
"The next time we meet with that kid I'll know what to expect and I will wipe him out of existence!"
Ulquiorra led the three of them to Aizen's private chamber. Rarna tried containing his anger as Ulquiorra opened the doors to Aizen's chamber.
Aizen looked from his chair at the three arrancars. "Welcome back, Ulquiorra," Aizen greeted as Ulquiorra led Grimmjowe and Rarna into Aizen's chamber. "What news have you brought me this time?"
"Sir," Ulquiorra began, bowing his head to respect Aizen. "You were right, the shinigamis were at the gate as you said but there were also two other beings with them."
"Hm..Go on," Aizen commanded.
Grimmjowe and Rarna didn't like talking to Aizen unless they had to so they let Ulquiorra do all the talking for them. "They called themselves 'alchemists'"
"Alchemist?"
"Yes sir. Even with my highly leveled skills I could not quite figure out what the secret to their power was. But I could sense that they did not posses any reiatsu of any kind and yet they were using some kind of strange powers."
Aizen smiled. "Well now, these two sound very interesting."
"I thought you might say that sir. Do you wish us to go after them?" Ulquiorra asked.
"But of course Ulquiorra. I want to see these alchemists in person and what exactly they can do."
"Understood. Will I take Rarna and Grimmjowe with me once more?"
Aizen nodded. "Take a couple lower level Arrancar if you wish to help you too."
"Hold on a minute, um, Aizen sir?" Grimmjowe spoke up.
"Yes, what is it Grimmjowe?" Aizen questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't think we have any idea how to find where these two went to. Yes, we saw them at the gate and fought with them but they vanished. Otherwise we would have brought them with us sir."
Aizen smiled once more. "Grimmjowe. Anything that appears at the gate way to the soul society has opened up a gate way of their own back to wherever they came from."
"So you're saying that somehow, there's a new type of gate way open that we could use to find these two?" Rarna asked curiously. Aizen nodded.
"But I'm afraid Aizen, there are more than just the two of them." Ulquiorra began. "Before we almost got into the real fight with them, another portal or gate way opened up and a man and woman came through. The women was just an ordinary human I believe but the man was just like the other two."
Aizen's smile widened. This confused all three of them. "Well now, this is excellent. If we can get these alchemists on our side and persuade them to help us with our plans the shinigamis won't stand a chance against us."
"No offense sir, but how can you be so sure that these alchemists are even that powerful?" Rarna asked, slightly irked by Aizen's sudden interest in the alchemists.
"Dear Rarna. If we can't even figure out what kind of power they have what makes you think those twits at the soul society can figure it out? The sooner we get this figured out the more effective they'll be." Aizen explained. Silence descended within the room.
"Understood. We will go immediately." Ulquiorra said turning and walking towards the door, with Rarna and Grimmjowe following.
"Don't let me down. Do whatever necessary it takes but bring me the first two alchemists you encountered." Aizen commanded as Ulquiorra, Grimmjowe and Rarna left his chamber. "Bring them back alive and kill any who get in your way," Aizen commanded as the door shut.
Ulquiorra opened up a gate way for the arrancars use only. "We're going to have to start at the gate way where we once encountered them to find a clue to where they went," Ulquiorra said stepping into the darkness with Grimmjowe and Rarna following behind. "But don't do anything stupid. The shinigamis will be able to easily find us if we reveal ourselves."
"Yeah, yeah," Grimmjowe and Rarna uttered at the same time as the gate way closed. Within a few seconds they were back at the place they once were not too long ago.
"Ok we're here now what do we do?" Rarna asked Ulquiorra.
Ulquiorra began walking around, ignoring Rarna once more. Rarna sighed again knowing he was being ignored. Grimmjowe and Rarna followed Ulquiorra around as Ulquiorra searched for a way to get to the Elrics.
Ulquiorra called forth some lower level Arrancar to begin following him as well so that as soon as he found out how to get to the Elrics, he could go as soon as possible.
After Mustang decided that the Elrics really didn't know much of anything else, he decided to let them go out once more to search for the philosopher's stone.
Both the Elrics decided that they should catch a train and try to pick up information in the next towns over. That was how things have been going for the Elrics. They just wandered from town to town hoping to pick up some kind of information about the stone. Mustang was getting really irritated about them being empty handed with all the funding they were wasting.
"Brother do you think we'll get a solid lead on the stone soon?" Al asked as he and Ed stood outside the train, waiting for the boarding time.
"Of course we will Al I'm not giving up until you are back in you body Al I promise I won't give up on it."
"Brother... Do you think that we will see Toshiro or any of those other people again?"
