Hai hai

Kinda new to writing fanfics to do mind my writin' style. For my first try I've used a song I wrote not long ago. I'm not a professional of anythin', just love to write for fun xD Kinda thought it might work out with the story so I've decided to put it in [hopefully you might understand the song ] Hope this style might help you enjoy this fanfic =)

Yep now's its Mitsuko's [NOT ME] flashbacks. Some others too. Enjoy! (:

-Mitsuko

-"Lightning in my storm, I hope my thunder answers"

P.S. it was edited by Shadow. And we do not own FMA (:

In Central of Amestris

Nobody's POV

The train slowly jerked to a stop, as the engines whistled. The bustling station was as noisy as ever. People sending they're relatives and friends off, welcoming them back home, it was just another ordinary day for the people at Central.

"Hey, I've reached." Mitsuko woke up from a short nap and sat up from her seat. Rubbing her red eyes which she inherited from her mother, she could barely see with her long fringe parted to the left, covering her left eye completely. Her checked light brown jacket was left on her lap and her yellow tie loosened to feel more comfortable in the train. It has been a long ride from her hometown, Risembool, to Central. She came here for one purpose, to become a state alchemist.

Arranging her tie in place and putting on her green navy cap, Mitsuko carried her guitar and baggage and made her way to the exit. Dang, its so borin' on the train. Can't they play some songs to liven things up? As she stretched her muscles at the station platform, she started to look around, as she had never stepped out of her hometown before. How bout' a song from Mitsuko eh?

Picking an empty bench, she set down her baggage and opened her guitar case. The guitar her brother and father transmuted was still in good condition. Checking its tuning, she began to hum some random melodies, and strummed a bright chord, though it was barely heard in the noisy station. She took a deep breath, and started to sing.

"I'm in a city, I'm not used to it
I walk with my head low, oh my dear friend.
Among the streets that go on forever,
I'm searching for you, so I can change everything."

This reminds Mitsuko of her times back at Risembool. How she met him, how they became friends.

Flashback

"Hey! Give that back!" Mitsuko shouted to the bullies of the school as they ran away with her music scores. Having just reached the age of 6, she had just started on composing her own songs, with the help of Shihiro, her brother. And it seems that some people just can't appreciate her work.

"Hey! What's this? They look like bean sprouts!"

"Yeah! What's so interesting bout that? You love bean sprouts?"

The two boys laughed heartily as Mitsuko tried to grab her work back.

"Who's gonna make me? Your brother? Come on I bet the only thing he ever did best was playing some big box like thing covered with black and white paint!"

They laughed again.

Ugh! Can't anyone just help me out here? I promised Nii-san a song and I'm already halfway done with it!

"Hey! She's crying over bean sprouts!"

She had barely noticed that tears were started to well up in her eyes. "What? No I'm not!" Mitsuko declined as she frantically rubbed them away. She hates it when people make fun of music. It had bonded her with her brother so well that she had grown a strong passion for it.

A voice behind Mitsuko made her turn back and smile. "Hey, don't you think that's a bit too much?"

Finally, someone to help me get rid of them!

It was a boy who looked like the same age as her. He had short blonde hair with his fringe parted to the left, and his eyes were gold in colour like a sun's morning ray. They were rounder in shape and more 'innocent looking' than the other boy beside him, who looked like his older brother. He had a longer fringe parted at the centre of his forehead.

"Haha, more bean sprout lovers! Since you're a dude, I'll give you some face. All right, we'll stop." The bullies threw Mitsuko's scores all over the place. The neatly arranged stack of music scores are now flying in all directions and landing on the classroom floor. They laughed, and walked away.

"Geez. Now I'm gonna have a hard time arranging them back." Mitsuko grunted, annoyed. "Oh and thanks. Really needed some help to deal with those two." Turning around, she faced her two saviors with a grin.

"I'm Mitsuko Matsudaira. Nice to meet y'll."

