Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ The Unforgivable Sin ❯ Chapter 12 ( Chapter 12 )
[ P - Pre-Teen ]
By: Rurouni Saiyan 
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Mystery / Drama / Angst | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 08.08.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.6K | Visits: 277 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Mystery / Drama / Angst | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 08.08.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.6K | Visits: 277 | Status: Completed
Dedicated to the Roy Mustang fan in all of us.
Chapter 12
Fuhrer Mustang came to visit me the next day as I was getting ready to leave. “So the doctor has already ordered your release,” he said, striding through the door without even bothering to knock. “That’s good. Very good.”
I dropped the vase of flowers I had been holding as he spoke, hardly noticing as it shattered on the floor, and snapped to attention. “Fuhrer!” I blurted without thinking. “What are you doing here?” I winced even as the words left my lips, mentally cursing myself for being so rude to the head of the military.
But Mustang wasn’t insulted at all; in fact, he chuckled. “I just came to see how our most promising young alchemist was faring. By the way, you might want to fix that.” He gestured at the vase. “Miss Ishtar would probably be disappointed to learn you left her gift broken on the floor.”
I felt my face redden as I knelt down to repair the vase, making sure that not a shard of glass or drop of water remained on the floor. “I’m faring well, considering the mess I was in,” I answered as I picked the vase back up and set it on the bedside table.
“That’s true,” the Fuhrer said with a nod. “And I apologize for sending you into it. However, I must congratulate you on getting out of the first predicament with such grace. It would have been a shame if you had chosen to fight with the officers who had mistaken you for the thief.” He smirked.
I turned away to hide my scowl. “Thanks, I think.”
He chuckled again. “You’d better get used to dealing with unexpected situations, Illusory,” he said. “They’re common in the military, even during peace time. Other than that, I’m here to tell you that you’ll be reporting directly to me for the next several weeks.”
“What?!” I turned around so fast that I bumped the table. The vase wobbled precariously on the edge, and I grabbed it before it could fall and break again. “Why?”
“FullMetal will be gone on a mission for an unknown amount of time,” Mustang explained. “He intends to track the Homunculi down and find out where they’re hiding.”
I froze, not daring to look at him. My God, he knows about the Homunculi! But how much? Did Ed tell him about him the connection between Greed and me?
As if to answer that question, the Fuhrer’s voice cut through my thoughts like a knife. “You know, I could have you court-martialed for lying about the loss of your legs during the Exam’s interview.”
I stared at him, eyes wide with horror, but he was smirking again. “But it’s not the first time I’ve covered for a subordinate,” he continued with a nonchalant shrug. “Besides, your research on illusion alchemy is invaluable, and I daresay you’ve become Colonel Elric’s favorite alchemist.” He grinned. “Your current orders are to remain in Central and continue your research. Let me know if you discover anything interesting.” He turned to leave.
“But–“ I started, but stopped myself abruptly. I wasn’t really in any position to be asking favors.
Mustang turned back, giving me a critical look. “Yes?”
I stared down at the floor, wishing I hadn’t spoken up. “I-I was hoping that I could take a short leave and return to Serra’s Point. To, ah, visit my family.” I fidgeted as I finished, well aware of how lame my excuse was. Then I jerked my head up in surprise as Mustang walked over to me and rested his hands on my shoulders.
“Ryou,” he said, smirk gone and black eyes full of unexpected sympathy. “You have just been through a terrible time and learned truths about this world that no one should ever have to learn. What’s more, the Homunculi are still out there, and we don’t know where or when they may choose to strike again. No, you must stay here in Central. Rest. Relax. FullMetal will return soon, and it is then that you may act. Until that time, I’ll be expecting your research reports.” His hands dropped from my shoulders, and he turned and strode from the room.
I returned to packing up my few belongings, unsure of what to think. Part of me felt frustrated, angry. Why did everyone suddenly feel the need to protect me? Another part was relieved that I wouldn’t be returning to Serra’s Point anytime soon. I was not looking forward to digging up Akira’s grave.
