Fullmetal Exorcist – Chapter 20 – Interlude

Road woke up with a small stir, and she felt a breath on the back of her neck. She turned and saw Alphonse, who was sleeping soundlessly behind her, with one arm tucked beneath his head, and the other draped atop her own arm. Then she felt the repeating sensation again. Warmth.

Road's small sounds of stirring prompted Al to slowly his own eyes as the beams of morning sunlight fell on top of their faces. Al lifted his arms away from Road as she sat up in bed, and she looked at him. He was sitting on top of her bed, blankets and all, and she gave a worried expression.

"Al… weren't you cold when you slept with me?"

"No," Al shrugged and held out his hand to help her out of bed. "It's nothing… really."

An awkward silence followed when Road's words hit his head…

I slept with her… oh gosh… I slept with her… And… it's morning, isn't it?

"Oh!" Al broke the quiet atmosphere. "I'll leave… right… now…"

"Yeah… you do that…" Road crawled out of bed very suddenly. "I'll see you downstairs then…"

Al hastily made his way, but stopped when his hand reached the doorknob.

"Oh, and Lenalee told me yesterday that she left an extra trunk for you to use to put your clothes in and stuff… and there's a new set of clothing for you."

Road looked at the new set of foreign clothing articles and nodded at the boy to leave. The door was shut behind him, and she spent her time looking at the garments laid out before her. It was a brand new Exorcist uniform, for females, in particular. For a moment, Road admired the military-like lines, wondering if she should commend the person who made this… but then again, she probably would scare the tar of that person by accident. It may be easy for the Exorcists to accept her, but probably not the rest of the Order, or Shield. She lifted the stiff fabrics up and sighed. Her third set of clothing on the checklist…

Kanda woke up to the sound of a loud knocking on the door. He looked at the bed beside him. It seemed that Alphonse had already left. Actually, where was the younger Elric? He didn't return to the bedroom yesterday…

The knocking continued, much to his chagrin. Kanda growled as he pushed himself out of bed and opened the door. From there, he saw Falman, a tall man with graying short hair. The man saluted, prompting small wonders to the Japanese samurai.

"Mr. Kanda," Falman addressed him accordingly. "Alphonse has already-"

"I think I already know that," Kanda sighed. "Anything else?"

"I was going to tell you where the cafeteria is," Falman continued. "It's to the left of the training facility, if you know where that is."

Kanda said nothing, but nodded, receiving another salute. He shut the door behind him, and noticed a mirror on the wall opposite the door. His hair had been let loose, as if he were a girl letting his hair down. Seeing this, he reached for his hair tie that was wound about his right arm, fixing his hair into the usual ponytail.

"Much better," He sighed again, and went to the closet. Kanda decided to go for his sleeveless turtleneck for the day, considering that he would be inside most of the day. He sauntered down the corridor, his mind set on getting to the bottom floor. Then the door he was approaching swung open, revealing a rather half-awake Ed, already dressed in his casual red longcoat and black sleeveless shirt, but he was still on the verge of yawning a few more times. Golden eyes saw the blue haired Exorcist.

"Oh, Kanda, you're up at this time?" Ed asked. Kanda nodded and peered into Ed's rooming, noticing the lump (Lavi) on one of the beds.

"Oh, Lavi…" Ed laughed. "He didn't wake up yet."

"The idiot rabbit usually wakes up pretty late after missions," Kanda added, and the two walked side by side down the hall in respectful silence. They reached the elevator, but it was taking too long. Being the impatient ones they are, Ed and Kanda looked at the flight of stairs beside the elevator.

"There is the stairs, if you want to take the long way," Ed suggested.

"Fine," Kanda complied. "I guess I don't feel like taking the elevator today."

The cafeteria was not as large as the one back at the Order. Ed explained that the reason why was because a majority of the Finders eat at their own housing before coming to work. Kanda paid little attention to things like that. All he was happy about was the fact that the cafeteria had soba.

It was different from the one he had eaten back at the Order, but it tasted very similar to the one Armstrong made when he and Al were back at Majahal's. Come to think of it, he was sure the chef here had the same small tuft of curled hair like Armstrong…

"So," Ed asked Kanda. "How do you like it here?"

"It's… fine…" Kanda answered hesitantly, setting down his chopsticks.

