Metal Vs Storm

Those who lurk beneath

A shocked silence seemed to cover the area like a blanket. At that moment time seemed to move in slow motion.

Toshiro's eyes widened, he dimly registered the sound of something thumping on the gound. The world seemed to change direction and he could not seem to understand why. He tried to move but his body was not responding.

"No.... this can't be happening
..." Alphonse was in to much shock to notice the movement of the blade.

"ALPHON-" a female voice cried.

"I really wished that it did not have to end this way Alphonse, Ice Storm Alchemist." The furhur addressed them both.

Alphonse last memory was the bodies of the cow and dog chimera slain, Greed carried off by the leader of the country and worst of all, the body of Storm bleeding on the ground, eyes opened wide before the world flashed white.

He coughed lightly, Toshiro never realised when breathing had become so hard, the shock was beginning to wear off, the world was slowly coming into focus and so -unfortunately- was the pain. He groaned, the deep slash spanned the width of him, between the space of his ribs and hips.

He could hear voices shouting in the far distance. "Maes..." Toshiro whispered as he turned onto his back, realisation hit him like a thunderbolt and he almost collapsed again as he dragged himself to his knees.
As the two weeks he spent at base came back to him, he began shaking from the strain of standing when the nerves close to his legs were put under strain. Maes would never be coming to his side again like he would always when a mission was finished. Toshiro punched the wall he was attempting to use as a support and gritted his teeth, the truth was sometime really a b****.

"Now is definitely not the time to think like this!" Toshiro grunted out loud to himself. He turned towards Alphonse and finally opened his eyes, he gasped. "No......" a slight tone of despair could be heared in his voice. The blood was everywhere

His vision blurred slightly, he ignored it, he felt as if he had failed his mission, he was supposed to protect him, he also wanted to protect him from this, but it was too late.

The brothers already reminded him of Kurosaki and his sisters, his stomach churned at the thought.

"Alphonse." He called "please answer me." he gritted his teeth.
The voices were getting louder now, he detachedly recognized that soldiers were calling their names. No amount of shaking and calling seemed to rouse the armored soul.

"Storm! This is a surprise to - You're injured!" Major Armstrong's voice cut though his thoughts like a knife. The soldiers rushed towards them.

"Major Hughes, please allow me to assist you." One of the soldiers stated. Toshiro gave him a nod to put the others at ease.

The Strong Arm Alchemist picked up Alphonse muttering along the lines 'I hope he is well.' The soldier slung Toshiro's arm over his shoulder and stood, the world swarm before his eyes and black dots appeared, 'I guess I lost more blood than I thought.' Were his last thoughts before the world turned black.

Faint muttering was the first thing that registered to him. The world was black was the next. "The - was laced - knock out agent." The voice faded in and out "- merely unconscious- lost alot of blood- be fine."

He forced his eyes open and snapped them shut again with a groan, the lights blinded him. The two men over him hushed and then "Welcome back Major Hughes." He opened his eyes slower this time and nodded for the men to leave. He looked down at his stomach and noticed that he was bandaged and his bloody shirt opened but surprisingly still on.

"I am rather curious about your steel arm and leg and your brother's empty body..." Toshiro stood quickly and almost kneeled over at the pain of pulling the wound 'Still mostly human genius' he reminded himself. He now realised what woke him up, it was the presense of that creature- the furhur.

Before the leader could continue Storm walked towards the now awake Alphonse and the bristling Edward with his coat slung over his shoulder with his hand. "Sir, they just came out of a traumatic experience, we would not want any more incidences with that sword again, it would be best to send these two to the health care."

"Yes, that us true, until next time Alchemists." His eyes clearly spoke volumes 'You want to play, I can play too.' Toshiro wisely held back a grin. 'Another winning strike for me.'

With that matter covered, Toshiro turned around. The first thing he noticed was the amount of blood on the ground, he sighed softly knowing that it belonged to the body behind him. Then he looked up.....

..... only to realise that Armstrong, Edward and Alphonse were staring at him with their jaws hanging.

".... What?" He blinked owlishly at them.

" You- the furhur- he- he- ah jeeze! Nevermind." Edward stuttered.

Toshiro chuckled then...only to completely regret it as pain lanced through his belly. He must of blanked out for a moment because the next thing he realised was Major Armstrong was leaning him against the wall near Alphonse.

He coughed lightly to ease the pain. "Storm! Who did this." Edward now seemed to notice the amount of blood on his clothes.

"It's him- he - he did this. I'm so sorry Storm, this is all-" Alphonse sounded ready to cry if he could of.

"Finish that sentence and I will show you the reason they call me Ice Storm Alchemist." Toshiro sighed. Noticing Edwards confused, worried and slightly angry face he continued "To answer your question, it was the very same man that just walked out of here."

"What! That's not possible-!" Both Major Armstrong and Edward protested.

"Yes brother, Storm is speaking the truth." Alphonse said sadly. "Because I saw him do it myself and could not stop it." He continued before Edward could interrupt.

"But why?" Major Armstrong spoke this time.

"Because that's what happens when you put a bloody hybrid in the military druing a war, that's what!" Toshiro gritted out truthfully, certain that the creature did not know what he is - what he once was.

Edward gaped at him. Toshiro sighed again, "Lets get out of here."

They all nodded at that.

That night, Toshiro stayed in a military rented apartment that was next to Major Armstrong- who was currently by the Elric brothers. He to had volunteered to come, but after that amount of blood loss, walking straight would not be an option for a few hours.

Lying in bed, Toshiro wondered for the first time in a while ' What's my next move?'