InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Humanity ❯ Apartment ( Chapter 8 )

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 8: Apartment

 

Willa was holding Pharaoh as she walked behind the brothers, her coat tugging slightly as people passed by. The trio had to find someplace in town where they could stay long term. So far they'd been in Fort Promise two weeks and been to eight apartment complexes, but all of them had a strict no pets policy. She shook her head solemnly. `Maybe we're not meant to stay here.' She'd never put much stock in fate, but she was begging to wonder about just how tangible it actually was. After all, didn't these brother prove its existence.

 

Edward had refused to speak with her about that first full day here. She knew he'd heard what she and Al had said, though she'd only realized it when he'd woken the next morning. It was in the way his eyes moved from hers, the way he avoided making conversation at all costs. Even over breakfast the next day he'd refused to speak with her. Instead he'd remained silent as they sat in the café.

 

Yet after that they'd become close. It was almost as if he were trying to make up for his actions. In her own heart she knew she wanted his friendship more than anything. She needed someone to lean on. And while Al was nice, something just wasn't clicking. Maybe the past was replaying itself. Unfortunately she wasn't sure if it was Ed's guilt or his true feelings that inspired and kept the friendship going.

 

Pointing to another set of apartments, Alphonse spoke up. “We could try there. I can see a dog in one of the windows.” On the second floor, looking out was a black poodle. Its hair was combed neatly, with a large bow atop its head. Someone called and it dashed back into the room, out of sight.

 

 

The alchemist was the one to lead the way into the manager's office. “Hello, I'm Edward Elric and I would like to see about renting an apartment from you.” The bald man behind the desk nodded and motioned for the three of them to take a seat. He wasn't old but had apparently shaved his head for fashion. The cat Willa held was obvious so it gave the trio a slight bit of hope where there had been none.

 

“I'm Mr. Bryon. What size apartment are you looking for Mr. Elric?” The manager asked, taking out a small folder which contained several sets of floor plans. “A two or three bedroom? And will you be wanting a studio?” He looked between his new clients then back to Edward who was pondering the thought.

 

He wasn't sure how long they'd need the place. Unfortunately the next town was a several days hike up the mountain. None of them wanted to risk a night in the woods, not with those things out there. “A two bedroom should be fine. If you have a studio, that would be all the better.” He and Al had always shared a room anyway.

 

Mr. Bryon nodded looking at the floor plans, gripping a pen tightly. “Yes I have one here. It's not a corner apartment, but it is just to the side of one. What that means is that you'll have large front porch. No balcony however, which may be a problem for your friend there.” He pointed to the feline with the ballpoint.

 

Willa shook her head while smiling down at Pharaoh. “No, he's an inside cat so he won't want to leave the apartment anyway.” Then another thought came to mind. “Oh, would you happen to know where we can get some furniture at a reasonable price?” She looked back to the manager who nodded.

 

“Yes, my brother is just moving out of the very apartment I was thinking of. He and his new wife are interested in selling what's in it.” The man leaned across the desk with a smile. “She's not very fond of his taste in furniture so they were going to sell it anyway. However this way I won't have to help move the stuff.”

 

Edward smiled at finally having some good luck. It was a welcome change and one he hadn't really expected. “Is he here, so we can negotiate a price with him?”

 

The manager nodded then picked up a phone and dialed. “Yes, hey man. Yeah I've got some people here who are interested in buying your furniture.” He paused then laughed. “You know she's not going to let you keep that stuff. Now look, these people need it, and I don't want to have to haul anything so give me a price.” He wrote something down on a sheet of paper.

 

Edward looked at the figure then nodded. He wasn't sure what he'd be getting but Alchemy could change it if need be. The man smiled and went back to his conversation. “Yes they'll take it. Yes all of it… I know you got what you wanted out so don't worry about it. Yeah, I think they want to move in now.” The alchemist nodded again. “Yes I'm going to send them right over. Okay, just as soon as the paperwork is finished. Alright, see you then.” He hung up, still smiling.