"I'm Edward Elric! That was no problem dealing with them!" The boy with the longer fringe greeted her enthusiastically, shaking hands. His brother beside him had his hands behind his back, looking down on the floor, casting shy, occasional glances at her.

"I'm … Alphonse Elric."

"Nice to meet ya." With a smile, Mitsuko shook his hand. Alphonse smiled back. And that's how they became best of friends soon.

Flashback end

"People walking past
in such a fast pace
I feel so lost
What's the meaning of life?
Just trust your heart."

Mitsuko can't help but to pause and glance around. It was as if there was someone watching her, someone watching her strumming and singing. What's the meaning of life? Just trust your heart. Everyone has their own reasons, why they left, why they wanted to do something with the only life they have…

Flashback

"We're here!" Ed called out to the empty house. Chika, Shadow and Sozes were at the first level of their house playing. Mitsuko, as usual, was on the piano at the small stage of the restaurant. Ed and Winry went to join the others as they continued to run around the tables and chairs.

"With your dad and brother gone, has it always been this noisy here?" Al took a seat beside Mitsuko as she finished her last chord of the song. "Yeah. I have trouble keeping them down and trying to operate the restaurant as per normal already. They can't seem to stop running around." They both laughed. And sat there watching their friends playing another round of Hide-And-Seek.

"Hey, Mitsuko."

"Yeah?"

"Me and Ed are gonna be gone for some time. We just got accepted as apprentices."

"Alchemy?"

"Yeah."

"I see." Mitsuko thought of what she observed a few months back. Attending Ed and Al's mother's funeral, even their father didn't turn up for it. Ed and Al stood by her grave for the whole day. Even Winry couldn't persuade them to go back home. Ed did say somethin' to Al. They were keepin' it a secret. What are they plannin'?

"Care to play a song for me?" Alphonse's request broke Mitsuko from her strain of thoughts.

"Sure…"

Flashback end

"Alphonse."

"Yeah?"

"It's her… right?"

"…"

Ed and Al stood behind where Mitsuko was sitting. It has been years since they last saw their childhood friend when they decided to go on a journey to get their bodies back. Her long hair was now cut to just a few centimeters above her shoulders, and she had grown much taller than before. Mitsuko's voice and guitar could be heard more clearly now as the commuters in the station start to return to their homes, or board the train, getting ready to leave.

"I'll play, you'll sing, that's what we promised.
We wave, goodbye, I'll see you there.
It gave me some light
So where are you now?
Hey, I want a new life."

Upon hearing those words, Al clenched his metal fists tightly and set his gaze down to the floor. I want a new life. That was what we wanted… A new life.

Flashback

"What are you saying…?" Mitsuko's voice trembled and tears started to spill out from her eyes as Pinako told her the tragic news.

"He's gone? Nii-san's gone? He was forced to go to war… And he's gone?" Mitsuko was on her knees now. Staring at the ground as tears rolled down her cheeks, drenching her long fringe.

"Sis… You ok?" Shadow was beside her. He was also grieving for the loss of their brother. Among the siblings, Mitsuko was the closest to Shihiro. He was like a second mother to her, upon losing her mother at such a tender age. Sozes was standing with Chika, the Elrics, who have just came back recently from their training, and Winry, sobbing as Chika tries to calm her down.

"How bout dad?" Shadow asked.

"He's currently missing."

Mitsuko was crying even harder now.

"So this is what they got? They knew alchemy and got killed because they were treated like soldiers instead of average citizens? That's not a reason to live!" Mitsuko stood up abruptly and shouted. I have to get out of here. The promise I made with Nii-san… And I just can't break it… She ran towards the door, sending the rest of her friends to stare at her in shock. Shadow remained in his original position, his eyes blurring.

"Mitsuko!" Al shouted, and began to run after her.

