Vergoldungaugen, Silberschimmer

“Are
you ready to go?” Lavender eyes caught one dark jade and one narrow cat-like
pupil ruby; his bangs tucked behind his ear. Wrath nodded.

“Yes
I’m ready to go back to the gate.” The elder man held out his hand for the
younger to take.

“Good,
you get to meet my wife; she’s heard a lot about you.” Lavender eyes went wide.

“Wife?!”
A chuckle.

“Yes…
more or less the woman I speak of is my wife.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ed was smiling very brightly during lunch with
Phoenix. It had been a bit over a month since she had started dating of Roy.
The light russet skinned woman could see she was happy… well if you asked her;
not to mention being deeply in love even if the blonde hadn’t realized it yet. “My
father is going to be in town this week along with my youngest brother and my
step-mother.” Ed’s head popped up at the mention of it.

“I can’t wait to meet them.” Painted red lips curved
upwards as her hand caressed the white fur of Hamlet’s head. Ophelia was lying
in -as always- Ed’s lap.

“I’m sure they can’t wait to meet you either.” A slight pause. “I was wondering
if you could help me.” A golden brow went up. “Our pianist is sick and won’t be
able to come back till towards beginning of next week. I know you’re good.” Ed
chuckled and grinned.

“Of course I’ll help… though it might be a good idea if I’m not seen… yet.”
Phoenix shook her head slightly; amused but nodded.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This time Aki wasn’t knocked over when someone ran
into him. Looking down he saw a young woman with braided buns with 3 braided tails
of raven hair. Akihiko felt bad of course; he figured that he didn’t get knocked over along with her because this one wasn’t
sporting automail and maybe not as physically able as Ed. He held out his hand
to help her up. “Sorry about that.” Onyx eyes looked up at him.

“No need it was my fault since I wasn’t looking where I was going.” The more
petite hand took the larger and Aki got her to her feet. The albino suddenly
winced as he felt his skin starting to burn.

“Come along Princess Mei, we’ll talk more once we’re
out of the sun.” Her dark eyes widen as he gracefully led her to a shady place
under a tree. Akihiko sat against the trunk, thankful to be out from under the
sun’s rays. Mei could see that his face was reddening. At least I got into the shade in time. He swept back his hair while
she only looked at his slightly burnt face.

“How did you know I was a princess… and why is your
face all red like that?” The albino chuckled.

“My skin burns easily since I don’t have a lot of
pigment in it. I knew you’re a princess because I make it my business to know
things; especially since it’s my job in the military.” Eyes wavered to her
shoulder. “And you’re the only one I’ve ever heard of that has a panda.” Aki
was one of the officers that got weekday off

Blinking she took a better look and saw he wasn’t
kidding, there was only a light touch of peach to his skin and his hair had no
-she chastised herself for not noticing earlier- pigment at all. But she
couldn’t see his eyes because of his sunglasses. Tenderly her slim fingers
touched the burned skin; his eyes twitched a little in pain. “Does it hurt?”
Akihiko told her ‘only a little’. Mei wanted to bash him over the head. “You
dummy! Why are you out in the sun without any protection?” He gapped at her
which turned into a sheepish half grin.

“I usually stay indoors or remember to find shade
quickly before ducking out into the sun again. I don’t own anything for
permanent shade.” The much shorter woman growled at him. She then pulled out a Xingese
parasol and handed it to him.

“You already know my name but I don’t know yours.”
He smiled this time.

“Forgive me about that your highness. Akihiko
Tracey.” He stood. “As a thank you how about I treat you to something sweet and
cold since it is pretty warm right now.” The eighteen year old nodded at that.

“I’d like that… and just call me Mei.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Welcome to my stage Ed.” Her gold eyes were wide
with amazement. The two cats were looking about but not at the stage; they
spied some comfy looking chairs. It was as big as some of the stages that she
had seen Roselle performed on. There were already some people practicing on
stage. They rehearse this early? It’s
only 2 in the afternoon. A man a little older than Phoenix was strumming a
guitar and also a woman was tapping her percussion instrument. Hazel brown and
sapphire blue soon looked up at the two. The notes tapered off and the man
waved.

