Meetings, AKA Info-Dumping 101[Plus some things that will never be explained by the end of the story](Part 2)

Earlier....

Inoue continued to follow Shimomura through his house.

After a while, Inoue started to sweat-drop deeply. 'Seriously...his house is huge...we've been walking here for around thirty minutes...honestly...'

"So...Shimomura-san...where is this...'surprise' you wanted to show me?" Inoue asked carefully.

Shimomura sighed and turned around. "Alright, I know you're probably starting to get impatient, but please just bear with me. I kind of..got lost." Shimomura said nervously.

"WHAT? How do you get lost in your OWN HOUSE!?" Inoue stressed as she glared at Shimomura.

Shimomura felt beads of sweat roll down his face. "Um...well, what I'm trying to show you..tends to get a little misplaced...so...." Shimomura laughed nervously. 'Of course, I can't actually tell her that I really DID see Gael...but I guess I'll just have to find him again. I mean, really, who gets lost in their own house? Not me, that's for sure. Now,' Shimomura's thoughts went back to business. 'where is the kitchen again?'

*****

After a while, Shimomura finally found his kitchen and led Inoue inside it quietly.

Shimomura and Inoue snuck into the kitchen slowly, until they heard voices.

The duo froze in perfect synchronicity.

"-called Japan. It's a country made up of islands. If we can figure out how we got here..." The two heard one voice say.

"No. It's too risky. I can already figure out what you're thinking, and I don't like it." Another gruff voice was heard.

"But really? You want us to take over the country? Are you insane? We barely know anything about this place, besides it's name and the fact that this place is made up of islands!" Another voice snapped.

"Keep it down! Somebody out there might hear us!" Someone demanded.

Shimomura smirked at Inoue's shocked face as she whispered stiffly. "So you were right. There really is someone at your house...and they don't even know about Japan...you might actually be telling the truth Shimomura-san." Inoue said in a shocked tone.

Shimomura glared at her. "What do you sound so surprised? I told you they were here. Well, I guess it isn't that believable, so I'll let it slide this time."

Inoue's eyes were still wide when they suddenly heard shouting.

"HEY? What was that noise?" A voice demanded.

Shimomura and Inoue stiffened. They didn't even make any noise!

They heard loud footsteps as Shimomura and Inoue ran softly into the pantry.

Just as those strange voices were coming closer, Shimomura shut the door quickly. Unfortunately, he slammed it so hard that a bags of flour and sugar fell down on Shimomura and Inoue from the top shelf.

The bags split open and the two were attacked by a waterfall of sugar and flour.

"Agh!" Inoue groaned as she accidentally swallowed some sugar.

The two started to cough, and because of that, they made noise. And when you make noise, you attract attention.

The pantry door suddenly opened to show a man in a blue military uniform, cigarette in his mouth and a gun held downwards in his hands. He has spiky blond hair and a sort of street-smart look to him. The man smirked.

Shimomura and Inoue's jaws dropped to the floor. (Too much anime in here...)

"A-are you..." Shimomura spluttered. Partially because of all the flour and sugar that went into his mouth.

The man then snorted and put a finger to his lips. "Try to be quiet, okay? I'm here to rescue you."

Shimomura and Inoue exchanged looks then decided to follow the man.

"Uh...what's your name?" Shimomura asked nervously. Although he had a feeling that he already knew.

The man smirked for like the third time. "Second Lieutenant Jean Havoc, at your service."

Of course. Another Fullmetal Alchemist character.

*****

Havoc led Shimomura and Inoue through the house shooting random glass objects as he ran.

Shimomura blinked as he screamed over-dramatically. "Why are you shooting my stuff!?"

"Because I don't like you." Havoc grumbled. "Isn't it obvious? I'm making a lot of noise so someone can save us. You DO have a military here, right?"

"What do we need the military for? We just need the police!" Shimomura glared at Havoc who, for no apparent reason, decided that it would be funny to shoot the glass monkey behind Shimomura.

Shimomura screamed over-dramatically as he paled. "ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME???!!!"

Havoc shrugged. His eyes gave off a sparkle every time he grinned. "Maybe I'm trying to kill that glass monkey. Honestly, who uses a monkey for decoration anyways? And it's glass too. Why do you even have this much glass in your house. One day you are going to fall into it and cut yourself."

Shimomura growled at Havoc as he continued to sob over his poor glass monkey.

*Camera Confessions*

Shimomura: *Growls and crosses arms* I just decided I don't like Havoc. And this is weird, because I liked him before. At least, until he SHOT MY POOR GLASS MONKEY, SARAH! *Sobs*

Havoc: *Blinks* Uh....can I get my own camera confession? I'd rather not share one with the over-dramatic dude. Seriously, who names a glass monkey, 'Sarah'? It's so cliche.

Author: That's not the issue here!

*End of Camera Confessions*

Havoc led Shimomura and Inoue to the front door in no time flat.

"How does a stranger know his way so well inside someone else's house?" Inoue questioned.

Havoc shrugged. "I just do."

Shimomura stared at them with disbelief. They were discussing this NOW?

