Chapter 8

Outside, the sun shone brightly, dazzling in its intensity. It lit up the streets like marble, causing a glowing whiteness that would otherwise not be present in the city. A gentle breeze wafted through the skies, stirring the trees lightly and causing them to dance within their square. Birds chirped happily, hopping about on branches and rooftops, causing the odd passerby to look up with a smile. It was a beautiful day.

"So why do I have to be inside?" The man grumbled, tapping his pen in annoyance as he glared out the window. The paperwork assigned to him lay long forgotten to the side, from the time when he had pushed it aside.

Just then, the door slammed open, and the man's eyes went wide. Quickly, the man put his pen to the page, looking as if he had been writing the whole time.

A woman stood at the door's entrance, hands on her hips and eyes narrowed in suspicion. Briskly, she walked towards the black haired man, flipping her long blond hair over her shoulders. Her pristine blue military uniform shone in the sunlight, highlighting the gun at her belt. The man gulped.

"Funny," The woman muttered dangerously as she picked up the sheet that he had been working on, her eyes quickly scanning the words, "I could have sworn you were just working on this half an hour ago…"

The man smiled sharply, snatching the paper back from her hands, "Yes well, I assure you that I was working on something else. Perhaps you just don't remember?"

The woman's eyes narrowed, "I am not one of those fools who would bow down at your every word. Do not try to fool me… Fuhrer Mustang."

Roy Mustang smile sheepishly, setting down the paper once again, "Sorry Riza."

"You'd better be," Riza Hawkeye huffed, turning her head away, "Or else I'd…"

Roy paled as she fingered her gun.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Roy put up his hands in surrender, "I can't help it! This is so much work, way more than I had as a colonel. My mind wanders at times, you know that. It can't be helped."

"You finally get your dream," Riza rolled her eyes, "And all you do is complain."

"I don't complain." Roy sighed, his tone turning wistful, and it was then that Riza seemed to notice the dark bags under his eyes. "I'm just… I'm tired Riza. Being Fuhrer is a lot of work, and I was prepared for it, but still… there are things that only I can sign, only I can look at. I honestly can't help my mind wandering at times, but I haven't forgotten the sacrifices everyone has made to get me here…."

They didn't say anything for a long time, but it was clear who they were thinking about with the far-away look in their eyes.

Finally, Riza sighed, "Alright then, I can see you've fried your brain for today. How 'bout we take a break and go visit Al?"

Roy smiled softly, "Yes, let's do that."

The two walked out of the office, hand in hand.

The building they stepped out of was impressive, with high marble columns and a pristine look to it. The word 'Central' flashed across the top of the building, and the armaments made it clear exactly what type of building it was. The military palace had been restored, though not to its former glory as some old veterans might say.

The new building they went into however, was no less impressive, though for different reasons. It was a hospital, and obviously the best hospital money could buy. Plush chairs, mahogany furnishings, and velvet draping lined every inch of the place, everything done to make sure a patient would have the best time of their stay.

Roy smiled sadly, and walked a familiar path to one of the rooms, Riza just a step behind him. He pushed open the door, the wood sliding smoothly away and revealing the occupants of the room.

Winry turned her head, her back to them due to her position on the chair. As soon as she saw them, her face split into a large grin, giving her a cat-like look, "Roy, Riza, I wasn't expecting you two today!"

"Anything to escape the paperwork," Roy mumbled, looking to the room's other inhabitant. Al lay on the bed, in front of Winry. He looked tired and pale, but not sickly or in pain. Roy smiled ever so slightly, "I'm glad to see you're doing better, Al."

"Well I'd better be doing better," Al joked weakly, struggling to sit up, "I've been in rehabilitation for half a year now."

Just as Al was about to get into a seated position, Winry pushed him back down, scowling, "Oh no you don't mister, you've already had your exercise for today, so you can't overstrain yourself! You can talk to Roy and Riza while laying in bed. They don't mind, right?"

The look the teenage girl gave them ensured that they nodded quickly.

"Alright Winry," Al sighed, laying back down and snuggling into a more comfortable position, "Still as pushy as always…"

Winry scowled, her eyes glinting with something people told horror stories about, "What was that?"

"No-nothing!" Al said quickly, "I was just- oh, was that a cat?"

All three of the other occupants sighed as one. Riza looked kindly at the bed-ridden boy, "Al… you still suck at lying."