Mitsuko sat alone at the cliff where Shihiro and she would watch sunsets together. It reminded her of all the memories she had with her beloved brother, playing with her since she was 2 years old, the year her mother passed away, till 9 years later, during the last goodbye they had when he left. And now, 2 years later, she was alone sitting, without her brother at her side. Mitsuko brought her knees to her chest and looked up to the sky. Nii-san, why did you have to leave so soon?

"Mitsuko!" Al was running towards her.

Al? No, I need time to myself…

She got up and tried to run away, but Al stopped her and she was left standing in front of his friend with tears spilling out from her eyes once again.

Why is life treating us this way?

"Hey… Mitsuko…" Al tried to console her, only to realize that his arms were around her.

"It's all right ok?" As Al stroked her long orange hair, Mitsuko managed to calm down. "We've both lost our mothers, our fathers are no where to be found, relying on your siblings as family, I know how it feels…" She had stopped crying now, but loud sobs could be heard as she closed her eyes tight.

"Feeling better?" Al hugged her tighter.

"Mhmm…"

There was a long silence between them. The sun was setting. Its gold glaring rays shining on the land below as it retreated across the horizon. Al looked at Mitsuko. She was still staring at her surroundings, with her head rested on his shoulder.

"Hey, Al… What's it like to have an older brother?"

"It's… crazy."

Mitsuko lifted her head from his shoulder and looked into his eyes. There were lights dancing in them as they reflected the setting's sun's maroon rays. She smiled. It looks like a fire, providing everyone with warmth and security…

"For me, it's melodious…"

Both of them smiled, and before Mitsuko knew it, her lips met his and she closed her eyes. With AL holding her hand, she whispered into his ear.

"Let's go home."

Flashback end

"The promise we made
I'm looking for an answer
I'm searching for wings
To soar and dream.

If I fall, you're there
Let's get back up again
It's not simple but
I know, you know
We just wanna change our lives."

"Shouldn't we just go say hi to her?"

"But… What will she say?"

"You still don't wanna let her know?"

Al kept quiet. He was afraid of letting her know the truth. Why they disappeared so suddenly, why they burned down the house, why he was a suit of armour…

Flashback

Ed and Al were stunned to see Shadow running towards them with Sozes catching up behind him.

"Sozes! Get some water!" Shadow shouted as he used his fire alchemy to combat the raging fire of the Elric's house. "What are you all doing? Your house is burning and you're just standing there watching?"

"Shadow… we burned it ourselves."

"What!"

There was silence between them as the fire cackled loudly, its fiery flames licking the wood used to hold the house in place.

Ed had a solemn face as he hung his head low.

"Where's Alphonse…?"

The metal suit of armour beside Ed looked up, its eyes glowing purple.

"Hey, hey… what's going on around here?" Shadow and Sozes glanced at the brothers curiously.

"We're leaving, and we don't know when we're coming back."

Shadow remained silent as Al walked towards him. That sound… That suit of armour… It's empty?

"Shadow… I would like you to keep this from Mitsuko…"

"But… why?"

"She'll probably kill us for leaving, judging from her personality." Al said with a laugh.

She won't kill us; she'll kill the world of alchemy. What will she say anyway? I'm a suit of armour. Who will ever love a suit of armour that can't provide warmth or even feel warmth? I don't want to see her cry again.

"Mark my words. The Matsudaira family never goes against their promise."

Mitsuko stood in front of the charred remains of the Elric's house. Shadow told her that they had left for another training session, and they were in such a rush they didn't even had time to say goodbye. Even Winry wouldn't tell her anything. They didn't have time, so instead of waving goodbye to their friends they burned down their house? You jokers… As she scanned through the remains of the house, she noticed that something was missing. She remembered seeing it placed it a corner of Hohenheim's, the Elric's father, study as Al and Ed brought the siblings there to study alchemy together. It couldn't have melted in the fire. Where is it? Hohenheim's vintage suit of armour…

Flashback end

"I've picked up my guitar, a lost kitten too.
I sat in the station, oh singing out loud.
I looked at her, it's beautiful eyes.
I want a shadowy spot, so I can change my life.

