InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Humanity ❯ Home ( Chapter 27 )

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 27: Home

 

Kagome was shocked when the demon attacked them. However it wasn't the attack that had surprised her so. It was the fact that, within the monster's chest were the remaining jewel shards. The truth was, had they not been brought to this world, the remaining fragments would have never been found.

 

“They're in his chest Inuyasha!” She called from a safe distance. Her bow and arrows were back at the campsite. She had no way of helping him defeat this new foe. The creature, which looked like a giant manticore with wings, lunged at her causing the miko to scream. But as soon as she'd done so someone had a hold on her and was pulling her out of the way.

 

After they'd dodged she peered up to see Edward transforming his automail arm into a blade. “Stay here.” He ordered, rushing at the beast. Inuyasha had already unsheathed Tenseiga and was running at the creature from the other side. But both stopped instantly when they spotted a new person on the battlefield. Standing before the monster was Willa, her newly made sword in hand.

 

“What are you doing? That isn't going to work!” Inuyasha screamed at the girl. But he didn't make a move toward her. Glancing over to Ed he saw that the other man had also halted his attack. Both watched the woman with a new anxiety boiling in their blood.

 

She hadn't listened to a word the hanyou said. Shinri had pulsed, giving her the signal that something about the situation was not real. The thing before her seemed to freeze at the sight of the blade, paralyzed with fear knowing the weapon's power. With a swift movement she made a slicing motion.

 

A huge orb of light surrounded the beast. With fascination they watched as the monster began to change, becoming smaller. Its fangs were shortening and the wings disappearing completely. Another sphere formed in its chest, then floated out of the being toward Willa. She opened her hand, and into it dropped the sacred jewel shards.

 

Once released from its prison the demon fled into the forest, away from camp and all other civilization. Everyone, other than Willa, watched the creature go, but didn't bother to pursue it. When they crowded around her, she gently moved her hand to drop the pieces into Kagome's palm.

 

“You'll be able to go home now.” She murmured, glancing toward the ground. “That's the reason you were sent here, to retrieve those and then go back. You can do that, and defeat Naraku so the curse on Miroku's family will end. Then Sango will be able to get Kohaku back.”

 

Kagome nodded with a smile. Yet she wasn't thrilled with the aspect of going to their own world, and leaving Willa here. “Or maybe we could try and change you back with it. Couldn't we?” But the other woman shook her head. “No I suppose you're right. It's time to go home. But what will you do?”

 

Edward didn't wait for his love to answer. “We're going to do some traveling. See about using the sword to help people, like Roric said. Then after that we may find a place to settle down.” He gave a small grin. “Maybe we'll find a way to help Al. Then he and Mora can get married.”

 

The hanyou wasn't listening. Instead his gaze was trained on Willa. Some part of him still felt guilty for what his blood had done to her. “You'll be ok. I'm sure Ed will take good care of you.” He was surprised by his own words, but even more stunned when the girl rushed into his arms for a hug. Gently he patted her back. “You're going to be fine.”

 

She nodded, pulling away and drying the tears that were already starting to fall. “I know. I'm just going to miss all of you. We were stuck with each other for so long.” She managed to laugh slightly through the tears. “I guess I just got used to having you around. But I know you need to get back home.”

 

Saying goodbye was harder than she's expected. The reason for that was simple. Before she'd believed she would see her friends again. Now, with them going back to their world, that would be impossible. She had grown fond of all of them. Inuyasha was the closest thing she'd ever had to a brother. Though she'd only known him a short while, the blood bond was still strong.

 

“Remember.” He murmured, his golden eyes peering deep into her blue ones. “Humanity isn't something that you see on the outside. It's who you truly are that makes you human. Don't forget that.” His wink told her to listen to the rest of his words in silence. `Don't worry about us. After Naraku is defeated, I'm going to ask Kagome to be my woman… forever.'

 

She smiled slightly, knowing he meant to wed the miko. Then turning back to the other girl she gave her a hug as well. “Take good care of him. He's a jerk sometimes, but he does love you.” Kagome nodded, salty droplets streaming down her own face.

 

When they parted she brushed her eyes. “I know, and I will. Be safe, and be happy.” Something caught in her throat, allowing her to say no more. With a wave the couples parted. The hanyou's arm was wrapped firmly around the miko's waist, with her head resting on his shoulder.

 

“We better get going too.” Edward mumbled, taking Willa's hand in his own. But she hesitated momentarily, glancing back up the road. He knew what she was thinking, without having to ask. “Don't worry. They'll make it home safely and then live happily ever after.”

