Chapter Eight:
Many Conversations
It had been over a month sense his return in all honest he wasn't sure what to make of Envy's reappearance did that mean that the others could return? And how could that have been done. They must have had something of equal value to trade.
Homunculus didn't have alchemy so what is it? They wouldn't be able to use the gate of truth but how would they have been brought back between the two worlds? At least that's how Edward had seen it he had spent hours locked away thinking about it.
Sitting in the library food parlor for the smell and stale coffee alone he nibbled on the small muffin he'd been eating. Truth be told Envy wasn't acting like they had originally nor did they seem to be up to anything they had played back the tapes for him.
But why now? Had something changed? They had gotten a few things out of the Homunculus who identified themselves as female. The little bit of information they had gotten out of her he assumed were only half truths.
He leaned back into his chair, "Brother are we really going to spend this much time in the Library," scowled Alphonse looking at him some what in dismay.
Even now it amazed him that Alphonse is still here he has to constantly remind himself that he is. A part of himself had thought he had imagined the whole thing. It had taken a long time almost two years for Alphonse to recover.
In a way Alphonse had taken over his role as a state Alchemist to admit he had been more then just a little surprised. His brothers eyes bore into him, "What aren't you telling me Brother?" at his questioned Edward brought his hand to his chin.
"Payment, what did she pay the gate of truth with?" the questioned made Alphonse flinch he didn't enjoy talking about his time there.
"I don't know most of the time I was there I was trapped in my memories and sometimes I was there but I wasn't." He answered him his tone become quieter softer and clipped he paused several time. Even now after all this time Alphonse body hadn't fully recovered.
"In and out of consciousness?" he knew the answer he had asked him about his stay in the gate of truth.
"It was like I was a ghost I wasn't connected to my body so I had no idea what was going on outside of the gate. It was like someone kept me in water only it was white and sometimes I thought I saw shadows," that was new Alphonse had never told him about shadows before.
But he knew better then to press him about the issue at least he seemed much more confident then he did before. He had a grin to match Edward's own it's almost impossible to tell them apart his growth wasn't as tall as Edward.
Malnutrition they said but that didn't stop the short jokes especially when he ticked him off. Even thought he is taller then him. Edward continued to eat his food, "Want some?" he asked to Alphonse who rolled his eyes.
"Brother your going to get fat if you continue to eat so much take better care of your body like me," Alphonse grinned.
He couldn't fool Edward thought his smile wasn't there he seemed lost in thought. "When I was there time stood still, I knew it went on and sometimes I became aware. I had conversations sometimes with the truth, god, all is one being."
"Right." Edward still wasn't to make sure of beating the gate.
"Do you miss your Alchemy?" the quite answer disrupt Edward's thought it came out bluntly and guilt ridden.
What was he suppose to say? "Sometimes I forget but it was more then worth it Alphonse," he patted Alphonse on the arm trying to reassure him.
"Also I'm wondering something why are you putting in such an effort with Envy anyways?" It was a fair question.
"I don't know," Edward admitted, "I mean if you think about it just about all of the Humoculus were deceived by their ' Father'."
"Yes but they tried to kill us many times over, they weren't like Wrath." Wrath and Alphonse worked together as a two man team more then often.
People walked passed them some glanced in their direction but most kept on walking. He had even thought he had seen someone snag a photo. Edward scratched the back of his neck with interest watching Alphonse thinking about his answer.
"I understand that but more importantly their reasons behind doing what he said was very basic, in the end Envy was jealous of humanity." his thoughtful answer came after a moment. "Besides the way she died I wouldn't exactly call it humane."
Alphonse lowered his head. "It was harder then I thought hurting Envy in the battle." he admitted. "those screams were terrible."
Edward flinched, "You had to defend yourself I wouldn't expect you not to Alphonse. It's just theirs so many unanswered questions really," He'd been thinking more and more about their Mother. "It also had me thinking about, mom."
Another sore subject but Alphonse didn't seem surprised. "If she's a Homunculus or not?" it didn't sound like a question but a statement of fact.
"Theirs been rumors about a water based homunculus with pale skin and brown hair the one Wrath talked about." a lump formed in his throat and Alphonse hands gripped the table.
"If it was here she obviously wan'ts nothing to do with us, remember! Homunculus hate the people that bring them back their unable to forgive them remember?" His tone was higher pitched and he clutched at his hands in irritation as if he'd like to strangle someone.
Alphonse had his bouts of rage Edward had seen them he didn't want to cause a scene not here. "Brother, just breathe."
Alphonse didn't look at him his face shadowed formed into a thoughtful frown his eyes narrowed together. "She won't forgive us and she shouldn't from what I understand from Wrath it's yanking them out of heaven and bringing them back broken."
