Yoshh~ Mitsuko here :D
Another chap is out! Will Shadow meet up with his long-lost friend? How will Mitsuko cope with her new title now? Read to find out :D
Oh and there is a couple of lines at the end of this chap that you maybe ain't gonna fully understand [If you love to read song lyrics, maybe it'll be a piece of cheesecake for you] Maybe I'll tell y'll the meaning at the nxt chap?
Happy reading :D
-Mitsuko / Shadow
Central of Amestris
Nobody's POV
"Where should we start looking, brother?"
"I don't know. I wished we had Mitsuko with us. She'll find him fast and easy."
"She is on a mission, brother. Tell Mustang to give us the same missions next time and then we'll finish this faster."
Führer King Bradley and Colonel Roy Mustang had given Ed a mission to hunt down rogue State Alchemist Isaac McDougal, the Ice Alchemist.
Suddenly, a shadow flashed past them.
"There he is!"
Turning to his pursuers, the alchemist put his hands on the ground, releasing a thick fog of steam. He grabbed Ed's right arm. Using alchemy, he tried to use the water in his arm to inflict a serious injury, but there was only the light of a transmutation, and nothing happened.
"Wha-t's wrong? Why can't my alchemy work?"
"Hey, you're gonna pay for ruining my coat!"
Furious, Ed took off his coat, revealing an automail arm. His torn side of his pants revealed a shining metal on his left leg.
"What's this? An Automail? Hey, Fullmetal Alchemist, who's that small shrimp anyway?"
Not again … "Erm… I'm not the Fullmetal Alchemist… I'm his brother, Alphonse…"
"Who are you calling small shrimp you old man?"
Ed clapped his hands and there was another bright light. Two stone arms emerged from the ground, attempting to grab the rouge alchemist. But it was quickly evaded as he used the surrounding air to create sharp icicles that shot right up from the atmosphere, freeing himself before managing a kick to Al's helmet, which flew off with the contact.
"Hey, don't do that! I'll have trouble finding my head back."
"An empty suit of armour? No Transmutation circle? … … So you guys did it huh?"
Al put his helmet back on.
"I get it now… You both committed taboo? Human transmutation? One lost his arm and leg. The other lost his body. Nice eh? Alchemy is cruel isn't it?"
With that, he ran into the back of a building, as the two brothers get frustrated with his words.
Concert hall of Central
Nobody's POV
"Hey dear, get ready, you're going on stage soon."
"Yes mum."
Chika glanced back at her mirror once more, making sure her black long hair was neat. Being best friends with Mitsuko, she had also parted her fringe to cover he eye, just that it was the right one. Wearing her performance costume and with some light make-up, she made her way to the stage as the audience clapped for her.
"Hey… why does that girl look so familiar?"
Lone was on an errand given by Father. "Take out the some man with a X-shaped scar on his head." Didn't Wrath send out some state alchemists to finish the job? Why must I do it? Geez… Sensing that the concert hall will have some kind of an explosion, which will be caused by Alchemy, he had sneaked into the building, watching everything hidden from everyone at the backstage.
The girl that Lone had noticed started singing as her family played a small orchestra at the background of the stage. It sounded familiar, he closed his eyes, reveling in his human partner's memories. It was just like those days Shadow had spent with his siblings… His sister on the piano… His best friend singing as she played…But they were just faded memories. Lone cannot touch on much of his partner's memories, as he felt Shadow calling out from within him.
"Chika…"
Suddenly, an explosion rang, sending the audience fleeing for their safety, and the performers leaving their instruments lying on the stage before running down.
"Come back here you old man!"
Chika turned over to the wall, which was blasted open, only to see a short boy and a suit of armour standing there. Ed clapped his hands again and with another transmutation, sharp wood shot out from the floor once again, but the Ice Alchemist dodged the attack.
Chika was left stunned on the stage. Why does he look so familiar? Is that… Ed?
The Ice Alchemist slammed his palm onto the floor, and within seconds, the stage lights were sent crashing down towards the stage floor, where Chika is standing.
