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Fullmetal Alchemist: Conspiracy

Fullmetal Alchemist quote:

"On the day we left, we burned down the family home and all the familiar things inside. Because some memories... aren't meant to leave traces."- Alphonse Elric

Chapter 5: Decisions

In their hotel room in Central Hotel, Edward was pacing in front of the fire place with a hand on his chin and his other hand folded over his chest. Alphonse was sitting on the couch watching his brother with worry filled eyes with his head resting in his hands. "Brother, what do we do?"

Edward stopped his pacing to look at his brother for a second then went back to pacing. "I don't think there is much choice. We can't go to jail, but I don't want us joining the military especially as state alchemists. Teacher told us how they are dogs of the military. I don't want to be a dog."

"I don't either, brother, but what other choice do we have?" Alphonse asked.

"If we both become state alchemists there is a chance we will be separated. We could get different commanding officers or be sent on different missions. We came here to look for that bastard, not to become state alchemists. We're all we have. We can't afford to both become state alchemists." Edward replied.

Alphonse sighed. "But if we don't then we'll get arrested. And we can't escape the city because the Fuhrer ordered some military officers to keep an eye on us."

The older brother sighed and walked towards the window and looked down at the sidewalk and road. There he looked at the officers surrounding the hotel. "I said we can't both become state alchemists."

"Are you saying only one of us becomes a state alchemist?" Al asked, looking up at his brother with wide eyes. "But the Fuhrer said both of us had to become one."

"If only one of us becomes one then we won't be separated." Edward replied as he turned away from the window. "We don't have any choice. We aren't going to be separated and I don't want both of us to go through the hell of being a dog of the military."

Alphonse sat up and looked at his brother, frowning. "So who is going to become the state alchemist?"

Edward ran his flesh hand through his hair. "I will. I'm the older brother and it's my job to take care of you." Holding his hand up, Edward stopped his brother from speaking. "I'll hear none of it, Alphonse Elric. I'm the older brother and you're the younger brother. I'll be the state alchemist and there will be no arguing."

Alphonse huffed and sat back down, glaring at the wall. "Fine, brother."

"So Al, how about we ditch the military officers? We haven't caused any mayhem since mom…you know….died." Edward said sadly.

"You know we could get into a lot of trouble for this, but it sounds like fun." Al agreed. "But how do we do it? We got officers outside our door and down on the streets. I don't see any way we can escape from them."

Edward went back to looking out the window. "We can't get out the door and we can't go down onto the street. We can either climb up to the roof or climb out one of the windows that faces the alley."

Al shook his head. "Not the alley. We can easily get caught by the officers that way. They could see the light from our alchemy and wait for us at the bottom. It would be faster and safer to go from the roof."

"Good thing Master taught us well. Al, reinforce the door with alchemy to make it harder for them to get in." Edward replied as he opened the window and looked down. "If this works, this will be really funny. Military officers outsmarted by kids again."

"Maybe we should just run to the train station and leave." Al suggested as he finished sealing the door.

"No. They probably have officers there in case we do find a way to escape." Edward said. He climbed onto the window sill and clapped his hands. He placed his hands on the wall outside the building, making a ladder with the bricks. After making the ladder, Edward looked down to see if the military officers saw the light.

One of the officers was staring at Edward and the ladder he made. "HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" He yelled.

Edward laughed. "They saw, Al. We have to move fast." The blond alchemist climbed out the window and onto the ladder as the officer pulled his radio out to tell the officers outside their room what was going on.

When Edward reached the roof, Al climbed out the window and followed him. While Al was climbing up, Edward went and locked the door that leads to the roof with alchemy so the officers couldn't get up on the roof easily. "Hey Al, get rid of the ladder." Edward said as he finished with the door.

As soon as Al was done, Edward and him ran to the edge of the roof and looked down. "That's a high drop." Al whispered.

"We just have to make sure we don't miss." Edward replied. "Or we could make a bridge to the next roof, but I think jumping would be easier and faster. We would have to keep stopping to make a bridge then get rid of the bridge when we got across."

Al nodded his head. "Jumping is best and it doesn't seem to be that far of a jump."

"GET BACK HERE, YOU BRATS!" A woman yelled at them.

"That lady is scary, brother." Al said.

Edward nodded his head. "She is, but not as scary as Master. Let's go." He and Al stepped back a few steps to get a running start. Al allowed his brother to jump to the first roof before following him. The two didn't stop running or jumping roofs until they jumped seven roofs.

"Let's climb down into the alley behind this building then go someplace." Edward said. Neither of the boys were out of breath. After training under their Master for six months they don''t get tired out easily.

The young blond alchemist clapped his hands and placed them on the back of the building they were on. A ladder formed and the boys climbed down into the alley.

Jumping off the ladder, Al looked around the dark alley. "Where are we going, brother?"

Edward stopped looking at the sky to look at his little brother. "Let's go to the train station first. I want to see if they are really officers there. We're figure out what to do from there."

Al nodded his head and the two boys started to run to the train station. It was best to keep moving fast to stay ahead of the military officers. They couldn't be caught now. It would ruin the fun of hiding from the military even if it was only for a few hours.

