Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Return ❯ Sparring ( Chapter 3 )

Russell and Fletcher Tringham were having a nice afternoon in Central. They didn't get many days off from the laboratory that General Mustang had set them up in. Of course, neither of them counted it as a day off when they had to take off work to go to Central to report in. Apparently the military had a problem.

“Well, we're here. What the hell do you want?” Russell dropped into one of the chairs across from the general's desk, propping his foot up on the edge to glare at the man with one silver eye.

To Roy, it was a look into the past. Russell may be taller and better groomed then the older Elric, but he carried himself with the same attitude when he wanted to. Annoying as hell too. “It seems…” Somehow, the flippant words that would announce the call that had sent his office into chaos (for the third time this week, you just couldn't find good help these days) did not want to form themselves. Sighing, Roy pushed a hand through pitch black hair. At least he still had that, if it started to go gray—he dutifully checked every morning—he might loose what little charm he still had. The eye-patch had the mysterious allure, but really, Riza didn't seem to be the one to be attracted by mysterious allure. Nothing was working lately and his dates kept getting canceled. Having a military wife was great and all, but his love life needed a little life breathed into it now and then. Otherwise, why in the hells did he give up his playboy career to settle down?

“Are you going to say anything or do you want me to come back in fifteen minutes when you get your head in working order? I can send Riza in.” Russell had learned the ins and outs of the office. Riza ran the show, mostly with a gun to Roy's head, or other valuable parts that would motivate him to get his work done.

“A call came in yesterday evening, and I'm having trouble believing that the people are not pulling a joke on the military.” It made more sense then believing that two miniature alchemists had found there way back from where they had gone to.

“So what's this got to do with Fletcher and me?”

“I need your help. I can't very well go gallivanting around the country side like I used too. I need a story. You're going to give me one.” Roy tossed a folder onto the desk. “You and your brother are to accompany on a trip to Rizembool to investigate these claims and sort the mess out.”

“Why can't you just send one of your cronies out to do it for you? What's so important that a general gets off his ass and goes snooping about?” Russell lent forward to snag the folder's corner, yanking it toward him. Snapping it open, he began reading the papers, the first being a report of a phone call from last night. Eyes bulging as he caught the supposed name of the caller, he looked up at the dark-haired general across for him for confirmation.

“Because if it's true then I need to be there to handle it.” Steepling his hands, Roy swung his chair around to look out the window. “And if not, then we'll just have to find the pranksters and put a stop to it.”

“Of course General Mustang. Fletcher and I will be ready to leave by two o'clock. Which train will we be taking?”

“Number 8, platform 9. Don't be late.”

…

 

Thunk.

“Are you sure he should be doing that? His side was just split open not three hours before.” Alphonse placed the tray on the porch table, balancing glasses of lemonade for the group.

“It's his way of relieving stress. It's better that he's not swinging Tetsusaiga around screaming `Wind Scar'.” Kagome replied, watching as the hanyou destroyed another tree and began chopping it into fire wood.

Sango was still inside, helping Winry with the lunch dishes while Miroku and Edward hid out in the library. Both were putting their heads together in an attempt to understand what exactly had happened and what could be done to reverse the affects. So far neither had had any luck in finding anything.

Thunk.

“A friend of ours is going to arrive tonight.” Edward said, taking one of the glasses to drain it before returning to his book. Kagome couldn't make out the title, but could see the arrays and drawings on the page. “He's got more resources then I do. Plus I've been dead for a few years, around here anyway. So the bastard's going to need to sort out that mess.”

“Dead, what do you mean dead?” Kagome still didn't want to talk to either alchemist, but as Miroku had said, both of them needed to work on building some type of working relationship. If they couldn't get along for any amount of time they might just find themselves in this strange world indefinitely.

“More like missing in action then dead. We just…weren't around for the last two years here.” Edward scowled to himself, telling himself to shut up. “And the way we left didn't really leave any hint to us coming back.”

Curious, Kagome continued prodding. “Where did you go?”

Edward sighed, tapping the book against his leg, holding his place with one metal finger. “A place called Germany.”

Eyes went big, nearly popping out of their sockets. “Germany?! You were in Germany? How did you get there? How did you get back? Do you think it would work for us?”