"You know," Ed suggested after swallowing his pancake. "After this, I'm hitting the training room. You coming?"

"Where else would I go?" Kanda agreed. "Of course I'm going! I'm not the idiot rabbit who has to do his reading homework every day!"

"I do not read every day!" Lavi's voice made the two of them jump. Ed spun around on his chair.

"Lavi!" Both boys yelled. "Don't scare us like that!"

"Sorry," Lavi laughed. "But the expressions on your faces were just so priceless!"

The redhead set his tray of food down beside Kanda, who found great discomfort being placed between two people. Usually he preferred to sit by himself, but today was an exception, apparently.

Instead, he contemplated more upon the fact of the reason why he came to the Silver Shield. All Mustang wanted was to gather everyone for the search. Inwardly, Kanda could tell that the attempt would be fruitless… Then he remembered Timcampy, the golden golem that always followed the bean sprout… He recalled Tiedoll's advice about Timcampy to Lenalee and Allen himself. Timcampy is equipped with a built-in homing device to track down its master.

Obviously, Cross disappeared, and probably didn't plan on coming back for a long time (again). He probably programmed Tim to stick with Allen instead. But the main problem… where would Tim be? He hadn't seen the golem for a year, ever since Allen was taken away kicking and shouting. Moreover, he didn't understand how Tim's functions would work… would they need a password? An identification?

He then wondered if Noah could keep track of Noah… Road was with them, so why couldn't she just find Allen herself for them? It would make things so much more easier… but it probably wasn't possible, since Roy had not told him that. So the only shot was Timcampy… Just where would it be…?

"Hey, Yuu," Lavi snapped Kanda out of his thoughts. "Aren't you going to eat breakfast?"

True, Kanda hadn't really touched his food for a while since the minute he came to the table. He sighed, picking up the chopsticks again. Ed and Lavi still had a long way to go before they finished, so he had time. However, the thought about Allen's golem lingered in his head.

"Yay! It's the big giant room again!" Lavi ran about the floor with his arms outstretched. Ed and Kanda followed, watching Lavi make a fool of himself. Then a sweep of air went past Ed's face, and with catlike reflexes, the Fullmetal Alchemist caught a large staff that had whizzed by with his automail arm.

"Whoa!" Al shouted from the corner of the room. "You've gotten faster, brother!"

"Thanks, Al!" Ed waved the javelin and then placed it on the floor. Kanda could still not believe the size of the room. Lenalee and Road were busy in one corner, having already trained earlier. Ed made a run for the control room, and he found several switches.

"Aha!" Ed smiled evilly. "My favorite part of the training room…"

A button labeled with the image of a raindrop caught his mischievous eye, and he pressed it. He heard a cry of surprise from everyone in the room, and he peered out the door. He grinned, and pressed the cloud button.

Rain was falling in the room, in heavy sheets. And soon, the amount increased tenfold, and everyone was dancing around as if they were playing a major water fight in history. Kanda was trying stay still, as a giant gust of wind was trying to sweep him about, his hair flying. Lenalee and Road were giggling, trying to splash each other with water by kicking their feet. As for Lavi…

"The floor is getting slippery!" Lavi squeaked as his legs gave way, and he fell flat on his back. Everyone laughed as Lavi tried to mimic and ice skater on shattering ice as he laughed along, ridiculing his own maladroit abilities at balance.

"Hey, brother!" Al laughed. "Turn it off!"

"Okay!" Ed promptly switched off, and the room stopped its heavy storm, the water draining away. Everyone was drenched wet, and they spent the rest of their morning drying themselves before lunch. They returned to the room again, only to try using the desert mode. Everyone was parched after that…

"Lenalee?" Road's surprisingly small voice caught her attention, and Lenalee looked at the former Noah. They had finished training, and of course, they were deadbeat tired.

"Yes?"

"How come… Why do you accept me so easily?"

Lenalee sighed, and thought out her answer.

"That's because… we humans have a thing called hope. Even though we are put in unfavorable situations, we still hope the silver lining does appear. Everyone here is putting their trust in your well being. If you do come off as a good person, we'll be happy. If not, then we won't be. It's really that simple."

Road nodded at the former's words of inspiration, and Lenalee looked at the ongoing match again.

