InuYasha Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Humanity ❯ Taken ( Chapter 35 )

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 35: Taken

 

Because Willa was so weak the couple spent the night at Roric's cave before heading back for town. With Shinri fastened to her waist Willa walked beside Ed, her hand in his. On her head was a scarf the alchemist had created. Looking over at him she could tell he was deep in thought. Squeezing his fingers she caught his attention. He nodded slightly letting her know to use her powers.

 

Opening her mind she could hear the thoughts that had kept him from speaking on the walk home. `I'm not sure what to do now. You need to travel but Al can hardly walk. I don't want to leave him in the state he's in. But on the other hand I don't want you to go it alone out here.' He shook his head slightly, a frown on his face as his brow furrowed. `I'm not sure how long before he'll be up and walking. It shouldn't be too long but I know that Shinri is needed. Still…' Glancing at her he sighed heavily. `Would it be right to wait? Or should we start the quest now?'

 

She frowned, wishing he could hear her thoughts as well. “Quest? I hadn't really thought of it like that.” Her voice sounded loud where there had been silence. “What if we went to places that were close to home? Then we could return to the apartment every night and still help people like Roric wanted us to.”

 

Edward peered down into her eyes. “Wanted us to? I can't weald Shinri like you can. It's you who'll be doing all the work. I'll just be tagging along behind.” When he saw her hurt expression he kissed her cheek. “I didn't mean it as a bad thing. I won't mind following so long as it's you doing the leading.”

 

Smiling she leaned her head against his shoulder. “Without you I wouldn't be able to do anything useful. You're my strength, just like…” She bit her lip, sorry for having started that sentence, and unsure how to make up for it. “I've never been any good on my own. It's like I can't even stand on my own two feet.”

 

When she sighed he looped his arm around her waist. “Don't say that.” He scolded lightly. “You've got more stamina than you give yourself credit for. When I first saw you, a woman living alone in the woods, I thought you were either strong or crazy. Now I'm thinking it's a bit of both.” The girl giggled and his grip tightened. “You really depend on me like you did on him?”

 

Nodding she put an arm around him. “When we were younger, I used to think of him as my hero. He defended me against anyone, even teachers who put me down. His strength was what kept me going. And it was his sacrifice that gave me the strength to live without him too.” She leaned in closer. “But now I don't need him anymore, because I have you.”

 

Smiling Edward led her through the gates of Fort Promise and on into the town. As they passed through the streets Shinri pulsed, though he didn't feel it. But from the way she was reacting he knew that was what it had to be. His arm pulled her as close as possible until they made it to the apartment complex.

 

“Hello?” The alchemist called as he opened the door. But to his surprise there was no one there. Looking around troubled he called again. “Al? Mora? We're back!” Still there was no response. Worry struck his heart causing him to race up to the second floor, Willa close behind.

 

The doors were all open. In the front bedroom there was some blood on the floor and a note stuck to the door with a knife. Taking it down Edward read it to himself, knowing the eyes of his girlfriend were on him. Once he was done he glanced up at her then back to the paper before reading it aloud. “Surrender the hanyou or your brother and the girl are dead.” There was no signature, no address written anywhere on the paper.

 

Sniffing the note Willa knew where it had come from. “It's from one of the bakeries. They must be the people who took me in the first place.” Grabbing his hand she raced down the stairs, not waiting for him to ask any questions. “We have to find the right one and soon. The blood is both of theirs.”

 

Without stopping to close the door the couple ran through the streets to the nearest doughnut shop. But it wasn't the right one. Something smelled different about the place. Racing through the now crowded streets they came to the next bakery. This was it, the same shop Al had gotten the pastries from their first morning in the city.

 

Glancing at the checker Willa growled softly. The place was vacant and so there would be no one to witness her animal like actions. “Where are they?” She demanded, noting that Edward was already transforming his arm into a long blade. “What have you done with them?”

 

A smirk passed over the cashier's face. His hand came up to remove the dark shades, revealing the red eyes they'd already known he possessed. “Now, shouldn't you be a bit more diplomatic about this? I mean after all, there are two lives hanging in the balance.”

 

Ed moved up next to the woman he loved and placed a hand on her arm to calm her. “What makes you think we'll just willingly give in to your demands? You can't have any use for Willa now that Inuyasha has gone.” He was trying to give her the time she needed to sniff out his brother and Mora. “She's not any good to you now.”

 

Cocking his brow the creature laughed. “You think that's so, do you? Well I've got news for you boy. She is still a grand catch and will work well with any other hanyou around. Or full demon for that matter. So make a decision, the girl you love, or your brother's life.”

 

Cringing Willa nodded reluctantly. She would not be killed. That wasn't what these people wanted from her. Besides, she already had a plan. “Set them free first. Then I'll go with you.” Not waiting for Edward's reaction she turned to him. “They don't want me dead. It's better this way. Trust me.”

 

“No.” The alchemist breathed, shaking his head. His eyes were still watching the being behind the counter. “We agreed not to leave each other. I'm not going to let you go.” Unfortunately he couldn't read her mind, so he wasn't prepared for what came next. The force against the back of his head knocked him out cold.