"Alright, do you have a phone somewhere? We need to send a faulty message." Havoc said seriously.

Shimomura nodded then handed Havoc his cell-phone before he realized that Havoc was from the late 1900's. "Uh...right. Manga character doesn't know what cell phone is, Shimomura, stupid." Shimomura mumbled to himself as he turned toward the landline phone that was right behind him. "I KNEW this would come in handy one day!" He exclaimed triumphantly as he handed the phone to Havoc.

Havoc took the phone without a second thought and dialed the number to send a message to...Shonen Gangan.

Inoue raised an eyebrow. "Why are you sending a message to Shonen Gangan?"

Havoc smirked at her....again. (Seriously dude, what's with all the smirking today?) "You'll see. Now Shimomura," Havoc said as he turned towards Shimomura. "I need you to scream this into the phone like there's an emergency, alright?" Havoc handed Shimomura a piece of paper that had a short paragraph on it. Of what, he didn't understand.

Shimomura raised an eyebrow as well. "Uh...why?"

"Just because." Havoc looked around before he picked up another glass monkey lying on the floor. "Alright, on my cue, start the message, You better have good acting."

Shimomura looked unsure then decided to follow Havoc's instructions for now. He still didn't notice the glass monkey held in Havoc's hand.

Shimomura took a deep breath then shouted into the phone, putting on the best act he could, while reading off the words written on the paper.

"ARAKAWA! NOMOTO! This is bad! Me and Inoue are held captive by Gael! Gael and Colt, COLT HIMSELF! That's right, the character that was introduced in the new book-the antagonist! I know I might sound crazy, but it' true! Inoue is with me. Right now we're trying to hid from Colt and Gael, but that's hard to do since they have GUNS with them!" Shimomura shouted.

"Shimomura-san! Watch out!" Inoue yelled into the phone. Shimomura looked at her reading off of a paper in her hand. 'Well, Havoc really prepared for-' He stopped mid-thought as Havoc suddenly smashed the glass monkey on the phone, shattering the monkey and breaking the phone, ending the transmission.

Shimomura stared at him with shock.

*Camera Confessions*

Shimomura: NO!!! My beloved Anne!

Havoc: Can we get him some help?

Author: Deal with it.

Havoc: Aw...you're so mean to us characters...

Author: Yup!

Havoc: ...you enjoy it don't you...torturing us characters....

Author: *Says happily* That's the main reason why I love my job!

Havoc and Shimomura: 'Sadistic...'

*End of Camera Confessions*

"What did you do that for?" Shimomura demanded angrily.

Havoc shrugged. "To create a fake message. We need your friends to come here, don't we?"

Shimomura glared at Havoc with the hatred he never felt before. 'First, he destroys Sarah...and then my beloved Marie Anne! He'll pay for this...oh he'll pay...'

"Anyways. We should probably get out of here before those guys find us." Havoc said, ignoring the dark aura emitting from Shimomura.

Havoc, Shimomura, and Inoue ran out of the house as fast as they could all the way to Shonen Gangan.

*******

Arakawa stared at the secretary who then answered, "Uhhhh....I..." at her answer she fell into a dejected state, "...accidentally broke the messaging machine."

Everyone in that room did the anime fall.

Nomoto sighed as he rubbed his eyes. "Come on...you know better. Next time this happens, you have to report it immediately. Otherwise, there's going to be mix-ups."

Arakawa nodded, understanding. 'I see. So that's why she said that Nomoto-san was still in a meeting when he finished an hour ago.'.

The secretary bowed. "Sorry! I actually got this message five minutes ago!"

"Right. So, what's your name again?" Nomoto asked bluntly.

The secretary fell into a dejected state. 'They called me Secretary-san because they didn't know my name...?'

"I-I'm Setsuko Natsue, nice to meet you-formally, I mean." Natsue introduced nervously.

Arakawa smiled. "What a pretty name."

"Alright, now that that's done, we should probably go and rescue your two friends, Shimomura and Inoue." Roy said.

"Let's be cautious though. We don't want to attract attention as Hiromi said." Riza cautioned.

Nomoto nodded. "We'll take the back door into an underground tunnel that Arakawa and Shimomura came across a while ago. That tunnel is right below a nearby cafe, and it's normally our meeting spot. One of the tunnels leads to Shimomura's house."

Alphonse nodded then turned to Natsue, "Natsue, do you want to come with us? After all, you're the one that gave us the message."

Everyone looked at Natsue. "U-um...I guess so...." She stuttered nervously.

"Alright! Let's go!" Arakawa ordered as the group walked out the door with confidence shining on their faces.

*******

Havos led Shimomura and Inoue to a manhole that was deep inside an alleyway. He opened up the cover of the manhole and told Shimomura and Inoue to go inside.

"Alright, go inside and wait for five minutes. If I'm not back by then, I want you to continue on through the tunnels. As long as you keep heading straight, there should be no problems. Down the tunnel is a group of people like me." Havoc pointed down the tunnel as he explained.

"People like you? You mean people who like to destroy glass monkeys?" Shimomura asked in a mocking tone.

Havoc glared at him dryly. "Oh shut up."

