InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Humanity ❯ Alchemist ( Chapter 16 )

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 16: Alchemist

 

Edward was getting close, his soul could feel it. He could hear people speaking just around the next bend. Creeping into the underbrush brush, to get a closer look, he decided not to make his presence known until he was sure who they were. Thinking if they had red eyes he would simply follow them.

 

He could see four humans in a circle around something. One was kneeling, fanning it with a cap. `No wait, that one, it has ears like those other things. But what about its eyes, are they red?' Studying the group again, he could see a large catlike creature with two tails and huge fangs. A little boy with pointed ears was sitting on its back. He also noticed its fox feet and tail. `These things, they aren't human. I bet those other three aren't either.'

 

“Is she alright?” The man wearing a black and purple robe questioned, with his hand on his chin. The beast in red nodded to him before standing. “Well then we should try and wake the poor woman.” When the man bent down Ed could see it was indeed a figure lying on the road. But all he could make out were the bare feet and the jean skirt.

 

“Wha?” The girl sat up, the hat was amazingly still firmly in place on her head. “What happened?” Within moments she was pulled into standing position. Edward's eyes grew wide as he saw her face for the first time. It was Willa, he had actually found her. After all this time, his search had finally come to an end.

 

The man went down on one knee taking hold of the dazed woman's hand. The monk gave the most winning smile he could give. “Would you consider bearing my child?” It was a ritual he did with every woman when he first met her, except of course for Sango. Although, that was only because at the time she had been tricked into fighting alongside Naraku.

 

In seconds Willa was pushed back, still trying to realize what was going on. She glanced around the person who had shoved her to see Edward. He was standing there, his arm transmuted into a blade pointed directly under the monk's chin. The girl gripped Ed's arm, pure shock having taken her voice.

 

“Don't you dare lay a hand on her.” The alchemist growled at the man, his golden eyes full of revulsion. His blade was ready to cut the jerk down while his left arm was wrapped behind him, holding on to Willa. “Back away now.” He hissed. This was his woman, no man could ask her such a degenerating question and get away with it.

 

Miroku nodded as much as he could. Fear painted all over his face. He'd never received quite that reaction before. Looking to his companions he could tell they were in the same state of shock. All except for Inuyasha, who was scowling at the newcomer, his hand ready to unsheathe Tetsusaiga.

 

“What do you want with Willa?” The hanyou's voice was full of malice. He'd come too far to have this girl taken from him by some lowly human. His eyes were glowing with heated emotion until he glanced back to the lady they were fighting over. There was a slight smile in her face as she looked at her captor. “Do you know this jerk?” He demanded.

 

She nodded. “Both of you, put your weapons away and let me explain.” Her lips pressed against Edward's back, just below his shoulder. `He came for me. He actually came to find me.' Joy filled her as she realized the love he was feeling now. She allowed herself to take in the relief he felt at having found her, as well as the caution with which he disarmed himself.

 

Inuyasha removed his hand from Tetsusaiga's hilt, but kept glaring warily at the blond man. `He isn't human. Not with an arm like that.' His mind refused to let down its guard. This thing had threatened Miroku. Of course he had done the same thing, more times than he cared to remember. Still, this knew comer was completely serous.

 

Willa tugged gently at the alchemist's arm, leading him back down the road a short distance. There was a small clearing she had passed and it looked like a good place to talk. She wanted so badly to just wrap her arms around him and kiss his lips. But the fact remained that she was no longer human, and she was unsure how he would take the news.

 

Sitting down next to his love, Edward watched as the others took different positions around a circle. The man who'd asked the question sat opposite Willa, making sure to have the distance known. To his right sat the woman with the long skirt and the cat. At Willa's left was the obvious monster. On his other side was the girl in a school uniform, in her lap was the demon child.

 

The blond wrapped his left arm around Willa's waist protectively. He had spent the last month trying to locate his lost love. Now he would not allow these people to take her again. `I'll never leave her side. Not as long as I live.' His thoughts were definite, though he still didn't have the whole truth. For now however, he would defend her from whatever came their way.

