December 13th, 1908

My vision focused on one thing and one thing only. The gate. Something had pulled me out and pieced me together with human arms, yet it was still the same ghostly pale skin that coated my bones. So many violet eyes watched as my mind and body was put together. Then, suddenly, I was squeezed through the gate and into a dark place. It reeked of blood.

A sharp pain ricocheted through my back, causing me to scream in pain, arching my spine. Rapid clicks rang through my ears, stinging with each droplet of sound. There was a violent red glow surrounding my form. I managed to find my knees, and pushed myself up gently, searching for a way out of… well, wherever I was right then. "Oh, dear. I had a feeling you would be born soon," an elderly woman's voice chuckled. I cast my gaze upward to her wrinkled, yet happy looking face. Her pale lips curled up into a soft smile.

My form trembled. What am I? WHO am I? Where am I? Those were the questions that desperately tore at my throat, but I couldn't force them out. Not even a small squeak came from my lips. Great, am I going to be mute? I growled at myself mentally. The woman held a frail hand to my face, red stones glinting from her palm. "Eat up, child," she cooed in a sickeningly sweet way. I obeyed, lapping up the red fragments as if my life depended on them. I had a feeling that it did.

After I'd consumed them all, my senses deadened. Pure blackness.

_-X-_

My eyes fluttered open. The cold ground I'd fallen unconscious on had disappeared, and I was in a somewhat comfortable bed. "Oh, good," a woman with black wavy hair stated. Her dragon-like eyes glinted as she finished her sentence, "You're awake."

Beads of sweat worked themselves onto my forehead and neck. "Dante!" she shouted, calling to whoever this Dante person was. What the… Who are these children I keep seeing? Just go back to where you were! He's better off without you! a boy shouted in my mind. I didn't see any faces, though. Blurred out, as if my memory was protecting their identities. Great, just what I needed. As if I wasn't haunted enough, now I have children in my thoughts, invading the deepest caverns of my mind.

The old woman from before entered the room that I'd been sleeping in no less than two minutes before. "Ah, good. You've awakened, dear Agony… Yes, that will be your name," she smiled, and then held more of the red stone fragments to me. I happily accepted, grabbing them and cramming them into my mouth. They tasted wonderful, like life. Hmm, how did I know what life tasted like?

The fragments were gone quickly. I tried to speak once again, but failed again, so I settled for mouthing the words. What am I? And who are these children that keep plaguing my thoughts? Maybe I could finally get some answers. "You are a homunculus. Created by Rikku Adric," it was the younger woman who had replied to me. That name sounded so familiar. Not the first name, the last name. Adric… Maybe that was my last name. W-Why are you telling me this?

Answer… I wanted her to answer me. But Dante cut in and beamed and replied, "You'll find out all in due time, child. For now, you'll need some new clothes. I'll leave Lust and Gluttony to that task." Dante then walked out of the room. Great, thanks for nothing. That was REALLY informative. Argh, fine… I'll play along.

My head shook up and down slowly and I stood up, taking the black dress the other woman held out to me. I quickly slipped the dress over my head, wiggling into it because the laces in the back were tied so tight. "Hmmm… I believe we should probably find your power first. I'm Lust, and this is Gluttony. C'mon, we'll go and try to find it."

The woman sighed, and a fat man with arms the length of his entire body entered the room. I was guessing the fat one was Gluttony. I nodded to them and they led me out of the big estate. My black hair began to change and turn white. "L-Lust! Look!" Gluttony said quickly, glancing at Lust before looking back at me. Lust smirked as she saw what was happening to me. "Oh, I see. We have another shape-shifter."

My ears shifted up and grew, fur starting to cover them. Lust reached out and petted one of my large ears. It twitched and my right eye blinked closed for half a second. A low chuckle resonated in the larger ears. I blinked as I stared up at Lust. Wow, I JUST noticed that I was pretty short compared to her. I gazed at my arms, noticing that they were slightly darker than the rest of my skin. Huh, that's weird. I had the urge to clap. My head throbbed with an old memory.

