D3ath: (crying) I looked on that one website you suggested, and right when I was about to write this chapter…AUGH!! SPORK YOU, STUPID WEBSITE!! I CURSE YOU WITH THE BURNING INTENSITY OF A THOUSAND SUNS!! MAY YOUR INSIDES ROT IN THE CENTURIES TO COME, FOR I WILL NOT DEMONSTRATE ANY MERCY!! (stomps off, muttering and glowering)

Al: (shaken up) s-sorry about that…we went to the website you suggested, DemonRaily, but…

Ed: the damn bastard who was in control of the website took the damn page down. So now…

D3ath: SPORK YOU!

Allen: That’s just her way of saying…er—

Ed: Fuck you.

Al: (mortified) Brother!

D3ath: EXACTLY! Anywho, thanks, DemonRaily, addenza, Cross—the Damned Alchemist, SilentKiller1, and nellchan0013 for reviewing!! THANKS MUCH!

Allen: We’re very sorry for not posting another chapter…D3ath-san was being lazy…AGAIN.

D3ath: No it wasn’t—!! It-it was the website’s fault!

Chapter 5

A small breeze of wind fluttered through the trees, ruffling the leaves of the aspens, oaks, and maples. A man knelt in the middle of a small grove, bare feet resting on the roots of the trees around him. A blindfold covered the upper portion of his face, and long blue-black hair drawn up in a ponytail swept back and forth in the wind, like a cat, waiting for its prey.

He struck! His blade weaved back and forth, slicing through the tree bark as if it were butter under a knife. He straightened, and tore off the bandana, turning his back on the skillfully cut branches, and spat.

“Che.”

“…298…299…” A sweaty arm, pale and muscled bent shakily as Allen carefully balanced himself on a chair resting only on two of its legs. His white hair fell before his face, and his teeth were gritted from the effort. He was covered in sweat, and his other arm, horribly mottled and red, rested on his back.

“…3-300…” he gasped, and gracefully, he fell back, landing smoothly onto his bare feet. Morning sun filtered through the window, and he wiped at his damp brow, a smile flitting across his visage.

“The sun has risen…”

“Do you like flying through the air, Brother?”

“Is that a threat, Al?”

There was a thud as two arms collided, one made out metal, one covered in sweat. A blonde ponytail swung in the air as its own ducked, and a metal foot kicked out. A dark blonde blocked it easily, striking back with accuracy and grabbing hold of the metal prosthetic. Edward swore violently as he found himself soaring towards the far wall, and Al winced visibly when he heard the sickening thud as Ed’s head became acquainted with the stone enclosure.

“Dammit, Al…!” Edward growled, leaping to his feet, and Alphonse smiled, lowering himself into a ready position, bringing his fists up, and beckoning with one hand as a challenge. With a wild grin, Edward threw himself forward, and performed a handspring above his brother, bringing his feet down to strike. Alphonse, sensing the presence above him, promptly rolled out of the way and struck out with his fist as soon as Ed landed beside him. Ed blocked, and sprang away, clapping his hands in the process. A wicked grin crossed his face as he touched his automail arm, and a metal blade extended in a flurry of blue sparks.

Al pointed accusingly at the older, lighter blonde. “No fair, Brother! You can’t do that!”

Edward smirked, licking the blade. “I can…and I will!” he lunged forward playfully, and Al swiftly clapped his hands, and pressed them to the ground. Sparks leapt and danced as he seemingly pulled a metal staff out of the stone floor, and he blocked his brother’s blade. Ed growled a challenge, when he noticed something; the top of the pole was decorated with the countenance of a kitten.

He stared at it in disbelief, his golden eyes wide. “…A cat?” he finally asked, and Al chuckled.

“I knew you’d like it, brother,” he said warmly, kicking his brother in the gut and tossing him across the room. He formed the cat’s ears into small blades, and he walked over to his groaning brother, pressing the sharp metal against his brother’s neck. “I win.”

Ed panted, glaring up at his brother. “Why can’t I ever beat you, Al?” he demanded, grinning as Alphonse pulled him upright.

