Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ The Spirit of Alchemy ❯ Ready, Steady, Go! ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

"Come on, Let's go already!!" Ed said, running out the door.

"H-Hey!!" Michi said, running after him. She paused at the doorway, and walked back into the room. She looked around for one last time. "I'm really leaving..." she muttered to herself. "I'll be back some day, I promise... Maybe then, I'll have more to bring with me than just these photographs.." Smiling, she ran out the door, chasing after Ed and Al. They ran down the path to the train station. Michi was happier than she had been in ages. Laughing, she ran faster, disappearing down the path.

"Ugh... What the hell are we still doing here?" Ed asked, laying down on one of the train station benches, a bored expression across his face.

"You're the one who decided we had to come running to the station now, Edward." Michi said, sitting happily, the breeze blowing her shoulder-length hair all over the place.

"Yeah, but I thought there'd be more than one train a day out of this middle-of-nowhere town," Ed groaned.

"I don't think it's that bad. There's a lot to see here," Al said calmly.

"You'd say that even if we were in a blank room," Ed said pointedly.

"Stop arguing, you two," Michi said, looking at them. "It's too nice a day to aruge over something like a little wait."

"Yeah yeah. How much longer do we gotta wait now?"

"The next train isn't going to be here until noon."

"It isn't gonna be here till noon?! It's only 7:53 now!!"

"Like I said, you're the one who decided to come running down here."

"Quiet, would ya?" Ed said irritably.

Michi laughed. "Hey, it's not like we have to stay here, ya know. We could go into town for a little while.."

Ed sat up, shaking his blonde mane virogously. "Nah. If we miss the train, we'll have to wait even longer..."

Michi sighed, laying down staring up at the blue sky. It really was a nice day.. She yawned, putting her hands behind her head, and swinging her leg off the edge. Then, she sat straight up. "Huh?" she asked, looking at the train track a few yards in front of her.

" 'Huh?' what?" Ed asked, looking at her, to the tracks, and back.

"There's a train coming.." was the reply.

"Really? Alright! We can finally get outta this dump!"

Michi glared at him. "It's not a dump! It's a nice town!!"

"Yeah yeah," Ed said, going over to the track.

"Hey, how did you know a train was coming?" Al asked, speaking for the first time in a while.

Michi smiled. "Look." She pointed to the ticket booth's ledge, where people put their money. On it was a little figurine. The figuring was shaking slightly. "That means that there's a train on the track, getting closer."

"Wow.." Al said.

"But.. There's not supposed to be a train now -- it's only 8:11. The next one isn't supposed to come for almost another four whole hours.."

"Who cares if it's not supposed to be here or not? I just wanna get outta here!"

"Brother, it could be a trap.."

"Nah, who'd try to set a trap on a station out here?"

"Anyone who knew you were here, Brother."

Ed's face fell. "Yeah... You have a point, I guess. Well, we'll hafta see, won't we?" he asked, pointing down the track. In the distance, there was a small cylinder, with a smoke trail. A whistle blew. "Here it comes." Ed tensed up, looking like he was getting ready to fight. Al walked over to him, and did the same.

As the train crawled to a stop, the door began opening ....

....Slooowly.....

"Oh come on, this isn't some slow-motion scene in a movie!" Ed said finally, exhasperated.

"I don't know, I thought it was amusing," a voice said, from the still mostly-closed door. "Haven't seen you in a while, Fullmetal."

"Wish it'd been a little longer," Ed mumbled.

"Hm? Who's that? Why's he got a train coming here?" Michi asked, tilting her head curiously at the new arrival.

"What's this, Edward? Picked up a girlfriend? I'm surprised a shrimp like you could do it." the man said, stepping out from behind the door. He had dark black hair, a blue coat with blue pants, and had gloves with a transmutation circle on them. Michi noticed all of this in one glance, as well as a few other things. She could tell that he was acting cold and cruel, but truly was concerned about Ed, and the things that happened to him.

Michi really had no idea how she knew these sort of things, but with one glance at a person, she could tell a lot about them. When she had seen Ed, she'd known he was a determined 'bad-boy', on a desperate quest for something. When she'd seen Al, she'd seen a sweet, caring little boy. She also knew their secrets, but that wasn't the same trick. Al's walking made a hollow sound, while Ed's left leg sounded heavier when he walked -- but only slightly. She figured she wasn't going to tell if they weren't, but it seemed obvious to her what had happened. Michi was jarred out of her thoughts by a very loud noise.

That noise was Edward.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT MUSTANG?! SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND AND WHO ARE YOU CALLING SHORTER THAN A LITTLE PRESCHOOL STUDENT!? WE JUST MET AND I AM NOT SHORT BECAUSE I DON'T DRINK MY MILK!!!"

Michi blinked, staring. What in the world was he talking about? She thought back to what this 'Mustang' had said. Wait.... Girlfriend?!?

"I'm not his girlfriend!" Michi said, angrily staring at the man. "I am Michi Machiko, and I'm taking them to see one of my father's colleagues about the Philosopher's Stone." Michi had a friendly smile on, but her eyes did not reflect it. She was not about to be known as 'a girlfriend' to anyone.

