Sliders

Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha or any other anime featured in this fan fiction. I make no profit from my writing.

A/N: Didn't realize how long this one was going to be when I first started it, but meh! Hope you all enjoy. :)

Sliders
Chapter Two
Heart of the Matter: Forgiveness

Kagome opened her eyes from the brightness of the light and found herself standing in front of a charred building. It wasn’t familiar to her but the sight was a shocking one. It was quiet, and peaceful, but she supposed that was to be expected, considering how late it was. She tightened her sleeping yukata around her body to fight off the chill that stilled over her skin. It was cold, so cold she could see her breath.

With a quick glance around she saw lights on in a nearby house and moved towards it. She had no other options and she surely didn’t want to freeze to death out here. She walked up to the door and knocked tentatively on it, her feet already protesting in her movements as she was barefoot. She was relieved when someone finally opened the door and was even further elated when it was a woman who did so.

“I’m sorry to bother you, but I seem to have lost my way. Would you know a place where I could stay the night? An inn or shrine, perhaps?” She was getting better at taking these things as they came, but she was quite certain that this was just another time period and that she wasn’t quiet home yet. She had no recollection of any of this area, and she was working her hardest to keep composed. She was a fighter and she wouldn’t give up hope that she’d make her way back to the others, or at the very least, to her own home.

“There is an inn down the street but I’m afraid that they are usually booked solid.” The woman replied before a small child’s voice could be heard. “Who is it, Mama?”

Kagome caught a quick glimpse of the small girl and she almost melted at the cute face before she looked back to the woman’s eyes and heard her say to the child, “It’s just someone who’s lost. Don’t worry, Elysia.”

The child seemed to accept that and went on to whatever she was doing before the woman focused back on Kagome. “You’ll freeze to death out there tonight. It’s been bitterly cold the past few days. I think winter is coming sooner than we like.” She smiled softly before opening the door a little more. “You can stay here tonight if you like. We don’t have much but a spare room, but it is better than sleeping outside.”

Kagome nodded before giving the woman a brighter smile. “Thank you…and I agree wholeheartedly. I’m really sorry to intrude upon you like this.” She said as she walked into the woman’s home. She once more saw the little girl that she had caught a glimpse of before and she smiled as she watched her playing with some cards on the floor.

The woman glanced over at the girl before her eyes traveled down to her feet. ‘Bare feet in this weather? What has this woman gone through?’ The story of being lost no longer had real merit, but she didn’t push the envelope on the matter.

Kagome turned to her before she offered over her hand. “My name is Kagome.” The woman closed the door before she smiled a little more and shook the girl’s hand replying, “Gracia…it’s nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine.” Kagome replied before she let go of her hand and walked the couple of steps over to the fireplace. The warm glow wasn’t just for show as she felt warmth seep into her skin, easing the slight ache that had quickly taken over her body from the cold outside. “I...don’t know where I am. Where is this place?” Kagome paused at the look of confusion on Grecia’s face, before adding, “What…city…is this?”

‘She really was lost? How long has she been traveling in this cold?’ the older woman thought to herself before she answered, “This is Central City…where are you from?” she asked, curious about the strange girl who wore an even stranger garment. She hadn’t seen anything similar to and the material was different than what she was used to.

“Central City?” Kagome questioned, turning her head to the older woman. She had never heard of such a place, and instantly she was wary of her previous assumptions. Did she end up on a different continent or something? “…what country is this?” she asked, not answering the woman’s question.

Even more confusion came to Grecia’s face as she looked at the girl before she answered, “Amestris. Shall I get you a map?” she asked, her worry growing at the paling face of the young, black haired girl in front of her fire. She took a quick moment to further take in the girl, and noticed a sword in the girl’s hand. It was an old looking thing, and rather tattered looking, so she assumed it wasn’t for fighting, but perhaps something of value to her? She didn’t recognize the dress that the girl wore either—it was a cross between a house robe and some sort of body binder. The girl’s feet were dirty, but it looked as if s he hadn’t been walking too far. Her skin was pale, so much so that she would have feared her to be of the country of Ishval, but with her dark, almost blue-black hair, that notion was dispelled.

Who exactly was she, and where was she from?

“…A…Amestris?” Kagome voice with disbelief, before she replied in a shaky tone, “…could…could you get that map that I could look at?” She wanted to be sure, before she let her mind go out of control, of where she was. Perhaps she was just a hop, skip, and a jump away from home. She wasn’t sure how this woman could understand her Japanese, but what Kagome had no idea of, was that due to the Shikon, and the Tetsuseiga, she was being allowed perfect assimilation to the language of the place she had arrived at.

“Of course.” The older woman smiled softly at her, trying to hold back her flood of questions for the scared looking girl. It was plain to see that this girl had gone through some sort of trauma recently, and she was one to identify. How long had it been since they put her loving husband in the ground? One look to her growing daughter and she mentally voiced her answer, ‘Too long…’

She retrieved the rolled up map from a drawer in the study before she appeared again in front of Kagome, who had moved to sit down in one of the chairs. She was holding her head in her hands and looked utterly at a loss. ‘How could this have happened? What if I’m not in my world? Where have I ended up now?’ she mentally voiced, before a woman’s clearing throat could be heard. Glancing up from her hands, Kagome offered her a soft smile. “Thank you.” As Gracia handed out the map, she unrolled it and glanced over the drawn structure of Amestris.

Kagome could feel her stomach drop to the floor as her eyes shimmered with tears. Where the hell was she? And how did she get here? It was one thing to find herself in another time period that was her own beloved planet of Earth, but this was something else entirely. She was in a world that wasn’t her own, and she had no idea what she was going to do.

“…uhm…” the hesitant voice of Gracia could be heard. She had seen the girl’s unshed tears and she was instantly going into protective mother mode as she moved closer to the poor girl. She looked like her entire world had been ripped out from underneath her. She had no idea how right her assumption was.

Kagome reached up and wiped at her tears, making sure none of them fell. “I…I’m alright. I’m just farther away from home than I though.” She replied quietly, knowing that the older woman had no idea how deep her statement went.

“I see. Well, why don’t we get you dressed in something warmer, and you can take a bath if you like. A warm bath always helps me relax, and as long as you are here, you’re my and Elysia’s guest.” She smiled warmly, offering the girl a hand to help her up from the chair. The girl wasn’t that old at all, and she looked so lost right now that it pained her to see her in such a way. Her motherly instinct demanded her to help the young woman in need.

Kagome looked up to the older woman’s face before she nodded softly and took her hand. A bath sounded heavenly, and hopefully it would give her some time to figure out just what options she had. Carrying Inuyasha’s sword with her, she let out a breath before she was led to the bathroom.

“I’ll get you a towel and some clothes. Just run the bath to what temperature you like, alright?” Gracia said, before leaving the girl to her own devices for the moment.

Kagome moved over to the tub and drew up a bath of steaming water, glad that at least something remained the same in this new place. She found some sweet smelling substance in a bottle next to the tub and she poured a little into the tub and was pleasantly surprised to find that it filled the whole room with a light scent of jasmine and vanilla. She relaxed as the scent filled her nostrils, before she removed her yukata and let it fall to the floor. She was acutely aware of the sticky and uncomfortable residue that was left between her legs from earlier in the night’s activities. With a heavy sigh she slipped into the tub and relaxed against the back of it, letting her mind stew over what had happened and over these new developments.

A few minutes later, Gracia returned with a set of sleeping clothes and a towel for the girl, who seemed almost asleep in the warm water of the tub. She nearly smiled at the sight before she noticed twin tear tracks down the girl’s cheeks. The girl seemed unaware of them and she wasn’t about to grill the girl about her obvious upset, at least, not yet. With her resolve firmed, she exited the bathroom and put Elysia to bed, while she waited for Kagome to get through with the bathroom.

