Thank God men cannot fly, and lay

waste the sky as well as the earth.

Henry David Thoreau

Where Eagles Dare, Part One

"You sure we're going the right way?"

Kuwabara ignored his childhood rival, turning back the way they'd came. Morning had come and gone, crowning this world with its glory, and still they'd found nothing. He knew expecting more was unreasonable – the pieces wouldn't fall into place simply because they left the city – but he couldn't help but hope otherwise:

Hope was all they had at this point.

"Yes, we kept the sun to our right all morning." Kurama hummed, reddened hands disappearing into his pockets. "As long as we track its movements, we will eventually reach our destination."

North. The opaque marker on his mental map. Their reason for leaving the sewer's relative safety–

His only clue to finding Yukina.

The psychic shifted in his new boots. Before leaving the white-walled city, Yusuke noted the fresh snow, complaining of his and Kuwabara's bare feet. Until then, shoes had not been a priority, unnecessary for sneaking through stone streets and ankle-deep water.

Snow changed that.

With snow came the risk of hypothermia, illness, and many other things. Creeping through dawn-lit alleys, the two and Kurama discussed possible solutions, everything from searching through refuse heaps to wrapping their feet in rags. Of course, they must avoid suspicion at all costs but how could they go about acquiring shoes?

Hiei solved the problem by breaking a shop window, littering the sidewalk with glass.

Kuwabara swallowed another stab of guilt, promising to deal with it later. He didn't have that luxury now–

Not with the enemy this close.

"Hey Kuwabara, you said there's three of 'em, right?"

He managed a soft grunt, nothing more, The three hit his radar about mid-morning, just inside his senses' radius – or maybe they were just that strong. When he informed the others, it was Kurama who suggested they take full advantage of their head-start and continue on. Hiei disappeared soon after. He knew he should be grateful that he could pick up on abnormalities such as ghosts, monsters, and other things. Still, not knowing what set these humans apart worried him.

They definitely weren't normal.

"You said he is among them?"

Kuwabara nodded as Kurama came to his side, staring into the evergreen wood. There was no need for preamble – there was only one he in this world – though they had nothing else to call the man with the gloves.

There hadn't exactly been time to exchange names that night.

"What's the deal with that guy, anyway?" Yusuke thrust his hands under his arms, taking what warmth he could. "I've never felt spirit energy like that."

"It isn't spirit energy, or demon energy either." Kuwabara frowned, concentrating on the web-like networks. "It's . . . hard to explain; I've never felt anything like it."

"Neither have I." A soft hum and Kurama stepped closer to the trees, resting one hand against a stout trunk.

"You okay to fight, fox boy?" Yusuke closed the gap between them, doing his best not to shiver. "We should be able to take on three by–"

"No." The red head cut him off, both eyes closed, as if listening to something far away. "We cannot afford to take them lightly."

Yusuke's nose wrinkled. "But you're still not back to normal!"

"None of us are. Or did you forget?" Familiar green peeked over one shoulder, lids drooping. "These three may be the key to finding the Door again, to going home – I will not waste this opportunity."

A pause and he exhaled, soft clouds seeping from his nostrils. "Kurama–"

Hiei appeared in a flutter of black, birds fleeing in his wake. He rose slowly, unconscious of the heat radiating from his skin, the snow melting beneath his feet.

"Well?"

Red eyes flickered to each of them briefly before settling on the fox, taking in his easy calm, the experience resting in those eyes. "There are four: a woman, a boy, a man in a suit of armor–"

Hiei stopped, setting himself against the sensation seeping into his gut. Fear was beneath him, the basest of emotions, second only to anger. Anger at least had its uses, rallying reason, prompting action.

Fear only birthed cowards.

"And the man with the gloves?"

Kurama filled the gap, an easy smile touching his lips. Hands slipping into his pockets, Hiei nodded, gaze drifting to the tallest of the group. Kuwabara's attention remained on their pursuers, tracking their movements as if somehow that would keep them safe. Regardless of his shortcomings, Kuwabara would fight with them until his dying breath; he'd proven as much with Sensui and the Dark Tournament. What troubled Hiei wasn't his will or weakness but that the psychic knew more about the strange men than they did, something intuitive he couldn't put into words.

Such a handicap could prove to be their undoing.

"How far away are they?"

"About a mile." Kuwabara set his jaw, brows furrowing. "They'll catch up in no time, an hour tops."