Al blushed, then laughed lightly, "Yeah I guess... it was always Brother who-"

He stopped short, his lips parted but no words coming out. Closing his mouth again, Al looked down, the light in his eyes dimming ever so slightly, "It was always Brother who misled people."

There was another moment of silence, and if one looked closely it was Winry who looked the saddest, but she quickly bounced up again. A large, catlike smile –only slightly forced- spreading across her face, Winry slapped Al's shoulder, shaking her head at Roy and Riza, "What are we all doing, being depressed over Edward? He'd never want this. He'd want you to be happy, Al."

"Yes..." Roy murmured, his thoughts far away and a tone of wistfulness in his voice, "Fullmetal gave up his life for you, so don't waste it mourning him."

"I- I won't." Al said firmly, a familiar glint of determination his eyes, a look which had been most closely associated with his late brother, "I know the consequences of messing with death. Brother's an idiot, dying for me, but death... I just hope he's happy."

There was nothing one could do after all, about death. Being trapped in a body of armour, comas, through The Gate, all that could be fixed, but death... Even the Elric Brothers knew better.

"I'm sure he is," Winry said softly, looking as if she were holding back tears. It had already been half a year but... She shook her head, letting out an unwavering breath, "He's fine, that idiot. He's probably annoying everyone wherever he is with his crazy theories on how death works. We'll see him when the time comes. For him, what's a few years compared to eternity?"

"Yeah," Al smiled weakly, "Move on, live with no regrets. That's been our motto. I'll live on for him, though I admit it was selfish of Brother. Still... for him I'll..."

"We'll all move on," Roy whispered, glancing at the woman beside him, the woman who had stayed with him through thick and thin, who had helped him recover his eyesight. "We'll make him proud of us..."

But he wasn't dead.

Edward felt his throat close up, the scene in front of him sending tinges throughout his entire body. He so much wanted to tell them that he was very much alive, had cheated death yet again. Could join them, could help Al, could support Roy, could comfort Winry...

And Al... Al, yes that was definitely Al. The sickly, teenage body that Edward had seen through the Gate couldn't be faked. Al had gotten his body back, for the price of Edward leaving Amestris forever.

Except now Edward wasn't sure if it was forever.

Al... Edward longed to reach out and touch him, the ruffle his hair and tell the younger blond that it'll all be okay. To erase that pain ridden smile, to see delight fill up those eyes again. The body was still stick thin, though Edward could no longer see the ribs. No doubt the six months of rehabilitation had done something, but it was not nearly enough. If Edward was there, he could make sure that Al was eating right, sleeping right.

This Al, laughing now, did not seem so bad, and Edward knew he would eventually recover completely but... but how long would that take? How long before the bags under Al's eyes disappeared, how long before Al started really feeling hungry again? What pain must Al be going through, because of Edward's 'death'...

He desperately wanted to go to the scene in front of him.

The scene... in front of him...

The huge Gate swung closed, majestic doors blocking the picture of Amestris it had shown him, leaving Edward standing alone in the white room. The Gate loomed in front of him, and though no figure was here to greet Edward this time, the blond knew that The Gate wanted.

If Edward wanted to go back to Amestis, he would have to pay a price. The scene The Gate had shown him was not for sentimental values, certainly not. No, it was to give Edward a minute taste of what life back at Amestris would be like, leaving the blond wanting. Well, it worked.

Now the only question that remained was, what price?

What would The Gate demand of him? An arm, a leg, his longevity? He would almost give up anything, just to be back. To be back with Winry, who'd bonk on him the head with a wrench, before promptly bursting into tears and asking -no, demanding- where he had been all this time. To be back with Mustang, who'd exasperatedly ask what took him so long, but have a little relieved smile all the same. To be back with Al, who's eyes so similar to his own would light up with something that Edward could never have, who'd hug him immediately, who'd ask Edward to never leave him again...

Edward took a step forward, a step towards his old country, towards his old friends, towards his old brother...

Itachi paced the room restlessly, hands behind his back and a slight scowl on his face. He usually didn't like to show so much emotion, but in this situation containing himself to only show this much already took all his effort. Inwardly he felt as if he would burst, whether from worry or guilt he knew not.

Besides, expanding effort to contain himself hardly seemed needed, and at this moment he could care less if he got a lecture about this later. Clan dignity was the furthest thing from his mind, and if the Uchiha were embarrassed about him then so be it. If his father disowned him, then so be it. Itachi didn't care. Because, right now, his best friends was dying.

