Fullmetal Exorcist- Chapter 3- To Put It Short

"So… your Innocence is alchemy, right, kid?"

Ed nodded obediently at Roy Mustang. Al helped Ed into his wheelchair. A week has passed since his rescue. He was visited by not only his brother, Roy, and Hawkeye, but also other curious people.

Kain Fury, a young German man who hated to fight, like Al. He taught Ed about many things, such as origami, which he picked on an ambassador's mission in Kyoto.

The next was Jean Havoc, once a lieutenant of the French military until he lost the power to move his legs from a shattered spine. Apparently, it was eventually repaired, thanks to Al and his extensive knowledge of alkahestry, and Havoc proved to be very valuable to Roy's team unit. He once tried to make Ed start smoking, but Riza immediately threatened Havoc at gunpoint, literally.

Next was Breda, a French scientist who was very talented at artillery wielding. Al and Ed enjoyed playing chess with Breda while Ed was going through rehabilitation with his automail.

Maes Hughes, who could forget him? The happy-go-lucky officer was always around to cheer the Elrics up. He once brought his family to visit. His wife Gracia was a pretty woman, and Elysia, his young daughter was too adorable beyond words.

Alex Armstrong, a buffy officer for Central's expectations, was sometimes overly flowery, but he still was the second sun for Roy's team, under Maes, of course.

And then Scar, a Egyptian Finder with abnormally red eyes, but later a trusty subordinate of Roy's, was another good friend for Ed during his time in the infirmary. As much of an antisocial person some say he is, he actually had a soft side for unfortunate children like Ed. So Scar would tell him fascinating stories about his travels with Roy. Ed had many parental figures now, and Scar was one of them.

Riza Hawkeye turned out to a be a very caring woman, perhaps a mother figure for the brothers. She was also an excellent sharpshooter as well for a Finder, but she was promoted to higher levels afterwards. As for relationship with Roy, they've already discovered that they could be more, but the risk of the Holy War as hindered any progress, but they vowed to marry once the war finishes. If they could, maybe they would adopt the Elrics as their own children, who knows?

Either way, Ed learned that not all of Central was bad after all.

Ed and Lavi made their way to the doors of Winry's lab.

"You know…" Lavi smiled. "I've never been to these parts of the Science Division… I mean, sure, I've seen Winry a couple times… We talk sometimes… I did try to ask her out once, but she said she was taken… I think I'm envious of you, Ed."

"Well, I've been here," Ed kept walking, and he didn't seem to pick up Lavi's words. "Loads of times."

"Then how come I didn't see you?"

"You just don't," Ed hinted vaguely, and the door to the lab opened. Winry discreetly closed the door so no one could see what was inside.

"Lavi…" Winry frowned. "You know you can't come in."

"Okay, then, whatever you say," Lavi waved a hand and decided to lean against the wall outside the lab. "I'll leave you two to your precious alone time."

Ed and Winry blushed, and Lavi ducked from a flying wrench.

"Oi!" He joked to the female scientist. "If your wrench has Innocence, then you should totally become an Exorcist with that wrench!!"

And there went his consciousness for the next two hours.

It wasn't long before Reever found him and had to wake him up from his concussion. The Science Captain tried to find the cause, but once he saw an imprint of a wrench on Lavi's head, he instantly deadpanned and sighed exasperatedly.

"Winry needs to be a little less rough on Lavi…" he commented, propping Lavi against the wall just when Ed came out of the lab, fixing the white glove on his right hand.

"Hey Edward!" Reever's Australian accent caught Ed off guard.

"Oh, hey, Reever," Ed smiled. Reever looked at Ed's right arm and looked back at him.

"Your automail's okay?"

"Sure. Winry only need to change a few screws, but next time will be a nightmare."

Reever tilted his head. "Why so?"

"She says she's going to give me another model. Sure, it's better and sturdier, but you know how I hate putting arms onto my ports."

"Oh…" Reever paled. "That's going to be a nasty one."

"Ugh…" Lavi woke up, seeing Reever and Ed talking casually. The two noticed him and got him up.

