The Same Coin

The Black Whale

"Are we ready, Boss?" Nobunaga asked, glancing at Chrollo. Chrollo had his back to the rest of the Troupe, who stood waiting on the docks sullenly, to scan the area one last time. "She's probably dead."

"I'm aware, Nobunaga."

He knew that possibility well. They'd had to break through the wall of the exam room in their attempt to reach Winry, but once they'd done so they found the room empty. There was a hole in the wall that led to the exam room beside it, but it had been untouched. He didn't know where Hisoka and Winry might have gone. He didn't know if maybe, just maybe, Winry had chosen Hisoka's side at the end.

"All aboard for departure!" a voice boomed over the PA system.

It was Machi who took a step toward the ramp.

"Let's go," she said. "If she's alive, she'll be here when we get back." If they ever came back.

He couldn't stall forever, though. Chrollo lowered his head, exhaled, then nodded.

"Very well. Let's go."

He put his hands in his pocket and waited for the rest of the Troupe to ascend the Black Whale's ramp ahead of him. The future lay across the sea — on the Dark Continent. And they would be among the first to explore it. To reap its riches.

"Boss, wait."

Chrollo glanced up, then looked back. Winry stood on the first step of the ramp. He smiled, and a knot in his chest lessened.

"It's time," he said simply, drawing her boarding pass from a pocket and holding it out to her.

Winry's eyes met his as she reached out, accepting it without a word, then reached into the pocket of her tobi pants and offered something to him in return, bowing as she held out her hand to him. A deck of cards. He touched her shoulder, drawing her back up without a word, then stepped aside. Winry stepped past, joining the rest of the Phantom Troupe ahead of him, and together they boarded the Black Whale, bound for the Dark Continent.