We Go Together

The News that Put us All Down

The train ride was pretty comfortable, since Winry came back with us and Ling Yao didn't interfere with us that much. When we got off the train, his two "bodyguards" set out to look for him because apparently he disappeared, so Edward, Winry, Alphonse, and I make our way towards Central.

"Okay, guys," Winry says. "I'm going to the Hughes family to tell them we're in town."

"Alright, go on ahead," I say. "We'll see each other later today."

"Sure!" She says.

Winry and I have grown much closer from all the train hours we've spent getting to know each other. She's lived through a lot of stuff as well, so we can understand each other. Besides, we always have something to talk about, and she even tells me about what worries her. I've told her too, but I haven't mentioned the really dangerous things. I don't think she would want to hear about that.

She goes the opposite direction. Edward takes my hand and we walk holding on to each other until we arrive to Central. There, we find Riza Hawkeye after a long time of not seeing her.

"But..." Edward says, "If Riza is here, then that means-"

"Elrics," Mustang's voice comes in.

Edward sighs. "Long time no see."

"What brings you back here?" Mustang asks.

"Right now, we wanted to see Hughes," I say. "Any idea of where he is?"

With his cold expression, Mustang hesitates to answer. "He's out of town right now. And he took his wife and daughter with him."

"For how long?" Alphonse says.

"We don't know exactly," Mustang replies. "He got promoted, too."

"Wow," Edward says. 

"Now if you'll excuse us," he says. "We have to get some things taken care of."

Once they leave, Winry comes into my mind again.

"We should tell Winry," I say. "There won't be anyone at the Hughes' place."

"Yeah," Edward says. "We should catch up to her."

We turn around to start walking and find Liutenant Ross standing before us.

"Hey, Liutenant," Edward says nicely.

"Hi," she says, "why are you back?"

"We were looking for Mr. Hughes, but we heard," I reply.

She seems upset. "Oh, right."

"Yeah," Edward follows, "we would have liked to say goodbye."

"I know," she replies.

"But, he'll be back soon, let's hope," I say. "There's a bunch of stuff we want to tell him!"

Then, Liutenant Ross gasps, and with a look of guilt she puts her hands over her mouth and struggles to keep in the tears.

"Liutenant Ross?" Edward asks.

When she starts to cry and apologizes, the three of us realize what's going on. Mr. Hughes, isn't away. He's gone for good.

Edward grabs his suitcase and goes off running. I run after him without another word and so does Alphonse. We run several blocks, as the images of Mr. Hughes and everything that he did for us ever since we met him, run through my mind.

"Edward!" I yell when he gets farther and I start to run faster. I finally catch up to him in an alley where he leans on the wall and looks down in guilt.