Yes, I'm still alive and I have this story finished! I will be uploading the last few chapters in the coming weeks, so look forward to it~

Warnings: Ed's mouth, and creepy Lunatics.

Ed's eyes widened and he whipped around. His whole body froze in a mixture of fright and shock. His mouth opened and then shut reminiscent of a gaping fish. His ears flattened onto his head as his tail curled tightly into his back, bristled in fear and unadulterated anger. The man in front of him was none other than the lunatic, his hair was limp and black just like he remembered. He was smiling and his body was as lean and unmuscular as ever.

"It… you.. no way…" Ed sputtered then a moment later his eyes narrowed into slits, his ears shot back and his hands moved up to his side, as if he wanted to claw the man. His teeth shown as his tail whipped dangerously behind him.

"Fullmetal, back down. This is the new state alchemist Howard." Ed used all his will power to relax, yet he shivered in anger as he glared at the man.

Howard just smiled.

A moment later he turned to the Colonel and bowed. "I have come to pick up my state alchemist watch and title."

Roy pursed his lip behind his clasped hands yet kept his eyes steady, a picture of innocent acceptance. "Of course." The man pulled the letter out of the file along with a silver pocket watch. "Here you go, Congratulation, you are officially the new Sowing Life Alchemist."

The man's smile widened as he took the two items. "Thank you Colonel… and might this be the Fullmetal Alchemist that I have heard so much about?"

"Bastard." Edward seethed, his hands shook in need of throttling the man in front of him, who just kept up that smile. He probably would have if Riza hadn't put a firm hand onto his shoulder. Edward glanced at Riza with one of his fiercest glares, yet she did not let go.

"Wow, those ears are magnificent! And that tail! Can I touch them?" Howard asked a gleam in his eye.

"Sowing-life alchemist, I ask that you refrain from approaching my subordinates while under my watch," Roy stated. His eyes narrowed as Ed shivered slightly.

"Of course…" Howard took one more glance at Ed. His smile widened to the point where it literally broke his face in half.

As he passed, on the way out, he whispered a quiet. "See you soon, my beautiful one."

Ed growled and glared until the door shut with a snap. Finally he shivered and wrapped his hands around his body. Automail squeezed against flesh as he sat back down. His bangs covered his eyes for a moment before he looked up at the two with his most powerful glare.

Roy flinched.

"Why?..."

It was a simple question, yet, there was so much attributed to it. Why did you stop me, why is he here, why are you allowing this? More and more questions, all in that simple word, and Roy didn't know how to answer any of them.

Riza kept her hand firmly on Edward's shoulder and tightened slightly when it looked like he was going to pounce at Howard. She had never seen Edward so shaken up before and, for some reason, it angered her. She watched, lips pursed slightly as Roy handed Howard his title and watch. Her eyes narrowed, almost imperceptibly as he then turned to Ed, that smile still on his lips. It took all her willpower not to let go of Ed's shoulder. She was actually itching to pull her gun on the man as much as the young Edward. From the look in Mustangs eyes, so was he.

"Wow, those ears are magnificent! And that tail! Can I touch them?" Okay this man was going on the top of her hit list when she got the chance.

She glanced at her superior officer and noticed his hands twitch and his eyes narrow. His next words were cold and stern, and Hawkeye mentally cheered him on.

It was the last line the man said, right next to Edwards's ear. That made it official.

He was going to get a bullet through the gut whether he liked it or not.

Mustang peered at her in a silent order which she forcefully followed. Hawkeye pursed her lips, and regarded Edward.

After the man had closed the door, Ed had wrapped his arms around himself. He looked more like a young, defenseless child then he ever had. She noticed Roy grit his teeth and clench his hands in front of his face.

When Edward glared at them whispering a quiet Why, she didn't hide the slight flinch. Those gold eyes were filled with hurt and accusation, and she understood.

