Chapter One
Understanding (Washing It All Away)
Disclaimer: ME NO OWN YOU NO SUE!!! Song is by Evanescence
// song
Please review hope you like it!!!!
Edward awoke to the sound oh his alarm clock. He let out an aggravated groan.
"Brother you need to get up." His younger brother Alphonse said as he walked into his brother's room.
"Five more minutes, Al." Ed said pulling the covers more tightly around him self.
"You said that five minutes ago." Al said opening up the curtains. Ed looked up from the covers and saw his brother smile at him. It was just one of those things that Ed had taken for granted when they were younger then, when Al lost his body Ed started to miss those smiles. But, now he got to see his brother's smile again and he would cherish every one of them. Ed stood up and walked over to his little brother.
"How are you feeling?" Ed asked with a touch of worry in his voice.
"I'm fi-"suddenly Al gave out a cry of pain and collapsed to the ground.
"Al!" Ed cried out picking Al up and laying him on the bed.
"M-my legs…and c-chest" Al weakly said cringing in pain. A flash of guilt went over Ed's face.
"I'll go get you some painkillers……" Ed said leaving the room but, taking one last look at Al before leaving. He walked into the kitchen and leaned against the wall. "He was supposed to not feel anymore pain…..and the transmutation was working until……" Ed thought to himself clenching his fists.
//You hold the answers deep within your own mind.
Consciously, you've forgotten it.
That's the way the human mind works.
Whenever something is too unpleasant, to shameful for us
to entertain, we reject it.
We erase it from our memories.
But the imprint is always there//
FLASH BACK
"Brother are you sure this will work?" Al asked nervously watching his older brother draw the human transmutation circle.
"Of course I'm sure, Al." Ed replied grinning confidently. "It has to…" he added silent enough for Al to not hear him.
Al started walking over to the middle of the circle but, Ed grabbed his arm and pulled him into an embrace.
"Al…I swear this will work….." Ed said looking up at his younger yet taller brother. Al nodded hesitantly and layed down in the middle of the circle. Ed took put the philosophers stone from his pocket and stared at it; it took them four years to find it. But, the philosopher's stone was theirs. Ed put the stone in front of him.
"Brother, if this doesn't work I just wanted to let you know-"
"Al stop worrying this will work." Ed said interrupting. Ed clapped his hands and slammed them on the circle. The room lit up with that same golden light that they had seen when they had tried to bring their mother back. But, suddenly the changed to a deep blood red. The gate that Ed had seen appeared in front of him; the same one that had stolen his brother's body. "Give me back his body!" Ed yelled banging hard on the shut doors. Suddenly the doors flew open to reveal the eyes. Black hands shot out past Ed and reached Al's armor.
"No, Al!" Ed cried out trying to run towards Al's armor. But, it was too late the hands had ripped through Al's blood seal. Al's soul appeared and was being pulled away again. Ed reached out for Al but missed his hand as the gate shut.
"No!" Ed yelled through tears. He used all the strength he could muster to force the door open. Ed entered into a black void. "Give him back!" Ed yelled his voice echoing. "You can't take him away from me again!" Suddenly Ed saw his brother's body on the ground and lying a few feet away was Al's soul. Ed quickly ran to his brother's body. "How am I supposed to attach his soul to his body?" Ed thought to himself, and then he got an idea. Ed transformed his automail arm into a blade. He ripped Al's shirt open and carved a blood seal into Al's chest; suddenly Al's soul entered into his body. Ed picked up his brother and ran towards the gate entrance. The hands shot out at Ed and ripped his other arm and leg away. Ed fell and his brother tumbled still unconscious to the floor. Suddenly the gate started to close. Ed crawled to his little brother and started to drag him. Ed was almost to the gate but, he felt something pulling Al away. It was the hands; they grabbed onto Al's body and started ripping the bones from his legs. "No!" Ed cried dragging his brother out of the gate just as it closed.
END FLASHBACK
//(Can't wash it all away)
(Can't Wish it all away)
(Can't hope it all away)
(Can't cry it all away)//
A tear ran down Ed's cheek but he quickly wiped it away. It hurt to remember and when he tried to forget it hurt even more. Suddenly he her his brother cry out in pain. Ed quickly grabbed the pain killers and ran to his brother's room. When Ed reached Al's room, there was blood covering the bed. "Al!" Ed cried out rushing to his brother's side. Al's legs were covered in blood.
//The pain that grips you
The fear that binds you
Releases life in me
In our mutual
Shame we hide our eyes
To blind them from the truth
That finds a way from who we are//
Ed rushed to hi brother's side dropping the pain killers. He quickly wrapped his brother's legs in the bed sheets to slow down the bleeding. He then picked up the phone and called the doctor. "My brother's bleeding really badly please hurry and come!" Ed cried out hanging up the phone.
"B-brother…what's wrong with me……?" Al asked weakly. Ed looked down; he still hadn't told his brother what had happened in the gate.
"I-I don't know…." Ed lied guiltily.
"AHHH!!!" Al cried out gripping his chest. Ed quickly tore Al's hand away and ripped his brother's shirt open. The blood seal was burning a very vibrant red color; the same color that had filled the room during the transmutation. Al looked down at his chest.
