Last chapter I got many positives reviews, thank you so very much! The daily update will continue, until I run out of chapters that I've written beforehand.
Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist does not belong to me!
Chapter 5: Before The Land to the East
Walking down the hallways to meet upwith the emperor Jin couldn't help but to feel slightly nervous about the whole situation. Despite the fact that the servant were looking and giggling at him and the male servant were sending him glares he strides with confidence, an act he have mastered at school.
He finally reaches a door where he was directed to come to and placed a gentle knock on the wooden door.
"Come in," Ling's voice came from inside, and by the muffled words that wasn't only muffled by the thick door he could tell that the food has already been served.
"Your majesty," Jin muttered after he entered the room, directing his statement to the man who was stuffing his face with the most exquisite set of silver that Jin have ever seen, could it still be called silver if it was made out of gold?
"Come sit here, don't be so formal!" the emperor exclaimed patting the soft cushion that was located next to him.
Jin did as he was told and took a seat. The robe that he was somewhat forced to wear were not as luxurious as Ling's but they were equally as uncomfortable. Despite being made with pure silk there were too many layers and the ribbons act like they want to slip away, a dangerous sign.
"Your majesty-"Jin started but was cut short by Jin waving his golden chopsticks in his direction. Which could be said as a rude gesture but it would be unwise to tell this to the man who was in control of the country you're living in.
"Have you heard of Amestris Jin?" Ling asked suddenly serious, Jin gave him a stiffened nod.
"The land to the east that is beyond the desert of Xerxes?" Jin asked just to be sure about if it was the same Amestris they were talking about. This was Xingese after all; every word may have ten thousand different meanings.
"Yes that one." Ling agreed satisfied with the answer, relieved that he wouldn't need to explain most of the concept of the forlorn country for the boy to understand.
"What about it?" Jin asked skeptically, he knew a lot about the subject if the emperor was unaware; it was the subject he spent his last 3 years researching on after all.
"I wouldn't use the longer route and get straight to the point," Ling said signing and gesturing to his world map where there were multiple markings. "I want you to accompany me on my vacation to Amestris," he said.
"W-what?" Jin sputtered wiping his mouth that was moist from the spray of tea that he sprayed out when he heard the words from the emperor's mouth.
"I'm taking you to Amestris with me," Ling declared, "It's an important date and the military calls for me," he explained carefully but then a grinned spread across the man's face. "And I know that you are also very interested in the matters of the country's history,"
Jin blushed a deep red, "Your majesty, as much as I want to go I could not. I would be a burden to your travels…" Jin listed all the different reasons but only stop when Ling gave the boy an amused grin.
"Amestris has one of the biggest library in the nations," Ling said tapping his cheek thoughtfully, "And you'll probably be there when Fullmetal day is celebrated."
This perked up Jin's interest greatly, first off he loved book as mentioned before and library meant books, the festival even tempted him more, being a Fullmetal researcher after all.
"I'll take you're silence as a yes then!" Ling said brightly clapping his hand "I'll meet you a week later then, duty calls good day Edward," and with that he was gone again.
Jin couldn't keep the tickling grin that was crawling up his face, Amestris that was his dream once. He always wanted to go to the land where mythologies' creatures were seen and his life research really.
Grumbling silently about having barely any information Jin finished his already cold breakfast and climbed back to his room, to search for his glasses that were hopefully somewhere in his hastily packed case.
After finding the three inches glasses Jin slipped them on and checked his appearance making sure to return his hair to its natural ponytail and tucked it under the fair silk. He was going to change later but knowing the capitol, wearing normal clothes would stick out more than wearing silk.
Finding his way out of the window wanting to avoid the ruckus that goes on in the palace grounds, Jin slipped away with ease, determined to find the capitol's library. Jumping from the high tree to the ground, he landed gracefully with his fingers scarcely scratching the ground.
"So long stuffy royalty," he muttered while skidding down the streets.
One thing that Jin failed to notice while asking the commons about the whereabouts of the library was probably his eyes that were beginning to blink golden even more frequently than they were staying blue.
Finally walking up to the high building Jin could hear the angels of heaven singing in his ears, he have spent less than an hour but for the anticipation he was holding, that was a long time.
Once he opened the wooden door to the library immediately he set to work, grabbing every single book in the subject he was interested in and forming a high mountain around himself in minutes. After gathering books that could take him about 2 hours to finished he settled himself in the middle of the pile and began writing, brush and note book ready to go in case anything interesting comes up.
After weaving through the pile of books he found many interesting things but not many that actually were what he was looking for. After finishing the last page of his current book he unconsciously picked up another book and started reading it, pausing after finishing two chapters.
"This is a recipe book…" Jin said out loud flipping to look at the cover, it was by Tim Marcoh. Deciding that it wouldn't do any hard Jin continued reading it, only to stop at the fifth chapter and looked up scribbling notes onto the parchment he had out in case there was a code he needed to crack, this one had it.
"Ah…" Jin said flipping throughout the book not knowing what he was looking for but knew enough that it included the philosopher's stone, a subject he never found too much about. That one book was the book that Jin took longest of, a total of 5 hours: Only to release a strangled cry at the result.