Edward and Alphonse stopped, looking back at the girl who seemed very excited for some reason. “What difference does it make to you? From your clothes and accent that we can hear behind your words, we know you're not from there.”

“Germany is another country to me, but it's in the same world. What time period did you live in?” If they had lived in the same time period as her, then Inuyasha wouldn't be able to give her any crap about her telling secrets or whatever he had been babbling about last night after the stunt with the water. Even she had to admit that was funny. Of course a wet Inuyasha, his puppy ears dripping water and that pout in place, was so very cute. Just don't tell him that.

“1939 was the year we arrived. 1944 was the year we left.” Scowling, Edward tried to change the subject. “Why? Where did you live?”

1940's? That was World War II. They lived in Germany during the Second World War! If she wasn't out of school, she could have used them as an historical goldmine. “Japan, but—”

“Kagome!” Inuyasha yelped, slamming a hand over her mouth. “What the hell did we just talk about?!” He hissed in her ear, glaring daggers at the metal armed alchemist across from him. “No telling!”

Fighting with his hand proved futile, as he was blocking her mouth from any attempts at using the kotodama. Working her tongue through her lips, she tried licking his palm for a reaction. It always worked with Souta when he was being a brat.

“Stop that Kagome, it ain't gonna work and I'll just rub your spit all over your face.” Apparently sibling germs were scarier than cootie germs, or Inuyasha really didn't care. Retracting her tongue, she folded her arms across her chest and assumed the `Inuyasha pout' position. Granted without the actual pouting lips, it left much to be desired.

“Mmmmph!” She growled, glaring back at him. “Nho rhamhgn!”

Frowning, Inuyasha lifted his hand a bit to hear what she had to say. “What was that wench?” It sounded like she was threatening his ramen.

“SIT!” Wham! “Idiot! It's not like they're going to tell anyone important! Sit! Jerk!” Wham! Standing up, she rubbed furiously at her mouth to get the taste of woodchips out. “Next time you go grabbing me wash your hands first, stupid!”

Turning on her heel, she slammed the balcony door shut as she went to find better company. Leaving three stunned, one by his sits and the other two by the show, males to look after her.

“Damn wench.” Inuyasha mumbled into the wood, still under the effects of the necklace. “It wasn't me blabbing to every ear that'll listen. She should know better by now…”

“What the fuck just happened? She just says sit and you hit the floor?” Edward gapped, understanding now why the large brash hanyou would fear the girl. Hell, if Winry had the power to subdue him with just one word, he'd never step within hearing range of the demented wrench wielding manic.

Glowering, Inuyasha pried his head from the floor boards. “Keh! Do you think I smashed into the floor on purpose?” Yanking first one hand and then the other free, he managed to extract himself from the hole.

Kagome stormed through the house, pissed and understanding. Understanding that Inuyasha was just trying to protect her, while sticking his foot up his ass in the attempt, and pissed because she just had to be understanding.

Baka. Jackass. Stupid overprotective jerk that always had to have the final say. See how he liked it when she made sure that he got no ramen! For as long as possible!

She passed Miroku in the hall, nearly shoving him into a wall as she stomped toward the mechanic rooms where Winry and Sango had retreated to. Angry and not in the mood for apologies, she glared at the poor monk and continued on her journey. She wanted to rant at ears that would understand her point of view.

Miroku raised an eyebrow. It seemed whatever peace that had taken hold of the volatile pair was over now. He was going to miss it.

Sighing, he followed his feet to the porch, where he could hear one irate hanyou cursing the kotodama, Kagome, and the world on a whole. He brushed a hand down the shirt and `pants' that the younger alchemist had given him. He didn't have to mention that any clothes from Edward would be too small and Miroku grinned to himself when he remembered the sputtering that he had given when Alphonse had shoved him from the room after being called small. When he had gotten over the initial shock shouting had shock the house, something about an ant and an ameba having children. It seemed the short alchemist had a problem with stature. Or lack thereof.

The clothes felt confining. Not too tight, just—odd. He was used to the free flowing robes of his late station. He had to say that he looked good though, the gripping fabric of the shirt showing off his muscles. Sure he wasn't as bulky as Inuyasha or even having the strength of his wife, but he did have them and without the folds of robes he could show them off. Sango had seemed to like them, after she stopped blushing and stuttering to form a sentence.

