InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Humanity ❯ Pulling Together ( Chapter 6 )

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 6: Pulling Together

 

Ed kicked the door a few times since he couldn't knock because his hands were too full. Al opened it then moved aside to let his sibling enter. “Brother! I thought you were just going to get something to eat.” He helped Edward set down the bags without spilling anything. Pharaoh had already smelled the cat food and was rubbing against it, purring loudly.

 

Looking around the alchemist was concerned. “Where's Willa?” Then he realized the door to the bathroom was closed. He breathed a sigh of relief, his heart slowing back to its normal pace. “She's taking a bath?” Al nodded, allowing the blonde's muscles to relax again.

 

“Brother what's wrong?” The armor was pulling out items, sitting them on the counter. Then he moved to pour out a small pile of food for Pharaoh. The cat jumped up beside him and began eating quickly. His purr was like a motor boat, loud and constant.

 

Setting down Ed pushed his bangs back with his real hand. He sighed heavily before trying to explain. “They're here. Like that thing we saw in the woods. There was one in the store.” He looked up at his brother who was using alchemy to create a bowl for the cat to have some milk. “It was human but, it had red eyes. I know it had to be like whatever that creature was, and it was watching me. I think it knows Willa is with us.”

 

The younger man's head turned toward the bathroom door. There she stood, a large towel wrapped around her slim body. Her red hair hung wet against her back, dripping on the floor. He could see that her face was full of worry. She'd heard what Edward had said, and it shook her to the core.

 

Swallowing hard she managed to speak. “Then there's no escape.” Her voice and eyes were hollow with loss of hope. Everything she had felt earlier, safety, relief, thankfulness, it was all gone. Now it was as though she stood against a brick wall. There would be no escaping the final outcome. In the end, they would have her.

 

“No.” Ed stood and moved to wrap his arms around her. His heart pounded in his chest as he pulled her close. Something about the movement seemed right, though he had never done so with another woman, except perhaps to comfort Winry. “We'll find a way. You will be safe. Don't worry about it.” He could feel her right hand still gripping the towel tightly. The other hung loosely at her side.

 

She was short but was able to lay her head against his automail shoulder. Closing her eyes tightly, she forced her arm to raise and embrace him in return. `Please…please don't get hurt because of me. I couldn't bear it if it happened again.' Tears poured down her cheeks, as she shook at the memory. It was too hard to accept the idea that these two men could come to harm while protecting her.

 

Ed moved back a little, smiling down into her sad blue eyes. “Don't worry, we'll work something out.” She nodded before backing away. Willa turned to enter the bathroom to change but he stopped her. “Wait. I bought you some new clothes. That way we can have those washed.” He moved to pick up the bag and hand it to her.

 

She smiled, gratefully accepting the gift. They had done so much for her already. It was far more than she had expected from the two brothers. More than she had hoped for from anyone in years. People were usually unnerved by her ability to read others. The majority backed away when they realized her accursed talent.

 

Alphonse watched the display before him. As the girl closed the bathroom door the alchemist turned to look at him. He moved his head to back to gaze at the cat, which was still eating on the dresser. Gently he rubbed the Pharaoh's back. “You like Willa, don't you.” It was more of a statement than a question.

 

It caught Ed off guard, his eyes widened before he looked away. He did like her but… But he'd known he couldn't become close to a woman. Not while his brother was trapped in that body. It wouldn't be right for him to live like normal, since Al would never be able to. In defeat he hung his head. “She's nice enough. Why don't you like her Al? I thought you wanted to help her.” It was a ploy to evade the real meaning of the query. It was too soon to have really fallen for the girl anyway. He could easily brush away the feelings, or so he thought.

 

“I didn't mean it like that brother.” The younger man would not be dissuaded from the true subject at hand. “You really like her. That's why you bought her those clothes, and why you hugged her just now.” He moved to sit on the bed Willa would be sleeping in, but kept his gaze on the feline.

 

Edward sat down on his own mattress. “I… It's too soon, you know that! We only just met her yesterday. It's not like we've known her that long.” He frowned a little, trying desperately to make his sentiments seem as genuine as possible. Al shook his head but didn't press the subject further.

 

It was a good thing because just then Willa came out; dressed in the outfit Ed had chosen. The short skirt revealed her legs, ending just above her knees. It was black with spaghetti straps, making her look somewhat mysterious. She'd brushed her red hair but it still hung loosely, covering her bare back, a few locks cascaded over her shoulder.

 

She bit her lip, turning to model the dress nervously. Then she stopped and waited for a reaction. Ed's was written all over his face. He thought it looked good on her. Maybe he would have drooled, had he still been a young teen. But as man he restrained his response to a quirky smirk. Al on the other hand was a little harder to read. He nodded his helmet to show he liked it. Moving to sit next to him she sighed a little. “I'm not so sure about it. Do you think my legs look okay?” She'd always been insecure about them. In her opinion they were a little too white, but tanning had never worked for her.

 

“They look fine.” Alphonse told her reassuringly, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Brother also bought some cat food and milk for Pharaoh.” He pointed to the feline who was lapping up the milk that had been poured into a small bowl for him. Al had transformed one from a plastic cup that had been in the room.

 

She stood with a smile to pet the cat. “Oh my poor baby. You were starving, weren't you?” Turning to peer over her shoulder she glanced at the alchemist. His gaze had been following her since she'd come into the room. “Thank you so much. I was just thinking I'd have to go out to get him something to eat.”

 

Edward grinned a little. His heart was racing as he watched this angel move gently across the floor. In his eyes she seemed so much more than a woman. It was like watching a nymph glide past him. “Yeah, well… I also got us some soup if you're hungry.” He nodded to the packets.