* * *
The next several weeks were as quiet as I could have hoped for. The only scandal in town was Malik’s latest antics, and not a word was heard from Ed. My research continued smoothly, with only one major breakthrough in that time.
That had been fun to report to Fuhrer Mustang. As time had gone by, my awe of him had lessened. I learned the hard way that he was a practical joker, and I decided to report this breakthrough in person, simply to return that certain favor.
“What is it?” he snapped irritably as I pushed through his office doors, not even bothering to look up from the papers he was reading. “I’m a busy man; make it quick.”
“Oh, I think you’ll like this, sir,” I replied, carefully keeping the smirk off my face.
He looked up, quirking one dark eyebrow as he studied me. “Couldn’t you have sent me the report through a subordinate, Illusory? That’s what they’re there for.”
“But it’s illusion alchemy, Fuhrer. It’s understood best when seen.”
“Fine.” He settled back in his chair, giving me a glare that would melt metal. “Let’s see it.”
I bit my lip and flushed a little under the heat of that glare, but it still didn’t deter me in the least. After setting the report file on his desk, I took a step back, concentrated, and clapped my hands together, resting them at my sides as the transmutation began. Almost instantly, darkness clouded my vision, the kind of pitch blackness that’s impossible to see through. But I could still hear just fine, and I took great satisfaction in the startled yelps that Mustang and his aide, Sergeant Falman, made.
“W-where did he go?” Falman exclaimed, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. Mustang’s chair scraped back, and his footsteps sounded loud on the floor as he came around his desk and hurried to the door.
“That damn brat!” he snarled. “What in the world did he do, anyways?”
I chose that moment to turn around, and the room snapped back into view. “Looking for me?” I asked innocently.
Mustang jumped so high his head nearly hit the door frame above. I broke into laughter, and off to the side, Falman joined in.
“So,” the Fuhrer said, turning around to give me another irritated glare. “You’ve discovered the secret to invisibility.”
“With drawbacks,” I replied.
“Like no one else being able to do it due to the severe difficulty?” he said dryly, returning to his seat. “I imagine one would have to be able to perform transmutations without a circle to master it.”
“Not at all, sir,” I said hastily, pulling open the report file and rifling through the pages. “I took the time to determine the correct circle needed for the transmutation.” I pulled out the drawing of the circle and shoved it across the desk to him. “Although it is rather difficult, and maintaining the transmutation while moving is nearly impossible, even for me. Plus, since I was bending the light around myself, none reached my eyes.”
“Making you blind,” Mustang deduced, and I nodded. “Well, that’s very interesting,” he continued, returning the drawing to the report file. “I’ll be sure to look through all this later today. As for now, I’m busy. So you get back to work, and I’ll return to mine.”
I grinned and saluted, very satisfied with the meeting. I’ll have to find more ways to get under the Fuhrer’s skin and get away with it…
* * *
The Fuhrer came to visit me again the very next day. I was sitting at a table in the very back of the library, next to a large window that overlooked the park across the road, yet I heard him coming as soon as he barged through the doors.
“Where is that damn Illusory?” he yelled, stomping along the rows of bookshelves and research tables.
“Fuhrer, please!” the librarian protested. “This is a library; you must–Fuhrer!” She broke off with a gasp. As he rounded the corner and approached me, I could see why.
He had no arms.
I did a double-take and stared in shock as he marched up to me, face flushed in anger. “Reverse it,” he ordered as he leaned forward. The table in front of me thumped, though he didn’t seem to touch it.
I grinned in sudden understanding. “It seems you’ve discovered the secret to invisibility, Fuhrer,” I said, trying my hardest not to smirk. “Or partial invisibility, at least.”
“You think this is funny, don’t you?”
“Ah…yes, sir,” I answered honestly. “Though I am curious as to how you managed to transmute the air so that light bends around you not matter how much you move.”
A vein popped out on his forehead, and his eye twitched. “Just reverse it, and maybe I’ll consider letting you keep your silver watch.”