Chika looked up, as a gigantic lamp was sent falling right towards her. Surrendering to her fear, she let out a scream as the mass of glass plunged down.
Before Lone knew it, the black-haired girl was in his arms as the lamp crashed just a few metres behind him. Why did I save her? Who told me to save her? Sheesh… And that X-shaped scar man isn't here; I'm chasing the wrong person. Geez…
"Erm… Thanks…"
"No problem."
"You look really familiar…"
Lone was wearing Shadow's cap, just pulled down till it covered his eyes. The jacket Shadow worn was torn admist his training with Father, and he now sports a hooded jacket and the black jeans was left tattered, yet still intact.
That guy's calling out inside me again. Geez …
"You've probably mistaken me for someone else."
With that, he put Chika down to where it's safe and left.
He looks like… like … like him…
"I can't believe we lost him again!"
"It's okay brother, just search for him once again…"
Chika turned her attention to the suit of armour and Ed, who mysteriously appeared behind her.
"Hey! Ed!"
"Chika?"
"Al, now's not the time. We'll catch up with you later Chika."
They made their way out of the concert hall as quickly as possible.
"So… How's that mission of yours?"
"I don't really know what happened. We chased that old man and he was drawing some transmutation circles around Amestris. After that he tried to make another Atlantis in Ice out of Central. The next thing is we stopped the transmutation and he disappeared. That other Old Man even said we done a good job. Oh well."
"Hey Chika, how're you doing?"
"It's alright, Alphonse… Is that really you?"
There was an awkward silence between the trio as they sat in a café for some tea.
Ed began to explain everything to Chika. How they tried to revive their mother as they longed for her smile again. How Ed lost his left leg and Al lost his body in the process of the human transmutation. How Ed sacrificed his right arm to affix his brother's soul to the suit of armour.
Chika listened in silence.
"I knew that alchemy was cruel all along."
"…"
"Hey Chika… Why don't you head back to Risembool? We'll tell Mitsuko we met you." Al tried to change the topic.
"Mitsuko's here?"
"She's on a mission."
"She's a state alchemist?"
"Yeah, she took my title as youngest state alchemist! Dang!" Ed silently cursed under his breath.
"Well… Alright then. My family's taking a break from the whole 'travel-around-the-world" concert plan. Just make sure you'll come back soon too okay?"
It's not a reunion without all of us together…
Train Station of Central
Nobody's POV
Dang I'm tired. Can't they give me a break from all these missions?
Mitsuko had just arrived back at Central from her mission. Like Ed, she had already made a strong reputation for herself by performing along the streets when she was free, and at the same time completing numerous missions.
I really should concentrate on what I'm here for… Heard that there's books bout' the Philosopher's Stone in the Central Library. Maybe I should check it out…
Not wasting any time, she picked up her luggage and left it in her room in the Central Base of State Alchemists before making her way to the library with the biggest selection of books in Amestris.
Crap it's raining.
An unexpected downpour had caught Mitsuko by surprise. With her gloves she had made with one transmutation circle for her left hand and a transmutation circle for her sound alchemy on another, (Since she was a state alchemist, she realized that there was a need to be prepared for combat at anytime :O ) Mitsuko transmuted an umbrella before making her way back to her room after hours of browsing through the books in the library. Making sure that the borrowed books were not wet, she continued on her way.
Just then, she heard a soft meow from an alley.
It was a kitten, maybe just around a week old; a small tabby crying out for help. There was no sign of its mother anywhere.
Rushing over to the kitten, Mitsuko picked it up and dried its fur with her handkerchief.
"You must be getting cold lil' dude, lemmi bring ya back to my room and warm ya up. You ain't gonna last long without your mum too."
Lifting the kitten up, as it let out a grateful meow; Mitsuko stroked its small head.
She continued to make her way back along the deserted street, as she heard a splashing of footsteps.
They weren't hers; they were coming from behind her.
Someone is behind me…
The footsteps quickened, and she quickly turned around.
The transmutation circle on her right glove shone, and there was a loud screeching sound that was aimed on her attacker. He stumbled at the sudden attack and Mitsuko seized her opportunity to run.
