InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Humanity ❯ Dreaded Darkness ( Chapter 2 )

Humanity

By Joyfulmusic

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or Inuyasha. Never have, never will.

This fanfic contains some spoilers. I haven't seen the whole series of either show so I'm not sure how they end. But that's why this is a fanfic!

 

Chapter 2: Dreaded Darkness

 

That evening the brothers climbed the stairs behind their host. Willa led them to the second floor, which held three rooms. One was directly to the left of the stairway while the other two were accessible by turning and going back past the stairs. In the upper landing was another fireplace, which had been lit just before supper had finished cooking. Beside it sat an old trunk. Two windows were parallel with the stairs. One looked toward the front lawn, while the other overlooked the roof of the kitchen and the backyard.

 

“This room, to the right of the stairway, is mine.” Willa explained, pointing at the door but continuing toward the front rooms. “You can each choose between these two. They both have their own bathrooms.” She led the brothers to the one adjacent to her own. “This one has a smaller bed, and bath.”

 

The room was painted forest green. It contained a four poster bed with the headboard against the left hand wall and was covered with an ivy quilt. Two windows faced the front of yard while two others looked out the side. There was a large wardrobe next to the door. Engraved on the wood, was a helmet and sword. Just opposite that, stood a dresser with three mirrors. The bathroom doorway was between the bed and wardrobe. Inside was small, with a short bathtub to the right. The sink and toilet were on the far wall.

 

“It's not much.” Willa told the Elrics with a slight frown. To her this room was too small and the wardrobe seemed overbearing. “But it should do for one of you. I call it the green room because of the color. This way.” She motioned for them to follow her across the hallway to the other bedroom.

 

This one was larger and painted yellow. A sleigh bed sat long ways from the door, just out from the wall enough for someone to pass. Windows lined the wall to the left of the entry, with a couch facing the bed. The opposite wall had only two windows, which connected with the others. Beside them stood a vanity that was almost in the way of getting into the bathroom.

 

It too was larger than the previous, with a long claw foot tub. The antique toilet, with a pull string, was situated on the far wall, next to the pedestal sink. A small closet was parallel that which housed towels and other necessities. Two windows above the tub, one of which was cracked, looked out over the side yard.

 

“Well.” Willa watched her guests, who seemed to be in awe of the bedrooms, which pleased her. This floor was in better condition than the downstairs because she had worked hard to restore it. She simply hadn't had the resources or time to finish the rest of the house. “I hope you both like it.”

 

Alphonse nodded, glancing at the large bed which looked very soft though he wouldn't be able to tell. “Yes, thank you.” He turned to peer up at the small chandelier. The other room had contained a simple light fixture. `This must have been a sitting room or library at one time.'

 

Edward was grinning broadly at his surroundings. “It is amazing. Like something out of an old novel. But… are you sure it's okay if Al eats up here? We don't want to mess things up.” He was still playing the game they'd started years earlier. Of course he would willingly accept his brother's plate because it had been so long since he'd had a good meal. He also had no idea when he'd have another after leaving this kind hostess and continuing with their travels.

 

Her laugh was light and her blue eyes sparkled. “No, I don't mind at all. I eat up here all the time.” She nodded to the vanity. “I use that as a table when I don't feel like staying downstairs. Oh!” A cat came dashing past her legs to sit on the bed and stare at the brothers. “Pharaoh! Where have you been?” She picked up the orange tabby. “I'm sorry. He thinks he owns the house.”

 

“May I pet him?” The armor sounded hopeful at the thought of the dreary day being somewhat brightened by the small animal. To his delight Willa nodded, handing him the feline. “I love cats.” Gently he stroked its back while cradling him in one arm. Pharaoh purred happily, rubbing his head against the metal chest plate.

 

Willa shook her head smiling. “He's cute but also spoiled. I'm surprised he didn't come out of hiding before now. I guess it's because he's scared of the storm.” She glanced out the front windows. The rain was still pouring, darkness surrounding the house like a veil. Shivering a little she continued. “To tell the truth so do I. I hate being alone on nights like this.”

 

Edward frowned a little, looking out. “But then why do you stay here? I understand that you don't like having people butting in, neither do we, but…” He turned to observe the young woman, who seemed worried. Something about her had changed as the night had settled in. It was like her strength and security was being drained. “Is it really wise to live so far from town? What if something happened?”

