I Would Die For You - Part I

Title: I Would Die for You
By: Kirby Hiwatari

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Alphonse Elric stood on the front steps waiting for his brother to return from inside.
It was always like this. Edward would tell him to wait why he went in to 'quick check on something'.
But Al never wanted to say anything. Access to the building was restricted and there was no way to get him inside.
And this was work his brother needed to do, what right did he have to stop him!
Alphonse sighed and slumped down on the steps.
'At least the MP Officers let me sit here in the shade.' He thought to himself.
He remembered back in the beginning all he had to do was look at the building and at least one of the men on patrol in front of the building would be watching him like a hawk. Then again, who wouldn't suspect something strange with a seven-foot tall suit of armor wondering around?
Alphonse looked down into his lap. He still found it strange to see hands of flesh instead of steel and pants instead of the blue cloth that had hung around his waist.
Yes, it's true. Alphonse was human again. But even so he and his brother couldn't give up the military life.
Alphonse was actually a Sergeant in the Military. He was part of the Investigations department.
That was Mustang's idea. Roy hoped to have Alphonse take the late Maes Hughes' place. And the way it seemed to be going in a few years he would do just that.
The brothers were lucky enough that as of now they were both assigned in Central, but there was a rumor that it would all be changing soon.
Of course, Edward had no idea. He was to busy with research and facts to hear about the rumors of war that buzzed around Central's main office.
Al sighed. He knew if war were to break out, more then likely Roy and Edward would be in the front lines.
"Yo, Alphonse! Come on! I'm going to leave without you!" Edward yelled, rather loud, signifying that he had called more then once.
"Sorry, Brother! I..." He trailed off; he couldn't bring himself to say anymore.
How could you tell your only family that he may be sent to war soon? Not only that, but the front lines even!
"Don't worry about it! Let's just go home." Edward called, still walking away from him.
"Brother! I'll meet you there!" He shouted, "I just remembered something!"
With that Alphonse stood up and ran in the opposite direction of his brother.
"Wait, Al!" Edward shouted, but that did not stop him.
He could no longer face his brother; he had to figure out someway to tell his brother.
'Why do I have to know?! Why?' He mind screamed.
Finally, his legs began to tire, something else he wasn't fully use too. He slowed and stopped, hunching forward on his knees trying to catch his breath.
"Alphonse? What are you doing this out this late?" A voice questioned, "Aren't you usually at home with Edward?"
Al looked up and saw that the voice belonged to Colonel Roy Mustang.
"Oh, sir. Good Evening." Alphonse straightened up and saluted his commanding officer.
"Relax, Alphonse." Roy laughed. "What's keeping you out so late tonight?"
Well, sir, it's kinda complicated." Al replied, unsure if he wanted to talk about it with Mustang.
"I think I'll be able to understand, Alphonse." Roy replied with a laugh.
Alphonse looked at him with a bit of nervousness and sadness.
"Come on, let's get you home, you can tell me about it on the way. How's that?" He asked with a smile.
"Alright, but you may not like what I have to say." Al said with a deep sadness.
The Colonel wasn't sure he liked the boy's tone, but would hear him out nonetheless.
"Don't worry, Al, I'm sure it will all work out." He said with a bit of uneasiness.
Al did his best to smile at the older man but it came across weak. "I hope your right."

