InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Humanity ❯ Mental Breakdown ( Chapter 23 )

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 23: Mental Breakdown

 

“How on earth am I going to pay for that thing?” Willa contemplated aloud. Her companion shrugged, being of no help what so ever. She rolled her eyes, frowning deeply. They hadn't made it back to the campsite and so she had no one to talk to other than Inuyasha. With that sad fact she decided it was better to simply stay quiet.

 

Looking up she could see the treetops swaying in the breeze. It seemed that a chill had descended on the valley overnight. Dew hung on the grass making the ground even colder to walk on. Though the road was dirt it did little to warm her bare feet. The sun was now in the sky, but not very high. Heat which should have already settled in the lowlands was nowhere to be felt. The birds were gone and the squirrels nestled safely away in their trees. It seemed as though the world were preparing for a vicious cold snap.

 

“There they are!” Shippo called to Sango cheerfully. He raced along the path to greet them. As with some animals the cooler temperatures agreed with the kitsune, leaving him bouncy and energetic. He jumped onto Willa's shoulder. “Did he say if he could make you a sword like Inuyasha's?”

 

She nodded then opened her mouth and with a claw, pointed to the missing fang. After the child had studied it with interest she explained. “Roric's making it out of one of mine and one from Inuyasha. He thinks it should be done by tonight, tomorrow night at the latest.”

 

“Then you can go back to your boyfriend huh?” The boy giggled when she winked at him. “And Kagome will be back here with us! Not that I don't like having you around. It's just that I miss Kagome when she's not here.” He took no notice of how much the hanyou in front of them had tensed.

 

At camp Inuyasha turned to look Willa straight in the eye. “I still don't think you should go with that guy. He doesn't know a thing about you.” His tone alarmed both Sango and Miroku. He wasn't in love with her, but he was extremely possessive. It was almost as though she were a sister he wanted to constantly watch over and even control.

 

She growled back at him. “You don't know me any better than he does. Probably less since I've known him longer. Besides,” A wicked grin crossed her face. “you don't get a vote in this matter. I'm going with Edward and that's final.” She started to turn from him but felt his hand grip her arm.

 

His heart pounded loud enough that they could both hear it. The sound was like the beating of a war drum from an Indian tribe and meant the same thing. “He won't stay with you. He'll turn his back on you and you'll be left all alone. I'm sure he already doubts his so called love for you!”

 

“Like Kikyou?” Willa's words cut strait into the hanyou's heart. His mouth hung open in shock. “It was so easy for her to be turned against you. But that wasn't real love Inuyasha. Real love is what Kagome had when she stood before you in your full demon form. It's unwavering, even when logic suggests the worst.”

 

A spark flared in his eyes. Anger began to burn in him, coming out as a low growl. “What do you know about it anyway? Just because you saw my memories doesn't mean you know her feelings. So don't act so high and mighty, because you're not. You're nothing but a…” He paused as the anger faded and the truth stared him in the face.

 

“Nothing but a what?” Willa coxed, fury burning in her own heart. He'd gone too far by talking about the man she loved. “Nothing but a lowly human. Isn't that what you wanted to say?” Something caught in her throat. “But I'm not anymore, am I? Not really. Otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation.”

 

The hanyou held out a hand to place on her shoulder, but she pulled away. He sighed heavily. “I didn't mean anything by it.” He tried again to comfort her but she backed up. His heart broke as he saw the sadness engulf her eyes, knowing it was doing the same to her very being. She seemed to be falling into a deep well of depression.

 

Something inside her was visibly breaking. Everything that had happened seemed to come crashing down on her. Her strength could only last for so long, and now it had run out completely. She wrapped her arms about her, trying to keep from shaking. But it wasn't enough to hold back the sobs. Falling to her knees she allowed all the repressed tears to fall. They had been bottled up far too long. So now, given the chance, they poured forth like a waterfall. She shook with the sheer force of hopelessness that had overtaken her soul. Her hands pressed against her face as she cried.