 

“I understand this is confusing. But Inuyasha,” Willa pointed to him so Edward would know who she meant. “and I were kidnapped by the same people. When we managed to get away, we traveled together. Edward here is my, uh…” She wasn't sure what to say. What exactly was he to her now? But when she glanced up into his eyes she knew the answer. “Ed is my boyfriend. So he was only trying to protect me.”

 

Giving her a hard glare Inuyasha spoke up. “Are you going to bother telling them why we were kidnapped? Or do you want to just let them figure it out for themselves?” He didn't feel like allowing her to simply leave with this man. The hanyou knew what it was like to be different, despised, and treated as a monster. There was no way he would permit her to go only to be dealt with in such a manor. Not after all the time they'd spent together.

 

Willa rolled her eyes before giving him a deep frown. “How about if you explain it to them, after I've left with Edward?” She didn't want the revelation to come out with all these extra people around. “Or, if you'd rather wait here while I tell him, I can come back and enlighten your companions for you.” She stood to leave either way, the alchemist already rising beside her.

 

As she started to walk past Inuyasha stood, grabbing her arm he whispered harshly in her ear. “You'd better come back, or I'll track you down. I won't let him hurt you.” She tried to pull away from his tight grasp with a scowl. When she mouthed the word `fine' to him he let her go.

 

The others stood watching the scene then looking at Inuyasha questioningly. Kagome stepped forward, unsure of how he felt for this new woman. Whatever they were, those feelings were strong. “What is it? Why are you so protective of a girl you hardly know?” She had to swallow the tears that crept into her voice.

 

With a worried expression he touched the miko's cheek. “I've known her for over a month Kagome. You've got to understand. I've had to be protective of her to keep her alive. Those things may still be following us.” Staring into the miko's brown eyes his heart sank. “She doesn't mean anything to me. Sit down and I'll explain.”

 

 

Edward held Willa's hand as she led him down the road. Her head hung as she thought about all his possible reactions. She wanted so much to just stay with him, to never reveal the truth. But he tugged against her arm, leading her down to the edge of a cool lake. She could see her reflection in the water and it caused a few tears to fall.

 

“What is it?” the alchemist asked, brushing the salty droplets from her face. His arms wrapped around her waist as he pulled her into a hard long kiss. He could taste where one of the tears hung on her lips. It seemed like she wasn't putting her whole heart into it. `She paused before calling me her boyfriend. Maybe it has something to do with that Inuyasha. Perhaps they've fallen in love while she was gone.'

 

He allowed her to shift back, tears streaming more than they had before. As she moved to sit down, her heart was beginning to ache deeper with the passage of time. Edward moved to take a place beside her, his hand slipping behind her back, rubbing it gently. He leaned to kiss her neck. But as his lips traveled upward she placed a hand on them. Pulling back he was startled, but took it in his and kissed it gently. `Don't leave me. Give me the chance to show you how much I care.' His spirit was pleading.

 

Willa's heart was breaking with each movement he made. `He won't want me. Not after he knows. Yet I can't help but let him comfort me. This is probably the last time I'll get to be with him.' As her eyes closed he kissed each finger, but remembering her claws she pulled her hand away. She folded them together, hiding the long nails. There was no way around this, she had to tell him. “Edward.” She murmured softly, eyes cast toward the water. His gaze was on her but she couldn't face that sorrowed expression just yet. “Something happened when I was taken. Those things, they… they wanted me to become a mate for Inuyasha.” Almost biting her lip she remembered the fangs, stopping herself just in time.

 

The man turned to stare at the reflection on the lake as well. He sighed heavily before managing to ask the question. “And did you… mate with that thing?” He wasn't ready for the look she gave him. It was one of betrayal, hurt, and pain, though he couldn't understand why it was so intense.