I can't afford to have a fight now; my alchemy ain't even good at attacking. Crap now my umbrella's gone and the kitten's wet again. And so are my books …
Without turning back, she continued running.
He's chasin' me, how did he even recover that fast?
With that, she turned around to set off an even louder screeching sound, before running into a small maze of alleys nearby after making sure her enemy is stunned by her alchemy.
If he can't find me, he'll give up right?
Mitsuko transmuted a small shelter for the kitten and her books before checking the area to make sure that her attacker was not around.
She heard footsteps.
He won't give up, won't he?
The kitten let out a frightened meow.
Crap, that just gave off my position.
Before she knew it, the wall she was hiding behind crumbled.
Her left glove shone, and her cement shelter she transmuted saved her from the falling wall.
A voice rang out from behind her.
"The Melody Alchemist."
Lone sensed a transmutation. Quite near here…It better be him this time… Sheesh… From the roof of the building he was standing on, he heard a loud boom, and a small cloud of dust appeared from afar. A transmutation? He found another state alchemist? Without hesitation, Shadow ran to the source of the boom.
He had a X-shaped scar on his head, and his skin was light brown. He wore sunglasses to hide his identity.
"You don't seem to be from round' here."
There was no answer. The floor beneath her crumbled as a bright red light flashed.
An alchemist? Wait, this isn't alchemy…
It threw her off balance and her attacker grabbed her right hand.
Another bright light.
Her right sleeve and glove was torn and she couldn't move her arm at all.
She let out a yelp of pain as her attacker threw her off, causing her to hit a wall behind her. Another bright light, and the wall behind her fell. The falling concrete hit her hard on the back, but she managed to transmute a shelter to shield herself before anything else fell on her. Her knees giving way due to the intense pain, Mitsuko grabbed her right arm which was bleeding profusely.
"Being a dog of the military at such a young age, what a shame."
"I have my reasons, so what?"
"God has given me a job to kill all state alchemists."
The blood on my glove has destroyed my transmutation circle, Jeez. What did he do? It's like my whole body's paralyzed, and the falling debris had wear me down. So I'm gonna die now? I haven't achieved what I wanted… Shadow and Sozes are waiting for me back at Risembool, I haven't found Al yet, I promised to play with Chika again, I promised Winry I'll be back soon, I promised to go on missions with Ed, and… I promised Nii-san…
She lowered her head.
"What's your name?"
"I have no name. I abandoned it long ago."
"I see…"
A fighter without a name… How amusing… It's like we're the same after all…
She closed her eyes, uttering, "Then, take this melody without a song."
With that said, he approached her, setting his left hand on her head.
A metal suit of armour appeared before Mitsuko as she heard her attacker let out a grunt when he was being knocked away.
"Bring Mitsuko to somewhere safe, the dude's mine."
Ed?
But before Ed could do anything as he reached the scene, there was a shatter of metal as the unknown attacker damaged Al's body.
"Al!" Ed shouted for his brother as he lay helpless on the ground.
"I'm lucky today. Two alchemists at a time. You'll be my next victim, Fullmetal Alchemist."
Ed clapped his hands together as he turned to him. Cement spikes emerged from the ground. But the attacker avoided it effortlessly with his fast agility and grabbed Ed's auto mail arm.
Another bright red light.
His auto mail was destroyed.
"Nii-san!"
Ed collapsed onto the ground with shock. And a hard blow on his back set him lying on the ground, defeated.
"I'll let you pray to god for awhile."
Ed laughed. "Sadly, I don't believe in god."
A clap, and there was another screeching sound. It was the loudest Mitsuko had ever made. I can't let Ed die. Their attacker was stunned once again, and this time it had hit him real hard. Ed looked at Mitsuko. She was panting hard due to her injuries, and her right arm was trembling terribly as she forced a clap.
She performed human transmutation?
He heard shouts. Mustang and his men had arrived at the scene, together with Major Armstrong.
"Scar! You're outnumbered!"
There was no answer from the scarred man.
"You're going to die." Scar watched Roy reached his arm attempting to snap, only to fall down.
He looked at the ground, and saw that his subordinate had kicked him, resulting in his fall.