"Hey, Lavi!" Reever smiled. "You kinda pushed Winry off her edge a bit too much, eh?"

"Maybe…" Lavi massaged his forehead, where Ed could still see the wrench's mark.

Ed had just finish skimming through another book Lavi was reading earlier. During his training with Roy Mustang, he rarely had time to read the "latest" books at the time, so he found it convenient to read them now. He noticed some books whose theories he deemed completely ridiculous, and some that he actually liked. He set a red and blue book on the table just when his golem began to call for him.

"Fullmetal, your brother's here."

"Brother? You mean Al?" Lavi looked up, with immense curiosity. Ed gave an affirmative grin, and they rushed out of their seats, heading to the office immediately.

Ed was almost at the door just when he was immediately suffocated by a tight hug a boy with dirty blond hair was giving. His eyes were golden brown, a less brighter tint than Ed's, and lot more gentle-looking, too. His clothing was of an Exorcist's uniform, bringing curiosity to Lavi. Maybe this guy was a new Exorcist… but Ed said he and his brother were trained under Mustang for a while… So they're both exorcists… wonder what their Innocence is…

"Brother! Why didn't you wait for me!?" Ed was gasping for breath until Roy decided to break it up.

"Calm down, Alphonse," he said reassuringly. "I'm sure it wasn't on purpose, so don't choke your brother to death."

"So this is your brother?" Lavi looked inquiringly at Al. Ed nodded.

"Did you see Winry yet?"

"Yeah, she fixed it," Ed smiled brightly, waving his right arm, and Al nodded understandingly. Al then looked at Lavi, who then bowed slightly.

"I'm Lavi, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too. I'm Alphonse…"

Roy then smiled at the little talk, and he cleared his throat.

"An extra bed has been moved to your quarters, Ed. I hope there is enough room for you and Al."

"Don't worry," Al smiled. "We'll be fine."

"All right, then," Lavi smiled. "Shall I do the honors of giving Al a tour?"

"I'll be co-guide," Ed smirked. "So that means…"

The two boys grabbed each of Al's arms.

"Uh… Ed? Lavi…?" Al then panicked as he noticed that the two were ready to take off. "Wait! I'm not even read-"

Too late. They zoomed off into the distances of the halls with a still panicking Al. Roy then wondered something as he turned to Bookman.

"Um… are the kids allowed to run in the halls?"

"Everyone does it anyway." Bookman shrugged. "Besides, the Black Order is not a school. If it were, and Komui were principal, they'd still run in the hallways."

"Brother…" Al groaned, massaging his sore shoulder. "You didn't need to place a death grip on me if you're giving me tour."

"I'm sure I didn't try to break your shoulder plate, so don't sweat it," Ed smiled. Al raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, then, just don't use the automail next time…"

Automail. There was the word again. What did it mean to Ed, thought Lavi. Postage stamps? Or like chainmail?

"All, right," Lavi smiled. "We're going to stop here at the library."

As expected, Al was amazed at the numerous shelves of information, and he gasped in awe. Ed smiled. So he was correct.

"Ed!" He turned to his older brother. "Are there any alchemy books here?"

"Dunno." Ed smiled. "Didn't check. Yet."

"Now it's twice as better!" Al jumped enthusiastically. Lavi wondered just what exactly Al meant, but then he remembered something.

"Oh, yeah." Lavi jumped in. "You mentioned alchemy, right? Actually, the books right behind my workplace are all about alchemy… Try those."

"Thanks, Lavi!" Al raced off and grabbed the first book off the shelf.

"That's one heck of a brother, if you think so," Ed commented. "He's always eager to try new things. I checked those books yesterday, and turns that I've already read all of them."

"All of them?!" Lavi sweatdropped. "There 200 books on alchemy there! You already read all of them!"

"I read rather quickly," Ed smirked. "Helps me grasp things easily and efficiently."

"Amazing," Lavi smiled. "And I thought I was the only one…"

"For what?"

"Speed reading."

"Ed!" Al called. "There's this really cool book about alkahestry! Come here!"

"Coming, Al!" Ed shouted. Just as he left off, Lavi felt that he was starting to get a bit excited about the alchemy the two brothers mentioned. Maybe that will be his excuse for getting off work for tonight.

