Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ginny nodded over her waving wand, smiling at Endless while Lily tried to smile while shooting his retreating form a worried look. "Good idea. I'll join you after finishing here. I'm sure everyone could use a drink." And likely something to eat. Stew's easy... all the fixings should be here. Filling... and at least I know Ed likes it. There was a slightly dull look to her brown eyes as they went from one kitsu to the next. The red-headed witch still felt guilt for her part in what had happened between friends. This could not be easy for the starry pelted male, and worried about Kitsyn too. Remus also nodded eyes gentle in concern. But though he was concerned for Endless there were also the others to consider. He lifted a brow at the young alchemist's protective growl, noticing it where his son did not. Lily did too, green eyes blinking as she recalled rather disjointedly how Alphonse tried to keep her from Ed when the automail had fried her mate's nerves. Once the flash of memory had ended she allowed herself a small smile however, appreciating how loyal he was to those he cared about. If only he had not felt the need to run like that & do whatever it was he had done!

"Perhaps not for you or I, but everything together was clearly enough for the young lady." As Ginny left them to go to the kitchen Remus padding towards Kitsyn & his youngest chuckled kindly at her single soft word. Gently he put a paw to her head in a comforting gesture, for other than magic & potions Remus Lupin had no healing capabilities. "There now, Miss Kitsyn. If my son is too heavy I shall move him. Might I say it is good to have you here with us again."

Hearing Alphonse say something about changing it Liliana jerked with a start, the voice of the unknown female kitsu that she suspected was a homunculus suddenly reverberating in her mind. "I suppose you alchemists never do learn... Every time you try to set things right, the situation only becomes worse..." Suddenly it seemed very true to the witch and she started shaking her head at her brother-by-proxy. "No... no I don't think that's a good idea Alphonse. What if... what if something worse happened? Shouldn't you learn from this? Shouldn't we?" Worried, tired, Liliana leaned lightly into Edward's side not so much to be held up as to feel that he was there & share support with him. She was tired, more emotionally than physically but the excitement would not let her rest.

"Helping Winry adjust to this world sounds like a good idea, brother." Alphonse slowly nodded in agreement. "She has wings too, maybe we can both learn how to fly some time. I already tried," He grinned nervously for a moment, immediately frowning as he remembered that he had tried to take off to escape from Liliana. "But it didn't end very well..."

When Liliana spoke to him, he let his shoulders and wings sink, sighing. "You're probably right, you know. This world is really strange. I don't understand why the alchemy didn't work properly." He pinned his ears back. "But that doesn't mean I'm not going to do it at all, though."

When Kitsyn spoke to him, he bit his lower lip, looking much like a scolded puppy. "I..." He lowered his head. "I am happy."

Remus watched with thoughtful silence as his youngest son was moved by the smaller Edward, a soft smile playing about his maw. There was a certain fondness for the alchemist, Ed's relationship with Liliana not withstanding. The kitsu had spark, and for one such as Remus Lupin who never felt he had such spark it was appreciated and welcomed. Hemi stirred only slightly as he was moved, snuggling into Kitsyn's side in a comforting way once he was no longer on top of her.

Except for small movements as if touched by a breeze Liliana hardly moved. Her eyes softened watching her mate and her dear baby brother even as she thought about what Alphonse was saying. "I don't think it was a matter of the alchemy not working properly, Alphonse." The crimson furred female said at last, her voice soft and caring. "I think it was likely more a matter of not understanding the workings of the Realm. Kitsu with a variety of previous lives find themselves here. Not to mention the others, like in our home in Gaia connected to the Realm. When you transport dimensions... well it is not something I think anyone fully understands."

"My daughter has a point, young Alchemist. There seems to be little logic in why some of us, like your brother & myself, arrive as eggs to grow through our lives all over again while others arrive full grown. And each may remember differently their previous life: full memory, partial memory, no memory. The degrees seem to be countless."

Alphonse was looking down at his gloved paws now, turning them over to examine the alchemy circles on the palms of the gloves, as if the answer to his problems would be there, somehow.