The starlight, yeah.
Stretch out our hands
Grab the stars.
Hold it close to our hearts?
No, we just its light.

I'll try, I'll smile, that's what I've always wanted
You watch, alright, smile and turn away.
Don't leave me in the darkness.
So why are you here?
Hey, I want a new life."

"Wishing upon the star,
We're friends forever,
We've crossed our hearts,
To make music together

If you're gone, what am I?
What's a melody without a song?
It's not simple but,
I know, you know.
We just wanna change our lives."

Mitsuko paused once again. We're friends forever; we've crossed our hearts to make music together. Where are you Chika? If you're gone, what am I? A melody needs a song to continue, Nii-san….

Flashback

"My parents want me to reunite with them. We're going to have a mega concert and they'll need the whole family to be present." Chika told the siblings. Another friend leavin'. Just great. Mitsuko had become moody ever since the departure of the Elrics. She could only turn to her friends and siblings for support now, and they were all leaving, one at a time.

"Mitsuko, are you mad at me?"

"Wha… No, why should I be?"

She's changed since her brother's death…

There was a long pause.

"Hey Chika. We'll meet again some day okay? We'll perform along the streets, just like what we do for the restaurant…"

"Sure. I promise."

The two friends exchanged glances and turned to the twins.

"Wish you luck, Chika!" Sozes raised her hand to her friend.

"Thanks Sozes!" Chika smiled, grabbing the hand, shaking it. She looked over to Shadow, who was looking down to the ground, as if ignoring the fact that Chika's leaving.

"Shadow, you should say bye…" Mitsuko warned her younger brother.

"I don't wanna…"

"Brother…" Sozes looked up to her older-by-a-few-seconds brother.

"Everybody's gone… Otoo-san, Nii-san, Ed, Al… I can't believe it… Now, Chika's going to be gone forever… What's the use of us learning alchemy when we can't even use it to protect the people we've cared about? It's all so wrong now…"

"Shadow, don't be sad… We will meet again…"

"Every where's not safe now, not with the war going around…"

"Shadow, before I go, I really wish you will wish me luck in my new life and say goodbye to me." Chika smiled, hoping her friend would do the same.

"Good luck Chika… Hope you have a fun time without me quarrelling with you over any trivial matters."

"Shadow…" Chika walked closer to her friend, hoping to find out that her friend is just putting on an act, just like what he always do.

"Chika, are you ready to leave yet?" A familiar voice sounded. Chika's parents have arrived to bring her to Central.

"Yeah Dad…" Chika, looking dejected, looked away from Shadow, reached out her hand to take her luggage.

"I'll take it." Shadow went up and took her luggage.

"Thanks Shadow"

Chika's leaving… Shadow couldn't handle the fact that she's leavin'… Neither do I…Mitsuko realized. She looked over to Sozes, who've already started sobbing. Sozes too…Looking over to Chika, the girl who sang in tune to her melodies, Chika's cryin'? She's gonna achieve her dream… Yet she's cryin'? Is it over Shadow? They're really…Mitsuko's string of thoughts were broken as she hear Chika saying bye.

"Sozes don't cry." Chika told Sozes.

"Bye Chika, come back more often."

Chika just smiled, going on the car. She waved at them, her friends, winding down the car screen in the process. Shadow just stood there.

"Bye Shadow!" Shadow looked up, then realizing everything.

"Bye Chika! I promise I, Shadow Matsudaira, will come and find you, when I grow older. So, don't expect to never see me again! Chika Kawashi!" Shadow shouted, cupping his mouth with his hands.

The siblings did not know whether Chika heard them or not. Mitsuko gazed over at her brother. He had a hopeful smile on his face, the first smile after the news of their brother and father had hit them, not the fake smiles he've been giving everybody, but a true and hopeful smile, a smile that made her smile too. Neither did she know it's the last smile that will be ever seen on her younger brother's face.

