Disclaimer: I don't own Full Metal Alchemist.

Author's Note: Here's chapter 16 of LIA, I'm really going to miss this story…it's ending so fast. :( Well, there's still more chapters to come so I'll enjoy making those last ones too. Anyway, you'll find out what's wrong with Ash in the next chapter, and also find out how Ed and Al are going to get their bodies back…will they take Ash's life? Find out!

Warning- there is violence and a scene with lots of blood and stuff! Warning you now so expect it!

Lessons in Alchemy

Chapter 16: Clouded Head

"What?" asked Ed, staring at the lifeless girl in her bed. His eyes filled with tears, but he blinked them away. This couldn't be happening…people who loved each other were supposed to be together…weren't they?

Al put a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulder. "Don't worry brother…she'll be okay," he tried to assure his older brother, but even he was deathly afraid.

The doctor, on the other hand, didn't even look at the boys, for his shoes were still very entertaining to him obviously. "I'm sorry…we can't figure out what's wrong with her, and she's fading very quickly. I wish there was something we could do…"

Ed bawled up the sheet in his fist, unable to even look at Ash anymore.

"I'll leave you alone with her. Come find me when you're done," the doctor instructed, then left the room, still staring at his shoes. Ed didn't say another word since 'what?', he just stayed quiet and looked upon her pale face.

Al saw how hurt his brother was and walked towards the door. "I'm gonna wait outside…" he said, then left before Ed could get a word in. Ed looked towards the door, then back towards Ash. He touched her cheek with the back of his real hand and a tear fell down his cheek.

"I won't let you die Ash… I promise you I won't. Please don't leave…" Ed looked away, his hand still on her cheek.

He stared at the floor away from her but jumped when he felt something on his hand. He looked back towards Ash and smiled when he saw her hand on his. "Ed?" she asked, her voice scratchy and groggy.

"Yes Ash, I'm here!" he replied happily, staring down at the girl. Her eyes flickered open and she smiled at him.

But suddenly, her eyes changed to silver, and she drew her hand away from him and pushed him away, before getting up from the bed and walking out the door.

Ed watched her walk away, confusion ringing through his head. "Ash?" he asked, before running out the door and following her…

X

Colt went back to the Homunculus' house and flopped down on a chair. Gluttony looked over at her with a slight glare. "Where's the stone?"

"With the girl you buffoon! You've given up on me already?" she snapped back, obviously in a very bad mood.

Gluttony put up his hands in defense. "Of course not, Miss Colt… I was just wondering if you had gotten the stone."

Envy and Lust walked into the room and Lust and Colt glared at each other for a slight minute.

"I don't think she's even going to get us the stone," Lust thought, but didn't let that shine through. She and Colt had had some rocky moments, and yes, they didn't like each other much.

"Do you have a plan?" Lust asked Colt, just waiting for her reply.

Colt scoffed. "Of course I do! Something is happening to Ash at this moment, so obviously she should be easier to kill. What we need to do is attack together…so that the brothers have a harder time protecting her…"

X

Al sat on a bench in the waiting room-he couldn't say in that hospital room with Ash for a second longer-it was hurting him so much. He sighed and placed his forehead in his hands, but jerked up when he saw some girl walk by.

"Ash?" he asked himself. How was it possible? One minute she had been in a coma and the next she was walking down the halls with her head held high.

He was shocked, but then saw his brother chasing after her and jumped up after him.

"Al…something's wrong with Ash. I can tell! We gotta catch her!" Al's older brother called to him.

Al nodded, how hard could this be? She was walking calmly down the halls…if they were running they could easily catch her. But as he watched his brother and continued to run with him, he understood why his brother was so frantic.

Ash had some kind of barrier around her, and even though she walked, the brothers couldn't catch her-it was like they were moving in slow motion.

Her hair was down, and flowing behind her like she was walking against a windstorm, her hospital gown (A/N: which wasn't open in the back I might add) was also blowing frantically behind her. Her eyes were silver and piercing, and unlike the ones the Elrics usually saw on her.

By now, the doctors were chasing her too, but they still didn't get even remotely close to the girl. Once she made it outside, all the doctors gave up and went back to their normal patients.

