InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Humanity ❯ Mental Scars ( Chapter 32 )

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 32: Mental Scars

 

The sun slowly rose outside the window. Her ears twitched with sounds of the people next door getting ready to start the day. Sleepily, Willa rubbed her eyes and looked around the living room. `That's right. I'm home again.' Sluggishly she stretched and sat up, tossing the blanket aside.

 

Bending over, she reached under the sofa and pulled out Shinri. Then standing she arched her back and yawned. `Shower, that's what I need.' Moving to the stairs and making her way up, she griped the sword in her right hand. The other held on to the banister for support.

 

Once inside the bathroom she closed the door and locked it. Then she shut the window and placed Shinri in the corner. Peering in the mirror reviled just how badly she needed to wash her hair. With a frown she tugged at her ears. `How am I going to manage this?'

 

 

When he first woke up he just laid there, unsure of what he should do. Everything felt so weird and new. It had been so long since he'd been able to wake up at all that he wasn't sure what was expected of him. Should he call to his brother, who was still sleeping soundly? Or try and stand without any help?

 

He could hear the birds chirping outside, felt the warmth of the suns rays in the room and the softness of his pajamas. To his surprise he could even smell the next door neighbor's cooking. All of these things seemed so out of place. As did the restless feeling he was experiencing in his legs. He needed to move them, and soon.

 

When he heard the bathroom door open he sat up and called out, “Hello?” To his surprise, softly as he had spoken, Willa came into the room with a questioning expression. She was wearing an ankle-length grey dress with long sleeves. “I'm not sure if I can get up by myself.” He explained, feeling a little embarrassed at the fact he had to ask for help at all.

 

“It's alright.” She soothed, and with a smile came over to him. He could smell the shampoo in her wet hair through the towel. Bending over she moved the covers aside and took hold of his arms. “Come on.” Slowly he rose up into a standing position.

 

“Thanks.” He breathed, not wanting to wake his sibling up so early. But for him there was a whole new marvelous life to be explored. Carefully they made there way from the bedroom to the bathroom. At the door to which she let him go but gave him a questioning look. “I'll be alright this far.” He admitted, touching the wall as he went.

 

Closing the door Willa gave a sigh of relief. She had been so concerned about him since he'd regained his body. But it seemed he was doing better with time. Then she realized she'd left Shinri in the bathroom. “Don't try to touch my sword.” She called through the door, hopeful he would listen to her.

 

As soon as he was done, Alphonse opened the door to let her in. “You left it in the corner.” He explained, pointing back to it while holding on to the wall to stay standing. Giving her a slight smile he mentioned, “I didn't realize you were so protective of that thing. But I can understand why.”

 

Moving past him, she picked up the blade and gave him a sorrowful expression. “It's not that.” She contradicted, holding it in one hand and helping him down the stairs with the other. “Part of its power makes it so that only certain people can touch it. Other than me, the only person who's been able to is Edward.”

 

Nodding, the man seemed to understand. Once they were in the living room he motioned that he wanted to sit at the dinning room table. “It's because you two are soul mates. From what Mora told me yesterday, you and brother are destined to be together.” With a sigh he sank down into a chair.

 

Frowning Willa pursued his idea. “But then what about you and her? Back home we always knew she and Al would marry. Yet in your world you've never met her double. Have you?” Taking a seat she leaned Shinri against her chair and unwrapped her damp red hair. It fell like in a fan shape across her shoulders.

 

“That doesn't mean that I wouldn't have.” He claimed with a slight expression of sadness passing over his face. “As I was, I wasn't looking to get into a serious relationship with anyone. To be honest I'm surprised she and I pursued one, even here, knowing we could never marry and do all the normal things couples should. I think if she hadn't loved my double, she wouldn't have fallen for me.”

 

Willa sadly nodded. She had to admit that the very same thought had crossed her mind more than once. In turn however, Al would have never fallen in love with Mora without her having made the first move. Still, it was a sad theory and one she wouldn't share with her friend. “But she did, and now look at you both. You've brought something back to her that I can't quite explain.”

 

She paused for a second, her eyes growing dark with shadows of the past. “They were in a love so deep they were in their own world. After Edward died they pulled closer together rather than apart. It seemed like she was his world, and in return he was hers. When he died some part of her was buried in that grave with him.”

 

A warm hand pressed against hers, and she peered up at him. He was the exact double of her childhood friend. It was like seeing a ghost, and she shivered slightly. Gently he whispered, as if scared to do so. “The same way part of you went to the grave with Edward?”

 

Tears came to her eyes as she nodded, brining her fingers up to press against her mouth. After a second she continued. “He was my everything. When he died I didn't know who I was anymore. Some of the kids blamed me, because he was so well liked. After that I pulled away, leaving Al and Mora to grieve without me.”

 

His hand came up to brush away the tears. He knew she couldn't speak with his brother about what had happened after his double died. The Elrics had discussed it the night before. Ed had told him, if he got the chance, to find out exactly what became of her during those tender times.

 

“They had each other.” He whispered, gripping the girl's wrist. It was obvious that she was reliving those moments. “Why didn't you go to them? You shouldn't have had to face his death by yourself. You were just a child when it happened. Willa… what did you do during all that time alone?”