"You know…" she added. "I've always wanted a friend who was a girl and was about my age… There's Winry, but we hardly ever talk because she's usually in the Science Department, and I'm an Exorcist… and she doesn't drink coffee (I wonder why), so I don't get to see her on my coffee-delivering rounds…"

"Aren't there others in the Order who are female Exorcists?" Road asked in a puzzled manner. "Like… that Miranda Lotto, perhaps?"

"She's quite older than me… Finding an interest that we share is very difficult… She usually hangs around the kitchen to help with the cooking… Actually, she's gotten better nowadays… But we talk, but not in an equal sort of way…"

"Well… since I'm here," Road decided to start. "Why don't we start talking now?"

"That's good," Lenalee smiled. "How about… let's start with Alphonse!"

"Alphonse?" Road tilted her head quizzically, noticing the said person laughing at Lavi's clumsiness. "Why Alphonse?"

"Because you've been really clingy to him!" Lenalee smiled. "Tell me… what do you think of him?"

Road flushed deep red. Would it be all right for her to spill her thoughts out to Lenalee? They only knew each other for a few days, and this was how it all came down to?

"He's… nice… and caring…" Road began. Gee, and that was all she could think of? "He smiles a lot…"

Lenalee observed her friend's actions and nodded at her words as Road continued to describe the young boy. She laughed at some comments and sometimes corrected Road when her thoughts were tangled up. In the end, the message came through quite clearly.

"That's Alphonse for you," Lenalee smiled. "If you've been with him for a month, like me, then you'd understand…"

Wanting to skip the subject about Alphonse… Road then spoke up. "What about you, Lenalee? Don't you have someone you like?"

"Me?" Lenalee pointed at herself and laugh. "Not particularly. Lavi's nice and all. Kanda has a big heart if you know his good side. Ed's just… Ed. And Alphonse is really more interested in you."

The emerald haired girl caught Road's blush upon the mention of the subject again.

"I don't really have a thing for the guys in the Order… Although…"

Road hung at the hesitant word as Lenalee swayed on her feet.

"There is this one person…" Lenalee explained. "I've met him probably more than once, but I don't remember him… He only appears in my dreams, but it seems I've met him before…"

The Noah seemed to be quite curious, but Road forced it down. "Oh… really? What's he like?"

"He has white hair…" Lenalee mused. "He's really really nice… But the problem is that I've never truly seen his face in these dreams… His face is always blurred out… He seemed to be present during the events that happened two years ago, like the Arc and all, but that's all I know… I wonder if he's an Exorcist, too…"

"White hair, huh?" Road thought, and her Noah side was echoing the name. Allen Walker. But she mustn't jump to conclusions. Maybe this guy's name wasn't Allen Walker. She decided to put it in the back burner and ask Alphonse later.

"He also must have told me some really valuable…" Lenalee added. "He said that 'Akuma come to Exorcists for assistance to rid themselves of the loathing and hate that comes upon them, since they are souls ripped from the heavens…' He also said Exorcists are given the duty to bring salvation upon these tormented souls… At first, I thought it was quite ridiculous… but I somehow accepted that idea…"

"He must have been really intelligent…" Road suggested, and Lenalee sat up.

"Oh, did I mention he ate a lot? I mean, mountain loads! If you looked into my dreams, Road, you'd be amazed at how much he eats! The tower of food probably stacks up to the ceiling!"

They both laughed at the thought of picturing a scene like that, and once the laughter mellowed out.

"Well, I'm sure you'll find him someday…" Road encouraged the other, and then her lips curled into a mischievous smile. "I sure you'll get married to him… You planned anything yet in your dreams?"

"I dunno…" Lenalee laughed at Road's joke. "But if you get married to Alphonse, I'll be happy to be the bridesmaid!"

Road smiled… Communication… That was something she lacked as a Noah. Convey feelings to one another. Humans were just so full of different emotions, while Noah were specifically assigned to one aspect or feeling.

"I'm going to take a break," Lenalee smiled before walking out the door. "See you at lunch?"

"Yeah," Road smiled back, and the green haired Exorcist left with content on her face.

She kept walking… and walking… and passing by a door, she couldn't but notice the people behind, since the door was open. A tight-lipped blond woman was ordering her workers to give report. One of them, a white haired young man with red eyes, saluted and began his suggestion.