"What the hell?" Jin exploded grabbing the book, flipping it forward and backwards reviewing every chapter and every word over and over again, only to falter and throw the book onto the ground. Standing up and replacing every book onto the shelf he burst out of the library to already find it night time and the moon is already shining brightly over the town.
Sprinting towards the royal palace, he leapt over the palace walls and climbed to the tree he used to escape. Once entering his room he flung his belongings onto the bed and rushed to the dining room, knowing that the emperor will be waiting for him there. Bursting into the dining room he found both May Shang and Ling sipping their tea carefully engaged in a talk of politics that recently wandered to the subject of Amestris.
"If it isn't Edward!" Ling said beaming slightly "Tea?" he asked raising his cup which was still steaming hot.
"Cut the bull Ling!" Jin snapped, the first time he did since he gotten here actually, "Why the hell were you looking for a philosopher stone before this?" Jin asked raising an accusing finger, "And don't you dare tell me you freaking gained it!"
Ling looked shocked before relaxing his tensed shoulder and look at the boy who was seething with rage. "You found out about the philosopher's stone I see…" Ling said carefully, "It was a cursed item I gave up the search a long time ago," Ling answered.
"Shut the hell up!" Jin shouted, "The last emperor was looking for the stone and I remembered the town distinguished in one night, the town all my relatives were gathered in!"
Ling heaved a sign, there was no explaining anything to his boy when he was like this, "Sit Jin," Jin stayed standing, steam pouring out of his ears. "We didn't make the stone that expedition was carried out by the governors who seek power, they didn't get the equation correctly and brought their own death," Ling answered carefully.
"You royals and you're wretched power hungriness," Jin hissed venom dripping from his voice.
"Jin I am sorry, there was no prevention," Ling said his voice caring like a father's, "Move on like you were doing every other day," he said "After all you still have your own two legs, no?"
Jin glared at the emperor, "The left leg is not even mine, don't go saying things like you know me," and with that Jin gave Ling a string of curses before slamming the door returning to his room probably to sort his mind.
"Do you think that is a good idea brother Ling?" May asked glancing at her brother her eyes showing concern, she has never seen Jin that… Ed-ish.
"That wasn't a good idea, but we're doing a benefit," Ling answered signing and returning to his seat sipping on his tea. "Didn't you see it May? Under the glasses," May shook her head. "His eyes were completely gold and they weren't even flickering,"
May looked at her brother, shocked "But I thought he would need to be in Amestris to activate his memories," she countered remembering her brother's previous wording the night before.
"True, it only means we need to hurry, knowing the truth about the philosopher's stone probably struck the boy hard," Ling said thoughtfully. "Tell the guards that we are leaving tomorrow at sun-rise, sooner or later he'll start to have his hair color development," May Shao nodded and headed towards the guards chamber, knowing her brother wouldn't want to waste any time.
"Now it's up to the pip-squeak if he still wants to go or not," Ling said to himself crossing his arms and pick up a parchments, "Now where's that letter from the northern kingdom?"
While Ling was caught up in his royal affairs, in the sleeping chambers of Jin Lao there was a storm raging on. Literally, the pillows were rearranged and there were glass shards on the ground and in the middle of it all, a boy heaving slightly, trying not to let his frustration completely take over.
It was hard to say the least; he was raging with anger, about everything honestly. About overall life, about this and about that there was nothing that could prevent the string of curses that was leaving Jin's mouth like the water stream.
With a punch to the wall, leaving a dent, he slumped onto his bed; exhausted and frowning slightly he was done with it all. "Dammit," he said letting loose of the final curse that wasn't as aggressive as he wanted it to be.
There was a knock on the door, Jin let out a groan not feeling like welcoming anybody at the moment, especially if that person is somebody who could say a single word and get him a criminal wanted in the entire country.
"Jin please let me in," a small voice said from outside, the Princess May Shao. There was no answer, he could act like he wasn't there and maybe she'll go away just like that.
"I know you're in there Jin," the Princess repeated, "I'll be leaving a note the emperor want you to have," and with that Jin sense her presence moving away from the door with a small folded white piece of paper poking under the door.
Walking slowly over the paper and flipping it open to read it Jin felt the urge to kick something yet again, that stupid emperor was only pushing his limit.
Yah, Edward. We'll be going to Amestris tomorrow, I had a change of plan. Be sure to pack and do your things and if you refuse you'll be proclaim criminal, good luck!
Jin tightened his grip on the paper before tearing it to shreds that damn squinty eyes royalty. But after that remark he indeed started packing and got ready for the trip, there was no use dwelling on the past anyhow, he knew this as a fact.
Already knowing that it was near midnight Jin took a quick bath and laid on his back, looking towards the ceiling, not forward and not backward. He guest he really did needed to go to Amestris if he didn't want to be proclaimed criminal in the country, besides he really wanted to see this "Fullmetal Festival" that the emperor was talking about.
Slowly closing his eyes he thought about the things he found up today and couldn't help but let s single tear slide down his cheek. His family that he spent only 8 years with has died in vain, for a cause but no results, it pained him greatly. Feeling the wind brush past on his bear skin he closed his eyes and let sleep take him elsewhere, for once he could forget about reality.