With Chika away, the siblings were alone. Mitsuko turned to Shadow as they entered the house upon sending Chika off.

"Shadow, remembered what I said the other time?"

"Yeah."

"Get everythin' by tomorrow, I'll make preparations."

"Okay."

Finally… Nii-san, finally…

"35 liters of water, 20 kilograms of carbon, 4 liters of ammonia, 1.5 kilograms of caustic lime, 800 grams of phosphorus, 250 grams of salt, 100 grams of saltpeter, 80 grams of sulfur, 7.5 grams of fluorine, 5 grams of iron, 3 grams of silicon, and…" Shadow and Mitsuko cut their fingers with a small knife, knowing that Sozes will never do such a thing. "2 drops of human blood…"

Mitsuko turned to her siblings. They both now looked alike, although they were unlike twins. Sozes had a serious look on her face, just like Shadow's. Everyone wanted him back, their beloved brother. She looked back at the transmutation circle drawn by the three of them with chalk. Signaling to her siblings, they stepped forward, knelt down, and prepared for the transmutation.

Nii-san, I will keep your promise. I'll continue to bring music to the family till you're back. We promised to sing a song I wrote together, and I'm not gonna sing without you.

Mitsuko stood before a gigantic black door with ancient carvings on it. The background was white, and a shadowy figure stood before her. Is this… The door of truth? The figure smiled. The gate opened and black hands reached towards her. Grabbing her arms and legs, Mitsuko let out a cry and tried to run away, but the strong hands had pulled her into the gate. She felt a part of her soul being ripped away, and darkness greeted her.

A strike of lightning awoke Mitsuko from her loss of consciousness. Her vision was blurred as she sat up. The room was pitch black, her siblings were groaning and moaning as they too regained consciousness. She heard a cry. Nii-san? Another lightning striked and Mitsuko saw the most terrifying sight yet. A disfigured body lying in the centre of the transmutation circle, it was barely recognizable, it was nothing like a human being. With its glowing red eyes, its skin black like the midnight sky, it looked more like a zombie in horror movies. That's Nii-san? God, what have we done?

Helping their horrified sister back to the living room, Mitsuko could not help but to recall that feeling of being brought into the gate. It's as if I've lost somethin'… But I just don't know what it is… She turned to Shadow. He looked different, his eyes were dull and he looked calm. That does not look like my brother at all… Settling down at the couch, with Sozes leaning on her shoulder, Mitsuko asked her brother, "You did see the gate right?"

"Yeah."

"Did you… Well… Have a feelin' you've lost somethin'?"

"Yeah."

His answers are calm… No… It's an emotion that just can't be described… or maybe, it was none?

A lightning struck outside the house. Sozes let out a shriek and threw her arms around her sister. She started to cry, crying real hard. Sozes? She's never afraid of the lightnin'… In fact she loved the rain even if it's a storm…

"Sis… Can you play me a song? I'm scared, I'm scared of everything… Calm me down, please?"

Handing her cowardly sister to Shadow, Mitsuko sat in front of the piano. She felt strange, not like how she felt before every song she plays, not the joy she had, even though it was the darkest times of her life.

Here goes…

Her fingers on the black and white keys, she couldn't play them. She's tried, she can't. It was as if time had stopped, her fingers not moving, just on the keys, unable to press a single note, even though she knew exactly how to play the song.

Don't tell me…

With a silent, short laugh, she closed the piano and rested her head on it.

Another part of me ripped apart. They had to take Shadow's emotions, the key to his enthusiasm. They had to take away Sozes' courage, the answer to why she wants to give life. And they had to take away my piano skill, the promise I made with Nii-san…

She closed her eyes, and smiled to herself.

Music… Family… Alchemy, what else do you want to take away?

Flashback End

"In my shadow spot
I'm reaching for the memories
For existence
Dear kitten, I know what you want
Hey, my friend
Where's the centre of your heart?"

