Irenic Moons: Hey me again! I hope you like the story so far, I'm having a little trouble deciding what events should come next (order and such) so it may take me a little while to figure it out. Also, for those who thought Winry's actions in the last chapter were a little…intense…just remember she was RAPED. I don't suppose any of you have ever had that happen to you? Well I've heard it's pretty TERRIBLE, not to mention the guy she loved basically turned her down. If I had been raped after having the love of my life push me away, I'd be pretty depressed too…Hmmm, wha-? Story? Oh yes! Sorry, just going off on one of my little tangents…Thank you for all the nice comments!
Only You: Chapter 10 – Just One Last Night
Cassie's POV
I watched as Ed trudged out of the room with a face of one of those destined to die soon. It was just like Millie said…They would have to confront each other sooner or later. But I was afraid. What if it turned out for the worse? I didn't think Winry could go through much more torment than she'd already had…I guess I had to admire Pinako for taking that brave step really, but still…
Pinako and I were the only ones in the room when both my parents walked in. Arm-in-arm they looked like a King and Queen. I snickered, 'They're probably as rich as royalty…Wait…that's good! I'm they're daughter…' Don't get me wrong, I liked my parents. But sometimes they could be so formal and protective. There was so much I didn't know about them.
They came in and sat down with us. They began talking with Pinako about train times, length of trip, etc. I was feeling increasingly fidgety so I decided to leave.
"I'll be back in a sec, ok? Don't you guys dare leave without saying goodbye to me!"
"Wouldn't think of it!" Pinako replied.
I chose to walk down some of the more unfamiliar corridors. The ones only used by my father. One of the many doors hid behind it the weapon that took my limbs. I hadn't been this way in a very, very long time.
Was it getting colder? I knew it was getting darker, because there were no lights on.
They are going to have to confront each other sooner or later, for better or worse.
Something like that. Their greatest fear.
Suddenly, I knew why I had come this way. 'To confront one of my fears.' That axe. All these years I had avoided it. I told everyone I couldn't remember, I was too young. No, that was not the case, that will never be the case. I remembered.
I opened one or two doors finding behind them various art pieces or sculptures. I opened another. Instantly, the glint of metal caught my eye. I was breathing harder. I could already see it at the very back of the room, hung high on the wall, where no one would ever pull it down again. I replayed my memory.
The axe…It had such pretty stones on it, was so sparkly…And that one, the big one in the center which just glowed. I wanted it, I wanted to play with it. I reached out for it and then…I was engulfed by red light for few seconds…A gate, opened and hands reached out to take me, I fought, I bit, I screamed, scratched, kicked, clawed. I wouldn't go in there. And then, it was over. I was on the floor experiencing not fear, but pain, extreme pain. I tried to get up. But that was when I saw the blood, saw the ripped flesh and bones. And that was the last thing I remember.
I had come across the entire room while thinking about it. There it was, mocking me. I knew better now, that was no ordinary weapon. There was something terribly powerful in it, something that drove it. Suddenly, I felt awkward, but something in me made me speak.
"You…you may have taken my limbs when I was young, but…" There was a distinctive crack somewhere far away, probably just a maid dropping a plate.
"…but…you will never have the opportunity to do something like that to me ever again." It lost its glint, its power, the thing which made it scary. I felt better. I began walking back out of the room, but still not taking my eyes off of it till I reached the door. I looked at it for one last time and shut the door.
I walked quickly out of the dark corridor and soon found myself in the sitting room again a few minutes later. But wait…Where had everyone gone. I started to panic. 'Had they really left without saying goodbye to me?' I ran to the front door and quickly asked Franz if they'd left. He shook his head (no) and said he'd heard some people going up the East stairway…I sighed with relief. That was the one that led to Winry's room. 'Ed and Winry must be taking an awfully long time…' I thanked him and ran to the stairs and then up them.
I saw Pinako messing with the lock to Winry's room. 'But didn't it only lock from the outside?' My parents were standing a few feet away, speaking quickly and frantically to one of the passing servants. I ran up to Pinako.
"What's going on?" She didn't reply because at that moment the handle fell off and the door and swung in just the slightest bit. We both jumped back in shock when…
Ed's POV
I'd said it. Finally, after all these years. Those feelings that just kept on bottling up to the point were it just made my soul ache. But the way I'd gotten here…I just kept on crying, for all those times when I wasn't able to, when I should of. It just kept gushing out.
By this time I was leaning against the headboard, with Winry to the left of me, resting her head against my chest. She draped her left arm over me and clung on tight. I put my real arm around her too, hugging her to me, never wanting to let go.
I closed my eyes and was surprised to see Al, just smiling at us, only for a second. I smiled too, and got the feeling that everything was alright, that there was some good in this world. I was being given a second chance. Suddenly, it wasn't about repenting for past mistakes or punishing yourself, now, life was about living to your fullest. Sure I would never give up in finding a way to bring back Al, but somehow I knew he was ok.
Now, I heard footsteps running towards the room. I started to get up and so did Winry. I spoke to her.