What made it worse was, there really was nothing she could do…

Roy closed his eyes as if to try to block out the others accusing ones. After a moment he opened them and dropped his hands.

"Fullmetal. I am sorry that I ordered you to stay put, but if you were to attack you would not have made it out unscathed. According to the Fuhrers secretary, he is under the protection of the Fuhrer, and has full rights and privileges above your station… in other words, you would be attacking a superior officer, and would have been severely punished, including, very possibly, dishonorable discharge." Roy closed his eyes and then let them open again. "I know that for someone like you, that isn't much of a reason, but I figured you would want to keep searching for a philosophers stone, including the one he MIGHT have." Roy finished as he eyed Edward who bent his head down. Golden locks hid his eyes from the superiors view.

"I understand." He stated simply. He stood up and, without a look at either one of them, walked out.

Roy grimaced disdainfully and muttered a quiet. "Well that could have gone better."

"Indeed sir." Hawkeye stated as she turned to face her commanding officer. Her eyes shone with suppressed anger and worry as she stared at Roy. "If I may be so presumptuous, maybe you should have just said nothing, let the boy decide for himself."

"For once, Hawkeye, You are being presumptuous." Roy stated quietly as he eyed the door. "The boy needed a legitimate reason not to do anything too rash." Roy turned and faced Riza, "and he's not the only one." He finished as his eyes flashed for a second before they returned to their normal calm.

Hawkeye paused and nodded in understanding.

"I guess I was sir."

Al glanced up and winced as his brother turned to him. Edward's golden eyes were slightly dulled and fury bristled all over Ed's being, shown clearly in his additions.

"Brother?..." Al asked carefully. He did not want to aggravate Edward any farther. Ed took a deep breath and slowly let it out, before he turned to Al.

"Sorry Al, just… got a little frustrated." Ed answered carefully, gold eyes flared for a second. Al eyed Ed warily and sensed that he wasn't telling him something again.

"Brother, why do you keep doing that." Al muttered quietly as Ed passed and headed out of central command.

"Doing what?" Ed asked as he didn't look back. Al turned, glanced back towards Mustang's office and then hurried after his brother.

"Nothing…" Al responded once he had caught up with his brother.

Roy slumped in his chair, his eyes fluttered closed in exhaustion. Riza stood off to one side as she stared out the rear window. She was silent as she watched the background with an intense and unfocused gaze.

A knock on the door sounded to interrupt the tense silence. Roy jumped and sighed.

"Come in."

The door swung open to reveal Maes. The man looked tired with bags under his eyes. He smiled weakly and then stepped forward. "You alright there Roy?"

"I probably look about as good as you do right now, what's the problem?"

"The cases, their cropping up throughout the city, and at the same time it seems like someone else is acting up as well."

"Someone else?"

"It's in central, it seems like someone is going around killing state alchemists. Our power is stretched as it is here to keep the chimera incident under wraps, we can't handle much more."

Roy frowned at the information, worry and agitation all too apparent in his expression. He glanced out the window for a moment before he turned back to Maes.

"Sorry to ask, but do you know anything on the new sowing life alchemist?"

Maes paused. Roy looked at the male with such an intense gaze it was actually almost frightening. "I do, but…"

"Tell me what you know."

Maes blinked and then let his smile widen slightly into a fond one. "Of course." He walked forward and took a seat on the couch in front of the desk. Roy put his hands up in front of his mouth while Riza turned to face the information specialists, her hand draped over her weapon.

"As you know, his name is Howard. He was recruited by the Fuhrer's secretary after a private meeting to showcase his results. He was given the title a few weeks later when he was also transferred down here. From what I've gathered he once belonged to a rather rich family that cast him out for his eccentric behavior and his obsession with science, specifically alchemy.