Al chuckled, grabbing a towel and tossing the coarse material over to his sweat-soaked brother, snatching one for himself. “You’re too short-tempered and hot-headed to beat me, Brother,” he said matter-of-factly, laughing as he dodged the annoyed swat.

Ed’s stomach grumbled, and he turned red with embarrassment as Al laughed harder. “Shut up, Al!” he snapped playfully, and Al shook his head.

“You’re hopeless, brother,” he said, and grinning, both headed to the cafeteria. Or attempted to, anyways.

Thirty minutes later...

“Damn it!” Ed screeched, scaring a few members of the scientists out of their lab coats. Al sighed as his stomach gave an uncomfortable rumble.

“Brother, I’m sure it’s around here somewhere,” he said, and Edward swore under his breath, only to have Al smack him lightly with the metal staff. “Ow, Al!”

“Mind your language, Brother, we’re not in Amestris,” Al said crossly, and Edward heaved a sigh, wistful.

“I wish I could have some of Winry’s apple pie right now,” he said longingly, pulling a face. Al’s expression grew sad.

“At least you got to have some,” he chided. “I never had any.”

Edward’s expression dropped like a dead fly. “Al, I’m sor—“

“You have nothing to apologize for, Brother,” Al said firmly. Then he smiled. “At least I have my body back, albeit being taller than you.”

“WHO’RE YOU CALLING A SHRIMP THAT CAN BE STEPPED ON BY A FLEA?!” Edward raged, and giggling insanely, Al sprinted off, with an angry blonde hot on his heels. He didn’t even notice he had run into the cafeteria until he collided with a table, where he fell, laughing and holding his sides. Edward swore when he tripped over his fallen brother, and collided head-on with another table, clutching at his nose. “AUGH!”

Al began to laugh even harder, and when he finally regained his composure, he saw that everyone was staring at them, some in the act of eating, their food dangling off their utensils, halfway to their open mouths as they gaped in astonishment at the two blondes.

Edward grumbled, and stepped up to the counter, rubbing his bruised nose. He was rather startled to see a man with dark skin, purple braids, and sunglasses look down at him. “Are you the cook?” he demanded, and the man nodded, startled.

“I’m Jerry!” he said, regaining his composure. “What would you like me to make for you, sweetie?!”

Edward scowled, and Al chuckled as he stepped up behind his older brother. “What do you have?” he asked politely, and he grinned at Allen, who had just walked up.

Jerry blinked, and beamed. “New recruits? And wow, what pretty kids! Nice to meet you! What do you want to eat? I can make anything!”

Allen and Edward gaped. Anything…?

“Can I have a large bowl of beef stew, with a slice of apple pie? Oh, and get one for Al, will you?” Edward added, glancing at his brother, and Al gave him a smile. “What d’you want, Al?”

“Um…I’ll just have the same thing as Brother,” he said shyly, and Jerry nodded enthusiastically, before turning to Allen.

“And what can I get you, cutie?” he gushed.

Allen’s eyes lit up. “Um…Can I get lasagna and potatoes and dry curry and ma-po tofu and beef stew with a meat pie and calpaccho and nashigoren and chicken and potato salad and corn and a kuppa, tomyank and rice, and for desert I want a mango pudding, and twenty mitarashi dangos. Oh, and can I get everything in large portions?” he asked.

Edward, Alphonse, and Jerry stared at him. Jerry shook his head, and continued to gape. “You can eat all of that…?” he asked, dazed as he handed Edward and Alphonse their meals.

“What did you say?!” someone shouted, and all four turned to see a man dressed in the standard finder robes standing over a certain, black-haired man in a black uniform, a sword strapped to his waist. “You wanna say that again?!” The speaker was a large man, dark with Native American features showing, red paint on his forehead and cheeks.

“Stop it, Buzz!”

Kanda carefully placed his chopsticks onto an empty bowl. “Be quiet,” he said, the picture of indifference as he rested his cheek against his fist, propping his elbow against the table. “You’re making my meal annoying by talking about dead people.”