 

Sango rushed over to her side and knelt down. “It's alright.” She comforted, pulling the girl up to cry on her shoulder. Lightly she stroked the woman's back. “Don't listen to him. He's just a jerk sometimes. He doesn't mean what he says.” But her words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

 

As Willa cried, the slayer could feel the wetness against her shoulder. The other girl's arms were wrapped tightly around her. It was almost as if she were trying to hold on for life itself. Yet nothing could be said that would help. Her heart was broken, just as it had been after the accident years earlier. Now it was seemingly beyond repair.

 

 

When Edward heard the sobs he picked up speed. He didn't wait to make sure Kagome was behind him, though she was. Quickly he raced along the path, knowing whose tears he was being led to. `If that jerk hurt her I'll strangle him! She'd better be alright when I get there!'

 

The moment he saw the glen his heart stopped. Seeing just how broken Willa had become was almost too much for the alchemist to handle. As his eyes turned to Inuyasha his sorrowful look became a stone cold glare. It penetrated into the hanyou without mercy, making him flinch involuntarily.

 

“What happened?” Ed demanded, moving to kneel beside the woman he loved. Gently he took her from the slayer. The feeling of misery filled the air around the girl. Desperately he pressed his lips against her head. “It's alright, I'm here now. Don't cry. Everything's going to be fine.” His words were soft and soothing as he whispered into her ear.

 

Kagome was startled by the sight. She could tell by her friends' expressions that the problem was something they couldn't fix. Her eyes turned to Inuyasha, but seeing him glance away, she knew who had caused it. “What did you do?” She demanded, anger filling her voice.

 

He stared at the ground, unwilling to speak up but forced to do so. “I didn't mean anything by it. It was just something I said. I say a lot of stupid stuff. It's not that big a deal.” But he knew he had meant what he'd said about the alchemist. Still he'd had no right to tell that someone who was already under so much stress.

 

“He told her she shouldn't go with her boyfriend. That Ed won't stay with her, and doesn't love her.” Shippo accused with a frown toward the hanyou. “Then she said that he only thought that cuz of Kikyou. But he said she doesn't know anything and started to call her nothing but a human. But he didn't finish. He just said `You're nothing but a…' And then she started to cry cuz she's not anymore.”

 

“Inuyasha,” Kagome glared, watching him cower slightly. “SIT! SIT!!! SIT!!!!!” With that he fell head first into the ground, going deeper with each command. Her attention turned back to Willa, who was still sobbing uncontrollably. “I'm sorry, he's such a jerk sometimes.” But her words did little to comfort the disheveled girl.

 

With a nod to the miko, Edward stood, pulling his love with him and guiding her from the clearing back to the path. They walked a short distance before he found an area clear enough for them to sit. He sat her down before doing the same. His arms wrapped around her tightly, trying to ease her shaking muscles.

 

Gradually the sobs lessened as the wells of tears ran dry. Willa moved back slightly to look up into the alchemist's eyes. Her own were red from crying. “He doesn't think you'll want to stay with me. And I'm not so sure anymore. Everything's so different now. It's all changed.” She'd known what it was to loose someone so dear and the thought of going through it again scared her.

 

But Ed's real fingers brushed away the tears that still hung in her eyes. With a slight smile he shook his head. “I won't leave you.” He murmured sweetly. “No matter how much things change, I'll always love you. We'll get through this, learn how to deal with it, or change you back. Either way I'll be here.”

 

Her eyes gleamed a little brighter, though not very much. “You shouldn't have to stay. I can't hold you back from having a normal life.” She bit her lip before continuing. “I love you so much that I'm willing to let you go, if that's what would be best. I'm not human anymore Edward. I know you think I am but…”

 

His fingers pressed against her lips, stopping her sentence. He let his hand down slowly. “Don't say that Willa. You are human. I know you look different but…” She started to speak but he put his hand back against her mouth. “But you're still human, on the inside. It's the same with Al. He doesn't appear so outwardly, but he's still my little brother. Don't you believe that?”

 

She sighed heavily then nodded. “Yes, I do. So maybe you're right. But he's your family. You have to stand by him. We're just…” Pausing she peered deep into his eyes, knowing that he really did love her with all his heart. “Even if we are a couple, it's not the same. You don't have to stay with me. It's not your responsibility.”