" 'Michi Machiko', eh?" The man asked calmly. "Well, don't worry you two. I'm not here to seperate you. Considering your reactions, you must be close.... Or the girl just has a sense of pride. Not that Ed doesn't, come to think of it, but still.."

"Then what the hell are you here for?"

"Just thought I'd get some fresh air. Get away from all that paperwork for once."

"Paperwork? You? I haven't seen you do paper work yet!"

Mustang grinned, and turned to Michi. "Like I was saying before... I'm not here to seperate you two. In fact, I'd like to encourage you two to go to this colleague of your father's. There are lots of people after the Philosopher's Stone. Maybe you two could find a few people who are after it, get them out of the way for the government."

Ed stared, but said nothing. Michi wondered what this was all about. Military? Why would Ed have anything to do with the military? Then it dawned on her. He was the famous Fullmetal Alchemist, so of course he was in the military. He was probably going after the stone just so he could track down people who'd use it for no good....

So, this was all a trick. Michi turned to look towards Ed, wondering. Did he suspect her of using it for some bad, then? Ed seemed to sense her stare, and turned. "What?" he asked irritably. She just shook her head, and turned towards Mustang again.

"Anyway. I'd better head back to Headquarters. I've got a lot of last-minute paperwork to do."

"What the hell?! I thought you said you needed some fresh air as a break from all of your paperwork?" Ed smirked.

"Yeah, well, I've had my air. Time to get going," he said, stepping on to the train. "Oh, be careful. Some bandits have been around this area recently. Apparently, they're pretty good at alchemy. No match for you two, but still.."

The train pulled out, leaving a confused Michi, an angry Ed, and a calm, serene Al sitting there.

Ed turned towards Al. "Just where've you been?"

Al seemed to smile embarrassedly, and put his hand behind his head. "Oh, just walking around, waiting for the train."

Michi looked at him strangely. Was that a meow she heard? "Uh.. Al? Your armor's meowing.."

Ed blinked. "So it is. Alright Al, where's the kitten this time? We can't take it with us."

Al sighed. "Buttt... They're so cute..."

"It might have a home, Al." Michi said. "Actually, come to think of it, I have a pet cat."

"You have a pet cat, and you were just gonna leave it?!" Ed asked, incredulously.

"Well.. I sort of forgot about him..." Michi trailed off, sweatdropping.

"You forgot your cat?!"

"Well.. You see, he wanders off, it's not uncommon for me to only see him once or twice a year."

Al, during this, had wandered off. He came back now, holding the 'kitten' in his hands. It seemed more like a grown cat, than a kitten. "Is this your cat?" He asked, holding it out to Michi. It was black and white, with brown stripes, and a white stomach.

Michi looked at it. "Yes! It is! It's KoKo-chan!!"

" 'KoKo-chan'?" Ed asked.

"Koneko-Koneko-Chan," Michi cooed. "I've missed you sooooo much! Have you been a good boy?" She began petting him, smiling. "Come on, we have to go in to town, and find someone who will take care of you."

Ed sighed, completely lost in the world of cat-lovers. Michi started walking down a brick street, leading into the town.

"Where are we going?" Ed asked.

"To one of my neighbors. She usually takes care of him, I've watched him go down there. She's given him a different name, but still.. She cares for him. I'm not even sure she knows he's my cat. She's an old lady, but very sweet. She loves animals."

"How wouldn't she know it was your cat?"

"..I...... don't really go in to town much."

Ed blinked. He seemed curious, but asked nothing. She sighed, relieved that he wasn't going to question her on her strange habits. Especially considering going in to town would be necessary for people, especially to get food. She walked up to a small wooden hut, and knocked on the door.

The door opened slowly, and an old woman stepped out. "Yes?" she asked. Her voice seemed creaky, almost as creaky as the floor she walked on. Michi smiled. "Hello. I heard you love taking care of animals. Is that true?"

The old woman nodded. "Yes, what can I do for you?"

"I found this stray, while I was walking in the town. I was wondering if he belonged to you?"

The old woman took him, and examined him. "Yes! This is my Fluffy Fluff!"

" 'Fluffy Fluff'?" Ed asked. "She couldn't have come up with a better name than that? Even 'KoKo-chan' is better than that," he muttered.

"And what would you name a cat?" Michi hissed.

"What's that?" the old woman asked, holding her hand up to her ear.

"Nothing, I'm glad you found your cat! Good bye!" Michi said, bowing and walking away. The old woman took KoKo-chan inside, and closed the door.

It was 11:59. The train was at the station. Finally, they could continue on their journey. Michi smiled, and took a seat, staring out the window. As the train pulled out from the station, she watched the scenery of her town go by.

"You homesick already?" Ed asked, stretching, and putting his hands behind his head.

"No. I know I'll be back. Besides, it doesn't feel like home anymore.."

Ed nodded, then blinked. "Did you hear that mewing sound?"

Michi turned to Al, who looked embarrassed yet again. There was a loud meow, and KoKo-chan jumped out of Al's armor.

"AL! I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU WE COULDN'T BRING HIM!!"

AN: Hi there! Okay, anyway, I tried to make this chapter longer, but.. Yeah, I'm out of energy. I don't feel well at all, and I'm just writing because I feel bad for not updating frequently, and for having such short chapters. After this, I'm going to lay down, but anyway. Next chapter's gonna be fun! R&R please!