Yes, his best friend, Itachi would admit it now. He had been avoiding thinking the term before, because it meant some level of intimacy that Itachi was not willing to give, but somehow Edward had gotten it anyway. Even Shusui, whom the Uchiha no doubt that was the person closest to Itachi, had not understood the young genius as Edward had.

Does.

Edward was not dead. He could not be.

Itachi glanced again at the prone figure resting on the hospital bed, a gas mask over his face. The medical ninja had done all they could, forcibly bringing the tissues of Edward's skin together and even donning their own blood so that a child wouldn't die. But... but it was not enough. They had said his heart was odd, and-

His heart.

Itachi's arms fell from his earlier position to hang limply at his sides, his hands shaking. Edward's heart. It had been completely destroyed.

But, Edward had not been dead at that time. There is a four minute interval from when the heart stops beating to death and irreparable damage to the nervous system, but in that four minutes the victim was still technically alive. Itachi had spent a precious second thinking and regretting his actions of the previous month, but a second was not fatal. It was surprising how much the mind worked and how quickly it thought during moments of high stress.

Then, Itachi had stupidly allowed the enemy to talk for another five seconds, and his new technique took another five second to activate. Ripping out his opponent's heart and using it to replace Edward's had taken a full minute.

Itachi still shook with the guilt of the brutal killing, and he knew that it would be one more thing to add to his nightmares, but he could not go back in time to stop himself. It had been an impulsive, out of character act, and if Itachi had been in the right state of mind he was sure he would never had done such a thing, yet... Itachi did not regret it.

It could possibly save Edward.

Itachi was not a medical ninja, but he knew some medical techniques. All ANBU had to. Itachi, who specialized in silent killing, especially knew where all the important acupuncture points for paralysis and instant death were. He also knew the ones for speeding up healing, and a few simple jutsus to connect the new heart to Edward's.

It was a stupid thing, he knew, and even if it worked it could bring with it a whole string of problems for Edward in the future. There was no time to look for a heart that matched Edward's blood type, so Itachi simply had to hope for the best. Thankfully, it stabilized the blond, at least. Itachi had hoped that once he got back to the Konoha hospital, they would be able to do something about it.

Two percentage.

That was the chance for Edward's survival. Extremely low, extremely negative, and honestly Itachi shouldn't be expecting much out of it. Yes, Edward had survived against the odds before, showed amazing resilience and resolve, but two percent was just really too low.

So... why did Itachi still feel that he would see Edward rise from that bed and ask how many days of research he missed?

Itachi had seen deaths, had accepted them as part of life, had done all he could to help Edward. He hadn't rested since running home with Edward on his back, careful not to aggravate the blond's wounds any further. He was suffering from chakra exhaustion, physical exhaustion, and probably mental exhaustion too. Intellectually, Itachi knew that he should rest, especially since the Hokage was likely to call on him soon for deserting the client in the middle of a mission.

But... but Itachi couldn't leave. By some unconscious desire, his body would not obey his more hardened, objective mind. He could not leave Edward's bedside.

Nurses had come to take him, to convince him to get out of the white white room, to breath in some fresh air and see his little brother, so that he would not go insane. Itachi had driven them all away with a cold glare, not one word coming out of his mouth.

Truth to be told, he could not say anything. He was sure it'd come out like a jumble if he tried to even express a titbit of what he was feeling. For the first time in a long time, Itachi was painfully aware of his age. He was only twelve, not the wizen age old ninja that he sometimes fancied himself as.

He briefly wondered if the Hokage was taking this better.

If... If the Hokage felt like this all the time... how did the old man do it? How did Father do it? How did every single adult elite jounin who had lost their best friend to war, or missions, or simply stupid stupid fights live with themselves? Itachi... Itachi couldn't imagine it.

The Hokage wanted peace, he had said, and Itachi did not truly understand the significance of it until now. Yes, he had thought he had, fancying himself understanding with what he had seen about the war, but now he knew it was something completely different. When someone close to you died...

Itachi doubly did not want a world where such an occurrence happened regularly. With people sacrificing, dying... Itachi's eyes wandered to Edward again, whose chest had been rising and falling sporadically for the past five hours, except...

Except it wasn't rising and falling any longer.

Edward had stopped breathing.

Itachi was at the bedside in a second, checking over all vitalities possible, just to make sure he wasn't missing anything. No... no Edward couldn't be dead; it just wasn't possible. He... He...