==========================

"And so war seems to be the favored option." Alphonse spoke quietly, a few tears rolled down his cheeks, "And rumor has it that the State Alchemists will be sent in first."
Roy looked at the younger boy in front of him; he saw the tears rolling down his face. He embraced the boy with a gentle hug. The moment he took hold of the younger boy Roy felt Alphonse begin to shake.
"Al, it will be alright. Really." Roy whispered.
"I... I don't want... brother to have... to deal with... any more pain." Alphonse said between sobs.
"I know. I don't want to see Edward hurt anymore either." He whispered.
Alphonse blinked a few tears away and looked up at the older man. There was something about the look in his eyes that had Al interested in his words.
"What do you mean? You..." Al started to ask.
"I care for Edward, as well as you Alphonse. I know how difficult it has been for you boys..." He started.
"You don't understand." Alphonse then interrupted him, "I would die for brother." He said matter-of-factly.
Roy was taken by surprise with the younger man's statement. He wasn't sure if he could let this situation go unchecked any longer. Maybe it was time to sit down with both the brothers and talk.
"Alphonse, we're almost to your house. Let's go talk about this with your brother."
Alphonse wasn't sure what to think anymore, so he just nodded his agreement.
"Alright then, come on." Roy said with a smile.
He turned the boy to his side and placed one arm around his shoulders to help guide him to his house. When they reached the door Edward was already waiting for them.
"Mustang! Thank you for bringing Alphonse home!" Ed said with a worried smile. "Aru, I was worried when you took off like that."
"I'm sorry, Edward. I didn't mean to worry you." Alphonse said sadly.
Edward glanced at Roy, then back to Al. He looked at the two with a bit of confusion and worry.
"What's going on here?" Edward asked quietly. "What happened? Is Auntie Pinako and Winry alright?"
He knew his brother would hear things before him. That's why he decided it would be ok for Al to join the Military.
"No, no. Winry and Pinako are fine. They're just fine." He whispered.
"Why don't we go inside?" Roy said, gently breaking into the conversation.
Ed and Al both blinked. Then realized, yeah the door isn't the best for this conversation.
"Yeah, your right. Would you like some tea, Mustang?" Edward asked, waving for the two to step inside.
Ed noticed the tear stains on Al's face as he entered the well lit home. Now Edward was sure he didn't like where this situation was going.
"No, thank you, Edward. I'm just here to make sure things go okay. I'm sure I'll be leaving soon." He replied with on of his classic grins.
Edward nodded then led them to the living room, where he would nervously wait for the conversation to begin.
Each took a seat, Roy sat in a recliner while the brothers sat next to each other on the couch. The three men sat in silents for what seemed like hours but were only a few minutes.
Eventually Mustang grew tired of the waiting and decided to take matters into his own hands.
"Alphonse, you have to tell him. I know it's difficult, but you must." Roy said, quietly as to not scare anyone.
"Aru? What is he talking about? Come on, you can tell me. You can tell me anything." Edward said, worry gripping him.
"Edward. You remember how Auntie Pinako would tell us that State Alchemist were just pawns in the Militaries games? That they would get called to do the dirty work? They would be called to... kill those that were said to be bad?"
"Of course, Alphonse, how could I forget? Auntie Pinako always tells me about it, every time I see here." Ed said with a smile. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Well, you see, brother... there's this rumor flouting in investigations..." Al's voice drifted off.
Both Roy and Edward could see that Alphonse was crying again.
"Edward, we're looking at going into war. According to Alphonse they are talking about sending out the State Alchemists first. That would include myself... as well as you, Edward." Roy spoke for the crying boy.
Edward looked from Roy to Al. "Aru, is that... true? Are we really going to be sent to war?" He asked quietly.
Alphonse couldn't find the strength to form words, so he nodded his head to show what the older gentlemen had said was true.
"Alphonse, there's no need to be afraid. I'll be fine. No matter what happens, there's no reason for you to worry. I'll never leave you Aru, never. I won't do that to you."
Alphonse looked to his brother, "I don't want you to go, brother. I don't want to even have to think about you being gone. I don't want to lose you like we lost Mom! I don't want you to die." He shouted as he stood.
"Al... I won't die. I promise." Edward whispered. "I won't die. I can't die. Not with you waiting for me."
"Your right, brother. You won't die as long as I'm around." Alphonse whispered. "I will die for you."
Roy, even having heard this once, could not comprehend the statement, even a second time. Which of course left Edward in a complete daze.
"I will not let you go to war, brother. If I go, they won't send you. I've asked the others about it." Alphonse spoke, a pit of fear in his voice.
"But Aru, you have a desk job. That's the only reason I said it was ok. You joined investigation so we could get info. You have a desk job, your not eligible to go to war." Edward said, still dazed.
"He's right, Alphonse. You have a desk job, just like Hughes had. You won't go to war." Roy agreed.
"That's where you’re wrong, I put in for a transfer. I'm going to be in the first battalion." Alphonse spoke quietly. "They say that the first few troops, even a good hand full of the State Alchemist sent, won't be making it back the same way they left. I'm going to do the only thing that I can think of to save you, brother. I'm going to die for you."
Roy and Edward sat in shock. They couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"Alphonse, I think you need some time off. I'm going to inform Headquarters that you’re ill. I'm officially reliving you from active duty for a while. You need some time to cool off. Edward, would you like to take some time off too?" Roy asked, obviously not quite full in the situation.
Edward shook his head. "No, I'll stay active, but I'm going to take a few vacation days that I have coming." He replied.
Roy nodded, "I think everyone needs to take a break for the night. It's getting late. Why don't you boys head off to bed?"
"Your right, it is late. Why don't you stay here for the evening, Roy? We have a guest room. I'm sure we can find something close to your size for you to sleep in." Edward replied.
"I wouldn't want to impose on you boys..." Roy started.
"No, brother's right. It's too late to be wondering around. I have some larger clothes you should be able to fit in. It's no trouble at all, sir." Alphonse said, once more calm and kind like he usually was.
"Alright then, Alphonse, if you insist. I wouldn't want you to worry about me all night." Roy replied.
"Okay, it's settled. I'll show him to the room, brother. You go get some sleep." Al said with a smile, the same kind of smile he had as a young boy.
The three gentlemen nodded their goodnights and Alphonse led Roy to the bedrooms, leaving a dazed Edward to sit and think through what his brother had just told him.

