After traveling some distance to Xing, they finally made it into town. After getting some food and drink, they began to ask around in regards to Edward's whereabouts. They finally came across a sleazy fellow who was going to get away if Roy hadn't made a fire wall the best way to block a path.

"Look, just tell me where I can find someone who sells kids or something."

The guy looked at him for a second and then held out his hand.

"For a fee, I can tell you exactly where to look."

"How about you tell us where he is and I'll not blow your fucking head off?" Roy said, putting his thumb and middle finger together to make a spark.

The man flinched but nodded.

"Okay, okay… Usually if they get children from Amestris, they send them to the red light district. You'll find him there."

"What do they do with them?" Maes asked.

"What do you think they do with them?"

Maes punched the guy in the throat and turned away, the others following.

"Nice going, Hughes." Roy said with a small smile.

"I was hoping for a different answer. By the way, if we get suspended for this adventure, I'm blaming it all on you, Roy."

"Go ahead. This is worth it to me."

"I think we should get a change of clothes, sir." Riza said. "Three military officers going into the red light district of Xing is pretty noticeable."

"True. That sounds like a good idea."

They went to a store and bought some different clothing. Roy and Maes looked like they could pull of being Xingese but Riza looked very out of place. Roy laughed a little.

"You look really out of place, Hawkeye."

"You look too much in place."

"My aunt said I may have Xingese in me but it's a rumor. She wouldn't tell me anything else otherwise."

The three of them headed for the red light district.

"Hello, pretty lady." Roy said.

The woman in the slot of the brothel smiled at him and leaned on the wall.

"Hello, there. Did you come for a little piece of heaven?"

"Sorry, honey, but I'm looking for something a little different tonight."

The woman frowned. "I'm sorry I don't float your boat."

"Maybe another time. Where could I get something exotic?"

"Exotic? Like a Cretian?"

"No, something more… Amestrian."

"You want something like that?" the woman said with a degrading laugh.

"Well, actually, between you and me, I was looking for something a little… blonde."

"Ooooh." She said, suddenly perking up. "You mean the Goldies."

"Is that what they're called? I'm sorry if I didn't know but my friend and his fianceé there," He pointed to Maes and Riza. "Thought that I would like to drown my sorrow with a blonde. My girlfriend dumped me and they said a blonde was something completely different from her and could help me get over her."

"Your friend must be very rich. All of the Golden Ones are kept at one place: The House of the Rising Sun. It's at the very end of the red light district, you can't miss it."

"How much are they?"

The woman ran her finger down Roy's shirt from the slot in the building.

"A lot more expensive than I am. I can give you a good time worth half the price and better the service. Since most of the Goldies were captured from Amestris and other places, their services are not as smooth as mine could be."

Roy smiled and took her hands off his shirt.

"I appreciate the offer, but my friend is paying for my services and he wants me to be with a Goldie, you called them?" The woman nodded. "He just didn't know where the place was. Thank you for being of help to me." He slipped her some money in her hand. "For the information."

Roy was thankful Maes had convinced them to get some of their currency switched to the Xing currency. He had no idea how much he was giving to her but she seemed to think it reasonable.

"Anytime… And if you ever want some 'normal' healing, I'm here all the time."

Roy smiled at her and went back to Maes and Riza.

"What did your little friend say?" Maes said with a smirk.

"She said that people with blonde hair are kept in a house at the end of the district called The House of the Rising Sun. That's where we have to go."

They nodded and headed down the street (which seemed like forever) and found the place. It wasn't hard to find even if you weren't looking for it. The outside was painted in all colors of yellow and there was a sparkling sun shape on the front of the building. Even the door was painted a golden color.

"The woman said this place is expensive due to the blondes being so rare. Hawkeye, I think you should not come in. They may want to buy you and all I want is to get Edward."

"Understood, sir."

He and Maes walked into the place and was met by a man a little younger than them.

"Hello, welcome to the House of the Rising Sun. Here is a menu."

Roy and Maes looked at each other as they were led down the hallway. Roy looked at the menu and saw that it consisted of both food and preferences of men, women, and children (boy or girl).

"So, what are you two looking for today? Some beautiful women to help you ease the day away?'

"Actually, we're looking for a male child."

The man's smile twitched only for a second but he just smiled and nodded.

"Of course, sirs. Right this way."

He led him down another hall and went to a door marked with the 'male' symbol. He opened it up and gestured to the children in there. Roy wanted to gag at the mistreatment of them all. The room was halfway decent but the children were chained against the wall by either an arm or a foot and they looked like they had been beaten, whipped, and everything else.

"Is there a reason why they look so… unkept?" Maes asked.

"Maintenance of everyday cleaning is hard to come by. We serve exotic people but exotics are pricey. Once you pick the one you want, we will clean them up all spic and span. The prices are tattooed on their forearms. Once you make your selection, just pull the cord in the corner and I will come to clean him up. Please make yourself acquainted but please refrain from doing anything until we get you a proper room."

The cheeriness over what the man thought they wanted with one of these poor children was enough to make Roy want to see the man's head roll. It was said that there really were people that disgusting who this man had to be kind to. He didn't agree to it himself, since Roy saw his smile fall for a split second, but his job was to sell, not to discriminate. He left them and they looked all over the place for Edward.

"Did you find what you're looking for?" the man asked, coming back after about fifteen minutes.

"I'm sorry but no. Do you have any others?"

The man made a face but he motioned for them to come closer.

"Are you into the defects?"

"Defects?"

"Sometimes we get those that have gone crazy or lost their minds. Most people don't find them fun but some have their kicks. Is… is that what you're looking for?"