Kagome hadn’t realized just how emotionally unstable she was until she felt tears fall from her eyes. With a surprised expression, she reached up and wiped them away. Now wasn’t the time for tears. She had a mission to accomplish. It wasn’t nearly as dangerous as taking on Naraku, but she would take it head on as if she were taking on the vile hanyou once more. Taking a sponge, she started to wash her body, and she paused once she came to the pale pink scar that was underneath her bandages. The wound was almost completely healed, and she had to thank the kami’s for her miko powers actually being at work to help her heal.

She quickly finished her bath and washed her hair quickly before she got out of the tub and pulled the drain. Letting out a soft breath, she dried and got dressed in the garments that the older woman had laid out for her; a pink sweater of a soft, unidentifiable fabric and a pair of thin sleeping pants. She mentally thanked the woman until she could do so face to face, but just as she went to open up the bathroom door, a terrified scream filled the air, and she wretched up Inuyasha’s sword from the floor and raced out, hell bent on saving her from whatever had her screaming bloody murder.

It didn’t take but two seconds to reach her, and once at the woman’s side, Kagome’s mouth fell open in shock. At the doorway was a tall suit of armor, like she would have seen in the days of old England, and the knights of the round table, and in it’s arms, was a pale faced boy with various injuries and blood pooling on both the suit of armor and down it onto the floor.

“Edward!” the woman screamed the name as she reached for the boy to take him from the suit of armor’s arms, only to be deterred. Kagome’s shock skyrocketed further when the suit of metal began to speak. “No, please, just show me where I can lay him down.” The voice was certainly that of a young boy, but it was a sharp contrast to the six or seven foot towering suit of armor that was standing in front of them.

She must have realized the severity of the situation because she ushered them into a room to the side of the house and opened a closed door for them before she ran to a nearby phone. Kagome followed the suit of armor and the boy, before seeing just how extensive the damage was, as the small boy was set upon the bed in the room. Swallowing hard, Kagome didn’t even think as she put aside Inuyasha’s sword and went to his side. “Edward…that’s your name?” she asked softly, before she looked to the suit of armor that was looking upon the young boy with worry. How a suit of armor could show worry, she wasn’t sure, but right now, she wasn’t questioning it. The young boy needed her help.

“Who are you?” the small voice of the suit of armor asked. Alphonse didn’t recognize the girl, but she didn’t look like she would hurt his brother, but looks could be deceiving, as they had so often saw in their journey together.

“My name is Kagome. If it’s okay, I want to help heal him.” The miko replied, before she got a silent nod. With a concentrating look, she gave him a soft smile before she quickly moved to remove the boy’s tattered clothing. She was surprised to find that the “boy” was actually a teen, evident by his muscular development and physique, something that was filed away for later in Kagome’s mind. She glanced up when Gracia came into the room with boiling water and towels and she thanked her before she started to clean up the bloody mess that was Edward.

Kagome wasn’t sure what to make of the mechanical arm and leg of the boy-child, but prosthetics were around even in her time and world, so it didn’t bother her so much. She noticed though how damaged each of the articles was, and it had her heart hanging by a thread at the moment. What had the boy been fighting with, or what kind of person damaged him to be in this state, as well as his metal limbs?

Without thinking about it, she could feel her power flowing from her to the young boy in front of her, and she placed her hands gingerly over some of the larger wounds and she felt the skin come together under her touch and the blood had stopped flowing as she continued her silent quest to heal all of his wounds. She had never had a massive control on her power as it was, but she wasn’t questioning her sudden connection with them.

Gracia watched with fascination as the girl closed up Ed’s wounds, leaving behind nothing but thin, pink streaks where the skin had come together. Al was doing the perfect impression of a fish as he watched this stranger heal his brother in ways he had never seen done before. She was using some sort of power on him, but it was healing him, and had stopped the blood that was flowing out of his wounds, so he wouldn’t question it. He had no idea what kind of power she was using though. He could almost feel a stir of power around her, but he couldn’t be sure, and at the moment, he didn’t dwell on that too much as he proceeded to watch her heal his brother.

None of them expected what came next.

Kagome was smiling a little to herself as she began her trek down Ed’s torso to his mechanical leg and the wounds that littered his lower body, but she suddenly felt a spike of power coming from her side, the side with the Shikon embedded in it, and she watched, not for the first time in the experience of using her powers, as her power began to regenerate the boy’s missing limbs. Within moments, dark pink power enveloped the boy’s mechanical arm and leg and pulled them away from him so as to not hurt him and then, began the task of regenerating the lost limbs.

She heard soft gasps and even a protest of “Stop!” coming from someone, but it was too late, as she fell back in a small heap, her work done for now. Exhaustion overtook her body from all that had happened and all of the energy that she had used. She didn’t even see the looks on the faces of those who had been watching her.

Al was shaking Ed lightly, trying to get him to wake up. He had his arm and leg back, though how that was possible he had no idea. The girl had used some sort of power on him, and it had almost completely surrounded his brother in pink light before they both could see and hear the metal arm and leg drop to the floor. In the wake of those metal appendages, there was a new arm and leg, flesh and bone, and completely whole. The skin of those appendages was warm, and pale like the rest of his body, as if he had never lost his limbs to begin with.

Ed didn’t wake up, for he was completely worn out from both his injuries and the fighting he had done previously, but that was only a small deterrent for Al as he looked to Gracia. “You called Winry, right?” he asked, and at her nod, he added, “Can you call Colonel Mustang too?” he knew the older man would want to see that Ed was alright, and he was even more sure that he would want to talk to this girl, who managed to do something impossible. For a moment, he couldn’t help but wonder if she had what they were all looking for: the philosopher’s stone.

Hours later, Ed’s eyes fluttered between open and closed. It was late, still only in the wee hours of the next day, but where he knew he should have been feeling pain, he wasn’t. Not even in the slightest. Glancing over to his right side he gasped loudly before he screamed. “Wha…what the hell happened?!” he shouted, before he noticed that Al was there by his bedside.

“Brother…You’re finally awake! How do you feel, are you in any pain?” he asked quickly, ignoring his brother’s question for the moment.

“No, but…but…!! How did this…?! And why aren’t you…?!” he struggled to voice his thoughts. If he had his arm and leg back, why didn’t Al have his body back? What had happened here, and why was Al so calm?

“That girl that’s staying here…Kagome…she is the one who did this. I don’t know how though.” He replied, before Ed’s brain whirled to the first logical conclusion he could come up with.

“The philosopher’s stone.”

“I don’t know, brother. She passed out right after she healed your wounds. She did so with some sort of pink light, but it wasn’t like any alchemy I had ever seen before. Gracia is in the kitchen with Colonel Mustang, and Winry is on her way.” He informed him, looking over the new appendages again.

Ed flexed his right hand lightly, noting that it was a bit weak from use. It was to be expected. He hadn’t had a real arm in years, but this one was warm, flesh and bone, just like it was supposed to be. Emotions that he had kept at bay intensified, the first being of guilt. He was back to normal, while his baby brother was still in his suit of armor. The unfairness of it all threatened to consume him until he grasped onto a hope: if the girl could replace his limbs so easily, then what about creating a body?

With that thought, he leapt up from his bed and touched both feet to the cold, wooden floor, as he went to stand. With the newness of his leg, he began to fall, only to be caught in his brother’s metal arms. “Careful…Let me carry you for now, okay?” and without a further word, he picked up his older brother and cradled him close. He had been very scared when Ed was hurt so badly, but he was also thankful for the strange girl’s help.

