One Litre of Tears

Summary: Follow a story of Edward Elric suffering from an incurable disease and what does this disease got to do with him not using alchemy a lot? RoyEd & AlWin

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Chibi: Chapter 3? Oo! I'm surprising myself! I'm gonna need a break after this.

Pengin: But you don't do anything but sit on your butt and having a labtop lie on your stomache.

Chibi: Goes and cries That's not true! Anyway… Chapter 3!

Author's Note: I have an extra review! Woo! Go me! Yeah…that's all I have to say pratically…

Disclaimer: I still don't own Fullmetal Alchemist or One Litre of Tears (I forgot in my previous chapter to put this in).

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Time Happenings

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Chapter 3: Spinocerebellar Degeneration Disease

The human brain contains 140 billion neurons.

About 10 of these are specialised cells.

The nervous system is divided into the central and the peripheral nervous systems.

The central nervous system consists of, the brain, the diencephalon, the cerebellum, the brainstem and then the spinal cord.

It is the spinal cord, the brainstem and the cerebellum, that allow for coordinated and smooth movements of the body.

On the Train: 10:25am

Ed looked out the train window and saw the central military.

"Obaa-san… why're we going to central so suddenly?" Ed asked clearing the silence betweent them.

Pinako took out her pipe again and put it in her mouth. "I had a talk with Winry…"

Arrival at Central: 11:10am

The two of them stepped off the train and Pinako lead the way.

Every now and then Pinako turned around and nearly always saw Ed wobble a bit and it seems that he trips easily but always has the other foot to put him up again.

When Pinako stopped Ed looked up and saw a huge white building and he could smell what he thinks is medicine.

She led him in and it's what he thought. They're inside a hospital. 'So that's why she wants to go to central.'

"Ed can you sit down while I go and have a talk with the Doctor?" Pinako asked pointing to a black haired man standing next to her. He was wearing a shirt underneath his long white lab coat and black pants. He pushed his glasses up and went up to Ed and stretched out his hand.

"Hi. My names Maes Hughes, and I'll be your doctor from now on." He said giving Ed a smile.

Ed stared at his hands and finally lifted his and shaked it. "Hi…. I'm Edward Elric." The shy little Ed said.

Hughes led Pinako into his office and closed the door behind him.

Hughe's Office: 11:50am (Pinako and Hughes) "Please have a seat Mrs Rockbell." He said pointing to the empty seat in front of him. "And what seems to be the problem?"

Pinako sat down and started to speak. "Sensei (1)… the thing is, it's about Edward. He seems to be having difficulty walking, and even telling objects how far they are. I had a talk with my granddaughter and she said that when he reached out to grab a screwdriver he missed it by about 3inches. Even yesterday, he was walking upstairs and he somehow lost his footing but the thing is that normally when someone falls then their hands would automatically protect them from danger but he's different. His hands had no scratches and it's perfectly clean, when I asked him where were his hands he said that it was by his side. Sensei I am really worried about Edward so please will you find out what's wrong with him…"

After Hughes finished writing notes down he sent Pinako back out and called Ed in.

Hughe's Office: 12:34pm (Ed and Hughes)

Ed sat down and started first. "Obaa-san is worried about me isn't she? I can't blame her after what happens. To tell you the truth I wouldn't have come if I knew she were taking me to the hospital. I would've thought of some excuse and shrug it off, because I know what's wrong with me. I don't want people to worry about me."

"Edward-san let me tell you what your disease is it's spi---" Ed slammed his hands onto the table and looked at him with his golden eyes.

"I just said I know what it is!"

"Edwaed-san……. I think you should tell her about your disease. Better then making her worry all the time, she's old now…. You shouldn't keep things from her anymore." He looked at Ed who had his head hung down in shame. "What would you do now?"

Outside the office: 12:58pm

Pinako sat there until she heard the door open. She stood up and stood still.

"Mrs Rockbell, Please come in." Hughes said.

Pinako heart started to race everytime she gets closer and closer to the office. She knows somethings wrong and she won't like it. She felt like her heart stopped when she entered the office.

