Hohenheim debated about this for months. Should he leave or should he stay with the family, it became a hard question to answer. Natsu became comfortable enough that Hohenheim was his father and the man let Natsu grow on him. It didn't help that he had two sons depending on him. However, he didn't expect Natsu to have enough perspective to catch him on his internal struggle. Through he should have expected it, he did teach Natsu some alchemy since he was old enough to understand the basics. Despite the boy's young age, he did catch on quickly with his studies. Ironically, that is when Natsu made a statement about his mental dilemma.
"It's obvious your thinking about leaving and I have proof. The way you look out the window and down the road. To the stiffness, you have while looking at mom. Hell, you even cried during our photo shoot."
Hohenheim became speechless at Natsu's perception and intelligence. His thirst for knowledge probably gave him insight on the issue. This also left Hohenheim open as Natsu had figured out that he wanted to leave. His hand became forced and with a heavy sign began his explanation.
"You know, how your hundreds of years old while I'm like that...do you remember of Xerses in our History Lessons?" Hohenheim asked.
"A country of a million just disappears in one night. They said no one survived." Natsu said.
The young boy gave Hohenheim a skeptical look. However, Hohenheim pulled out a red stone that made the boy's eyes go wide in shock.
"The Philosopher stone, I did not want to tell you but someone I knew made this stone to give me, near-eternal life. At a cost, the entire population of Xerxes aside from me have all but perished in that one night." Hohenheim stated.
"So because of your friend...the entire population died...to give you but that means..." Natsu wheezed out.
The information Natsu is currently receiving nearly overwhelmed him. The Philosopher stone could be made with human lives? No. The stone could only be created with human lives. Natsu just only starred at Hohenheim as the man gave him a grim nod.
"I need to stop him. To end his life, so that he doesn't do it again. In order to do that, I have to leave." Hohenheim said.
Natsu would be normally against this but he knew that Hohenheim would leave regardless. The Man had made up his mind and would not be going back. Natsu felt powerless. He could only answer in silence. The very next day, Hohenheim left. The absence of Hohenheim had its impact on everyone. Trisha would have a habit of looking out the window, presumably waiting for him to return. Her face held sadness while it only grew as Natsu stepped up. Growing up too fast despite his young age. He continued to do more and more of the work. To help her while the woman appreciated and thanked him gratefully. She wanted Natsu to be a child, to go out and play with kids his age. Yet, he focused on her, his little brothers and the house. For Edward, talking about Hohenheim had proceeded to get the boy in a foul mood. He even stated that Natsu did more than Hohenheim did and it was true. Which made Edward have a deep hatred for Hohenheim. Alphonse being too young still loved his father. She knew he would be willing to forgive him. Natsu happened was working on the roof, there had been a leak and the eleven-year-old is in the process of fixing it. He heard the door burst open to hear Edward and Alphonse laughter. The boy held a hammer in one hand with a nail in his mouth. As he looked down at his brothers. His eyes narrowing at the pair as Natsu saw baskets in their arms. Edward seems to understand Natsu without the two speaking with one another.
"Mom needs fruit! We are going to the market! We will be careful! Bye!"
Natsu nodded his head in approval before hammering away at the roof. Finally, after a few more minutes he finished the roof. His ears perked up at hearing stumbling, before hearing someone collapse inside the house. Natsu jumped off the roof. His mind racing a mile a minute. Did someone break in? Is his mother ill? Had she didn't catch her step or simply okay? Natsu lit up his fist in flames as he burst into the house. His instincts took him to the kitchen, he froze while the flames on his hands lessened to nothingness. The sight of his mother unconscious on the floor made his nerves skyrocket.
"MOM!" He screamed.
Natsu ran over to her to find her not as usually warm. He picked the woman up, Natsu had to get her to their doctor. Now. Natsu burst out of the house, only thanking he could carry her while sprinting to the clinic. Edward and Alphonse did return home. It felt different as they heard nothing in the house. They entered the kitchen to see Natsu at the table. The two boys put the brackets filled with fruits onto the table.
"You might want to sit down," Natsu advised.
The children looked at the other before taking a seat. They watched as their older brother cleared his throat.
"Mom had come down with an illness. She has been hiding it for months maybe years now. I don't know if she will pull through but the doctor is doing everything he can for her. I need you, boys, to do the same." Natsu forced the words out of his mouth.