 

She smiled up at him but when she looked away a shadow passed over her eyes. Fear gripped her heart as they began to walk. “Edward, what if…” She paused momentarily. “What if we find a way for you and Al to go back to your world? You would go home, wouldn't you?”

 

He glanced down at her with a frown. The thought had already passed through his mind, and it troubled him. “I'm not sure. Going back would mean that I could find the stone and return Al to normal. But…” The alchemist tried to figure things out before putting them to words. “But if you couldn't go with me, then I might not. Still…”

 

What were his priorities now? His first and foremost had always been returning Alphonse's body to him. Yet wouldn't leaving Mora behind break his little brother's heart? And what about his own love for Willa? Abandoning her was not something he wanted to do. Yet as she was, taking her to his world could be disastrous. She would be seen as a type of chimera, and used as a lab rat for the rest of her life. None of the choices seemed very appealing at that moment. “If you and Mora could go…” He tried. “Then I would say yes. Or if we could change Al back, then they could go without us. But if he were still in that armor, I'm not sure. It's my fault he's like he is.”

 

“And so your first duty is to him. I understand that.” She didn't bother to allow him to say anything before she continued. “If I went with you they would put me in a lab and run tests on me. They'd treat me like an animal. So if we find a way, then you three could go on while I stayed here.”

 

“No!” Edward protested, putting an arm around her and pulling her close. “That would leave you here all alone. I wouldn't let that happen. But it doesn't really matter because this is all hypothetical. If and when that day comes, we'll all make a decision together. All four of us.”

 

Willa didn't try to dispute the matter any further. It was, as he had said, all hypothetical. They would simply have to cross that bridge when they came to it. There was no sense in discussing how before they'd even seen what type it was, or if it existed at all. So the couple passed the rest of the journey in silence.

 

 

The group watched as Kagome and Miroku prayed over the shards. They stood facing each other, his hands over hers. The miko had learned to do so from Kikyou. With that the fragments fused, becoming one jewel again.

 

The young woman held the Shikon No Tama out before the others. She was unsure of what should be done next. “Well Inuyasha, how do we use it now that it's whole again?” Her voice sounded shaky with excitement. Her eyes glowed as the anticipation around her mounted.

 

“Well.” He took it from her and studied it carefully. How had he planned to use it all those decades ago? “I think if we make a wish on it, we should be able to go back home.” Before he could say anymore Miroku spoke up.

 

“However, we must remember Inuyasha, that the jewel contains both the power of good as well as evil. Should we use the wrong words, the wish could be twisted and distorted by the bad spirits inside.” He looked to Sango who nodded. “And it must be large enough or the jewel will not disappear.”

 

The hanyou frowned. `Kikyou said that if I used its powers to become human the jewel could possibly cease to exist. But she didn't mention anything about if a smaller wish were used.' His brow furrowed with worry. `We have to get this right or else we may not survive at all.'

 

“Let me.” Kagome offered, taking it back from him. She peered deep into the shining ball. It looked quite a bit like a marble back home. However this one glowed with power beyond that of anything else she'd seen. “Maybe there should be a ceremony to it. You know like purification or something.”

 

But Sango shook her head. “I don't think that's what it needs. Your touch has done enough to cleanse the sacred jewel.” She thought back to when she was a child and the people of her village would tell stories of the gem. “From what I remember, it just needs to have a wish said over it.”

 

Nodding Miroku had to agree. “But we must still use the right words. The demon power within is equal to that of the Priestess Midoriko. The wish must be pure for it to turn out right. Kagome you make the wish while we form a circle around you. That way we should all be affected.”

 

With a nod the miko moved to stand in the middle of her friends. Closing her eyes tightly she thought of all the time they had spent together. The battles they had faced were long and hard. More times than she cared to remember they had been wounded while fighting for a jewel shard. She thought of Shippo and how he'd lost his father to the Thunder Brothers. And of Miroku, who'd seen his father die from the wind tunnel, and would possibly suffer the same fate. Her thoughts went back to Sango, fighting for a brother who didn't even remember her name.

 

Lastly she thought of Inuyasha. She could see him pinned to the sacred tree by Kikyou's arrow. Her mind filled with images of his scowling face when he didn't get his way. Then his smile as he looked at her. The images of the countless time's she'd used the beads around his neck to restrain him. They all filled her with hope and love.