He looked up again as Liliana spoke, not seeming any happier about her statement. "That doesn't really make sense - not like the world was uniform or easy to understand back where I came from, either. Why should this place, or any other place be any differ..." He stopped himself before he finished the sentence, not believing his own words any more. The OTHER side of the Gate didn't have alchemy. He was wrong, one place was not like another at all. The Gate alone had proven that fact to him.

When Remus spoke, Alphonse was well and truly deflated by now. "I still don't see why something should work in one place, and then differently in another. Basic rudimentary alchemic reactions worked the same when I performed some earlier. But the higher level stuff?" He pinned his ears back and shook his head. "No, I don't suppose it matters - we shouldn't be messing with that stuff any more anyway. I've tempted fate twice, three times now... I'm surprised I'm still in one piece." He shivered momentarily, thinking of the time he was a soul bound to the armor. "Or again still, anyway."

"Ma'am," He began when Kitsyn had spoken to him. "Thanks, but, well. My life is already pretty torn apart as it is now." He averted his attention to the floor, pulling his gloves back onto his paws, even though they didn't need any kind of readjusting at all. "Nothing's the same any more - and it's not ever going to be." He shook his head.

So many things had changed in such a short period of time. His going to the Gate hadn't acheived anything. Was he fated to being stuck here now, as a Kitsusagi? The youth moved away, curling up in a corner, resting his chin on his paws.

Hemi seemed to react automatically either to Kitsyn's whimper or her pain for a faint flickering light emanated from him again to brush gentle fingers upon the female. Liliana whimpered softly, looking between her mate and his brother. Her ears fell limply against her head. She wished... she wished there was something she could do. And that she knew what that was. Her green gaze then flicked to her father who himself appeared baffled and at a loss of what to do. But then... Remus knew even less about what happened than Liliana did. "Alphonse..." Her green eyes were gentle, compassionate, & as loving as if it were Hemi or Romulus she looked upon. She wanted to say how it did not have to be like that. He did not have to feel like that. That they were so glad he was here... that even if it would not be the same that it could still be good. That she wanted him happy, wanted him & Edward happy as they should be.

Then she winced as Edward caught onto that one word of Kitsyn's. From what she could remember of what had been said, what she could speculate... Edward would not like the answer. And likely her mate would feel guilty too. Why? Why had things gone this way?

Her father remained silent, watching the others before with another gentle pat to Kitsyn he moved to sit beside Liliana. Once this was settled a bit more he would probably return to his mate. For now he would stay.

From down the hall, smells of stew starting to cook could just begin to be smelled.

"It's easy to give anything a chance, brother." The younger Elric brother spoke in a soft tired voice, focussing his burnt-golden eyes on his elder brother. He regarded his statement for a further moment before finally giving him a weak momentary grin. "It's just a lot to get used to."

The youth slowly moved to his feet, lazily stretching out his limbs for a moment, sending a slight gust of air into the room as he flapped and resettled his wings on his back. "You understand... right, brother? How long did it take you to adjust on this side? I didn't get here very long ago. I just need to give it some time, I guess. But you need to give me some time, too."

He sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "It's just a lot to take in - nothing is the same any more. Not for me, or you, or anything, really." He slowly shook his head. "I came to this side because I wanted to be together with you, brother. But is that going to be possible any more?" He gave a small nod in Liliana's direction for a moment before returning his attention back to his brother. "Are we going to be able to go on any more adventures together? Or will you be too busy now?"

Liliana had been looking at him when he nodded at her, causing him to return his attention to the female. This time around he was caught by her gaze, quietened by it. He regarded her for a few silent moments before finally smiling back at her, not being able to help it. He still didn't know her at all, but she just seemed so... friendly. He found himself thinking that he would be able to trust this gentle looking creature.

"Take good care of my brother, okay?" He reached up to scratch the back of his head. "He likes to, um... well..." A hesitant pause. "Misfortune always seems to find him one way or another." He made a soft nervous chuckle, lowering his paw again.

When Kitsyn spoke, his grin had faded again. He gave the girl a slow determined nod, frowning. "I won't tell anyone, there's no reason or need to." He pinned his ears back at the next piece of information. "But... you traded a soul for my brother...?"

Hemi of course could not consciously hear the female tell him not to worry, reacting subconsciously to her pain as he slept. His healing magic was fading though and he whimpered softly, nuzzling the form next to him, snuggling as if to help the spiritual with his presence as his glow flickered and finally faded trying to fix the physical at the very least.