After running in the back alleys for about fifteen minutes, Edward and Alphonse got out of the alleys and started walking on the sidewalks in front of the buildings. It took them another ten minutes of walking to reach the train station.

When they got to the train station, Edward and Alphonse immediately stopped walking and jumped into the closest alley near them. Right in front of them with his back to them was a military officer with white and black hair. He was standing next to a military car.

Peeking out from the alley, Edward and Alphonse looked around to see more military officers around. "You know, I'm beginning to think the Fuhrer doesn't trust us, Al." Edward said as he looked at all the military officers and cars. He counted fourteen officers and three military cars.

"I can't say I blame him." Al responded. "I mean we did just break out of our hotel room."

Edward nodded his head. "Let's get out of here. We don't want to get caught already."

The alchemist brothers ran to the back of the alley and ran away from the train station. When they were about a mile and a half from the train station they got out of the alleys and looked around where they were to see they were near a park.

"Brother, let's go to the park." Al said, dragging his brother behind him to the park.

Edward smiled at his little brother. "It's been years since we've been to a park."

Both boys sat on the swings and started swinging. Al smiled as he and his brother fought to be the one to go the highest just like when they were younger and went to the park.

"Edward? Alphonse?" A kind male voice called to the two boys, breaking them out of their memories. They stopped swinging to see Hughes, a woman, and a baby girl.

"Hello Mr. Hughes." Alphonse greeted. Edward just nodded his head at the man.

Hughes smiled kindly at them. "What are you guys doing here? I thought you guys got locked into your hotel room." Edward grinned mischievously at him. Hughes just laughed when he saw the grin. "You guys snuck out, didn't you?"

"Yeah. We wanted to have some fun." Alphonse explained to Hughes. "When we were younger and living in Resembool with our mother we were terrible and caused a lot of mayhem. We haven't caused a whole lot of mayhem since we lost our mother. So we felt it was time for a little mayhem."

The woman next to Hughes laughed. "You two sound horrible. Your mother must have had a hard time controlling you two. By the way, my name is Gracia. And this is Hughes and my daughter, Elysia."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Edward and this is Alphonse." Edward said, motioning to Al, who gave a big grin and waved at her.

"Mustang is going to kill you guys for causing him all this trouble." Hughes replied, smiling. "I, on the other hand, think it's hilarious that the military can't keep track of two kids."

Alphonse and Edward grinned evilly. "We thought the same thing." Al said.

"Who would have thought the military was so pathetic that it can't catch two kids." Edward added.

Hughes grinned evilly at them in return. "You guys do know I am part of the military and that it is my job to take you back."

The two alchemists frowned and looked at each other then back to Hughes, both grinning mischievously. "If you can catch us." Edward said and jumped off his swing with Al following his example.

The older alchemists clapped his hands and slammed them on the ground, making a wall form between the brothers and Hughes and his family. Edward stood up and dusted his hands off. "So Al, where do you want to go now?"

"Dinner?" Al questioned.

Edward smiled. "Sure, Al."

As the brothers were walking to a restaurant to eat at, at Central Headquarters, Colonel Mustang was just informed about what the boys just did.

"I'm going to kill them." Mustang growled as he walked through the halls Central Headquarters. "Someone please tell me how two kids are able to escape the military and not be caught."

"Simple. They are really skilled alchemists. And they are kids with a lot of energy and are smart. With all that, it is easy for kids to escape officers, especially since the officers can't shoot the kids cause they are just kids and they have done nothing wrong." Hughes replied calmly and with a big smile.

Mustang glared at Hughes. "It was a rhetorical question, Maes."

Hughes shrugged. "I saw them in the park earlier when I was with my wife and daughter. We talked for a few minutes then they ran off. I think I heard them say something about getting dinner."

"Do you know where they would go to eat?" Mustang asked annoyed.

Hughes shrugged. "Not a clue."

Mustang stared at him with narrowed eyes. "I thought you were one of the best in the investigation department, but I think I'm going to have to rethink that theory."

Childishly, Hughes stuck his tongue out at Roy. "I'm not perfect."

*B*R*E*A*K*

"Brother, are you sure I can't be a state alchemist. It isn't fair that you're the only one who has to be one. I know how much you hate the military, especially after everything Granny Pinako and Master said about it." Al said as the boys ate their dinner. They sat in a booth, next to a window in the restaurant they were at.

Ed looked up from his dinner. He glanced out the window and frowned. "Al, the military is dangerous. Only one of us should have to deal with it and that is only if I get in. I don't even understand why the Fuhrer wants a kid in the military. Seems kind of stupid to me."

"Brother?" Al asked confused.

Ed looked back at his brother with a small smile. "I won't let that bastard Fuhrer take both of our childhoods away."

"Then let me join and not you." Al protested. He would do anything for his brother and he knew in return, his brother would do anything for him.

Ed shook his head. "No, Al. I gave up my childhood already." He looked at his automail arm so his brother could understand what he meant. "You haven't lost yours yet and you won't until you are an adult. I'll join alone and that is final."

"But brother….." Al started.

