Capture the Darkness

Chapter Two all ready?! o_o; Yup. I lead a boring life ah? What else can I do? I want to say thank you to everyone that has reviewed so far. It’s very encouraging to get such positive responses about my work.

Disclaimer: Again I do not own, the amazingly talented Arakawa san does.

Capture the Darkness
Chapter Two
This Should Be You


\"You owe me one Colonel.\" A wide smirk curled the lips of the young man who sat completely relaxed in the chair opposite the large wooden desk that was the focus of the room. The boy wasn\'t overly impressive in stature, but what he lacked in height he made up for in attitude, as could be seen by the cocky way he grinned and the flash of conquest in bright golden eyes. Long pale blonde bangs fell to either side of the boy\'s young face, he looked far too young to be a member of the military\'s special police forces, but nevertheless he, and the strikingly similar looking young man beside him were there.

\"You know something Full Metal? You almost frighten me when you say things like that.\" A soft chuckle escaped through the grin of Colonel Roy Mustang, better known as the State Military\'s Flame Alchemist. He frowned suddenly and eyed the two teenagers with a deeply serious expression. \"But I\'m sorry to say that any favors will have to wait. Something important has come up and I need the two of you on top of it as soon as possible.\" He pulled a file out from one of the drawers in his desk and set it on the smooth surface, opening it so the two boys could take a look at the photos. The younger of the two, though slightly taller, gasped and pointed a finger in surprise.

\"That\'s Tucker! Why is he in the file?\" The golden headed youth looked at his superior in shock, his bright eyes overflowing with disbelief.

“Al, please listen to me carefully, calm down and pay attention, both of you.” Mustang’s sharp gaze caught both boys, demanding the one try to breathe while the other to cease clenching and unclenching fists. “I know the both of you studied with Shou Tucker a few months ago for your research on bio alchemy. However, lately we’ve received concerned reports that Tucker’s daughter has gone missing.” He paused, ignoring the gasps from the boys before holding up an old document.

“Two years ago Tucker created a chimera that was capable of human speech. The only thing it said was that it wanted to die, and then it starved itself to death. Two years ago Tucker’s wife vanished mysteriously. No one ever saw her leave in a car, or on the train, she left no messages with friends or relatives to say she was taking a trip anywhere. It was as if the ground had opened up and swallowed her whole one night. Now doesn’t that sound strange to you?” The colonel sighed, giving the boy’s a sharp glare. “Full Metal Alchemist, Immortal Alchemist, I want the two of you to investigate into the disappearance of Nina Tucker. If my suspicions are correct then we need to arrest him and confiscate his research. You two are the only ones he would willingly allow in the house and not suspect of being there for investigation. Good luck to you.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The two boys slowly walked to the large house where they had once studied and played at so freely just months before. The heavy weight of the investigation they had to make dragged their feet across the dirt. Finally the taller of the two glanced over at his silent companion.

“Brother, do you really think Mr. Tucker did that to his wife? Do you really think he made a chimera out of her? Or that he would do that to Nina?” Al’s voice trembled softly as he spoke. His eyes were wide, filled with uncertainty and hope. The other boy glanced at his sibling, wanting to comfort but not sure how to given the circumstances. Al was always such a tenderhearted person. The boy had amazing fighting skill, was sharp-witted, amazingly astute with alchemy, but sometimes far too generous with people. He really wanted to believe that everything was going to be all right, even though the clues all pointed in the opposite direction.

“I don’t know Al.” He sighed, then approached the front door and knocked twice. “Tucker? Nina?”

The brothers glanced at each other before pushing on the door, surprised to see it swing open on its own. They crept cautiously through the darkened house, heading for the lab Tucker had shown to them on their last visit. Occasionally Al would call for Nina, but there was never any response, just the sound of his own voice echoing through the dark.

“Ed, where is she? Where is Mr. Tucker and Alexander?” Al’s voice trembled, worry seeping into his tone.

“I don’t know Al, that stupid mutt should have sneak attacked me by now. Let’s keep going.” He narrowed his eyes clenching a fist at his side the deeper they went. The unease in the air grew thick, almost choking him as they neared the door to Tucker’s lab. Ed peeked his head around the open space, the light from a window giving him just enough clear vision to see kneeling legs on the floor inside. “Mr. Tucker?”