"What are you doing, Lieutenant?"
"Colonel, don't fight." Riza took up her gun and pointed it towards Scar, firing a few shots.
She likes him? Scar thought as he jumped away from the bullets.
"You're useless in rainy days." Riza added, only adding to her boss' disappointment that he 'really was useless in rainy days' while Scar sweat-dropped.
"Let me show you the beauty of my Alchemy!"
Scar turned behind, only to see Armstrong punch his fist onto the floor. The floor beneath him crumbled as yellow streaks of light dazzled across the ground. It threw the stunned man off balance, and with a hard blow on his back, his sunglasses fell off.
Scar looked up, revealing his red eyes.
"An.. Ishvalan?" Armstrong exclaimed, shocked.
Hey… They look familiar too… Oh well…
Lone looked at the state alchemists before snapping his fingers. Lightning flashed and landed right at the scene.
At least this body allows me to use alchemy… And I better take care of that Scar dude without anyone getting even more hurt… Or Wrath will kill me for that… Geez…
Seizing the opportunity, Scar escaped as the lightning created a thick cloud of dust. He escaped to the sewers, hiding beneath the city.
The fog cleared, and there was silence between the three friends.
"Al… Are you okay?"
"You want to die? And leave me here? Brother, we will not die! We promised to get our bodies back together!" Al shouted angrily at his brother, sitting up with only one leg.
"Al! I knew it was you all along!" Mitsuko cut into their conversation.
Al turned to Mitsuko. "How long did you even take to notice that?"
"Ever since I met you at the train station, you acted like Al, you kept quiet like we first met, even the way your purple eyes glow in that suit of armour was the same! Ed even shouted your name out just now! And I even recognized you voice when you spoke! I've never told Why did you even keep this from me? You fraid' I'll hate the world? I hate us, I hate us alchemists!"
There was a long silence between the trio.
"Then why did you keep it from us that you committed human transmutation…"
Mitsuko turned away from them.
"I don't want anyone to worry bout' me. I'll be responsible for what I've brought upon Shadow and Sozes…"
They sat in silence as the rain continued to fall.
The kitten let out a terrified yowl as the lightning struck.
"Hey hey…" Mitsuko went towards the kitten, despite her injuries. She picked it up and brought it close to her bosom.
"I'm here, don't be afraid… Mitsuko's here… Soze…" She stopped abruptly.
Hospital of Central
Nobody's POV
"You getting better?"
"Yeah."
Ed had visited Mitsuko on behalf of Al, as he could not walk with one of his legs missing, and Ed could not fix him without his left arm. Mitsuko had her back bandaged and her right arm in a cast.
"Let's go back to Risembool. I gotta get Winry to fix my arm and then I can fix Al. Chika's also back home waiting for you. Sozes can heal your wounds for you too."
"Chika? She's back?"
"Yeah. She wants to meet you."
Winry's house
Risembool
Nobody's POV
"How long has it been since we came here?"
"Very long, Nii-san."
The trio stood in front of the house with their escort, Major Armstrong. They had just took a train from central to Risembool, their hometown.
Mitsuko pressed the doorbell.
"Nii-Chan!" Sozes rushed out of the door to greet her sister with a hug. Mitsuko hugged her back as they laughed.
Ed and Al watched as the two sisters are reunited. They had never seen Mitsuko that happy before, not ever since she arrived at Central.
"Ed!" Winry stormed to him. "What have you done to my automail? It took me so long to make it and now I have to do another from scratch!"
"Err… Accidents happen?"
Winry shot a furious stare at Ed and Al, but smiled sweetly after that.
Chika entered the living room upon hearing the familiar voices of her friends. With a smile, she said.
"Welcome home."
At Night
"We got to talk, don't we?"
Chika gathered the group of friends to the sofa, with Al sitting on the floor beside the coffee table. While Pinako took over Winry's job of remaking both Ed's left arm and right leg as they need to be replaced. Sozes was leaning on Mitsuko's shoulder, exhausted after spending the day with her childhood friends and healing Mitsuko. Ed sat beside Winry and Chika sat on the sofa across them.