"Allen Walker is probably within this area," Lenalee heard one of the Finders report. "We've been seeing more CROW units in these places…"

"There's been a change in plans, Miles," Armstrong announced. "You should stop looking out for CROW. Bradley's the responsible one now."

"Allen… Walker…" Lenalee said the name, and she vanished from her place past the swinging doors.

She returned to the room she shared with Winry, and slumping behind the closed door, the golden golem she knew so well flew over to greet her. She had one question… one burning question…

"Timcampy…" Lenalee looked at the fluttering golem. "Do you know anything about Allen Walker?"

The Golem nodded, opening its mouth wide, and a portrayal of a projector appeared, upon the words said.

"Password activated. Now browsing through memories of Allen Walker…" A female computer voice announced.

"A recording?" Lenalee asked herself, as an image appeared.

A young boy with brown hair was weeping at a single gravestone, labeled Mana Walker. Suddenly a floating fat man landed behind the grave, staring down at the pitiful child. Lenalee immediately recognized this man as the Millennium Earl. As for the boy, the face… the expression… the hairstyle… was quite nostalgic.

"So… little Allen Walker… Do you wish to see your father again?"

"Y…Yes…"

A destroyed city housed nothing but rubble, demolished lampposts, and crumbling buildings, which were dusted gray over the once white walls. The cobblestones were buried in ash, and sky was eternally gray, a spiraling cloud circling above on a white tower that stayed resided in the center of the city. The surroundings were awful, as if no one bothered to clean after themselves, if there were any people living here in the first place.

Black hair was the color of the escapee's hair, his golden eyes flitting warily. His skin was dark gray, as if he were half dead, but still fully alive. His clothing was heavily tattered, the white shirt in ruins, and the pants with large gashes from sword cuts and black blood.

A young boy in a straitjacket, his eyes closed, and his silvery hair ruffled and showered with black soot, was held by the man, not feeling anything, not seeing anything. His arms were still bound in front of him by several restraints, and his legs were done in the same manner. The high collar that was solely for gagging him was unfastened, showing the abuse that had been done to his poor neck. His face was easily showing the malnutrition his suffered, and the red pentacle scar was easily visible, as red as ever.

Panting, a man was sprinting across these pitiful streets. He cursed himself for not having had exercise for three decades, and he winced at the pain in his left arm, where a bruise was peeking out of his mangled white dress shirt. He arms were getting tired, but his fingers resolved to clutch onto the person he had rescued, a young boy. The two of them were the only survivors, and only residents of this city, and this was the first time they met. The running man wasn't sure what his companion felt, since the poor thing was unconscious when he had found him.

"Come out, wherever you are... Dorian..." A taunting voice, made the already tired man jump and run harder.

"You can't run away anymore... Dorian... or should I say... the 14th?" The voice made him stop dead. Dorian was standing in the middle of vacant town square, where an abandoned fountain had once been. He cautiously held onto the boy he carried, watching the perimeters. He was fooled again as a man began to charge dangerously at his back, and before he could register anything, the wind was knocked out of his lungs as he and the sleeping boy was flung into a nearby building, He gasped, and the boy looked more limp than ever. Dorian panicked as he picked the boy up again. He could sense the boy's heart was going far too slow, too slow to be called normal and on a good way of recovering. They had to get out of here fast.

Dorian's opponent was a middle aged man. He wore black eyepatch over his battle-experienced face, his black hair sleeked back, to give more into his large buff figure. The man wielded two swords in his hands, while Dorian had nothing. To make matters worse, the one eyed man was wearing horrid smile, one that could make anyone want to back down from a battle with him.

"Now... little Dorian..." the man took a step closer, and Dorian backed up into a wall. "Hand me the boy, and I'll give you more time before you perish, too."

The golden eyes narrowed angrily... "No, I cannot give you Allen Walker. He's been damaged enough, Bradley."

"I say not," Bradley took another step. "He's needs more discipline. Besides, the plan to restrain the both of you from betraying the Church is almost in completion..."

Dorian raised his hand, gathering the black Matter he had practiced for centuries. If he could just tear apart this man, he would be fine. Allen's head lolled over to the side of the collar of his gray straitjacket, still unconscious. The poor boy, he thought, to be broken on both sides... If he hadn't found the stairway to the tower, Allen would've been past the point of no return. Dorian's sympathetic eyes gathered small droplets of water, but he hesitated for too long. A sharp blade, pierced through his hand that was supporting the target, and Dorian yelped in pain, reluctantly stepping back, and Allen clattered to the ground, just like a broken marionette. Bradley grabbed his prize by the scruff of the collar, his swords dripping in the said black blood that only existed in Noah. He dealt a blow to Dorian's head, dragging Allen with him as he continued to beat down the Noah.