Liliana felt guilt again, never having wanted to come between the brothers... never thinking she could. But she managed a smile as Al told her to take care of his brother, green eyes lighting up in a way that said 'of course! and you will too!' before giggling softly -lifting her left paw to her mouth- not so much at misfortune finding her mate but at Ed's 'vote of confidence' comment that followed.

Liliana and her father exchanged a stunned glance at Kitsyn's revelation. Was that... was that part of what Zell knew? Or was what the happy-go-lucky SeeD knew only a part of this? Lily knowing her instructor a bit more suspected the later, and maybe some other secret as well. Something that had him smiling and often out of the house as if searching for someone. Lily had never pressed for any of it beyond asking what was on his mind and the SeeD answering that it was Kitsyn, and that she was very special then grinning as he shook his head & saying that he would say no more. Not surprising... if it was something like this. "Of course, Kitsyn. Your secret is safe with us. And... Thank you." her voice was flooded with emotion. So this was how Edward was able to come back to them. Liliana owed Kitsyn... more than she could ever repay her. The gratitude, the love for that sacrifice, colored her soft words. "You honor us, Miss Kitsyn, with your bravery & your trust." Remus' subdued voice seemed to ring in his daughter's ears and she blinked lovingly at him. He looked & sounded as though he had just comprehended how close he had come to almost losing a son & her heart was filled with affection realizing that the son he was realizing that about was Edward. This was confirmed with the wizard's next words though he could barely seem to get them out through his emotion. "Thank you... for saving my son..."

It was as if a balm to the swirl of emotions within Lily that had only expounded since the misfortunes regarding Ed's automail the other day. Face entreating she turned to her brother-by-proxy. "Anything's possible, Alphonse! You're here! Winry's here!" Her voice held a hushed excitement & her eyes shone with a happiness, & a hope the crimson witch could not put a paw upon. But... she knew the brothers shared a bond more than she could ever imagine. More even than her her bond with Hemi. Liliana knew this... and she wanted to see it. Just observe it and cherish it. Because it was special. And being part of Edward... she held their relationship in very high regard. Love. Family. Her eyes shone with it. They had to come through! After all this... after Kitsyn's sacrifice ... they had to!

Edward's statement seemed to calm the younger Elric brother's concerns. He was quiet after his elder brother was finished, slowly nodding his head, seeming much less troubled than before. He still didn't know how to deal with the current situation entirely, but the fact that his brother had been upset by the thought that they didn't need each other any more certainly had quietened the youth, even made him feel regretful of thinking those things in the first place. He lowered his head, his ears sinking in silent apology. Suddenly he was thankful that the alchemic array hadn't worked before. A deep frown crossed his maw as he thought about that further, and what he had nearly done... a small shiver ran through his body and he felt momentarily cold.

No – Alphonse pushed the thoughts from his mind again. He shouldn't think about things like that, what might have been. He was grateful that nothing bad had happened. That unfamiliar girl who had sacraficed something for his brother... he owed her big time.

He raised his ears again as he thought about the comment that his brother hadn't gone on any real adventures, however. "Why don't we go on a new adventure of our own then, brother?" Alphonse grinned once again, tails moving with a slight wag to them. "Perhaps later though, you look pretty beat." He gave his brother a lopsided grin. "I bet I could beat you to the destination though, seeing as though I'm not a heavy clanking suit of armor any more."

Hearing Liliana's giggling only further fuelled his amusement. His tails were wagging more noticably now, and he had to chuckle for a moment himself. "I'm going to have to tell you all about about some of the sticky situations that brother has gotten himself stuck into some time. I'm sure you'd both like to hear all about that, right?" He flashed a cheeky playful grin at both Liliana and Edward, half expecting his brother to react rather interestingly to that.

Alphonse faced Kitsyn and bowed his head, nearly bumping his lower jaw on the floor in the process, giving her a look orf concern shortly after. “You're going to be OK, right? Thank you for all you have done for us, ma'am.” He said in a polite formal tone. “If there's anything you would like me to do as payment for saving my brother, you need only ask. I didn't even catch your name, but thank you. Thank you very much...”