{On a new Journey}{Open/Saito}

[Chii]

Agree to go to this academy fine,listen to the colonel also fine but having a letter shoved in your face THAT WAS TOO FAR.Why did he have to be suckered in by the colonel like that,he was perfectly fine doing what he was doing back in Central.But no oh no he had to be sent all the way out here to some academy to get a better education,why did he need school anyways he was a state alchemist and books we're all he needed.And where the hell had Al run off to,didn't his brother come with him he swore that clinking clanking tin of armor was around somewhere probably gathering kittens to hide inside himself.

Sighing he walked along the path in front of him,stopping once in awhile to glance up towards the towering trees and to the sky.At least this forest was quiet and a good place to practice anything such a battling or alchemy,yeah alchemy and the price that came with it.Losing his leg and then his arm to save his brother's soul,and the mistake of trying to bring back the dead.

Balling his metal hand into a fist he went off the path into the forest,his red signature coat billowing out behind him as he walked and his silver watch lightly tapping against his thigh.Sighing once more he found a tree he liked and just sat down,leaning against the large wooden trunk and closing his eyes.Now this was the life,relaxing and not having a care in the world.

[saito]

Saito was walking around the forest as it was in a way his sanctuary. He took his earring out of his ear for a moment and stared a it with a small smile on his face. The metallic object flashed in front of his eyes and transformed into a gun. The gun was the same properties even. It was quiet in the forest but not for long. A mischievous smile spread on his face as he started his shooting rally. He had used the tree as a target but aiming for the small branches. His gun wasn't silent but he was sure that this deep in the forest wouldn't get him into trouble.

Each time he pulled the trigger he felt himself slowly calm down. The usual hatred and anger was replaced by happiness at his accomplishment. After all, he prided himself in his marksmanship although he had to admit, he could use a bit of practice or maybe better guns. He wasn't exactly sure but decided to just go ahead and let it be this way. After all it wasn't like he was going to need to use guns anyways. Again he pulled the trigger. He found it fun to play with guns, even as a young kid since it was something not many boys his age can do. Most of them could barely pull the trigger.

Soon though his body recoiled from the blast and it sent him a couple feet back. He had forgot, he had to stay steady and focus when he's using a gun or else he would miss the target. As if the world was agreeing with him, his latest shot was a big miss as it hit the trunk and no where near the branches. A sigh escaped his lips at the sight. Yeah, he really needed to focus. He pulled the trigger again but he was out of ammo. Great. He transmuted the gun into his earring and turned aroun dto see someone was behind him. With a nervous smile as he silently prayed the person didn't see what happened.

The boy was blond and looked like he was around his age. Then again, that wasn't really saying much."Hey." he greeted as he wasn't exactly sure what to say. God please let fate be with him.

[Chii]

Grumbling now that his peace and quiet was disturbed,the blond opened one eye from the sound that had shattered the silence of the forest and saw a boy he guessed about his age standing before him.He of course had heard everything that just happened,who wouldn't hear a blast like that.The boy was just lucky that this young alchemist was too lazy at the moment to jump up and yell something,usually in this case he would jump up from anything that sounded like that and start chewing the other person out like he was a piece of bread.Pushing himself up he yawned and scratched behind his head,his golden gaze not leaving the other.

"Uh hi,hasn't anyone ever told you not to disturb the peace".

How long had it been since he left the academy,maybe a hour or so.Besides this kid looked like he didn't want to cause trouble,and his friendly hello suggested that.Since his rest was disturbed maybe he could practice his alchemy,hone on his skills and get even better.Clapping his hands together the familiar feel of the charge running through his hands,and his white glove ripped as his metal hand had a blade on top of it.

[saito]

"Uh hi,hasn't anyone ever told you not to disturb the peace".

At those words, Saito scratched his cheeks a little and chuckled."Uhmmm." he hummed. To be honest, yes he has, repeatedly too does he actually bother to listen to them? Well, that was another story. He couldn't help it though, guns are so cool and in this world they are a lot better too. Tenn again that might be because there isn't that much war and so guns weren't needed or even developed as much. He stayed quiet though for a moment in a way he resigned in defeat. After a moment though he decided to somewhat answer that."Maybe." said the red head, his voice obviously having guilt a small child would have when their parents found out that he didn't take his nap or do his chores. It's amazing how he was a teacher.