-Flashback-

December 25th, 1905

"C'mon! I'll show you some of my alchemy!" a small squeaky voice called. I giggled and ran after the voice. It was a small brunet boy, but I couldn't see his face. We ran upstairs into a room and he grabbed a piece of chalk, drawing a transmutation circle on the floor.

"If I can do this right, I'll have a Christmas present for you," he giggled. He picked up a small jar and poured some ashes into the middle of the pattern. He clapped his hands together and put them on the edge of the outer circle. A small golden light emitted from the chalk designs. I shrunk away in terror, honestly a bit scared. I'd never seen alchemy up close. But, I was young.

After the golden light dissipated, the boy glanced up and crawled towards me, wrapping his arms around me. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you…" he whispered. I sniffled and looked up at him. I still couldn't make out most of his features, but I could tell he was smiling apologetically. "I-It's fine… I was just a bit shocked. I truly was, all in all, shocked. I slowly hugged him back, and his grip around my middle tightened slightly. "You mind if I try some alchemy?" I asked in a small voice. He shook his head and pulled his arms back; motioning to the book he'd gotten that particular circle from."Pick one you can draw, then give it a go."

The pages rustled as I flipped the frail pages gently, looking for a good circle. My eyes widened as I saw a circle that, according to this book, my mother had researched. It looked like the strange tattoo I'd had on my neck since I was adopted by the witch I lived with then. "Find one ya like?" my friend asked. I glanced over at him and showed him the circle that was on my neck, then showed him the circle in the book. "It's the same one," I whispered.

Heh.. I finally had some connection to my mother.

-End Flashback-

My head throbbed as my mind returned to the present. Gluttony was currently looking at Lust with a very pathetic expression. "Lust.. Can we PLEASE find something to eat?" he whined. What a baby. Lust glared daggers at him and replied curtly, "No." "B-But Lust-" he continued to whine at the taller of our little trio. He started to drool slightly, putting his right index finger into his mouth.

"I've been meaning to put you on a diet," she growled low, her violet eyes piercing into my thoughts, burning into my memories. They were icy, cold, and emotionless even. She made me think of the mother that I wanted. I felt a twinge of want when I thought of the word mother. I approached her slowly, my head low. She gasped and looked down at me as I wrapped my arms around her hips, nuzzling my head into her stomach and closing my eyes.

For as long as those pieces of me were caught inside of the gate, I could remember wanting someone to call "mother". Waiting, wanting, wishing… It was all I could do. Two arms folded around my child-like form gently, stroking through my waist-length hair rhythmically. Tears started to pour from my eyes as Lust and I stood there, embracing the other gently. "Shush, child… There is no need for tears to come," she whispered.

Agony… Sadness…Sorrow… Huh, Dante definitely picked a fitting name for me. Even though I tried to wipe my tears, they just kept streaming out steadily. "Shhh.. Now why are you crying, little one?" she mumbled as she brushed her fingertips up and down my back. I could feel her skin against mine through the laces going down my back that held my dress up. Memories of my past entered my mind vaguely. I died on my eighth birthday. How tragic…

"M-Mommy…" I whimpered, nuzzling my cheek farther into her stomach.

Dear Stars,
Someone once told me that if I wished hard enough on a shooting star, my wish would come true. I don't know whether to believe that, it seems childish... But I guess I still count as a child, so here goes... I wish for a soul.

Atienne: WOOT! 1,550 words! A REAL chapter!
Agony: Wow... This was an awkward chapter for me.
Lust: nods in agreement yeah, me too.
Atienne smiles in a sickeningly sweet way hehe, sorry, but Agony-chan needed someone to call mommy, and Sloth hasn't been born yet.
L: who are these people and why are they named after the deadly sins?
All: gapes at Death Note character
Atienne: L, go back to your world, m'kay?
L: disappears in a puff of blue smoke
Lust: blinks ok... that was weird.
Agony: So, we ready to go?
Atienne: Not til someone says it.
Lust: I nominate Agony.
Agony: WHAT? ugh... Fine, but I'd better get a big cookie for this..Review! Flames will be used to make smores!
Atienne: Reviewers get a hug from Al
Alphonse: appears not this again TT^TT