“I want to see her…talk to her. I need to talk to her!” he shouted, his normal fiery personality flaring once more. He had been very demure before this, something Al had taken note of. Their hunt for the philosopher’s stone had all but been abandoned, as most of their time was spent traveling for the military and going on missions to different places, and it had been a long time since he had seen his older brother so determined about something. He could feel his invisible heart clench at the thought of what would happen should this girl not fulfill Ed’s expectations. He had seen as the hope that he had almost foolishly clung to over time diminished into something one could only call pitiful. He said nothing, and only promised himself one thing: he’d be there for Ed forever, and remind him that this wasn’t his fault, though he knew that the older Elric brother would always take the burden upon himself.

“Okay…but don’t be surprised if she isn’t awake yet. She’s been sleeping deeply for hours. Even Gracia couldn’t get her to wake up.” He said, looking to his brother’s determined face.

“Oh.” With that softly spoken word, Ed fell silent again into his thoughts. What had she done to him? Did it hurt her to do what she did? Would she be willing to help Al? These thoughts and more raced through his mind as Al walked him through Grecia’s home to the bedroom where Kagome was sleeping on the bed. She was a little pale, but otherwise she looked fine as she clutched an old sword in one of her hands, and the other into the bed sheet.

Ed was speechless a moment as he took in her face and body. Dark blue-black hair sprawled out beneath her form and her lips were a gentle pale pink that moved ever so slightly as she took deep breaths that signaled that she was sleeping deeply. Her form was thin and her legs were long, though they were covered by a pair of sleeping pants.

Shaking his head lightly, he had Al set him down on a chair and with one gesture he was left alone with the sleeping girl. He reached out a hand and placed it on her forehead, before he took a finger and traced it down her cheek. What had she done to make such a miraculous thing happen to him? He looked at his right hand and swallowed softly. Why had this happened?

“You should have given your gift to Al. I don’t deserve it.” He whispered to her, unaware that her subconscious was wavering as she began to wake up.

“Everyone…deserves…to live.” She whispered quietly, shocking Ed into almost falling off of the chair, but before he hit the ground, a pair of strong, but soft arms enveloped him.

Kagome had been aware of the two since they came into the room, but being in Inuyasha’s group for as long as she had been, she knew how to fake sleep so that she could steal a few extra minutes in the mornings. What she didn’t expect was to hear those words from the boy she had healed. Apparently he felt that he didn’t deserve her kindness; Kagome thought otherwise.

She was close to falling back asleep when she heard the chair creek and she dove just in time to catch him before he hit the floor. Golden eyes locked with sapphire and time seemed to stop before Kagome pulled him up to the bed and set him down beside her. She was awake now; she might as well see what the boy wanted with her.

“How.” He asked quietly, his cheeks flush with a little embarrassment as he looked to his lap.

“I’m a miko. I don’t know really how…I just know my power heals things…and its regenerated limbs before, for a friend of mine.” She replied just as quietly, her hands not leaving Ed’s sides as she held him upright in case he should fall again.

Her words broke his heart, and he couldn’t help the tears that came to his eyes. Again, he had been denied. This girl had ways to do nearly the impossible, but she couldn’t save his brother’s soul from its imprisonment within his metal prison.

Kagome was startled to see him cry, and without any hesitation she brought him close into her arms and hugged him tightly. “I’m sorry I can’t be of more help…but if there is anything I can do…please tell me.” She whispered into his ear, her hands rubbing soothing circles on his lower back. It hurt her that her answer hadn’t been the one he had wanted. She could feel raw pain from not only him, but everyone else around her, but she had no idea what it came from. Pushing her thoughts aside for the moment, she focused on him, and how she could help.

When he was brought close, he resisted the urge to push her away. His tears were none of her business and shouldn’t have been any of her concern. He never cried in front of anyone, least of all those around him. He put on the brave face and always tried to make light of situations, taking everything upon himself, but before he could even think of doing such a thing, he caught a whiff of her scent, and it almost made him sob into her shoulder. It was a familiar scent, one of his childhood; daffodils and jasmine, most likely from her earlier bath, blanketed her, and beneath all that, a sweet delicate scent that couldn’t be identified with objects of this world.

He had no idea who she was, but her words soothed him, and her gentle nature reminded him so much of his mother that he let himself be comforted by her, and he cried out his frustration and sorrow into the pink sweater she was wearing.

Kagome’s eyes gentled further when his sobbing increased and she forewent anything else meaningful that she would say in favor of words of comfort and hope. “It’ll be alright…” she whispered quietly. “…whatever is wrong, I will do all in my power to fix it. I promise.” And Ed believed her.

After a few minutes of well needed release, he reached up his hands only to pause as she put her own on his cheeks, and wiped away his tears gently, before she reached up and kissed his forehead tenderly. He wasn’t sure what to say about the action, but he didn’t question it as she looked into his eyes.

Golden eyes met sapphire for a moment before Ed saw a spark of something in them, something that told him that her power wasn’t normal. It wasn’t alchemy by any stretch of the imagination, but it was powerful. It wasn’t like anything that he had felt before in his life, and it had him hoping again, that somehow, her power could help fix the mistake that he caused by his stubborn foolishness.

“Help me save my brother.” He asked after a quiet moment and Kagome blinked, as confusion came to her face.

“Save him? Does someone have him? Is he hurt? Sick?” she had no idea what he meant by ‘save my brother’ but she would do all in her power to help lift the dark sadness that lingered on this young boy’s heart.

Ed shook his head ‘no’ before saying softly, “It’s a really long story…”

Kagome only smiled before she said softly back, “I have all the time in the world. That is, if you want to take the time to tell it.”

Her response shocked him a moment before he shook his head. He shouldn’t have been surprised. Already he had seen much of her character and he could see she kept her promises and never made idle offers of help and hope. He had no idea where she came from, but somewhere in the back of his mind, he briefly wondered if fate had led her to him and his brother. Pushing that thought away, he started from the beginning, only to be paused by Kagome’s innocent question of, “What is alchemy?”

“Alchemy is a magic of this world, although it’s not really magic. It’s all based on science, and the law of equivalent exchange.” He explained patiently, confused by her question. She didn’t know what alchemy was? Then what exactly was the power that she used?

“Equivalent exchange…” she went quiet a moment before she asked, “…like an apple for an apple? Wood for a boat? Metal for a sword?”

He nodded with a light smile. She understood rather well for someone ignorant of alchemy except for a few moments ago. “That’s right.” But Kagome’s voice once more interrupted him, “What about life?”

Her eyes had taken on a sad look, as she questioned his alchemy in this world, and the dark magic that had been used in her own world to return Kikyou to a “living” state. What made her suddenly think of the un-dead miko at this moment, she wasn’t sure, but she had to mentally remind herself that Kikyou was at peace now, still, that didn’t mean that she forgot what had happened to the former Shikon’s guardian, and how her soul was tampered with.

“Human transmutation is strictly forbidden. Even though the composition of a human body is well known…it’s never succeeded, not once. It always…” his voice stuck in his throat. He hadn’t known that she would ask such a question, but he guessed he should have expected it. The woman before him seemed very intelligent, but the reason behind her question was still yet unknown to him. At that thought, his voice raised in pitch as he exclaimed once more, “Its forbidden! The consequences are so horrible, it is wrong…so wrong…don’t ever, ever think of doing it, alright?!” he hadn’t noticed that his tears had renewed, though it didn’t escape the young woman’s eyes.