"T-the blood seal……?" he asked weakly staring at his brother in horror. The light from the seal started to fade the disappeared. Al tried to sit up but was to weak. Ed helped Al sit up and sighed nervously.
"A-al….there's something I've been meaning to tell you…….." Ed said. He was about to speak again but, was interrupted by the hard knock on the door. "That's probably the doctor." Ed said getting up and walking to the door.
//Please don't be afraid
When the darkness fades away
The dawn will break the silence
Screaming in our hearts
My love for you still grows
This I do for you
Before I try to fight the truth my final time//
Ed opened the door and the doctor quickly walked through.
"Where is the patient?" the doctor asked taking his coat and hat off. Ed took the doctor's coat and hat and hung them up.
"He's upstairs." Ed replied. The doctor grabbed his bag and rushed up the stairs with Ed close behind. The doctor entered into Al's room and shut the door in Ed's face. The doctor opened up the door and bluntly said "No visitors." and shut the door again. Ed stood there just staring at the door. He turned and walked to his room and sat on the bed. Ed rested his elbows on his knees and stared at the ground with his head in his hands.
//"We're supposed to try and be real.
And I feel alone, and we're not together.
And that is real
Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away//
The minutes turned into hours and Ed finally heard the door to his brother's room open. Ed rushed out to be greeted by the doctor.
Well, how is he?" Ed asked worriedly.
"He's sleeping now; the poor boy was exhausted from all the thrashing and loss of blood. But, he needs to rest and no stressful activities or he'll start bleeding again." And with that the doctor left but, not before giving Ed some medication for Al. Ed walked into his little brother's room. The curtains were shut and the sun was setting. The shadows cast eerie images on the walls. Ed walked to his brother's bed and sat on the edge. Al was sleeping peacefully. Ed brushed a few strands of hair away from Al's face.
"Al, can you ever forgive me……?" Ed whispered to himself quietly.
//Lying beside you
Listening to you breathe
The life that flows inside of you
Burns inside of me
Hold and speak to me
Of love without a sound
Tell me you will live through this
And I will die for you
Cast me not away
Say you'll be with me
For I know I cannot
Bear it all alone//
The next morning dawned with rain pattering against the window. Winry had come over to see Al and Ed. When Ed told her about what happened Ed gained a large bump on his head.
"Ow!" Ed cried out. "What was that for?!" Ed's yelling filled the house causing Al to wake up and come down the stairs.
"Why are you yelling brother?" Al asked weakly walking down the stairs.
"Al!" Ed cried out happily and worried at the same time. Al gave a weak smile and tried to walk further down the steps but, was too weak to go any further and leaned against the wall for support. Ed rushed to Al and carried him down the steps and sat him in a chair.
"Is there anything I can get you, Al?" Winry asked.
"No thank you." Al said smiling. Ed looked a bit relieved it was good to see Al smile.
//You're not alone, honey
Never... Never//
Al turned his attention towards Ed.
"Brother, what were you going to tell me yesterday?" Al asked. Ed's eyes widened and he looked to the ground. Winry understood.
"Ed, you haven't told him?" she asked eyes widening. Ed kneeled in front of Al so that he was Al's height. (Al's body had been stuck in the gate so it did not age for four years so Ed's alot taller than Al). Ed touched Al's hand and told him the story.
// Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
It just won't fade away, No//
Al's eyes widened and filled with tears after Ed had finished the story.
"Why did you wait and tell me now?" Al asked hurt. Ed looked down.
"Well, there didn't seem to be any reason to-."
"Not any reason?!" Al shouted quickly standing up but, had to steady himself. "Brother, if there was something wrong with me then you should have told me!" Ed clenched his fists but, said nothing. Al walked past Ed but, was stopped by Ed grabbing his arm.
"Al listen…" Ed said.
"Let go..." Al said. Ed pulled Al into an embrace but, Al pulled away.
"Al, you're acting like a child." Ed said rather coldly.
"Because I am one and you are too!" Al cried out. "But, you don't act like one your acting like you're my father and your not; you could never be him!" Ed's eyes narrowed and filled with hate for the one who he despised calling father.
"Don't you ever think for a minute I want to be like that bastard!" Ed yelled and in a reaction punched Al across the face.
//Can't wash it all away
Can't wish it all away
Can't cry it all away
Can't scratch it all away//
Al touched his cheek in shock at what Ed had done.
"A-al I-"Ed stammered. But, Al was already dashing out the door through the pouring rain. Ed fell to his knees and sobbed. Winry rushed to his side and gave him a hug. "I'm supposed to protect him…..but, I just cause him more pain." Ed choked out.
"You were upset and Al is too; you both have to talk to each other." Winry said smiling.
"Your right." Ed said as he stood up and walked outside. "Al!" Ed called out but, Al was nowhere. Ed ran around the house searching as lightening streaked the sky. Al was gone…..
//Can't fight it all away
Can't hope it all away
Can't scream it all away
Ooh, it all away
Ooh, it all away
But the imprint is always there.
Nothing is ever really forgotten
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do
Because I'll die if you do//
End chapter one!! Please review. This took me awhile to write so it'll be awhile before chapter two's up but please don't give up on me.