“Oh Edward hello, and Al, welcome back. I’ve just finished my latest creation, it’s a chimera that can speak like a human.” Tucker smiled at the two boys, his face was covered in small prickly hairs just like they remembered. The guy never seemed to shave much. The light was reflecting off his glasses so they couldn’t make out the expression in his eyes without getting closer, though neither wanted to risk looking in that room. Ed sighed quietly before stepping forward, putting on a curious face.

“You mean you really did it?” He had to bite his tongue at the sight on the floor. It looked, so canine, except for the glowing eyes, the mop of hair on its head, and the terribly flat toothed smile it made at him.

“Yes, this just saved me from having to stop my work, when the grant money comes in I’ll be able to do more extensive research without any worries. Now watch this.” Tucker grinned arrogantly as he kneeled before the creature and patted its head. “This person is Edward.” He explained gently as if speaking to a child. The chimera stared at Ed with its bright round eyes.

“Ed….ward?” It rasped the words, but still it was speaking. The sound made Ed’s skin crawl. Tucker looked pleased.

“Very good.” He chuckled softly as the chimera repeated his words and then began to chant Ed’s name. “It’s a fast learner don’t you think? With the grant money I’ll be able to incorporate all kinds of study for it, who knows how smart it can become!” He crowed as the two boys knelt next to the grinning creation.

“Edward, Edward, Edward. Big Bruh…ther” It smiled at the shocked alchemists. Only Nina and Al had ever called Ed big brother. Golden eyes narrowed dangerously as Ed’s worst suspicions were confirmed. He cleared his throat to get Tucker’s attention.

“Mr. Tucker, when did you first get your license? When you made the first chimera that could speak like a human?” His voice was calm, controlled, but Al could see the tensed muscles in his brother’s back and knew better than to assume the shorter boy was actually relaxed.

“That was two years ago.” Tucker tilted his head at the boy curiously.

“And when did your wife disappear?” Ed continued, his voice starting to gain a sharp edge.

“Also two years ago.” Tucker appeared nervous now, his fists were clenching at his sides.

“I have one last thing to ask you Tucker, what happened to Nina and Alexander?” Ed turned then, letting his voice and hard glare express just how much he knew to the man he had formerly looked up to. Tucker’s expression crumpled under the exposure of his dark deeds.
“I hate perceptive people.” He didn’t even seemed fazed by the weight of his crime, just distressed that it had been found out. Ed slammed forward, shoving the man into the nearest wall. He snarled, furious and appalled at the unconcerned alchemist before him.

“You scum! Two years ago it was your wife and now you’ve made a chimera from your only daughter and a dog!” He balled the fist of his free hand, shaking with rage as Tucker smiled on him, the grin was relaxed but if one looked closely enough the mad glint behind the glasses would show the truth of the man’s mind.

“Come now Edward, Al, you both have to understand. As scientists we have to move forward in our research. Human experimentation has always given way to progress, to the progress of medicine, of knowledge.” Tucker rambled, grinning wider by the moment. Ed shook him, banging the man’s skull into the wall.

“Shut up! Do you really think you’ll get away with playing around with people’s lives?” Al watched worriedly as his brother’s grip tightened. If Ed wasn’t careful he might break the man’s arm, not that Al could really deny feeling that justifiable.

“People’s lives?” Tucker laughed brokenly. “Yes playing with people’s lives! Just like you! Isn’t your arm and leg the result of playing with people’s lives? You and I, we’re exactly alike!” The man’s laughter was cut short as Ed’s fist connected solidly with his jaw, shattering bone and breaking the skin of his lower lip. He leaned back up against the wall, smiling despite the blood on his chin and the bruise forming above the skin from the cracked bone. “We’re no different, you thought you could do it so you did! Even though it’s forbidden, in fact because it’s forbidden! You seek the same goals that I do!” Tucker gagged as Edward’s fist struck his face over and over again.

“That’s not true! I’m nothing like you! I would never!” Ed jerked to a stop as his brother grabbed his arm. He blinked away the tears in his eyes, staring down at the crumpled bloody figure on the floor.