 

 

As Ed filled out the necessary forms, Willa and Alphonse walked over to where the apartment was. The building was in the shape of the perimeter of a square with one side missing. Theirs would be in the left hand corner. Though, not the one when you first go up the porch stairs. Instead it was along the back wall of the building.

 

As they were walking up the steps someone opened the door. Standing there was a tall muscular man. He looked like he was on the local police force and his black shirt said so. He was as bald as his brother, making the resemblance unmistakable. His broad smile was a welcome change from the reaction most people had to Al.

 

“Hey! So you're the people getting my apartment.” He held out a hand to them which they took, his firm grip showing his strength. “Officer CJ Bryon. I just got married and the new Mrs. Bryon thinks we need to buy furniture together.” He ushered them into the living room with a grin.

 

“This is Al and I'm Willa.” She offered as she went in. Then she gazed at her surroundings. It wasn't large but it was big enough. A stairway was on the right wall, with a small square landing, three steps up, under one of the two windows on the front wall. A couch sat against the stairs and was covered with black leather and looked quite new, as did the oval coffee table. Beside that was a small closet door. The dining room was connected with the living room and had a small round wooden table with four chairs. Above that was a window, complete with drapes, looking out toward the apartment building across the road. All the walls were painted an off white, making them seem brighter.

 

Willa noted the rooms around her with a smile. “This is a lovely place you have here.” She glanced up at CJ. He wasn't looking at her but she could sense what he was feeling. The man was nervous, not about them, but about his new marriage. He would be willing to do anything to please his wife, even giving up his prize bachelor couch.

 

Al nodded as CJ led them to the kitchen. It was small with counters lining two of the walls. There was a half window above the built in sink next to the back door to their left. Around the corner from that sat a small stove. In the other was the forest-green icebox. The walls in this room were painted a mint-green.

 

 

Then the officer led the way to the second floor. At the top of the stairs was a doorway leading to the bathroom. The toilet sat in the far right corner beside the sink. The tub was against the left wall that also had a small linen closet next to the door. Another small window was just over the commode.

 

CJ led them around the corner to the bedroom that was situated over the living room. It was large with a single bed under one of two tall windows. There was wooden dresser against the wall that connected with the stairwell. A walk-in closet connected with the smaller one in the adjacent room.

 

It was over the dining room and held a large bed, sitting long ways beside the door. There was a single window facing out over the back parking area and the other buildings. It was painted dark blue while the first had been dark green. This one also contained a mahogany roll top desk, which was exactly what Willa had always wanted.

 

“Hey! Is there anyone here?” Edward's voice came booming up the stairs causing the cat to jump. The alchemist took time to look around the living room before taking a peek in the kitchen. The furniture was in better shape than he'd expected for the price. He smiled at what would be his new home.

 

“Up here brother!” Alphonse called down to him. Hearing his younger sibling, Ed moved up the stairs quickly. As he rounded the corner he could see three people standing in the bedroom at the end of the short hallway. “Here.” Al waved him in, showing how happy he was with the place. The alchemist thought it odd how much emotion the armor managed to show without the use of facial expressions.

 

Looking up at the extra man he could see the obvious family resemblance. “Officer CJ Bryon, nice to meet you.” His smile was wide. “Well I guess I'll let you get settled in. Oh.” He reached into his pocket. “Here are the keys. I've got everything out that I'll be taking with me. Enjoy the place.” With a wave he exited the room leaving the new owners to the home where he'd spent much of his bachelorhood.

 

 

Two evenings later, Ed and Willa were sitting in the living room. They'd moved the larger mattress into the front bedroom. Then, with the use of alchemy, Edward had split it into two smaller bunks. Al had moved the other to the room which Willa would be staying in. They had all agreed that she would have the smaller of the two.

 

Alphonse sat on his bed that was parallel his brother's. Each was sticking out beneath a window, one of which he was currently staring out of. He seemed to be in somewhat of a daze. Pharaoh had already been taken care of, leaving him with nothing else he had to do. He'd gone to the store the day before to get a litter box and other needed supplies.

