Disclaimer - I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or Bleach.
Chapter Twenty - Seven - Escape from the Barrier
The very fact that they were apparently trapped annoyed Hitsugaya to no end and he paced around the barrier, his mind working overtime in an attempt to think of a way to escape. The man named Tucker had informed them that the barrier would deflect any reiatsu based attack that they launched at it but that didn't mean that there wasn't a way to escape. It just meant that they wouldn't be able to gain their freedom in the conventional sense. It would instead take a little more planning, and perhaps some team work that they weren't really prepared to do.
Since their particular group didn't exactly get along with one another.
"What shall you do now?" Tucker asked from his location a safe distance away. His eyes still held a demented look as he watched the white haired captain pace around like a caged animal.
"This isn't a game you bastard!" Ed growled, getting to his feet despite the twinge of pain. Colliding with the barrier had been decidedly painful but it paled in comparison to the rage that he felt upon seeing Tucker again.
Of course he had came across many depraved people during his time as a dog of the military but what Tucker had done was especially heinous in his eyes. The man had used his own child as an ingredient in a transmutation.
In Ed's eyes that was unforgivable.
"Now now Edward," Tucker said, his gaze shifting to the blond boy and his facial expression turning darker. "Getting angry isn't going to help your situation. Let's see if the two so called child prodigies can get out of this."
This said Tucker turned and left.
"Damn it," Ed growled, his harsh gaze following Tucker until the former alchemist could no longer be seen. "He said that he wants to see if the two child prodigies can get out of this and then he turns around and leaves. That's got to be the stupidest thing I've ever seen."
Mustang snorted. "Somehow I doubt that Fullmetal."
Ed whirled around, looking for all the world as though he were going to attack his former commanding officer. However Hitsugaya stepped in between them, not seeming even the slightest bit concerned about any attack that either of them might choose to launch.
"The two of you can take out your frustrations on one another AFTER we get out of here," the white haired captain snapped. He glared first at Ed and then shifted to Mustang, making sure that both of them knew that if they insisted upon starting a fight that HE would be the one to end it.
In no uncertain terms.
For a moment it looked as though Ed and Mustang might take their chances however, after a brief moment of thought, they decided otherwise.
"So how do you propose that we get out of this mess?" Mustang questioned, his dark eyes focused on Hitsugaya.
"Well," Hitsugaya said, having placed a fair amount of thought into that dilemma. "This guy named Tucker said that a reiatsu based attack would be deflected but…"
Ed picked up the train of thought at this point. "What he didn't mention was what would happen if we used alchemy."
Mustang's gaze shifted back and forth between the two of them before he nodded his head. "Do you think that using alchemy will be more effective? Because since Tucker's a former State Alchemist there's always the chance that he thought of this and designed a barrier that works against both."
"I've thought about that possibility," Hitsugaya said calmly. "And I would think it highly probable if not for something that Tucker said."
"Excuse me but what exactly was it?" Al asked from his position beside his brother. The other members of the group appeared likewise curious about the reasoning behind the young captain's words and they all gazed at him expectantly.
" 'Let's see if the two so called child prodigies can get out of this'," Hitsugaya quoted Tucker's earlier words. "He's testing us."
Ed nodded his head, following Hitsugaya's logic. "I think you're right. He's planning something and wants to see what we're capable of."
"But wouldn't it be easier to just kill us all now?" Hughes asked.
"It would if he only wanted us dead," Edward replied, glancing toward Hitsugaya to see if the white haired youth was of a similar opinion.
Hitsugaya nodded. "Suffering is his ultimate goal and for that he needs to know exactly how strong we are. And, while it's unwise to give him that information it's our only option at this point."
"I agree," Ed said, hoping that this plan would actually work. Because he wanted nothing more than to track Tucker down and beat him until he was a bloody mass on the ground.
Glancing over his shoulder Hitsugaya gazed at their assembled group, a thoughtful expression on his face. "This could be dangerous so I think that only Edward and I should attempt it… Matsumoto, I want you to erect a barrier kidou around the others of the group. It shouldn't be dangerous as long as you stand in the center of the barrier and maintain strict control."
"Right," Matsumoto said, nodding her head.
"Wait a minute," Mustang snapped, not really happy about the fact that he and the others seemed to be left out of this plan of action. He wasn't used to taking a backseat to anyone and still hadn't grown accustomed to following orders. "Wouldn't it be better for all of us to try to breech the barrier?"
Hitsugaya shook his head. "If we were only concerned about escaping then yes it would be better for all of us to attack. However there's still the slight chance that our attack will rebound and if that's the case it's better for you all to be shielded."
"But you seem willing to put Edward in harm's way," Izumi pointed out, her gaze locked onto the white haired youth.
"That isn't true," Hitsugaya stated calmly. "I would much prefer to take the risk myself but the truth is that Edward is better at alchemy than I am. He's our best chance at getting out of here."
"Nii-san," Al said, his voice laced with concern.
"It's okay Al," Ed said, turning toward his brother and offering him a reassuring smile. "I'll be just fine." Then he turned his attention back to Hitsugaya. "You ready?"
The Squad Ten Captain nodded, briefly turning and giving his vice-captain a nod. "Matsumoto…"
"Yes sir." Raising her hands Matsumoto quickly muttered the spirit chant that would raise a kidou barrier around her and the others.
Hitsugaya held his breath as Matsumoto evoked the kidou but released an audible sigh as it worked. It didn't appear to interfere with the barrier for which he was grateful. Now assured that the others would be safe no matter what happened he turned back to Ed and nodding once more.
Clasping his hands together Ed walked forward, quickly moving to the spot where he knew the invisible barrier to be. At the same time Hitsugaya held his blade, using Hyourinmaru to draw a transmutation circle in the air with ice.
The reaction was instantaneous. Sparks erupted and smoke briefly filled the area where the group was assembled. Then, once the smoke had cleared, both Ed and Hitsugaya stepped forward cautiously. Bracing for the pain of colliding with a barrier the two prodigies breeched the line where they knew the barrier ended.
And nothing happened.
"Success!" Ed said triumphantly.
"Very good," a voice called out, seeming to echo as though it were coming from a great distance. "I must admit that you figured it out quicker than I anticipated. I shall have to refrain from underestimating you again."
"Come out you bastard!" Ed exclaimed, his patience having waned long ago.
"All in due time…" And then the voice faded away.
A/N - They managed to escape the barrier but it looks like this was just a test of their abilities. Hope that you enjoyed the chapter.