"Stop, Al." Edward hissed. "If only one of us becomes a state alchemist, then we won't be separated. I already explained this." He looked back out the window with a thoughtful look.

Al looked at his brother confused. "What are you thinking about?"

"We'll need money eventually and if I become a state alchemist, I could get that money. It could be helpful. And maybe while I'm on missions if I become one, I can try to get information on that bastard and maybe find him." Edward explained.

Al raised a brow. "So you're saying it might be a good thing to join?"

Ed nodded his head. "It might be."

"But what about all the cons of joining?" Al argued.

Ed rubbed his forehead. "That's the problem. I could be sent to war if it broke out. I'll have to go on missions all the time and follow orders. If ordered to kill, I'll have to. Master will be pissed if she finds out that I joined."

"Then let's leave." Al pleaded.

Ed shook his head. "We have to think rationally, Al. Running is dangerous, especially since it is the Fuhrer we would be running from. It would be incredibly stupid to run now."

Al sighed. "We should have stayed in Resembool at least one more day than we would have missed that train being hijacked."

Ed rested his head in his flesh hand and tapped his metal fingers on the table. "But then who knows what might have happened? Think about what might have happened on that train if we weren't there. The military wasn't prepared for that hijacking. It was lucky we were there. We left to help people and find that bastard."

Sighing, Al looked out the window and smiled. He waved at the person on the other side of the glass.

Seeing the wave in the corner of his eye, Ed lifted his head to see who his brother was waving at. He saw Hughes standing on the other side of the glass with a big grin in place. Ed raised a brow and turned back to his dinner. "I wonder if he found us by luck or if he knew we were here."

Al shrugged and took a bite of his dinner as Hughes left the window. He reappeared a few seconds later sitting next to Edward.

"Hi Mr. Hughes." Al greeted while his brother grunted in greeting.

"Hello Alphonse, Edward." Hughes put a hand on Ed's shoulder. "You shouldn't eat so fast or you'll choke."

Ed paused in his eating and looked at Hughes. He remembered his mother telling him the same thing a lot of times. "What are you doing here?" He asked before going back to his dinner.

"Well, you've had military officers chasing you all over the place today and they are getting tired. Don't you think it's time to end the game?" Hughes asked nicely. "Oh, and the Fuhrer wants to talk with you."

Ed nodded his head. "I need to talk with him anyway. We can go when we're finished here."

Al's eyes darkened and he started to gloomily push his food around on his plate. If Hughes noticed the mood change, he didn't say anything.

"Doesn't the military have better things to do than keep an eye on two kids?" Al asked.

"Not at the moment. It's been rather peaceful here in Central." Hughes replied. He folded his hands behind his head and looked up at the ceiling. "And besides, I think it's fun to chase you around, though, others are beginning to get ignored with it so only my team and Roy's team are chasing you now."

Ed smirked. "Glad to know I can annoy them."

"Little trouble maker." Hughes laughed.

"DON'T CALL ME LITTLE!" Ed screamed, pushing Hughes out of his seat.

Hughes rubbed his face and sat back down. "No need to push me."

"I'm sorry about my brother, Mr. Hughes." Al sent a disproving glare at his brother, who, with practiced eased, ignored it.

*B*R*E*A*K*

"Did you two enjoy your day of driving my men insane?" Fuhrer King Bradley asked when Edward and Alphonse were in his office.

Ed smirked. "It was really fun. Maybe now you'll won't confine us again or give us guards to make sure we won't run. They were annoying."

The Fuhrer raised a brow. "What do you want me to do? I think you two will continue to cause trouble."

"We're kids. That's what we do." Edward retorted, before frowning. "Now onto business. I didn't come here to talk about that."

The Fuhrer clasped his hands behind his back. "Correct. We are here to discuss the State Alchemist Exam."

Edward nodded his head. "I'll take the test, but I don't want my brother in the military. I'm the older brother. It's my job to take care of him. And if I pass, I want Al to be allowed to go on my missions with me. I won't stay away from my brother."

The Fuhrer laughed. "Trying to make deals with the Fuhrer? I like your spunk." He stopped talking and stared out his window as he thought.

Ed and Al shared a look behind his back.

"I believe I can allow this. But your brother will not be allowed on all the missions you are sent on. There will be some that civilians won't be allowed on." The Fuhrer replied.

Ed frowned. "We're talking as if I already passed the test." He turned to Al to see his brother frowning and staring at his shoes. "If that is all, can we leave?"

"Go ahead." The Fuhrer replied.

Ed grabbed his brother's arm and pulled him out of the office. "Al, don't worry. I know what I'm doing. You don't have to feel guilty about not taking the test. This is my choice."

"And I'll be there to help you on some missions, right?" Al asked.

Ed nodded his head. "Nothing will separate us."

Al smiled. "Do you think we should call Winry and tell her what is going on?"

Ed paled and glared at his brother. "No way. She will kill us if she knew what was going on, especially since we haven't been here that long."

Al chuckled. "She'll kill you with her wrench."

Ed swatted his brother. "Let's go back to the hotel."

A/N: Please Review!