 

She picked one up and read the directions silently. “This sounds fine. But how am I going to repay you? I don't have any money with me. We left the house so early I didn't even think to grab anything.” Turning back to Ed she could see that smirk again. It brought back memories of happier times.

 

“You don't have to bother paying us back.” He shifted to stand next to her, taking one of the other cups in his hand. “We have plenty of funds. Besides, you have to eat.” Grinning he took the soup she was holding and moved to the sink. There he filled both up with hot water and left them to set the required three minutes.

 

 

That evening Willa changed into the oversized shirt Ed had bought her specifically for night. It was long, reaching down past her knees, and very comfortable. She stretched out on the mattress listening to the sound of running water. Edward had finally decided to take a much needed shower.

 

Closing her eyes she smiled and breathed softly. `If only…' But she didn't allow herself to entertain thoughts of the past. They would only cause that inevitable pain. Al was sitting on the opposite bed observing her quietly. She turned onto her side and shifted so she could see him clearly. “What's wrong? You've been acting strangely since Ed came back from the store.”

 

The suit shook his head. Pharaoh lay at his side sleeping soundly. “It's nothing really. Just that… well, I'm not sure what we need to do next.” He paused momentarily. “Brother still wants to try and help you, but I'm not sure he knows how either.” Shaking his head again, Alphonse fell silent. He hated admitting his older sibling might not know what to do.

 

Willa got up from the bed and moved to sit beside him. She put a hand on his cold metal arm, knowing full well he couldn't feel it. “I'm not sure where we should go from here either. If those things are in Fort Promise then they may be everywhere. But I'll follow you two, wherever you think is best. You're all I've got.” Her head hung as she sighed deeply.

 

Alphonse watched the movement closely. “You've been alone since coming to this world, haven't you?” She nodded sadly but didn't speak, though her body language gave her away. “Is it because of how you observe people? It makes them feel awkward to be around you, right?” He seemed to understand completely, though she wished things were different so he wouldn't have to.

 

Willa looked up and could tell that he had been through the same thing. Others saw him as a monster because of what he was. “Yes. They act like I'm some sort of witch, or sorceress. I've had people throw charms at me, trying to ward off the evil sprits they thought I had serving me.” She laughed weakly. “I've never even had a dog that would obey. It seems that people are prejudice against anyone who's different from them. I'm not considered normal because I can see things that others can't. Even Edward pulled away.” She paused, fearing she'd gone too far. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.”

 

“No.” Al comforted. “Brother did pull back. But it wasn't because of who you were. It was because of me. He didn't want you to find out and say or do something that would hurt my feelings. He was just trying to protect me.” His reasoning was sound, though it seemed somewhat feeble.

 

Willa shook her head. “But you see… It is because of who I am. Everyone has secrets, things they don't want others to know about. So he was worried for the same reason other people are.” She peered up at Alphonse. “Maybe he felt he had the right, and maybe he did, but… Don't you think that if someone turns away from you it's for the same purpose? They want to protect themselves from something they don't understand.” Biting her lip she was sorry she'd said anything at all.

 

The armored man moved to touch her shoulder. “Maybe you're right. It could be that everyone just wants to feel like they're in control. I know brother is like that.” It was true. Edward always felt the need to be in charge of his surroundings. That way he would be able to protect the younger Elric.

 

Unfortunately Ed had been listening. They hadn't noticed when the shower had been turned off. The two didn't realize he was standing with his ear pressed against the door. He'd already changed into his own pajamas when he'd heard them talking. So instead of going out he'd decided to eavesdrop on their discussion. As the door open the conversation ended. They were like children who'd been caught doing something they shouldn't have. Willa's head was hanging, her hair covering the view of her face. Alphonse simply refused to make eye contact with his brother; he'd admitted the elder could have a fault. It was not something he was proud of.

 

Edward stretched a little and yawned. Then he stared down at his companions with a lighthearted, nevertheless fake, smile. “Well are we going to try and get some sleep or not? I don't know about you Willa, but I'm beat.” He stretched again to prove the point, several of is joints popping soundlessly.

 

She nodded without looking at him and moved to put her hair up before slipping under the covers of her own bed. Turning to face the wall she felt horrid. `I shouldn't have said anything against Ed. He's been so kind to me, even if his first impression was the same as all the others. Still… if his brother wasn't treated the same way, would he bother to try and understand me?' She doubted it. Edward was handsome with a winning personality. Without Al, she assumed he could be a snob.

 

Of course Alphonse was just as much a part of the alchemist as those golden locks and that stupid grin. Without his little brother he wouldn't be even remotely the same. He would have grown up an only child, making a huge difference in him. As it is, he was kind and gentle, under that protective exterior he wore. And of course she knew from experience what he was at heart.

 

Ed was trying hard to sleep with Alphonse lying behind him on the bed. He'd refused to allow his sibling to just sit on the floor all night again. However the cool of the armor chilled him. He didn't mind, because this was his little brother, his only family in the world. Besides that, the automail was also cold.

 

He tried to calm his thoughts, but they would not be silenced. `I did flinch, didn't I? But it's not like I meant to. I have to protect Al, no matter what. I just didn't want him to get hurt again.' Turning he saw his brother's back was facing him. His sibling was watching Willa. `If I met him as a stranger, how would I react? But…back at lab 5 I was shocked to see another bodiless armor. It wasn't because of what they were, but because I didn't know there were others like Al. We'd still be friend, wouldn't we?'

 

Alphonse was thinking about things as well. He had flinched inwardly when Willa had explained what she knew. He'd been afraid too, she just couldn't see it. `And when I saw the homunculi, I was scared then. But wasn't that different? They were human dolls without souls. Yet…if people didn't fear them, would they be so cruel? Or are they that way because of how they've been treated?'