I quickly clapped my hands together and placed them on Mustang’s upper arms, reversing the transmutation. The blue cloth of his uniform painted itself into the air, starting where I had touched him and working its way down until even his white gloved hands were visible. “Better?”
He straightened and flexed his fingers, looking at them as if they had betrayed him. “Much better,” he said. “I can’t walk around for the rest of my life with invisible arms, after all.”
“Sounds fun to me,” I said, and this time I couldn’t help but smirk at the exasperated look he gave me. “Seriously, sir, could you tell me how you managed to make the transmutation stay?”
My question seemed to soothe his ego, and he managed his own smirk in response. “I studied your report and made a few changes to the circle. Now I suppose I should set to finding out a way to reverse it on my own.”
I gave him a blank look. “All you have to do to reverse it is bend the light back to its original state. The same transmutation circle should suffice for that.”
“Right.” His face reddened slightly. “I knew that. Well then, I suppose I should set to finding out how to get the transmutation to cover a larger area. What’s so funny, Major?”
I choked back the rest of my laughter, though I couldn’t get rid of my grin. “Nothing, sir.”
“Continue with your research, Major,” he said, his eye twitching again. I waited until he had turned back and disappeared among the shelves, and then I burst into giggles again.
* * *
Another month passed quietly, and still no word came from Ed about the Homunculi or anything else. To my face, Fuhrer Mustang brushed it off, insisting that he was fine, that it was normal. But there was no ignoring the tension that was building a little more each day in military headquarters. People were noticing the long absence of the colorful Head of State Alchemy, and they were beginning to wonder and speculate.
And I was growing more worried as time passed and the cooler winds began to blow. Few people knew what he was up to, but the fact that I did just seemed to make it worse for me. While others could wonder about him, and imagine that maybe everything’s fine, that maybe he’s just visiting his brother in Rizenbul, I knew that he was on a mission, that he very well may be in danger.
Or very well may already be dead.
I didn’t see the Fuhrer much anymore, and when I did, he seemed to always be in a hurry. His face wore a perpetually tight, grim look now, and though he still assured me that Colonel Elric would be fine, he didn’t seem to believe it himself.
He finally summoned me to his office one day, sending Sergeant Falman all the way to the Ishtar residence. “At least he picked a rainy day when there’s nothing to do,” Malik said as I stared at the summons with a frown. Today was the first day off I had had in quite a while, and I wasn’t happy with the interruption.
“Perhaps,” I said, still irritated. “I’ll be back in a little while.” I grabbed my heavy overcoat to ward away the rain and followed Falman out to the waiting cab.
The driver started off almost before I had time to shut the door, and with a start I recognized Brigadier General Hawkeye behind the wheel. “G-General?” I stammered, a little confused. She nodded, acknowledging my presence, and turned left at the first intersection–the wrong way to the capitol. “Where are we going? I-I thought the Fuhrer–“
“The Fuhrer does wish to speak to you,” she interrupted. “But not in his office. You’ll see where we’re going when we get there.”
I nodded uncertainly and looked around, noticing for the first time that the Falman hadn’t gotten in. I frowned but decided not to comment, choosing to stare out the rain-soaked city instead.
We passed ten minutes without speaking, the silence broken only by the sounds of the tires on the road and the rain spattering against the windshield. Gradually the scenery changed, the buildings of Central City falling away and being replaced by homes. Then even those were left behind, and rolling green hills stretched to the horizon, punctuated by several copses of trees. Then came a graveyard, white tombstones stretching over the hills forlornly. I shuddered, remembering an old superstition Akira had once had.
“If you don’t hold your breath when you pass a graveyard, you’ll be the next to die!”
Vaguely, I wondered if he had forgotten to hold his breath while passing one on the day of the accident. Shuddering again, I shook my head to banish the thought from my mind. The cab began to slow down, and I blinked, realizing that Hawkeye was taking me into the cemetery.
As she turned down a dirt road and passed through a gate, I couldn’t help but wonder if the superstition extended to visiting graveyards as well.
