Flowers of Life
Disclaimer: Hiromu Arakawa is the one who owned Fullmetal Alchemist. The OC's? It's me, without doubt.
Little chat: This story contain not only about Fem!EdxRoy, but also about the others, and OCxOC is no exception. I made this story while I read a book named 'Totto-chan'. It's a nice story. It's telling about Tetsuko Kurayanagi while she's become Ambassador of Humanity in UNICEF and how her story while she's doing her duties. Few of places she had invited are in war. I'm so sad when read it. It's so touching. Then I remembered FMA. I'm bit pitiful to Ishbalan since they become victim in Ishbalan War, even they're just fiction. I wonder how many people in there who want to be an Ambassador for UNICEF? I finally finished this chapter, as remind that war is cruel and how important is peace in this world. Last word. No more and no less ... please enjoys this story and say no to war. Reviews and flames are accepted!
Warning: Every chapter also has different setting and timeline.
Chapter 02: Bouvardia and Olive Will
It's so hot in here.
Almost no trees are stood in this land. All is rock and sand and desert wind.
Once a sun is shine too brightly, a shadow figure appeared in desert land. He's wearing Arabian white clothes for man, with kafiyeh covering his head. He's enough tall, well-built, black short hair, and green forest eyes that showing softness and kindness. His black shoes keep walking in hot air. Sometimes wind blowing his kafiyeh, but he managed to hold it. He can only use his left hand, while the other is holding a big bouquet of flowers.
He's still walking and walking, trough the ruins of buildings and destroyed town. Each time he passed it, his face become hurt and sorrowful. But he not stops a bit. In fact, he's fastened his legs to move forward. He doesn't want to there for long time. Occasionally, he didn't like this place. He has a duty however in here.
And he didn't want to disappoint the one who asked him.
His mind goes to the past four days ago. The young man was asked by Major Armstrong if he can visit a place where Ishbalan War has taken over five years ago. The major himself want to visit it, but he was distracted by some business, so he asked the young man for replace him. He doesn't mind. He's curious and wants to know what kind of place it is. He must regain helped from his friends to escorted him to Ishbalan ruins. Glad his, ehm, girlfriend want to accompany him. Okay he started to blush right now. He's just asked her to be his girlfriend over week ago. But hell, somehow, this action was smelled by his friends. This getting worse since, somehow again, Edward, Alphonse, Winry, and other peoples he know got this news...and teased both of them in the spot. Sora, got madly blushed and angry and... you can imagine what happen next. One thing that he's sure, almost every man whom teased her got a bruise or bumps in head, in most little damage she had made. The worst ? Thank goodness, it's none. He gulped silently. For now, maybe.
He sighing defeated. Sometimes he really confused why peoples in this place are so immature in not right place. 'Sometimes,' he thinking, 'I suspicious that mature men in this world have a bad sense in jokes….'
Now back in story. He's accepted Major Armstrong request. And prepared everything he needs to travel in desert.
Here he is now, in the desert where there was nothing except ruins, a trace of blood smell in everywhere and holes those made because of bullets.
Under the sun, he's walking as if the hot of the desert didn't disturb him. No miracle, he is born and lived in desert for long time. For him this is better than his homeland, Arab Saudi. The wind is become harder and harder. The bright of the sun become dull. And he realized this. He then looked at the sky, now a bit clouded than before.
'This wind...It's not good. It will be rain soon.' he thinks. 'I must quick. I didn't bring an umbrella with me. I hope Sora realized this and go after me...' he jumped a stone and landed in lower land.
He's now half running, hoping that he'll in that place in time. He is griping the bouquet closely to him, trying to protect it. He is moving toward west. It was like forever to him.
Until he stop in wide area. There's no sand in here, not like before. It's wide land of soil. Again, there's nothing in there. It's empty.
Except one cenotaph which stood not far from him. It is not small or big. It's medium sized and white colored marmer.
He smiled softly. He had found what he's looking for. A bit fast, he's walking to the cenotaph, approached it.
When he stop, he's staring to the sentence that written in cenotaph. His face is growing sad as he read those words.
'For Our Father, Our Mother, Our Brother and Sister, Our Son and Our Daughter, Our Grandfather and Grandmother, Our Friends, and They, who died in this land. In that cruel war, years ago.'
'May you rest in peace and not disturbed by those who still live.'
'May you never forgotten, like you're remembered by your family who still alive.'
'May your lesson of life shall stay in our heart.'
'May your sacrifice give us a reason to survive.'
'May your life keep inspire us to move forward and never return. May your hearts and warmness always and never leave us.'
'For all those, who is in eternal sleep, in this blessed land. Neither Ishbalans nor Amestrisians,'
'Neither dark nor fair skin,'
'Neither red nor blue eyes.'
