"How much?!"

The boy's desperate cry rang out through the small plaza, echoing off the stone pillars and statues, ringing in the water from the fountain, and piercing deep into the hearts of everyone who heard it. Even those without a physical heart, like Alphonse Elric, were moved by the sound. "Brother..." His hollow, echoey voice only further reminded Edward of his troubles. No, they weren't just troubles anymore- it was a war. The Fullmetal Alchemist was fighting a war against the universe, and he had lost yet another battle.

"How much will other people- innocent people, good honest people with families and careers and friends- have to suffer for our mistakes?!" the blonde teenager yelled angrily to the sky. The only answer he received was the rain pelting down on his face. Edward didn't need to cry that day. The world was crying for him. This cruel, heartless universe of "survival of the fittest" and "equivalent exchange" was weeping so he didn't have to. The raindrops streaming down his face mimicked tears he desperately held back.

It wasn't fair. But none of this was fair. "Hughes never should have been killed. It's our fault, Al. The only reason he's dead was because he met us. If he hadn't found out about the philosopher's stone, Mr. Hughes would still be alive today. W-We caused this. Our search has been a war all along, and there's been too many causalities. Too many battles have been lost, even though we've mostly won. We need to hurry, Alphonse. Before more people get hurt because of us."

The large suit of metal armor sitting on the stone steps next to his brother didn't speak for awhile, raindrops pelting against his steel body with a loud angry rumble. "Brother, are you saying Nina was our fault too?" he finally asked, a sad tone to his metallic voice that broke his brother's heart.

"No, Al. Mr. Tucker is the only one to blame for that," Edward answered. His left hand tightened into a fist at the thought of the man who had turned his only daughter into a chimera to pass the state alchemist's exam. "When I said causalities, I didn't mean only deaths."

"Oh." Alphonse didn't ask his elder brother what he meant. He knew perfectly. "You meant emotional damage too. Pity. Everyone who looks at us and sees two lost orphans searching for something they'll probably never find."

"But they're wrong. We will find what we're looking for. I promise you, Al." Edward turned to gaze straight into his brother's glowing eyes.

"The only question is: How much will it cost us?"