Chapter fifteen: What the Hell?

Edward and Alphonse were by Coniniaue's side whenever they could. She remained asleep for the next two weeks, in a sort of coma. Of course, Roy said that it was just a silly bullet, she would live, and the brothers should get back to work. King Bradley, on the other hand, said that a close friend of the Elric brother's was hurt, and they should be able to stay until she is better.

Edward was sitting by Alphonse in the same chairs as before. Alphonse was asleep, but Edward lay awake, thinking. Who could have put that tattoo on Coniniaue? This was truly a way to become immortal. If he got one of those, then if someone chopped of his automail arm, and flesh one would grow back… Right? Nevertheless, SPLAT kept coming back to him.

"She was trying to shoot me, not you…" He muttered, staring at the ground. "Me…"

He was unaware Coniniaue had rolled over and was staring at him with wide eyes. "…What the Hell?"

Edward jumped. "Wha… Coniniaue! You're awake!"

"Hell yeah I'm awake. What is going on? Why do you look so sad? Buck up, pipsqueak, me getting shot won't kill me."

If it were any other situation, Edward would have pounced on her for calling him pipsqueak. Instead, he said, "You were asleep for two weeks, sometimes I thought you were dead."

Coniniaue sat up, grunting. "Ugh, Ed, I can't die until someone pierces my tattoo, didn't the doctor tell you?"

"That brings me to this: where did you get that tattoo, Coniniaue?"

"What? Oh. Umm…" She rubbed the back of her head with her left arm, because he right one was pretty useless with all the pain it would cause her. "I had it when my dad separated me and Dominique. Oh, no! They realized I have no blood! Don't make them take me to a laboratory!"

"They won't." Edward said. "King Bradley himself swore the doctors who saw you to secrecy."

"Under pain of…?"

"Death."

"Good…"

A nurse walked by at that very moment. "Oh! Coniniaue! You're awake! Don't sit up; it must irritate your shoulder. Your doctor told me to give you some medication. You need to sleep for a little while longer so we can finish operating."

Coniniaue just stared. "It took you people two weeks to operate?"

"Your insides are very complex, dear. Not at all what we're used to. Now, dear, swallow these." The nurse passed her two small white caplets.

"Oh, fine." Coniniaue popped them in her mouth and swallowed. Moments later she was twitching, a loopy grin on her face. "Hey, mom, tonight you're supposed to make pieeeeeeee… What's the point of having whipped cream without pieeeee?"

Edward sighed and looked at Alphonse. "I know how I can fix MY body, but we need to fix yours more…"

Alphonse sighed. "I know, brother. I know."