Kurama brought a fist to his mouth, taking in their general destination and the still-falling snow.

"We must thin their numbers."

"Why? There's four of us and four of them." Yusuke popped his neck, rotating first one arm, then the other in wide circles. "Seems easy enough."

"Don't underestimate them." At the quizzical look, Kurama lowered his hand. "The military is looking for us, and we're working under the assumption that they brought us to this world. Why would they send only four to capture what they've been searching for diligently?"

Yusuke blinked. "So what, they're super soldiers or something?"

"That would be my guess, yes."

"If you two are done, we need to leave." Hiei growled, dead grass peeking around his dark soles. "Unless you're giving up?"

"Pfft, as if!" Yusuke smirked, chapped fist slamming into his palm. "All right Kurama, what's the plan?"

"Ed, wait!"

Clanging metal rang through the wood, shattering the tranquil air. Mutterings and crunching snow soon followed, a strange song serenading early afternoon. Edward squinted against the light, sun refracted from the white coating both trees and earth. He nearly stumbled over a hidden root, cursing when snow slipped over the rim of his boot, chilling his foot.

Alphonse followed with surprising grace, pushing evergreen branches from their path, watching as he grasped his right shoulder, his left thigh. "We shouldn't be here, brother. The Colonel said–"

"Forget what he said! We didn't come all this way to get left behind!"

He hated to admit it, but Edward had a point. Their team made good progress all morning, following the tracks heading north. Even when one of the prints disappeared, Mustang continued on, advising them to be on their guard. When all four sets reappeared beneath a copse on the hill, he and Hawkeye studied the snow, white disturbed as if the suspects had lingered, paced.

The tracks diverged on separate paths, two to the right, two to the left. The right tracks appeared harmless enough, leading into the forest without a fuss. However, little remained of the prints on the left, dead grass peering through frozen slush.

The Colonel and Lieutenant followed that trail, admonishing the boys to stand by until Havoc arrived with backup.

Edward lasted until they were out of sight.

"We shouldn't be here." Alphonse pressed, voice low despite their being alone. "The Colonel's going to be furious!"

"Don't worry about that. Once we catch these guys, Mustang will be so happy, he'll forget all about it." He waved away his brother's concern only to grimace, clutching his right shoulder. "Let's keep going, feels like it'll snow again."

Alphonse remained silent, following on hopelessly loud feet. Winter was always a sobering season in Resembool, a farming community which lived from harvest to harvest with little to show for it save rough hands and warm hearts. Their mother, however, loved winter and taught her boys what their father's alchemy books could not: gingerbread men, snow angels, and how to make pictures by breathing against a frosty window. She'd loved snow best and made the best snowballs, sturdy forts, and graceful angels. Edward used to love winter too, both its scientific necessity and natural beauty. Yes, he'd loved it–

Until he lost his limbs and the cold made his stumps ache.

"So what will we do when we catch them?"

"We take 'em in, what else?"

"But how?" A great arm stretched forward, pushing a branch from the path. "We don't know what they can–"

All at once Edward stilled, right hand pressing to Alphonse's abdomen. "Ed?"

He shook his head, pointing with his chin. Alphonse nodded and they crept forward, peeking through evergreen branches. The tracks led away from the forest, descending the steep incline which formed the mouth of a mountain pass. Two figures stood between the mounds of rock, lost in a heated conversation. They made quite a pair, dressed in rags yet different as night and day. The shorter one seemed close to his age, black hair falling into his eyes, teeth bared while motioning to the pass. His companion towered over him, not unlike a certain Major they knew. Dusky curls spilling down his neck and cheeks, they could hear his shouting, pillar-like arm pointed back the way they'd come.

They appeared ready to exchange blows.

"What should we do?" Alphonse whispered, glancing at his brother. "We could sneak up on them, don't you think?"

"No." Edward frowned as the taller one grabbed his companion's collar, lifting him onto his toes. "We've gotta let them know we're with the military, give them a chance to surrender."

The younger Elric watched on even as his brother rose, brushing snow from his coat. "Wouldn't it be better to let them work this out first? They may be more willing to cooperate, then."

"Or they'll knock each other out and we'll have to drag them back to headquarters unconscious." Edward rotated his right arm only to wince, resisting the urge to grasp his shoulder. "Come on, let's go."

The fugitives didn't look up when they emerged from the trees, standing in full view on top of the hill. "Hey!"

