ANSWERS TO REVIEWS:

Daughterofapollo12345: haha thanks a lot! :) I also really like the idea of Homunculi being, in one way or another, just like humans or at least capable of feeling human emotions. I'm definitely thinking of writing future fics like that. That's okay, I'm not too adept at names as well, who knows maybe I won't change it, it's just a thought really :)

Lily: Really? Congrats! :) Good luck!

Panic: Thanks :) Yeah, I didn't want to write how Lena was "completely" cold to him the first time they met, though her attraction (for now) borders more on "reluctant acceptance because Ling is sharing a body with him" and "damn...I don't know him and I don't know if I can trust him but he's hot" lol. Yup, something along those lines ;) hahaha Thank you, the reason I wrote it was from this tiny little scene: the scene where when Wrath died after his battle with Scar, Greed had such a...not quite sad expression but it interested me enough, so I thought to search it up and see what other fans thought of it, but I had no luck :P I like to think despite not liking Wrath, he had felt something when he died, Greed's expression got me thinking ^^ Ah, oh that, damn it I knew I should've written a short explanation. Uh, I'm really sorry about that, I hadn't meant Ling was panicking because Greed was fighting Wrath, as in he was afraid of him, I wrote it so Ling was panicking because of Greed's unstable emotional state and since he had fought Wrath before, he knew how powerful he was and he was concerned for Greed's safety. He had been panicking on trying to get Greed away from there because he knew Greed wouldn't be able to fight or win in his condition. Hehe, thanks for the really nice compliments! :3 You made my day buddy! :) P.S: sorry for the damn long reply .

Gentle Death

Death was a part of life, even though many people like to contradict that statement.

Death was meant to be the end of life and yet many people move on after their dear ones have passed, so essentially, death would be considered a part of life, right?

People don't choose how they die and many wish to cheat death or find a way to become immortal. No matter the sacrifice if it means longevity.

But that's not the case with them...

"You killed me and I hate losing." Her eyes, slowly turning dull, remained fixed on the man whose flames engulfed her and burned at her flesh and stone, "But there are worse ways to die than at the hands of a man like you. I love how cold and focused your eyes are."

She closed her own eyes, imagining a look of despair crossing those same dark, calculating eyes of the man that had killed her, "I look forward to the day when those eyes will be wide with agony."

He said nothing, only observed how the Homunculus perished before his eyes, her body turning to dust and her Philosopher's Stone vanishing with the wind.

It was over. The battle was over.

And yet, a voice which suspiciously sounded like the woman he had just killed, echoed in his ears ominously, "It's coming. It's coming..." it said.

The small smile that was on her face remained even in the afterlife, even when her soul descended upon what humans call the 'Gates of Truth', but she wasn't afraid.

Why should she? She was a Homunculus, a dead one too and there was nothing the ultimate being could possibly take from her that she already hadn't lost.

So she surrendered herself willingly as the white, feminine form of what she perceived to be Truth grinned at her, beckoning her to it with a finger.

"You must be Lust the Lascivious," Truth commented, a female voice instead of male.

Lust smiled, "I was," she looked up at a white sky, "I used to be," she looked down again to look at his face or where it was supposed to be, "I never will be again,"

"You desired to be human, correct?" the creature knew her well it seemed.

Lust said nothing, she didn't need to.

Truth grinned, "Aye...so it is. I'm sorry to say I can't punish you for the many sins you've committed, since you're the sin itself," she laughed maniacally but Lust remained calm, "Will you be missed?" she rose a invisible eyebrow in question.

Lust chuckled softly, "I have no one but my brethren and even they will perish soon too," she looked away with a smile.

"And why do you think that?" Truth asked, a knowing grin on her face.

Lust smiled calmly, "Because, there is a thing we lack that humans possess...and that will be our downfall," she ran a finger over her forearm, "It's strange...how I thought humans to be foolish creatures, repeating the same mistakes over millennia..." she lifted her head to gaze at Truth, "The truth was...we have never truly evolved and moved on, the seven deadly sins of humanity..."

Truth tilted her head, smiling, "Do you feel remorse for your death, Lust?"

The Homunculus shook her head, "No, I have died mercifully, considering my ample record of sins," she smirked slightly.

Truth frowned, "Are you happy that you died?"

Lust smiled almost warmly, a calm, soft look in her eyes, "Yes..."

