InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Humanity ❯ Hanyou ( Chapter 14 )

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 14: Hanyou

 

They had been walking for three days, but strangely Willa wasn't tired and her bare feet didn't hurt. She'd followed the hanyou with her head down. She could sense his anxiety about her extra power. However it was far worse for her than it was for him. Now she could almost read his thoughts, and had to concentrate hard not to.

 

As he stopped to sniff the air she didn't question him. She knew he was trying to catch a whiff of his friends. When he turned to glance back at her with a frown, she lowered her head further. Her mind screamed at her to face him, but he was displeased enough already. She would only make things worse.

 

“Are you hungry?” Inuyasha questioned carelessly. She shook her head though she was. “You're lying. I can hear your stomach growling.” His voice became angry as he continued. “And why won't you look at me? What's wrong? Scared of a demon? Is that it? You don't want to have anything to do with me because I'm not human.”

 

Willa forced her head up. “It's not that.” She murmured sadly. “You're mad at me. I just didn't want to get in the way. I'm sorry about what I know. I don't mean to, I just can't help it.” She hung her head again as the tears came. Now she was not only a freak at heart but she looked like one too. She'd realized after awhile that the thought of going back to Edward was out of the question. He had been upset enough before. The love she'd thought he held for her was nothing more than wishful thinking.

 

She felt a hand slip under her chin, forcing her to look up. Those golden eyes were strong and held an unreal amount of emotion. Then he let his hand fall. “I'm sorry I got mad. I just want to find Kagome and get out of here. So quit acting like I'm gonna hurt you, cuz I'm not.”

 

As he turned away Willa smiled a little. He wasn't as bad as she thought. She hadn't seen all his memories, just some of those that were most vivid. Quickly she raced to his side, walking at the same pace as he was. “Do you have any idea where they might be? I mean, where they were when you last saw them?” His kindness had caused her to become hopeful again.

 

Inuyasha nodded without glancing back at her. “Somewhere close to a weird town called Wick. That stupid guard wouldn't let us in, and he's not even human!” Then he noticed Willa had quit walking. She was standing with a shocked expression. “What's the problem now? Can't keep your feet in under you?”

 

She shook her head quickly then ran back to his side and continued with their stroll. “I know about him. All the guards in Wick are changelings. That way they can keep out anyone who's not human, to keep their secret safe.” The girl gazed back to the hanyou. “I lived there. But my friends and I moved to a city called Fort Promise. So maybe your companions went there. That is, if they were traveling in the right direction.”

 

He glared back at her. Fate seemed to have chosen both their paths, twisting them together. “We were headed east. If that's where your city was then that's where we were headed. So I guess I can help you get back home too.” But Inuyasha could see the changed expression in her eyes. “What's wrong? Can't you go back like you are?”

 

She bowed and shook her head. “I don't think so. I was kind of… running away anyhow. My so called talent was too much for my friend to handle. Like this…” The girl pointed to an ear. “I would never be able to go back. Not with my power increasing like it did.” She sighed heavily with the realization finally having been spoken aloud.

 

“You can travel with us then.” Inuyasha offered, not bothering to watch her reaction. “There's a group of us trying to find a way back to our world. I guess it wouldn't hurt for you to join us. Seeing as how you've got no place to go.” He smiled inwardly. `Kagome would be so proud.'

 

Willa grinned as she nodded. “Thank you so much. I'm not sure what I'd do if I were alone. I'm glad you were willing to bring me out of that place. They would have turned me into one of those things I guess.” She grimaced. “But you're not like them, are you? I mean, you look similar to some of them, but you're not really the same. You don't have those red eyes.”

 

He shook his head, “No, I was born this way. Not human, and not a demon, I'm neither. But it doesn't really matter anymore. Cuz I am who I am. That's what really counts. Right?” His glance moved back to the girl at his side. Kagome had taught him so much since they'd met.

 

His companion nodded with a smile. “I guess you're right. It shouldn't matter what people think about my ability. I'm me, and that's all I should worry about.” Then pulling at an ear she frowned. “But… I'm not meant to be like this, so I'm not really myself anymore. I'm not even sure who I am.”

 

“You're Willa.” Inuyasha stated firmly. “You're still you, no matter what you look like on the outside. You saw my memories so you know about the new moon. Well, even then I'm still me, on the inside. Just don't tell Kagome that or she'll get all emotional and stuff.” He smiled as the woman beside him laughed a little, and then he frowned. “But when I change into a full blood demon, then I'm not so sure.”

 

“But you're still you.” She offered, gazing up at the sky. “Like when you fought that big dragon and lost your sword. You still had control because you fought against the demon blood and went for the Tetsusaiga. I suppose it's like a mood swing. Everyone has those, but deep within we're still ourselves.”