'They're lying in here, in this land, as a mankind. As humanity. Same in God's eye.'
'Because since the beginning of the world, we're created by God as siblings.'
'From long time ago, now, and forever.'
He smiled wryly. A hint of great sadness appeared in there. He still doesn't get it. Why there's still war when it's clear that all mankind in this world is siblings? Why the military tried to exterminate the Ishbalans with ridiculous reason? They said the Ishbalans may want to rebel? How wrong they are! He has meet those Ishbalans, he has live, a while, with them! It's all wrong!
He has experience their kindness, he has saw their willingness to help him and his friends. He has feeling their warmness to him. So why?
He hated war. He really hated it! It's so hurting! And still hurt him until now. Sometimes this made him feel disgust to military men; even he knew not all of them are bad. He owes Mr. Hughes for this.
And he admired him until death. Like his father and his deceased mother.
Once the wind blow up again, he's closed his eyes, as if trying to hear the sound of the dancing winds.
The wind becomes cooler than before. Sun was completely blocked by clouds. Then silence. No sound. From desert eagle, from rattle snake which hides inside rocks, from mouse, from wind. Even from desert bugs.
A silence you can't explain. A silence which not made by itself. He can feel it.
And he knows it.
The whole nature, no, the whole universe now in the moment of silence, in it's own way. Accompany and stay with him.
Time passed. Second by second. Minute by minute. Only time, the wind, the sun, God, and himself who knew exactly how long he's stand in there.
Past minutes later, he open back his eyes, knelt down and put the big bouquet in front of the cenotaph.
Staring at the bouquet, he lowered his head, took a deep breath.
And he's stand up. He has decided it. And he'll never regret it. This is his choose. This is his path. He very relieved he's finally has made his own future.
"Abdul!" he then turned around, to found a teenager girl with black trench coat, purple shirt with white long collar reach middle neck, blue jeans, and black shoes. She's also holding a bouquet, but it has different kind flower. Her other hand holding an umbrella, as Abdul thought.
She reached him, patted. "Sora, what keep you so long? I thought you only take the other bouquet."
She looked at him. "Just little problem. No need to worry." she said and waved her hand. She then moves few steps, placed the bouquet right beside the young man bouquet.
Abdul took her hand and holding it. Sora returned it, sending him her feeling. She's also sad to see this cenotaph.
"I can't understand the way of the military." muttered Sora. "And I guess half of them will never understand our way too…."
Abdul chuckled. "It can't be helped. Since Amestris is dictator government system and our country is democracy system, it'll be clash between their believes. Sooner or later."
Sora smiled wryly. "I'm glad I'm not born and lived in this place." She slightly shows irony. "I hope Indonesia will never take an act like this, despise how many corruption our country is."
"They'll never. Indonesia is consists from thousands of ethnic groups, from around Indonesia archipelago. Destroy one of them is same with destroying part of Indonesia." Abdul stated firmly.
"Every country has they plus and minus. Amestris and Indonesia are not exception." he continued, back to the cenotaph.
Sora following him stare the cenotaph. None of them speak. They're staring to the white marmer, reading the sentence once again.
Wind began to blow hard, borrowing more clouds.
"Hey, Sora." Abdul call her. Sora focused to him, keep silent.
"I think… I know what I must do from now."
She raised her eyebrows. "Then it's a good news, Abdul." her voice has a relieved and happy tone. "So what will you do for your future?"
He scratches his cheek, a bit reluctantly. "I will become a musician, Sora. Not an ordinary one." he smiled nervously. "I want to be musician and work in UNICEF. I want to be an Ambassador of the United Nations for Children and best musician. When the time is come, I can help those peoples and children in whole world and ease their burdens with my music." there's no sign of interruption from Sora, he continue it.
"Seeing war in this world, seeing how the Ishbalans and Amestrisians through it, it made me began to think...everything. Mostly about the kids and poor peoples." Abdul quite a while. "It's already in my mind few years ago actually. Many of them suffered because of almost endless war. Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza Line. Everywhere. How long they can survive? In the middle of war, bullets and soldiers danger, and food crisis? How long they'll suffering because some stupid wars? They're something I can do for them. If only I know..." he tightened his grip in Sora hand. "I began to think to work at UNICEF. I can't deny my feeling. It should be easy. But become a musician is my dream too. I don't want to disappoint my father after we got our great deal. You already know him. He doesn't want same thing happen to me, like my deceased mother, who died in honor back there in Afghanistan. As a doctor and working in UNICEF. I don't want to worry and give him burden either. He's already democracy to let me become a musician. He's still sad to remember… how did she died and how alike we are. My Mom and me. We have many similarities."