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Morning came and Roy excused himself from the house long before the boys would wake. He went back to his home and readied himself for the long day ahead of him.
'More paperwork for me to do.' He thought with dread. 'Hawkeye's going to die when she finds out she doesn't have to baby-sit me for this one.'
He let out a small laugh as he though about it. But it didn't last long. This wasn't a joke, or even the slightest bit amusing. It was a very serious problem. He was beginning to think that maybe it was a bad idea to have the younger Elric join the madness of the Military as well.

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Quite a few hours after Roy had left, the older Elric woke up. The moment he did the events from the prior day flooded back in a flash.
'Oh, Aru, you have to realized that this is the wrong way to go about this. Just because you think that by sacrificing yourself you could save me, your wrong. I could never be happy knowing that. I wouldn't be worth the life you would leave me with, knowing that you were dead because of it.'
He slowly made his way out of bed, to the bathroom down the hall.
He splashed some cold water onto his face, hoping to rid himself of the memories that were present.
"Brother! Hurry up, your breakfast is getting cold!" He heard Alphonse shout from the kitchen.
It surprised him that he was up, and he had mad breakfast already.
"Coming Aru!" He replied, finishing his usually morning bathroom visit.
Edward left the bathroom and joined his brother in the kitchen.

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The pattern repeated itself for the next week, while Edward was off of work. Alphonse would always be awake before his brother and breakfast was always ready. It was almost as though Al was preparing Ed for something. Al was the gentle, caring boy he had been for so many years. It was almost as though their mother had never died.
It had Edward worried, but at least he had forgotten about the war and dieing and all the other negative things that had made him becomes such a devious, dark child.
For that, Edward was happy.
Today would be the true test, though. Today he returned to work. He would learn if Al was still thinking the horrible things he spoke just seven nights ago.
"Aru! I'm off to work, okay?" He called from the door.
"Just a second, Edo!" Al shouted.
He could tell he was running toward him. The loud, fast footsteps were the key to that mystery.
"Here's your lunch, brother!" Al said with a smile as he handed Ed the brown bag. "You need to keep up the strength you built up these past couple of days."
"Thanks, Aru. I will, don't worry." He said giving a sad smile back. "Don't get to bored today, okay?"
"You don't need to worry about me, brother. I'll be fine." Al replied. "I'll probably be going back to work soon too."
Ed smiled. He was glad to hear that Al was feeling better. He definitely seemed better.
"See you tonight, Al."
With that Edward left Alphonse to head off to Central HQ.
The walk was nice; he had time to clear his head. He wondered how Roy had been doing since that night. He hadn't heard from him since then. He hoped that it hadn't effected him to much.
Ed entered the building and was greeted with smiles and warm welcomes. They had obviously missed the excitement the young man had brought them since he had joined.
"Hey, Edward! Your back! Great, things are finally getting back to normal!" Havoc said as he patted the younger man on the back. "How's Alphonse doing?"
"He's better. He actually wants to come back soon." Ed said with a smile.
"Fullmetal," A voice behind him called. "Please, come join me in my office."
Edward turned to see a very tired looking Roy Mustang looking at him.
"Sure thing, sir." He said quietly.
Havoc looked to Hawkeye who looked at him just as confused. Obviously something was going on, but no one had been told.
The door closed quietly behind Edward and Havoc, Hawkeye, and the others were left to wonder.
"Edward, we have a problem." Roy said, his exhaustion braking through. "I was informed last night. We're going to be sent into war. It seems it is a bad as we've heard too. We had about 50 men out there patrolling and last night they were all whipped out in a matter of hours. They're shipping out the State Alchemists tomorrow, along with a battalion of about 500 men."
