A/N: So, another chapter appears! I am very sorry to all of you who have been waiting since March for this chapter. Due to exams, misery, writer's block and then limited time, it took a while for me to write it. So, now that excuses are done, please enjoy the latest installment.
Disclaimer: FMA still does not belong to me nor will it ever. The other characters are mine though :)
The next day was dark and dreary, the rain from the previous night continuing with enthusiasm. The sheets of water nearly hid the small group hidden under dark umbrellas standing in front of the freshly dug grave. A pastor stood over the coffin murmuring words that were swallowed up by the downpour. Mustang and his team stood in front of the grave, all in their formal military uniforms. Sergeant Fuery was openly weeping, his tears joining the rain pouring down his face. The others were quiet, their caps hiding their expressions from each other. Lieutenant-General Raveneye stood off to the side, her face schooled into a blank, lifeless expression. Edward stood beside her, nearly invisible in his somber colours. His fists were clenched in his thick gloves, as he stared fixedly at the coffin by his feet. The Captain had not deserved this. He was old; he should have been retired, living the rest of his life out in peace, not fighting in yet another war. He did not deserve to be left on the street to die.
"Goddammit!" Ed growled under his breath. He could feel his nails bite into his palms through the thick material of his gloves as his fists tightened.
"Lieutenant-General, do you wish to say something before Captain Broadstone is buried?" the pastor shouted, so as to be heard over the rain.
The Lieutenant-General gave a curt nod and stepped forward. Instead of addressing the group, she squatted down beside the coffin and laid a hand over where the Captain's head lay. She whispered something that was lost in the rain and then stood up, signally the pallbearers to lower the coffin into the wet earth. Ed watched as the man he had begun to call a friend was set to rest.
"What the hell happened?" Edward pointed an accusing finger at this former boss. They had retired to Lieutenant-General Raveneye's house after the funeral, all having been excused from official duties by Fuhrer Grummen.
"I don't know, Fullmetal! That wasn't supposed to happen" Mustang protested pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace. "Broadstone was an integral part of the team. Not to mention, he was going to hand in his report on gang movements today. Damn it!" The Flame Alchemist sunk into an armchair and massaged his brow.
"Gangs?"
"Things have changed around here, Boss" Breda commented. "Gangs were not really a problem before we toppled the homunculi. That Father fellow made sure to get rid of anything or anyone that would throw a wrench in his plans." He took a large bite out of his sandwich. "Looking back, ish strange we wah able to – gulp – overthrow them" Breda muttered around his mouthful. "If they hadn't needed the Colonel, I mean Brigadier-General, as a sacrifice, we would have been toast."
"Needless to say," 2nd Lieutenant Falman continued, "after the annihilation of the homunculi, all the less savory types have been trickling back into the city. The military has been stretched thin trying to deal with the influx of petty crime around Amestris."
"And the gangs?" Ed prompted.
Mustang looked up with a contemplative frown on his face. "I had the Captain looking into some of the more active gangs in the Central area. There have been rumours – and only rumours, mind you – that members of those gangs are questing for immortality. It was a simple reconnaissance task, nothing an esteemed soldier couldn't handle. He was supposed to hand in the final report today." Mustang rose and began to pace again. "Could this be related? A retaliation killing perhaps? There was no sign of the murder weapon on the scene, but it was definitely some kind of sword" Mustang muttered, pacing back and forth like a caged animal. "The gangs prefer guns to long blades. They mostly prefer knives, not swords. And this looked too professional. A man like Broadstone would not go without a fight, so…"
"Sir," Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye interrupted, her beautiful stern face kept blank. "The Fuhrer has already launched an investigation."
To the casual observer, this statement would sound almost like a reprimand, but Edward knew better. Lieutenant Hawkeye was worried for her friend and superior officer and was simply showing it in her own way. Mustang locked eyes with the Lieutenant and after an intense silent glare exchange, the Brigadier-General relented. He slunk back to his armchair and glared into the fireplace.
"Where's Lieutenant-General Raveneye?" Ed suddenly realized that the charismatic officer was nowhere to be seen. Mustang's team all exchanged glances. Perhaps it was due to years of team work, but every member seemed to exchange a look with all the others without ever overlapping. It was like a game of Flow Free with only their eyes.
"The Mistress has retired to her room" a sultry voice interjected from the doorway. "She apologizes for her rudeness and extends an invitation to all of you to stay the night if you so wish."
The group all turned their heads in unison to see Carmen standing in the doorway.
"Geh!" Ed exclaimed. "You again?"
"I am the housekeeper, dear. It's my job to be in the house" Carmen replied dryly.
"How is she?" Mustang asked abruptly. Carmen's mood quickly changed from teasing to sombre.
