Silence...

Chapter Twelve: No Nemories Left to Remember...

It seemed as if Edward would never find that lost memory. With how the pace of which he remembered things was going, he'd never seek out this forgotten past. With a long sigh, Al shook his head with sadness. How he longed for Ed to listen to him. He really did. "You know, Brother, you could actually try listening to me for once. I mean, we both know you're sick with something, so you outta be resting!"

The short boy shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. "You woke me up, so now I'm not resting. This is YOUR fault!" Ed accused. Al looked offended.

"MY fault? You think this is my fault, Brother? Well, you're wrong. You're the one who got yourself sick, so it's your fault!" Al pointed at Ed and then turned his back from Ed, and angrily pouted. Man, taking charge was harder for Al then it had been for Ed. How was he going to do this?

Alphonse thought long and hard about that, and finally thought back far enough into his and Ed's own past that he realized just how Ed had gotten Al's body back the first time. "Military…" He murmured. "I'll be back, brother, you stay here….oh, what am I saying…just don't get into any trouble, Ed!" Al told him.

-- Back at Colonel Mustang's Office… ---

Al sat across from Mustang's desk, and as shy as he was, had been being very blunt. "Colonel, I'm desperate! This is just a last resort! When's the next nearest State Alchemist Exams?" He asked, and then bit his lower lip. The Colonel looked amused.

"Following your brother's footsteps now, are we?" Roy asked the boy. "I'll do what I can. But I must say that it may not be very likely that I'll actually be able to get you into the military." Roy said, frowning. Al smiled.

"I'm sure you'll think of something. Just find a way to make me look impressive, just like you did for Ed, long ago…" Al told him. "I'm sure something will come good out of it. It did for Ed…why not me?" Alphonse continued.

Mustang nodded and looked at Alphonse. "Alright, then. I'll see what I can do." Al's smile brightened greatly and he literally jumped to Mustang, hugging him tightly. Mustang began to panic and gasp for air.

"THANK YOOOOUUUUU!!!!" Al later let go and went to the door. "Thanks again, Colonel!" And he left.

-- Back at the Hotel… ---

Edward lay boredly upon the cushioned bed and stared up at the ceiling. He was on his back, his left knee bent with its foot flat upon the bed's surface, while his other leg was bent and the ankle was rested against the knee of his other leg. Edward had crossed his arms behind his head, lacing the fingers of his hands together. "When's he gonna get back? I'm getting bored of just sitting here…" He grunted as the door opened. Ed unlaced his fingers and used those same hands to push his body up as his legs untwisted and were crossed now.

"Hey, Ed! Alright, I have plans for you and I today, so, let's get started!" Al said cheerfully. He tossed Ed some clothes to change into and he himself went through their suitcases for something.

Ed looked quite confused now. "Huh? What's going on? What happened to you blabbering about me having to lay down 'cause I'm sick?" The blonde boy asked. "Al? What're you looking for?" He changed his questions suddenly, but for only one reason: why was Al acting so happy?

"Brother, you and I are gonna go look at some products here in a bit. Winrii….she always made these for you…" Al looked down and looked quite sad, emotionally.

"Winrii….I know that name…" Ed muttered and looked at Al. Alphonse looked up and smiled.

"Brother, get dressed." He told him with a chuckle. Ed blinked and shook his head, laughing slightly himself.

"Alright, then." And he began to slip on his black pants, tightening the belt on it so they'd stay up on him. He then slipped on his tank top shirt which was black, like his pants, and then a black, silver-lined jacket. Lastly, he slipped on his socks and shoes. "Alright, I'm ready, Alphonse!" He said.

Al had been gathering some objects and things - which were mainly money and a few lists of things to do, and as they readied up, Ed became bored of waiting. "We ever gonna actually leave, Al?" He asked, plainly, as he sat on the bed. "'Cause it's taking an awfully long time! And it's making me bored!" He complained. Al looked over, and smiled.

"We're gonna leave in a bit, Ed, be patient!" He told him. Ed grunted in annoyance and plopped down on the bed, waiting...waiting...

Waiting...

Still waiting...

"Brother! Let's go!" Ed jumped at the voice calling him. He must have fallen asleep; he was waiting so long! Looking around quicky, as if something had triggered an alarm, he sighed.