 

She shook her head. “He's not a thing. Inuyasha is a person. I know he's not human... but he still has a soul.” The alchemist glanced over at her, realizing that his brother had been labeled with such cruelty in the past. “Please Edward, you have to understand that, or I won't be able to finish. He is a person.”

 

The man nodded, sorry for the way he'd phrased the question. “Alright, this Inuyasha, he is a person. I understand, and I apologize for what I said. Please continue.” He stroked her cheek lightly to quell the tears which had already returned to her eyes.

 

She sniffed a little. “We never got that far. If we hadn't escaped, those people were going to erase my memories. They would have controlled me so that I wouldn't have had much choice.” Swallowing again she found this next part would be hard to explain. “They did a procedure on me, so that I would be a suitable partner for him. They…” She couldn't finish.

 

Edward was still rubbing her back soothingly but she stood and began to walk away. Quickly he rose and to follow her around the edge of the lake. He could hear her voice when she continued her account. “They wanted a certain type of person. My ability to see things others can't was why they chose me. They took him for his strength and demon powers.” Turning to gaze at him she shook her head. He stopped a few feet away, watching her closely.

 

“Some of his blood was pumped into my body.” She showed Ed the scar on her arm where the tube had been. “It was so that the offspring would have the right look, for the warriors they wanted to control. They'd almost completed the procedure when I realized what was happening. I broke the locks and Inuyasha carried me out of that place.”

 

Closing her eyes she removed the hat. The wind rushed against her furry red ears, but she could hear Edward's gasp. She could smell his fear in the air, and when she opened her eyes, she saw it in his face as well. Those golden spheres, which are said to be the gateway to the soul, were wide and full of alarm. `They changed her. They turned her into one of those creatures.' Willa could hear his thoughts, too upset to be able to block them out. `She's a chimera, like Nina.' He was starting to panic, wondering what his next move should be. However Willa decided she would make the judgment for both of them.

 

Turning to leave she could smell Inuyasha's scent in the air. He was behind one of the trees atop the hill with Kagome, watching the display closely. She heard the hanyou's low growl while the miko took in a sharp breath. Apparently he had decided not to wait for her return. Instead he would make sure she was alright.

 

The alchemist shook his head, trying desperately to clear his thoughts. “Willa!” He called after her, raising a hand for her to stop. Thankfully she did so, and turned back to him with a heavy heart. “Don't go. Please… don't leave me again.” He pleaded with her, taking only a few steps forward, giving her the chance to make a decision herself. He didn't want to make her feel that she had to stay.

 

A grateful smile crossed over her face as she rushed into his arms. Sobs racked through her body. “I'm so sorry Edward. I didn't think you would want me like this.” She felt him as he kissed her neck forcefully, heard his heart pounding wildly in his chest. “But my other talent, it's stronger now. I can see peoples' memories. I can't make them stop, no matter how hard I try. They just won't stop.”

 

The alchemist pushed her back a little, allowing him to gaze down into her beautiful blue eyes. “None of that matters now. You can read all my memories, just don't run again. I've been such an idiot, letting you go like that. I don't ever want you out of my arms again.” He pulled her into a tight passionate kiss. `Don't leave me. Oh please don't leave me.'

 

 

Kagome was glowing from where she sat atop the hill. Both her arms were wrapped around one of Inuyasha's. “See he does love her! I just knew it!” She hadn't been sure but it sounded like it would be the right thing to say. She'd known the hanyou had been worried about this revelation, knew how he'd been treated for because of what he was. But what she didn't realize was that he was about to catch her completely off guard.

 

Putting his hands on her shoulders, he pulled the miko around in front of him. Then he pressed her lips firmly against his own. Her wide eyes soon closed as his arms wrapped around her. She put hers behind him, not wanting to let go for anything in the world. When he released her from the kiss, she could see the love in his eyes, and didn't bother to try and deny it. “I missed you Kagome.” He murmured softly, before pulling her lips back to his.