“Frightened?” Hawkeye asked suddenly, her cool red eyes studying me in the rear view mirror.
“Not really,” I answered as she slowed to a stop. “Just bad memories resurfacing.”
She didn’t bother to ask, instead climbing out and motioning for me to follow. Together we climbed up a hill, passing numerous tombstones, most with some kind of title. “This is a military graveyard,” Hawkeye said as we neared the top. “Most of the people who rest here gave their lives in the line of duty.”
Fuhrer Mustang stood at the crest of the hill, one hand resting against the nearest stone. He turned as we approached and gave me a small nod. “Major,” he greeted.
I saluted and kept my confused silence.
“I suppose you’re wondering why I called you to a cemetery for a meeting,” he continued, turning back to the gravestone and picking up a picture. “I wanted you to meet a friend of mine.” He handed the picture to me.
I took it, though my confusion only heightened. The photo was of Mustang, a younger Mustang, wearing the same trademark smirk. Beside him, grinning like the whole world was a joke, stood a man with a slightly darker complexion, black hair, and striking green-gold eyes.
“Brigadier General Maes Hughes,” Mustang said as I looked back up at him. “He was my best friend, said he’d push me all the way to becoming Fuhrer. That was back in the days of the wars with Ishbal and Lior. He’s been dead for sixteen years now.” He looked back to the grave, but not before I caught the sorrow and bitterness in his eyes. “He was killed by a Homunculus. I’m not sure which, and I guess I’ll never know. Only one of that bunch is still alive anyways.”
“Wrath,” I surmised, and he nodded, still not looking back at me.
“FullMetal finally deemed me worthy of a report,” he continued. “It seems that the Homunculi have been hiding in East City, but that they’re on the move again. They’re back in Central, and may have been for weeks now. It’s not safe for you here any more.”
I opened my mouth in a protest, but he cut me off before I could get a word out. “You’re to go to Serra’s Point on official leave.” He looked back to me at last, one corner of his mouth quirked in a slight smile. “To visit your family. And I suggest you patch up your relationship with your father while your there.”
“M-my father?” I looked to the ground and fidgeted. “I’m not sure about that. He…he doesn’t acknowledge my existence any more.”
“You’d be surprised,” he said dryly. “Ryou, value your time with your family and friends. You never know what may happen down the road.” He took back the photo and gave it a long look before setting it back on the gravestone, heedless of the rain. “Brigadier General Hawkeye will take you directly to the train station, and Sergeant Falman will meet you there with your personal effects. Take care of yourself, Illusory.” He saluted.
I returned it, feeling more than a little disturbed at the notion that Greed had been in town for quite a while, and could have been watching my every move the whole time. As I followed Hawkeye back to the cab, I couldn’t help but glance around, half-expecting Greed to jump at me from behind a tombstone.
But nothing of the sort happened, and I climbed back into the cab without incident. Then I realized that Mustang hadn’t told me anything about Ed’s situation.
“General?” I asked tentatively. “Do you know where Colonel Elric is now?”
“The telegram didn’t say,” she answered. “We assume it came from East City, but there’s no way of knowing. He only said that the Homunculi had been there up until a few weeks ago, and that they are currently in Central.”
I nodded and fell silent once again as the possibilities whirled through my mind. But Hawkeye must have seen the worry written all over my face, for she gave me a brief smile as she stopped in the curb in front of the train station.
“Don’t worry about the FullMetal Alchemist, Major. He’s survived far worse situations than this, and he’ll be fine now. Focus on your own mission for now.”
“What mission?” I asked innocently. “I’m on leave.”
She smiled again. “And that’s all anyone should know. Good luck, Major.”
* * *
In case you’re wondering where the bs that composed the bulk of this chapter came from, it was inspired by FMA. In the anime, there’s a show that takes a break from the storyline to poke fun at Mustang. So the basic theme of the series is drama-drama-drama-angst-angst-angst-COMEDY-drama-drama-angst. I don’t think that episode has reached American television yet, but it’s coming. I thought I’d stay true to it. That, my friends, is the result of too much sugar and too little sleep. At any rate, enjoy and please leave a review. I love my reviews, and my reviewers. I don’t own Yu-Gi-Oh or FullMetal Alchemist.