Finally, the two stopped their bickering to glare at the would-be assailants, maintaining a grip on each other's clothes. Now that they were closer, Edward got a better look at their faces: strange and angular, almost Xingese but not quite. The taller man's face was long and narrow, black eyes beady; dangerous. His companion wore sarcasm like armor, brown gaze impish, fiery, face rounded with traces of childhood.

Edward didn't sense malevolence from the two but knew better than to let his guard down; he'd been fooled before. "Are you with the guys who escaped East City?"

The two glanced at one another, whispering back and forth. Did the guy with black hair laugh? "Hey, look at me when I'm talking to you!"

"Sorry, I don't speak dwarf." He peeled away from his companion, hands slipping into his pockets. "Could you yell a little louder?"

Anger flared but Edward held it in check, an itching eyebrow the only hint of ire. "My name is Edward Elric, I'm a State Alchemist." He flashed his pocket watch, the time piece dangling from its chain. "You're suspected of aiding and abetting a rebellion against the Amestrian military and I've been ordered to take you in for questioning." Actually, he'd been ordered to await backup, but they didn't need to know that. What Mustang didn't know wouldn't hurt him. "Now, will you come quietly, or–"

"You know, he reminds me of one of those ants from Akashi's class – a little ant on his ant hill." He snickered to the giant, fully aware the brothers could hear him.

"Would you be serious for once?!" The other seethed, face pale but determined, his eyes never leaving them.

Edward's body trembled yet still he maintained control, cheeks reddening by degrees. "Ed," Alphonse whispered, reminding him of his duty, though such was unnecessary.

"You know, when someone introduces themselves you're supposed to return the favor."

"Sorry, guess I missed that day in school." Another smirk, nose wrinkling. "Name's Yusuke Urameshi."

"Kazuma Kuwabara." The brunette murmured, rising to his full height.

"What's up with the tin can?" Yusuke kicked snow off his boot, sneering up at them. "You that scared of getting hit?"

"He doesn't have anything to do with this!"

Edward didn't expect to yell and apparently his opponents didn't, either. Kuwabara stiffened further, body shifting into a ready stance. All mirth fell from Yusuke's face, eyes hard, frown chiseled from stone.

He inhaled, held the breath a few seconds and released it, willing a calm he didn't feel. "I'll ask one more time: will you come quietly, or will we have to use force?"

"We don't want to fight." Alphonse spoke up, addressing the two for the first time. "But we will if we must."

They looked at each other, exchanging more words in their sing-song language. Nothing about this sat right with Edward. If they really were rebels, why weren't they trying to fight? They were definitely foreigners yet spoke Amestrian perfectly, without an accent – how was that possible if they'd only been here for a few days? The pitiful clothes, faces pinched with hunger–

These were the dangerous rebels they were looking for?

"Can I ask you something?"

Edward blinked at Kuwabara, not knowing quite what to say. He was used to criminals being rude, talking trash – like Yusuke. The only polite opponent he'd ever faced was his brother. "Sure. What's on your mind?"

The big man took a step forward, inhaling once, twice. "Do you know where Yukina is?"

Yusuke hissed a warning but he ignored it, focused on the Elrics.

"Yukina?" Alphonse tested the name, sounding as confused as Edward felt.

"Yeah, she's a really pretty girl with pale hair and red eyes! She's about this tall," Kuwabara motioned just below his chest, a bump taller than the blonde. "Have you seen her?"

He hadn't and knew the same held true for his brother but at least considered it, forming an image in his mind. "Nope, doesn't ring a bell."

Kuwabara wilted, face darkening with emotion.

"Brother, I don't think they're dangerous." Alphonse kept his voice low, gaze never leaving the two below as Yusuke elbowed the big man, chastising. "Maybe they're just looking for their friend."

"Maybe. That still doesn't explain the circles." Edward stepped to the lip of the hill, snow giving slightly under his feet. "Look, sorry we can't help but maybe someone back at Eastern Command can. Come with us and we'll do our best to help you find her!"

Yusuke stepped in front of Kuwabara, who'd yet to reclaim his composure. "Hey! He got a question so I get one too, right?"

The boy hesitated, not knowing what to make of the look in his eye. "What is it?"

Checking on his friend once more, Yusuke spat, raising his gaze slowly. "You know the guy with the gloves?"

"Guy with the gloves . . .?"