“Who’s your friend Eva?” Ed looked quizzically at
the redhead. She gently scratched at her cheek.

“Eva is my middle and stage name.” She looked back
at the two on stage. “Ed these two are part of my group. There are more but
they’re not here yet.” A chuckle. “The man with the guitar is Carmine Bellomi
and the lady is Kallope Devereaux but we call her Sapphira.” Ed laughed.

“I can see why you would.” The blonde and redhead
walked closer. Ed had let go of the leashes; so carefully Ophelia and Hamlet
went to the chairs and curled up on them. 

“This is Ed. She’ll be our pianist until the other
comes back.” The three exchanged greetings and shook hands. The blonde
internally chuckled. If these two were on
the other side I’d say Carmine came from Italy and Sapphira came from New
Orleans, Louisiana. Ed felt that way because of the soft brogue as they
spoke but she knew they were Amestrian; with possibly foreign parents or were once
foreign themselves. “Come on Ed, Let’s go to the piano and I’ll show you what
we’ll be playing for the week.” Ed rubbed the back of her head.

“After I make a phone call… Uh where is your phone?” Light russet skin wrinkled
in laughter.

“Right
this way Ed.”  Hamlet and Ophelia’s eyes
tracked them both but they didn’t move from their comfy perches.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dark
eyes glanced at the phone as it rang once. Once the second one started strong
slender fingers picked it up. “Mustang speaking.”

“You
sound so professional Roy.” Came a teasing voice; the dark haired man instantly
relaxed.

“Edward…”
He smiled gently. “Is there anything you need?”

“No. I just wanted to tell you that I’m going to be busy for the rest of the
week. I promised to help my friend but I should be free towards the weekend.”
Roy pouted that he wouldn’t be able to see her until at least Saturday; but she
had made a promise and he knew she wouldn’t ever back out once she had made her
word.

“I
understand Edward. Will you be coming over to my place or shall I go to yours?”
He grinned as heard her slightly frazzled on the other end.

“I’ll come over to your place, you teasing bastard.” Roy had to laugh at her
‘pet’ name for him. He wished for a few more minutes on the phone with her to
help carry him threw the rest of the week. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Maybe Mei was rightstyle='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>... Lin thought. After
his younger half sister had dragged him off; she had given him an earful… in
fact his ears were still ringing from it. The younger had called him an idiot
for trying to get between two people who were very obviously in love. He was
surprised that Mei hadn’t let her panda go to town on him. He sighed as he
watched the rain fall, arms on the sill of the window and head on his arms.
Upon hearing the door; black pearls looked back and widen. Mei was back and
looking like she was on cloud nine and hopping around. I wonder what’s made her so happy.  

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Covered indigo eyes glittered happily as three -two
men and a woman- people got off the train. Rain still drizzled down but not
very heavily has it had been. “Mother, Father.” He hugged a tall redheaded man
first then the shorter woman with chestnut brown hair. He glanced at the
slightly -than himself- shorter male with auburn hair. “Leon.” Aki ruffled his hair.

“Phoenix is at work I suppose?”

“Yes Father, you did come later than you usually do.
It’s almost dark.” The elder nodded and his curls bounced a little.

“How is your digging going?” A cheeky grin.

Again
I’m sorry for being a little later than usual, I thank everyone who has enjoyed
and faved this story and put it on their alert list ^^. Oh if anyone wants to
see a picture of Veril (a profile but a picture of him none the less) go here. http://
www(dot)mayzen(dot)deviantart(dot)com/ # / d31zlxt

Oh
and for those who might not know you pronounce ‘Devereaux’ is De-va-row at least that’s how it sounds to me. I hope none
of you mind the little Mei/Aki thing I thought
something like that would be… cute.

If
you have any questions, suggestions, anything you'd like to see in this story,
or just anything in general e-mail me at lumina_the_mutant
(At) yahoo (dot) com, PM me threw FF.net, or review any will do; you could also
IM me if you wish. My AIM screen name is Mayzenhikari.
Please R&R, until next time folks.