The sun was rising and a grumbling Princess was walking down the hallways grumbling slightly. She was needed to go wake up Jin another morning and she was taking her time just in case she needs to face a half-naked guy again. Honestly her husband had more manners and actually sleeps with his shirt on and ultimately refuses to show her more skin than necessary knowing that it makes her nervous and jittery.
Feeling in a grumpy mood she didn't even bother to knock the door when she reached her destination and instead kicked the door open. "Wake up shorty!" she shouted, knowing that it will wake him up and that it will annoy him to an extent, even though knowing it was a unlady like thing to do especially for a princess she still did it just for the sakes of it.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SHORT YOU MIDGET?!" Jin exploded fist already raised knowing who and where the voice came from. Although he knew that he wasn't short some habits just never fade, especially this one.
"Wake up, brother Ling is leaving in an hour," May simply said and leaving before she would be a ripe tomato, seeing that again Jin have only slept in his boxers, she'll need to talk to her brother about this subject, and of course his brother about his sleeping attire.
Jin rubbed his eyes slightly and felt his head splitting in two; maybe it wasn't such a good idea to take a look at that notebook in the middle of the night. He vaguely remembers the picture of a house in the middle of green hills with a swing in a tree besides it. Pushing the thought out of his mind he slung his leg over the bed and slowly crawled over to the bathroom.
Taking a quick shower he slung on his clothes that were already prepared the day before; a simple black cloak over traditional red Xing clothing, light and easy to travel in. Unconsciously he tied his hair in a long braid and pin it up in a high bun, checking his final reflection he slipped on his glasses and slung his suitcase over his shoulder. Of course at that time he was too sleepy to notice the gold that was decorating the rim of his blue eyes.
"Yo Jin!" Meng greeted once Jin exited his room, he was dressed in attire similar to the boy but with blue underneath.
Jin flicked his wrist at the older boy in acknowledgement; Meng raised an eyebrow at this. "Where's the emperor Meng?" Jin asked his voice slurred, sleep still refusing to leave his body.
"He's waiting at the front gates, we better get going," Meng replied grabbing his own suit case which is way fuller than Jin's being the clean man he was.
"Why have he ordered a change of plan?" Jin asked in a tone that said answer-and-get-on-with-life; apparently Meng didn't catch the tone of voice the boy was providing.
"Something about the meeting changing to an earlier date, we do spend a good 3-4 weeks in the desert after all," Meng answered, unsure of his answer. "And he's afraid you'll remember something too early," he added quietly.
"What's that?" Jin asked abruptly.
"Nothing," the older boy answered and speeding up ahead.
"You're early Jin," Ling greeted seeing the boy' sleepy face walking towards him.
"It was never my tendency to be late," Jin responded greeting the emperor with a stiff bow. Ling smirked once he saw the golden rim under the three inches glasses, how typical of him to wear those.
"You do know that the desert isn't so inviting to us non-alchemist right?" Ling asked the boy. They were waiting for the caravan to arrive, as emperor of a great empire, assassins were very likely and May insisted on bringing protection.
"Unlike you emperor," Jin said his voice dangerously quiet, "I am an alchemist and could transmute water or shelter at any time," he said, May raised an eyebrow, but Ling mildly smirked, he expected this to an extent.
"I see, then we'll have to rely slightly on you then," Ling said chuckling slightly.
"That's where you are wrong emperor," the boy said smirking, something he doesn't do very often, "You have your own escorts and me having none, I couldn't support myself if I need to transmute for the entire caravan," Ling resisted the urge to laugh out loud.
They needed to hurry the Edward attitude was showing more than it needed to and that was both a good sign and a bad sign. First of all, he needed to be in Amestris when I regain most of his memories or else they will probably have a boy with his head splitting in two with them.
The caravan arrived in a group of 5 men and they climbed their respective horses and headed towards the desert. Jin first of all couldn't quite believe what was happening, he was sure it was a new land and where he wanted to go for some time but then again it was horror at this moment. Wasn't every day you leave the only place you know about and head for another one.
"To Amestris we go then," Ling declared mounting his own brown purebred Xingese horse.
It's funny. I am the person who have written this Fanfic but everytime I post a new chapter I will always read it again and again, not to proof read but for pure entertainment. It really is weird for me to enjoy the fic that I've written on my own. But I've written this chapter sometime in January after all so I guess it isn't weird that my memory is fading. Moving on.
Meng: Dream in Chinese
Responses
Cutiepie120048: Edward Elric fangirl? Well, I'm one too so happy to find one of the same kind! Believe me he isn't going to regain his memory at ultra speed and also what happened to his family? It's the whole point of the story! You gotta stay tuned for that!
Alheli (guest): Thank goodness, I thought that the characters were OOC since it've been a while since I have watched FMA, guess I have the personalities carved into my head! (told you I head atleast 20 personnas.
Everybody Else: I'm only responding to the one's that have questions to be answered so the other of you who I've not responded to, I'll like to say Thank you! The reviews were very encouraging to me, and once I see one, I would most likely bound to my computer immedietly.