Buzz growled and clenched his fists. “Is that how you show respect for your comrades?!” he spat, and Ed traded glances with Al, gritting his teeth. “We, the Finders, support you with our very lives, and you—you…” He raised his fist, with full intention of bringing it down upon the Japanese exorcist. “AND YOU SAY THAT WE’RE MAKING YOUR MEAL ANNOYING?!”

Kanda easily dodged the blow, scowling as he watched the fist soar over his shoulder, and he grabbed the man’s arm roughly, using it as a leverage to bring himself up to grab the man’s throat.

“Support us?” he asked coldly, a smirk spreading across his face, while his eyes remained icy. “All you can do is ‘support’ us. You guys were the ones who couldn’t be chosen by the innocence.” His grip tightened on Buzz’s throat, and the other finders began to mutter amongst themselves. “If you don’t want to die, then run away. Your insignificant life can be replaced at any time.”

Edward went forward to grab Kanda’s hand, to stop him from choking the Finder, when another person beat him to it: Alphonse.

“Let go,” he snarled, and Kanda, Allen, and even Edward looked startled. “No life is insignificant,” he hissed, and Kanda stared at the taller blonde. His glare grew murderous.

“Want to die, brat?” he snarled, and Alphonse’s frown deepened.

“…I’m sorry to interrupt you when I have nothing to do with this,” Allen said calmly, stepping between the two and grabbing Kanda’s wrist also, “but I don’t think this is a good way of resolving things.”

Kanda glared at the white-haired boy. “…Back off, Bean sprout.”

‘Bean spr…’ “It’s Allen,” the cursed boy said hotly, and Kanda smirked at him.

“Heh, if you don’t die within the next month, I’ll remember your name,” Kanda shot back, gripping the man’s neck tighter. “People here drop like flies.”

This time, Edward gripped Kanda’s wrist, forcing the Asian man to let go. “Bastard!” he growled, and Kanda glared at the three of them.

“You’re gonna die soon,” he snapped, and their eyes widened. “I hate your type.”

“Right back at you, bastard,” Edward retorted, and the two of them entered into a glaring contest. Allen and Alphonse backed up away from the two as flames seemingly sprang into existence around them. Everyone else in the cafeteria backed away, taking their food with them as they kept a wary eye on the light blonde and black-haired young men.

Allen grabbed his food, swallowing it down as he watched the two with wide silver-blue eyes. Alphonse sighed and shook his head. He shouldn’t have lost his temper like that, but…his eyes saddened as he thought of a certain, brown-haired girl in pigtails and a large white dog.

Reever walked by the cafeteria, his arms laden with books and accompanied by Lenalee when he spotted them. “Oh, there they are!”

“Allen! Kanda! Elrics!” The four looked up at the Australian, Edward and Kanda snapping out of their battle of wills. “Eat your food and come to the command post. You’ve got a mission.”

“Will do!” Allen replied, and Alphonse nodded while Edward and Kanda glanced stubbornly at each other.

Komui Lee was sprawled across his desk, his hat tipped as his glasses were smashed against his face, snoring softly against a pillow of paperwork. “…Zzzz………”

Reever shook the Head of the Science Department. “Supervisor.” He frowned when he heard no response, and shook harder. “Supervisor Komui!”

“Nnnn….”

In his frustration, Reever punched the Chinese man roughly on the shoulder. “SUPERVISOR!”

Nothing doing.

Finally, he leaned in, and muttered in Komui’s ear, “Lenalee’s getting married”

Komui snapped awake. “LENALEE!! HOW COULD YOU GET MARRIED WITHOUT TELLING YOUR OWN BROTHER?!”

Allen, Kanda, Edward, Alphonse, and Lenalee sweatdropped as Reever explained to the four males. “Sorry about that,” he said, pointing at the wailing Supervisor. “It’s the only way to wake him up.”

