Hola People!

I don't own FMA, if I did, Ed would take his shirt off more XD

IMPORTANT::Ok, I'm using the theory from the anime, that everyone has a double on the other side of the gate. But remember, their names, jobs, and personalities will be slightly altered.

Enjoy~

Chapter 3-Empty head, empty eyes

His eyes flashed open, panting, dragged from his nightmares, of…what? All he could remember was a sense of terrifying fear, and gut wrenching pain. He didn't want to remember, it was too painful. After all, it couldn't be that important, could it? The chill of the stone bench eventually prompted him to sit up, and take a look at his surroundings. Tall stone buildings, and smog filled air surrounded him, but to his back was a forest of green. Passerbys spared a quick glance for the lost looking boy in a grey shirt, but they were busy with their own lives and simply kept walking. He stood up, shaking the sleep from his mind, and realized he had no memories of falling asleep. Come to think of it, he had no memories before falling asleep, either. His name, his address, even his face was a mystery beyond retrieval. Where was he? Who was he? Realizing he needed a mirror, he crouched down and stuck his palms to the ground, earning him more odd glances from strangers. Why did he do that? It was unconscious, a reflex, like if he put his hands to the ground, a mirror would materialize. But that was stupid, and the mirror still hadn't appeared. In the absence of a mirror, the murky shop window glass across the street would do. The boy strode across the street, dodging slow moving yellow taxicabs that honked and cursed at the oblivious boy crossing the street during a green light.

Overcast skies didn't help the visibility of his reflection, but his outline was clear. His face had been stripped of all unnecessary fat, leaving it smooth and angled, with a slightly pouting mouth. Though the glass was too cloudy to distinguish color, his eyes were light, wide, and slightly angled. His hair was light as well, and remarkably long for a boy his age, and it cascaded over his shoulders. It was an attractive face, that given a couple of years, would make girls lust for. His upper body definitely couldn't be called pudgy, as, like his face, it had been stripped of any baby fat, leaving lean muscles behind. The boy wondered briefly how he had gained the muscles, but pushed the thought away at seeing his right arm. His whole arm, and part of his upper torso, were both wrapped in creamy white bandages, unblemished by a hint of blood. His arm didn't hurt, so why was it wrapped. Reaching with his other hand to pull the bandages off, he paused. I can't take these off. Why? I can't take these off. There was no reason for the thought echoing through his head, except for faint stirrings of memory, warning him against pulling the bandages off, warning him against danger. So, he didn't unwrap the bandages, and simply let them stay put.

His identity at least partially established, the boy stood there, staring at himself for a while longer, as if searching for some sort of recognition in his reflection. Where should he go? Oblivious to the past, how could he foresee his future? Keep walking forward. You've got two good legs, use them. A memory of a memory, the words came to mind. Had he said those words? They didn't sound like something he'd say, but good advice nothing less. He pondered upon them for a moment. 'Keep walking forward, huh? Well, the park's a good place as any to start.' He figured there would be less people in the park, as the stares from pedestrians were starting to get on his nerves. That decided, he walked briskly across the street, pretending he knew exactly where he was headed, when, in fact, it was just the opposite.

SCENE DIVIDERS YAY!

Officer James Havoc yawned, covering his mouth with one hand, the other gripping the police cruiser's steering wheel. Yeah, so what if he was a police officer, he could drive perfectly well with one hand. But still, he glanced over at Max Hughes, to see if he was watching him. His lip tugged up in a smirk. Max had fallen asleep clutching photos of his son and daughter, Ella and Jonas. How typical of him, he had at least twenty frames of family photos on his desk. James stifled another yawn, and looked out the window at Central Park, dimly illuminated by the headlights from the police car. He hated this job. It wasn't likely that any of the hobos or juvenile delinquents would be dumb enough to sleep where the police could see them, and more importantly, he wasn't allowed to smoke inside the police cruiser, as a result of a unanimous vote back at the office. He was dying for nicotine, and contemplating opening a window to get rid of the smell, even though it was January. His resolve to carry out this plan faltered upon seeing the short teenager sprawled out on a park bench at the side of the road. "Holy Shit!" He hit the brakes suddenly, with a SCRRRREEEECH!!!!, which jolted Hughes into waking. "Wuzzgoinon?" (translation- What's going on?)

The loud noise startled the boy into waking, and he jumped to his feet in a fighting stance, before cringing in front of the bright lights. Havoc quickly opened the door, and apprehended the kid, who didn't put up much of a fight. Act first, ask questions later was his motto. After realizing his beloved pictures of his children weren't in danger, Max followed, yawning. Guess it was time to ask the questions.

"Ok kid, what's your name? And what were you doing out here so late?"

"I don't know my name…I was sleeping on the park bench."

"Won't your parents be worried you're out so late? What's your address?"

"I don't know…I don't know…"

The answers to the questions were pretty much the standard ones most people said, but something about this kid made Hughes believe him. His eyes were so empty; it was as if his purpose in life was gone…Still, better safe than sorry.

"Are you messing with me?"

The boy shook his head furiously, his hair a maelstrom of gold.

"No! I woke up earlier today with no memory. I'm serious!"

Havoc looked at Hughes. "He's lying."

"No…I don't think so…Let's just take him back to the station."

"Well, if you're sure. But get someone to run drug tests on him, in case you're wrong."

"Okay. Hey, kid, come on, let's go."

The boy obediently walked over to the car, and looked over at the policemen. "Could you take the handcuffs off me, please?"

"Sorry, kid. No can do. But I'll open the door for ya."

Door opened, he stepped into the back seat of the car, and blinked sleepily. It was so warm in there…the boy fell asleep just as the two policemen got in, this time with Max driving. Stoplights and neon signs threw strange shadows as the drove slowly through the streets of NYC.

"You know…I think this one might actually be telling the truth. He seemed so…lost."

"Yeah. Wonder what he was doing, wearing a t-shirt in the middle of winter, and did you notice his arm?"

"No, why?"

"His right arm was completely wrapped in bandages, but it didn't seem to be sprained or broken."

Havoc glanced back at the softly snoring kid.

"Hey, I know who our 'John Doe' looks like know."

"Who?"

"Ok. Imagine him with short hair, and a little taller, oh, and blue eyes."

"Whoa, you mean…?"

(softly) "Yeah…"

"Well, I wonder what Roy's gonna say to this…Maybe we shouldn't tell him."

Ed is a little out of it right now, but remember, he just lost his memory. He'll get more Ed-like soon. :)

You probably guessed that the bandages hide his automail. And yes, Hughes has a son in this world, I don't really know why.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! Hope you liked the chapter! (hands out candy canes)

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