Itachi clenched his fists, an odd sense of anger filling him. How dare Edward just up and leave when he'd just brought the two Uchiha brothers together. Didn't he know that Itachi would just go back to ignoring Sasuke if Edward wasn't there to make sure they spent time with eachother? How could Edward leave so suddenly when- when-

"You can't die!" The declaration left him feeling deflated. The frightening anger that he had only felt one other time left so quickly it left Itachi feeling empty, and he almost wished for it back. For once, he wished that he did not have supreme control over his emotions and keep that little box full of rage buried so deeply that even he could not access it anymore.

"You can't die," Itachi whispered again, utterly defeated.

Two percent.

There was no point even to calling the nurses, now. It was obvious Edward wasn't going to make it. In the end, two percent was just too low, even for a genius. Itachi let out a deep, shuddering breath, his vision of Edward turning blurry as the lights became overly bright. He closed his eyes, telling himself to calm down. It was done, it was over with, so Itachi should regain the control of his emotions.

Edward was... Edward was... Itachi had to accept it.

But he wasn't sure if he would be willing to put himself through something like this again. It was a mistake to let Edward wiggle his way into Itachi's mind, if this was the amount of pain it brought. Itachi had been right in trying to keep Sasuke away. It just wasn't worth it.

When he opened his eyes again, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Edward's chest was moving again, and this time with a steady pace that had not been present before.

"E-Edward?" Itachi hated how his voice cracked, because he knew the blond would make fun of him for it later, "You're... alive."

Golden eyes opened, painfully slow, and a strained smile stretched across the all white visage, turning the cold face of the dead into something all too familiar. "Did you think you could get rid of me that easily? But you know, that that you've brought me back, I'll... never let go."

He had left them, in the end.

Even he had noticed his own thought process, and that had made him stop before he had taken the fatal step across The Gate. Old. Old country, old friends, old brother.

When had he stopped considering them something that he needed, and when had he decided that they were simply a happy remnant of the past? Was it sometime during the many nights he had spent eating dinner with the Uchiha brothers and Hikari? Was it when he started his ninja training and became resolute in helping the Hokage? Was it during that mission in Grass, when he had seen the need of this world and what it could offer him...?

He didn't know, and it frustrated him.

Edward tilted his head back, allowing his head to sink into the soft, malleable material that was his pillow. The white ceiling above him stared blankly back, as if mocking him for his lack of knowledge. White, just like his thoughts. White, because he had no answers.

He still loved Al, oh yes he did, and he did not think anything could replace that love. But... he no longer needed to be with Al to live. He had realized that back in Amestris, even. During that period of separation where Al had been with Mei and Edward recovering... no, before that even. Again, something Edward couldn't pinpoint the exact moment of, yet happened nonetheless.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Edward had started to drift away, leading his own life and his own desires. The brotherly bond that had tied him and Al together had still been present, ever-binding and never letting up, but when Edward had died... Had that rope snapped?

No! No, it wasn't so sudden. More like... it had worn away, little by little, as Edward and Al slowly pulled apart and neither of them went back to check on the condition of the rope that bound them. They had started their own lives, and the distance made it easy for them to forget the other. They could no longer maintain it, no longer keep it in the condition at which it started, and eventually it had become wire thin.

Edward had wanted to restore it.

Or rather, he had never wanted it to break.

He shifted, no longer wanting to look at the ceiling. Perhaps the walls would be better, even if they were equally as bland and colourless. A stab of pain shot through Edward's body, forcing him to stop his half-shift and take a few deep breaths. Why had he decided to come back again, with his body ruined like this?

Ah yes, because...

Because this had become his world.

Somehow, and honestly Edward was not quite sure how, he had never considered Amestris home despite his numerous travels. It might have been because he had always been so focused on obtaining the philosopher's stone that he had ignored all the beauties of the country. And Resembool... well he had shot down that option the day he burned his house and made the resolution to never look back.

But this world, this ninja world, because yes crazily enough ninjas existed, had sucked him in. He hadn't wanted it to, but somehow Konoha had made its way into Edward's heart and buried itself there. Now Edward couldn't leave, not with the Hokage depending on him and Itachi ready to turn away from Sasuke when the slightest bit of trouble came.

Yes Edward still loved the people he had left in Amestris, but he realized –though not without a heartfelt pang- that they no longer needed him. It had been half a year, and they had moved on. They were slowly, but surely, forgetting about him. If he went back now, who knew what disturbances it would cause?