— Ten minutes later and after much consoling (on Reever and Lenalee’s part)… —

Alphonse and Edward leaned against the wall next to Lenalee as Allen and Kanda sat on the couch facing Komui’s desk. Both Elrics had been staring at the amount of paperwork, and briefly, Edward wondered how anyone could live in there. It was worse than Scheska’s house of books and Colonel Bastard’s paperwork combined.

Komui laughed airily. “Hahaha, sorry about that, I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Neither did I!” Reever interjected angrily as he hung up maps and scrolls.

Komui ignored him. “All right, we don’t have much time, so hear my summary, and then move out. If you want more detailed information, read the information while you head out.”

Edward smirked as he played with a silver watch in his pocket. Alphonse glanced at him and smiled. Obviously, he was remembering the missions he used to carry out for Colonel Mustang, despite the arguments between them. Lenalee handed them pamphlets with black covers, their names inscribed on it in silver. She passed them out to their respective owners, and kept one for herself.

Edward flipped the front page open, and stared at the cover page. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” he exclaimed, at the same time Kanda’s face scrunched up in obvious disgust. Both traded horrified glances, and Alphonse glanced at his brother’s mission page. His gray eyes widened as he stared at his brother’s mission partner.

Komui chuckled. “You two will be going together as partners,” he said, and he grinned when he saw their expressions of horror. “What? You two don’t like each other already?”

Allen hid a smile, relieved that he was to be going on a mission with Alphonse and Lenalee.

Komui rapped the desk sharply. “I want no excuses,” he said seriously, and he jabbed a thumb at a map behind him, showing the southern part of Italy. “We’ve found innocence in southern Italy, but it may get taken by an akuma. Your job is to destroy the akuma and secure the innocence. Allen, Alphonse, and Lenalee, you will be going to a town that somehow rewinds.”

“Rewinds?” Allen asked, and Komui nodded while Reever pulled out a file.

“Yes, probably. Time and space stop on one day, and people experience that day forever.” Edward perked up as Reever continued to read. “The start of this research is from the townspeople and the liquor store. It’s the testimony of a nearby wholesaler.” He rubbed at his eyes wearily. “Last month, on October ninth, the liquor store received a call asking for ten barrels of Rose wine before the tenth of October, and he delivered it the next day. But no matter how many times he tried to get through the gate, he was still on the outside. He tried calling the store, but he received no response. And everyday since, they get a call asking for ten barrels of Rose wine before the tenth of October. By the way, the wholesaler has been hospitalized for neurosis.” Allen paled visibly at this, as well as Alphonse and Edward, and the three of them traded looks.

“And you two,” Komui said, turning to Kanda and Edward, “will be going to southern Italy in the meantime, to retrieve innocence from someone called the ‘Ghost of Mater.’ The finders have located it, but are having a hard time keeping it out of the hands of the akuma. It is your duty to retrieve it and to prevent the akuma from destroying the innocence, understood?” The five of them nodded, and Komui flapped a hand at them off-handedly. “All right, go, and leave me in peace.”

The five retreated as Reever began to yell. “Supervisor, you still have paperwork! Don’t you DARE go to sleep on me!”

Edward scowled, and Al smiled at him. Edward was dressed in tight black leather pants, with black boots (that added an inch to his height), a black tank-top, and a black jacket made out of a special material, with silver furnishings and the rose cross of the Black Order. His gloves were made out of the same material, and Edward's scowl slowly disappeared as Johnny (the scientist with curly hair pulled into buns and swirly glasses) explained the properties of his jacket and gloves to him.

“It’s made out of a special material that allows you to transform your arm into a blade without ripping the fabric. We also asked your brother about your alchemy, and it has all kinds of transmutation circles sewn into the jacket, so if you ever lose your arm, you’d still be able to use alchemy. It also made so it won’t rip or burn easily, unless something sharper than scissors or knives pierce it, and it’s fireproof, so the circles would be easy to access. Your jacket is similar to his, just with a different design,” Johnny said, turning to Alphonse and adjusting his glasses. Alphonse was wearing a similar outfit, but he was wearing black slacks, black boots, a button-down shirt, and his exorcist jacket had a hood (A/N: think of it as one of those zip-up black jackets we have nowadays, just with buttons).

