InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Humanity ❯ Comparison ( Chapter 34 )

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 34: Comparison

 

“I don't understand. What's going on?” Edward was frantic with worry. A day had passed and as Willa had grown colder a body of himself, at a younger age, had began to appear. It was like a ghostly image, transparent for the most part. Yet now, suddenly the body had faded away completely.

 

He turned to Roric for an answer that would explain the impossible. Shaking his head the smithy replied, “All I can tell you is my best guess. And that would be that Shinri was trying to bring that boy back to life.” He glanced down at where the body had been. “Yet for some reason it seems to have changed its perception of the truth. Where it had thought he should have lived, it has now changed its mind.”

 

The man shook his head and began pacing again. He had made a sword of truth. As far as he'd known, that should have meant the view couldn't have been altered. And yet here before him was the proof that Shinri had changed its idea of what the truth should be. The only way that could have happened would be if Willa had somehow managed to taint its beliefs. However that had been obvious earlier. What didn't make sense was how she could have distorted things while unconscious.

 

Slowly her breath began to steady, as the blade worked at redistributing the energy it had taken. Her heart beat started to become normal once more. Kneeling down beside her, Ed did something he hadn't done in a long time. He prayed that God would help bring her back to him.

 

Blinking a few times Willa could see the light around her. Gradually shapes began to take form until her sight was back to normal. Turning her head she could hear a voice whispering a prayer. She smiled when she saw who it was. “Edward.” She breathed, so soft his ears almost didn't catch it.

 

Lifting his head slowly his eyes locked with hers. “Willa.” He whispered. Tenderly he raised his hand and let his fingers brush across her cheek. “I thought… I thought I'd lost you.” His words were gentle, his heart melting with relief. “I was so afraid you were… were leaving.”

 

Smiling she glanced up at Roric, with an expression that bade him to leave them in peace. And so the smithy did, though he'd have a few choice words for her once she was up to it. Turning her attention back to the alchemist she felt a deep sense of guilt. He had loved her, and yet she had almost left him, without even a simple goodbye.

 

“I saw him.” Willa explained, though her breath was still short. “I thought... I believed for so long that it should have been me who died back then. Shinri… I… I almost gave my life for him. Truth seems so vague sometimes. Shinri must have thought so too. That's why… why…”

 

A cough racked through her body. The Elric raised her up slightly then lifted her off the rock completely. With all the care in the world he sat her onto the ground to lean against the stone. It seemed to ease her pain, and so he took a seat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “It's alright. we can discuss it later.”

 

Shaking her head she put a hand to her throat. “No, I'm alright now.” She pressed against him for warmth. “I was standing on a ledge overlooking the sea. I started to jump when he… He looked just as he did that day.” Her eyes misted over. “He stopped me, and held me. He didn't want to come back. Didn't want a second chance. I… I had to let him go.”

 

Holding on to her tightly Edward pressed his lips against her head. “You did the right thing.” His voice was both broken and tired. “I wouldn't know what to do if I really lost you. I'm sure he felt the same way.” When she looked up at him he smiled.

 

“Edward?” She murmured, as though drifting off to sleep. When he gave a soft grunt that sounded similar to `what' she continued. “I'm sorry I scared you like that. I didn't mean to. But… seeing him again, it was worth it. I was able to come to grips with his death. You understand?”

 

Sighing, the alchemist wasn't sure what to say. “I suppose I do. But Willa, I need to know the truth. What happened when you were in that other world? What did you and he do, other than talk? You said he held you, but you haven't said much else about it.”

 

Frowning, she found she wasn't sure she wanted to tell him the truth. But after all the trouble she'd caused, she felt she owed him what he asked for. “If you really must know, we talked and…” She paused to give him the chance to tell her he didn't have to say more. Without such a response she went on. “We kissed.”

 

Silence seemed to be the only proper reaction. The Elric didn't know what he'd expected her to say. However that had been something hoped she hadn't done. Swallowing hard he found the voice he'd lost. “I see.” This was his double though, right? So wouldn't that be the same as her having kissed him? He doubted it. “Who do you love more?” She stayed quiet so he persisted. “I need to know if I'm going to have to live up to this guy for the rest of my life. I'm not sure how to handle it if you're going to be comparing me to him. So I need you to tell me here and now. Who do you truly and honestly love more?”

 

Willa realized she had to answer but choose her words carefully. Looking up into his eyes she spoke. “Ed was the first boy to ever truly understand me. He was there when everyone else was calling him a fool for being my friend. Back then he was my world. He came to my rescue when the other children teased me. His lips were the first to touch mine. And his heart the first to own mine.” Sighing she found herself trying to find the answer for her own mind. “He was my first love, and I suppose that part of me will always love him.

 

“But when I was with him and I started to say that he was the only one to ever care I was stopped. Stopped by the vision of you back here, crying over my body.” Shaking her head the answer became clear. “Your devotion to your brother is what first won you access to my heart. From then on it was one thing after another. Taking me to Fort Promise and staying with me. Opening your own heart, even though you'd never done so before.”