Ed snorted. "Yeah Al, they were really people alright! Did you see what they did? They completely disregarded the law of equivalent exchange, Al!"
An idea struck Al. "Brother does that mean they could have been using a philosopher's stone?"
Ed paused. He never once considered a philosopher stone was being used,. The whole time he was convinced it was something so new that it couldn't possibly be any form of alchemy. Ed mentally slapped himself. "Now that you mention it, it does seem very likely that they were using a philosopher's stone, huh Al?"
Al looked at his brother. He had that look in his eyes. The look of new hope and determination. He liked seeing that in Ed, just not when he took it that far. Al saw Ed's face light up with a smile.
"AH SOMEBODY HELP!" A woman yelled.
Ed and Al quickly turned to where they heard the woman. A man ran around the corner with a purse held in his hands. Ed sighed. Al ran out and blocked the thief.
"Just who the hell do you think you are move or I'll kill you!" The thief yelled, pulling out a hand gun from in his coat. Al didn't move.
"Geez, can't people like you ever learn that you'll never get away with something like this?" Ed asked walking up next to Al, his arms folded across his chest.
The thief now pointed the gun at Ed. He cocked it and was ready to shoot. "I don't think you want to do that mister," Al warned.
"Shut up and move or I'll just walk over you shorty!"
Al sighed. "5..4.." Al began counting.
"What are you doing?" The thief asked pointing the gun back at Al.
"3..2..1.."
"WHO YOU CALLING A PIP-SQUEAK MIDGET YOU ASS FACE!" Ed exploded, clapping his hands together and throwing his hands on the ground, beginning a transmutation. Frightened, the thief took aim at Ed and shot. Al stepped in front of Ed and the bullet bounced back off Al and back towards the thief. It hit him in his arm. He dropped the purse and the gun and held his arm in agony as a cage suddenly sprung out of the ground, caging him. He sank to his knees and held his arms. Ed walked over and picked up the gun and purse before the thief decided that he wanted to try to do something stupid. The woman who got her purse stolen ran up to Ed and thanked him over and over again as Ed handed her, her purse.
"The police should be here very shortly, thank you again child," with that the woman turned and left.
"Hey I'm not a child I'm a grown up!" Ed called to the woman childishly, waving to her. Suddenly, the atmosphere all around Ed and Al become very heavy and tense.
"Brother, it's this feeling once more!"
"Damn it, that means-"
Shots of Cero were being fired all throughout the train station. People were screaming and panicking, trying to figure out what was going on. Ed and Al helped protect anyone they could from the on slot of the cero attacks. Abruptly, the ceros stopped and the pressure disappeared. Ed and Al looked around, trying to find anything that would have caused this.
"Fullmetal," Roy said running up to the Elric brothers. "Just what the hell is going on here? I get a call about some thief and now there's some kind of terrorist attack from the Ishbalans?"
Ed looked back at Roy with a very pissed off look on his face. Al sighed and looked back at Roy as well. "Ishbalans couldn't have done this Roy! It's those things! Those shinigamis and arrancars or whatever the hell they are! Some how they've found us!"
Roy quickly put on his other glove. "Fullmetal.." Roy began. Ed just stared at him along with Al. "Duck," Roy commanded as he snapped his fingers. Al jumped over Ed to protect him as a sudden explosion happened over them.
"Al are you alright?"
"Don't worry about me brother I'm fine." Al reassured Ed.
Ed got out from under Al. "Just what was that Roy!"
"Look behind you idiot!" Roy yelled.
Ed turned to see a huge mass of arrancars and hallows. Al looked back and gasped. "What the hell is all this?" Ed asked.
"That's what I'd like to know Fullmetal."
All of a sudden the high pressure came back. Ed, Al and Roy were nearly forced to the ground. Out of nowhere, Grimmjowe, Ulquiorra and Rarna appeared. The pressure disappeared and Ed shot up. "You three again!" Ed yelled pointing at them. Ulquiorra stepped forward, not wanting to waste too much time.
"You two are coming with us," Ulquiorra said pointing to the Elrics.
Ed snorted. "Now what the hell possessed you guys to believe that we'd go anywhere with you!"
"Aizen wishes to speak with you two." Ulquiorra said.
"Aizen? Who the hell is Aizen?" Roy asked looking at Ed. Ed's facial expression was about as confused as Roy's.
"Cornell!" Riza yelled running towards Roy.
"Don't come near here Hawkeye that's an order!" Roy snapped, his eyes still focused on Ulquiorra.
Riza stopped. "Cornell what's wrong? What's going on?"