 

Naturally Willa had taken the chance to drag him and his brother into a junk store. There she purchased several pictures to brighten the place up, which had worked for the most part. She'd also grabbed some towels, rags, and bed clothes at a cheap housing store. Her eyes were bright while they shopped. She had seemed to glow with excitement as they looked in the different windows. He thought back to that prior day, after they'd rearranged and gone out for the supplies.

 

 

“Al wouldn't this look great in your room?” The woman held up a painted picture with a forest scene. The frame matched the color of the walls almost exactly, though they had the look of marble. He nodded and so she put it in the buggy. Edward walked behind, smiling after her.

 

As she was going through dishes Alphonse leaned over to the alchemist. “Brother, she's so happy. We'll be able to stay a while, won't we?” He'd hoped so, but didn't want to make such a decision alone. Yet it was obvious that Willa needed someone to be there for her, and he knew his sibling was starting to fall in love with her.

 

“Yeah Al, we're going to stay.” Then Ed stared up at him. “That is if you want to, I'm not going to do anything you don't. But we haven't had a single lead on the stone since coming to this world.” He sighed heavily and feeling the guilt he shrugged. “Besides she could really use someone to look out for her. She's not as strong as she seems.”

 

The younger glanced toward where she was speaking with another woman. Both were smiling and laughing about something. “I do want to stay with her. But I think you're wrong about her being weak. She's a lot tougher than she lets on.” Then his mischievous side took over. “Maybe there's another reason you want to stay with Willa?”

 

Edward frowned and bowed his head, trying desperately to conceal his humiliation. “You're wrong Al. We've already discussed this. She's a good friend but that's all. Besides…” He glanced back to her. “She'd know if I did, and she hasn't said anything. So even if I did, she obviously doesn't like me, in that way. It wouldn't be right to start a serious relationship now anyway. Things are too messed up.” He didn't mention it was Al's being in the armor that weighed so heavily on his decision.

 

The alchemist stopped speaking as she came up to the buggy. Her smile seemed to brighten the world around her, and melt his heart. “You wouldn't believe what all they have here! But you need to help me choose.” She moved to take Ed's real hand in hers, dragging him behind her. She ignored the fact that it thoroughly embarrassed him.

 

Standing next to the shelves, she held up a plate with grapes painted on them. “These are nice, but I'm not sure if they'll look right with the green kitchen.” She handed it to him, and picked up another. “These have vines around the edges but some of them are cracked.” She pointed to a line across one of them with a frown.

 

Ed nodded, setting down the grape dish. “Alchemy will fix that in no time. And they'll look great in the kitchen. Don't you think so Al?” He turned to find that his brother was missing. `How can someone so big get lost?' Glancing around, he saw the armor kneeling down before a small boy.

 

“Are you a knight? Like in the stories?” The youngster asked. His young mother was standing mortified beside her child. A flush rushed across her smooth cheeks. But the man in the suit didn't seem to mind the question as much as she'd expected. In fact he'd allowed the boy to touch the armored chest plate.

 

“Sort of.” He explained to the child, in a kind and gentle voice. “This is the type they wear. But I don't fight dragons...” He leaned over and put a hand to his mouth and whispered. “since they're not actually real. But I do help people like a knight would do. So I suppose you could say I am.”

 

The boy smiled and tugged at his mother's skirt. “See momma, I told you! He's a real hero, like in the stories!” She patted her child on the head, nodding to such a kind man with a smile of thanks before leading her son away. The youngster turned to wave at his newfound hero, eyes glistening with excitement. Then he began speaking quickly to his mother, about how wonderful it was to meet a real knight.

 

“Why Alphonse.” Willa murmured as he rose and turned back to them. “I had no idea you were so good with children. You'd be perfect at a daycare center. The kids would have a wonderful time with you as a teacher.” She smiled, knowing the mother hadn't been worried about the armored man. Instead she seemed to have been awestruck with a kind of wonder rather than horror.

 

 

Now, as the sun was setting, he thought back to the memory. Things could be so different if not for his current situation. Inside her statement had hurt him, though he hadn't said so. `If only I could work at a place like that. But it would never work. No one wants to leave their children with an empty shell.'