Lenalee was rather lonely. She was still troubled about her memories, which she see so clearly in her dreams. Her time when she helped Miranda take control of her Innocence, her adventures with Lavi and Bookman in Asia in the search for Marshall Cross, the search for Timcampy who had Suman's Innocence, the Ark, and it was magically restored before nearly crumbling like a ceramic mask.

But something was missing… Every single one of those moments, she saw a black space of nothingness, as if blurred from existence. She wondered if it were illusions playing with her mind, but she was sure she saw a person behind that blurred screens.

And that's when she began to forget.

But she was sure that was someone she knew, not a person rowing a boat for her to her checkpoint, even if she didn't remember them anyways. She was sure she was once in love with this person, so he probably was a boy. As for own preferences, that boy must have been very kind, otherwise, she wouldn't have bothered to talk to him.

But then she would forget.

She doesn't remember.

That boy is only a blank blur. He was no one. For now.

"But someday…" She said aloud in her bedroom, her knees tucked under her chin as she leaned against the head board of her bed. "Someday… that will become clear to me… If I could only know his name…"

Timcampy, the golden golem, fluttered solemnly around her head. Ever since she came back from Central, it had managed to come back with her, but with no evidence to help her remember. She held out a hand and it rested obediently on its shoulder.

"I know you hold something about this boy…" She spoke to it. "But you must have been tampered with, too… but by who? And why?"

"Whoa!" Lavi excitedly flipped to the next page. "This is alchemy? Sounds idealistic, but very interesting! I should ask Gramps if I should document this!"

Ed and Al smiled. Al was told about the legacy of Allen Walker, and Al was rather grateful and bitter about that, since he loved good stories, but hated the tragedy of the heroes. Lavi then set the book down, bookmarking it with his personal bookmarks (he was that organized?), and looked at Ed.

"You guys sure are cool, to get books like these" He pointed to the stack of books. "I don't know… but I wonder why I haven't seen these books so far yet."

"Just look harder," Ed joked. "You should get another eye to help."

"Hey!" Lavi shot back, and the three laughed.

"Anyways, let's just get to dinner." Ed got up. "My stomach's not so happy."

"Me neither," Lavi followed it up.

Al easily acquainted himself with the people who came to the dining hall. Lenalee was kind, but it was sad for her to not remember anything about Allen. Kanda was rude, but he somehow was able to put up with everyone anyways.

Lavi was busy telling about this cute Chinese girl he met one time. Ed was eating away, Winry, who had joined them this time, was merely watching them talk.

"So, Ed," Lavi finished his story. "If you'd got the chance to meet her, would you?"

"Nah, I'm not in for people like that," Ed smiled, munching heavily on his dinner. "But, anyways, I'd like to go to China if I ever get the chance…"

"You can," Winry added. "But I've got to update your automail first!"

Ed gulped, and Winry and Al chuckled in response. Lavi was about to ask about automail, for he had just remembered to ask, when 46 was running to their table.

"Lavi! Elrics!" It cried. "Komui and Mustang wishes to see you! You're already five minutes late!!"

"WHAT!??"

"Hey! Don't drag me!!! Lavi!!!"

Winry couldn't help but feel sorry for Ed at some times.

Panting heavily, the three boys limped to the main office, where Roy and Komui waited.

"About time you got here, Fullmetal," Roy smiled. Ed didn't bother to interpret whether his Master was sarcastic or just being fatherly.

"Well, now that you're here," Komui pointed to a rather comfortable sofa, which the three boys complied to sit down on. "Let me discuss briefing."

"What's it going to be this time?" Lavi smiled brightly. "Gonna be like that little ski trip we had when we were looking for the leaf of revival?"

"No, not really," Komui smiled. "You'll be visiting a city of Lior, in Andorra. You might need a rather lengthy train ride there, but no matters, everything's arranged."

"Better than a boat," Lavi commented. "The seas are so bad at this season."

"Good point," Komui nodded. "Now, the issue. Apparently there's been a new religion these people of Lior are practicing, called Letoism. Finders report that their 'God' is Leto, a sun god. The leader of this movement, whom they address as 'Father,' is named Cornello."