Chapter 12
Fuhrer Mustang came to visit me the next day as I was getting ready to leave. “So the doctor has already ordered your release,” he said, striding through the door without even bothering to knock. “That’s good. Very good.”
I dropped the vase of flowers I had been holding as he spoke, hardly noticing as it shattered on the floor, and snapped to attention. “Fuhrer!” I blurted without thinking. “What are you doing here?” I winced even as the words left my lips, mentally cursing myself for being so rude to the head of the military.
But Mustang wasn’t insulted at all; in fact, he chuckled. “I just came to see how our most promising young alchemist was faring. By the way, you might want to fix that.” He gestured at the vase. “Miss Ishtar would probably be disappointed to learn you left her gift broken on the floor.”
I felt my face redden as I knelt down to repair the vase, making sure that not a shard of glass or drop of water remained on the floor. “I’m faring well, considering the mess I was in,” I answered as I picked the vase back up and set it on the bedside table.
“That’s true,” the Fuhrer said with a nod. “And I apologize for sending you into it. However, I must congratulate you on getting out of the first predicament with such grace. It would have been a shame if you had chosen to fight with the officers who had mistaken you for the thief.” He smirked.
I turned away to hide my scowl. “Thanks, I think.”
He chuckled again. “You’d better get used to dealing with unexpected situations, Illusory,” he said. “They’re common in the military, even during peace time. Other than that, I’m here to tell you that you’ll be reporting directly to me for the next several weeks.”
“What?!” I turned around so fast that I bumped the table. The vase wobbled precariously on the edge, and I grabbed it before it could fall and break again. “Why?”
“FullMetal will be gone on a mission for an unknown amount of time,” Mustang explained. “He intends to track the Homunculi down and find out where they’re hiding.”
I froze, not daring to look at him. My God, he knows about the Homunculi! But how much? Did Ed tell him about him the connection between Greed and me?
As if to answer that question, the Fuhrer’s voice cut through my thoughts like a knife. “You know, I could have you court-martialed for lying about the loss of your legs during the Exam’s interview.”
I stared at him, eyes wide with horror, but he was smirking again. “But it’s not the first time I’ve covered for a subordinate,” he continued with a nonchalant shrug. “Besides, your research on illusion alchemy is invaluable, and I daresay you’ve become Colonel Elric’s favorite alchemist.” He grinned. “Your current orders are to remain in Central and continue your research. Let me know if you discover anything interesting.” He turned to leave.
“But–“ I started, but stopped myself abruptly. I wasn’t really in any position to be asking favors.
Mustang turned back, giving me a critical look. “Yes?”
I stared down at the floor, wishing I hadn’t spoken up. “I-I was hoping that I could take a short leave and return to Serra’s Point. To, ah, visit my family.” I fidgeted as I finished, well aware of how lame my excuse was. Then I jerked my head up in surprise as Mustang walked over to me and rested his hands on my shoulders.
“Ryou,” he said, smirk gone and black eyes full of unexpected sympathy. “You have just been through a terrible time and learned truths about this world that no one should ever have to learn. What’s more, the Homunculi are still out there, and we don’t know where or when they may choose to strike again. No, you must stay here in Central. Rest. Relax. FullMetal will return soon, and it is then that you may act. Until that time, I’ll be expecting your research reports.” His hands dropped from my shoulders, and he turned and strode from the room.
I returned to packing up my few belongings, unsure of what to think. Part of me felt frustrated, angry. Why did everyone suddenly feel the need to protect me? Another part was relieved that I wouldn’t be returning to Serra’s Point anytime soon. I was not looking forward to digging up Akira’s grave.
* * *
The next several weeks were as quiet as I could have hoped for. The only scandal in town was Malik’s latest antics, and not a word was heard from Ed. My research continued smoothly, with only one major breakthrough in that time.