Walking out onto the porch, he raised an eyebrow at the scene. Inuyasha had split his side open again, must have been from his sits. Best not to tell Kagome that. She seemed to be in a bad mood and if she heard that she had hurt Inuyasha in anyway because of her actions she'd take it to heart.

Edward grumbled to himself, trying to work out how he got to the point of rewrapping the hanyou's wounds. They had healed drastically since last night, but they still bleed freely after his little endeavor with the floor. He had to figure out the necklace, maybe which was a link to the portal?

“Can you hurry up runt? I don't want you or the wench fussing over me more than damn well needed.” Inuyasha growled at him, but held still long enough for him to do his work.

“Who are you calling so short that he'd drown in a raindrop!” Ed snarled, yanking on the white strip in his hands in retaliation.

Smirking, Inuyasha looked down at him. “That don't hurt none. You'll have to find a stick or something, shorty.”

“Don't call me short!” Ed was literally jumping up and down in anger. The only time he ever got this pissed was when that bastard colonel picked on him! “Bastard! If you weren't hurt I'd kick your ass!”

“I'd like to see you try. I could still take you, like this and without my sword. Might want to find a ladder first.”

“Brother! No!” Too late, Edward had already tackled the hanyou. Forgetting his words of not attacking him while he was hurt, he knocked the hanyou back of his chair and towards the stairs. Ending up in a tangle of limbs and long hair, the pair rolled down the stairs, too unbalanced to throw fists. Upon hitting the ground, Inuyasha fought to gain room to get to his feet. Damn, that was fast! He was expecting more banter, but whatever worked.

Ed grabbed his leg, sending him back to the ground as he got to his own feet. After a few tries, both males ending up in the standing position, hands raised and clenched. Inuyasha smirking and Ed snarling in a white rage, they waited for the other to attack first.

“Brother! Stop! No fighting!” Alphonse was ignored by both, but Miroku managed to stop him before threw himself in the middle of it.

“Inuyasha won't hurt him too badly. And I think your brother can stand up for himself. I think the pair of them are just bored and at ends because of yesterday's words. Let them work it out.” Miroku told him, even as he pulled a sutra from his pocket. He was used to them being in his sleeve, so it took him a moment to remember where he had placed them.

“Well pipsqueak? I thought you were going to kick my ass?” Inuyasha called, laughing as he blocked the attacks of the alchemist. He was startled at the force and accuracy of them, but being faster he could stop them with ease. “That all you got kid?”

The blow to the face, automail, blind sighted him and he went head over heels onto his ass. Swiping at the blood from his nose, he missed the kick that went into his chest and went down again. Damn, he packs a bunch with those metal limbs of his. Inuyasha managed to dodge another blow, giving Ed a swipe to the head in retaliation. There was no way he was getting beat up by a little brat.

Ed reflected the swipe with his automail arm, wincing as Inuyasha's claws hit the metal and sent up a screech familiar to nails on a chalk board. He realized that the hanyou didn't have any formal training, just relying on his speed and brute strength to win.

Close quarter fighting had always been a strong suit of the alchemist, and he realized that with the longer limbs and the need to put force behind his blows the hanyou would be at disadvantage to it. But as he pressed forward the hanyou darted back, his abnormal grace and speed allowing him to avoid the closure that Ed sought.

Shirtless and only a few ribbons of white across his chest, Inuyasha felt rightly naked as a flurry of fists flew at him. The metal blows felt like a rockslide against his arms as he blocked strike against strike. Nothing like fighting his brother, who like to use that damned whip and Tokijin, Edward pressed close, using his size to get under his range and drive him back. And he was fast! Not as fast as a youkai, but faster than any human he had fought, the damned monk included. But as he stopped another blow, he noticed that the ripples of muscles told him that Edward was pulling his blows. He was fighting to win, not to actually injure anyone. Huh.

Inuyasha didn't know wither to be insulted or not. From the force of the attacks Edward wasn't pitying him or anything of that sort. But he wasn't hitting him as hard as he could. And a small part of him was thankful. If he gave his all and hit him with his metal arm or leg, he might do some harm. Not much to a hanyou like him, but nothing to scoff at either.