"Cornello?" Ed snickered. "He used to be guy who plants corn or something?"

"No," Komui looked at his report papers. "He's very much like a priest, in a sense. He has been said to make miracles, such as creating crystal flowers in thin air. Finders believe this is related to Innocence. So here's the deal."

He pointed to the small country on the map. "You three are to give him a visit. I think he might be a compatible user who's probably willing to help us out."

"But," Al added. "Are you sure he'll just join?"

"Maybe not," Ed pointed out. "If this guy's concerned with his own little posse of religious followers, then I don't think he'll give darn about the Vatican much."

"Still," Komui affirmed his point."You still have to go and confirm if it's a work of Innocence. I'm sorry it's almost bedtime, but just get there as soon as possible."

"Understood, boys?" Roy asked them. The three stood up and nodded to affirm.

"Funny thing, brother," Al commented as he caught a book that Ed wanted to read on the train ride (he then tossed it to him). "I just came, and we're already acting like everyday Exorcists, not just Central's subordinates or something.

"Yeah…" Smiling, Ed then closed the suitcase and sealed it with alchemy in one fluid motion. "I guess it's what we're born to do."

"Well, Winry fixed your arm this morning right?"

"Yup," Ed showed his right arm to his brother, the steel plating gleaming in the lamplight. "It's all set to go!"

"Brother…" Al said. "Izumi made an Exorcist uniform for you."

He shoved a load of black and red clothing into Ed's arms, who looked at it skeptically.

"But I like my own clothes…"

"Just wear it! I'm sure Izumi will not be so happy if you don't…"

Ed cringed… "Oh… right… ehehehehe…"

"All right!" Komui smiled brightly to the three departing Exorcists before they boarded the ferry. "You boys ready to go?"

"Wait," Al raised a hand, politely. "What about Master?"

"I'll be staying back on some research." He hinted. Bookman nodded to Lavi, who responded by nodding back.

"See you off then!" Komui smiled even wider and shoved the three boys into the ferry, causing them to fall atop the other. As soon as the boys were a mile away from the ancient Cathedral they deemed Headquarters, Komui turned to Roy and Bookman.

"You hadn't told them that you two were searching for the beansprout did you?"

"Nope," Roy frowned. "Best not provoke them to join in, just yet. It's too dangerous."

"I agree." Bookman nodded. Komui's lips tightened and he relaxed. These two were quite firm on their goals…

A/N: Well, the next couple chapters is the famous FMA ministory we know. Father Cornello's fraud and Ed's first time showing off his automail with a very shocked Rose. This time, there will be some drastic changes, because I don't think Rose should suffer so much, and i'm very sympathetic to almost every character, minor, or major. At first, writing the "Cornello Arc" was expected to be one chaper at most, but instead, when I saw that the chapters were waaay too long, I broke it up into reasonable lengths, and it turned out to be three or four. So stay tuned for Chapter Four! Trust me, it's quite interesting, so please leave a review.

If any of you haven't heard. Currently I need some ideas on some missions. OCs are very welcome. So the missions have to involve one of the following groupings:

1. Kanda and Al

2. Chaoji, Ed, and Krory

3. Lenalee and Ed

4. Lavi, Lenalee, and Ed

choose one of the groupings and make up a mission for them! You may add an OC, as in, person turned Akuma, or a new Exorcist. No OCXCanonCharcter pairing, since I already set the pairings that will happen (some of the pairings I chose will quite shocking, though. none of them are yaoi, though). So, Parasitic or Equip Innocence, your choice... BUT... there will be another type of Innocence, that i made up, and it's a lot like alchemy (gotta put FMA in here somewhere, right?), so if you want the Innocence that will be found in the OC mission to be one of the super awesome Alchemic Innocence, then that very cool! you can do that! However, I might end up editing the mission to make relevance to the stories. and if the mission involves Lenalee, i probably might add lots of lenalee angsting about remembering Allen. okay, then, I love reviews, so please review! And don't forget to add suggestions for OC missions if you want to! I need them very soon!