The dead should just stay dead.

Al no longer needed him, he could see that clearly. It rankled him and made his jealousy flare up faster than a fire jutsu, but it was the truth. Yes, Al could use some extra help, but it was not needed. Roy, Riza, and Winry were now almost able to read Al as well as Edward had, perhaps even better in some ways. Edward could speed up the process of Al's recovery, but he knew in his heart that Al would recover without him as well.

And truth to be told, he no longer needed Al. It hurt him to even think that, but there was no denying it. When he had become obsessed with searching for a way back that past month, hadn't it been because he'd felt responsible? He had not had the actual burning desire to return to Amestris, but rather it was the need to see if Al was alright, and to keep his mind occupied.

The Gate had shown him Al was fine, was recovering, did not need rescuing. Edward no longer had a purpose for searching Al out, or rather... he no longer had an obligation. As much as he hated to think of his little brother as a duty rather than desire, the answer was glaringly obvious. With Al in good health, Edward no longer felt the need to look for him.

He had never wanted the rope to break.

Just then, the door creaked open, breaking Edward out of his thoughts. The blond turned his head, careful not to shift his body on the condition of pain.

Itachi.

The one who had called him back. He could still here it clearly, the almost desperate cry of 'you can't die!' If it weren't for that, Edward knew he would have gone back to Amestris. But those words, that tone, it had reminded him... it was no longer Amestris that needed him.

Itachi glanced over him critically, probably assessing wounds. The dark haired boy took a few steps forwards, the door seeming to just shift shut behind him, "How do you feel?"

Physically? Like he had been run over by a truck. But Itachi didn't know what that was, and it would raise awkward questions with the Hokage if Edward said that. Mentally?

Edward chuckled weakly, struggling to sit up and failing. He fell back down with a plop, letting himself sink into the bed, "Not that great, but I'll get better. I always do."

"You almost didn't, this time," Itachi said softly.

They hadn't had much time to talk after Edward had woken up. As soon as he'd spoken a word Itachi was already calling for the medics, making sure they'd stabilize him and stop him from slipping away just as he had gotten back. Edward was pretty sure it wouldn't have happened but hey who knew? He had fainted right afterwards, after all.

So now... were they having a conversation that was long overdue?

"No, I almost didn't," Edward agreed, "But I came back in the end, right?"

"That is true," Itachi paused, "Was it because of whatever you had to research this past month?"

Edward hesitated, "That... it's complicated. In the end, no."

Itachi nodded, "Good, because if you go back to how you were before, I will bring it to an end."

Edward's surprise must have shown, because Itachi almost seemed to immediately answer his question, "I realized... I might not have been doing you a favour, avoiding you. It was what you wanted yes, but perhaps not what you needed. If you fall again, I will make sure you do not go too far. If you're venturing near the light, I'll stop you before you hit the sun. Do not think I will care if you desperately are in need of that knowledge; by saving me you have ensured that I will not let your wellbeing plummet again."

Edward felt his throat close, and he nodded reluctantly; because really, what could he say to that? He wanted to disagree of course, wanted to rage that he wasn't some child that needed watching over, but... he knew as well as others his own moods. He knew that they could be dangerous. For Itachi to do something completely out of his character for Edward's health... well, how could Edward say no?

"Fine," Edward finally said, glancing away, "Do whatever you want."

There was a moment's silence, and then... "Hey Itachi? With Sasuke... do you think you'll ever stop loving him?"

Edward could practically feel Itachi stiffen despite not looking at him. It was almost an insensitive question, and if someone had asked Edward in the past he was pretty sure he would have punched them. With his automail arm. But... Edward needed to know.

"...no," Itachi said at last, and Edward knew that it must have killed him to admit it, "I would never stop loving him, no matter what he did, no matter how long it has been until I've seen him..."

Ah, so Itachi had read his mind yet again. Edward felt his lips twist in a grin; the dark haired boy had prepared just the right answer too. Essentially, Itachi was assuring Edward that no matter what he decided, he would still share the bond with Al. It may be worn yes, more stretched out, but no less binding. Even if Al was in Amestris, and Edward was here, they would still be...

Brothers.

Shisui Uchiha was what was considered to be a genius.

He had graduated at age ten, activated his Sharingan at age twelve, and became known as Shusui of the Body Flicker at age fifteen. He was one of the most famous Uchiha of his generation, and his information had taken up three pages of the Bingo Book.