Ed and Al, on the other hand, kept chasing Ash, running as fast as they could. But when she was about seven yards outside, she suddenly just jumped into the air and the wind carried her away…

X

Ed slammed the hotel door behind him, practically ripping it off its hinges. Al scooted away from his brother in fear of his life, and steam was practically coming out of the alchemist's ears.

"She got away! Dammit Al! She's deathly sick! If she doesn't get help she's gonna die!" Ed yelled at no one in particular. He flung himself on the bed and laid his head in the pillow, trying to keep from screaming and crying at the same time.

Al sat on the bed beside his brother and patted his back. "She'll be okay…she's got the Philosopher's Stone guarding her after all. Right?"

Ed nodded, "But who knows if the Philosopher's Stone will save human lives…it did for her once but maybe it won't react since it's being used as a heart and not for the potential it possesses."

Al looked to the floor, "That's a good point brother. But I promise you we'll get her in time."

Suddenly the door burst open and in rushed Colt, covered from neck to foot in black clothing. Her long hair, which was usually braided, was tied up into a tight bun/knot. Her eyes cut through them like glass.

"Where is she? Where's my imoutou?" asked the angry Colt. Ed jumped up and got into a fighting stance.

"You know what? I'm damn well sick of all you barging in and screwing with us. You're not going to get the stone so back the fuck off! I'm not in the mood to deal with you today!"

Colt snickered. "What a stupid thing to say Full Metal. And besides, you aren't just dealing with me…you're dealing with all of us!"

The rest of the Homunculus entered the room, glaring and smirking at the Elrics. It was an unfair fight…a two on four fight.

Ed and Al both got into fighting stances, and Gluttony immediately rushed for the younger of the two brothers. Al jumped back in time, just avoiding Gluttony's mouth, which was ready to bite.

Envy decided to attack Al too, remembering what Colt had told them-Colt and Ed were fighting, and Gluttony and Envy were to finish off Al. If they for any reason failed, Lust would step in to take their place.

Al hit Envy over the head really roughly, and he fell to the ground knocked out. Gluttony then rushed towards him, now twice as mad as before. He tried biting the young alchemist, only to discover that the metal around Al's body wasn't a smart thing to bite.

Over with Ed and Colt, it was apparent that Colt had the upper hand, but Ed was so pissed off about what happened to Ash, that he was fighting with everything he had-and even with power he didn't know he had.

His arm was a dagger, and he swung widely at Colt, hoping to fend her off for good.

She dodged his attacks easily, and managed to punch him in the cheek. "Don't fight with a clouded head Full Metal. I believe this has something to do with my younger sister, yes?"

"Shut up!" he yelled, swinging wildly again, this time managing to cut her right across the neck, a deep and long gash that obviously severely wounded her.

She fell to her knees, now covered in her own blood. Her eyes were growing cloudy. She put her hands up to cover the wound and drew them back to find blood all over them. Although Ed hadn't intended to, he had got her in a vital area, and she was now bleeding non-stop.

The rest of the Homunculus realized this as well and disappeared suddenly, leaving Colt all alone.

Ed and Al didn't want to watch either, it was tearing Ed apart. He was so angry about Ash that he had been fighting with a clouded head. That clouded head had made him kill someone.

He ran out of the room, Al right behind him. They didn't look back at Colt; there was nothing there that they wanted to see. They raced down the hotel halls, trying to just get out of that place.

They ran outside and saw a girl lying on a bench in front of the hotel. Her hair was dark black, really dark, and her skin was so white she blended in with the clouds overhead. Her eyes were cloudy, but the color of amber was still apparent in them.

"ASH!" Ed yelled, and ran over to her. Her eyes closed for a moment, then flickered open.

"Ed?" she asked, staring at the boy in front of her with eyes squinting as if she was blind. She lifted her hand and took his, the auto mail one.

"I'm so happy to see you," she chocked out, her eyes getting cloudier.

Ed held back tears. "Ash…you're still dieing aren't you?"

X

Okay, the next chapter will reveal how Al and Ed get their bodies back, and also about Ash and why she is sick. Please don't hate me for this, this is a happy love story, so just remember- the end isn't here yet.

Next Chapter: Chapter 17: Final Wish

Fox Kitsune