 

Words came to her mind, easing her fear of saying the wrong thing. With a deep breath and peering down at it she spoke. “Jewel of Four Souls hear my voice, and listen well. We have traveled on a long and hard journey. Now we wish for the soul of Midoriko within to be set free. And from her we ask to be sent home once more.”

 

After only a moment everything around them seemed to turn white. The jewel vanished from Kagome's hands. She glanced up to find she was alone in a bright void. Her friends were no where to be seen. But from in the distance she watched as a stranger approached her.

 

It was the figure of the woman Kagome had seen in the cave close to the demon slayers' village. Midoriko smiled as she reached the young girl. “You have completed the journey and thus will be sent home. But I must inform you, the well has now been closed. Its power and the power of the sacred tree were one with the jewel.”

 

“No.” Kagome breathed, tears forming in her eyes. “But what about Inuyasha and the others? I'll never be able to see them again.” She shook hear head, sobs coming forth from deep within her soul. “I didn't mean for that to happen. I didn't realize they were connected.”

 

The priestess placed a hand on her shoulder. “Do not cry for this is not the end. I have won the battle and so I shall grant you another wish.” She was smiling as the girl looked up at her through tear soaked eyes. “Your friends have already been sent back to the warring states era. They wait for you.”

 

With a breath of relief Kagome dried her wet cheeks. “Then I wish for the well to stay open, so that I can be with my friends and Inuyasha.” She smiled as the priestess nodded before her and the void melted away. Her eyes lost focus and so she had to shut them to keep from loosing consciousness.

 

When she opened them again she was standing before the well in her own time. But before going through she rushed into the house. Finding her mother washing dishes in the kitchen she hugged her tightly. “I missed you so much!” She exclaimed, barely letting her grip ease.

 

“Why Kagome…” Her mother placed a dish in the drainer with a smile. “What's gotten in to you? You only just left with Inuyasha a few hours ago. I wasn't expecting you back for a few days. Did something happen over there?” Her mother's tone changed to concern. “You two didn't have another fight again, did you?”

 

Shaking her head the young miko was confused. But slowly the realization came to her. “No mom, everything's fine. I'd better get back to the others.” After another quick hug she ran back to the well house. `We've been sent back to the exact time we left. That's why mom's not upset.'

 

As she jumped through the well she worried about her friends. They could now be fighting Naraku, just as they had been. But as she climbed over the side into the futile era she saw Inuyasha racing toward her. “Kagome!” He screamed, not slowing down until he had her in his arms. “I thought I'd lost you for good.”

 

She shook her head and smiled. “Everything's fine now. Were you sent to Kiade's village?” He nodded, lifting the weight of worry from her. “I was afraid you were back battling Naraku. It's like we weren't even gone. We came home at the exact moment we left. But we still need to…”

 

The hanyou silenced her with a passionate kiss. Things weren't like they had not gone to that other world. He was now free to love her, and no longer cared for Kikyou. `We'll worry about Naraku later. Right now all I want is you.' He thought, unwilling to let go.

 

Shippo saw them and started to race ahead of Miroku. But the monk caught him by the tail and whispered. “Let them be alone. You go tell Kiade that Kagome made it back safely.” The kitsune nodded and raced toward the village. Meanwhile Sango had caught up to them.

 

She smiled as she watched the couple by the well, but was surprised when Miroku slipped his arm around her waist. “What are you doing?” She questioned as he pulled her close. Slowly he moved to kiss her, allowing her the option to back away. However, she didn't take it, but rather allowed his lips to press against hers.

 

In the end they would defeat Naraku. Kohaku would be brought back safely to his sister, alive by the power of Sesshoumaru's sword. The monk's curse would be lifted, allowing him the freedom to admit his deep affection for Sango. Before, he had secretly feared his certain death would hurt any woman he became devoted to. Naturally after she had graduated high school, Inuyasha asked Kagome to become his wife, and she unsurprisingly accepted.

 

After some time Miroku would ask the same of Sango. Amazingly he remained faithful and a year later the slayer bore his children. It was a set of twin girls, which he spoiled completely. Shippo meanwhile would grow up under the care and supervision of his adopted parents, Kagome and Inuyasha who had homes in both worlds.

 

As for the priestess Kikyou, well as all souls do, she eventually crossed over. Though it was with great reluctance and only after realizing Inuyasha had gone back to their true world. Without a way to return herself, she eventually let her soul collectors go and passed on.

 

Author's note

This is not the end of the story! It has 38 chapters in all. That means 11 after this one!