“I would never…” she turned her head to the side before she looked back into the golden eyes of the young boy in front of her. “…the consequences of trying to bring loved ones back from the dead is not natural, no matter how much we may miss them. Sometimes…unintended things happen when one tries to bring back those from the dead.” She whispered softly, her tone reaching Ed on a more personal level than he had expected. Once more, she had touched him in a way that seemed to break down every mental and emotional wall that he put up to shield himself and others from the pain of the past, and the pain of mistakes made in the name of his mother and brother.

She had had experience with something like this before. He could feel it.

“Who…who did you bring back…” he left the question more of a statement. It was a really personal question, but he had a feeling that she would answer it.

“…I didn’t. But…a dark witch I know did. She wanted to use my soul to do it, and she succeeded. I am the guardian of a very powerful and dangerous jewel, and the witch wanted to bring back the woman who protected it before me. She ended up succeeding, but only a part of my soul went into the clay and ash body that the witch made. Because of how the other protector died, when she was brought back, she could feel nothing but anger and hate. She had to feed on the souls of dead women to keep her form.” Kagome’s voice quieted a moment before she added softly, “She was so angry and so full of hatred that she wanted to take one of my friends with her to hell. So I…I understand the mistake in wanting to bring those that are dead back to life.”

Ed’s eyes went as large as saucers. She hadn’t done it herself, but she had a direct hand in it, as it was her soul that was used in binding that form that she talked about to life; however twisted that life was. He couldn’t even imagine.

Kagome turned her head to the young boy before she reached up and wiped his tears away that had fallen. “Who…did you try to bring back?” she asked softly, before adding quickly, “…but, if you don’t want to tell me, you don’t have to…I’m sorry, it’s a very personal question…” her words fell short as Ed said softly, “…our mom…”

Kagome’s voice died in her throat as she heard him whisper, “My and Al’s mom.”

“Your…mom?” she whispered more to herself than to him before he felt himself enveloped in another hug, and his head once more pillowed into the soft chest of the woman before him. He didn’t even have to see her tears to know she was crying. Strangely enough, he wasn’t crying anymore, however, he was extremely glad that no one was watching them. He couldn’t imagine trying to explain the waterworks to some outsider who had no idea what they had gone through in their lives or the kind of pain that they had each experienced. “I’m so sorry…I didn’t mean to…” Kagome tried to apologize but her words fell short as she just held him tighter in her hug. He hadn’t pushed her away or told her to let go, so she took that as acceptance of her affectionate embraces and words.

After a few minutes of quiet between them, Edward finally pulled back slightly from her embrace, and saw her wipe at her eyes. Taking a breath, he began to talk, to tell her his story, how it had all started so long ago, in the tiny town of Resembool. Kagome didn’t interrupt, and she never questioned his words, something for which he was grateful. She never once called him a liar or doubted him, and it gave him silent strength to continue on.

Once the story was finished, Kagome knew what she had to do, and though she was afraid of failure, she never let it show. Midoriko would help her, she knew. The Shikon would give her strength as well. The entire thing would not be possible without Edward’s help either, so she drew comfort from that, too.

Neither noticed that at the cracked door, the military Colonel was listening to the exchange, almost from the beginning, and he had to wonder at the sanity of the girl within, and at the audacity of the State Alchemist, and what his dangerously sounding plan was.

Before he could protest though, Al was called into the room, and Kagome gave him a soft smile. “Alphonse. It’s nice to meet you.” Ever the cheerful one, the young woman wasn’t about to let down either one of the Elric brothers in their time of need. If it weren’t for her experiences in the Feudal Era, she wouldn’t have been brave enough to even attempt this in the first place.

Roy made his way into the room as well and just watched while the three talked about their plan, and about what would happen should it fail. Well, it seemed this was a plan full of safety nets, and for that he was slightly reassured. Dark eyes met with sapphire, and Kagome merely smiled at the tall Colonel before she focused back on the two boys at hand.

“So you can do this, right, Edward? You can make a body for Al, don’t try to bring him back to life, just make the body. I’ll protect you with my miko shields and make sure you aren’t hurt at all. According to your theories and how this alchemy thing works, that should be fine, as long as you aren’t trying to bring life to it. Then…I’ll break the seal on Al’s armor, and transfer his soul to the body you create.”

“Are you sure you can do that, Kagome?” Al asked, his worry evident.

“I’ve never done it before, but I’m sure that I can. After all...I’ve had to pull at my own soul before, when it was in Kikyou…and when it was trying to be ripped from me…I can feel your soul in there, and the spell holding it there is strong, but fragile at the same time. I think I can, and especially if there is a body for you, I can call it and guide it. If not, well then, no harm no foul. At least I tried, right?”

“But you will protect Ed…right? You won’t let him get hurt at all…you promise?!” Al’s voice was loud for a moment as his worry was even more prominent now. Ed meant everything to him. If this girl let him get hurt at all, he would never forgive her.
“If it looks like he will be harmed at all, I will take whatever is thrown at him. I promise, I won’t allow one hair on his head to be harmed.” She answered softly, but determinedly. And Al believed her.

Roy just watched in fascination as both boys put their unbridled trust in this strange female who seemed like nothing more than a normal, human woman. His eyes traveled over her form and he briefly wondered what brought her to this area, and where she was from. She was so different from anyone else he had seen before that she perplexed him as he pondered the strange girl.

He stayed quiet as Ed stood and closed the door, not making him leave, as his help might be needed. Ed hadn’t started a fight with him or called him out for any reason, solidifying the unspoken fact that he trusted the older man. However, none of that mattered right now as Kagome looked to Roy, the only man left in the room now as Al and Ed left to gather the supplies they would need.

“Why are you offering to help them?” the Colonel asked sharply, his tone a bit biting, though he didn’t mean it to be.

“Because…He hasn’t forgiven himself for the past. He is too young to be so burdened.” Kagome replied softly. She knew far more than most about guilt and burdens as she had a few of her own, and she saw her own companions burdened with things that would kill those with weak wills. Inuyasha and Kikyou, Sango and her family and village, Miroku and his curse, all of these things burdened her friends, and instead of giving up, they pressed forward in their lives, and in turn, gave Kagome strength, though she never told them enough.

Roy looked surprised at her answer, before he questioned, this time in a softer tone, “How can you tell?”

“…his aura screams his sadness…his eyes bury his unshed tears.” She whispered softly. “…his heart is shrouded in guilt and desperation. I can’t turn my back on him and his brother…can you?” she asked quietly, her eyes locking with his once more. Edward had told him about Roy, and how their relationship was rocky, but it was almost as if he were acting as another brother, an older one, but a brother none-the-less. Roy had been there for them when it counted, and those were the times that stood out for Edward.

Again, the woman surprised him with her honest answer, and he could feel the emotions pouring off of her as she spoke, and even, felt a little comfort from those words. She was not just another person who attempted to understand others, she could identify, just as he could, the pain that the Elric brothers’ were dealing with. She had scars of her own upon her heart, and she used them to make her stronger and to help others with their own emotional wounds. Kagome was not blind, nor was she ignorant of the emotions that were projected in Roy Mustang’s aura. For a human, he had a stance that reminded her of Sesshoumaru. He seemed to want to deter people from getting close to him and from understanding him, or maybe he just didn’t want people to know about his past, but either way, it was a futile effort on his part to hide from Kagome; no one could hide from her.

“No.” he replied quietly, before he saw the strange woman stand and he took in her standing form. She was beautiful, but his visual appreciation was cut short when he saw the look on her face; it was one of sadness, and empathy. Why was she looking at him that way?

“Wha…what is it? Is there something on my face?” he asked quietly, his voice catching a fraction at her truly breathtaking stare.

