Chapter 9: Languishing Memories

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

Al walked at a swift pace towards the room that he had last seen Seren in, frantically wondering whether or not she was alright. As he rounded the corner, Mustang walked into him. Mustang blinked in surprise as he was jolted out of his thoughts and steadied Al. Al took a deep breath, maintaining the façade of outward calm that he had held since leaving Ed's room.

He asked, "Is Seren okay?

Mustang ran a hand trough his hair and replied, "She woke up screaming out your name, for some reason. After a few moments, though, she sat back down with a confused look on her face. She mumbled something about '..not the right circle..', or something to that effect."

Al slowly nodded and pushed the door open as quietly as he could. Seren sat in the chair near the window, looking out towards the southern plains. As the door clicked shut, Seren slightly turned around in her seat to look at him, her hands twisting a handkerchief. Her eyes were red from crying, but she gave him a slight smile. Al walked closer towards her and partially drew the curtain shut, obscuring the view from anybody who entered the room.

He softly asked, "Did you remember something?"

Seren gave a brief start before replying, "A little bit, yes. Do you know of Xerxes?"

Al nodded and stated, "A bit, yes. Brother knows more than me, though. Why do you ask?"

Seren began to reply, but stopped when there was a knock at the door. Ed brushed through shortly after, without waiting for admittance, and Winry darted into the room behind him as he slammed the door shut in Mustang's face. Feeling better, he locked the door and sat on Seren's bed, sighing. Winry sat next to him, Ed's clothes still in her hands. She held out the pile and he turned red before taking the clothes away from her.

Ed asked, "D-did anything fall out of my coat pocket?"

Winry glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes, trying to figure out where the sound of muffled laughter was coming from. Seeing that the curtain was partially drawn, she grinned devilishly and looked at the ceiling.

She stated loftily, "I don't know what you're talking about, Ed. Mustang is going to get a laugh out of you later, though."

Ed growled, "Why would that be? I.."

Ed stopped talking, only then noticing that he was wearing a hospital gown. He jumped off of the bed and headed towards the bathroom, growling to himself.

Winry teased, "The Fullmetal Alchemist, of all people, wearing a dress? Makes a nice picture, don't you think?"

Ed's response was to slam the door shut. Finally, Al couldn't contain himself anymore and he began to chuckle, joining in with Winry's giggles. Seren glanced at him in curiosity, not quite understanding what was so funny.

Al said aloud, "Winry, come meet my new friend!"

Winry dryly replied, "Al, you know that Ed doesn't like it when you bring stray cats home." Al heard her get off of the bed and walk towards them. "Still, if.. Oh, my!"

Winry gasped and stopped talking, viewing Seren for the first time. Seren cocked her head at Winry, gauging her reaction. Ed could be heard fumbling around for the doorknob, grumbling to himself. Finally managing to open the door, he walked over towards Winry, the package in his outstretched hand.

Ed began, "I got this for you, Win.." He paused upon seeing Seren, his mouth dropping open in shock. He glanced from her to Al and back to Seren again, eyebrows sharply rising. "Who is this?"

Seren touched Al's arm as he began to speak and stood, facing Winry and Ed. "I take it that you are the Fullmetal Alchemist, correct?"

Ed nodded at her and cocked his head at Winry as she continued, "My name is Seren Soulheart. Do I remind you of somebody?"

Ed had just been contemplating that very thing and was shocked that this waif could have such an astute sense of perception. He agreed and said, "Yes, in fact. You actually remind me of a younger version of a.. lady I once knew. She had black hair, though."

Winry began to glare at Ed, but stopped when Al mouthed Lust at her. She looked at Seren again and nodded.

Seren softly said, "If my memories are anything to go by, I could probably be her ancestor!" Upon seeing their shocked faces, she quickly interjected, "Not that I am, though. Edward Elric, do you know of Xerxes?"

Ed nodded, a bit perturbed by Seren. She looked off into the distance as she began to speak.

"Do you remember the cat that Al brought into your apartment a few days ago before you left for Central?"

Ed and Al both gasped out, "How do you know about her?"

Seren stood and peered at both of them directly before saying, "I am that cat, or rather, I am in my true form, finally. If you were wondering how you lost your Philosopher's Stone, I ate it."

Ed clapped and transmuted his arm, holding the blade defensively in front of him. Al shuddered and started to slowly back away with Winry, but he stopped as a thought occurred to him.

He asked, "Are you a Homunculus, Seren?"

Seren dropped back into the couch, eyes slightly unfocused as she whispered, "Homunculus? How does he know of my creation?"

She held up her hands as Ed began to move towards her and stated, "No, I am not a Homunculus. How do you know of that word?"

Ed snarled, "What do you mean creation? There were seven of them! Father created them as a way to expel his human sins."

Seren growled right back at him, "Father? Why would a Homunculus be called Father? My creation was encapsulated in a flask! I created him from the blood of Num.."