It wasn't soon though did his eyes widen. What the... There didn't seem to be any transmutation circle at all and he doubt it was on his gloves seeing that the gloves were soon ripped. Even more was that if there were any, wouldn't it stood out? As the metal blade shined under the sun light, he instantly knew what it was. It was a n automail, not as advanced as the one that was back home but it was costumed made, that was for sure. In which case was pretty rare since aren't automail machine made? Then again, the style did look kind of old so chances are this world must not have them as long as his. He nodded at his own thoughts.

"Don't you have transmutation circles?" he asked. He was a bit curious since there was no way he had been through that gate too right? After all, there was no way anyone would be as stupid as he was. At least that was what he was pretty sure of. Although he didn't really take a survey or anything. Even more was that the person had an automail for an arm. It was obvious that he had sacrificed it, probably in one of his alchemy test. After all he had heard about people doing experiments on their arms in an attempt to learn how to regenerate it. Although none of them had accomplished it so does that mean that the boy in front of him has failed to? Although he didn't seem to be that old so there was no way. At least, probably.

"You saw it didn't you?" he asked referring to the gate. The gate that had transported him here. The gate that had those weird arms that scared him. Those arms that happened when he performed human transmutation. When all he wanted was to bring his brother back so that he won't have to admit the thing that haunted him. That his brother died because he was careless. Did the person in front of him went though the same thing?

[Chii]

"I don't use transmutation circles,wait how do you know about that".

Edward had been able to do transmutation since a young age without circles,ever since that rainy night they tryed to bring back they're mother.He gave his leg and his arm a price to pay for meddling in something he shouldn't have,and almost losing his most precious brother in the process.To gain something you have to give something of equal in return,equivalent exchange.And boy down the road did he and Alphonse get a earful from Izumi,she yelled at them and slapped them wondering why they did such a horrible thing.Coming to her to just learn alchemy in order to bring back a fallen life,if he could turn back time he would take it all back.

Again he clenched his fist when the other spoke,did he see it.He meant the gate right,yes he had seen it.Those little black creatures and they're little hands,taking whatever they thought would be a exchange for things which cost a price.He had lost his mother,and his brother had lost his body and what did he have to show for everything.A automail arm and a leg to match,he still wants to search for the stone and return his brother's body to him even if it means his own life.

"Yeah I saw the gate,trying to revive my mother but it didn't work.My brother....he..,lost his body and I attached his soul to a suit of armor".

[saito]

"I don't use transmutation circles,wait how do you know about that".

So he really doesn't use transmutation circles. There was only two ways that can be true, he either have the philosopher stone, which is pretty much just a myth or he had seen the gate. The later sounds a lot more more plausible. After all, something that can break a law that doesn't even truly exist? There was no such thing. Equivalent exchange, there's no such thing, no such thing at all. It was just something made up as a way to warn people, like stories about the boogieman. A stupid law that only exist n the mind of the people, that was why the philosopher stone can never exist. It was because the rule it promise to break doesn't even exist.

"Yeah I saw the gate,trying to revive my mother but it didn't work.My brother....he..,lost his body and I attached his soul to a suit of armor".

Saito nodded at his second answer. He really did saw the gate. Hmm, he tried to revive his mother and it didn't work. Does that mean? No, what he did, it had to work. It worked, his brother was alive living happily. His brother was there, most likely crying as he waits for him to come back. Yeah, his brother was just outside playing with dogs. He must be listening to music and baking cakes that everyone love so much. Learning in school and making new friends. Just because this guy failed didn't meant that the teacher had also failed. It didn't mean that at all.

So he also have a brother's soul is in a piece of armor? The red head looked at the ground. What was his brother doing in a suit of armor? He decided not to ask as it would evade privacy. Although seeing that the blond had told his story, it was only fair if Saito does the same thing too right?"I see. So that's why you have automail on you." he stated at first. He performed two human transmutation, two sins that can never be erased. Yet what is sin really? He just wanted to see his mother again just like how Saito wanted to see his brother. Yet, it was forbidden as it was messing with nature. Yet wasn't alchemy already messing with it?

"So they took two of your limbs." for a moment he felt lucky. He had only lost his ability to age and there were some good things about that too. He can never die from being too old."I..." he started unsure of what to say. It was the first time he told the truth and it hurt. Because of the story the blond teen had told him."I just wanted to see my brother again. See him smile one more time and cling onto me and never let me go. I lost my ability to age. I'm actually twenty-four years old." he informed him. Apparently you can lose more of your body than just it's natural ability seeing the automails.