"Everything is going to be alright from now on." She wiped a tear away and smiled. The smile that had driven me crazy my entire life, the smile that even Maes Hughes did not fail to recognize. She replied.
"I know. I can feel it." As I picked her up, I laughed and she did too while putting her arms around my neck. I was carrying her the same way as that terrible night, but this time, this time, her eyes were alive and sparkling, and, most importantly, looking directly at mine.
I let her down lightly to her feet, but still kept an arm around her waist. The door moved forward, maybe an inch. We looked at each other and reached forward to open the door to our awaiting friends.
Cassie's POV
…The door opened by itself. Or so it seemed, until we saw those responsible. Ed and Winry. They were together! At last! He had his arm around her waist and they were both smiling. Well they seemed happy, but they looked like a complete mess, though in their eyes, they'd probably never looked at each other with more happiness. Both had watery eyes on top of dark circles that had obviously been under their eyes for a long time. There hair…wasn't even describable. Obviously, neither had taken care of it for awhile. Their clothes were misarranged, and finally there was something…on their necks…Blood! Winry had a drip of blood on her neck, and Ed had a gash that was flowing freely. Pinako spoke before anyone else.
"What in the world were you doing in there! It took us awhile to figure out the shot had come from your room!" 'Shot?' I was confused. 'Was that the plate cracking?' I took a look at Ed's wound more carefully. Yes, it was definitely clipped by a bullet. I clapped my hands to my mouth.
"You guys were shooting at each other?" Ed scratched his head with his free arm (the mechanical one) while smiling sheepishly, and started to reply, only to be cut off by Pinako.
"Well that took you two long enough…What is it now…18 years?" Ed replied,
"Actually, it'll be 19 next week…Now do we have a train to catch or what!" I tried to hold in giggles as he blushed and awkwardly tried to change the subject. This time, I burst in.
"Are you kidding? First of all you're bleeding profusely from your neck and second of all…WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE!" Immediately he lost his watery-eyed look, and adopted a new 'what the hell are you thinking' look.
"WHY!"
"Be quiet shortie!" Interrupted Pinako, while Ed made a face that looked like he could kill, "Maybe you should listen to what Winry wants too!" Ed looked taken aback by this comment.
"Oh, erm…Yeah, Winry…What would you like to-ARGGGHHH!" But he couldn't finish because Winry had already whipped her well-known weapon out of a pocket in her overalls, and whammed it into his head. Ed did the little anime floaty thing to the floor with stream-like tears pouring down his face. He was on the floor twitching.
"In different cir…cum…stances I would…be mad…but…now I'm 'pant' just glad you're back to normal…" I squealed with glee and jumped to Winry (ignoring the semi-conscious midget sprawled on the floor).
"Oh Win! I'm so happy! I was so worried about you." She smiled a little and hugged me back, "So what do you say? Stay tonight for dinner?" She looked towards her grandmother, who nodded, giving her the right to choose.
"Well, I haven't been out in awhile…" We all froze as she made the subtle connection with that horrible night, "So I think it'd be nice…Don't you too Ed?" Sometime in that last sentence he pulled himself off the floor and started rubbing his head. He froze in fear when she asked.
"Yeah! Sure! Whatever you want..." He said inching towards her. By this time my parents had entered our little conversation. My father spoke.
"We belong to a wonderful club that is most enjoyable and quite trendy for the young people…Why not there?" I knew he probably mentioned this place because it was in the best part of town…It's not like I knew what would happen when we went there last week…Pinako spoke.
"Yes that sounds great, but either way, we're not going anywhere till we get you two cleaned up." She gestured to Ed and Winry. "Hmm….I'll take YOU with me." She said while grabbing Ed by his red coat. He argued.
"But…but…Winry!"
"Shush! Your lover will be fine with Cassie, you're coming with me!" She dragged him downstairs and we could just hear the words, "miserable old hag" before a large crash erupted from where they had left.
"Well," my father started, "We'll leave you two to get ready…Gotta make reservations…" And with that he walked away leaving us in the hallway, at least until I pushed Winry into her room. I shut the door and spoke.
Winry's POV
Cassie and I were in my room again.
"See!" She said, "I knew it! I told you everything was going to be alright!"
"Yeah…" But that was when I saw Ed's gorgeous face looking down on mine, crying and bloody…What was 'alright' about that? "Yeah, I'm really sorry Cass, I acted like a complete…I don't know what for the last few days."
"Winry, you-"
"No, I'm really fine…Don't worry!"
"Well if that's the case…We have to get you dressed up!" I made a face that could only be described as pure shock/confusion, and asked.
"Why?" She sighed and hit her head.
"You're just as bad as him! You need to get ready to look good for your first official date!"
"Eh?" She started pushing me towards the bathroom
"Come on Winry!"
"Eh?" She pulled my jacket off and undid my hair.
"There you go! Into the shower!"
"Ahh!" But she'd already closed the door on me, so I sighed and began to take my clothes off…
Cassie's POV
I sighed and relaxed once I heard the water running in the bathroom. I backed into the bed and sat down-
"CLASH!" I jumped as I heard the sudden noise erupt from behind me. I looked around for the cause of the sound.