Maes looked at Roy with a knowing look: if Edward had lost his sanity, he might be in there.

"Yes, please show us the um… defects."

The man nodded. "I do fair warn you not to touch any of them. We will sedate the one you pick and clean them up and then reanimate them once in your room."

Roy nodded and followed the man down the hall to the last door.

"Unfortunately, we don't very many anymore but we have about six new arrivals. I hope they are um… to your satisfaction."

The man turned the light on in the room and the six children all flinched in at the light. They were even worse than the regular ones. Roy looked around but there was still no Edward

"Are you sure this is all you have?"

"Oh! How silly of me, there is one more but he is in use at the moment."

Roy stiffened. "In use?"

"Yes, little golden haired boy, most extraordinary color. Not only is his hair gold but his eyes. He was a complete treasure when he was presented to us. He's been the most popular one here! Despite the fact that his mind is broken and he is missing an arm and a leg, he must be Amestrian because he is fully functional with automail! It's so amazing."

"Broken?" Roy said, trying not to break his own jaw from keeping his jaw clenched shut.

"Oh yes, poor thing only says a couple of things. A string of some numbers and only one saying; something about someone coming to save him. The customers enjoy him because he runs on automatic, they say. Tell him to do something and he does it without thinking but when asked a question, he only says what I told you." The man looked at the clock on the wall. "His time should be almost up. Would you like him?"

"Yes. Yes, I would love him." Roy said through gritted teeth.

"Excellent. I'll set up a room for you… um… will you both be… in the room?"

Maes just nodded, too shocked to really say anything at all and the man led them to their room.

The man closed the door and Maes looked like a boulder had fallen down on his shoulders as he slumped to the floor.

"What the hell, Roy? What the hell?"

"We're getting him out of here. I don't care if we spend every penny we have. I'll sell my own body to get him out of here." Roy snarled, his hand clenching.

The door opened again and they looked over at it. The man from before peeked in.

"Sorry to disrupt you but we're going to just freshen him up for you."

"Thanks."

He closed the door again and Roy went to the window. It had a balcony and he stepped out to see if he could see Riza. She was stationed below and he signaled her to the balcony.

"Did you find him?" she whispered up.

"We will but… I don't know what I'm going to see. Stay near."

She gave him an 'ok' signal and went back to where she had been.

A couple minutes later the door opened and the man peeked in.

"Are you ready? Here he is."

The tiny boy that stepped through the door was nothing more than a shell. There was absolutely no one living there. The man had been right and Edward was on automatic. Roy heard a heart wrenching noise let out and he didn't realize it was him until he felt tears run down his face. Edward just stood there and didn't do anything, waiting for a command.

"Come here…" he said softly.

Edward walked to him slowly and Roy wrapped his arms around him, holding him in a hug. Edward didn't put his arms around him, just stood there. It hurt Roy even more to see him that way and he pulled back, looking at the vacancy of his subordinate's golden eyes. His hair was growing back in but his bangs were still the same as ever, getting into his face. He pushed them back softly and Edward brought his hand up to Roy's face, touching it with an odd feeling.

Roy realized what he was doing.

"No." he said, pushing Edward's hand down. "I'm not here for that."

"Roy?" Maes said in worry.

"Roy will save me." Edward suddenly said, his voice small and hoarse.

The sentence made Maes and Roy looked at each other.

"What did you say?"

"Roy will save me. A-56-60-8-10-D." he said, not looking at anyone.

Roy furrowed his brows. "Edward, I'm here. I've come to rescue you."

"Roy will save me. He always comes. A-56-60-8-10-D."

"Edward, I'm here right now! I'm here!" Roy said frantically as he shook Edward.

The action caused Edward to scream in terror and he crumbled into a ball.

"A-56-60-8-10-D! A-56-60-8-10-D! 52-8-8 34-57-8-74!" he screamed, holding his hands over his head as if he was trying to protect himself from getting hit.

The broken boy made Roy's heart leap in his chest and he hesitantly touched Edward again. All he did was scrunch into a tighter ball but Roy picked him up and held him like a baby, wrapping his arms around him to make him feel like he was secure.

"I've got you, Fullmetal."

Edward suddenly stopped crying and looked up at Roy. If Edward's brain had been a house, small lights would have come on in the windows as it looked as if recognition was starting to occur. Roy didn't say anything, not wanting to spook him. Edward got out of his arms and suddenly got on his knees, bowing in front of Roy.

"I am here to serve you." He said.

Roy looked at Maes.

"I… I don't want to be served."

Edward looked up in confusion and then seemed as if recognition hit him and his eyes lost the lights again. He immediately began to undo the little jacket he had on and Roy frowned angrily.

"Stop that."

"Roy will save me." Edward said automatically.

Roy reached out and touched Edward's hands. "Stop…"

Edward looked up at him and then looked at Maes, although he wasn't really seeing him.

"Fullmetal?" Edward turned back. "Do you even know who we are? Do… do you know your name?"

"…No…" he answered, seeming very confused.

"We're here to rescue you and that's what we're going to do. Maes, go tell hat man we're going to buy him."

Edward looked at Roy. "Roy will save me."

"I know."

"A-56-60-8-10-D."

"Come here." Roy said.

Edward automatically walked over to him and Roy picked him up, hugging him close. Edward just put his head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry I took so long… I'm so sorry."

"Roy will save me. A-56-60-8-10-D."

yes, i went there and things happened. i won't be revealing what the numbers that edward actually says means for a while. but anyway, finally found him although he's traumatized to a fault. poor thing...