"Firstly, why did you three leave?"
The three alchemists looked at each other. They began to explain the human transmutation, and their intentions of becoming a state alchemist.
"Me and Al are looking for for the Philosophers' Stone."
"Hey, that's what I'm lookin' for too…"
"So to get this straight, when you perform a transmutation, there's some equivalent exchange theory, right? So what did you all lose?"
"Al lost his body, I lost my leg and my arm to affix his soul to a suit of armour."
"What bout' you, Mitsuko?"
She remained silent, looking guiltily at her asleep sister.
"If you've noticed, Sozes' lost her courage. And I've lost…" She looked at Chika. "Sorry Chika, I can't fulfill your promise now…"
Chika said nothing.
"And where's that brother of mine?"
"Wasn't he with you?"
"Wasn't he supposed to stay here?"
"He went to look for you… Nii-chan…" Sozes mumbled as she slowly awoke from her sleep upon hearing her twin's name.
Mitsuko let out a sigh. "That stubborn Shadow… He'll be alright. Without his emotions he can be as darin' as ever…"
Winry was looking at Ed with worried eyes. Did they get into a fight? Why did he break his automail? Are they on a dangerous journey? Why was there an escort for them?
Al, who had been keeping silent all the while, finally spoke.
"Whatever it is, we'll stick together. Mitsuko will join us in researching about the stone and we'll find Shadow too. We'll get our original selves and bodies back, then we'll come back for a reunion… We promise…"
Mitsuko turned her gaze to Al. Although he was sitting quite a distance from her, she could see his glowing eyes. It was the same glow the saw those years back, when he comforted her after her knowing the tragic news. She glanced at her friends with a smile.
We'll be back for a reunion…And together too…
A day before leaving for Central
Mitsuko sat on the cliff which she last went too years ago, where she sat with her older brother. The guitar in her hands and gazing into the starry night, she heard a clanking of metal behind her.
"Hi Al." Al had been fixed by his brother, who had gotten his new auto mail arm a day before.
"Hi…"
Al sat beside her, as she strummed a few chords again and again. It was the only instrument she had left. She wants to play the piano again… Real bad…
They sat in silence as Mitsuko continued to play the guitar, until she stopped and stared blankly ahead of her.
"You know that I haven't given up on you, right?"
There was no answer, just nervous shuffles as Al shifted his position.
"I know that you're afraid… So am I… I'm afraid you're havin' doubts, and you're afraid I'm givin' up on you…"
"You like hiding things from me don't you?"
"Not hidin'… Just that I don't have a chance to tell you…"
"I just… don't want to see you sad again… That time when Shihiro left, you cried so hard it scared me. If you knew I'm like this, and I can't provide you with any warmth or even feel warmth, what are you going to do?"
Mitsuko did not answer, but laughed softly. She pointed to the stars.
"If you'll be my star, I'll be your sky. I'll live to let you shine all night."
She turned to Al as they looked at each other, smiling.
"But I realized that I don't need the star, I just need its light. I'll hold it close to my heart, never letting it go. I'm always believing that even if the star's gone, the starlight will remain with me."
Al laughed. "The starlight's with you all this time..."
"Yeah…"
As they continued to gaze at the stars, Mitsuko touched the cool metal suit of armour. It was cold at night, but she grinned.
I'll love you even more, as the stars passed by… And I'm still loving you, my star.
She heard shouts from behind them. The rest of the gang came running towards them. The friends started laughing and joking, treasuring every moment they had together as a group. Major Armstrong and Pinako stood outside the house door looking at them.
"They sure are a tight lot eh, Ma'am?"
"They sure are…"
As the sun begins to rise from afar, the sunlight shining brightly as it rose from the mountains, Armstrong called out for the state alchemists to get ready to leave.
We'll need to leave soon, there's a reunion waiting for them…
Btw, wanna know what's the name Esnohpla? –laughs-
Take the name Alphonse and reverse it. You get Esnohpla. XD
HAHA! Oh and please review!
Lalala~ btw next chap's decided, it'll be a special omake :D so stay tuned~