“You understand them more than you will ever tell them…” she said softly, filling the silence only a second with her brief statement. “You should forgive yourself. Whatever you have done…your guilt is hurting you…has hurt you for far too long…surely by now…you have made peace with your ghosts.”

He opened his mouth to retort before she closed the distance between them and placed a gentle finger to his lips. “Shh. You can hide nothing from me. I’m sorry to pry, but, then I am not. You can’t change the past. You know this, and you’ve come to grips with that, but your guilt plagues you. Your soul is crying for you to end the torture you inflict on yourself.” Kagome didn’t know who had taken over her mind and body at the moment, or who had given her the right words to speak at the moment, but she didn’t care, just as long as he understood where she was coming from, and as long as she could help him forgive himself for whatever he had done.

“Don’t hate yourself.” She looked down and away a moment before she whispered, “…everyone makes mistakes, and no matter how horrible they are…we have to forgive ourselves. If we can’t forgive ourselves…how can any of us hope to gain forgiveness from anyone else?” she questioned quietly, before she looked back into his eyes, and watched as they turned from dark, emotionless pools, to that of shock, surprise, and even, pain.

She pulled her hand down slowly from his lips before she whispered, “I’m sorry. The last thing I wanted to do was to hurt you.” With that she moved her hand to place it on his cheek, only gently touching his warm skin a moment before she let it fall to her side. She was still tired. All this stress wasn’t helping, and though she was trying to cope with her new surroundings, new people, new situations, and even more so, new and intense feelings, she was only one human woman, and even her miko powers couldn’t save her from the enormous stressors around her. As her hand fell, so did she, but as she closed her eyes to fall into darkness, she never once hit the floor, as a pair of strong, warm arms slipped around her, and saved her.

Roy had been more than shocked at her words, and at her strength that radiated off of her. How could she be so strong, when he felt how exposed her emotions were? He heard her speaking with Ed, and he couldn’t ignore the raw emotion pouring from her voice, as if she had opened fresh wounds and poured salt into them. He had no idea what she had gone through at all, but he knew that she understood Ed’s emotional ties to his past and his painful situation concerning his mother; how that was possible, he hadn’t known, until she explained. Even her explanation seemed too unreal to comprehend.

She was in pain, and yet, she showed nothing but her smile, and only cried for others who were in pain. She didn’t cry for herself. At that he was almost angry. How could she spout off to him to forgive himself, when she wouldn’t? At least, it seemed that way. However, none of that mattered just at this moment. With tenderness he didn’t know he possessed, he slipped her back into bed and covered her up, though he was surprised that she wouldn’t let his shirt go. Even in sleep, she tried to comfort him…or was she seeking forgiveness? She had hit a very sore spot with him with her words, and she had noticed that, and apologized. She had then passed out without getting his response.

Taking a quiet inhale of breath, he sighed at the picture she made, lying there in bed, her face full of conflicting emotions that even he couldn’t get a handle on. Without letting too much though go into his next action, he leaned down next to her ear before whispering, “You didn’t hurt me.” It was a lie, but then again, he had started it by asking her questions and questioning her intentions towards the Elric brothers. Her words had touched him, though he hadn’t let it show too much. With an afterthought, he added in a quiet tone, “…but you are forgiven…Kagome.”

He almost gasped as her face turned from an emotional hodgepodge, to one of ease and gentle contentment. Could she hear him? Had his forgiveness meant that much to her? Had those little words meant that much? He couldn’t understand it, and couldn’t fathom how just saying he forgave her could inspire such a change in her…even if it were just her sleeping form. Her hand slipped from his military shirt to his hand, which was resting on the bed, and she held onto it gently, as if she would break it should she use any force at all. That was incentive enough for him to stay at her bedside, and watch over her. Besides, it was quiet in her small room, and it gave him ample opportunity to think without anyone questioning him or questioning his actions with her.

It was time he would gladly steal from the dawn of the cracking day.

~*~

The day slipped by quietly and Roy had let himself fall into a light sleep as he kept upright at Kagome’s bedside. Gracia had checked on them briefly, but allowed the two to sleep and rest. Both seemed abnormally stressed, and she could only guess why. Kagome was the first to awaken and noticed that it was noon, or a little later. Her eyes shifted from the window to a man’s face that was unfamiliar for a second until she remembered all that had happened over the past 48 hours. Squeezing his hand gently, she shifted from her spot on the bed and lightly tugged at his hand, and as if she were guiding him, he leaned over and relaxed on the soft mattress next to her.

His eyes never once opened, and for that, Kagome was glad. He looked even more exhausted than she felt, but at least he was getting the sleep that he so desperately needed. How long had he been awake and worrying about Edward? She didn’t know, but right now, it didn’t matter.

She shifted the blanket from her form to cover his, before she kneeled over gently, careful not to jostle the bed too much as she quietly removed his shoes and set them alongside the bed. She couldn’t help but glance back up at his face, and see all the worry and unease playing out in his features. His mouth was set in a gentle frown and his eyes, though closed, were lined with concentration. Even in sleep, he couldn’t get any reprieve.

She reached up one of her hands to trace his cheek tenderly before she lay back down beside him and snuggled gently into his side. She wasn’t sure what prompted her to stay by his side, but something within him called out to her, just as it had Edward. She had no idea what he had gone through, but being part of the military, she could only guess. She had almost fallen back asleep before she heard soft whimpers and gently spoken apologies on the lips of the older man, words that had Kagome’s heart breaking in her chest.

Roy was lost in the land of dreams, but his dreams were not sweet or pleasant in any way, shape or form. Once more, he dreamed of children with weapons and his own fire assault upon villages and peoples that hadn’t really done anything wrong. He had followed orders, and in following those orders, he had damned himself and committed more sins and atrocities than he ever imagined he would or could be, capable of.

Kagome leaned up quietly, before she situated herself near his head, with her back resting against the headboard of the bed. She pulled his now slightly shaking form closer and rested his head upon her lap, where she could offer him the most comfort she could right now; by running her fingers gently through his silken, black locks, and singing a soft lullaby that she had sang often to Shippou when he was having nightmares and was scared.

He was not a child, but she hoped that she could help relax him enough to sleep in peace.

He had noticed that it was quiet now in his mind. His dreams of memories of times gone and lost to him were silent in the wake of a soft, female voice. It wasn’t loud, but the tone was soothing and comforting, and as he turned around once more, he hoped to catch a glimpse of the source of light in this, his dream. He couldn’t see her, but it didn’t quite matter so much anymore. He could hear her voice, and that was enough. It wasn’t condemning, and it didn’t haunt him. It was a voice of someone who wasn’t judging him for his past deeds, and though it didn’t know anything about him, it continued to soothe him.

“Sleep now, Roy…” Kagome whispered softly, as she smoothed her fingers down his brow. “I will protect you while you sleep.” ‘Even if it is from yourself.’ She added mentally, before her soft song began anew.

~*~
Kagome fell asleep a couple of hours later, with her head resting on her shoulder. She had continued her silent vigil over the sleeping man, and she had noticed that he had slept more soundly than he had been. As afternoon turned to evening, Roy finally stirred, before he blinked his eyes open. Where was he? And why was he sleeping?

He shifted his head lightly and found that it was on something soft and squishy, something that definitely wasn’t a pillow, but it was nice. He then registered something in his hair, and blankly noted that it was a hand, and as he tilted his eyes up to the owner, he remained even more confused. How had he been moved from his chair to her bed? And why was his head in her lap?

Mentally shaking off his questions, he shifted out from underneath her touch, and went to stand, before he noticed that his boots were gone as well. Looking back to the girl, he had to wonder if she had done that, but unless she was awake, he wouldn’t get any of his answers. He stood fully from the bed and stretched, finding that he hadn’t felt so rested in years. He moved over to the window and glanced up at the setting sun, before he heard voices in the living room, and recognized that they belonged to Ed and Al. They had returned.