"So soon? But... what about Al? Please tell me Al isn't on the list!" Edward said in shock.
"Don't worry, Alphonse was taken off the active duty list so he wasn't even in consideration." Roy replied, easing the young blonde a touch.
"Thank goodness. But, whom is all going? If you’re going, who's going to be taking charge?"
"Well, I manage to have Hawkeye placed in charge, with Havoc serving below her, the others have to go though." He said with a great sadness in his voice.
"I... Roy..." Edward started.
"Don't worry, Ed, it's okay. It's part of being in the Military. I'll be fine." Roy said with a fake smile. "Why don't you head home, get ready for tomorrow, we leave early. I got to inform the others. There won't be much to do here today."
"Okay." Was all Ed could come up with. "You sure your okay?"
"Yeah, don't worry about me, Fullmetal. I'm a military man, I'm use to this kind of thing." He replied.
Edward nodded. Though he wasn't sure if he believed the man in front of him. He then saluted and left the room.
"Hey, Edward, what's going on? You okay?" Havoc asked.
Edward said nothing as he walked past all his friends and out of the building. He went straight home.
"Edward, your home really early! What's going on?" Alphonse asked as his brother joined him in the living room.
"Aru, we need to talk." He said gruffly.
Al looked at his brother with fear. Was he going to tell him the war wasn't a rumor? Was he really going to go to war?
"You were right, Al, there was a war in the works. And I have to go. We leave tomorrow morning. We're all going. Everyone but Hawkeye and Havoc."
"Ed, are you serious? You can't! What would I do without you?!" Al shouted.
"I'm sorry, Aru, I have to." He whispered.
The boys sat in silence the rest of the day. They didn't move, didn't speak, and if it weren’t for the fact that they had to they wouldn't have been breathing.
The day turned to evening and then to night. The boys still sat where they had been since Edward had come home.
"Edward, it's late, we should go to bed. You have to get up in the morning." Al said in a calm tone.
"Yeah, your right Al." He replied. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, brother."

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Alphonse woke up early. He quietly opened his brother's bedroom door.
"I'm sorry about this, brother. But I told you, I'll die for you." He whispered.
He drew a transmutation circle on the side of his bed. He then transmuted the sheets around his brother to pin him to the bed. His hands to far apart for him to be able to clasp his hands.
Al then gently placed a cloth around his brother's mouth. He couldn't afford to have his screams wake the neighbors.
As he tightened the cloth his brother stirred and woke. A look of shock crossed his face as he tried to move but found it impossible.
"I'm sorry, brother. I can't let you go." He said quietly.
Edward looked at his brother, who wore his military uniform, but had on Edward's red jacket. Al put the hood up and at that moment you wouldn't have been able to tell if it were the younger or older brother, they were so close in height and build.
"Goodbye, brother. Don't be sad. I'll come back. Don't worry." He whispered and kissed his brother's forehead.
Ed could do nothing as he watched his brother leave.
Al walked silently through the house and quietly closed the front door, leaving a note explaining what would be found inside.
He knew the neighbors would come over later in the afternoon to check on Al. Hell, Winry might even catch the first train over. He knew his brother would be fine. He had no doubt.
He made his way through the still sleeping town to the train station where quite a few men and women in uniform were waiting. He let out a sigh, it would be a long train ride.
"Fullmetal, Where's Alphonse? Isn't he going to wish you well?" Roy asked, as the Alchemist approached.
Alphonse just shook his head. And it seemed as though Roy understood and would push the issue no farther.
Soon all of the personnel boarded the train. It was a very quiet train ride.