This family disappeared shortly after and it was suspected that he was the cause, but no proof could be found so he was acquitted. He has a small following of people who support him, as well as a small group of men who seem willing to protect him, probably because he paid them handsomely after he received the family inheritance, but that is just speculation. Not much else is known about him. He works in the shadows and often alone." Maes finished as he eyed both Riza and Roy. Their expressions were anything but friendly as their thoughts seem to digest the information he had given.

"Thank you…" Roy stated. "Can I ask you to do me one more favor?"

"What was it Roy?"

"… Can you watch the state alchemist for me?"

"Roy… what happened?"

"… we might have found the one who screwed with one of our own, that's all." Roy stated as he stood. He, along with Riza, stepped past the still seated male. "I have a couple calls to make, so I will speak with you later, alright?"

Maes's gaze followed his steps as he walked out the door.

"Alright." He responded as the door closed with a 'snip'.

Edward's head sat on his crossed arms as he stared at the wood paneling of the dining room. He had been sitting their for a while, probably an hour or two, he couldn't tell. His thoughts whirled as he heard Al clank next to him.

"Ed… won't you talk to me?" the worried tone sent a stab through Edward, but he still stayed silent.

What could he say? That he met the bastard that did this to him? That he couldn't do a thing even with that? What exactly could he do? "I'm sorry Al… I'm just…"

"Brother… did something happen while you were with the colonel?"

Edward's ears flattened even closer to his skull and affirmed Al's suspicions.

"Al… don't worry about it… I'll figure something out… I just… need to think."

Al stayed silent for a moment as he stared at Edward before he moved around the chair and knelt down in front of him. He reached out and put his arms around Edward and pulled him close.

"Al?!"

"I'm sorry brother… I'm sorry I can't help you… and I'm sorry you ended up like this, it's my fau-"

"Don't you dare continue that Alphonse! It's not your fault, this was never your fault. We screwed up, that's it." Edward stated as he pulled away. His hands sat on the armor as gold eyes peered at Al's steel face. His expression set.

"It never… it never was your fault." Edward continued as he let out a long breath. "I… I'm sorry… I guess that everything is just getting to me, I thought that THAT might have helped but…"

Al nodded, he knew what Edward meant. When his brother had finally let himself cry. "It's alright… but can you please tell me what happened? I want to share the burden with you, you shouldn't have to carry everything on your shoulders, I can take something to." Edward paused and tilted his head up to face his brother. His eyes softened.

"Thank you Al… but really, it's alright."

"Brother…"

"You know… I always pride myself on being observant… I guess that isn't always the case..." he paused and then grinned widely as he swiveled his head up to stare into the taller one's eyes. "I think I have a lead on a philosopher's stone though."

Al paused and put his hands on his sibling's shoulders in surprise. "Really?!"

"Yeah, it might take a little work, but I think we can manage. Even the colonel bastard agrees."

"Where? Where is it?"

"That one… is a little harder to explain…" Edward said.

"Brother…" Al spoke in a deadpan voice while Edward fiddled with his braid.

"Um… well… it… partially has to do with the one who turned me into a chimera… he probably has it…"

"Brother!"

Edward winced as the grip on his arms tightened. The pressure immediately disappeared and he looked up to stare at a turned away face. "Sorry…"

Edward shook his head and reached a hand up to his brothers face. "I'm sorry. I should have realized sooner, if we do this right, we can finally get your body back." Edward smiled fondly, eyes closed as Al turned his head back.

"… Right…"

Both jumped as the doorbell clanged through the tiny home. Edward tilted his head to the side, still partially in Al's embrace.

Al stood and walked towards the door.

He opened the door and then backed away. "Havoc! Breda! What are-?"

"We wanted to see how the little guy was doing."

"I'm not little!" Edward glared at the doorway and noticed both were dressed in casual clothes. Havoc waved as he shifted the cancer stick to the other side of his mouth. Breda just nodded a slight smile on his face. The door closed as both stepped inside.

"Well, looks like you're alright. So those are the Winry creations every one's been talking about? I would think you're lying if it wasn't for your brother wearing them too."

