A/N: Hello everyone!
Purin: "I will not let you down!"
Pumpbie: "That is until your parents start limiting your time to go online again, right? Say, around the time for the school final exam?"
Purin: *puffed cheeks* "That's still a couple of months away, so I have until then to get Alice and Ed together, or at least clear some of the confusions about Alice and Seth's past…"
Pumpbie: "What about their dad?"
Purin: "Nah… I already thought about it, and I think I should just tell that near the end of the story. I haven't even told you about it, right?"
Pumpbie: "And that is my fate as a co-author."
Purin: *sigh* "You know, your ideas are great and you can obviously write your own story with your own language. Too bad you're too lazy to bring yourself to the screen of your computer and type…"
Pumpbie: *grins* "Yup. Please enjoy this Chapter!"
Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood!
Chapter 13
Ed and Al blinked as they gazed up the building. The building was an apartment, it seemed old but at least it looked strong enough to hold up for a couple more years of fashion. The bricks were grayish with some parts of them painted with random colors, the work of hooligans probably. The rooms were on top one another with each of them having their own terrace.
"This is it?"
Ed looked down towards the folded piece of paper in his hand before looking up and nodding, "Well, this has to be it… That is, if Arra was a good source of information to begin with."
"Let's find out then," Al said before walking towards the entrance, Ed following behind him.
Later
"Let's see…" Ed muttered as the two walked down the hallway. He furrowed his eyebrows and gazed at the room's numbers as he continued, "201… 202… 203…" he raised his eyebrows slightly, "Here it is, 204! Al, I found it!"
"Coming," he answered before walking back towards his brother.
Ed stared at the door for a moment and back towards the piece of paper who knows how many times before taking a deep breath. He glanced back towards Al and received a nod, which he replied back with the same one before bringing up his hand towards the door.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Ugh… I'm coming!"
The two sweat dropped when they heard a couple more grunts and some fallen metals or woods hit the floor, a couple of crashing sounds, before something or someone hit the other side of the door with a loud 'thump'.
The knobs turned a couple of times before the door slammed open, and a very pissed off looking Seth was soon sending a death glare towards the two, "What?"
Al blinked, "Uh… Seth, are you alright?"
Seth blinked a couple of times before his once tensed shoulders slumped down, "Oh, it's you two." He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, "Let me guess…" he opened his eyes and looked at them with a bored look, "you got our address from Arra and now you want to talk to Alice, right?"
"Uh-"
"Well, come in then, I guess," he said with a wave of his hand as he walked back inside, leaving the door wide open so the two could come in freely.
The two walked in, surprisingly, despite the commotion earlier the place was still in well condition. The apartment wasn't anything fancy or spacious. There were stacks of papers placed on a table at the corner, though they seemed to be in perfect order. There was a kitchen with a table enough for four and they had a great view from the terrace. There's also one bedroom.
The two looked at the slightly open door towards the bedroom before looking back and taking a clear look at Seth. His hair was messed up and he was still wearing his usual leather pants, though he was lacking his top…
Ed blinked, "Where's Alice?"
"Huh?" Seth looked back at them before pointing towards the room they were staring at previously, "She's still sleeping. She'll kill me if I wake her up now."
Al tilted his head, "You two sleep in the same room?"
Seth sighed, "Yeah…" He raised a finger and began drawing a circle in the air, "It's hard to survive with her sleeping. She may be overly self conscious at times, but when she's asleep it doesn't matter who you are. She'll hug you and snuggle you until you can't breathe…" He looked at the room for a moment before smirking, "But I guess you can see parts of her you can never see when she's awake-"
He glanced back and blinked while he stared at the two after finishing his sentence. He raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong? Why are you two looking at me like that?"
"…Seth…" The two raised their finger and pointed at the boy accusingly, "We'll never look at you the same way ever again!"
He looked at both their fingers before realizing what they meant. He grinned before pushing their fingers aside, "Oh please…" He placed his thumb and index finger under his chin, "You two aren't exactly grounded innocent either. I have the excuse of being her brother, but you two don't. Even if she tends to act like that," his grin darkened, "you still want to see, don't you?"
"Don't be stupid!"
BRAK! BRUK! BRAK!
Seth chuckled as he held up both hands, "Okay, okay, calm down will you?" he said as he looked at the two. He stopped his laugh and looked back at them, "I don't think I've ever felt this much joy to teasing someone before…"
Ed growled and glared at the boy, "Why you little…"
"Will you two quit it?" The three raised their eyebrows slightly before glancing back.
Alice stepped out of the bedroom with her arms crossed over her chest. Alice was only wearing a long and baggy plain white pajama top which reached her thighs. She wasn't wearing her usual eye patch but her misplaced long bangs were enough to cover her usual eye. She growled, "I already have a headache, I don't think I need you to add more pain in my suffering, Edward, Alphonse."
The two stared at the girl with slightly wide eyes before Seth placed a hand on both their shoulders. He scrunched closer to them and whispered, "Told you."
Alice sighed and walked towards the table stacked up with papers before grabbing her eye patch, which was nearly buried under her work. She brushed her hair back and tied the patch in place. She glanced back towards the three before her gaze fell towards Seth. She narrowed her eyes and growled like a wild beast, "Seth… I thought I told you I didn't want anyone waking me up this early, especially not today and not by these two idiots!"
He chuckled nervously, "Heheh… I know but, it just sort of happened and all that. Besides…" he smiled before scrunching his head down so he and the two brothers were at the same level, putting on a false pout, "you wouldn't turn these two down, would you?"