All taunts stopped as they fell into the rhythm of the fight. Inuyasha blocked more than he attacked, but even defensive he was wearing Edward down. With one of his arms weaker than the other, only slightly of course, he found that Edward was worth sparring with. Edward felt the same. At first he thought that the hanyou was playing with him, only defending and never taking the offensive, but after awhile he noticed the look of concentration on Inuyasha's face. And the one blow to the side had winded him after he had been too slow to stop it.

“Well Edward? I'm waiting for my ass to be kicked.” Inuyasha huffed, despite himself feeling winded. Grunting as the alchemist knocked a metal hand against his head, narrowly missing one ear, he circled around Edward to kick him in the middle of the back.

Anticipating the attack, Edward used the momentum to roll forward, clapping his hands as he went. Slapping them against the ground, the ground rolled and trembled as several spikes of earth shot at the hanyou. Using them as stepping stones, Inuyasha shot into the air, twisting in an arc to lever himself behind the alchemist. Edward slapped the ground again to form a pitfall, earning a yelp and curse from the tricked hanyou.

He hadn't made it very deep, and when the hanyou jumped straight into the air he gulped. Maybe he should have made it deeper. “Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!” Inuyasha called, throwing blades of youki at the alchemist. Clapping his hands, he hit the dirt, forming another dome to protect himself. Inuyasha had not used his full strength either, so though the dome was ripped to shreds, only a few small scrapes appeared on the human.

The sun was approaching the evening mark, and when Inuyasha landed he noticed a small crowd had gathered. Kagome looked rightly pissed but she hadn't said the word yet. Sango and Winry stood by a short old lady that looked too much like the babaa to put the hanyou at ease. As Edward shook dirt from his clothes, he noticed the crowd too.

“What the fuck are you looking at?” Inuyasha snarled, crossing his arms gingerly across his chest. Despite himself he raised his eyebrows as a mottled collection of black and blue circles adorned his arms. “Don't you have anything better to do?”

Edward came to stand beside him, working his flesh arm in a circle to stretch it. He hadn't had a work out like that in awhile. And he knew that it was only on pause. There had been no winner, and it had only just been getting good. He wanted Inuyasha to show him that attack again, maybe not on him per say, but he did want to see it again. Along with the one's he had used at the forest.

“Supper's done brother, Inuyasha.” Alphonse came forward with two towels, passing one to the hanyou before coming to stand in front of his brother. He had been scared more than once, but at Miroku's and Kagome's insistence he didn't get involved. And they had been right. After the chimera attack yesterday, he knew that Inuyasha could have done much worse to his brother.

“Thanks Al.” Edward wiped at his face, telling himself that he could fix his shirt later. Luckily he hadn't been wearing his leather jacket or he would have been in worse shape. “Later then Inuyasha?”

Eyeing the younger male with a raised eye, Inuyasha shrugged after a moment's thought. “Keh, if you're up to it.”

. . .

 

Later did find them, and after setting up a good distance away from the house in a small field did the fight resume. The sun was slipping away but there was still a good hour or two left before they would need to stop.

Kagome had been against it, but had conceded to Inuyasha after she found that his wounds were pretty much healed over. Edward had dealt with Winry similarly.

Stretching out, Inuyasha threw his haori and inner white shirt kosode to the side as he watched his soon to be opponent do the same. Edward had literally dragged him away from the table after they had finished eating to finish their fight. No one had ever run to him in regards to a fight.

He really hoped he didn't hurt him. Even with a chest wound, that had thankfully stopped bleeding, he might do damage. He had never been able to control himself when he fought with others. He had hurt Miroku on more than one occasion because the idiot wanted to spar.

It started out slow, them circling the other before lunging in to take a quick attack before darting back. Blood already trickled down from a split lip and Inuyasha glared angrily from his swollen eye. They had only been fighting for ten minutes or so and he had been hoping to be doing better than this.