 

“How can you say that?” Ed interrupted, moving so that his face was directly before hers. “You've got my heart in your hands. I want nothing more than to be with you. And if that means dealing with Inuyasha for the rest of my life I'll do it. I'd do that because you're her, the girl of my dreams, my perfect match. I can't loose you now.”

 

Slowly a tear streaked down her face. She wanted so badly to protest, to tell him he'd be better off with someone else. Closing her eyes she found the words, but couldn't face those golden orbs. Yet as she started to speak, his mouth came forward to meet hers. She started to pull away, but realize she didn't want to. `This is the way things should be. Me with him forever. But then why is it so difficult? Doesn't true love only come once in a lifetime? If so, I've already lost it. '

 

As he pulled back Edward swallowed hard. He watched as she kept her eyes closed, lingering in the moment. Leaning forward he whispered, “Don't send me away. Ask me to do anything, but don't tell me to go.” His lips brushed her furry red ear as he backed up again.

 

Willa bit her lip and looked up at him, careful of her fangs. His eyes glowed with an endless amount of love. It broke her heart to think she held his in her hands. And yet at the same time he was holding hers with great care. Every move he made was calculated, his words planed to keep from hurting her again.

 

“Oh Edward.” She breathed, allowing him to come in for another kiss. She savored every second he was near. It seemed to heal her wounded spirit. His love was repairing damage done over her lifetime by careless people, as well as her own torturing beliefs. Every move he made showed just how deeply he cared for her and was like a ghost from the past.

 

Pulling back he allowed her to gaze once more into the windows of his soul. She smiled slightly, the weight on her shoulders lifting. “I'm so glad you came back today. I don't know what I would have done without you. But did you have time to tell Al and Mora what all happened?”

 

The alchemist nodded with a smirk. “Yes, Morrisa wanted to come see you but I explain why she shouldn't. They're going to see if they can find us a place out in the country somewhere. They both said they're going to move with us.” His smile faded when Willa's did. “What is it? I thought you wanted a house away from the city.”

 

She shook her head. “It's not that.” Pausing she could see he simply wouldn't let the issue go. With a sigh she continued. “Everyone shouldn't have to make a change just for me. It's not right for them to have to move. But Alphonse won't stay anywhere without you. And Mora just doesn't like to be alone. I could try and stay in the city.”

 

Ed frowned deeply. “There's no reason to stay at Fort Promise. The apartment's too small for all of us anyway. As for Al, I know he wants to stay with me. I don't really want to leave him either. I still feel like I'm responsible for him. As he is… I just can't turn my back on him.”

 

“It wasn't your fault.” Willa soothed, placing a hand on his shoulder. “What if I moved into another place? Somewhere less crowded, but still close. Wouldn't that be enough of a compromise? Or Mora and I could get a place, just us girls. How does that sound?” She asked, though she'd already heard his answer. It was painted all over his face.

 

He tried to act like he was considering. The key word being tried, he wasn't doing a very good job of it. With a hand to his chin, his eyes cast toward the sky, he shook his head. “No, I don't think that would be such a good plan. You girls don't need to be by yourselves in this area. It's too dangerous.”

 

“Dangerous?” She exclaimed with mock annoyance, making sure he knew she was joking. “Do you honestly think that we women cannot take care of ourselves?” With the back of her hand to her forehead she rolled her eyes dramatically. “That I'm not capable of living without a man? Is that what you think sir?”

 

She giggled as he stood and pulled her into his arms. “Yes my dear girl that is exactly what I think.” His smile spread as she mocked a faint. “There you see, without my arms to catch you, you'd be completely helpless.” Pulling her back to stand before him his eyes took on a devilish glint. “Besides, how am I supposed to survive without you?”

 

That being said he pulled her into a tight kiss. Her arms looped around his neck, while his wrapped around her waist. Miroku watched the display with interest. But as soon as Willa caught the monk's scent she backed away. Her eyes were wide with embarrassment, though they quickly changed to annoyance.