Dear Sheska,
It was nice to finally see
you again after all these years. I was happy to see that your mother was
doing much better. Thank you again for showing me around Central City.
It was so much fun meeting Colonel Mustang, Lieutenant Hawkeye, and
everyone else that you work with. It's one thing to hear about the
famous Flame Alchemist, but to see him in person is another thing!
Seeing such a magnificent military officer has fired up my creative
writing once more!
Also, thanks for introducing me to Ms. Winry. Her automail skills are
amazing! But even more so is her cooking! Ah...I miss her scrumptious
food already! Have the two of you come to an agreement yet on whether
cooking is an art or science? Sheska, I can't wait to see you and
everyone else again.
Your cousin,
Stephen Lisowski
***
A
smile of content mixed in with a slight cringe was visible on the
bespectacled, mousy-haired girl's face as she placed the letter on the
desk. She was presently in the National Central Library in Central City.
Although the short-haired girl no longer worked in the library, Sheska
still loved to stop by every so often to take in the sight and smell of
the literary texts when she was not working at her desk job in the
Records Department at Central Command. As today was her day off, Sheska
found no better place to be at than the Central Library.
Stephen
Lisowski was Sheska's cousin from her mother's side of the family. The
two bore a similar resemblance to one another, and more than once were
mistaken to be siblings. Just as Sheska had an obsession for books,
Stephen had a fancy for writing and would constantly carry several pens
and notebooks in his messenger bag wherever he went.
About
a month ago, Stephen had unexpectedly popped into town. Sheska got
quite the surprise when the young man showed up unannounced at her
doorstep one day. That's how he was -- "a spontaneous, free bird" -- as
Stephen liked to refer to himself as. So the private officer had to play
host to an unexpected guest -- not that she bore any grudges against
him -- taking him on a tour of Central City and meeting many of her
friends and acquaintances.
Some awkward moments came up
whenever Edward's name was mentioned -- with Stephen wishing that he
had gotten to Central sooner so he could meet the "Fullmetal Alchemist:
Hero of the People". Everyone knew that he meant no harm, but Stephen's
inquiries about Edward had caused some uncomfortable feelings among her
peers.
At the mention of Winry's name in the letter,
Sheska recalled her first trip into her friend's hometown. She had been
surprised by the remoteness of Resembool -- but looking back, it had
been a good hideout for her and Winry in their escape from the military.
The two girls had been in a perilous situation after discovering that
the previous Fuhrer's secretary, Captain Juliet Douglas, was a
Homunculus. With help from Sergent Denny Brosh and Second Lieutenant
Maria Ross, the girls had escaped with their lives and took to laying
low in Resembool.
After Edward's mysterious
disappearance, Sheska and Winry had visited each other on occasion for
emotional support and to catch up on the latest news. Lately, rumors had
been circulating in Central Headquarters -- rumors involving Edward.
The brown-haired girl heaved a sigh -- her shoulders slumping -- and
looked out the library window -- debating on whether or not she should
discuss what she had overheard with the automail engineer the next time
they met.
***
Up in the sky, a lone
crow began its descent in altitude -- the feathers of its majestic wings
glistening in the sunlight. The bird came to rest on the bare branch of
a tree -- emitting a few caws as its head tilted one way and then
another, as if in search of something.
Shortly after,
beaded-black eyes became fixated in a particular direction. The crow let
out another caw before flapping its wings to take flight once more.
***
His body tensed. He could feel something in the air around him. Someone was coming. Someone that he knew.
From
his seated position, the boy stared at his shadow on the stone wall in
front of him. In the blink of an eye, the shadow of a bird loomed above
the wall. With another blink, the shadow metamorphosed into a tall, slim
figure.
The boy gasped and spun around.
***
"Izumi!"
the distraught Sig exclaimed -- standing by helplessly as his wife
coughed up another round of blood into her handkerchief.
The
woman was sitting in a wooden chair in the kitchen -- exerting as much
effort as she could to get her discomfort and labored breathing under
control. She wiped her mouth with the unsoiled handkerchief that her
husband provided.
"Thank you, my dear. I'm starting to feel better now."
Sig
remained worrisome. "The time interval between your coughing fits has
been getting shorter recently. Izumi, if this continues you will -- " He
placed a hand on his wife's shoulder, unable to finish his words out
loud.
Izumi placed a hand on top of her husband's and
looked into his eyes. "This has not only been plaguing me, but you've
also had to endure on my behalf. I'm ready for this to end, but..." Her
words trailed off. She turned away as a slight frown creased her brow.