His eyes shifted back to the window, and he didn’t realize that Kagome had woken up, and she had been watching his movements ever since he stirred from beside her. She had always been a light sleeper and when he had extracted himself from by her side, she had known.

Standing quietly from the bed, she walked up behind him, before she slid her arms around his waist. She felt him jump but he didn’t turn as she strengthened the embrace and rested her head on his back. “You’re awake.” She said softly.

“So are you.” He replied, as he relaxed in her arms. Few had showed him her level of compassion or empathy, and he felt strange when he thought about what she had said, and even more so, what she was doing. The soft touches, the song, for he had figured that it was her, it had to be, and even now, her soft hug, was making his heart ache a little. He didn’t deserve her kindness. He had done too many horrible things to earn her compassion and he certainly hadn’t earned forgiveness for himself. He had done too much and repaid so little.

“It sounds like they are back…” she said after a quiet moment, and hearing the voices coming from the other room.

“So it seems.” He said, and Kagome relaxed further at the soft sound of his voice reverberating through his chest. She had her hands over his heart and she could feel the steady rhythm that signaled life in him.

“Will you help me, Roy?” she asked, hugging him a little tighter.

“Help you how, Kagome?” he replied, confusion in his voice.

“Protect those two, while I do my part. I don’t want them to get hurt. And I don’t want you to get hurt either. Too many have hurt over me…over my duty and my obligation. I just want to help them. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.” She whispered softly.

He barely caught her words, before he registered them in his head. ‘Duty…and obligation?’ how hard did those two words hit home for him? Did she have any idea what her words signified for him? If she did, she didn’t show it, and it only made his heart race faster in his chest.

“I understand. I will help protect them.” He said, before he turned in her arms and looked down into the sparkling sapphire eyes of the miko. She looked back into the dark iris’ of the Colonel and her breath was taken away a moment. His look was so intense that it caught her off balance. He was capable of so many emotions, and for a second, she wondered if Sesshoumaru was the same. She had no time to ponder that further as she felt his lips cover hers in a deep, searing kiss.

Roy had no idea what came over him, but seeing her look at him with nothing but empathy, compassion, and strength in her eyes drew him in like a moth to a flame, and before he knew what he was doing, he had his lips locked over hers, and they were kissing. He hadn’t kissed anyone in a long, long while, despite what his co-workers thought of his playboy ways. He was famous for his one-night stands because he was afraid of what other women would think of his past, and of what he had done. This woman however, had so similar scars to deal with, and she had learned to live with them and become stronger and overcome the ghosts that always came with mistakes and horrific events.

She was stronger than any other, and he wanted to learn how to be strong like her. Ed found strength in her abilities, while Roy, well, he found strength in her heart.

Kagome was astonished, but not so much that she didn’t return the kiss. It had her pulse quickening and her heart racing at speeds that certainly were not normal. For a moment she thought of her tryst with Kenshin and she wondered what was wrong with her, but that thought fled as she felt the emotions pouring from the tall man who was kissing her senseless. He needed her acceptance and healing, and she would be damned if she denied him.

Before the kiss could progress further, the door burst open and the two pulled apart quickly, to face the boy living in iron, and his brother with blushes on their faces.

“Were we interrupting something?” Ed smirked, obviously elated to have something to tease the Colonel with.

“None of your business, Fullmetal.” He replied in a monotone voice, but he was sure given a few more minutes time, and he would have had the woman in his arms naked and panting his name.

If metal could blush, Kagome could’ve sworn she saw red upon Al’s face before she shook her head and forced her blush away. Now wasn’t the time to indulge in pleasures of the body. She shifted her look to Ed before she asked, “Did you get everything?”

His face turned serious before he nodded. “We’re ready when you are, Kagome.”

She felt Roy’s arms tighten around her mid-section and she gave him a grateful smile before she nodded. “I’m ready. Show me what you have to do.”

With that spoken, the four went outside, and walked to a drawn, complex looking symbol in the backyard. Ed and Al didn’t want to take the chance of hurting Gracia or Elysia if something went wrong. Each person was silent as Edward went to the center of the circle and set down his ingredients. He was going to try and bring back Alphonse’s original body. Equivalent exchange would give him one human body for all the ingredients he had placed on the transmutation circle, and that body didn’t have to have any life at all in it. He just wanted a body, so mentally, he prayed with all his power that he was manipulating the laws in his favor and that all would work out the way he had planned. He looked over to Kagome, and saw her fierce look of determination in her eyes. He had faith and hope that she would make everything alright, and that together, they could fix a mistake made years ago. She wouldn’t let him down. He believed in her.

The miko swallowed thickly before she felt a soft hand in her own and she relaxed, as her eyes went to dark coal ones. “Thank you.” She whispered before she slipped her hand from his and walked forward to the circle. They wouldn’t have much time to do this, so time was of the essence.

Making sure everyone was ready, Edward began, and Kagome threw shields over the three males in the vicinity. She would not allow any of them to get hurt over this. Edward’s hypothesis was by the book, but once more, something went awry and the body that he had tried to call forth was trying to take on an essence of life. Kagome ran forward into the circle, as her powers flared to life and calmed the rage in the circle. The males looked on as Kagome’s pink energy surrounded the figure and completed its form, as if she were healing it, like she had done to Edward. The moment the body solidified and became complete, the “life” that had tried to animate it was gone, as if it had never been there to begin with. Kagome had taken the power of the transmutation out of Edward’s hands and with her healing energies, she was able to complete it. Before she could comprehend what had happened, she shifted her attention to Al, and with one, well aimed shot of miko energy, she broke the blood seal on the metal suit of armor and wrapped the soul within in her power.

She could feel Midoriko’s ki flooding her within the jewel, and stirring her own miko reservoirs of power to life as she settled the young boy’s soul within the pale, blond haired boy body that she and Edward had called forth and created. Edward’s and Roy’s eyes were as large as saucers as they took in the almost magical spectacle before them. She was doing all she had said and more, and they couldn’t help but be in awe of what she was doing.

Rooting Al’s soul to the body before her, she willed it to take hold and stay, as she leaned over and tilted the boy’s head back slightly and pinched his nose. She would not stop until she saw him alive, even if she slept for a week afterwards. He needed her now, and she would not deny him.

Breathing in deeply, she placed her lips over the boy’s pale ones and breathed out, filling his petite frame with as much oxygen as she could. She repeated this gesture three times over before she placed her hands over his chest and pumped in time with her own heartbeat, and prayed for him to take his own breath of air.

The transmutation circle’s light was fading quickly, and Ed and Roy raced forward upon seeing what Kagome was doing. They didn’t have much to see before a small child’s cough filled the air, and Kagome fell over, her body completely drained.

“ALPHONSE!” was the last thing she heard, before darkness overtook her.

~*~

Two weeks had passed since that day, and Alphonse was doing very well. He was eating and drinking normally; memories that he had seemingly lost were returned to him, and even more shocking, was that the body that was pulled from the other realm of transmutation was his own. With Kagome’s healing powers, he had all functions of his limbs, and everything seemed to be fine. The two brothers had taken the much needed time to get used to being themselves again. Winry was shocked when she arrived and saw that Ed was no longer in need of her services and even more perplexed when she saw Al in his own body. Explanations took a long time, but it was well worth it to see the two brothers smiling and truly happy again.

Kagome had not stirred from her spot since that day, and though they had been confirmed that she wasn’t in a coma, it was still scary to see her lying on the bed, with her pale skin shinning with sweat and her breathing deep, as if she would never wake up again.