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It was underway, there was shooting and explosions everywhere. The ground was moving, shaking, flying up.
Alphonse couldn't believe the destruction going on, so many were already dead and others were dieing in front of him.
The ground shook and he fell to butt. He had to play his part, he clasps his hands together and placed his hands to the ground, creating a rock barrier.
Of course, he didn't have the same abilities as his brother. He had tattooed a transmutation circle to his hands the night before.
"Fullmetal! Look out!" Roy shouted, but it was to late.
Alphonse felt his skin rip as the bullet pierced his chest.
"AAHH!" Al screamed, but it was nothing to the other sounds around him.
Roy ran to the boy, snapping his fingers incinerating the shooter.
"EDWARD!" He yelled as he scooped up the smaller man.

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Armstrong watched as the young alchemist began to bleed. He was doing all he could to rid them of the men out to get them. He watched as the men and women around him began to fall. This battle was not in their favor. They didn't have enough men. They needed reinforcements, and soon.
Fuery was the next to fall, shoot in the leg. Breda dove in, trying to help defend his fallen friend, only to end up being shot himself.
Armstrong watched as Breda began to bleed, it was a sever wound. He wasn't going to last long. Fuery wasn't going to last either. He knew he wouldn't either. But that wasn't going to stop any of them. They would fight to the bitter end.

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Alphonse looked up at the dark haired man looking down at him, his vision becoming blurred.
"Brother, I'm sorry. I couldn't do it." He said, pain obvious in his voice.
Roy looked at the boy he held. That voice didn't match the man it was suppose to be. He pulled the hood off the young man's face. He looked on in shock.
"Al... Alphonse..." He whispered.
"I told brother I would come back. I told him I would be okay. I said..."
Alphonse began to cough. Blood came out of his mouth.
"Alphonse. Don't talk, I'll get you out of here." He whispered.
Roy snapped his fingers a few more times; a few more men around him fell. He took the time to see that most of HIS men had fallen. Fuery almost gone... Breda, more then likely already gone... even Armstrong seemed to be on the verge of death.
It was then he realized that there was no way that any of them would make it out.
He continued to snap his fingers, there were to many, he would never get them all.
That's when he felt it, the bullet went right through his hand, right through the circle on his glove. Then another went through his shoulder, then his leg, and finally his chest.
"Oh, Alphonse. I don't think we're going to make it out." He whispered.
"I'm sorry, Mustang, it's my fault. I should have done something more. Something to prevent this from happening."
Al started to cough again, more blood oozing from his mouth.
Roy to coughed, his own blood leaving through his mouth, as well as his wounds.
"No, Al. It's not your fault..." Roy said as he collapsed to the ground, from the lack of blood.
"Roy, you've been so kind... *cough*... we both really loved you... you were like a father... or older brother... for me..." Al spoke with his last bit breath. "Ed loved you too..."
Al's eyes began to darken and roll back.
"And I've loved you both too... like... family..." Roy replied, his eyes closing.
'I'll see you soon... Hughes...' Was Roy's last thought.
'Goodbye... for now... brother...'Al thought. 'I told you... I would die for...'
Al's eyes finally closed, his chest fell for the last time.
The war continued around the many, many fallen soldiers. Many who gladly gave their lives for all those that they love.

~*End*~

Originally intended to be a one-shot, I -- as well as my proof reader -- found it to give a feel of incompleteness that gave it a lack of integrity, so I wrote a short  epilogue (Titled: "For Aru") to go along with this.