"I was doubt that time, confused for long time...After we stuck in this world, I face this problem again. This time it drives me nuts. Made me realized how weak and little I am. Even I'm Fangire. Pretty dumb, huh?" he waited Sora reaction.
Not like he expected, she smiled understanding. "No." she said. "It's human. It's normal. I'm Ilmorian. And I've been in those state too, Abdul." she touching his shoulder with her another hand, comforting him. "Please keep continue, Abdul. I want to hear farther, if you don't mind."
He lowers his head. Instead, his attention draw by the bouquets they placed earlier. Pink Bourvardias and Olives. Her and his. A rush wind suddenly blowing hard between them. Sora closed her eyes from the dust and sand. Yet, Abdul didn't do it. He's too focused to close his eyes.
At the time the wind died, he spoke again. "Then…."
He is loosening his grip. "Then, someone I not expected to lecture said this to me in phone, when we're away from Central. He said, 'It's doesn't matter what you'll choose. In the end, you'll help many people with your profession. Both of them are good and sacred duty. Both of them are fitting you so much. It's okay to choose one. If you ask my opinion, I think it does even better if you take both of them. I know you can do it. You're a foolish yet the kindest person I had ever met, after all. When you made it, treat me and the others, Deal?'. Typical of Edward Elric." he's chuckled.
"Edward told me, he supports this by all his heart, as well as Al and Winry. Trust me, his word does help me. Again, I'm a bit unsure. I ask this to Mr. Hohenheim when we're in slum. Guess what he said to me?" his eyes gleamed.
Sora smirked amuse. "Judge from your face, he must be said the same thing, isn't it?"
He smiled wide. "Ping-pong. He was."
Abdul shook his head, not expected will has a same answer from Ed and Al's father. "I can't believe I was gave the same answer from son and father. Mr. Hohenheim admitted some in his speech, tough. He said this to me, 'This is your future. Your path. Doesn't matter what you will choose. As long it's your decision and can help many people, I don't mind. You have strong empathy kind heart, and a noble goal. It wouldn't hurt if you take both of your dreams.' He placed his hand to my shoulder, as tried to brave me. He smiled…understand as he said this, 'Believe yourself, Abdul. Your father wants the best thing for you. Well. Every father does. Just like me, even though I'm not a good father for Ed and Al.' I can see a sadness in his eyes, but he managed to continue."
"He's a good father…" Sora commented. "If only he told them what's going on…"
Abdul shook his head. "He can't, Sora. He can't. If he does that…His family will be in danger. Which he didn't do it." he licked his lips, feeling thirsty a bit. Maybe he should drink after this.
"His last word to me, is, 'He doesn't want you to get hurt. He's love your mother and you so much. You're the only son your mother had left, right? That's why he's forbidden you to work in humanity organization. When you already decide what you'll choose…I'm sure your father will understand you.' And with that final word, we got interrupted by Edward and the others. Truthfully, I didn't expect he'll punch his own father. With his automail." Abdul laugh quietly. "Ed is did it over bit."
Sora rolled her eyes. "Of course. This is Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist we're talking about. I wonder why he's so fool and genius in same time."
"The difference among stupid and smart is thin, Dear. It's what people say." They're laughing together for seconds.
They went quiet as cloud fully closed the sun. Sounds of thunders were heard from far. Abdul turned his head and grip Sora hand softly.
"Let's go back. The rain will come soon. And I doubt it'll not stop until late night..." Abdul said.
"Okay. I got our umbrella. Shall we use it now?" asked Sora.
"Alright. I don't want to wet before we arrive in others place." Both of them turned their back. Began to walking.
"By the way, I wonder what Clark is dong right now."
"I bet he's feeling hot right now. He never goes to desert." Abdul replied as they get away from the cenotaph.
"Sri and Saidi are same too." Sora retorted. She then opened the umbrella.
"It's because they're live in tropical country where it's hot every year in long time. Different from Clark..."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's see if he's whined or he's unconscious because this crap hot air..."
Before they left that place completely, Abdul took his last chance to glance over white marmer monument. He smiled warm.
"Good bye. And see you again..." he muttered. And he's following Sora. Leave the cenotaph.
The rain begins to fall. Wet both the cenotaph and the bouquets. Strangely, the scenes of the bouquets become clearer than before as their batting by water of rain. Is this just coincidence?
Or this is fate?
Both of the bouquets have deep meanings. Do they know about this since beginning? Or they pick it random?
Who knows?
Wherever Abdul and Sora know or not, those bouquets still have their meanings for this cenotaph.
Two bouquets in different meanings but have one goal. Give lessons for humankind.
One is Pink Bouvardia bouquet, which meaning zest of life.
And the other one is Olives bouquet.
Which means peace.