That had been fun to report to Fuhrer Mustang. As time had gone by, my awe of him had lessened. I learned the hard way that he was a practical joker, and I decided to report this breakthrough in person, simply to return that certain favor.
“What is it?” he snapped irritably as I pushed through his office doors, not even bothering to look up from the papers he was reading. “I’m a busy man; make it quick.”
“Oh, I think you’ll like this, sir,” I replied, carefully keeping the smirk off my face.
He looked up, quirking one dark eyebrow as he studied me. “Couldn’t you have sent me the report through a subordinate, Illusory? That’s what they’re there for.”
“But it’s illusion alchemy, Fuhrer. It’s understood best when seen.”
“Fine.” He settled back in his chair, giving me a glare that would melt metal. “Let’s see it.”
I bit my lip and flushed a little under the heat of that glare, but it still didn’t deter me in the least. After setting the report file on his desk, I took a step back, concentrated, and clapped my hands together, resting them at my sides as the transmutation began. Almost instantly, darkness clouded my vision, the kind of pitch blackness that’s impossible to see through. But I could still hear just fine, and I took great satisfaction in the startled yelps that Mustang and his aide, Sergeant Falman, made.
“W-where did he go?” Falman exclaimed, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. Mustang’s chair scraped back, and his footsteps sounded loud on the floor as he came around his desk and hurried to the door.
“That damn brat!” he snarled. “What in the world did he do, anyways?”
I chose that moment to turn around, and the room snapped back into view. “Looking for me?” I asked innocently.
Mustang jumped so high his head nearly hit the door frame above. I broke into laughter, and off to the side, Falman joined in.
“So,” the Fuhrer said, turning around to give me another irritated glare. “You’ve discovered the secret to invisibility.”
“With drawbacks,” I replied.
“Like no one else being able to do it due to the severe difficulty?” he said dryly, returning to his seat. “I imagine one would have to be able to perform transmutations without a circle to master it.”
“Not at all, sir,” I said hastily, pulling open the report file and rifling through the pages. “I took the time to determine the correct circle needed for the transmutation.” I pulled out the drawing of the circle and shoved it across the desk to him. “Although it is rather difficult, and maintaining the transmutation while moving is nearly impossible, even for me. Plus, since I was bending the light around myself, none reached my eyes.”
“Making you blind,” Mustang deduced, and I nodded. “Well, that’s very interesting,” he continued, returning the drawing to the report file. “I’ll be sure to look through all this later today. As for now, I’m busy. So you get back to work, and I’ll return to mine.”
I grinned and saluted, very satisfied with the meeting. I’ll have to find more ways to get under the Fuhrer’s skin and get away with it…
* * *
The Fuhrer came to visit me again the very next day. I was sitting at a table in the very back of the library, next to a large window that overlooked the park across the road, yet I heard him coming as soon as he barged through the doors.
“Where is that damn Illusory?” he yelled, stomping along the rows of bookshelves and research tables.
“Fuhrer, please!” the librarian protested. “This is a library; you must–Fuhrer!” She broke off with a gasp. As he rounded the corner and approached me, I could see why.
He had no arms.
I did a double-take and stared in shock as he marched up to me, face flushed in anger. “Reverse it,” he ordered as he leaned forward. The table in front of me thumped, though he didn’t seem to touch it.
I grinned in sudden understanding. “It seems you’ve discovered the secret to invisibility, Fuhrer,” I said, trying my hardest not to smirk. “Or partial invisibility, at least.”
“You think this is funny, don’t you?”
“Ah…yes, sir,” I answered honestly. “Though I am curious as to how you managed to transmute the air so that light bends around you not matter how much you move.”
A vein popped out on his forehead, and his eye twitched. “Just reverse it, and maybe I’ll consider letting you keep your silver watch.”
I quickly clapped my hands together and placed them on Mustang’s upper arms, reversing the transmutation. The blue cloth of his uniform painted itself into the air, starting where I had touched him and working its way down until even his white gloved hands were visible. “Better?”