Colonel Mustang never left her side, and though he had been reprimanded daily for his absence by Riza, he let it go in one ear and out the other. The woman had not been told of the miracles that had happened for the Elric brothers, and she wouldn’t. The girl would have been carted off as soon as her story was told to the nearest lab to be tested to see how the government could use her power or her to do their dirty work. No, something like that would never do, and he refused to repay her kindness by allowing something like that to happen.

At that moment, he felt her stir, as her hand squeezed his and finally, after two weeks of sleep, Kagome awoke. “…w…what happened?” her weak voice strained out, as a wince crossed her features. What had happened? She felt like she had been sleeping for decades.

“Shh…just relax, Kagome. Everything is fine.” Roy whispered before he grabbed a glass of water and lifted her head carefully so she could take a drink. Kagome demolished the water quickly, almost choking herself in the process before she leaned further up on the bed and threw back the covers. The world was spinning, but that didn’t matter.

“Ed and Al, where are they?” she questioned quickly, not taking his command to heart.

His face turned sad a moment before she heard a simultaneous shout from two different male voices, “KAGOME!” She had only a second to turn her head before she was overrun by two boys in an enveloped hug from both of them. Four arms went around her form and she almost cried in happiness at seeing both boys alive and well.

“Edward! Alphonse!” she cried back, before her voice stuck in her throat and she didn’t talk anymore as she wrapped her arms around them. Al was holding onto her tightly and he couldn’t believe how much she reminded him of his mom, from her caring nature, down to her scent. He now understood what his brother had said when they had been traveling for the ingredients needed for his life to be possible.

’She won’t let us down.’ The words hadn’t been particularly rare or meaningful, until now, and now was all they had. Kagome pulled back a little and looked into their faces before she leaned in and kissed them each on the forehead. “You guys are amazing. Is everything alright with your body, Al?” she questioned, giving an intense stare to the younger boy.

“Everything is fine, Kagome. I’ve been eating and drinking alright…and everything else is working good too.” He blushed, thinking of the other functions of the human body.

She nodded, noting the unspoken topic before she smiled wide and hugged them both tight again. “I’m so happy for you two.”

“It was all thanks to you, Kagome. None of this would have happened without you.” Edward said, as he looked deep into her eyes. The young woman looked back into his before she replied, “I couldn’t have done it without you. You were as much a part of this as I was, Edward. You made this possible.” Her voice was soft, full of encouragement. She knew that the older Elric brother needed encouragement and strength, as well as words to assure him that he had helped rectify his mistake from all those years ago. She knew he lived with the guilt, but she knew now that that guilt would lessen, and hopefully, the two could move on with their lives without living much of it in the past.

Her words hit him hard, and before she knew it, he had hugged her tightly again and was crying into her shoulder. She shifted her arm from Al to Ed’s back and pulled him close into a tight hug. He was still very much a child and she knew that these moments would help heal his scarred heart and mind. “I owe you so much, Kagome.” He sobbed into her shoulder, and she let him.

“You owe me nothing, Ed.” She whispered softly, before her eyes went to Roy’s and she forced back her own tears. It was true though. In her mind and heart, he owed her nothing. He had worked as hard as she had.

Roy watched the exchange with barely hidden emotions in his eyes. She was truly a maternal person, and someone that would make a wonderful mother someday. She knew just what to say and just how to ease the hearts and minds of those around her, especially children. She had nearly sacrificed herself to save strangers, and with that thought in mind, he moved beside her and took a seat before he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, not interfering with her interaction with Edward.

Minutes passed and finally, Edward let go and went to pull back from her before she stopped him. Holding his head near hers, she whispered quietly into his ear, “Forgive yourself, Edward. You have more than paid the price for your mistake that day. Now, just focus on protecting your brother. Okay?”

Her words weren’t lost on him, nor Roy, as the boy pulled all the way back and he nodded, while he quickly wiped away his tears. “C’mon Al. Gracia said breakfast was going to be done soon.” He put on his strong façade, but it wasn’t so much a façade anymore, and for that, Kagome could only smile.

“I’ll be out there in a little bit you two, so don’t eat it all before I get there.” She teased, feeling the need to lighten the mood a little. The two boys looked back to her before they grinned impishly and said, “Don’t take too long or we will!” with that, they disappeared out the bedroom door, leaving Kagome and Roy alone in the room.

Kagome leaned against him in his one-armed embrace before she felt his hand at her lower back, rubbing soft circles there. “You have given them a miracle, Kagome.” He finally said, as she looked to his eyes.

“I didn’t do anything that they wouldn’t have done for me.” She replied softly before she felt his lips softly on hers again.

“You have given them back their lives…and hope for the future. Not just them either…” his voice faltered a moment before he whispered, “You have given me hope to become strong like you.”

Her eyes widened before he kissed her again, and she relented to it, accepting the kiss and him with no resistance as she returned it. ‘I have not done anything all that special.’ She whispered mentally to herself, but she didn’t argue with him. She knew that men like him would never really believe her, and they would insist that she were special and that she were powerful, but she wasn’t any of those things. She had power, but she couldn’t use it, and she had compassion, but she would never brag about it. This was who she was, and even though he understood part of her, right now, none of that mattered.

Right now, he needed someone to forgive him for the past, and if the young miko from the future did anything without a second bit of hesitation, it was freely offering her forgiveness.

She felt his lips trace a path down her neck and she exhaled in anticipation of how sex with this man would be. Would it be reserved and slightly hesitant like with Kenshin? Would it be awkward and rough like with Inuyasha? She wasn’t sure, but she didn’t let these thoughts plague her long as she moaned at the feel of a warm mouth around one of her breasts. She hadn’t even felt him lift her shirt up at all.

Roy could tell that she was still kind of out of it, but she wasn’t protesting and she wasn’t pushing him away. If anything, she was pulling him closer and he felt one of her hands go through his hair. Smirking softly to himself, he slid out of his military shirt and pants, leaving him in his boxers and nothing more.

The woman before him was wearing nothing but pajamas and for that, he was glad. It made less articles of clothing for him to have to rid her of. He had wanted to do this with her since before she had almost killed herself for the sake of the Elric brothers, and now that they were safe and sound and she was rejuvenated, he was going to take advantage of the situation.

Kagome could feel the tale-tell signs of a climax in the works as her muscles near her lower abdomen clenched and unclenched little bits at a time. She could feel the burning increase in her nether regions and she moaned darkly again. He was doing things with his mouth that were positively sinful and he wasn’t even touching her most private region at all. His mouth was as hot as fire, and though she knew her skin wasn’t burnt, she knew that it was close. Just what was this guy, and where did he get such an ability? Her questions disappeared in smoke as she felt him move down her body and just above the waistband of her pajama pants. Within seconds, they were gone, as were her underwear, and she didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what came next.

He had used every trick he knew to pleasure her, and he wasn’t through yet, not by a long shot. Her breasts were warm and soft, something that not all women could claim, and certainly not all the women who he had been with. She was sweet smelling and her fragrance was addicting. He could almost smell her arousal as he progressed southwards with his ministrations, and he grinned when he finally came to his destination and relieved her of her pants and panties.

Right now, she was his, and though she was almost a complete stranger, she accepted him unconditionally, something that was priceless to the Colonel, and something he was sure that was priceless to the two boys in the other room. Letting the others fade from his mind, he nipped gently at the small bundle of nerves that was poking out at him through the thin, soaked folds of her center, and he watched in amazement and wonder as she jumped, and moaned in pure bliss.