"It's just...I only wish..."
Before she could finish her thought, the couple were interrupted by a loud bang that came from the front of their house.
***
The
front door burst open -- revealing Envy -- who invited himself into the
Curtises' living room. The unexpected guest had a large sack hoisted up
on one shoulder. Movements and sounds could be seen and heard coming
from it. Whatever was inside was alive.
The Curtises' rushed in. Izumi gasped in surprise. "Senior Brother?!"
As Sig and Izumi watched, Envy threw the sack down and untied it -- revealing a disheveled, bound and gagged Wrath.
Another gasp emitted from the housewife.
Wrath
struggled to break free from the ropes that were tied around his ankles
and wrists; but his actions were in vain. Envy had secured them
tightly. Although Wrath was weaker and less experienced than Envy, the
latter knew not to underestimate the strength of a fellow Homunculus.
"I'm
not going to untie you if you keep struggling," the older Homunculus
warned. His words had an effect on Wrath -- who ceased to move.
Staying
true to his promise, Envy released Wrath from his confines; but as soon
as he was freed, Wrath bolted towards the exit -- and was promptly
shoved back into the middle of the room.
"Why'd you bring me here?! Let me go!"
"Just listen to what your mother has to say!"
"She's
not my mommy! My mommy..." Wrath clutched the sides of his head, "...
she's dead! Edward killed her!" An anguish wail escaped from him.
"Sloth
was not your mother. You only pretended she was, because you couldn't
face your real mother." Envy's tone was even. His gaze was downcast.
Tears
of agony gushed forth from the younger Homunculus' eyes as he shook his
head vigorously. "No! You're wrong!" He made another dash for the door,
but his second attempt at escape proved no better than the first. A
metal fist was caught in a flesh hand -- Envy having blocked the punch
that Wrath threw at him.
"My son..." Izumi's hand was
halfway extended towards her child, but the housewife's words were cut
short by a fresh wave of pain coursing through her body. She vomited a
mouthful of blood in her hand and collapsed to the floor.
"Izumi!"
Wrath and Envy stop their struggles and turn to face the couple.
Izumi
was on her knees -- the palm of one hand pressing against the floor and
the other to her bloodstained mouth. Beside her, Sig closed his eyes in
anguish. When he opened them again, they were turned towards Wrath.
"Don't blame your mother. It's not her fault. I was the one who killed you."
Everyone froze.
Not a sound was heard.
Even Izumi's coughing fits had stopped.
A look of horror appeared on Wrath's face. "What...did you say?" he asked in disbelief.
"My dear..." The alchemist turned to her husband with a forlorn expression.
"Your
mother has always loved you; even before you were born. The both of us
had always wanted a child of our own. But when the time came for you to
come into this world, your mother -- she was in so much pain; I didn't
think she would make it. I thought I was going to lose her, and I
couldn't bear the thought of not having her by my side anymore. I
thought -- I thought that if she could be saved we could always go on to
have more children; but then -- "
As tears flowed down
her husband's cheeks, Izumi called to mind the result of the human
transmutation attempt on her deceased infant; and her regret of
returning the baby Homunculus to the Gate where he grew up to despise
his creator.
"Ultimately, I was the one who terminated your mother's pregnancy and ended your life. I'm the one you should hate, not her."
Wrath
lowered his head -- his bangs obscuring his eyes as he let the words
sink in. His lips began to quiver, and in no time his whole body started
trembling.
"My son..." Izumi forced herself upright
and slowly approached her distraught child. "I know I've wronged you. I
should never have turned my back on you. I don't ask that you forgive
me. I just hope..." She wrapped her arms around Wrath, pulling him into
an embrace. "...that with the time I have left, you will let me be your
mother and give you a real life."
A somewhat dazed look
was apparent on the young Homunculus' face as his mind attempted to
process everything that had just taken place. Meanwhile, Sig and Envy
stood silently watching the mother and son.
***
Warm
and tender eyes stared contently at the child whose head was resting on
her lap -- stroking his hair gently while he slept.
Sig
appeared in the living room -- a blanket in one hand. He approached the
sofa and draped the fabric on top of his son. Then his eyes met
Izumi's. A mutual feeling passed between the couple.
"Sig, promise me that you will look after our child after I'm gone."
The
burly man was at a lost for words. His eyes welled up with tears,
causing his wife to do the same. He wrapped his strong arms around her
as they both wept silently.
***
Outside, within view of the Curtis household through a window, a crow took flight from a tree.
No comments:
Post a Comment