InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Humanity ❯ Knowledge ( Chapter 10 )

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 10: Knowledge

 

It was on a morning a week later that Morrisa came down the stairs to find this new Alphonse sitting on the couch. It seemed so odd to be looking at someone without a body. Yet at the same time he seemed to have the same sprit of the person who had held her heart for so long. That was a slightly unnerving thought, but she moved where he could see her.

 

“Good morning.” He greeted, scooting to allow her a place to sit down. He'd been reading a book to pass the lonely nighttime hours, but quickly laid it aside. She moved to sit next to him with a nod. “I hope you slept well last night. I'm not sure how comfortable those beds are, but brother seems to think they're alright.”

 

Mora smiled. “I slept very well, thank you. By the way I haven't had the chance to ask, is he the elder of you two?” She was trying hard to keep her composure. She'd certainly been a mess that first night, and they say first impressions are hard to live down. Yet the more she learned of him the more she believed this was her ex-fiancé's double.

 

“Yes.” The armor explained. “He's a year older than me, and I'm twenty. If you don't mind, may I ask hold old you are?” He knew that could be a dangerous subject when speaking to a woman, but curiosity got the better of him. She didn't look much older than Willa who was also twenty. But this girl had been engaged to be married four years ago. Surely she wouldn't tie the knot at sixteen.

 

Morrisa shook her head, still grinning. “I don't mind at all. I was twenty two just last month. Willa and I met back at summer camp when we were both little. Some of the kids were picking on her because of her… well talent, and I stood up for her. We've been best friends ever since.” She'd realized that Willa was still keeping some secrets from her roommates, and so she naturally upheld the confidentiality.

 

Having heard them speaking, Edward chose to let them have time to themselves. He turned to go into the girls' room. He'd taken a shower the night before so didn't have to worry with it now. Walking in, he saw Willa's red braid hanging over the side of the bed. He smiled at the fact he'd convinced her to let him plait her hair. When he moved to stand next to her he could see that her soft face was barely uncovered. Light was shining down on it through the window. His left hand moved to brush a stray hair back from her face. The touch made her move slightly. “Edward.” She murmured under her breath.

 

Upon hearing his name spoken so softly, his heart skipped a beat. He knelt down beside her, brushing her cheek again. “Please don't leave me.” She whispered, still dreaming. “Please stay.” His heart broke at her plea so he moved forward to wake her with a gentle kiss but stopped as she continued. “I didn't mean to… I'm sorry, I should have told you. Please don't be mad… Edward?”

 

He backed away confused. Was this some stray thought in a dream? Or could she possibly have done something wrong? He started to stand but felt a hand grasp his arm. Turning he saw her looking up at him, with wide apologetic eyes. “Don't go, oh please don't leave me.” She begged in a voice hardly more than a whisper. “I didn't mean to know. Really I didn't. Sometimes things just come to me.”

 

Frowning Edward moved to settle beside her again, his hand tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “What is it? What do you know that you shouldn't?” In his heart he feared he knew the truth, that the knowledge she possessed was the one thing he still tried to hide. It was something even more confidential than his sibling's missing body.

 

She bit her lip sorrowfully. “You blame yourself. For what happened with your mother. You think it was all your fault that the human transmutation failed.” She looked deep within those golden orbs, verifying the shock she knew they would hold. “And you blame yourself for the way your brother is now. That if you had only been willing to give up more you could have saved him completely. You're afraid of death because Al would be alone. Even if you die years from now of natural causes, he'll still be trapped in an ageless body, unable to even cry.”

 

The alchemist shook his head, pulling away. `It's too much. She knows too much.' Standing he turned to leave the room. She sat up and watched him go without uttering a single word. This was what she had feared, his rejection of her because of her perceptiveness. `Please don't leave me.' Her words called back to him. But he couldn't stay, couldn't face those knowing eyes. It was more than he could handle.

 

Closing the bedroom door he locked himself inside. His guilt was tearing him apart. It had always been there, always ate away at his soul. Now that Willa knew it seemed so much worse. Even Al didn't realize how much he blamed himself for everything, or why he feared dying. It was something they didn't speak of. Men just didn't let their feelings out like women did. That was what he'd been taught, and what he practiced.

 

Willa moved to hang her feet off the bed after hearing him shut himself up. Like everyone else, he'd turned away. Even Edward, the great Fullmetal Alchemist, couldn't deal with her knowledge. `He is just like the others, thinks of me as some sort of freak. Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not even human. What is humanity anyway?'

 

She brushed the thought away and moved to put on a long black dress she'd bought a few days ago. It felt like a time for bereavement, for mourning her lost love. She'd have to leave again, to go where no one knew her. Perhaps Mora would go with her; she didn't mind the talent so much. `Talent hah! More like a curse. And besides she's in love with Alphonse. I can already tell. Those two will be happy together, if only given the chance.' Pulling on her coat she glanced in the mirror.

 

No she couldn't take her friend with her. Instead she would go without taking anything. Brushing her hair Willa thought of Pharaoh. The cat loved Alphonse so much, and he cherished the pet in return. `I can't take him with me. Besides he needs a good home, here with people who love him. Maybe I'll dye my hair, and get it cut. Then I won't be so recognizable to those creatures.'

 

With that thought she laid down the brush. `He's nothing like what I thought. Why should I expect that from him? True love only comes by once, and I destroyed that myself long ago.' A last glance around was all she needed before leaving. Morrisa would have the smaller room and the Elrics could come back to this one. It would work out for the three of them, Willa knew that. The only one who concerned her was Edward. He would be heartbroken, at least for a while. But she could already feel his pain through the door. He didn't want to be near her now, feared that she would see too much of the real him. For so long he'd hidden his feelings under jokes and that stupid grin. Now he wanted nothing more than to be left alone.