But he didn't expand further, waiting for their answer. Edward brought a fist to his mouth, cloth soft against chapped lips. What kind of question was that? Lots of people wore gloves, especially in winter. No, think; he's asking about someone specific, someone he thought they knew. Who would Yusuke have seen that wore gloves? Who could have made an impression like–

He paused, lowering his hand. "Is he about this tall," Edward motioned to Alphonse's shoulder. "With black hair and eyes?"

"Yeah! He was wearing blue, too. You know him?"

"I'd be surprised if I didn't – he's my commanding officer."

Edward did not expect Yusuke's grin, nor did he predict Kuwabara to straighten at the declaration, sorrow forgotten. "Then sorry, we can't go with you."

Brow furrowed, confusion ate away his stoic facade. "What do you mean? How does me working under the Colonel change anything?"

Colonel. Kuwabara tucked the word away but Yusuke didn't bother, slipping out of his jacket. "You can call him Captain Rosie Palms for all I care, we're still not going."

"Have it your way." Edward shrugged, adopting an air of indifference while in reality he studied, planned. Two against two; their odds were good, especially since their opponents didn't appear to be alchemists. Even if they could use alchemy, there was nowhere to draw transmutation circles here save for the mountains but the two would never make it that far–

He'd make sure of it.

"How do you want to do this?"

"I usually play hard-to-get but I'm fine with whatever – just don't pull my hair." Yusuke's hands found his pockets as Kuwabara stood abreast of him, a smirk curling his lips. "Actually, I don't think you can reach my head on those stubby legs–"

"DON'T CALL ME LITTLE!"

And then they were moving, running head-long down the hill. Edward outflanked his brother quickly, despite their height difference; neither stumbled or slid. Nostrils flaring, the elder Elric clapped his hands together as soon as he reached the bottom, never stopping while the reaction engulfed his right arm.

"Urameshi!"

Yusuke never faltered, stance sure even as the blade grew from the kid's wrist. "Into knife play, huh?" Edward didn't deem to answer, striking with fist and blade, snow flying beneath his feet. Yusuke dodged each blow with his hands still sheathed, allowing himself to be pushed back.

Suddenly Alphonse was upon Kuwabara and the psychic ground his jaw, focused on his opponent. Despite his size, the guy in the armor was nimble, fast, each blow landing with the force of ten men. He parried the the punches well enough, blocking what he couldn't dodge yet each hit rattled his bones, cementing the wrongness he felt, as if he fought a living corpse and not a human being:

It made his skin crawl.

"Had enough foreplay?" Yusuke grinned when Edward kicked at his stomach and missed, driving him further into the snow drift. "We can move onto the big boy stuff if you wa–"

Then his foot slipped, upsetting his balance. Edward didn't attempt to pull his punch but pressed on, legs braced for impact. To his credit, Yusuke managed to avoid being stabbed in the face, blade edge only nicking his cheek. However, he had no way of countering the following strike – a fierce blow to the chin.

"Urameshi!"

But even though he staggered, he did not fall, arms outstretched to maintain balance. "You're pretty straight-forward, I like that." Red crested the cut and he spat, wiping at his mouth. "Too bad my grandma hits harder than you."

Edward snorted. "Pretty big words for a guy who's losing."

"What can I say? She's a tough old hag." Popping his neck, he sank into a ready stance, fists raised. "Guess I gotta use these after all."

Meanwhile, the other two refused to give ground, confining themselves to a tight circle. Alphonse remained on the offensive and even though Kuwabara managed to get a few strikes in, it was like punching a brick wall. Nothing hurt this guy, nothing slowed him down–

Until Yusuke got serious.

He felt rather than saw his friend rush the boy, hands and feet flying. Though Yusuke was essentially human again, he'd always been strong, even before being murdered by Sensui; he earned ever bit of his reputation at Sarayashiki, defeated Suzaku and helped rescue Yukina, led his team to victory during the Dark Tournament, single-handedly defeated Toguro:

That was the strength the newcomer faced.

"What's wrong?" Yusuke demanded as the kid fought him off, enduring the blows he couldn't block. "I thought you were taking us in!"

Kuwabara refused to budge when his opponent attempted to rush past, stopping the armored one in his tracks. A thrust at the abdomen, well-aimed punches to the chest and Alphonse retreated, tripping over a hidden tree root.

"Alphonse!" Edward ran but Yusuke mirrored his steps, blocking his path. It didn't matter that his brother was an alchemist in his own right, that they weren't children anymore and he could take care of himself. All logical thought ceased when he saw Al on the ground, staring at the man towering over him, not attempting to rise. Edward couldn't hear the words he uttered; the outstretched hand reaching to–

What, help? Take off his helmet? Reveal his weakness and secret shame?