“More…please more…” she whispered wantonly, her voice thick with her growing arousal and emotions she was growing more accustomed to having. She didn’t have to tell him twice. He was ignoring his own twitching member for the moment as he saw to her needs. She had given him a gift of acceptance, and forgiveness, and now, he was going to give her a gift of pleasure. It had no ribbons, bows, or ties, but he was sure that she would appreciate it none-the-less.

Kagome bucked her hips up as he began lapping at her center, and she felt his strong, callused hands hold her soft thighs down as he enjoyed his feast, pushing her further and further towards the brink as his teeth once more grazed her exposed clit. “Oh gods…Roy…” she moaned again, her body threatening to go up in flames as she felt his warm mouth wrap around her engorged bundle of nerves and pull, sending her straight into a tidal wave of ecstasy that she hadn’t felt before, and ripping a scream of his name from her lips that she was sure the entire country could hear.

Her breathing was harsh as she slowly came down from her high, but she wanted more now, and if the look in Roy’s almost predatory glance was anything to go by, he wanted more too. With a soft smile and a gesture of him to lie down, he complied. The Colonel didn’t know what this woman was up to, but if it had anything to do with giving his aching member relief, then he was all for it. With heavily lidded eyes, he watched her extract his proudly erect member from his boxers. Kagome was surprised at his size, but she wasn’t deterred as she returned the favor that he had given her. She accepted him, all of him, and now, she was going to prove that she trusted him with her body. “You’re mine now, Roy Mustang.” She whispered with a warm smile before she engulfed him within her warm, wet lips and began a fast, unregulated pace of lavishing his member with her kisses and saliva.

Sparks flew behind Roy’s eyes as he tried to keep an eye on her, but couldn’t focus like he would have liked to as she sent his body into pleasure overload. He had never had a woman pleasure him so intensively like this before, and it felt wonderful. She changed up her pace from fast to slow and was touching the soft skin of his sac with her own delicate fingertips, further increasing his pleasure. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to last long and with strength he didn’t know he possessed, he pulled her hair gently and got her attention. He didn’t want to release in her mouth, as tempting as the thought was. He wanted to feel her heat all around him. Kagome read him loud and clear.

She felt his hands on her hair and felt him tugging; she paused her ministrations only to see the urgent gleam in his eyes. He was so close, and she had almost had him there if he hadn’t stopped her. She was almost confused before comprehension dawned on her and she shifted from her kneeled position to over him, crawling carefully so she didn’t hurt him or smash any of his anatomy.

“Kagome…please…I need to feel you now…” Roy pleaded. He wasn’t above begging and right now he was in pain from all the stimulation he had received from her and from the situation.

Her eyes gentled before she spread her legs wider and took her hand to wrap gently around his erect and weeping member to guide it to her center, while also guiding herself upon it. She hissed in pleasure as the warmth of it threatened to burn her from the inside out. How was it this man was so incredibly hot, both literally and figuratively speaking? The answer wasn’t forthcoming as she lifted herself up and thrust herself down upon his body, earning a strangled groan for her efforts.

She had his attention, and she was about to ride him like there was no tomorrow, for somewhere, in the back of her mind, she knew there wouldn’t be…for her anyway.

Her eyes locked with her that of her lover and she reached down her hand as she lifted and impaled herself upon his body feeling how he stretched her walls and how her own body clamped onto his own and forcefully drew him in deeper within her. Words weren’t needed now, and the only sounds around them were their own strangled groans and cries and the slapping of sweaty skin.

The pace set was fast, and desperate, as if her life depended on it. Kagome felt her muscles clamping harshly around his member and again, she felt the intense heat of him surrounding her, as if they were making love in a sauna. Roy had no idea how, but he could feel the heat too, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure if he was in complete control of his body anymore, but that didn’t matter as he placed his hands upon her hips and thrust deeply into her body, his own screaming for completion and release.

“Kagome…Kagome…oh gods…Kagome…” he whispered with baited breath as she clamped her legs around his waist and he leaned up, pulling her closer to his body and allowing him the room needed to take control of their pace. She nearly screamed when the new position allowed him to hit a place deep within her, and she didn’t have long to wait before that tension that had built up finally snapped and her lips clamped over his in an effort to quell her scream of pure pleasure. As her end came, so did his, and at the first clenching of her inner walls around his engorged cock, his orgasm was ripped from his tense body, as well as a dark and deep moan which was swallowed by their intense kiss.

Neither moved from their respective positions as the waves of passion raced through their bodies and Kagome finally pulled her lips from his before she looked into his eyes. Roy hadn’t realized it, but a single tear had come from his eyes, and somehow he knew, this simple act had helped him in some way that wasn't just carnal.

He felt her soft hand at his cheek and she leaned in before kissing him softly again, her lips gently molding over his own in a soft reassurance of their activities. The children weren’t the only ones who needed her reassurances, and her kiss was something he was eternally grateful for.

As the kiss ended, Kagome’s eyes met his once more and again, words were just not needed. Everything that needed saying was in her eyes, and he couldn’t help but be sad. She would leave soon, because she didn’t have a choice. As she pulled from his embrace, she moved to stand on her feet before she froze and her eyes went to Inuyasha’s sword at her bedside. It was glowing once more, and she hadn’t been paying attention. What if the light went out before she could open the portal? Would she be forever stuck in this place and time? With speed that would have made Kouga jealous, she threw on her panties and bra, before she dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans she found waiting for her on the desk in the room.

Roy saw her urgency and questioned, “What’s wrong?”

“The sword…I’ve been using it to get through different worlds, but I’m afraid it only lasts a little bit. If the light fades before I get through, I won’t be able to leave here and get back to my own world.” She replied frantically, before she grabbed up the sword and ran to the window. She knew she wouldn’t be able to get through the front door without facing the boy’s and Gracia, and she just couldn’t do that.

“Your…world?” he had no idea what she was talking about, but she was about to leave in nothing but a pair of jeans and sweater and socks, and that just wouldn’t do.

“Here.” He stopped her with a hand, as he pushed his boots towards her and handed her his jacket. Who knew what would happen if what she said was true? She could end up in the arctic and her attire wouldn’t allow her to last a few minutes, let alone any length of time needed to find shelter.

She blinked in confusion before she gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you so much, Roy.” And with a quick kiss she slipped on his boots and threw open the window. It was only a two story house, but the room she was in was on the first floor, so she was thankful. Hopping out of the window, she ran across the yard a little ways before she turned back to face the man watching her.

She pulled the sword from it’s sheathe and swallowed hard before she swung it downwards and once more, the light grew from the sword into an oval of light, just beckoning her to come within and see where she would go.

With one glance back at the surprised man, she said, loud enough for him to hear even from where she was, “Whatever you did, Roy…I forgive you.” With those parting words, she jumped into the light, and disappeared.

Stunned couldn’t even describe Roy’s reaction as she disappeared and he ran out of the window after her, not believing that she would really disappear, or that she would really be gone. She left him standing alone in the yard, and a few minutes later, he heard Ed and Al yelling at him and questioning where she was. He had no answers, and only Al’s words filled the silence, “She went to help someone else. She’s an angel, Brother.”

It was something they all could believe.

~*~


/Chapter


A/N: Good. Lord. *just dies.* I had way too many ideas for this one, but I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. I’m taking your thoughts into consideration, and a little something less serious sounds good for next time. Ouran perhaps? Keep your eyes peeled. Fruits Basket is also floating around in my mind as well as some others, so, here’s to the next muse who is slow enough that I can catch it. ^^

As always, please Read/Review.
Kudos!
Sayuri-chan

A/N #2: In case any of you were curious, the specs for this chapter at completion were:
Pages: 23
Word Total: 14,065