He was nothing compared to Itachi, though.

Itachi Uchiha, Shisui mused, was one of those once in a lifetime prodigies, a genius among geniuses. And now, he had found another one. As Shisui watched from his perch in the tree, he couldn't help but think of how perfect it all was.

At fourteen, Shisui had become interested in hearing someone had mastered the Sharingan at age eight- a full five years before he had. Though of course, it was the Head of the Clan's son, so it might have been expected. Still, Shisui had wanted to see who this potential rival might be. Perhaps a little vengefully, Shisui had wanted to take the kid down a peg or two, and show this 'Itachi Uchiha' that not everything would come so easily to him.

Well, he had been only fourteen then. He couldn't have known better.

To see a cold, desensitised boy where he should have seen a kid goofing off with his friends, had been like a bucket of arctic water to the Genius of the Body Flicker. Itachi was a genius among geniuses yes, who garnered everyone's attention and praise, but he lacked the thing that Shisui thought was probably most important.

Friends.

Shisui, who spent all his free time around people, recognized a lonely person when he saw them. He was rather glad that it was his better nature that came out at the time. Instead of showing Itachi an eight year old was no match for the fourteen year old, Shisui had decided to take Itachi out to eat instead. A sort-of friendship had started from there.

"You did a seal wrong. The third one's rat, not boar."

Itachi and Elric were in the clearing below, a little to the right of Shisui's tree. It was their training ground, actually, and Shisui had discovered it when he had been looking for Itachi, unsure of where the younger Uchiha had disappeared to. Shisui had come here early today, knowing that he had no chance of sneaking up on the prodigy duo if he arrived after them. Elric had been practicing various jutsus while Itachi was doing weapons training, but Shisui should have known that the genius Uchiha would notice what his companion was doing even if he wasn't giving it his complete attention.

"Yes I know," Elric frowned at his left, where a small hole had formed through a nearby treetrunk. If Shisui recalled properly, the jutsu Elric was practicing should have created a small fire, not a hole. "I was testing something out."

"That's dangerous," Itachi commented dryly, "But I don't suppose you care?"

Elric grinned, his pensive mood gone in a flash, "You know I'm too careful for it to have killed me. And I trust your abilities well enough for you to get out of here in time."

"You say that, but the reason you're testing it now instead of later is because I'm here, is it not? In case something goes wrong, you expect me to be the one to save you."

"Perhaps, but you're also dying to know what I'm testing."

"..."

Elric didn't need an invitation. He launched into a detailed explanation of what he was working on, and Shisui himself couldn't help but be enraptured. Still, the pace of it was quick, and sometimes even Shisui found himself getting lost. But he did get the gist of it. Woah, the Elric guy was already learning how to create new jutsus.

But Itachi was never lost.

The twelve year old Uchiha was taking in everything with a glint of interest that had never been present during his conversations with Shisui, and responding accordingly, with a level of enthusiasm Shisui would never have thought Itachi could pull off. Truly, this was what true friends should be like.

Shisui and Itachi weren't friends like that. Shisui had wanted to help Itachi of course, but he had his own best friends. Itachi was someone whom Shisui looked after, would bother just for the heck of it during numerous occasions, much like a little brother. They weren't... equal.

Despite Itachi's superior ninja skills, Shisui had a sneaking suspicion the younger Uchiha looked up to him.

Well, it wasn't like it mattered now. Itachi would be fine now, with or without Shisui's help, because he had found someone that would take care of him whether he wanted it or not. A true friend. Someone who would be listened to even if Itachi didn't want it, unlike an older brother in the shadows who only interfered when it came to his mind. Yep, Shisui was quite glad Itachi had met Elric.

Just then, Shisui heard it.

Itachi and Elric seemed to have noticed too, for they suddenly stopped talking. Elric tilted his head towards the source of the noise and smiled softly, while Itachi just sighed. Were they expecting someone else? Whoever it was, they were not very good at keeping quiet. It almost sounded like...

"Aniki! Nii-san!" Sasuke burst into the clearing, bits of leaves stuck in his untameable hair, "What are we going to train today?"

Itachi frowned, ever so slightly, and Shisui frowned with him. He wasn't quite sure what it was that changed Itachi's mood so suddenly. Was it that Itachi didn't want to spend time with his younger brother? Well that was no good, for an older brother to hate a younger one. Perhaps Shisui should...