My centre of my heart, you told me to come here, you know what I want, I want our lives back…

Flashback

"Big sis, where are you going?"

"For the last time…"

"Okay, okay, sis… Where are you going?"

"To Central."

"That grand place with all those soldiers marching around? That city that brother and dad went to learn alchemy? Why?"

Mitsuko stopped packing her things and looked at Shadow. He was throwing a crumpled piece of paper into the bin again and again, as if he had nothing to do, as if he was bored of everything.

"Don't you want your emotions back? Don't you want Sozes to walk out of the house with her head up and no one to hide behind? Don't you want to hear Nii-san's songs again?"

"…"

"I'll be leavin' you with Aunt Pinako to make sure you don't fool around, you got that? And please take care of Sozes."

"…"

Mitsuko looked away from her brother. Without his emotions she couldn't tell if he was really listening.

"Sis… Are you sure you really want to be under that crappy military?"

"If it might help us find an answer on how to get back our past lives, yes."

She had already made up her mind. It was my idea to commit taboo; it was my fault we're like that now. And I'm gonna be the one to get our lives back.

Mitsuko suddenly remembered the departure of the Elric brothers. She knew all along there was a secret behind it, and with no news from them for two years, they couldn't have left for training for such a long time. If it was alchemy, it had to be Central. They had to be there.

"Take care of them for me will ya, Winry?"

"Sure…"

Mitsuko paid a last visit to the Rockbells before going to the station, leaving her two siblings in the hands of her friend and her grandmother, who offered to take care of them when her dad and brother left for war.

Winry looks nervous; she's hiding somethin' from me.

"Are you sure about going to Central?"

Mitsuko gave a nod and turned to her siblings, Sozes hiding behind her and Shadow leaning against the wall. She bent down to give Sozes one last hug.

"Be brave, okay? I'll make sure you do when I'm back."

"Okay, sis."

She turned to Shadow.

"Shadow, you're in charge of takin' care of her. If anythin' happens, I'll rip ya heart out and feed it to the wolves."

"Right."

With a smile, Mitsuko patted her brother's shoulder, picking up her baggage and most importantly, her guitar to keep her mind set on her goal.

"See ya."

Flashback end

"In a search for you,
I'm in a city
I'm not used to it,
But I wanna make music

If you're here, I'm here
I'll see you someday
It's not simple but
I know, you know
We just wanna chance

Under the stars, I dreamed.
We'll be among them someday
We'll hold hands again
The warmth I longed for

If they're gone, I have you.
Love can't be taken from my heart.

The kitten wants another chance too.

Hey, I just want a new life."

Upon finishing her song, Mitsuko became more aware of the surroundings. There is someone watching me. She turned around abruptly, shocking Ed and Al.

"I knew you were there all along, Ed."

"Was I that obvious?"

"Yeah, with that red coat and braided long hair, it's definitely the Ed I know."

They laughed, but the armour beside Ed remained silent. Mitsuko turned her attention to it. It looks familiar… Very familiar…

"Who's ya metal buddy beside you huh? And where's Al?"

The suit of armour jerked, and stared at Ed.

"He's… my disciple… Al… We kind of went our separate ways…"

Mitsuko stood up from the bench, setting her guitar down. Approaching Ed and the suit of armour, she managed to notice a slight difference in Ed's hands. One was slightly shorter than the other, and his right hand fingers were rounder too. But her attention was concentrated on the armour.

This feeling… It was like back then, when we met.

She stood in front of the armour, her gaze fixed on its glowing eyes. Smiling, she lifted her hand.

"I'm Mitsuko Matsudaira, 15 this year. Have a strong passion for music and will never stop playin' till even if I drop."

This is when we really get into the story =D Hope you've enjoyed the previous chapters. Please review!

Oh yea, the song's name's New Life. Kinda obvious huh? Hehe.