Edward frowned. "So what did you want?"

"To talk… and to wait."

"Wait?"

"The colonel-"

"What does that bastard want now?" Ed frowned as he pushed back and draped one arm over the chair, his expression impassive. His ears twitched backwards as his tail swayed.

Both exchanged looks before Havoc turned back to the blonde and pulled the cancer stick from his mouth. "We want you to yell at us-" Edward grinned dangerously. "Say that you want to be left alone or something, make it loud and realistic. After hide within your brother."

"In Al?"

"Yeah, I have a device here from Feury which should record some of it and play it back, not sure how it works but…" Havoc paused and glanced at his watch. "About another minute or two and then we'll head out."

"Al?"

"I'm not sure what the Colonel's up to, but it's probably better to leave then stay here and mope."

"I wasn't moping!" Edward frowned in annoyance as Al chuckled.

"Well, you stated the colonel knew that man has the philosopher's stone, so maybe he's going to help us?"

"I'm not sure what the colonel's up to, but I do know it has to do with the chimera sighting around here." Two sets of eyes gazed at Havoc as he leaned against the closed doorway, one leg crossed over the other. "He mentioned that he had an idea who has caused many of them, and since things have gotten dangerous, we need to act fast."

"Has there been… any human like ones?" Ed asked carefully.

Havoc stayed silent. "The only one's we've found are mostly animal, though it's hard to tell…"

Edward winced.

"There are one or two people still missing but most have shown up again, usually with a body bag in tow."

"I see…" so mine was the only one that worked… why? Was it because of the serum?... luck? Why is it that I was the only one who retained most of my form and didn't die?

"Brother?..."

Edward shook his head and looked back at Havoc. "So, it seems to have gotten worse, and the people don't know?"

"They suspect, but anyone who saw the bodies are either in treatment, or sworn to a vow of silence… though I'm not sure if that will last much longer."

Havoc paused and glanced at his watch. "Looks like it's time, ready to cover your ears?"

Breda had already moved his hands up while Edward let a grin cross his face.

"I'm all for a good rant," He breathed in deeply.

The other three in the group gulped.

Edward closed his eyes as a sated grin crossed his face. He sat back, slightly uncomfortable, but fine either way as he let Al walk forward.

He could hear silence outside as he played with his tail, unable to do much else within his younger brother.

It wasn't much longer until the group arrived at their destination. A door opened and a quiet conversation ensued before they once more stepped forward.

After another moment and a closed door Al stopped.

"You can come out now."

Ed could recognize that voice anywhere. He sighed as Al unhinged and he jumped, fell, out. "Colonel bastard, what a surprise." He stated as he wiped himself down and looked up. He blinked in confusion as he noticed the other was dressed down. The male wore simple black trousers with a white collared shirt. Riza stood next to him in baggy pants and shirt.

"It worked?"

"A bit too well, Feury's machine definitely did its job." Havoc muttered as he rubbed his ear once more.

"I forgot how loud brother could get…" Al murmured. Ed shrugged.

"So what's all the secrecy for?"

Roy shook his head. "Fullmetal, no… Edward, we need to talk."

Ed stiffened, surprised at the use of his actual name.

Al cocked his head to one side, also surprised. "Colonel?"

Roy sighed before he spoke. "We need to work fast. It seems things are also getting worse in central and around here…" He paused and looked right at Edward. "Edward… do you mind if I tell my subordinates the truth? In return we'll find a way to get you back to normal."

Ed paused and glanced back at the duo who looked at each other in confusion. "Major Armstrong and Lieutenant Feury are listening as well, they will be helping…"

"Brother… why don't you let them help?"

"But..."

Ed paused as he gazed at Al's even expression. The soul fire eyes gazed back firmly. "We can't do everything ourselves, and you know that. Just let them help this time so we can find some way to return you to normal…"

"Fine…" he muttered as he sat down. He picked up his tail, a habit he had acquired lately he noticed, and started to lightly brush it.