He straightened and flexed his fingers, looking at them as if they had betrayed him. “Much better,” he said. “I can’t walk around for the rest of my life with invisible arms, after all.”
“Sounds fun to me,” I said, and this time I couldn’t help but smirk at the exasperated look he gave me. “Seriously, sir, could you tell me how you managed to make the transmutation stay?”
My question seemed to soothe his ego, and he managed his own smirk in response. “I studied your report and made a few changes to the circle. Now I suppose I should set to finding out a way to reverse it on my own.”
I gave him a blank look. “All you have to do to reverse it is bend the light back to its original state. The same transmutation circle should suffice for that.”
“Right.” His face reddened slightly. “I knew that. Well then, I suppose I should set to finding out how to get the transmutation to cover a larger area. What’s so funny, Major?”
I choked back the rest of my laughter, though I couldn’t get rid of my grin. “Nothing, sir.”
“Continue with your research, Major,” he said, his eye twitching again. I waited until he had turned back and disappeared among the shelves, and then I burst into giggles again.
* * *
Another month passed quietly, and still no word came from Ed about the Homunculi or anything else. To my face, Fuhrer Mustang brushed it off, insisting that he was fine, that it was normal. But there was no ignoring the tension that was building a little more each day in military headquarters. People were noticing the long absence of the colorful Head of State Alchemy, and they were beginning to wonder and speculate.
And I was growing more worried as time passed and the cooler winds began to blow. Few people knew what he was up to, but the fact that I did just seemed to make it worse for me. While others could wonder about him, and imagine that maybe everything’s fine, that maybe he’s just visiting his brother in Rizenbul, I knew that he was on a mission, that he very well may be in danger.
Or very well may already be dead.
I didn’t see the Fuhrer much anymore, and when I did, he seemed to always be in a hurry. His face wore a perpetually tight, grim look now, and though he still assured me that Colonel Elric would be fine, he didn’t seem to believe it himself.
He finally summoned me to his office one day, sending Sergeant Falman all the way to the Ishtar residence. “At least he picked a rainy day when there’s nothing to do,” Malik said as I stared at the summons with a frown. Today was the first day off I had had in quite a while, and I wasn’t happy with the interruption.
“Perhaps,” I said, still irritated. “I’ll be back in a little while.” I grabbed my heavy overcoat to ward away the rain and followed Falman out to the waiting cab.
The driver started off almost before I had time to shut the door, and with a start I recognized Brigadier General Hawkeye behind the wheel. “G-General?” I stammered, a little confused. She nodded, acknowledging my presence, and turned left at the first intersection–the wrong way to the capitol. “Where are we going? I-I thought the Fuhrer–“
“The Fuhrer does wish to speak to you,” she interrupted. “But not in his office. You’ll see where we’re going when we get there.”
I nodded uncertainly and looked around, noticing for the first time that the Falman hadn’t gotten in. I frowned but decided not to comment, choosing to stare out the rain-soaked city instead.
We passed ten minutes without speaking, the silence broken only by the sounds of the tires on the road and the rain spattering against the windshield. Gradually the scenery changed, the buildings of Central City falling away and being replaced by homes. Then even those were left behind, and rolling green hills stretched to the horizon, punctuated by several copses of trees. Then came a graveyard, white tombstones stretching over the hills forlornly. I shuddered, remembering an old superstition Akira had once had.
“If you don’t hold your breath when you pass a graveyard, you’ll be the next to die!”
Vaguely, I wondered if he had forgotten to hold his breath while passing one on the day of the accident. Shuddering again, I shook my head to banish the thought from my mind. The cab began to slow down, and I blinked, realizing that Hawkeye was taking me into the cemetery.
As she turned down a dirt road and passed through a gate, I couldn’t help but wonder if the superstition extended to visiting graveyards as well.
“Frightened?” Hawkeye asked suddenly, her cool red eyes studying me in the rear view mirror.
“Not really,” I answered as she slowed to a stop. “Just bad memories resurfacing.”