He wouldn't allow it.

Kuwabara froze when the boy clapped his hands together again, the wrongness pulling at his nape, needling his gut. "Urameshi, move!"

Edward dropped onto his knees, palms pressed flat against the ground. Metal spires burst from the snow, carving a sinister path. Yusuke heeded the warning and leaped to safety, well away from the glinting spikes yet Kuwabara remained where he was.

"What are you doing, you idiot?!" Yusuke demanded, cold wet slipping into his boots.

But Kuwabara didn't answer, face twisted in nauseated grimace. Legs spread wide, he chambered a fist, though what he intended to do with it was anyone's guess.

"Kuwabara!"

The last spire rose at an angle, aimed at both he and – by consequence – the armored fighter. Releasing a shrill cry, Kuwabara punched the spawning creation with all his might, just as the end began to form. The thing stilled, shuddered, peculiar sounds rising from it not unlike cracking glass:

And then it shattered, falling to the ground in jagged pieces.

Silence fell. Edward stood though the others didn't move; all three stared openly. Kuwabara remained on his feet but slumped forward, breathing hard. A myriad of color engulfed his right hand, varying shades of red, purple and blue. He didn't appear concerned about that, nor the blood running freely from his knuckles and flayed fingers, not even when his hand flapped like a limp balloon from his wrist, dilapidated and obviously broken.

Instead, he turned back to Alphonse, pain lacing his tongue. "You okay?"

The younger Elric gasped; Edward noticeably blanched, eyes widening until they resembled golden specks on the moon. "Y-yes, I'm fine."

A satisfied smile, hard won and genuine. "Good."

"What'd you do that for, stupid?" Yusuke fumed, running to his side even as Alphonse rose, beating a retreat. "He could have killed you!"

"Doesn't matter." Kuwabara spared him a glance though his focus remained on the alchemists; he ignored his hand entirely. "I can't hit someone when they're down, you know that."

"Can the hero act, already! They're the ones who brought us here, remember?!" The former detective gestured toward Edward, who'd yet to look away from the swelling hand. "It doesn't matter if he's up, down or bent over sideways!"

"Well, it does to me!"

"W-why did you–?" Only then did Edward think of the path's trajectory, the implications. "You . . . you thought I was going to hit my brother?"

Kuwabara echoed the word but Yusuke stepped between them, baring his teeth. "I don't care if he's your brother or your second cousin, you're not getting away with this!"

A breeze blew through the pass, gaining strength as he lifted one arm, index finger pointed at them. At first, Edward thought nothing of it – winter winds were common in Amestris, especially this area. Only the force quickly grew into a small gale.

And a pinprick of blue appeared at the tip of that finger.

"Wait – Urameshi, are you nuts?" Kuwabara demanded as the point expanded with the wind, a glowing orb the size of a baseball. "You can't use that here, not on these guys!"

"Why not? Shorty was fine with killing us a minute ago." The words were matter-of-fact, all traces of humor gone.

"But–!" It was useless; he'd found a place no one could reach, a safe haven for his rage.

Both brothers watched the blue thing swell in size, easily the girth of a melon. "What is that . . .?"

"Run!" Kuwabara cried as it continued to grow, Yusuke's face lost to cold anger. "Get out of here!"

Still, they stood transfixed as he readied to fire, taking aim at Edward. Kuwabara grabbed his wrist at the last moment and jerked upward but a moment too late, too late to truly effect the Spirit Gun's path.

Edward found himself unable to move, feet refusing to obey, eyes fixed on the incoming line of blue. There was no getting away, no avoiding the shot. Then his brother was there: Alphonse pushing, sending him tumbling into the snow; Alphonse unable to follow, taking the blast head-on–

Alphonse lost in blue, to the sound of shrieks and shredding metal.

"ALPHONSE!"

A/N: Hello and welcome back! Thank you all for your readership and patience with an erratic update schedule. I try to update regularly but with life, three fics and a plethora of other things, that has been difficult.

So, we have the Elrics first encounter with Yusuke and Kuwabara and, as always, things did not go as planned. How will Alphonse fare under Yusuke's wrath? Can Kuwabara deter him from the warpath? And what about the other members of the team? Hiei and Kurama face-off against Hiei and Kurama next time, hope to see you there! Please don't forget to review!