Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or any of it's characters. I do, however own this plot and such so, meh…

Okay my last attempt at a FMA fic didn't go so well, so…I'm brave enough to try again, with something much, much shorter (yay!!) But meep, I'm afraid it really won't make that much sense in the beginning…

Additional note:

I'm really sorry for those who were following my other sad attempt at a FMA story…maybe if I feel like I can tweak it to make it better or whatever then I might put it back up…

Warnings: Confusing parts in the very beginning (it might not make much sense), yaoi (boyxboy, don't like then hit the back button or read another fic.)

Strings of the Heart

Music is the language of the soul…

-#-

"Yes…and hold out…beautiful…now this, here…yes, suddenly slow, legato, long…let me hear your heart, a heart of sorrow, as if you had lost something dear to you…"

A bow glided mournfully over the strings of a well-cherished violin and produced a haunting sound that made the speaker shiver visibly. The player's eyes were briefly, lightly shut as the intensity of the sound rolled forward, yet still retaining the slow pace. Long blond eyelashes fluttered briefly, revealing a glimpse of deep, honey amber eyes before shutting lightly again in sudden emotion. The tone changed yet again-longer, swelling, as if calling forth some kindred emotion that was akin to what was supposed to be conveyed, yet so startlingly real…

"Now…sweep into a faster pace, but keep…keep that emotion…ah, yes…"

The music rose in a powerful wave from the strings of the violin and as the notes carried both listener and player away, all the player could do was remember to breathe…

-#-

"That will be all for today, Edward, very, very good…"

A young looking blond with liquid amber eyes turned to the middle aged man who was speaking to him. That blond, named Edward, nodded slightly, his mind still lost in the music. His part time instructor understood the look in Ed's eyes and said no more.

Taking up his own violin case, which he had no point in really bringing anymore he glided softly out of the room and closed the door behind him with a click.

Ed gazed silently at the door then sighed and began carefully stowing away his own instrument.

It wasn't that he needed an instructor for the violin anymore-he was well past that point where he even needed the occasional pointers for advanced technique. He knew, by instinct, what was right and what was wrong in regards to caring for his violin-after all, it hadn't been his first time picking up that instrument.

Better not let my parents know that part though…I wasn't supposed to…

Edward Elric was the model of a perfect genius. Quiet, cultured, polite and of course intelligent to the point of running circles around the most renowned minds of the day, he was the poster child of the wealthy Elric family. He was very unlike his younger brother, Alphonse, who was just as normal and rebellious as any adolescent could be. Ed, having to be the 16 year old example of the family, was supposed to keep Al under control-but more often than not, he found Al's rebellious antics to be refreshing.

And if the sudden shouting down the hallway was anything to go by, Al had just pulled his famous regurgitating toilet trick on the maids. Oh, that wouldn't calm down for a good two hours at the very least.

"Al…you're just too much sometimes…" Ed chuckled as he picked up his violin case and walked to the door. "I just wish that sometimes I could be just like you…"

-#-

"…and really, you should have seen the looks on their faces, brother, it was hilarious-awww, man, you stuck having to do quantum physics homework from mom again?"

Ed looked up from his desk at the troubled bouncing lump on his bed. The blond sighed, putting down his pencil and smiled. On top of all his usual school work, he had special assignments to "keep his mind stimulated."

Yeah, more like give my mind a killer headache…

"Unfortunately yes, and I must say it's quite a pain…"

"Urgh, and you're talking all formal on me all over again!" Al roiled his eyes. If there was a huge pet peeve for the younger Elric, it was hearing his older brother use formal language. "And here we are, me thinking that we actually made some progress…"

"Well, of course there was," Ed was grinning now. "Given the fact that you actually taught me and heard me cuss, I wouldn't be so hard on yourself…"

"Uh-huh…okay who are you and what did you do with the brother I was beginning to normalize?"

The older blond merely laughed and returned to his work. Al bounced a few times on the bed before asking quietly-

"So…how was practice….? I…heard you playing…."

I knew it would come around to that….it always does….

"I…really don't like talking about that, Al, and you know it-why even bother asking?" Great. Already he was getting annoyed. He picked up his pencil again, but already his grip was tightening and there was a slight groan coming from the compressing wood…

Control…control yourself…

Wasn't that a key principle he learned from those blasted violin lessons themselves? Or was this just something that required the lose of control?

"But…but I mean brother, you know I always will until I understand how-"

"Al, shouldn't you be going to sleep? We have to get up early for school tomorrow…"

Snap.

Al bolted for the door and slammed it shut, leaving his brother to lament yet again over another broken pencil that crumbled under the automail hand and arm he so carefully concealed.