She didn’t bother to ask, instead climbing out and motioning for me to follow. Together we climbed up a hill, passing numerous tombstones, most with some kind of title. “This is a military graveyard,” Hawkeye said as we neared the top. “Most of the people who rest here gave their lives in the line of duty.”
Fuhrer Mustang stood at the crest of the hill, one hand resting against the nearest stone. He turned as we approached and gave me a small nod. “Major,” he greeted.
I saluted and kept my confused silence.
“I suppose you’re wondering why I called you to a cemetery for a meeting,” he continued, turning back to the gravestone and picking up a picture. “I wanted you to meet a friend of mine.” He handed the picture to me.
I took it, though my confusion only heightened. The photo was of Mustang, a younger Mustang, wearing the same trademark smirk. Beside him, grinning like the whole world was a joke, stood a man with a slightly darker complexion, black hair, and striking green-gold eyes.
“Brigadier General Maes Hughes,” Mustang said as I looked back up at him. “He was my best friend, said he’d push me all the way to becoming Fuhrer. That was back in the days of the wars with Ishbal and Lior. He’s been dead for sixteen years now.” He looked back to the grave, but not before I caught the sorrow and bitterness in his eyes. “He was killed by a Homunculus. I’m not sure which, and I guess I’ll never know. Only one of that bunch is still alive anyways.”
“Wrath,” I surmised, and he nodded, still not looking back at me.
“FullMetal finally deemed me worthy of a report,” he continued. “It seems that the Homunculi have been hiding in East City, but that they’re on the move again. They’re back in Central, and may have been for weeks now. It’s not safe for you here any more.”
I opened my mouth in a protest, but he cut me off before I could get a word out. “You’re to go to Serra’s Point on official leave.” He looked back to me at last, one corner of his mouth quirked in a slight smile. “To visit your family. And I suggest you patch up your relationship with your father while your there.”
“M-my father?” I looked to the ground and fidgeted. “I’m not sure about that. He…he doesn’t acknowledge my existence any more.”
“You’d be surprised,” he said dryly. “Ryou, value your time with your family and friends. You never know what may happen down the road.” He took back the photo and gave it a long look before setting it back on the gravestone, heedless of the rain. “Brigadier General Hawkeye will take you directly to the train station, and Sergeant Falman will meet you there with your personal effects. Take care of yourself, Illusory.” He saluted.
I returned it, feeling more than a little disturbed at the notion that Greed had been in town for quite a while, and could have been watching my every move the whole time. As I followed Hawkeye back to the cab, I couldn’t help but glance around, half-expecting Greed to jump at me from behind a tombstone.
But nothing of the sort happened, and I climbed back into the cab without incident. Then I realized that Mustang hadn’t told me anything about Ed’s situation.
“General?” I asked tentatively. “Do you know where Colonel Elric is now?”
“The telegram didn’t say,” she answered. “We assume it came from East City, but there’s no way of knowing. He only said that the Homunculi had been there up until a few weeks ago, and that they are currently in Central.”
I nodded and fell silent once again as the possibilities whirled through my mind. But Hawkeye must have seen the worry written all over my face, for she gave me a brief smile as she stopped in the curb in front of the train station.
“Don’t worry about the FullMetal Alchemist, Major. He’s survived far worse situations than this, and he’ll be fine now. Focus on your own mission for now.”
“What mission?” I asked innocently. “I’m on leave.”
She smiled again. “And that’s all anyone should know. Good luck, Major.”
* * *
In case you’re wondering where the bs that composed the bulk of this chapter came from, it was inspired by FMA. In the anime, there’s a show that takes a break from the storyline to poke fun at Mustang. So the basic theme of the series is drama-drama-drama-angst-angst-angst-COMEDY-drama-drama-angst. I don’t think that episode has reached American television yet, but it’s coming. I thought I’d stay true to it. That, my friends, is the result of too much sugar and too little sleep. At any rate, enjoy and please leave a review. I love my reviews, and my reviewers. I don’t own Yu-Gi-Oh or FullMetal Alchemist.