"I'll remind you one more time," Bradley continued. "You have only a few more days to live before I come after you."

"No..." Dorian tried to reach for Allen with his outstretched hand, but Bradley swiftly turned around, tugging the poor victim across the floor. The uncomfortable feel of rugged terrain, made the silver haired boy stir, and his eyes cracked open with dry lashes, a small glint of silver in his eyes, he saw the fallen 14th still looking desperately at him on the floor, and he looked up slowly to see Bradley pulling him. He wanted to escape... but he was so tired... just so tired... His eyes drifted to another dreamless state, and a small scream of a familiar girl made him enter uneasy sleep.

"ALLEN!"

A/N: Today is double chapter day! This chapter's a bit weird... a lighthearted beginning and a suspenseful and scary ending... Bradley is evil! As for the 14th's name, I stuck with Dorian, because "Dorian Gray" = -man... so it made sense. Undoubtedly, Lenalee must have seen everything, and she's on major nervous breakdown, as you can see from that scream at the end. The next chapter is more tense, but... Read this bonus down here!

Featuring a bonus scene! This is a draft scene that happened to be in the files, and this was supposed to be after Al leaves Road in the morning (after their little night together). This took place before they arrived at the Shield, so it's at some random inn. Lavi's just too curious for his own good:

Alphonse closed the door behind him, and was caught off guard by Lavi snickering before him. The redhead was leaning against the wall beside the door to the Elric brothers' room.

"Wow…" Lavi joked. "You sure start young…"

Alphonse frowned and headed for the door to his room.

"Whatever," He dismissively answered, but right when he was about to open the door, Lavi stopped him by holding onto his outstretched hand.

"I wouldn't open it if I were you…" Lavi smiled in nervousness. "You see… Winry went inside last night…"

Alphonse sighed, seeing a fake air to it. However, even though Winry and Ed would never do that… at a time like this, he mustn't take any chances. He stomped up to the door and began banging on the it instead.

"Brother! Winry! Wake up, you lovebirds! Hurry out and get out of the room! Don't make me come in there!"

The first response was a shout and then Ed's big string of curses and profanities as a series of shuffling stomps to the floor came closer. The door was immediately flung open as a disheveled-looking Edward Elric was fuming at the opened door. Obviously he woke up on the wrong side of the bed. No way Winry would be there…

"What the hell are you saying, Al!" Ed shouted. "Winry was never in here! Who the hell told you that, damnit!"

Ed then stopped and turned to Lavi, who sweatdropped at the former's fury, and attempted to back away.

"Lavi…" Ed snarled like a vicious animal. "Come back here so I can rip your feet off and put them on your head… it's an order…"

"Sorry, Inspector… or… um… Major…" Lavi smiled, still backing away. "I think I value my life more than your orders…"

A series of footsteps made him freeze. Winry was staring behind him, and he spun to look at Winry.

"Oh? What's wrong?" Winry asked innocently. Lavi then gave a sigh of relief. She didn't hear anything just yet… then he saw a dark aura rising from her as she slowly drew out her wrench. Oh, take back that first comment. She did hear everything…

Road had finished taking a quick shower, and was stepping out of the compartment with a towel about her body when she heard a big bang from outside of her room followed by many screams and yells and swearing. She sighed, and proceeded to get dried up.

"I wonder what happened…" She muttered to herself, reaching for her clothes.

Lavi's soul was comedically leaking away from his body, as a fuming Ed was standing beside him, bringing questions from the others about what had happened between them. A group of carriages was waiting outside for them as they prepared to leave. Al, meanwhile was waiting for the door to Road's room open, and out stepped Road in an Exorcist uniform identical to Lenalee's.

"W…Wow…" Alphonse smiled. "You look great…"

Road was slightly startled that Alphonse was right next to her, but she smiled back with a faint tinge of red on her cheeks.

"Thank you…" She smiled, and allowed Alphonse to take her arm in arm down the stairs. Whatever happened back at the room at midnight would remain between them, and no one else.