Itachi stepped forward, "Sasuke, I think-"

"We should go play Gamiyu," Elric interrupted lightly, looking up at the sun's position, "Looks to be afternoon already. We've done enough training for today Itachi; it's time to relax."

Was it really? From what Shisui had seen, Itachi and Elric weren't the least bit tired. They had done no intense training today. However... if he estimated correctly, now would be the time that the Academy ended, which meant that Sasuke came straight from afterschool training and was probably already tired. Was Elric only saying this for Sasuke's sake?

The little Uchiha seemed to have the same thoughts, and he voiced so aloud, ending with- "And you and Nii-san never get tired!"

Elric shook his head, then moved closer to Sasuke and bent down so he could whisper into the smallest Uchiha's ear. Shisui heard of course, and he assumed Itachi did as well, if the slight twitch of the eyebrows were anything to go by.

"You should know that Gamiyu is Itachi's favourite game," Elric whispered, making Sasuke's eyes first go wide with surprise, then narrow with understanding. "But he just feels like he's wasting time if we don't drag him down to play it."

Well, well, what a manipulative boy little Elric was. Although of course, Gamiyu could have been Itachi's favourite game for all Shisui knew, but he also saw the other motive for Elric telling Sasuke such. If it were something his precious older brother wanted to do, then of course Sasuke wouldn't object. As for Itachi... well Shisui hoped that the heir to the Uchiha clan was learning to love his brother under Elric's influence.

"Anyway," Elric straightened, brushing off imaginary dust as he did. "Shall we go play?"

Itachi gave no response, and Elric took that as a positive. Sasuke on the other hand was grinning from ear to ear, and Shisui had to assume that despite all of Sasuke's complaining, the youngest Uchiha rather liked the game too.

Elric took a few steps away from the clearing, only assuming that Itachi would follow, before he suddenly turned around and looked right at the spot where Shisui was hiding. "So, are you coming or not?"

Shisui blinked; he was not only a master at the art of the Body Flicker, but also escaping detection. After all, those two techniques tended to go hand in hand. In fact, he was so good at it that even Itachi had a hard time sensing him, and that was coming from the master of silent killing himself. Yet, somehow, this Elric had noticed he was here...

Well, well.

"Hokage-sama," Edward murmured, bowing lowly.

The Sandaime's lips twitched, the serious expression on his face disappearing for a split second, "Now Edward, when did you turn into Itachi?"

Itachi. That name struck like a chord.

Itachi had been acting oddly for the past two months. Growing distant from his clan, becoming... disrespectful. Edward himself hadn't seen it, but Sasuke had told him about the arguments he heard between Itachi and their father. For Itachi to try to not to give the slightest indication that something was wrong to Edward... was worrying.

Edward had confronted Itachi on numerous occasions, and it looked like the Uchiha was finally wearing down. But what exactly was Itachi wearing down from? What couldn't he tell his best friend of two years?

Edward was getting ready to pound the answer out of the silent Uchiha.

"Oh dear," The Hokage said with a frown, "It looks like a poor choice of words on my part."

"Huh?" Whoops, he must have zoned out, "Uh no, I was just thinking. He'll come around."

"Come around?" The Sandaime asked curiously, "From what?"

"He's been acting odd," Edward reported, though he was unsure of whether or not he should be telling someone else this. But hey, this was the Hokage, and the first person to trust Edward. Besides, Itachi was deathly loyal to Konoha; he wouldn't mind if the Hokage knew, would he? Plus, the Sandaime might know what was going on, and could help Edward.

Ugh, now it just sounded like Edward was making excuses for himself.

"Odd how?" The Sandaime asked, his eyebrows ceased and lips drawn downwards.

"Odd like..." Edward shrugged, frustrated with his lack of words to describe Itachi's actions, "He's... withdrawn. Concerned. He tries to hide it around me, but I know him too well, and I knew people like him too well. Plus, he's been having arguments with his family, and Itachi... even if he doesn't agree someone, he always pretends he does. Itachi always bottles things up, but I don't think he's at his snapping point yet. There's got to be another explanation."

"Was it...?" The Hokage trailed off, but Edward knew where he was leading.

Edward shook his head, "No, this was before Shisui was declared MIA."