The others gazed at him in surprise. "That… was easier than I expected," Roy muttered before he leaned on one foot. "Well now that that is taken care of, let's begin. As you know, Chimera have started to appear around here as of late, mostly dead. Many of which seem to be multiple combinations of human and animals. Fullmetal…" Roy paused, suddenly unsure what to say.

"Those add on's aren't Winry's creation… are they?" Havoc stated as he gazed at the alchemist who continued to distract himself. He fiddled with his tail for a moment before he tilted his head up.

"Al's are."

There was a moment of silence in the room before both Havoc and Breda stepped forward. Havoc poked at an ear while Breda gazed at the tail. His hand reached forward to pet it.

"Whoa! They are real!"

"Um… I don't think…"

"Are you done now…" Edward growled through gritted teeth as his eye twitched, his ears shifted backwards as his tail bristled.

Both backed away instantly.

"Now that that's taken care of…" Roy coughed to gather everyone's attention. "I hope you don't mind, but we need to figure out how to stop the chimera, as well as to turn fullmetal back to normal, if it is at all possible..." he trailed off before he turned to the blonde. "You probably know the most, what do you think would work against him?"

Edward looked at Roy for a moment as he continued to fiddle with his tail. "He always keeps those goons around, unless in headquarters, so… if you try to attack he would use those, escape, notify someone and create a court-martial. It would have to be discrete. If anything, use a distraction to draw him out, find proof of what he did, besides me, and then nab him." Edward stated thoughtfully his eyes still on the ground before he looked up. His golden gaze stayed on Roy for a moment before he looked back down.

Roy stared at Edward then let his gaze flit towards Alphonse. Al tilted his head away from his brother to look at the colonel.

"That's probably right…"

Roy nodded as he leaned back. "So, any ideas? I have a few however I want to hear other opinions."

Havoc leaned back against the wall as Havoc sat in another chair, near the two youngest. Riza was off to one side as she fiddled with what were probably her concealed weapons.

"As the shortstack said-"

Edward growled.

"-We should find a way to contact him, maybe tell him about another who is doing research on chimera's. If he is the one, than we have to catch him in the act. If Edward would be willing we could use him or, another of us in disguise. He has met most of us, but I don't think he's seen Feury before." Havoc paused in his comment to swish the cancer inducing stick to the other side before he continued. "We know where he generally strikes, if he's interested in the shortstack, then we can have him and Feury be the diversions. It might be close, but if we follow carefully, we can rescue them and capture him at the same time."

Edward frowned at the idea but stayed silent. In truth he had no ideas. He was angry, frustrated and upset, yet his usually brilliant mind was at a standstill. All he wanted to do was beat the man to within an inch of his life for all of those people he had turned and killed. Edward grit his teeth as his hand tightened around his tail, the pain a reminder.

It wasn't just one or two people like with Nina's father… it was innocent people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Edward's hands tightened once more and it took all his energy to withhold the yelp that threatened to come forth. He relaxed his grip and sighed. With significant energy he finally managed to reign in his emotions and think. It wasn't his usual thought process. If anything it felt just like it did when he was fleeing from Barry the Chopper, or when he realized that the original sowing life alchemist had turned his own daughter into a chimera.

He shook his head and returned his focus to the conversation. They had continued without him, and it seemed as if they were going with a revised version of Havocs plan. What that was Edward didn't catch as all eyes turned to him. He blinked and frowned.

"So fullmetal? You willing to be a diversion?"

Edward's frown deepened. What had he missed?

His pride, or what was left of it, didn't let him ask what that was.

"Fine…" he said.

Alright, that's the end for this chapter. As I said, I have the rest of the chapters done, but I'm going back to college next week so they'll be posted semi-sporadically. Hopefully you enjoy and please review even if it is just an "update". Thanks and see you next chapter!

Ja ne~