Edward flinched unable to say anything the entire idea had been his he had been the one responsible. It still stung even now but the wound wasn't as raw as it had been as he had been a child. "Right," he's out of breath now.
Suddenly not hungry, "Come on Alphonse theirs work to do." Neither one of them disagreed they walked leaving some money for the waitress before disappearing down the stone path together.
Watching them from a distance eyes followed them, "They'll become closer and closer to the target, Mother." A voice reported into a radio eyes following after them. The tone is cold and hard and has a hint of inane laughter to it.
"Don't intercept them follow them and find out what they know." came the response of a female.
"Yes Dante," came the brisk reply a click of the receiver and a wicked smirk. Theirs no way their going to loose him.
Ling wore red golden robes his party had insisted on changing it this wasn't his style but he didn't mind. It would be difficult to fight in robes like this. He sat watching Envy from inside of the computer room sense she'd been here nearly two months had passed by.
To be honest her behavior surprised him more then once she'd also become relatively good terms with Oliver Armstrong picking out a favorite. Was it simply to amuse her self? The Homunculus cheered up actually 'smiled' when she appeared.
Marcoh too had begrudgingly started having little bits of conversations with her. She had finally allowed him to take a blood sample but only after Wrath had shown her how easy it was first. It was almost as if the Homunculus enjoyed being caught by them.
He sat in the computer chair danging his arm that's hidden beneath the long unpractical robes. It didn't look good for her but he wasn't going to be tricked or persuaded to hide the truth. But it was as if the Homunculus wanted to be found guilty.
Greed had been his long time alley when he had been alive. He had found more then a few collections and photographs of Greed and the other Homunculus together before what ever fall out they had. Their were clues of it in written journals he had obtained.
Normally a lawyer would have been awarded but it made more sense to him. He also had to make several oaths as well in order to represent this Homunculus. In all honestly this creature left a long more questions then answers. The one thing Homunculus were great at being confusing.
Don't say were their not extinct he thought shifting through the papers on his desk sense Father's defeat their had been several recovery missions. Their had been rumours of a boy that had been found on an island. That boy had been Wrath the Amestris government had found him and had brought him to central when they realized what he was.
But how had he gotten there? Someone had obviously used Human Transmutation but who? Whoever had hadn't realized what they had created. Perhaps he should speak to Edward about this he turned and noticed that she was watching him.
Lan Fan she's the only one who stood in his way of keeping the crown. It is true no matter how horrible it sounds. Many times he imagined marrying her it is more then obvious that the pair of them care for each other.
If he hadn't become Emperor it would have been easier but it had been his duty his destiny to do so. He was the only one he trusted with this job. Many of his siblings had been more then happy to hand over the throne.
Still Lan Fan had grown in popularity in Xing and he had noticed several of her Clan had also joined in protecting him. Including her older brothers, a few cousins and more. Ling narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
"The insanity plea is the only one I can think of," he let out a yawn, "Probably a sign I need a drink and sleep." He let out a long stretch getting to his feet.
"Right, Sir," Lan Fan reply came at once sounding troubled. "Why did you accept Edward's propsol to come here?"
"Without Edward we wouldn't have gotten this far, I figure we should keep the relationships good with Amestris and to be honest I was curious." He walked to the center of the room pausing to study her. She wasn't meeting his gaze.
It annoyed him when she did that terribly so. "And if Greed could be good, if their was more to him their could be more to her as well." he let out a mad laugh. "Thought knowing her probably not this could be a game to her."
Lan Fan followed him at a slow pace his guards did not need to be commanded they emptied the room following him. The members of the elite remained out of sight Lan Fan hadn't been the only women who wanted to marry him.
Unlike his Father he intended to only have one wife even thought he had been told many times it wouldn't be practical. He didn't intend to cheat on her like everyone else perhaps things could insist could grow with his and Lan Fan's relationship.
But what he wasn't isn't partial or really proper. What he wan'ts is warmth strength and love the hand and embrace that only she could give him. He wasn't quite sure when it started but he had more then just comrade emotions for her.
The two of them walked a very fine line together he and Lan Fan. Just thinking of her name calmed him made him feel stronger the need to do better. Without her how far would he have gotten? When she had gotten hurt he didn't even want to think about it.
It filled him with an ugly rage it made him powerful easy to manipulate at the same time. He had no intention of letting Envy get off if she had done what she claimed. But he wasn't naive to think that they had told him the complete truths.
Memories are easy to altar with Alchemy he wondered if this Envy is the same one they even battled against. More then one human had thought that he needed more information and that took time gathering.
He stopped outside of his door, "Yan Fan I'd like a word alone with you," he entered the room not bothering to see if she followed.