I wish I could be just like you Al, and you know it…

It's just that I'm scared that you wish you could be me too…

-#-#-#-

1st Movement: Language of the Soul

Music was a quiet passion that Edward Elric held for a long time. And after nearly making his "tutor" cry yet again, he was kind enough to tell him he never had to come back. So much for letting that settle well with anyone. The poor guy wanted to hear him even more, his parents were quite appalled and Alphonse found it something even more hilarious than his latest prank of sticking worms in the maid's socks.

At least Ed had some shot at being normal-he attended a public school along with his younger brother and for a few seconds he could pretend he was just like everyone else, that he wasn't the name he was born into, a name anyone would kill to have…

But then, as always, the whispers began-

"There's that Elric kid again-"

"Yeah, didn't you hear? He began playing the violin when he was 4!"

"No way! Is he really that good?"

"How would I know? Oh but did you hear-?'

"Yeah his brother's just like everyone else-he's pretty cool-"

"But he's such a playboy!"

"What! No, he's not! You're just jealous-!"

"Of what? His name? Good grief, the guy's younger brother wishes he could get rid of his name!"

"Wow….shame, shame…"

Ed growled under his breath as he fumbled angrily with the dial on his locker. Stupid gossipers…having nothing better to do with their lives than talk about everyone else's…he crammed his books into the small space and reached for some others. Well it wasn't his fault that he was taking classes that most people wouldn't even take until their junior year in collage…not that he was particularly proud of that. So much for thinking he had a shot at normality. Oh wait…great, I have to be careful…don't want to dent the steel with my automail hand…

Careful to use his flesh hand, he slammed the locker shut and kicked it for good measure.

Don't even know why I even bother coming to school anyways…Ed hoisted his bag more comfortably over his shoulder. His foot had only just then decided to smart from the pain of kicking metal. These people….they don't understand me, they understand my brother better because he's just like them…

And I'm nothing like that.

His first period class was always music-and he found that having it in the morning would always make it easier for him to get though the rest of the day. But if there was one thing that the school had suddenly become notorious for was how frequently they went though music teachers. Not one of them stayed longer than a week or two at the most. But at this point, Ed didn't care. They left him alone, child protégé that he was, and he left them alone. Okay, well, for the exception of the more recent music teacher whom he was sure had gotten fired just today….

And thank goodness for that…sparkles…everywhere…Ed shivered. He didn't hate that man-Armstrong, wasn't it?- but that glitter thing…that just didn't work for poor Ed. Still, though he felt for the guy…but Armstrong really wasn't cut out for music in general. Ed rolled his eyes. The very first day there, Armstrong had bent two sousaphones, dropped a trumpet and nearly broke a saxophone case he tried to yank from storage. Nope, that last music teacher just wasn't cut for the job…

As he walked to the band room the chatter of the world around suddenly seemed to cease as one sweet, low note made Ed freeze in mid step. The sound was unmistakable-his ears had been trained in every note on that instrument since forever…

But life still seemed to rumble on around him-as if nothing happened.

Then-

There! Again…but even more quite, thrumming…

….like the sound of a string vibrating against a wooden bow…

And he had never heard anything so soul stirring in his life.

Steps quickening, he weaving through the usual slow crowds of students straight for his first period class. That one note, that his ears had picked up on, was now stringed to two, three, four…and it was getting louder.

And with every waving crescendo, his heart rose with it and it was almost as if a frenzied thrall had suddenly seized him. Ed yanked open the door and the sound spun into a quick, legato tune that the blond had never heard of.

What…is this…?

Slamming the door shut he raced down the narrow corridor , passing the drama room in a whirl of blond, tightly braided hair and crisp, ironed school uniform.

My heart...aches for more…

Panting, he finally reached the band room door. With hands trembling violently he reached out for the handle just as the music swirled upwards through the door, clawing, piercing straight through his heart…

The boy swayed on the spot, throat constricting painfully as the music continued it's upwards spiral, flowing freely from what he knew could only be a violin…

This must be heaven…

But it feels like hell…

…is it hell that it hurts so beautifully…

or that I know I could never play like that…?

Eyes brimming with sudden tears Ed yanked the door open-

And the music suddenly died.

Standing casually in the center of the room, a younger looking man slowly opened deep onyx black eyes and gazed directly into Edward's own wide hazel ones. He lowered the violin tucked securely under his chin and smiled gently. Blinking furiously, the blond quickly dried his eyes.

Who…Who is this-??

And why…why does he seem…so familiar??

"So finally we meet….Edward Elric…"

-#-#-#-

Okay hopefully this one will come out better than my last attempt…

I dunno what's up with me lately but I think my writing style has just become incredibly bad…maybe I'm just having off days a lot more frequently because of school coming up but…well, whatever it is I hope I'll get over it soon…

So well, tell me what you think. Should I try and attempt to continue this one or should I just go on vacation or something, refresh my mind? Reviews greatly needed…