Natsu felt his chest tighten, the weight of telling his brothers of Trisha's condition almost broke him. However, Natsu is the oldest. The man of the house. The one his brothers depended on and he could not be weak. Alphonse held wide eyes, tears threatening to fall. Edward held a different reaction. His fist slammed onto the table, eyes were bright with fury.
"If the stupid old fool just stayed this would have never happened! This is all his fault!"
Natsu didn't stop Edwards fury, the boy had a right to express how he felt and Hohenheim might have had a role in his mother's death. Intentionally or not.
"Selfish bastard! He left because he cared about himself!" Edward shouted.
Natsu could only think of one thing to do, the boy walks over to his younger siblings. Then proceeded to put them both into his arms. Alphonse broke down immediately as the youngest sobbed into Natsu's shoulder. Edward continued his outburst.
"It's not fair! Why!?"
That's when Edward began to cry as the boys sobbed into Natsu's shoulders. Their big brother giving them as much comfort as possible as he held them in his arms. Natsu kept himself together. He would not break till the end.
"Life will never be fair but in return, you can't be fair to it. I'll be making everyone's favorite dinner meals. Let's go visit mom."
The two sobbing boys felt a little better as they went to go to the clinic. Trisha was awake at the time and she looked over at the group. The woman gave a warm smile. The two boys bolted to her before wrapping her in hugs. Natsu had brought an apple with him as the boy calmly went over to them.
"I'm sorry to worry-hmph!"
Natsu literally stuffed the entire apple into an apple.
"If you don't want us to worry then eat. Concentrate on getting better and than we can go on a vacation to celebrate. I'll give you coal for making the boys cry." Natsu stated.
Trisha removed the apple and rubbed Natsu's hair.
"Alright, I will my little man."
She squeezed his head while Natsu felt pain ripple through his body.
"Ow! Ow!"
Trisha would not let go. Sick or not the mother still had her unnatural strength.
"I suggest you don't rudely stuff food into other people's mouths. It's very inappropriate." She replied.
The woman released her sons head while Natsu glared at her. His brothers were snickering at Natsu's misfortune. He could only glare at them before he began to laugh. Their laughter brought them to hope that she would make it hope that once it was over everything would return to normal. Even with Trisha's deteriorating condition, the boys still held hope. Natsu would get Trisha's last moments. It came after Edward and Alphonse preformed Alchemy for her. Through during Natsu notice her demise.
"Hey, you two? I want to see you two perform Alchemy. You haven't done that in a week or so, I would like to see it again." Trisha stated.
Edward and Alphonse look for anything to transmit. They did find an empty glass and used it to make a flower. The boys happily gave it to their mother. Trisha gratefully took the object as she gave them a kind smile. Natsu studied his mother carefully.
"Thank you, I love both of you. I will go to bed here in a minute. I would like to speak to Natsu in private. Goodnight, boys." Trisha stated.
Natsu felt his brain go numb, sure Trisha had spoken with him in private on occasion but never when they were in a middle of visiting. it was after the boys proclaimed they were leaving. Nonetheless, the two children walked out of the room, blissfully unaware. Natsu stays behind and when the door closed did Trisha's eyes lose their pupils. Natsu rush over to her as his hand squeezed her own and the woman squeezed back. The cold hands held warm ones as Trisha did her best to look at Natsu.
"I need you to take care of them. You have been the man of the house for years and I need you to keep being the man." Trisha whispered.
Natsu gave a brave smile while holding his mother's hand. He would not break nor let his emotions come out. He needed to be strong until the end. Trisha sadly smiled as Natsu kept his emotions in check.
"You have always made me proud my son. I have always loved you like my own ever since we meet, My Little Solider. My baby boy. I'm sorry, Natsu...goodbye." Trisha gasped out her last words.
Natsu would not break, no matter how much the pains he felt in his chest. As it knotted beyond imagination. Trisha's hand weakened rapidly and it let go of Natsu's while fell to her side. She gave a weak smile of content as her head went to the side. As her body went cold and lifeless. Natsu did not cry. He did not cry as his two brothers clung and sobbed onto him. He did not cry during the funeral nor after but finally as his brothers stayed with Pinako and Winry.
Sorry for the super long update. I didn't think it would be this long but it was and I do apologize.
