Disclaimer - I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or Bleach

A/N - I'm glad to see that, even after a long absence, this story still has fans. Thanks for your reviews!

Chapter Twenty - Reunion

After combing through a few more districts Izumi suggested that they should all go back to the Seireitei. It was beginning to grow late and, since the search was difficult in the daylight, it would be exponentially harder to conduct a thorough search in the dark.

"I think we should call off our search for the night," the black haired alchemist said, turning her gaze to the four people who were following along behind her. "We aren't likely to find anything further tonight and we should report to Captain Hitsugaya that we found a couple of allies."

Ed was reluctant to end their search, since he was hoping to find someone easier to deal with than Colonel Mustang, but he realized that his teacher had a very valid point. It wouldn't be productive to roam around in the dark so, with a heavy sigh, he nodded his head.

"Let's go back," the blond Shinigami youth said, picking up his pace and coming to walk beside his teacher. He had been content to allow Izumi to lead the way while they were traveling through the Rukongai but now that they were returning to the Seireitei his leadership qualities kicked in.

After all, he'd always been a leader and not a follower.

"So who is this captain that we're reporting back to Fullmetal?" Mustang asked, his black eyed gaze locked onto his former subordinate. "Are you involved in some kind of military organization in this world as well?"

"Something like that," Ed replied grudgingly. "And Captain Hitsugaya is the one heading up this little task force to track down the person responsible for creating the chimera Hollow."

Mustang picked up on the veiled note of irritation in Ed's voice, having heard it on numerous occasions. "I take it that you're not fond of this captain?"

"I'm not getting into that with you," Ed growled, which was as good as saying yes.

"Hmm," Mustang said thoughtfully. "If he annoys you this badly then I think I'm going to like him."

"I wouldn't count on that," Ed muttered as he continued to walk.

When the group returned to the Seireitei, Ed quickly led the way to the Squad Ten barracks. He wanted to get this meeting over as soon as possible and this desire fueled his steps.

A familiar figure was standing at the entrance to the Squad Ten courtyard and Ed watched as Mustang drew up short.

"Damn," the boy thought to himself as he saw disbelief play across the colonel's face. "I should have warned him about that."

It only took a couple of seconds for the shock to wear off and Mustang strode forward and pulled Hughes into a one armed embrace. It had been a shock seeing the friend that had been dead for several years but, since he was dead himself, it wasn't overly hard to believe.

"Hey Roy," Hughes said, slightly more surprised than his best friend. For his part he hadn't expected to see Mustang in this world, having always viewed the man as incredibly lucky and somewhat indestructible. "It's been awhile."

"It has," Mustang said as he pulled away from his friend and stared into his eyes. "What the hell were you thinking, taking them on alone?"

"I didn't want you to get involved," Hughes said in a quiet voice, thinking about the decision that had in effect ended his life. In the time that he had spent in the Seireitei he had gone over and over this decision in his mind and had finally came to the conclusion that he had done the right thing. "You're not the most rational person in the world Roy and I knew that you'd do something reckless."

"So that gave you permission to act reckless?" Roy said, glaring at his friend.

"Yes," Hughes said.

At a loss for words Roy merely shook his head. He shouldn't be surprised by Hughes' words but for some reason he was.

"Um guys," Ed said, stepping forward. "I hate to break up this reunion but…"

"Of course!" Hughes exclaimed, suddenly remembering the mission that they had all been charged with. "You have to report to the captain! He's in his office."

"Of course he is," Ed muttered to himself as he began walking toward the barracks. "When is he not?"

"You should be nicer to him Ed," Hughes said in a fatherly tone. "After all he is your temporary commanding officer."

"What?!" Ed exclaimed, whirling on Hughes with a dangerous look in his eyes.

"Oops," Hughes said, realizing that, since Ed had been in the Rukongai when the decision had been made, naturally Ed didn't know about it yet. "Should have thought that one through a little better."

The expression on the young man's face was comical and Mustang couldn't help but chuckle.

"Shut it!" Ed snapped, turning to glare at his former superior over his shoulder.

"Just like old times," Al thought to himself, practically seeing the lightening bolts that were shooting back and forth between his brother and the colonel.

Ed led the way down the hall to the Squad Ten office, where he briefly paused to knock on the door. Normally he would have foregone this gesture of politeness but due to the circumstances he decided that he should probably show as much respect as he was capable of.

"Enter."

Mustang's left eyebrow arched as he heard the voice that was calling out to them from within the office. It had sounded stern, like many military officers that he had known, but there was also a strange quality to it that he just couldn't figure out.

"There's something strange…"

This thought was interrupted when Ed opened the door and motioned for the group to follow him inside the office. They complied, with Mustang and Hawkeye bringing up the rear, and the colonel's eyes widened as his gaze fell upon the person sitting behind the desk.

"H… he's puny!"

"What?!" both Ed and Hitsugaya exclaimed, narrowing their eyes as their gazes simultaneously fell upon the colonel.

