Innocence Of A Homunculus

Chapter Three

Edward could tell that something was certainly very different during the course of the following days. That sense of someone following him had completely vanished and awkwardly enough left him with a feeling of abandonment.

"Edward?" Winry said, as they both waited for her train to arrive. Her visits where usually short, lasting only about 3 or 4 days in length.

"Yea?" He responded, looking at her.

"I don't know what's been bothering you…" She began, her tone sounding a little depressing. "…but whatever it is I really hope everything works out for you." She hated the fact that he would never tell her anything, yet she was always there for him just in case he was to break one day. Either literally or emotionally.

Seeing this display of emotion, he felt almost bad for her. "Have you ever gotten the feeling that something is missing?"

"Missing? Like what exactly?" She of course, being a girl, would instantly think his problems were about 'missing' a girl in his life. And she would undoubtedly love to fill that spot for him.

But as fate would have it, the train broke up their little moment and Edward ceases his words any further. Sending her on her way feeling shattered as usual, he would never really know how much he hurt her by his silence.

She got onto the train but instead of her usual looking back before she left, she simply sat down and didn't even bother to glance out the window. Surely he must have said something wrong. But there wasn't any time to worry about that, she would just have to get over it.

Now leaving the station, his mind raced with thought until he heard an interesting sound of chains. Just above, lurking about the rooftops that early evening, was none other then Vanity. Making her appearance once again as she used that chain like a jump rope, skipping from one rooftop to the next.

"So I see you came back." Oddly having a slight feeling of relief as he looked right up at her.

"I was never gone." A smile same over her, also relieve that he seemed to miss her.

Edward had decided to take a longer way back. Alphonse would just have to wait for him a little longer. Walking on the outskirts of East City, not only for his own good but of course to make sure no one saw her following him around. People might think it unusually to see a girl out on the rooftops.

"Then why couldn't I see you?" He asked.

"You must have been looking at that girl the whole time." Pulling back that chain right up into her palm as she jumped down. "You really seem to like her, have you moved on from me so quickly?"

"What?" He had nearly forgotten about what happened their first encounter. "Wait, who do you think I am?"

"You're Edward." Simple enough she answered.

Little did either of them know, another homunculus stalker was creeping about. Of course, with nothing else better to do but spy on their conversation.

"Well I know that, but…how do we exactly know each other?" This needed to be settled.

"You really don't know me at al do you…" She sighed. Remembering something, she held out her hand to him as if he were to take something. "Here."

A little cautious at first, he should have known better then to think she'd actually try something. He took it, looking in his hand. "What a second, what is this?" She handed him this little red stones, only keeping one for herself which was dangling on her necklace.

"Isn't it what you were looking for?" In all honesty she meant only to help him however she could.

He just shook his head. "They're fake…I've seen this before." Looking over to her, she seemed somewhat disappointed. "Why are you doing this anyway? Shouldn't you be trying to kill me or something?"

"You just don't love me anymore do you?" Her back was to him now and there was, what sounded like at least, sobbing noises. From a Homunculus, a being of no emotional attachment or feeling?

"Look…I uh." Completely turned around by this whole situation. "Do you even know what you are? Or most of all how you came to be this way? I mean…if you want I can try and help you find out a few things so that you aren't so confused?"

"Confused?" She sniffled. "You think I'm confused?" Instantly her tone was changed.

"Maybe just a little. It's normal though." Walking up beside her. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about." While he had this chance to be a little closer he took a quick look. From what he saw, there was no symbol to mark her as a Homunculus. At least not in any place he could see.

There was a brief moment of silence, hearing him come up beside her as she glanced to see that red coat of his. "I think you're the one who is confused." Narrowing her eyes as she turned to face him with her palm opened and pushing him back into the wall across from them with the force of a thick chain.

It only wrapped around him a couple times, but it was enough to keep him still. Hitting against the stone wall of the adjacent building, he fell right to the ground. "I said I would help you! What the hell is your problem!"

Now this turned into a different set of events. Certainly unexpected coming from her. Envy kept to himself, enjoying this little spectacle from an unseen position. Smirking in total delight of watching his suffering, it gave him a horrible idea. But that would just have to wait.

"My problem? My Problem!" That just upset her more, twisting her hand around as she grabbed the chain, tightening it around him to the point where he couldn't help much scream. "You made me like this, and have the nerve to say I have a PROBLEM!"

"You don't…understand…" If she kept her grip up long enough he would surely suffocate. It was hard to talk from the amount of pressure. "I'm not…" And no, she didn't let up any. Now fully collapsing over, he was only passed out from the lack of oxygen. No harm done, but it was done enough.

". . ." The chain unraveling itself from around his motionless body, returning into the palm of her hand as she just stood there. There was remorse for what happened, but knew nothing was truly damaged. Except of course, her feelings or what she thought were feelings at least.

Envy couldn't hardly believe what he just witnessed, but most of all the fact that she was just leaving the whole thing. "What? Walking away!" He emerged from his hiding place, a darkened little spot behind a neighboring building. "Hey! Why are you leaving! Finish that little punk off!"

"Leave him." She was walking towards his direction, probably going back to that abandoned church. "And don't think I didn't notice you following me Envy…" As she past by, shooting him a look.

"If you don't fini- huh?" He stopped. Did she really know? Looking at her was she kept walking away, but then back to ever so vulnerable Elric. "We'll finish this later…" He murmured, leaving him there as he followed after her.