 

The tear that should have fallen was repressed as Willa turned to the red eyed monster. “Let them go and I'll come without a fight. Otherwise you'll never catch me.” Something inside her cringed as he nodded and opened a secret door. Inside sat Mora and Alphonse, bound but alive none the less. “Untie them.” She ordered without emotion.

 

The creature didn't say anything. He only walked into the room and cut the ropes, setting the humans free. Morrisa jumped up immediately, though her side hurt where she'd been cut slightly in the earlier struggle. She helped Alphonse stand, who was weakened by the loss of blood. He'd coughed up some when he'd been hit in the stomach.

 

Guiding him out she glanced fearfully at her friend who only nodded. Mora was shocked by the lack of emotion in Willa's eyes. There was no trace of worry or relief to be found on her face. It was like staring at a lifeless doll. She didn't speak, terror having taken her voice.

 

But Al would not stand for what was happening. “You can't go!” His words were scratchy, his breath labored. It pained him to simply inhale. And yet the hollowness in her eyes hurt him even more. “You can't just leave like this. Please Willa, listen to me!”

 

Her head turned away from him. Glancing down at Ed she gave a silent farewell. `I can't keep hurting my friends like this. I'm sorry Edward, sorry that I can't be what you want and deserve. But I do love you with all my heart. And if everything works out, I'll return.'

 

Silently she followed the creature, who'd put his shades back on, out into the throng of people. “No running.” He commented harshly. But she had no intention of doing so. It was obvious by the void in her eyes that she had given up. At least that's what he believed it to mean.

 

 

“What happened?” Ed groaned, holding the back of his head. He'd been out cold close to twenty-four hours. There was a throbbing pain and his vision seemed fuzzy. Glancing up he saw a very weak Alphonse and a distressed Morrisa leaning over him. “Where's Willa?” He moaned as he tried to sit up, the pain causing the world to spin around him.

 

“She's gone. She gave herself up so they would let us go.” The woman had obviously been crying, it was evident from her red eyes and wet face. “She left with him yesterday. I couldn't wake you up and I can't get both you and Al back to the house without leaving one here.” Her voice sounded so helpless at that moment. “I couldn't do anything except close the shop windows so no one would see us in here.”

 

Placing a hand on her shoulder Al frowned. “Willa wouldn't listen to reason. I tried to talk to her but she wouldn't hear me.” Glancing back at Ed his frown deepened. “I'm sorry brother. There was nothing either of us could do. And we can't exactly go to the authorities with such an outrageous tale.”

 

Nodding the alchemist swallowed hard. It seemed that nothing he did would ever be enough. No matter how hard he tried that girl simply couldn't be protected. She'd been the one to knock him out. He knew that, which only made him feel worse. “She didn't let me even try to find another way. Maybe this was how she wanted it.”

 

It ground at his nerves the way she did things. She had told him she loved him and yet again made a major decision without consulting his views on the matter. It was like when she had run, or turned away there by the lake. She was simply too independent, though she claimed she needed him. `She doesn't need anyone to tell her what to do because she won't listen anyway.'

 

Standing he put an arm around his brother to help him up and then walk. Slowly they made their way back to the apartment. Mora was holding Al on the other side. She hurt but didn't complain. None of them spoke a word, each lost in their own thoughts, mostly about what they would do next.

 

 

After making it home and Alphonse was seated Ed began to pace. His mind was going at a rate he could hardly keep up with. Things had happened so suddenly that he wasn't prepared for this scenario. Sure he'd known they would come after her. But to come after his family and friends was simply something he hadn't considered. `They're desperate or they wouldn't have attempted anything like this.'

 

“Brother?” Al called the alchemist back from his thoughts. “What if she has a plan? Maybe she's going to use Shinri on them and then get away.” The idea seemed plausible enough, but was it true? Had she decided that would be the best way of ending this once and for all?

 

Taking a seat beside him, Mora laid a hand gently on his knee. “You could be right. It's something she would have come up with.” Turning to the elder man she could see that he wasn't convinced. “We can't do anything at the moment. Once Al is able to move about we'll try to find her. But if you leave now they could come back.”

 

He nodded, but kept moving. He simply couldn't find it in him to sit down. It was something that seemed like defeat. If he stopped trying then the woman he loved could be transformed. It could be her red eyes he looked into during the next battle. Or worse, it could be hers he gazed into before his own death.

 

“What if it's too late?” He thought aloud, in a low voice. “What if they take Shinri from her and she transforms? There'd be no way to stop her without that sword. And no one can touch it other than me and her.” That was right, they couldn't take it from her because they couldn't grasp it. Still, it did little to settle his fears.

 

The younger Elric glanced up at his sibling who wore a worried expression. “If they do manage that…” Al began solemnly. “if she were to find her way back here… What would we do then? Do you think you would be able to fight her brother?” He was already sorry he'd asked, but it was too late now.

 

“I don't know.” Ed admitted, turning away in shame. Would he be able to protect them if it came down to that? Could he battle with and possibly kill the woman he loved? It seemed like such a foreign idea. But if she slaughtered them and then returned to herself, would she be able to live with her actions? “I'll do what I have to.” He murmured, knowing that was what she would want.