 

She smiled slightly. “When I was in the woods with Inuyasha, I thought I could never go back home. I thought you wouldn't accept me. But when you came at Miroku like you did I was stunned. Because even though I knew things I shouldn't have, you still came for me. And then, there by the lake, you accepted me.”

 

She sighed deeply before continuing. “I never would have guessed that you would have, because I didn't think I was human. And when you saw what I became without Tenseiga, you still stayed. You've been through hell and back all because of me.” She smiled and shook her head. “You gave me your heart and I've all but crushed it. And yet here you are, asking who I love more.

 

“You are alive, Edward. You are here, and real, and now. I will always love the other Ed in some way. Or perhaps it's that I love his memory, who he's become in my mind. But no matter what, you can know this for sure. A part of me will always love your double. But that is the part of me who is still a young teen. Here and now, the woman that I am, loves you with all her heart. And will keep on loving you forever, if you'll let her.”

 

Pulling her into a tight embrace the alchemist kissed her passionately. His very soul was being poured out into the moment. `It was never a question of my staying with you. I would have stayed by your side no matter what your answer. But this only makes it that much easier.'

 

Smiling inside, Willa realized she'd been listening without permission. As they backed away she breathed in deeply. Her eyes glowed with a devotion unmatched by any she'd ever felt for the younger Edward. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hear.” She apologized, knowing full well, had she not done so he wouldn't have known.

 

“Then you know that I would stay with you, even if you hadn't chosen me.” She nodded, almost shamefully. He took a hand and placed it under her chin, lifting her gaze to meet his. “If it means we have to go through one disaster after another I will. No matter what happens, I'll stand by you.”

 

She laughed slightly at the thought of their relationship being a long series of catastrophes. “If you don't, I'm not so sure I'll be able to remain standing at all.” Gently she pressed her lips against his. “We are one, just like you said. We're two souls with one heart. So I shall try and handle it with more care.”

 

Nestling against her neck, he let his lips press against her skin. “You do that.” He murmured, his soft breath making her tremble. A smile spread across his face at her surrender. Lifting his head he kissed her jaw. “I love you so much.” His words were compassionate as he made his way to her lips once more.

 

“Mmmm” She mumbled, loving his closeness. “I love you too.” Willa breathed, backing away. “I wish things could have been different though. He missed out on so much because of what happened. But I guess I couldn't have really changed the past by bringing him back now anyway.”

 

Nodding, the alchemist had to agree. “It's like with Al, he's got his body back, but he's lost several years because of what happened.” He sighed heavily thinking about all the time lost. “Still… We wouldn't have been brought here, and wouldn't have met you and Mora. Change one thing and everything is affected.”

 

Smiling slightly, Willa allowed her hand to trail up to stroke his face. “He said he would have been with Al that day… you know the accident. So I suppose things are as they were meant to be. Besides, what would I do with two of you running around here?” She laughed at the thought of two Edward's arguing over her.

 

The Elric didn't find it so funny. “Let's see, you're twenty, I'm a year older and he would be, what? Four years your junior. I don't think that would be such a good idea.” He gave her a playful hug. “I'd hate to have to beat up a little kid like that.”

 

“Hey!” She smiled, nestling up against his neck, kissing it gently. “I'm happy with just you anyway.” Making her way up to his lips she kissed him deeply, devotion filling her movements. Her hands trailed behind his neck, her fingers massaging his skin. Drawing back and peering into his eyes she could almost swear it was his double staring at her through them. It was the same look of passion she had seen in the other world, and so many years ago when her love was fresh and new.

 

But this was not the young Edward she had kissed beneath the old tree on the church lawn. This was not the boy who had talked her into climbing the tall hill, which seemed like a mountain, simply to watch the sunset. It was not the child who had won her heart and given his life for her. No, this was not that childhood love.

 

The eyes staring back into her own were that of a man. An alchemist, who had risked his and his brother's lives to take her to Fort Promise. This was a man who had come into the woods to search for her, without regard for his own wellbeing. An adult, who accepted her flaws and yet, still felt shame for his own. This was Edward Elric, the man who had reopened her heart, and given her life.

 

“What are you thinking?” He questioned, an odd smile crossing his lips. His hand stroked her cheek before coming to rest under her chin. When she blushed his grin grew wider. “You don't have to be embarrassed about anything. Now tell me. What were you thinking just then?”

 

Shaking her head the blush faded. “I was just thinking about how much you remind me of him. And yet…” She paused seeing the old expression in those golden orbs. “But you're not really like him at all. You are similar in some ways, and not in others. Like your eyes. They remind me of him, but they hold so much more.”

 

Nodding Ed tried to understand. Seeing how ashamed she was, he brushed his lips against hers as if in forgiveness. “I'm older. He was still just a kid then.” A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Even if you didn't think of him that way. Growing up tends to change people. Make them deeper in so many ways.”

 

Willa smiled and kissed him gently, her hand sliding behind his neck under his braid. When she back away she laid her head against his chest once more. “I love you Edward Elric.” She used his last name as if to prove her words were meant for him, rather than his double. Feeling his hand rub her back she knew he understood.