Ed glanced towards the boy and raised an eyebrow, 'What is he-?'
Alice stared at her brother for a moment before sighing, "Honestly…"
More later
Alice gazed at the two with a bored look. She placed her cheek on her palm while her elbow rests by the surface of the table. She looked away, "Yes, you're right. I knew the Philosopher Stones were made out of human souls." She sighed, "I knew you'd figure it out sooner or later, but I didn't think you'd be able to break Marcoh's code this soon."
Ed grunted, "Why didn't you say anything? You knew we were looking for that damn stone! What if we ended up using it-"
"Were you honestly expecting me to tell you?" Alice placed down her hand and glared at the two, "People have desires they want to fulfill, aside from you two, if people knew about the existence of the stone they won't hesitate to look for it. Just because you two happen to have seen things others haven't…" she narrowed her eyes, "that doesn't make you any different."
Ed narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth, his knuckles turning paler by the minute. He slammed his hand on the table, "What makes you think you've got the right to say that? You don't know anything about what we've been through!"
She stared at his deep golden orbs for a moment before scoffing. She gazed down to her lap, "…The pain of losing someone because you've performed the taboo…"
Alice's words were in slight whisper, but Al somehow managed to hear it, 'Alice?'
"…"
"…"
Alice looked up and towards Ed, who was still glaring at her. Without realizing, she smiled, "You can judge me any way you like, Edward, but…" she stood, "I still won't change my mind about you until you proofed it yourself."
Ed raised his eyebrows slightly, "What are you-?"
"Now then, since you're already here, why don't I just make extra breakfast for you guys?" Alice asked out of the blue.
"Heh?"
…
Seth smiled brightly as he stepped out of the bathroom. He was wearing a white slight form fitting top with a pair of fresh leather pants and his hair was already fixed from their previous disaster. He began sniffing the air and humming happily, "Finally! I was wondering when you were going to start making breakfast, and I'm starving!"
Ed and Al blinked as they looked at Alice, saying simultaneously, "You can cook?"
Alice looked back at them, a spoon in her mouth. She took the spoon from her mouth before pouting, "Of course I can cook! Who do you think takes care of all the housework around here? You didn't honestly expect Seth would be doing them, did you?"
Ed blinked and looked away, "Actually, it's pretty easy to imagine- GAH!" He was cut short when Alice threw a pan at his face.
She scoffed before drawing her attention back towards the stove, "It's not wise to insult a girl who's cooking, Edward. You don't know what kind of kitchen utensils might fly to your face."
Al sweat dropped, "In some ways, Alice is just like Winry…"
Seth smiled, "Really? I didn't really notice that."
Ed grunted and wiped his nose, "Yeah, they both hit real hard."
After Seth left (early morning train) and Alice finished dressing
Alice yawned and rubbed her eye, catching Al's attention, "You seem really tired Alice."
She grunted, "And whose fault was it that I got woken up so damn early in the morning, huh?"
He chuckled lightly, "Right…"
"Anyways, I'm not usually one to just give up the fight but," she glanced towards Ed, who was also looking at her with a serious look. She narrowed her eyes, "You need to be careful with what you know. Other people are also looking for the stone, some good and can be taught some sense, but some…"
Ed raised an eyebrow, "But some-?"
She shook her head, "But some just doesn't know when to quit." She looked up and gazed at the two, "Now that you know the stone's secret, are you… You know, still going to look for it?"
Ed looked straight at her, his gaze unfazed with whatever emotion was locked up in her eyes. He sighed and crossed his arms behind his head, "Who knows? I'll be honest, I don't really get what you think of me, or how you view all of us…"
He looked back towards her and turned back his position so he was sitting in a more suitable manner, "But, just so you know," he smirked, "I have my own ways to find out what I don't know."
Alice blinked and stared at him for a moment before chuckling, "Don't I know it. You'd go far as break one of the greatest taboos in alchemy just to do it…"
He nodded, "Exactly."
Al smiled mentally, 'They may fight and argue a lot. But, seeing them talk so calmly like this…' He giggled, 'The warmth they bring kind of feels like being home again…'
"What's wrong, Al?" Ed raised an eyebrow, "Why are you giggling to yourself?"
Al panicked slightly and waved his hand dismissively, "Oh, no, no! It's nothing at all!" He chuckled, "I was just thinking… You know…"
Late That Night
Ed and Al poked their heads around the corner and glanced around. Ed narrowed his eyes at the sight of the large building and the two guards standing by in front of the gates. He looked back at Al, "This is the 5th laboratory, its abandoned years ago," he raised an eyebrow, "but they have guards at the front gate? That's a bit over protective, don't you think?"
Al nodded, "Looks like there's more than meets the eye."
Purin: "Pudding… Chocolate Pudding… Banana Pudding… Milk Pudding… Yeah, definitely Chocolate or Milk pudding, there's no doubt in my mind!"
Pumpbie: "What are you doing?"
Purin: "I don't know. I'm just thinking up puddings and all that. By the way, did you get those story lines I sent you?"
Pumpbie: *nods* "Yeah, I did. It's really up to you how you want to get Seth done, though. But what's going to happen to Arra?"
Purin: "Oh, that… Well, I'm pretty sure she's going to survive until the end…"
Pumpbie: "You're pretty sure?" *glare*
Purin: "Heheh… Yup…"
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