"We're actually gonna leave?" He asked. "'Bout time!! Man, what took you so long, Alphonse?" He asked, grabbing gloves that were currently being held out to him by Al. "And...do I have to wear these? 'Cause they make my hands really sweaty...and I really don't like it..." Ed looked at the gloves. Al smiled.

"I think it would be best if you did wear them. Barely anyone knows about you still being alive, so I think they'd be afraid if you weren't like you used to be. Heck, brother, most people think you're really dead! All thanks to Mustang telling all the major news paper companies to put it on the front page." Al then began shuffling around again, looking for something. "...I still have the news paper clipping, here..." And with those words, he handed over a whole FRONT page to him. "Somehow, they managed to capture us in the news paper, and honestly, I'm having suspicions about those homunculi that attacked us. One that was much like a homunculus named Envy, and one named Lust, she had the ability to transform, but her name was...Hatred..." Ed was slightly confused. But he managed to understand a few things.

"You think that maybe she transformed into military personnel and told the Colonel?" Edward, who still was confused, asked. Al nodded in agreement. "That can't be good..." He looked down at the news paper clipping. A picture of Ed lying there, on the floor dead, actually sent a few memories back to him. Ed's eyes widened as his hands shook. He looked shocked, frightened, and so much more, and he looked especially angry. "Envy...he..." He looked at his feet, his golden hair covering up his eyes, shadowing much of his face along with it. Only his clenched teeth and his nose were visable.

He was so tensed up right there. The boy looked so vulnerable, so angered. As he tried so hard to calm down, he found the memories of him being stabbed hurting too much. It was too hard to believe that this boy had only been alive for so long, for less than a year. That was the price. His past was the price of him being reborn as a successful human transmutation. His memories, the feelings he had when he was younger. All those dreams and events he had. All those fights he shared with Alphonse. All those times he had to come back to Winrii's home to get automail maintance...

Gone...

Vanished...

Perished for as long as thought possible. It seemed Alphonse would never get Ed's memories back. "Ed..." Soft words were spoken as if a way to help him calm. "It's alright, there's nothing you can do now...just be glad you're alive...be happy...for me..." He looked down in sadness as he remembered the memories Ed could not. "I promise...I will...find a way...to heal you..." Al spoke again. Ed's tensed body froze for a moment as he looked up, his eyes showing fear as of right then.

That was what Ed was afraid of. Al's plans to do just that. "...But...how, Al? How will you succeed at that? It's as if every time I sleep, they disappear, these memories you remind me of one day. I have only the memories that I have from this life time, the Gate won't let me have my old ones back for very long for they were the..." Ed suddenly went down...

Ed was shot down to the ground by a shooting pain through his head. He clenched his teeth tightly and squeezed his eyes shut as he grabbed and held his head also very tightly. "AAAAAGH!" He screamed. Al looked up in worry and ran to him grabbing a hold of his shoulders and shaking him vigorously, trying to calm him down.

"You...you didn't...brother! Please!!! Stop!!" Ed was thrashing about right now as Al was trying his best to calm him. Moments later, Ed finally calmed but it was thanks to passing out. "Brother...what happened...?" He whispered as he had Ed in his arms. Great, Ed had to pass out on him of all people. Then again, he only had him TO pass out on since they were the only two people in the room.

"Brother...I really will find your memories back, and I'll do it...even if it means having to join...the military..." Al whispered again.

A/N: Heheh...yup, another chapter. I've found the documents I saved the RP in so that's why there's been so many updates for this.

Also, soon this story will be done. Either the next chapter will end it, or the one after that, I assure you that much.

After that, you'll be happy to know I'll be rewriting either just a few chapters, or perhaps the whole damn story! XD Anyways, just to note: there WILL be a sequel to it. I'm still trying for a name at it though, then I'll start writing. Perhaps you guys can help me out and give me some NAME SUGGESTIONS!?

Leave your "name suggestions" in your reviews you leave, okies? Thanks, guys, you've been a big help! Thanks for all your support, also. I hope you had fun reading this, cause I...

I had a lotta fun writing it. OwO Thanks for reading, and thanks for the reviews!