Shisui... Edward felt his heart thump a little at the name. Shisui hadn't been around them a lot, but when he had it was always enjoyable. He had the sort of magnetic personality that attracted people to him, much like Hughes. And then, he was just... gone. Missing In Action. Died doing an important mission for the Uchiha clan. When Edward wasn't there. Just like Hughes.

His death had a more profound effect on Itachi of course, probably like Hughes's death had been for Edward. The blond had given the Uchiha a week to mourn, before finally stepping in and demanding that he move on, similar to how Itachi had demanded it the day after Edward's vision about The Gate. It was then that Edward noticed Itachi's odd behaviour, and how it had been odd a good two weeks prior to Shisui's fateful mission. Edward was ashamed that he hadn't realized it earlier.

"Now was it...?" The Hokage gave Edward a long look, almost as if he were contemplating telling Edward something. Well, Edward wasn't going to wait.

"Do you know what's going on?" He blurted out.

"Hm? Ah, no. I was just thinking that it's probably a bad time to tell you the reason I called you here."

Oh, was that really it? Huh, looked like after all these years Edward was still bad a reading people. Even if he lived as a ninja. Edward shook his head, indicating it was fine, "Go ahead. We just got off topic. It's not something you really need to worry about either."

For the briefest moment, Edward though he saw something akin to guilt flash across the Sandaime's face... but he must have been mistaken. After all, why would the Hokage feel guilty? Besides, the expression definitely wasn't there now.

"Yes well," The Hokage looked down, and Edward followed his gaze to the file placed neatly on the desk. Edward should have known; that was going to be his mission. Usually, the missions the Sandaime gave Edward were classified or involved some sort of information that couldn't be written, hence the reason a Special Jounin had to do it. It made sense that the Hokage would especially call Edward up to the tower rather than give it to him in the large room of missions.

"This is an A-rank mission," The Sandaime said, pushing the file towards Edward, "It's actually fairly straightforward, and the only reason I called you to do it was because..."

"It's suited to me," Edward answered as he leafed through the file, feeling his eyebrows climb higher with every page, "Perfectly almost."

"Yes," The Sandaime nodded, looking at Edward's expression carefully, "Anyone could do it, but only you I think, can do the best and most efficient job. But this mission... Edward I have a bad feeling about it. It's almost as this mission was tailored for you. I can't think of anyone else who could do it except maybe Itachi, and even then your unique skills are still more suited. It's up to you whether to take it or not."

"I see," Edward murmured, putting the mission file back down. It was almost creepy how much the mission suited him, and the Sandaime might be right in that it could be a trap, but also... "Don't some missions just 'suit' certain ninjas?"

The Sandaime hesitated, "Well yes but- perhaps you're right. Anyhow, it would be a great help to me if you took this, because it would certainly cut down the mission time by half, and free up other jounin to do other A-ranks, but... but I could also be losing someone very valuable to m- the village if this were indeed a trap."

Edward thought about it. It was true, this mission could have been fabricated by someone who wanted him dead, and wanted to make sure that it was he who died, but Edward couldn't think of anyone like that. Sure, he'd made some enemies, but no major ones who could pull of something like this and hope to succeed. Also, he knew very few people who actually knew his skill set this well and could make a mission that was sure to only have the best results if he did it. After all, he kept his Alchemy skills an absolute secret, and only the Hokage and Itachi knew about his Alkehestry. So...

"I'll be fine," Edward decided, shuffling the mission file into his coat pocket as he made to leave, "Besides, running away is never going to solve anything, right? If this is a trap, I'll expose it."

And with that, Edward left the building.

It was surprisingly, an easy mission. Exactly as the report had said, and no nasty surprises. If the mission were tailored for him, it had to just be a very happy coincidence. It was probably one of the most unadventurous and boring missions that Edward had been to for a long time. By the time Edward got back though, it was a different story, and he suddenly, with frightening clarity, knew exactly why such a mission had been given to him.

When Edward got back, he found the village in chaos.

A/n: Wow, I'm quite amazed actually at the reception of the last chapter. I actually can't believe that so many people thought Edward really died... or were you all just saying that as a 'just in case'? :P Anyhow, thank you all for your reviews! So here it is, the next chapter (somewhat) early!

A lot of people have asked about Shisui, so I put him in there. Sorry if it seems sudden, but I seriously couldn't think of a way to fit him in... Oh and, in case anyone was confused, Gamiyu was Itachi's favourite game (and it's not real, so don't go searching for it) it's just that Shisui didn't know. As you can see, Itachi didn't kill Shisui this time.