I found it after kneeling down on the ground and looking under the bed. A gun. They really had been shooting at each other. I reached forward shakily to pick up the weapon of destruction. It was silver, small, but still very good quality. It had small designs engraved all over it. I knew it was one of the most expensive models around…There was no other place she could have gotten it but…I started shaking. I clasped the thing in my hands. This was the second time one of my father's "collector's items" had caused someone harm. I would definitely speak to him about this later…
Meanwhile, I searched through her (neatly packed) suitcases, 'Hehehe…Whoops!', and looked for something nice to wear. In the end, I settled on a different black skirt and white top than the ones she had been wearing last week (those had been disposed of already…). I stood up to put them on her bed, when I suddenly saw a black dot…or hole on the wall across the room. I dropped her clothes on her bed and went over to investigate.
The bullet hole. Or was it a bullet? I looked more carefully only to find that it was not. No, instead I saw that it was a screw, an automail screw. 'At least I know my dad wasn't responsible for loading the gun…' I thought sadly… 'Only Winry…' After wrenching the screw out of the wall with my automail claws, I threw it out the window and sat down on the bed, waiting for Winry.
Winry's POV
I felt the warm water wash over my body as I cleaned myself up for my so-called 'date' tonight…I let the shower-head run on me for a minute before I reached to do anything.
Dirty. That's how I had felt the last week. I still had trouble looking at myself without disgust. I'd taken many showers, sometimes when everyone else was asleep or away. I just couldn't deal with what happened…
I guess I wasn't that upset over it, nothing hurt anymore (save the scratches and bruises I got when I fell, but they were basically gone). So what was wrong with me? Well also knowing that the main person in my life probably would never feel comfortable around me again. God, I'd felt so terrible when I saw the fear in his eyes after I confessed. He really had no idea…But I just…And then he found me, and all the pity and sympathy he had for me…It felt awful.
'Haha,' I thought, 'I set out to heal him, and end up almost shooting him…' I remembered! What would I have done if the bullet had gone a little more to one side? If I had killed him…If I had killed myself…Now that I was here, that seemed like a really stupid thing to do…I don't think I was going to anyway though…It just shocked me when he jumped and I pulled the trigger…
'I love him so much, and now he's the one healing me?' I sighed, 'At least we can heal each other…' And we could because we both loved each other, and now he wasn't afraid to show it, at least, that's what I thought… 'He better be ready to show it…Or I'll kill him!' I snickered to myself.
"I'll carry you…"
'That's right…' I thought, 'because he loves me…' And then I finally did feel clean, because as I stepped out of the shower and began to dry myself, I finally realized my dream really had come true.
'Ed,' I thought, 'Edward Elric loves me. The Fullmetal Alchemist loves me…Me and only me…' But this thought also made me a little scared and sad. Our relationship would be different now…In some ways, and also…I was going to feel so stupid now after doing those things… 'He probably thinks I'm a suicidal nutcase by now…' I sighed and then decided to make sure I completely apologized for…just about everything.
It was going to be ok. It was going to be better than ok, and both he and I knew it. I tried hard to suppress my want to scream and jump, and in the end I just hugged myself and closed my eyes.
I threw a towel around my hair and another around my body and stepped out of the bathroom to prepare for my true first date…
Ed's POV
I was still in a dreamlike perspective. I could barely believe what had just happened…In the last half hour or so, Pinako had dragged me downstairs, ordered me to wash my face, strip of all clothing above the waist and redo my hair. She had finished cleaning and bandaging my 'wound' and now I was finally being allowed to put my clothes back on. Now she spoke to me.
"Ed,"
"Yeah, what?"
"That wound on your neck was caused by a bullet."
"Um. So?"
"I'm saying someone fired a gun for some reason."
"I wonder if the others are ready…Maybe we should go check on them…"
"ED! Even your attention span is short!"
"WHAT! YOU MINNIE-HA-"
"Ed, what happened up there?"
"SHORT! I mean…Nothing much…"
"Tell me now. Or maybe I should have Mustang come make you talk."
"Why you…."
"Ed."
"Okok…I said, nothing much happened. Winry somehow got a gun, and um…" I couldn't tell her what really happened, that would scare her too much…What should I say? "Um…and she pointed it at me, so I tried to get it away from her…In the skirmish I think I might have pulled the trigger…"
"You pulled the trigger?"
"Well, it was probably more like I pushed her fingers down on it, but it's really my fault…"
"Hmmph. Well then I have no sympathy for your wound, midget." But I didn't hear her (luckily) as I was already heading out the door of the room.
Irenic Moons: Yay…It was…sorta…long…ish. Anyway, I'm going to L.A. for Saturday and Sunday, so don't expect anything till after that…Yay for all the kind reviews! Especially since I'm allergic to crap…I lurve you guys! Please review nicely! I want to see if we can make it to at least 200 reviews before the story ends (which won't be for quite awhile, but still!), so PLEASE review (nicely)!