Hughe's Office: 1:05pm (Ed, Pinako and Hughes)

This time all of them were in there. She slowly took a seat and looked at Ed who didn't make a sound and didn't even look at her. She looked at Hughe's table and saw the table was dented she can also guess that it's properbly done whom. Who would be strong enough to break an object double it's size…..Edward. The question is why.

"Sensei…" Pinako quietly let out.

Hughes faced the blonde teen and said. "Edward-san?"

"……"

"It seems I'll have to tell her then." Hughes faced back to the worried Pinako.

"Edward-san has this disease called Spinocerebellar Degeneration Disease."

"Spinorcerebellar degeneration disease?" Pinako confusingly asked.

"The human brain contains 140 billion neurons. About 10 of these are specialised cells. The nervous system is divided into the central and the peripheral nervous systems. The central nervous system consists of, the brain, the diencephalon, the cerebellum, the brainstem and then the spinal cord. It is the spinal cord, the brainstem and the cerebellum, that allow for coordinated and smooth movements of the body.

The cerebellum in Elric's brain compared to other people would be smaller because for some reason the cellebellum is shrinking, and the nerve cells in the cerebellum are slowly degenerating therefore, we can interpret them as being dead cells." Hughes explained carefully.

Pinako shot a look at him and whispered. "dead….cells…?"

"There won't be any noticeable symptons to start with. But like you said about him wobbling while walking. He will start to walk unstably, that will make his likelihood for falling increases. He will have difficulties positioning himself and other objects and then slowly he will not be able to write and speak properly. Even though this disease is slow it will get worst day by day. It's a very cruel disease so Edward-san here must be fully prepared for what's to come and you need to aswell as he will need all the support he could get."

"There is a cure for it…. Right?"

"So far…. It is incurable…"

Pinako lifted her glasses and wiped her eyes. "Ed…. Did you know about this?"

Ed stayed silent and turned his back against her.

"Mrs Rockbell I think you should let Edward here stay and you go back home because there are still things that I would like to say to him alone." Hughes suggested to Pinako.

"I think I should stay here with Ed."

"I don't mind you staying, actually I'll be delighted that your staying because LOOK AT THIS PICTURE OF MY DAUGHTER ELYSIA SHE'S 3 YEARS OLD! AND ALREADY SHE CAN SMILE LIKE THAT! SHE'S GOING TO BECOME A SUPERMODEL WHEN SHE'S GROWN UP!" Hughes took a picture of a little girl that has hazel brown hair, her eyes were shut and on her face was her giant smile, out of nowhere and put it right in front of Pinakos' face.

"See you soon Ed." Pinako opened the door and power run down to the train station and took the train back to Rizembool.

"….Edward…. what do you plan on doing now?" Hughes asked turning to Ed.

" I just want to do research on medication so that I could help out other people that has my disease and maybe there's a way to cure it someday." Ed answered head still hung down.

"The military has lots of files and research files on medication. If you could join the military then maybe you could get your hands on the files. Can you use alchemy?" Hughes looked at Ed and saw that under that white glove there's something shining, then turned to the dented table that Ed smacked his hands on. "That arm…"

"Automail… I lost my arm and leg while doing human transmutation. I can use alchemy just not a lot." Ed stood up and leaned on the wall remembering the past was harsh remembering the present life is harsher what kind of memory would not hurt this fragile young blonde?

"Edward… please think about joining the military, you know I have a very close friend that works in the military maybe you'll get a chance to meet him. Edward you have potential. You might be able to make it into central. This hospital is part of centrals hospital so it would be easier for you and me to talk and do regular check ups on your disease." Hughes sat down on his seat and started doing his paperworks.

Ed gave out a small smile and said. "I'll think about it. Obaa-san doesn't like the military so I might have difficultie convincing her. But! I'll try, so… please cheer me on Sensei!"

"Please call me Hughes. Edward? Your 15 right?"

"Yeah."

"Ahh… I see…"

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(1) Sensei can also be used to call doctors.

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Chibi: Next chapter Roy might appear!

Pengin: The story sure goes fast.

Chibi: Hey! I like my story so there! Please R&R!