"Hawkeye don't let anyone come in here and get whoever else that is in here out of here do you understand me?"
"Yes sir but why? There's nothing here." Riza noted tilting her head, looking around for any sign of life aside from Roy, Ed and Al.
"You can't see what's in front of us?" Al asked looking back at Riza. Riza looked confused and nodded her head 'no.'
Ed glanced back at Riza then back at Ulquiorra. "Why can't she see what's here!"
"Those with spiritual pressure can see us but it appears that's not quite the case with you three," Grimmjowe said.
Hawkeye looked at the three of them as if they were crazy. Irritated Roy looked back at Riza. "Hawkeye I gave you an order now do it!" Riza gave Roy one last look then took off.
"Now that everything is settled, back to the matter at hand," Ed said looking at Ulquiorra. He looked very calm and serious. Chills ran up and down Ed's spine.
Ulquiorra sighed. "I'll say this once more," Ulquiorra began, raising his hand. The hollows and arrancars began to stiffen and become very fierce. "You two come with us, now." Ed, Al and Roy just stared at Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra sighed once more. Ulquiorra lowered his hand and pointed at the three alchemist. Howls ripped through the train station as all the hollows and arrancars raced forward towards Ed, Al and Roy. Roy quickly began snapping his fingers, creating his explosions.
"Alright time to give that short bastard what's coming to him!" Rarna exclaimed calling forth his scythe. Ulquiorra put his hand out signaling Rarna not to proceed.
"Don't interfere Rarna unless necessary. Besides Aizen wants them both alive." Rarna snorted and lowered his scythe down but he didn't summon it away. Ulquiorra turned his attention back to the alchemists watching them fight, trying to analyze their powers.
Ed clapped his hands together and transmuted his arm into his sword type weapon and began slashing at the Hollows and arrancars. Al used his natural strength to start being up the hallows and arrancars. Roy kept snapping his fingers together and hitting anything he could. Ed jumped up and slashed a hallow in two effortlessly. Surprisingly, the hallows and arrancars were defeated in a short period of time.
"Well at least they can all actually fight, huh Ulquiorra?" Grimmjowe asked jokingly.
Rarna brought his scythe back up into place. "Can we fight them now, Ulquiorra?"
Ulquiorra closed his eyes and began to think. "Hey!" Ed yelled, interrupting Ulquiorra's thoughts. Ulquiorra opened his eyes slowly and glared at Ed. "Just what the hell kind of creatures are you and what were those things we fought just now?"
Grimmjowe chuckled darkly to himself while Rarna nearly fell to the ground with laughter. Ed started to get angry. "We are beings known as arrancars and what you just fought were arrancars as well and hallows." Ulquiorra answered.
"Wait, if those were also arrancars as you say they were, why did they look so different than what you three look like?" Al asked.
"Don't group us in the same as those weaklings we are Espada," Grimmjowe began as he stopped chuckling. "Well all except little Rarna here." Rarna glared at Grimmjowe. Grimmjowe sneered at him.
"All your questions can be answered but first, we insist on you two meeting with Aizen." Ulquiorra said, extending his hand out to the Elric brothers.
"Hadou 4, white lightning!" A powerful attack that uses Kidou shot out behind the Elrics and Roy. It raced pasted the alchemists and towards the arrancars. The attack appeared to be in the form of lighting. All the Arrancar jumped out of the way before it hit them. Ed whipped around to see who it was. His eyes narrowed.
"Edward Elric.. So we meet once more," Captain Hitsugaya said.
"Toshiro!" Al exclaimed.
"Ed, who are these people?" Roy asked raising his hand.
"These are the people who we met at the gate way," Al explained.
Roy gave Ed a look. Ed sighed. "They helped us out a little bit."
"You shinigamis are so bothersome!" Rarna exclaimed from behind the Elrics. Ed, Al and Roy turned around once more to face the Arrancar.
"Ed just what the heck is going on here?" Ichigo asked, examining the damages.
"We don't know." Al replied. "They just showed up and demanded that my brother and I go with them."
The shinigamis and Ichigo's friends tensed. Ed noticed the silence after Al told them that. "What?" Ed inquired, his eyes bouncing back and forth from Ulquiorra to the Shinigamis.
Matsumoto stepped forward. "Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric, you two are here by summoned by head captain Yamamoto for a private meeting." Matsumoto announced.
Ed sneered. "Seems you're quite the popular one aren't you Fullmetal?" Roy asked, sarcastically.
Ed snorted. "Get in our way shinigamis," Grimmjowe began. "And we'll kill you!"