“Brother, let’s call the Colonel.” Al held his older sibling close, tugging the shaking figure to the phone on the desk nearby. He watched as his brother dialed headquarters and asked for Mustang. It had been so hard for his brother over the years. When their mother had died the boys had thought they could bring her back to life with alchemy. They hadn’t thought that the forbidden act of human transmutation was a crime, they were so grief stricken. She was all they had. When it went wrong, Ed had shoved Al away from the array, getting caught by it himself, Al had yanked him free in time to save his life. However, Ed had lost his right arm and left leg in the chaos. It hadn’t been fair, they had given but not received, the Law of Equivalent Exchange had failed them and it wasn’t right. Their mother was still dead, and Ed was disfigured. The boy now wore automail for his limbs, the weight of the metal making it difficult for his body to grow. Al had to admire his sibling though. The two of them were determined to find a way to get Ed\'s body back to normal. That was why they had joined the military and eventually the alchemist’s special unit, to find out about the Philosopher’s Stone and how to use it to get back Ed’s arm and leg.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tucker stared sadly at the chimera version of his daughter. He patted her head gently and uttered a sad sigh.

“Why doesn’t anyone understand Nina?” He gazed at the glowing eyes of his creation and shook his head at it. “Why?”

Soft footsteps alerted him to a figure coming through the door. He again frowned and sighed. Another military officer, come to either interrogate him or at last take away his precious creation.

“Are you Shou Tucker?” This voice was hard, accusing and almost malicious. Tucker blinked, not recognizing the tone as one the military had used when speaking to him moments ago. He looked up, stunned to see a figure dressed in casual clothing and dark sunshades. He took in a breath as he watched the man draw near, the strange crisscrossed scar on his forehead giving him an even more disquieting look.

“Who are you? What do you want with me? How did you even get in past the officers you aren’t with the military?” Tucker backpedaled against the wall, glancing outside at the prone figures on the ground. Through the rain falling against the ground he could make out the pools of blood surrounding their heads.

“Alchemists who stray from the path of God must die!” The damning voice was like thunder in his ears. He turned, eyes wide as the man placed a wide palm over his face. There was a surge of alchemic power and then everything around his ears exploded and his world went dark.

The man turned slowly, walking over and stroking the head of the confused chimera. He rested his palm on the creature’s forehead, offering it an apologetic nod as it cried and called for its father.

“So terrible, I am sorry there is nothing I can do for you but to end your suffering. Go in peace to where God shall show you mercy.” Again his arm charged out a large amount of energy, creating a small explosion within the chimera’s skull. It fell limp to the floor, blood pooling around it and mingling with that of its father. The man walked out of the house, into the rain and left as quietly as he had entered, leaving the four bodies to be taken care of by the military later.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ed and Al knocked at the Colonel’s door early the next morning, both rubbing their eyes to get out all the sleep still clinging to them. When it opened a young woman with soft blonde hair and sharp hazel eyes stared curiously at them. Ed paused, his smile turning warm as he looked up at her.

“Lieutenant Hawkeye, good morning.” He almost chuckled at her stunned expression. She glanced from Ed to Al and gave them a small smile in return.

“What are you boys doing up so early?” She blinked, arching a thin blonde brow in curiosity.

“We came to find out what was going to happen to Tucker and Nina.” Al jumped in, looking up at the woman hopefully. He and Ed both became worried when her expression grew grim and tight.

“Tucker was scheduled for trial after his license was revoked. However, last night they were both killed” She stepped past the shocked boys, striding down the hall as they ran after her.

“What? By who?” Ed cringed, this couldn’t have happened!

“I don’t know, I’m on my way to the location of the crime right now. You boys should stay here.” She turned, cutting off their protests. “It’s better that you don’t see.” She left them to comfort one another and hurried to get to Tucker’s residence where the rest of the investigative team was waiting. When she arrived she could hear Colonel Mustang and Lieutenant Colonel Hughes arguing over the situation. The corpses had been covered and the area was thick with military personnel.

“They were in pieces, Maes, as if they had been blown apart form the inside.” Mustang spoke grimly, staring at the body cover with a deep frown. Hughes glanced up at another, burly figure standing above him, scratching at his stubble-covered chin slowly.

“Are you thinking what I am Major Armstrong?” He glared through his glasses as the large man nodded once. The deep voice resonated with eerie confirmation.