 

Her eyes were apprehensive as she glanced back at him. “The town isn't as safe as you would think. Some of the people there aren't what they seem.” Both of the Elrics were concentrating on her so with a sigh she took a seat on the couch. “There are shape-shifters in this new world. Sometimes I can tell but… other times I can't. I know of at least five in Wick. But if I say anything I could be in danger.”

 

“Yet you trust us?” Al still held the cat, who was being lulled to sleep by his gentle hand. His brother was thinking along the same line and nodded to her. It did seem strange to them that she would open her home so readily. They hadn't even been introduced when she offered them shelter. Why would a lone woman do such a thing for two strangers? Something simply wasn't adding up.

 

Willa sighed again, shaking her head. “I can't explain it but…” She lifted her face, allowing them to see the hope in her eyes. She couldn't tell them the whole truth, and so settled for part of it. “I sense something from you two. Something I can't quite explain. It's like I know that I'll be safe with you. Besides… Miles, the guard, he's one of them. Shape-shifters know their own, and would've let you in. The five already there seem to be connected somehow, though they don't act like it outright.”

 

Edward took a seat on the bed. `Still…we have our own secrets. But…' He cleared his throat before speaking. “I need to show you something.” Lifting his right sleeve reviled a robotic arm. There was no deep intake of breath. No sign that Willa had been affected by what should have been a shocking revelation. “My leg's automail too, and we're both alchemists.”

 

Their hostess nodded thoughtfully, though still she didn't seem fazed. “I know, I could tell when you dried off.” This won her a shocked look from the man. With a smile she clarified, “Your sleeve rose a bit and I could see it. And you tried to taw out your right leg from the cold. But you didn't try to warm the left, which is the automail. Correct?”

 

“Very observant.” Al commented, while his brother remained somewhat traumatized. Though, it wasn't the kind of overreaction he would have given as a young teen. “You must have learned to watch people carefully.” It almost made him uneasy. They'd known about the oddities of people here. They weren't exactly considered normal either. But talk of shape shifters made the steel alchemist wonder about her own abilities.

 

“Yes. I have to be.” Yawning, Willa stood. “One has to observe people here. It's not as safe as everyone thinks. But…” She cocked an eyebrow toward Alphonse. “I haven't figured you out yet. You ought to be cold in that armor, but you're not. And you offered for your bother to go into town without you, which also seems odd to me.”

 

Now Edward was worried. His brother's secret was not one that needed to be let out easily. There were too many harsh possibilities of what could happen to them if such knowledge were made public. “Maybe we should leave then.” Standing he looked up at his armored sibling with that old runaway glint in his eye. “We can find somewhere else to stay the night.”

 

“Oh really?” Their host had a hand on her hip and a frown spread across her lips. “And where would that be? The next town is a day away. Unless of course you want to try and go back to Wick. Besides…” She yawned again forcing her to pause. “It doesn't matter to me what your secret is. If you don't want to tell me, fine. But I warn you, night is not a time to be out in these woods.” She turned to the window and pointed. “See there? They wait.”

 

Walking to the glass, Alphonse could see glowing red eyes in the woods. Edward's face filled with agitated concern as a howl was let loose. From his place in armor's arms Pharaoh awoke and hissed sharply, flexing his claws against the metal. “What are they?” Al asked quietly. “We haven't seen them before, not in any of the other places we've stayed at night.”

 

Willa shook her head. “I'm not sure. But I think they are everywhere in these mountains.” She strolled toward the door glancing back at them with a fretful expression. “You obviously haven't spent a night outside, or you wouldn't be here… not as you are anyway.”

 

Ed turned to her in fearful confusion. “What do you mean, `as we are'?” His brow was furrowed, but his mind seemed to be going a million miles a minute. `Perhaps they're chimeras…a combination of different animals.' He'd seen such handy work before. Many times had he faced such science experiments. Most of the occasions had not been something he would consider pleasant.

 

“I've been told that, once someone is taken, if they come back they're different.” Willa bit her lip a little as she always did when she became nervous. “Some came back mad, completely crazy. Once, a demon came into the village, claiming to have been taken.” Her head shook fiercely, trying to rid herself of the memory. “But they wouldn't hear him out. They threw the poor thing out of town, without even trying to find out the truth!”

 

Another howl was heard. Whatever it was seemed to be watching them, just as an animal would stalk its prey. All three of the companions seemed to jump. Pharaoh leapt from Al's arms and scampered out of the room, in search of a place to hide. The howl was released again, louder this time, making the glass windows chatter against their wooden frames.