Ed didn't take the time to curb the blood flowing from his lip or nose, keeping his eyes on the pacing hanyou in front of him. Something definitely predatory in his approach as he darted forward once again to rain another volley of blows at him. Snapping his arms into place, he absorbed them with his automail, keeping it up as his opponent's claws dug into the metal. A bare foot whirled up in his peripheral vision, aimed at his head. Dropping to his haunches, he snapped his metal foot out at Inuyasha's standing leg, feeling the whush of air ruffling his hair as the kick went over his head. Gold eyes flashed as pain radiated up from his leg, causing him to tumbled backward.

Edward figured the best thing at this point in time would be to get some space between him and the yelling hanyou. Yes, lots and lots of space before he leveled another attack. Flipping himself backward and landing like a cat on his feet, he turned around and booked it. Years of running from people, wither it be rouge alchemist, a village mob, or Nazi, he had become quite apt in it.

He heard the hanyou getting to his feet and ran faster, if that was possible. He remembered the hanyou running in the forest, even carrying two people. What the fuck had he been thinking seconds ago?! There was no way in hell that he'd be able to run faster than the dog hanyou and only be able to keep out of his reach for a few moments. All he needed was a few seconds of space and he'd be able to do some of that fancy alchemy that he was famous for.

A curious sound that he hadn't heard in years came from his left, and he chanced a look at it. One look was all he needed. Dropping to his knees he clapped his hands together and slammed them into the ground, raising an earthen wall that towered a good thirty feet into the air. Inuyasha came to rest atop him, more of a crash as he rebounded off the circular wall that Edward had erected to save him from the roar of flames that rushed against the barrier.

“What the fuck was that?!” Inuyasha said, climbing to his feet and grabbing the back of the crushed alchemist to place him on his own. Giving him a quick once over to make sure of no broken bones; which there should have been after having 150 lbs of hanyou crash into at warp speed. “Oi, you ok?”

“Fine.” Edward squeaked, steadying himself before turning to the wall the fire had went up against. It was already like an oven in the protective walls, but he could feel the heat rising as the rush of flames continued. “Damned idiot.”

“Fire huh?” Inuyasha was only mildly uncomfortable from the heat. “Wish I had my haori.”

Edward's metal limbs were beginning to heat up and he shifted uncomfortably as he awaited the eventual end to the bastard's attack. He didn't have the energy to do a continuous flame.

Inuyasha looked at the little alchemist, frowning. If he had is haori he would pass that over but all he had was his hakumu. “Oi, could you transmute this into a coat or blanket or something? And put it back later?” He couldn't very well let the little idiot bake, as it seemed to be doing.

“Why?” He held his arm out away from his body, watching as it started to smoke.

“It's fire proof.” Inuyasha shucked them off, leaving himself in his white under hakumu. “Do it, it'll help with the heat.”

Clapping his hands proved painful, but the reduction in heat was an immediate relief. The blanket that came from the expansive pants covered him and there was still some left over. “What about you?”

“Hanyou remember?” He said, and crouched down. “It's fireproof. Get under it and then get rid of the wall.”

It was starting to get hard to talk for the both of them, and Ed was forced to do as he was told. The wall fell outward, and Inuyasha flew out, feeling the fire wash over him as he went. He wasn't worried about Edward, he had left Kagome in the fire rat to know that the bout of fire would not touch him directly and the heat wouldn't bother him. But the heat washed over his skin and scorched the fur on his ears.

Darting to the side, he came at the dark-haired man from the right, seeing that the man had an eye patch on his left eye. And was blind from attack on that side. (As they are standing, if they are facing each other it would be Inuyasha's right and Roy's left) The arm that had been raised fell and the other came up, the flames dieing down. A snap of his fingers and weird ass gloves sent a fire ball over his head inches to the left. Damn, he had good aim.

“Gloves!” Edward called from behind him. “Get the gloves!”

Gloves it was then. He wouldn't kill the man yet, he had a feeling that Edward knew him. Throwing himself into the air, he yelled out a quick `Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!', aiming to the side of the man at a large oak tree.

The man had to leap forward to avoid the falling tree, and Inuyasha used the moment to land atop him, locating the other two males in the background. Snatching one glove of his right hand, he twisted it up behind him as he went for the other one. He managed to snag it and accidentally tore it at the back, ruining the red circle thing on the white fabric. It was rough and grated on his fingers like gravel, but he could care less. All he did care was stopping the man before he hurt the damned runt or one of the others.

