Fullmetal Alchemist: The Missing Soul - A Mystery Unfolds

'If Truth took a part of my body or something, then I would have known. But how would you know if your soul has been tampered with or not? Nobody's ever tried. We know that body and soul can exist separately, like with Barry the Chopper. But what happens if just a section of a soul is taken out? What would happen then? What if that's what happened to me?'

Mustang waited for a couple of seconds, then asked: 'Is that really what you believe?'

'I don't know what to believe anymore, Colonel. The only thing I'm sure of is that there's something really wrong with me, and I can't take it anymore.'

'Or, you could be suffering from survivor's guilt, or temporary depression. Have you considered that?'

Al shot Mustang an offended look, then remembered himself and said: 'Of course I have, that's the first thing that came to my mind. Weren't you listening? Why else would I research mental illnesses first? This could have been brain damage or concussion for anything I know. I checked the recent hospital records and everything - the papers have nothing to explain what's been going on.'

'You really thought about everything.' Mustang smiled despite the severity of the situation.

'I know it sounds insane. But there is nothing wrong with me, not physically, and not mentally. A human being is made out of three things: body, mind, and soul. If we dismiss the first two, it has to be related to the soul.'

The Colonel nodded. 'There's got to be a way for you to get what you're missing, though.'

Finally. Instead of arguing further or declaring him crazy, Mustang believed him. Al was so relieved he could whoop with joy. 'But how do I do that, Colonel?'

'You're asking me?' There was unmistakable smugness in Mustang's tone, but Al ignored it for the time being.

'You and Teacher are the only people I know of who've seen the Gate,' he explained. 'If you can't help me, I doubt anyone can.'

'What about Hohenheim?'

Al froze for a second, then sighed. 'He's gone.'

No more explanation was needed. Just because they saved Amestris with Hohenheim's help, didn't mean the man would change and stop disappearing on everyone without telling where he was going. Judging by his expression, Mustang understood perfectly and changed the topic.

'I might know a way, but I don't think you'll like it, Fullmetal.'

That made the boy perk up immediately. 'What? What is it?'

'When Havoc finally gets here, Doctor Marcoh could-'

Marcoh's name was enough for Al to get the idea. He interrupted harshly: 'No.'

'Fullmetal…'

'I told you already, Colonel, I'm not going to use the Philosopher's Stone. I won't sacrifice anyone else's soul to fix my own mistake!'

'And I respect that,' Mustang relented. 'I just don't want to see you suffer like this. This Stone would be spent on a much better cause if it was used for your sake than mine.'

Al was speechless for a moment. Mustang couldn't mean that, could he?

'D-don't be ridiculous, Colonel. Of course you need the Stone. I don't need it nearly as much as you do.'

'I beg to differ. We're talking about your soul here.'

'I'll find another way. I can live like this until I come up with a solution.'

'Can you? You said the exact opposite a moment ago.'

Once again, Al had no idea what to say. He looked away, his eyes turning to the window, where he met an alien pair of golden eyes peering at him.

Alphonse froze in surprise, gawking at the face in the window with disbelief, and so did the owner of the golden eyes. For a second neither of them moved nor breathed, only stared at each other in total shock. Then suddenly, the spell was broke when the face quickly disappeared from sight.

'Hey!' Al yelled loudly, causing Mustang to jump in surprise. He ran up to the window. 'Hey, stop! Someone stop him!'

'What's going on?'

'Someone's been spying through the window!'

Confusion filled the Colonel's expression. 'Aren't we on the third floor?'

Al blinked, realizing that Mustang was right. He opened the window and looked outside. Just as he did, a figure landed on the ground gracefully and started running away. The stranger appeared to be a blond teenager, dressed in a red coat with a familiar symbol on. Al had to admit the spy was pretty fast.

He wasted no time; turning on his heel, he swiftly left the room. The soldiers who'd been sitting in the hallway, chatting, snapped to attention immediately.

'Lieutenant!' he addressed Hawkeye, seeing she was the highest ranking solider around. 'Someone's been spying on my conversation with Mustang! He's running away!' Hawkeye narrowed her eyes dangerously.

'Who? What did they look like?'