 

Inuyasha looked at her for a long time. `Her thoughts are so like Kagome's. Every word is so meaningful.' He turned away as Willa glanced back at him, unwilling to show anymore of himself. `But this girl is a hanyou now, same as me. It's so weird to be speaking with someone like that.'

 

Willa sniffed the air thoughtfully as an ear twitched. Someone was coming, and quickly. “Move!” She screeched, shoving Inuyasha into the underbrush. Rolling behind him she went barreling down the slope she hadn't realized was there. She only came to a stop when she landed on top of him.

 

“What do you think you were doing?” He screamed, so loudly that her ears went flat against her head and she winced with pain. Immediately he felt sorry for shouting at the woman. “I'm sorry.” He whispered, sitting up and placing his hands soothingly against her ears. She still wasn't used to them yet.

 

Frowning she allowed him to rub the soreness away. He seemed to know exactly what to do to make them quit ringing. “It's alright.” She murmured, closing her eyes, allowing the motion of his fingers to quell the ache. “I didn't realize there was a hill here. But those horses were coming so fast, I didn't have much time to think.”

 

Inuyasha nodded as he brought his hands down to his sides. They were both still sitting in the fallen leaves. “I heard them too. But they weren't as close as you thought. See?” He pointed up to the top of the hill. A horse drawn carriage was just now trampling past at a fast pace, proving his point.

 

She blushed and turned her head away. “I'm sorry. They sounded so close. I guess because I can hear farther away now. It'll take some getting used to.” Willa allowed him to pull her up into a standing position. “How will we get back up there? The hill is pretty steep. I'm not sure I can climb it.” Her gaze was trained on the slope and the trail above.

 

“Come on.” Grabbing her hand he leapt into one of the nearby trees. Then he grinned at her. “See that branch over there?” She nodded. “We're going to jump to it. Don't think about how, just let your instincts take over and you'll be fine.” With that he jumped to the next and looked back. “Come on!”

 

Willa gulped slightly. `Instincts? What instincts? I'm not exactly a cat!' Pushing away the improbabilities she readied herself. With a quick movement of her legs she pushed off from the branch. While flying through the air she panicked and almost fell. Luckily she was able to catch the limb with her hands.

 

“Oh great.” Inuyasha frowned down at her. “Can't even make a simple leap. You call that using your instincts? I could do better with my eyes closed.” After the insults he did reach over to pull her up onto the branch. Looking into her hurt eyes he took a breath. “Now listen. On this next try, just do it. Don't think about falling cuz I'll catch you. Just concentrate on the landing.” With a nod from her he was off to the next target.

 

She took in a breath. `Just think about the landing. Just think about the landing.' Her mind repeated the phrase over and over. Kicking off again she flew through the air. This time she did make it, though she almost fell off after reaching her goal. She hadn't bothered to think about her balance after arriving.

 

Inuyasha nodded and was off again. Each time he would stop and glance back to make sure his student was ok. With each try she got better and better. By the time they'd reached the top of the hill she had the exercise mastered. He gave her a smile and a nod before they started walking down the path again.

 

“You're still hungry.” He murmured, noticing a rabbit just off the path. He motioned her down out of sight. “Now, lay low and watch me.” He crept forward slowly and silently. With a leap he called out “Iron Revere Soul Stealer!” and slashed his claws toward his prey. Within seconds the bunny was killed, ready to be prepared.

 

Willa's eyes grew large as she watched. He motioned for her to stand. She did so and walked over to him. Frowning she peered down at the dead animal. “You don't think I know how to prepare that thing. Do you?” Her questioning gazed moved up to meet his stern one.

 

“You mean you can't cook!” This was exasperating! How could this woman not know how to cook? She was of an age for marriage. “What do they teach you where you come from anyhow? Since you obviously don't know how to prepare a meal!” He was raving with frustration.

 

“Shut up!” She screamed back at him. “I come from a place with stores! Where you don't have to kill your own food! Sorry I'm not from your world. I don't know how to hunt or clean wild animals!” Folding her arms across her chest she glared at him. “I'm like Kagome! We have real food back home!”

 

“This is real food!” Inuyasha yelled in return. But then he quit, the hurt in her eyes wasn't obvious, but it was there just the same. Besides, he'd been to Kagome's time. They didn't have to prepare the animals like everyone did in the futile era. “Alright I'll clean the thing. Just set up a fire, if you can do that much!”

 

Turning from him she bowed her head then walked away to find some wood. `Stupid jerk! So what if I can't hunt or cook wild animals. So what?' She looked up at the sky and wanted so badly to let her tears go. But she knew better than to cry in front of this man. It would only make him feel worse than he already did about his remarks. `Why does he say things like that? He knows he'll end up regretting it.'

 

Authors Note:

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