Her death had been a merciful one, she knew, the sensation of being swallowed by the cruel, burning hot flames of Roy Mustang, his deep anger manifested into his flame alchemy and she had heard its whispers.

"How dare you touch my irreplaceable Lieutenant?"

And she had chuckled, faced with her opponent, the man that would kill her. He did not experience joy at the thought of killing her, did not smirk or laugh when her Stone had been depleted and life burned from her eyes, he just watched.

Watched how her body dissolved, her pride and dignity stripped, her Stone shattered...

Yes...her death had been a gentle one, not for its circumstances, but for the fact that her opponent hadn't rejoiced in glee when she had died.

She hadn't deserved even that much.

There was a small, gentle smile on his face, warm and calm as the sun was setting, passing over the horizon behind a few lines of trees, bathing the sky in a mix of orange, yellow, a bit of red and washed over by the darker colors of the night.

Even when the sun's rays left him, his smile didn't waver.

"Trisha...my dear..." he whispered, lifting a weary hand to stroke at the cold stone that was her grave.

He had gathered the most beautiful flowers he could find on his way here and placed them delicately upon her grave, that small service, he could still give her before he said farewell to this world once and for all.

He had lived far beyond himself, watched how time after time, the friends he had made had all died before him and that was the reason that, after so many years and he had settled down with Trisha and their sons, he left.

He left because he had been a coward.

He chuckled lowly. Yes...a coward indeed.

Leaving her alone to care for their sons, he left on a journey to stop the Dwarf's plan from becoming a reality, but still, he had ran away.

What was it that he told Edward?

Ah yes...

You didn't want to look at it. You wanted to escape from your unpleasant memories. You wanted to hide the traces of what you committed.

Just like a child hiding the sheets when he wets the bed.

You ran away, Edward.

He hung his head, chuckling quietly to himself, "In the end, it was me that ran away..." he whispered, only the wind hearing his reprimand.

And for what?

For the dumb reason of not wanting to watch his family, his very own flesh and blood, die before he did, watching them grow old and die, perhaps of a disease or of old age, none of the reasons for which he could die anyway.

It had been a fulfilling life to be sure, but it had really made sense only when he had met Trisha. When he courted her, spent time with her, wedded her and when she brought their two sons into this imperfect world...that had been his reason to enjoy life to the fullest, even if he was near to immortal.

He watched his sons grow, watched the gentle smile she had every morning when she made breakfast and she would tease him gently for not knowing how to cook, watched how Alphonse would follow his older brother wherever he went, even if he went on one of his "adventures".

He watched how cute they were as toddlers, crawling here and there, stretching their little arms out so either him or Trisha could carry them, watched how they played together, or when they would quietly enter his study and carefully look at the various books he had.

He remembered vividly, how one night, when he was immersed in his studies to become mortal again, little Edward and Alphonse had stumbled quietly into his study, not wishing to disturb him and had cautiously taken a look at his books.

He remembered that, when he had turned around to see what they were doing, they had recoiled away from the books, as if he had forbidden them from touching them. He had only chuckled at their antics and had beckoned them to him one night, each settled carefully in his lap and he had opened one of his easier books about basic alchemy, ones which were the very first he had read about in order to study alchemy more.

They were curious creatures, always asking, listening attentively and his heart had swelled with pride and warmth at the elated look on their faces as they absorbed knowledge like a sponge did water.

He remembered how disappointed they had been when it was bedtime and Trisha had called them all up on going to bed or they wouldn't eat her famous stew tomorrow.

He chuckled at the precious memory, despite living for decades already, his head and soul filled with faces, voices, memories...

Those he shared with Trisha and the boys had been his most prominent and his most precious he ever had.

Hohenheim closed his eyes, "I'll be joining you shortly, my dear," he smiled, warm, carefree, alive.

Edward and Alphonse would be alright, they were surrounded with wonderful people that would look after them, they didn't need him.

Hohenheim smiled and felt everything catching up to him, his skin shifted, his heart slowed, his lungs ceased to function.

And he stilled.

And he was free.

Death comes in many forms, some cruel, others not.

Some believe sinners were sent to the darkest pits of Hell, to Satan. Others say good people were sent to Heaven and were rewarded for their good deeds.

But what if...none of it was necessarily...true? What if there was no heaven or hell? God or Satan? Angel or demon? Even if those things weren't true, there was one thing that was true.

There were things like life and death.

All you can do is live life to the fullest and hope your death will be a peaceful one.

(bows) I thank thee for your attention! :)