She trailed off, taking in the Elric brothers' eyes and hair. Odd, she thought. They look just like him! Al was still standing near Seren with a stunned look etched upon his face.

He weakly asked, "Were you about to say Number 23, Seren?"

Seren nodded and Al replied, "My dad was talking about that a few weeks ago. He told me that an entity contained in a glass flask gave him the name of Van Hohenheim. He also told me that that had happened over four hundred years ago, Seren. Just who are you?"

Seren paled a bit at the mention of the years, but drew herself up and crisply replied, "I am the sole child of King Xerxes."

Ed grunted, "Al finally caught a decent stray, hasn't he?"

Al shot right back, "We're friends, Ed. Maybe if you weren't so short, Winry would.." He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence as Ed rushed at him, screaming.

-Spacer.-

Mustang sat in one of the chairs across from the door to the room that Seren, Winry, and the Elric brothers had sequestered themselves in, idly wondering whether or not to blow down the door, while Riza paced the corridor in front of him. He sighed deeply and ran a hand through his jet black hair, trying to figure out just who this Seren was. Al was smitten with her; it was obvious! Hawkeye stopped walking and turned to Roy, an eyebrow slightly raised.

He muttered, "I apologize, Riza. I'm still trying to remember what it was that happened in the bar, but I can't!"

Riza eyed him speculatively before stating, "Some secrets just need to be kept a little while longer, Colen.. Roy. You still remember our little talk from earlier, right?"

Mustang shuddered and gave a slight nod, warily eying her hands. Riza sniffed perfunctorily, a light blush covering her cheeks as she realized that Roy was expecting her to draw a gun. She glanced around the hallway and made sure that nobody was looking before dropping down in the chair next to Roy with a sigh. Mustang glanced at her in curiosity, only then noticing the dark smudges underneath her eyes.

He asked, "Are you okay, Riza?"

Riza gave a brief start and nodded slightly. She whispered, "It's just that everything I've held faith in lately has seemed to be falling apart! First we learned about the Fuhrer, then about all of the.. corruption, and finally a girl I've never seen before comes waltzing in and.."

Her mouth snapped shut, only then remembering her promise to Al. Mustang sighed as she slowly shook her head, as if asking him to not go any farther. Roy sighed and nodded, lightly touching the back of Riza's hand with his own. She stiffened, but didn't move her hand.

They jumped out of their seats, however, when the voices in the room went silent for the space of a long breath and abruptly burst into yelling. Roy hoped that nobody was grasping the door handle as he snapped the fingers on his left hand and lit the air around the doorknob on fire. The lock swelled and burst, metal fragments lodging into the door as Roy swept through, Riza on his heels.

They stumbled to a halt, however, upon seeing the sight before them. Winry had Ed in a headlock as he tried to reach Al, who seemed to be lost in thought. Seren stood between them and glanced from one side to the other, trying to figure out why Ed had such a strong reaction to being called short. Mustang coughed and grinned as all four pairs of eyes swiveled to meet his.

His eyes twinkled mischievously as he stated, "Oh, was somebody calling Ed a pipsqueak-sized alchemist? He usually gets riled up over that."

Ed howled, "Let me at him, LET ME AT HIM!"

Winry sighed and said, "Ed, calm down. You're not helping yourself."

Ed twisted back around to look at Winry in surprise and nodded. She released him and watched as he picked up the package that had fallen out of his coat pocket. Dusting it off, he handed it to her. She carefully opened the letter and gaped at one of the lines.

Winry,

Seeing as to how you lost your last wrench,

I went to the trouble of buying you a new one.

Thanks for going to all of the trouble to help me

I (Smudge) want you to know that I care about you.

Yours Truly,

Ed

P.S. You (Crossed out)..

Winry opened the package and smiled as the light reflected off of a new wrench that she had been staring at in a display somewhere in Central. She waited until he looked away from Roy before hugging him. Ed stiffened slightly and embraced her, too. Seren sighed longingly underneath her breath as the two pulled apart, but caught her breath as she noticed Hawkeye watching her. Riza seemed to grin slightly as she faced Roy.

"Well, Colonel, we have plenty of work to do tomorrow. You need a good night's rest!"

Roy favored Riza with a sour glance, but gulped and nodded as she pointed at the boot where her gun was holstered.

He cheerfully said, "Yes, I guess I do. I'll be seeing you tomorrow, Ed. We have lots of work to do!"

Seren giggled as everybody glared at Mustang. He put his arms over his head and walked out the door, grumbling to himself. Riza shook her head and followed him, waving to the group in the room.

Seren asked, "Where would I be able to stay?"

Winry hooked her arm through Seren's and exclaimed, "Instead of staying at a hotel, you can bunk with us! I don't bite-" Ed coughed slightly, but backed away as Winry tapped her new wrench. She amended, "Much, anyways."

Ya, not one of my better writing pieces. Hopefully everybody will like the next chapter, though!