 

Looking up into those silver orbs she trembled. Mora had obviously told him she'd spent much of her time away from everyone, refusing to see her friends. “I… I was so young. The children at school were so cruel. Even the teachers thought it was my fault. So I believed them.” Pulling up her right sleeve she reviled an old scar across her wrist. “I got this when I fell through the floor. But after…” She shook her head and pulled the material back over the old wound. “After I lost Edward I didn't want to live. I couldn't go to Mora or Al because I thought it was my fault that… that he was gone.”

 

Tapping her arm with one finger got her to turn it over to him again. Slowly he pushed against the cloth and looked at the mark. “You said you got this in the accident.” She nodded her head. “But after he died, you tried to use it as a way of killing yourself?” Again she nodded.

 

Swallowing a lump in her throat she explained. “I got a piece of glass from the debris after they had removed his…” She faltered momentarily. “after they'd taken Edward out of it. I used the wound as a kind of marker. I thought if I kept it open maybe that would… I don't know… be a way of paying for what I'd done. I considered cutting a little deeper, but never had the courage.” She laughed at the stupidity of it. “He died for me but I couldn't do it for him.”

 

Taking hold of her wrist Alphonse found he wanted to yell at her. The past seemed to be poising her mind, even now. “That wouldn't have been the same! He died trying to save your life. For you to turn around and kill yourself would be like saying his sacrifice didn't matter!”

 

Her eyes grew wide with shock and she jerked her wrist back, pressing it against her chest. Swallowing hard she found she had no words to counter his claim. Shaking her head, she took hold of Shinri, stood, and glanced down at him. Quickly she turned and began to walk away.

 

Reaching for her, Al managed to take hold of her long skirt. “I'm sorry.” He apologized, in a hurt tone. She stopped but didn't turn back to him. “I'm sorry I upset you. But what I said was true. Remember that. He gave his life so you could live.”

 

When she looked back at him, he could see the pain in her eyes. “So that I could live huh? Is what I'm doing now considered living? Ever since he left I've been doing nothing but passing from one day to the next. I lost all my friends and until I met you and your brother no one cared.” She laughed at the situation as if she'd gone mad. “And now, I'm not even human.”

 

Finding the strength to stand he did so, grabbing both her arms. His silver eyes shown with the ferocity most believed only the elder Elric possessed. “Don't start thinking like that!” Alphonse demanded. “You are human, and deep down you know I'm right. Take it from someone who spent years as a suit of armor. No matter what you look like, inside you are still Willa, human, and the woman my brother loves.”

 

Shinri pulsed just once, causing every muscle within her to become devoid of strength. She collapsed into Al's arms. “Willa!” Struggling he managed to lay her on the ground without dropping her. “Brother come quick!” He screamed toward the steps. Feeling helpless he patted her cheek and tried shaking her. “Please wake up.” He pleaded.

 

Running down the stairs, Ed almost tripped and fell. “What's wrong?” As soon as he saw her lying there, his heart stopped. Everything around him seemed to have gone into slow motion. He could see his sibling's worried expression and hear the cries for help. But it was as though he were glued to the spot.

 

Mora touched his shoulder, brining him back to real time. Noticing her friend, she rushed over and fell to her knees. “No… Willa, you can't do this. You have to wake up. Come on…” She shook the other girl's shoulders but it did little to bring her around. Raising her head she looked at Edward. “Get some water, quick!”

 

Nodding, he moved to the kitchen and pulled out a glass and filled it. In moments he was kneeling beside the woman he loved. Handing it to Morrisa he asked, “Is she alright? Do you know what's happening?” But the other girl shook her head helplessly, splashing her friends face with a slight bit of water.

 

They couldn't take her to the hospital. With those ears she would surely be thrown out, or even killed. But time was of the essence. Grabbing her and Shinri up into his arms Edward looked to the other girl. “Get a hat and put it on her. You two stay here while I take her back out to the guy that made the sword. Maybe he can help.”

 

Nodding Morrisa did as she was commanded. Quickly she put the ball cap in place and opened the front door to let him out. “Please be safe.” She murmured, on the verge of tears. With a nod the alchemist hurried out and down the porch steps. Closing the door she turned back to Al who looked devastated. “What happened exactly?”

 

He shook his head, placing his hands on the sides of it. “I yelled at her. How stupid could I be?” Gazing up reviled the hurt and anguish in his eyes. “She said she wasn't human. I tried to get through to her. I thought I was doing the right thing by telling her what I did.”

 

“What did you tell her?” Mora demanded, falling on her knees beside where he still sat on the floor. “What did you say to her?” She was trying to keep herself from going over the edge. Lately it seemed there was one disaster after another. Before long she'd have a nervous breakdown.

 

Alphonse closed his eyes. “I told her… I told her that if she would've killed herself that brother's double would've given his life for nothing. But then she said that she wasn't really living. That she hadn't since he left.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “That she wasn't human anymore. I couldn't just let her think that. Wasn't I human in that suit? But I didn't even have a body.”

 

Leaning forward, Morrisa wrapped her arms around him. She spoke softly, all the rushed anger and worry gone, replaced by compassion. “You were human, and she is now. But she's always felt like maybe she wasn't. Like maybe her power meant she wasn't the same as everyone else. Now that she's changed, it's just backed up those beliefs.”

 

They said nothing else. What else was there to say? It seemed as though the girl they cared for was broken beyond repair. It was like no words they could speak, or anything they did would make any difference. Willa continuously turned a deaf ear to them, refusing to listen to logic. But they would keep trying, as good friends always do.