Silence descended in the room once more. Toshiro sighed and drew his sword. "So that's the way you want it? Alright!" Rarna exclaimed calling forth his scythe.
Matsumoto and Ichigo both drew their swords as well. Chad summoned his arm weapon while Orihime got ready to use her powers as well. Uryu called forth his bow. Rarna got into his fighting stance. Ulquiorra put a hand in front of Rarna, signaling him to stop. Rarna glared at Ulquiorra.
"I will ask you this one last time Elrics...Come with us," Ulquiorra commanded.
"Sorry, but the only orders that Fullmetal is obliged to follow are the orders I give him," Roy explained stepping out in front of the Elrics.
Ulquiorra closed his eyes. Everyone could feel the tension in the air. "So, you're the leader of these two are you?" Grimmjowe asked, breaking the silence.
"I am their superior, yes," Roy replied.
Ed snorted once more. "Hardly," Ed mumbled under his breath.
"Kidou 33, wave of destruction!" Matsumoto cried out, launching the first attack. Al jumped over Ed to protect him and Roy ducked and covered. Suddenly, Al was picked up off of Ed and within the next instant he was gone.
"Al!" Ed screamed, jumping to his feet frantically looking for his brother.
"Brother, brother help!" Ed whipped his head in the direction of Al's voice. He was directly above Ed. Rarna was holding him securely under his arms.
"You bastards!" Ed yelled clapping his hands together.
"I wouldn't do that," Grimmjowe warned Ed as he was about to touch the ground with his hands.
Ed glared up at Grimmjowe. "And why the hell shouldn't I?"
"Think of what could happen to your poor little brother. Do you wish for him to get hurt? Do you want to watch him die because your reckless behavior?" Rarna questioned, having a smug look on his face. Ed was pissed off beyond belief.
"Now be a good little boy and come with us quietly or else," Grimmjowe threatened.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL THAT IT TAKES A MICROSCOPE AND 5 MAGNIFYING GLASSES JUST TO SEE ME YOU POMPOUS ASS HOLE!"
"Growl Haineko!" Matsumoto's sword began to dissolve into little tiny fragments. These fragments raced toward Rarna. However all 3 arrancars disappeared then again reappeared in front of everyone. Haineko still chased after the Arrancar.
"Don't waste our time!" Grimmjowe exclaimed jumping up and slicing the air where the fragments were. The fragments were cut into smaller pieces due to Grimmjowe sword. Unexpectedly, the fragments returned to Matsumoto's sword, reforming into her sword once more. "My zanpakutou?" Matsumoto looked at her zanpakutou flabbergasted.
"Lord Aizen does not like to wait around for very long. Looks like we're going to have to take our leave now." Ulquiorra said aloud.
"Wha? Are you sure we should go back with just one?" Rarna asked, nervously.
"He won't like it but if we waste anymore time here we are most likely going to fail. We are outnumbered. We'll come back for the pipsqueak at a later time." Ulquiorra explained.
"Well if you're sure then," Grimmjowe replied. Al began to struggle.
"No! No! No! I will not go with you! Brother help!" Ulquiorra turned his back and opened Gargantua.
"No, Al! Damn you!" Ed clapped his hands together once more and this time didn't stop. Sparks of lightning flew around as end began to transmute the ground, making it rise up in the air at a speed faster than anyone would have guessed it could go. "Al!" Ed screamed reaching out for his brother.
The arrancars were already inside the Gargantua. "We'll meet again, Fullmetal Alchemist," Rarna promised. With that the Gargantua closed. The next millisecond later, Ed shot through where the Gargantua once was. Ed was too close to the ceiling to stop the ground from rising up any higher. He jumped off at the last second. Everyone watched at the ground clashed with the ceiling, shielding themselves from the debris that fell. Mustang walked over to Ed, just standing and looking down at him.
"Fullmetal.." Roy trailed off looking at him. Ed looked absolutely broken.
"Oi, is he dead or something?" Ichigo asked walking over next to Mustang with an eyebrow arched.
"Fullmetal doesn't die that easily." Roy replied, worry filling his facial features.
"Edward? Are you alright?" Orihime asked kneeling down next to Ed. "Are you wounded?" The rest of the Bleach gang walked up behind Ichigo and Mustang. Ed just laid on the floor silently sobbing.
'I couldn't save him. I couldn't protect him. He's gone and it's all my fault...' Ed told himself. "Al. . ." Ed uttered but then blacked out.
A/N: So sorry it took me so long to type this chapter! I've been soo busy and I hope to keep on continuing sorry for the wait and I hope you liked it! Please review and tell me what you think! Thanks~ ^^