Disclaimer: I do not own anything (characters, property rights, etc) of Full Metal Alchemist. Hiromu Arakawa and the studio BONES does. Not me... T.T

Warning: Contains shonen-ai (boy x boy action) but not in this chapter

Rating: T

P.O.V. Edward Elric

Another Variable to the Problem

/Just for Reference: This is the same day that Alphonse had been wandering over by the riverside. /

*Flashback*

(Alphonse)

I'll do anything for him- even take a bullet for him, and I don't expect anything in return. And as I sit on his back while he walks through the town, only one statement rolls through my head: I love him.

---

The Day After:

(Alphonse)

Stir-fry chicken and steamed rice sizzled in front of me, but I don't move. I wanted to ask questions about that man, but it'll only bring up the inevitable question about why I would care. So, I refrain and gloomily eat the rice in front of me.

*Flashback Ends*

The skies belayed that the time of evening was beginning to disipate. Edward had been sent out after dark to go pick up a few things after dinner ended. He had several bags of food items and his arms were quite full. In fact, it was rather difficult to look over the top of the bags without dropping them altogether.

Ed was pretty sure that Alphonse was still disturbed by what he saw the other day, and felt rather guilty of putting his little brother in that position. It wasn't fair of him to do that to Al. Alphonse had been quiet the entire dinner time, and barely ate anything, which worried him.

I didn't know where to go from this point, so I picked up something for Al so it would be more comfortable to confront him. No, I wasn't that kind of person- to be picking up such kind of kinky things; I picked up a carton of strawberries. For me, it would be one of the easiest things to accomplish.

I guess it was around seven when I had to go through the long alleyway to get to the apartment. It was a tight space between two brick buildings and it was one of the grimiest places ever seen on the face of the Earth. Still, it was easier than taking the long route around. I sighed and progressed forward for a bit of a distance.

It wasn't long until I saw several punks run past me from the direction I was heading in. They were laughing; maybe they had abused someone, because I also heard something like a whimper. I still walked forward and didn't cease to maintain the walking pace.

Then I heard the whimper again. It seemed familiar, and I walked faster to the source of the noise. It was faint, but whoever made the noise probably did need the help.

Al could wait a few minutes, couldn't he?

Darkness was falling fast and began clouding my way in the alley. When had the path become so long?

Edward found the clearing where the source of the sound came from. He quickly placed his bags on the ground, and walked over.

Whoever it was on the ground, they weren't recognizable; the person was hunched over in pain but at the same time the person was wearing drab clothing so none of their physical features were seen.

"Do you need some help?" Ed asked, kneeling down to see their face, but only saw the dim whites of the person's eyes.

They nodded, and Ed placed their arm around his shoulders, using his own weight to pull them both up.

"Do you live somewhere?" The person shook their head. Damn. "Look, I'll take you to my place for a bit, 'kay?" He shouldered the person, and grabbed his bags (amazingly holding them with one arm).

Edward didn't find it so much a pain as learning how to multi-task.

Still… He was curious to know who it was he was helping.

"Sorry for asking so many questions, but what's your name?"

TBC!

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~Keiko A.