"She is shocked, as is to be expected" she replied wearily. "The Captain was a good friend to her… to all of us…" Carmen paused to stop the tremor in her voice, her eyes blinking frequently. "He will be missed… Shit…"
Edward watched in amazement as the cool, calm, poised housekeeper broke down, sobbing quietly into her hands.
"I'm sorry… Please excuse me." With a swish of her red skirts, Carmen ran out of the sitting room, wiping the freely flowing tears from her face.
"Oh dear," Sergeant Fuery murmured. "I think I'm going to cry again."
Mustang and his team decided to stay the night at Lieutenant-General Raveneye's house in order to discuss the situation further and develop a new plan of action. Edward opted to return to the military dormitories. Even though it was just getting dark, he really wanted to return to his bed and talk to Winry. So many things had happened, he just needed to speak to someone before he burst. He leaned back in the cab seat, sighing as his stiff neck complained.
"Long day, sir?" the cabbie asked conversationally.
"A funeral" Ed grunted, not deigning to open his eyes. Dammit, why did he have to get a talkative cabbie? He would have preferred this one any day but today.
"My condolences, sir. Was it a close acquaintance?"
"I barely knew him" Ed growled. "I barely knew him and I was beginning to like him. Shit!" Ed threw an arm over his eyes to hide the tears in his eyes.
"He must've been a good chap then. What a pity" the cabbie tutted. "Well, don't let it get you too down, sir."
Ed grunted noncommittally as he paid the driver through the window and stepped onto the curb.
"Yes indeed. You will have to face far greater trials than this before it is all done." The cabbie grinned and leaned forward. "But you already know that, don't you, Mister Edward Elric?"
Before Edward could react, the cabbie had rolled up his window and sped off into the night. Ed stood on the pavement outside the dormitory, rooted in shock. The cab driver had called him Edward Elric. During the course of the ride, Ed had not once mentioned his name to the driver. Even if he had heard Mustang calling him Ed at the door of the house, how had the cabbie known his last name? Freed from his momentary paralysis, Edward raced into the building and up the stairs to his room. Fumbling with his keys, it took some time for him to unlock the door; but when he did, he threw open the door and ran to the phone. He jammed his fingers into the key pads, dialing out the number to Tara Raveneye's home, given to him by a well-meaning Hawkeye. He paced anxiously as the phone continued to ring, his fear adding time to the wait. Ed was about to give up and try again when the ringtone stop and Lieutenant Hawkeye's voice answered. Ed quickly explained his situation and was relieved when the Lieutenant handed the phone over to Mustang (not that he would ever admit it to the bastard). He repeated his explanation and then went on to describe the cabbie. If this was the guy threatening him and his family, Ed wanted him caught. Mustang promised that he would issue a warrant for the cabbie and organized a search as soon as he got to the office the next day. Ed sat down on his bed, relieved somewhat of the pressure. Mustang continued by saying he would assign a car and single escort for Ed, to avoid him taking cabs. Ed quietly thanked the Brigadier-General for his time and placed the phone back into the receiver. He was not happy with the idea of an escort (he was already an adult, dammit), but he knew that Mustang would not be so cruel as to send someone Ed despised. Ed sighed and began to dial a number so familiar he knew it by heart.
"Hello? Rockbell Mechanics and Automail, how can I help you?"
Edward heaved a sigh of relief as he leaned back on the bed. He felt better just by hearing Winry's voice. Who knew he had become such a softie? Well, he though wryly, they say that love does change a man.
"Hello?"
With a curse, Ed suddenly realized that his thoughts had been drifting. "Oh, hey Winry, it's me."
A pause. "Ed? Oh my gosh, what happened? Are you alright? Are you okay?"
Ed held the phone away from his ear as Winry shrieked. Never mind that previous thought. There was another sudden pause.
"Hello? Winry?"
"You didn't break your automail, did you?" Winry's voice was dangerously low, the threat of a wrench-throw evident.
"No, no, it's fine! Everything's fine! I just wanted to talk" Ed placated his fiancée.
"…"
"Winry?"
"Who are you and what have you done to Edward Elric?"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Ed roared angrily, all fond thoughts flying out of his head.
Winry burst out into laughter. "Seriously Ed, you never used to call just to talk! You really have grown, haven't you?"
"S-shut up! Of course I have" Ed grumbled, a little miffed.
"Seriously though, is everything alright?"
Trust Winry to pick up the one thing he was trying to hide. "I'm fine, Winry. Really. So, how was Pinako-baachan's trip? Did she enjoy Xing?"
Ed listened to the gentle lull of Winry's voice as she animatedly described her grandmother's adventures in Xing. For a moment, this moment, it felt like he was home.
A/N: And that's that. The next chapter will hopefully be out soon (I was on a roll last week). A new character will be introduced, a personal favourite, and an old FMA friend will make an appearance. Please feel free to review, rate, comment, and/or ask questions. I appreciate it all.