Chapter 2: Cat's Eye

Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or any aspect of it (besides Seren Soulheart and any other OCs that I add).

Al slowly walked away from Gracia Hughes' apartment, his brow furrowed in thought. Sighing, he began to moodily kick at a loose stone on the sidewalk, sending it skittering into a bush. It had only been two long years since Maes Hughes' abrupt death, but each time the anniversary of his death drew near, everybody noticed a pall slip over Mustang and his friends.

Al's ochre-hued eyes were clouded as he reminisced about his travels. It had only been a few short months since Ed had managed to restore Al's body, but he tried to block his memories of the horrid path that they had traveled to obtain it. At least Brother was able to create a new Circle, Al thought. He bounced his ponytail in one hand, reveling again in the fact that he could feel things.

His face brightened as he remembered one key thing about the upcoming weekend: it was Ed's, Winry's, and Elicia's joint birthday party! Winry had gotten tired of running around Amestris every year, so she came up with the idea to lump all of their birthdays together. His step had a slight spring in it as he walked past Central Park. He halted, however, when a chorus of "meows" seemed to greet him. Rushing into the leafy interior of the park, he burst out laughing as he saw a colony of cats jumping around with abandon.

A few kittens walked towards him and he sat down, letting them grow used to him. Finally, a shorthaired black-speckled kitten tentatively pushed his nose into the side of Al's leg. Al couldn't help himself and began to giggle as the kitten rolled over, as if telling Al to scratch him. Al willingly obliged, and soon was covered in cats.

The cats darted off, however, when an unearthly glow began to permeate part of the clearing. Al gaped as the light etched a human transmutation circle into the soft, loamy earth. The glow grew too bright, and Al was forced to shut his eyes. Upon opening them, he sank to his knees in wonderment; a young human female stared at him intently as she was pushed through the circle, clothed in a simple white gown of silk. Al watched as the light gradually faded. The female was looking every which way at once, as if trying to gather her bearings before running off.

Al softly called out, "Who are you?"

Her silver hair softly fell over her exquisitely shaped features, amethyst eyes peering at Al mischievously. She stood up and stretched, flexing her slim muscles. Al sighed as the waif began to walk around, basking in the glory of the day. After a few minutes, however, he decided to stand. The girl darted away from him with an impish grin, as if beckoning him to chase her. Al sighed and ran after her. The cats began to make their way back into the clearing as the female left.

At the center of the park was a broad pool. A stone bridge arched over it, and Al found the girl dancing along its side. He waved at her as she noticed him, and she sat down, feet hanging over the edge of the bridge as she stared into the pool. Al carefully walked closer to her, and sighed as he leaned against the rail a few feet away.

He asked again, "Who are you?"

The girl cocked her head at him and grinned before simply saying, "My name is Seren."

Al gave a start upon hearing her voice; it was as musical as the wind blowing through the chimes that Pinako Rockbell had set up in the tree outside her house.

Seren asked, "What is your name?"

Al stuttered as he replied, "M-My name? I'm Alphonse Elric!"

Seren tapped a finger against her lips, as if thinking. She shook her head, not recognizing his name. Al grew vaguely annoyed at this, since everybody in Amestris knew of the Elric Brothers!

Al sniffed perfunctorily as he stated, "The Fullmetal Alchemist seems to be getting shorter, hasn't he?"

Seren shrugged and began to walk off. Troubled, Al rushed after her, but stopped as he heard frantic hissing from a young oak tree. A frightened kitten swatted at a snake that held back just out of the feline's reach. Al gasped and immediately ran at the tree, barely noticing Seren thoughtfully staring after him. He clapped his hands as he reached the base of the tree and thrust them into the cracked trunk. Blue light flashed and Al watched in grim satisfaction as the snake was impaled by a splinter of wood that rapidly grew beneath it.

He raced up the tree and gently scooped the kitten into the palm of his hand. He murmured soft words to her and smiled as she began to sleepily blink her eyes. Carefully climbing back down the tree, he held aloft his prize. Seren clapped her hands excitedly and let out a lilting laugh. Al sat against the base of the tree and stroked the kitten's head until she finally nodded off to sleep. Seren blanched as a forgotten memory rose out of the depths of her mind. She remembered a hand petting her on the head vaguely, as if seen through a shield of clouded ice. Troubled, she sat next to Al and fell asleep, her head lightly resting against his chest.

Is Seren the person who Al will fall in love with? Will the kitten turn out to be.. Envy? (Not really.. Envy already would've died from the amount of mushiness..)