"Colonel!" Lieutenant Hawkeye exclaimed, completely mortified by his little outburst.

"Please ignore him Captain," Hughes said, coming to the rescue of all parties involved. "Sometimes, okay most of the time, Roy speaks before he thinks. He's never really had that filter between your brain and your mouth that tells you when you're not supposed to say something."

Hitsugaya gave a long suffering sigh before turning to address Ed. "So I take it these two are people that you knew while you were alive?"

Ed nodded. "Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye. We served together in the Amestris State Military."

"Um excuse me Fullmetal," Mustang said, his voice reminiscent of his military days. "But don't you mean that you served under me in the Amestris State Military?"

"Damn it!" Ed exclaimed, now wishing that he had chosen to search a different region of Rukongai. He really had to be the most unlucky person in the world to have to endure Colonel Sarcasm all over again. "What did I ever do to deserve this?"

"Calm down," Hitsugaya ordered, getting to his feet and joining the group standing in the middle of his office.

"Wow," Mustang said as he gazed at the white haired boy who had came to stand beside Ed. "So you finally found someone who is shorter than you huh Fullmetal?"

"Can I kill him?" Ed asked, his voice low and deadly as he glared at the colonel.

"Not right now," Hitsugaya said, having more success hiding his irritation. "For now we need to discuss plans to track down the people responsible for creating the modified Hollow."

"Fine," Ed said, clenching his hands into fists. Pushing his anger at Mustang to the back of his mind, to be dealt with later, he spoke. "So how was your meeting with Head Captain Ukitake?"

"Well," Hitsugaya said, running a hand through his unruly white hair. "Until we're able to solve this problem you're a temporary member of Squad Ten. Other than that the Head Captain said that he would give us what help he could but it's largely up to us to find out who is responsible since the culprit is using alchemy. After all there are only a select few in Soul Society who can perform alchemy."

"Right," Ed said, having guessed as much. Shaking his head and rolling his eyes the blond youth turned to his former commanding officer. "Like it or not you're going to have to be a part of this team. And I'm pretty sure that neither of us is going to like it."

"On the contrary Fullmetal," Mustang said, an annoyingly smug expression appearing on his face. "I think I'm going to enjoy this thoroughly."

Ed growled low in his throat, Mustang's smugness annoying him just as much as it always had.

"Enough," Hitsugaya said, feeling the beginnings of a headache forming. "It's late so you're all dismissed for the night. We'll meet back here first thing in the morning and plan out our next move."

"Right," the group said.

"And Elric," Hitsugaya said, his teal eyed gaze locked on his temporary subordinate and constant rival.

"What is it?" Ed asked.

"Make sure that our guests are comfortable," the young captain said.

"Wait a minute," Ed said, not liking what was being implied. "They are not my responsibility."

"As of now they are," Hitsugaya said and, without so much as another word, the young man turned and walked away.

"One of these days," Ed muttered under his breath, clenching his hands into fists.

"Battle of the midgets," Mustang commented, a smile appearing on his face as he got a mental image of the two boys fighting. "Now that's something that I'd pay to see."

"Who are you calling a midget?" Ed screamed as he once again whirled around to face Mustang. His eyes were blazing and for a second it looked as thought he was going to attack. His reiatsu flared as he debated drawing his zanpaktou.

"Uh that would be you," Mustang said.

"Nii-san," Al said, stepping in before his brother really did attack the colonel. "We should go."

Ed took a couple of deep breaths before he nodded.

"How about we all go out?" Hughes proposed, attempting to lighten the mood. "To celebrate this reunion."

Ed would rather not celebrate being reunited with Colonel Sarcasm but for some reason he nodded his head in agreement. Maybe it was to make Hughes happy or maybe there was another reason behind it.

He really couldn't say.

"I think that's a wonderful idea," Hawkeye said.

"Then it's decided," Hughes said.

"Okay," Mustang said, the smug expression still on his face. "But it's your treat."

"Has to be," Hughes retorted, offering his friend a smile. "You don't have any money."

"Oh," everyone exclaimed as the smug expression left Mustang's face.

"Come on," Hughes said. "I know the perfect place."

Everyone nodded and together the group left the Squad Ten compound and followed Hughes across the Seireitei. And as he walked along beside his friend Mustang couldn't help but think how strange it was to be with his friend and not have Hughes shoving pictures of his family in his face.

This thought caused the colonel to draw up short as he realized that Hughes hadn't once mentioned the family that he had left behind when he died.

"It must be painful for him to think about them," Mustang thought to himself.

"Come on Roy," Hughes called out, a smile on his face as he beckoned his friend forward.

"Coming."

A/N - and here's another chapter. Two in one week to make up for the story's absence. And a shout out to Evilhumour Author for suggesting the whole 'battle of the midgets' thing. Hope that you enjoyed, please leave a review and tell me what you thought.