Wrapping his arm around the male's torso, he gave a spin and threw him, sending him a good ten feet before he skidded like a rock across water. Following after him, he jammed his hand under his throat, lifting his head into a painful position. Kagome had signed him up for a class or two at the local dojo and he had learned a few tricks from his brother. A wrong move from the man and he would snap his neck with a small move of his wrist.

Snarling and showing his fangs, he leaned in real close to breath into the male's face. “And you are?” He snarled, keeping his voice low in a vicious manner.

The pale man blinked, looking startled as if wondering how the hell he had ended up on his back with a rabid inuhanyou atop him. Good for him.

Showing more teeth, he flexed his claws from where they dug into his arm. “Answer the damned question bastard, or I'll start biting.”

“Nice Mustang, haven't seen you in years and you try to bake me.” Edward had came up behind him, taking note of the Tringham brothers that were watching wide eyed as the hanyou threatened the superior officer. “So, Fuher yet?”

“Fu-Fullmetal?!” The pale man sputtered, but didn't fight Inuyasha's hold.

“Promise not to do anything? I don't think Inuyasha's very patient.” Edward said, picking up the two gloves, waving the ruined one around in the air.

After waiting for an answer, Inuyasha snorted and withdrew, jumping lightly to his feet. “You got to be kidding me. The man's an idiot.” Surely this wasn't the `friend' that was going to save their asses. Please kami no.

“Unfortunately, he does seem to find his brains in whatever bimbo he's dating.” Edward supplied, keeping the blanket wrapped around his right arm. “My arm is made of metal idiot. It gets really hot when exposed to flames.”

“I thought—he—he was attacking you! I just saved your life.” Roy Mustang managed to get out.

“We were sparring stupid. You think I'd be stupid enough to let a chimera chase me around? Do you think that they,” he waved his flesh arm in the direction of the approaching group, “would let him?” Scoffing, he bent down to peer at the older alchemist. “One too many blows to the head Inuyasha, you've made him a full retard.”

“Keh, he already was one.” Inuyasha grunted, shooting a glare at the approaching blondes. They looked similar to the Elrics, but different in eye color and stature. He grinned, eyeing the taller one. He didn't miss the taint of fear that went through the boy, and he crossed his arms across his bare chest to smirk at them with teeth exposed. “And who are these idiots?”

Edward rolled his eyes in their direction, pleased to find the shocked expression on his rival's face. “Russell and Fletcher Tringham.” He went back to the man on the ground, who was still too shocked to haul his ass up. “This is Roy Mustang. I'm not sure of his rank though.”

“General Mustang, thank you Fullmetal.” Roy snapped, keeping his eyes on the violent and oddity of hanyou. “Who is this?” He waved a hand at the silver-haired man, making sure to seem non-threatening. He had been startled when the walls Edward had erected had fallen, leaving his flames to shot forward unhindered. The demon that had emerged from the flames, trailing smoke and fire after him like a devil from the depths of hell, had caused him a moment of unsettlement. He was not used to having his attacks brushed off as nothing. And the sheer speed of the chimera had sent his head reeling.

“This is the hanyou, Inuyasha.” Alphonse came up beside him, holding clothes in his arms. Inuyasha took back his shirts, leaving his fire rat with Edward. “And his friends Kagome, Miroku, and Sango.” They had left Shippo and Kirara with Granny, as Shippo had went to bed with barely a complaint.

“You made it back then, huh short stuff?” Roy said, dragging himself up. “Sorry about the arm I guess.”

“DON'!” Edward threw his arms into the air.

“CALL!” Trees shook, and Roy blinked at the capacity of the short alchemist's lungs.

“ME!” Alponse shook his head, waiting for his brother's newest tantrum to run its course.

“SHORT!”

. . .

 

Sesshomaru picked his ward up, placing her upon Ah-Uh's back. Rin was so tired from walking, but Sesshomaru did not like this odd place. He didn't want to chance stopping as he drove onward.

It smelled of smoke and metal and fire. Lights burned in the night, but no fire erupted from them. Noise of large villages along with a strange blaring and clanging of metal found its way through the night.

This strange world had come from the portal, and until he figured out a way to get back, Sesshomaru would not stop.