“Timcampy!” Allen cried, and they glanced at him before turning towards each other.

“If you get hurt, Al, I swear, I’ll beat you so bad that you’ll wish sensei were beating you!” Edward threatened, and Alphonse grinned.

“Same goes to you, Brother,” he said, and they gripped each other before letting go.

“I worked hard to get your body back, Al, don’t you dare get yourself killed now,” Edward added, turning away. Alphonse nodded.

“We’ve been through too much to get ourselves killed,” Al, lightly tapping his brother’s metal arm. Edward stilled, and Al grew serious. “Don’t die, Brother.”

Edward gave him a weak grin. “You too, Al.”

“Ready to go?” Lenalee asked him, and the tall dark blonde nodded, glancing back at his smaller brother with worried gray eyes. She smiled. “Don’t worry. If he’s with Kanda, he’ll be fine.”

“I doubt it,” Allen muttered, joining them.

“Get in my way, and I’ll kill you, runt,” Kanda growled.

“WHO’RE YOU CALLING A RUNT SO SMALL THAT YOU CAN ONLY SEE HIM WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS?!”

“Good luck!” Komui called, and Allen smiled.

“We’ll be back!”

Edward scowled and folded his arms, and Kanda ‘che’d’ before glancing away from the nineteen-year-old blonde. Lenalee smiled at Allen and Alphonse, and both grinned in response. “Let’s go,” Allen said, and they nodded.

In Southern Italy, City of Mater…

Akuma hovered in the air, encased in a glowing, rainbow-like box. Their soulless faces peered out at the Finders on the ground, all of whom were shouting instructions at each other. Piles of dust and clothes littered the area, and several buildings were collapsing under the wan light of the moon. Out of all the akuma, the one in the middle of the city was large, as if swelled, and floated dangerously above the Finders.

“All right, we’ve got them in the seal! Don’t let them out, even if you die!”

“All right, we can buy some time now, captain,” a finder gasped, sweaty and dirt-streaked as he held the machine that was transmitting the rainbow-colored barrier.

The captain gripped his arm, panting for breath. “…I don’t know if we have a sufficient amount of talismans,” he said weakly, staring up at the akuma in the middle, larger than all of the others. “Look at that one in the middle; it looks like it’s killed a lot of people—“

Bang! The captain jumped as a bullet tore through the Finder’s head, sending the man he was talking to not two seconds earlier toppling backwards, his head blown off, blood splattering the ground behind him.

The crack in the barrier surrounding the akuma in the middle began to crack, and shatter.

‘Haha! Hahahahaha!! I’m an akuma!’ It began to shift, its form twisting and rippling into an ugly contour.

The Captain’s eyes widened, and he took a step back in horror. “Crap…run! This one’s gonna evolve!!” Immediately, the Finders around him bolted like rabbits, scurrying towards a hiding place, a safe-haven.

The akuma began to break apart, and a new being arose from its cracking interior. ‘I’m an akuma! A being created from dark matter! Thank you…for raising me!’ It burst from the shell, and soon, there stood an akuma with a clown-like appearance. It had a striped, skirt-like material on, with poofy pants and shoes with ball-like puffs on them. Its arms were long and spindly, ending in large claws at the end, and a joker’s hat rested on its head, topped off with small bells. The Roman numeral of ‘II’ rested on its chest plate, and it liked its lips. “I’ve leveled up!”

A woman with deeply imbedded eyes and dark hair pulled tightly back into a bun leaned against the wall, her thin, dark frame shaking with fright as she stared at the newspaper she clutched in her hands.

‘Again, the newspaper from October ninth…the same articles, the same horoscopes…the same snowy sky.’ She glanced up fearfully at her grandfather clock, watching the minute hand slowly tick by. ‘Five minutes before eight…four…three…two…’ She bit her lip.

‘One.’