 

So without stopping to say anything she made her way down the stairs. Mora and Al were chatting away like old friends. She forced herself to smile at the two of them. “I'm going to get some breakfast at the bakery. I'll be back in a little while.” She gave them a wave but paused as Al stood. Inwardly she cringed at his movement.

 

“I can go with you. Brother doesn't like it when you're out alone.” He was already starting for the front door. Alphonse knew how much Willa meant to his sibling. He couldn't let anything happen to her. They'd already lost too many people they cared for and he feared the possibility of it happening again.

 

But the woman shook her head, still grinning broadly. “Don't worry about it. He knows I'm leaving. It'll be fine. You two just stay here and keep talking. I won't be gone long.” In her heart she felt that Edward really did know she would be leaving. And so he did, deep inside his soul told him so. But at that moment he was too upset to realize what he already knew.

 

The armor nodded allowing her to leave. He didn't really want to go, and if the alchemist had said it was fine then it would be. His brother was the sort of person who knew what to expect. `Perhaps he's already checked out the area, and knows it's safe for her to be alone. Besides, the bakery is only a block away. It's not all that far.'

 

 

Willa walked past the buildings, trying hard to swallow the lump in her throat. She had a little money in her pocket, but other than that she would be starting over. First she would need to see about going to a salon. But it was too early for any of them to be open, so she continued walking, passing the bakery completely. She'd find some place to wait until the city was open for business.

 

Red eyes watched as she passed. It wasn't the same pastry shop, but it was the same attendant. He had followed her this far, and knew that today would be his best chance. She was alone, with no protection at all. The store had only opened a few minutes before. That meant most of the town was still in slumber. Silently he moved to walk behind her at a safe distance. He knew approximately what her range of power was. At this length she wouldn't realize he was there. He'd follow until she had reached a part of town that was unoccupied by anyone. Then he would make his move, taking his prey by force if he had to. Which, with her senses, he would.

 

 

Edward opened the door. He'd decided he couldn't just abandon her. The love within him wouldn't allow him to simply walk away. His father had done that, leaving his mother broken inside. Ed refused to be anything like that man, but looking into her room he found it painstakingly empty.

 

He walked down the stairs and could see Al and Mora sitting on the couch, Pharaoh napping on the table, but the young redhead was nowhere in sight. “Hey Al.” He moved to the landing cautiously. “Where's Willa at? Is she in the kitchen?” His heart was pounding, fearing the answer he'd asked for.

 

Both Alphonse and Morrisa were puzzled. “But brother, you told her she could go to the bakery. I offered to go with her, but she said you told her it was okay to go alone. Didn't you speak with her this morning?” Within he was already starting to panic. Surely she wouldn't have lied to him.

 

Ed nodded as he raced for the front door. “We talked, but I didn't say she could go out unaccompanied.” He grabbed his red jacket, sliding it over his pajamas. He hadn't bothered to change clothes or put on shoes. “We've got to go after her.” Rushing out the door he could hear the clamor of the younger Elric behind him.

 

“But what's the problem?” Mora was running along side Alphonse. “Why can't she go out alone? She is a grown woman after all.” It confused her because Willa had been somewhat of a loner since the accident and held a great deal of pride. She never allowed anyone to tell her what she could and couldn't do. It just wasn't in her character.

 

“There are some creatures after her.” Alphonse explained, glancing around the corners, trying to catch a glimpse of the redhead. “We're not sure why, but they've been following her. That's how she met us. She needed some extra protection. But brother,” He called. “Why would she just leave like that?”

 

The elder shook his head. How could he tell his younger sibling what he'd done? Stopping at the bakery he looked in, but everything was quiet. There was no one in sight. “She told me something.” He murmured before running again. Over his shoulder he clarified. “I got upset, and went into our room. She'd asked me not to get mad but I just couldn't help it.”

 

“You turned your back on her!” Mora screamed at the blond, causing him to stop and cringe. When she caught up to him she slapped his face hard. “Don't you realize that's what everyone's done to her? Most of the men she's met have turned and walked away! No wonder she left, she's running again!” Morrisa started walking briskly down the street, infuriated with the insensitive jerk behind her.

 

“What do you mean, `running again'?” Edward was worried now. This had apparently happened all too often, becoming somewhat of a routine with the women. “She's done this before? Just walked out the door without telling anyone?” He paused when Mora turned those cold eyes on him.

 

Her expression was one of pure anger, not hate however, because she wasn't that type of person. But when Morrisa is mad the whole world knows it. “Yes Edward, she's run before. Not to try and get away. Not so that she can be free of the pain you're causing her! Oh no, it's so that she won't hurt you anymore! So that her abilities, her curse as she calls it, won't make a jerk like you feel uncomfortable!”

 

Then they heard the ear piercing scream that made Ed's blood turn cold. It was Willa, he knew it. Racing along the sidewalk he turned down a small alleyway. He was just in time to see what looked like a human, pick her limp body up in its arms. Then it stared at the alchemist, red eyes burning into his golden ones. An evil smirk spread across its face as it leapt into the air, over onto a building one block away.

 

Edward gave chase but it was too late. The creature was too fast. Falling to his knees he let out a grievous cry that was far worse than her scream had been. When Alphonse caught up to him he saw his brother, kneeling down shaking with frustration and heartbreak. `I allowed this to happen. Because of me another person is lost, just like mom, and Al were.' Although the youngest Elric had not died, he had still, in a way, been taken from this life.