“It’s him.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

People screamed and cursed amidst the thundering clatter of blunt objects breaking through glass and splintering wood. Above all the smoldering chaos two figures dressed in black stared down from the safety of a cathedral tower. The shorter of the two stared out with small expressionless white eyes, a single digit pressed to his large mouth. Thick arms connected to a bulbous body under his short neck and round, bald head. His companion was a tall, curvaceous woman with thick lustrous black hair and full painted lips. The woman’s lilac tinted eyes narrowed as she watched the people of the city slaughter one another.

“Look at them Gluttony, so foolish aren’t they?” She sneered at the smoking buildings while her companion childishly tittered about foolish people beside her. Soft footsteps echoed up the stair well behind them as an elderly man entered the small balcony, a pleased smile set into his features.

“You’re quite right Lust, but that foolish quality can play into our plans so perfectly that even you have to admit it’s useful.” His aged voice cracked with a soft chuckle as the woman turned to smirk at him.

“Well if it isn’t his holiness.” She leaned against the railing, her ample breasts nearly bulging out of her tight dress. Gluttony chanted and tittered beside her like a happy parrot while flashing the old man a grin. “So sorry we had to bring you out here.” She smiled as the elderly figure huffed.

“Yeah well when we’re done here I’m going back to my city.” He snorted softly and joined the other two in gazing down on the havoc below. Lust settled her hands on her round hips.

“I was concerned when that Full Metal boy and his brother messed up our plans, but as a result things here will be finished ahead of schedule. He was actually quite useful to us.” She smirked as the old man let out a low chuckle.

“Yes, all you had to do was spread some propaganda to my ‘followers’ and this is the result.” He snickered, leaning on the railing next to the woman.

“So much bloodshed and hatred. They rage against one another, staining their own land with the blood of their sister’s and brothers. No matter how many times they repeat themselves they never learn from the past. Such pitiful fools.” Her eyes narrowed as she watched several men attack a defenseless family in the street below with pipes and boards of splintered wood.

“But that’s why we can do whatever we want with them.” The old man shared a wicked smirk with the woman while Gluttony turned curious eyes to them both.

“Will a lot of people die Lust?” He queried.

“Yes I suppose they will, and no you can’t eat them.” She patted his round head like she would a small dog. While he sulked she glanced over to the other man. “Envy can you please get out of that body. The very sight of it and the sound of the voice is making me ill.”

He laughed, alchemic energy crackling and sweeping over him as his body shifted into the scantily clad figure of a youth. He swept a half-gloved hand through his emerald hair, offering the woman a wide smile.

“What’s wrong Lust? Don’t like a little ambiance with your religious genocide?” He chuckled at her before he saw her face turn grim.

“You monster! What did you do with Father Cornello? What in God’s name are you people?” The voice of one of the faithful followers cut through the air like a knife, wiping the smile from Envy’s face instantly. He shared a mildly irritated look with Lust.

“What should we do with him?” She sighed as the younger male grunted and glared at the man.

“Did you hear that? He called me a monster! I am so insulted.” He growled softly, pausing only when Gluttony stepped forward, grinning and licking the lower lip of his great maw.

“Can I eat him?” Envy and Lust stared at the round being, sighing and shaking their heads at him. Gluttony was hopelessly hungry, all the time. Pained cries and the sounds of crunching sounded behind them as they looked over the city again. Envy glanced casually at his sister.

“I heard someone killed Shou Tucker over in East City.” He blinked slowly as she arched a brow in his direction.

“The Sewing Life Alchemist? Who cares? He was just a minor alchemist anyway.” She brushed a hand through her hair, hiding her amusement at her little brothers nearly frantic waving.

“I don’t care about Tucker!” He snorted. “It’s the killer, he’s the same guy from before.” His words brought a scowl to her face.

“East City is where the Flame Colonel is right now correct?” She sneered as she considered the military, always getting in the way.

“Uh huh. The Full Metal runt and his brother are there too.” Envy snorted lightly, watching his sister grimace.

“Full Metal Alchemist, I really hate that he keeps getting in the way of our work, but he’s actually proven useful despite the meddling and mother wants him alive.” Her words drew a small smile to Envy’s lips. “Mother has plans for those boys.”

“Lust that was yummy!” Gluttony happily waddled back to them, blood and entrails staining his chin. The two of them curled their lips at the fat sin.

“Wipe your mouth after you eat!” She scolded, leaving the other to hastily clean his face while she turned back to Envy. “I don’t know where this man came from or who he is but he can not be allowed to interfere with our plans. This city is just about finished so we’ll go take a look I guess. What was our killer’s name Envy?”

