Their mother, weak and wan and pale, smiles at them, eyes a bit watery. "Hello, my little alchemists," she says. "Have you two been looking out for each other?"

"Yes, Mom."

"El-El's been great!" Mary chirps, bouncing up onto the bed to hug their mom. "Did Miss Curtis fix you?"

"Oh, honey..." their mom says, running her shaking hand through Mary's hair.

Akira shakes her head. "The disease has progressed too far, and the flaw causing it is on a level beyond what I am capable of manipulating. I have eased her pain, and perhaps given her more time, but a cure is yet out of reach."

"That's more than anyone else has done."

"It's enough," says Trisha Elric. To Akira: "Thank you, for giving me more time with my daughters. How can I ever repay you?"

Akira Curtis shakes her head. "I don't need repayment, though I think your daughters would appreciate it if you cleared them for an apprenticeship."

Trisha nods, smiling at the two girls. "They've always been so excited about their alchemy. Still, I would miss them..."

"I would not take them while you were alive. Family you actually like is a rare gift, and life so far is a path we may only walk once," Akira says.

"Then you have my blessing," Trisha says, firmly, "And I will let anyone concerned know that."

"Thanks, Mom." El goes in for a hug.

Hugs for the smalls!

"You two are so good, I'm so blessed..." she says, smiling at them.

Small smile.

"I'll leave information on how to find me," Akira says, softly, "But I do need to keep moving."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm currently moving towards Ishval. There's something I need to investigate. After that, I will return to my usual home, in Dublith."

"Okay." She wants to ask what, but doesn't want to push her luck.

"Is Dublith where you want us to meet you?"

"Yes - I'll also leave instructions for what to do if you arrive and I'm not there."

El nods. "How long will your- investigation take?" Longer than for Mom to die?

"My trip to Ishval will hopefully only be a few months at the absolute most, though I suspect my entire investigation will be longer, over more trips."

"I estimate your mother has about a year, though that is an extremely rough guess."

"Thanks for telling us."

"I don't believe in lying, unless absolutely necessary."

"Still... Thanks," Mary repeats, cuddling mom.

"You're good at being an adult."

"Perhaps I'm better than most at remembering being a child."

"Could be."

She pulls out a pen and paper, writing several things down. "Here - this is my address, and an address of a correspondent of mine, and of the neighbor who watches my cats when I travel, and who'll be able to let you into my house, if you get there while I'm gone. I don't leave volatile experiments lying around, so feel free to settle in as you wish if that happens."

"Do you leave volatile experiments hidden?"