She nearly fell over with fright as the apartment next door erupted in a series of shouts. “YOU! YOU WERE WITH THAT WOMAN AGAIN, WEREN’T YOU?!” The woman that lived next door raged, and the dark-haired German woman placed a hand to her heart.

“Just as I thought…” she whimpered, walking over to the window to peer out. She watched the woman next door strangle her husband, hanging him outside the window.

“YOU CAN JUST FALL OUT OF THIS WINDOW—“

“P-please forgive me…” her husband cried, and the German woman sighed. ‘The next-door neighbor’s same fight…October ninth has come again…’

She began to cry. “Uh…uhh…this is the thirtieth time…” she wailed, looking back at her grandfather clock, as if seeking some sort of explanation. She wiped her eyes, grabbed a cloth, and began to lovingly clean the glass front of the clock, watching the pendulum swing back and forth. “Thank you…” she whispered, clutching at her black dress. “Are you going to make me feel better?” She sighed, and began to wipe again. “Ok, let’s clean you off…”

D3ath: (grins wickedly) Yes, I know, this is a horrible place to leave off of, isn’t it? Well, sorry, it’s past midnight again, and I’m too lazy to write any more. So there! And Vianka-chan, this is for you! :D

Ed: Vianka…?

D3ath: GREEN ASIAN GIRL, YOU ROCK!

Al: Thanks for reading!

Allen: Please review!

D3ath: YES! PLEASE!! ONLY FIVE PEOPLE REVIEWED, AND I’M SURE THAT YOU CAN TAKE NOT EVEN A TWO MINUTES OF YOUR LIFE AND REVIEW!

Omake

“Brother, you eat too much,” Al sighed as he watched his brother scarf down another slice of Carrot cake.

Ed scowled. “So?”

“I doubt you can eat as much as me,” Allen smirked, popping a large slice of chocolate cake into his mouth.

Alphonse groaned as Edward’s head promptly snapped up. “Is that a challenge?” he asked, grinning back. “If it is, I accept.”

Allen met Edward’s challenging golden gaze with an evil leer of his own. “Prepare to lose,” he said, and Lenalee stared at the two as she delicately sipped at her tea.

The next day…

“Ready…” Jerry said, setting two large cakes in between the two teens, “…set…go!”

As soon as he waved his little green flag, the cake on Allen’s side was gone within an instant. Allen delicately tapped his face with his napkin, before digging into the large cheesecake that Jerry set before him.

Edward, however, was messily digging into his food, with all disregard to table manners as he wolfed down the cake. He cleared his cake a little slower than Allen, but showed no signs of letting up.

An hour later.

“Ugh…” Edward groaned, falling forward and planting his face into German Chocolate Cake with Coconut Pecan icing. “I can’t take it anymore…”

Allen was now starting on his Vanilla cake, and the cake seemingly disappeared before him. He was leading by three cakes. “Are you finished, Edward?” he asked politely, and Edward groaned in response.

“…I think he is,” Alphonse said, wrinkling his nose in disgust at his brother’s horrible manners.

“No…I’m not…” Edward gasped, but Al firmly gripped his brother’s collar and began dragging him away.

“He’s finished, congratulations Allen,” Al said, grinning at the white-haired boy before he left, ignoring his still-protesting brother.

Allen looked at the pile of dishes before them, sighing. “I wish it could’ve gone on longer,” he said wistfully to Timcampy, who was sitting on the table beside him, eating some leftover cake on Edward’s side. “I’m still hungry.”

D3ath: An eating contest between my sister and I last week prompted this. Hope you liked!

Edward: WHY CAN’T I WIN AT ANYTHING?!

Allen: Just face it, Edward; you’re just not as awesome as I am.

Ed: WHAT DID YOU SAY?!

D3ath: (raises hand) I beg to differ…

Al: Review, please!

Lenalee: We’ll give you some of the leftover cake!

Allen: Lenalee, may I have some, please?

D3ath: Kyaa! You’re so polite! SUCH A GENTLEMAN, EDWARD! (Hugs Allen)

Ed: D: WHAT?!