"But why do you want us to wait here? What are you going to do?" Inoue asked, concern inching towards her voice.

Havoc flashed her a toothy grin. "Don't worry. I'm just doing a little recon work. It usually takes around five or ten minutes-considering a few factors: like if I don't get suddenly ambushed, or I get lost. It all depends really."

Inoue looked at Shimomura and he shrugged. Inoue sighed. Shimomura was probably still mad about the two glass monkeys that Havoc shattered.

"Alright, wait here. Remember-after five minutes-LEAVE. Don't turn back no matter what!" Havoc barked the order sternly.

Inoue blinked and exchanged looks with Shimomura. If he really was just doing recon, then why was he given such a strict order?

Without even letting them speak their opinions on the matter, Havoc shoved them roughly down the manhole and closed it. He then dragged a big wooden box over the manhole to cover it up, leaving the befuddled duo in the manhole.

Shimomura blinked. "What...just...happened...exactly?"

Inoue shook her head slowly with wide eyes. "Honestly, I really don't know."

********

"Edward Elric. Alphonse Elric. Roy Mustang. Riza Hawkeye." A deep voice listed names in the shadows of strange room.

"Jean Havoc. Heymans Breda. Colt. Gael. The terrorists." A female voice continued.

"Kain Fuery. Ancy. Winry Rockbell-"

"Wait. I thought she wasn't in the book!" The female voice exclaimed.

The man with the deep voice sneered, "Well you know what, I say we put her in."

The female rolled her eyes. "Sometimes I don't understand you."

"Stop bickering and continue." Ordered a calm, cool and collected voice.

The female and the man huffed.

*Camera Confession*

Mysterious Female: Honestly, I can't believe that I'm surrounded by these two. One is always calm, cool, and collected-and the other is the complete opposite. Sometimes it can be really annoying!

Author: Hey! You aren't allowed to have a camera confession yet!

*Camera Confession ends*

"Alright then. Vato Falman. Ancy's uncle...should we really put him on the list? I mean he's only mentioned. Might as well bring every Military Policeman mentioned as well." The female reasoned.

"Bring everyone! Continue the list!" The calm one ordered.

The female sighed, while the man continued. "Greg. Ladies that Mustang talked to on the train.....can we just cut to the chase and say everyone in the book-minor part or not? Because this is getting ridiculous."

The calm one was silent for a moment. "Alright. Say the last people on the list, then we can begin our operation. Well...not now at least."

The man sighed then finished the list. "Nomoto. Shimomura. Makoto Inoue. And...Hiromi Arakawa."

The calm one smirked. "Soon...a disaster will fall all over Japan... and the only hope these people have are manga characters, Shonen Gangan editors, and authors." The calm one then started to cackle evilly.

In a few seconds, the female and the other man joined in-their cackling filling the night.

"Wait a minute...but we're not doing anything to Japan..." the female stopped cackling and just stared blankly as she was ignored. She huffed. "Well, that's rude."

*****

Meanwhile, the people in question were dealing with their own problems.

Arakawa's group split up into three groups.

In order to get to know one another better, they mixed up who they usually work with.

Edward went with Arakawa, Nomoto went with Roy, and Riza went with Al.

Edward and Arakawa ran through a tunnel as fast as they could.

"So...Hiromi... " Edward said awkwardly.

"Yeah?" Hiromi asked, not dropping her pace, not even for a second.

"Do...do you know what happens...to us? Like whether or not Al and I get our bodies back?" Edward asked timidly.

Hiromi stopped running. "Well...yes I do know, because like we explained...I "created" your life. But...I think it would be better with you not knowing."

Edward looked crestfallen. "Oh...I see."

Hiromi turned around to face the golden haired teenager. She gave him a warm and comforting smile. "Don't worry. Through everything that you're going to go through-I can tell you one thing. You'll have the strength to go through with it all."

Edward gave her a confused look before smiling. "Of course."

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Edward's smile vanished as his head sharply jerked in the direction that the sound was coming from. "What was that?" He growled softly.

Arakawa looked around wearily. "I don't know."

CLAANG! CLAANG! CLAANG!

Edward's frown deepened. "There it is again."

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The noise began to grow in sound and speed, frightening the manga artist and character.

"Okay, this is starting to get annoying." Edward pouted, slouching at the same time.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Arakawa frowned. This time the noise only sounded once, before it stopped.

CLAANG! CLAANG! CLAANG!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Arakawa's eyes widened as he stood up straighter. She turned around to face Edward with excitement in his eyes. "Edward!" She hissed loudly. "I know what this is! This is probably code! That explains why the noise is repeating itself in that specific pattern!"

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Arakawa and Edward both closed their eyes as they listened closely to that sound.

CLAANG! CLAANG! CLAANG!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

CLAANG! CLAANG! CLAANG!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Edward gasped as his eyes widened. He recognized that pattern. He turned around to face Arakawa with a serious look. "Hiromi! That's Morse code!"

Arakawa nodded. "Yes, I realized it too. The code used mainly by ships out at sea. "SOS"- "Save Our Souls" or "Save Our Ship"- basically meaning..."

"'Help'" Edward finished with a grim look.