The small sin smirked at his sister. “From what I heard he’s called Scar, apparently he has some kind of crossed ‘x’ on his forehead.” His smile faltered at her next words.

“We’ll look into it, oh and mother wants you to check in on Greed again. Try not to taunt him this time, just make sure he hasn’t escaped.” She smirked, watching the smaller boy growl and twitch with rage. Envy really hated his older brother. Ever since the boy had received his seventh incomplete stone he had been waiting to challenge Greed, but when that day had come, Envy had been given a cold slap to the face by reality. For every sliver of stone consumed after the seventh, the Homunculus grew in power. So while Envy had finally gained his entire set, Greed had been eating slivers here and there for years, gaining a power far beyond that of the boy’s. Envy had foolishly challenged the older sin, and when Lust next saw him he was visibly shaken, she didn’t know the details but from Greed’s crowing to Pride later on he had given the younger male quite a beating.

Envy scowled as he watched his siblings leave the cathedral. He did not want to lay eyes on the wayward sin. The less he saw of Greed the easier it was to forget that bastard existed. He could still remember the humiliation he had suffered all those years ago.

He had demanded that Greed pay for belittling him constantly during the time he had worked with the shark-toothed ass, all the taunts and jabs at his ability and looks. Most importantly for the sexual abuse the bastard had forced him to endure. Greed always had a tendency to get as drunk as his body would allow and then come after the younger sin to work off his mild stupor in bed, or on the couch, or against a wall, or over the desk. Greed had been more than willing to oblige Envy in his wish for a fight, the two of them heading out to a vacant patch of rock behind their mother’s latest mansion.

Envy had fought with everything he had, but his brother’s body was too hard to wear down while he seemed to be far more winded by the blows Greed delivered. Eventually he had seen he was losing and in desperation he had started to change form, allowing the monster inside of him to break loose. Greed had seen the oncoming change and attacked before Envy could complete his transformation, snapping the boy’s neck to break the alteration.

He had woken up pinned down across his sibling’s knee, staring at the cracked ground below his nose. He struggled, screaming curses and threats at Greed, demanding that he be released from the humiliating position he was in, but his brother had just laughed darkly, teasingly calling him a spoiled little brat. He had been informed that his childish behavior was due for some serious punishment. That a snot-nosed, arrogant whelp shouldn’t assume he could kick the ass of his superiors, unless he was willing to accept the consequences. Envy had hissed and spat, struggling to get free until Greed’s fist tightened painfully on his wrists. He went still, not wanting to endure more broken bones.

His body had suffered a brutal beating then, Greed’s talon claw striking his vulnerable ass in a way he hadn’t known was possible. Sharp smacks caused his legs to kick out violently as he growled and bit down on his tongue to keep from yelping. Then suddenly the smacks turned to painful scratching as Greed tore through the clothing and flesh covering his ass, drawing screams from his throat as the flesh and muscle gave way as easily as the cloth had. His brother tossed his bleeding body to the ground, offering him a jagged grin before explaining about the relation between the stones and their powers. He turned, walking away with an amused laugh while Envy healed and fumed.

Not long after that Greed had secretly tried to break out on his own. He stopped reporting to mother, made it impossible to track his movements and even tried to kill Pride when mother had dispatched the sin to find the shark-toothed deserter. Greed hadn’t expected Pride to be working with Lust and Gluttony though, the three of them brought him in to mother and Envy had personally gloated as the older sin was sentenced for his crimes. To Envy’s dismay Greed was only sealed for punishment. He had hoped the bastard would be killed but the woman still had use for him at some later date supposedly. He was furious when he heard, but since mother had charged him with keeping a check on Greed’s imprisoned being he had to keep his anger hidden. She could easily punish him for showing distaste with her orders. So he kept a check on the older sin, taunting his former abuser, kicking at his prone body, weak and bound in the sealing room. He had to be thankful that each of them required a specific array for sealing, otherwise he couldn’t torment the other sin as much.

He smirked as he headed out of the battle torn city, making his way towards Central, the capitol of Amestris, where Greed waited, sleeping deep below the city within his seal.


**To Be Continued**

Waugh! –passes out- Can you believe I wrote all this in four hours? O_o;;; Me neither.