A week after the incident, there was knock on the door of the Mouri household.

"Another Freeloader?!" Mouri roared. "Just who do you think I am? A babysitter?"

"Now, now, Mouri, calm down," Megure wheeled Edward further into the room. "An orphanage wouldn't be able to give Edward-kun the care he needs, especially since the Professor is still making Edward's arm and leg for him. Edward's past is still under investigation, and you're one of the only people I trust to help. Speaking of trust, Edward-kun only trusts Ran-chan, Hattori-kun, Agasa-sensei and Conan-kun, he won't open up to anybody else."

Edward snorted. They were the only people who bothered to answer his questions and talked to him without seeing him as just a little kid, a double amputee at that. Well, Ran was too nice to resent for babying him. The police just spent their sweet time interrogating him about his lack of memories and injuries… not to mention, they looked at him with pity in their eyes.

"The kid is stuck in a wheelchair! I don't have time to deal with his special needs! We live in a second storey apartment for God's sake!" Mouri complained.

"I may be missing a few limbs here and there…" Edward interrupted, fixing Mouri with a deadly stare, his eyes burning a fierce, molten gold, capturing the colour and intensity of the sun, "…"But I am not disabled." The corners of Edward's mouth twitched upwards into a smirk, "The stairs were a piece of cake…" Edward deliberately ignored Megure's not so discreet cough, "…so don't you dare treat me like an invalid!"

As Edward met Mouri's eyes challengingly, Conan squirmed nervously. That statement could very easily be taken as being rude, by Mouri's standards at least. Man, Edward's gonna get it.

True to Conan's word, Mouri rapped his fist sharply on Edward's head, much like he'd disciplined Conan in the past for snooping and getting in the way.

"Show some respect! Damn Brat!"

"I only respect people who've earned it! I don't even know who you are!"

Mouri puffed out his chest, closed his eyes and let a goofy smile creep onto his face, "I'm the great Detective Mouri!"

Edward sighed and rolled past the detective, heading for Ran and Conan, "I have amnesia, remember?! That name doesn't mean anything to me!"

Mouri's face went purple again and aimed another fist at Edward's head only to be blocked by Ran. "Don't hit a child in a wheelchair!"

"But Ran…" Mouri complained.

Ignoring the squabble, Edward smiled wearily at Conan. "Do you have any books that I could borrow? Once the nurses found out that I couldn't read Japanese characters they brought me nothing but picture books! Picture books aimed at toddlers! Give my intelligence some credit at least!"

It was true. Thanks to the Gate, Edward could understand the spoken language of Japanese easily and with concentration, could speak Japanese himself. The written language however, was a completely different matter. Fortunately, his memory loss excuse allowed Edward to bluff his way past this obvious fault in his education, especially because he looked like a foreigner. I still need to know how to read and write effectively, or else how on the Gate am I going to search for my way home?

Conan smiled at Edward's annoyance, "Do you like Sherlock Holmes?"

"Who on earth is that?" Edward raised an eyebrow when Conan gasped dramatically and looked as though he'd taken a knife to the stomach. "Amnesia, remember?"

"A series of books written by a man named Arthur Conan Doyle, about a fictional detective whose observation, forensic science, and logical reasoning are at a level of pure genius!"

"…So you can show me which book's the first one in the series, then?" Edward butted in, smiling at Conan innocently. Sheeh. He's even worse than Winry on her automail rants.

As Edward followed Conan to his room, he shook his head sadly. Scratch that. No one's worse than Winry.

Four hours later, Sato and Takagi visited the Mouri household to find the two small boys holed up in their room, poring over the Sherlock Holmes books.

"Edward?" Takagi called, "We're just dropping off some schoolbooks for you that Shiratori picked up from his girlfriend."

Conan looked up, blinking at Takagi in surprise, his mind whirling to theories and conclusions. Edward, however, didn't move. Staring at the book with a light frown on his face, he turned a page.

"Ah! don't mind him," Conan explained, putting on a childish tone, "he's focusing really hard on his book, so he can't hear you right now."

Sato smiled, relieved to see that Edward wasn't causing trouble for once. (His complaining about hospital food and tantrums about people calling him short had caused half the nurses and doctors to have nervous breakdowns). Then she saw the cover of the book, "Isn't that book too hard for him? Don't forget that Edward's two years younger than you."

"But he's already learnt Hiragana and Katakana, and is starting to learn Kanji!" Takagi plucked the book from the Edward's hands and examined it thoroughly. "Ahh, sorry Edward-kun." He apologised as Edward let out a cry of outrage and pouted.

"That's amazing, Edward-kun!"

"All I need to do is match the symbols to the words I say," Edward mumbled, shifted in his seat awkwardly, "It's not that hard… oh, and Conan's a good teacher."

"It seems that we won't have to worry about Edward keeping up at school tomorrow!" Sato smiled enthusiastically.

"Huh?!"

"He'll be going to Teitan Elementary School with Conan tomorrow and will be in his classes until his guardians can be found. However, we will hide Edward's lack of memories so it can fit in easier at school".

He he, good luck with that! Edward thought. I don't exactly exist here, so I don't have guardians!

"But Takagi-keiji, Sato-keiji," Conan frowned, "You start Elementary school in Japan at the age of 6. Edward's too little, he's only 5!" I wonder why the police want him to attend second year classes two years early? Is it due to his amnesia… or is there something they aren't telling us?

While Edward fumed his seat, muttering death threats and shooting glares in Conan's direction, Sato and Takagi exchanged glances.

"Apparently, having your memories return from amnesia cases like this is highly traumatising, Conan. We think that it would be better for him to have someone around who he trusts and is responsible enough to help him."

I don't need help! Edward scoffed, as Conan nodded his head resignedly. I need to get home!

"For me?" Edward eyed the bowl of food placed in front of him as he sat at the Mouri household's table. Conan was seated next to him, happily scooping up noodles and fish while pressing Mouri for more details about a kidnapping case. Mouri, of course, was frantically defending his lack of progress. His mouth pouting sulkily and fingernails digging into the table, Mouri snapped out his answers and quickly busied himself in inhaling as much noodles as possible, probably so he could head back to finish the Yoko marathon.

Ran took a seat in front of him and nodded encouragingly. "Of course! What hosts would we be if we didn't give you anything for dinner?!"

"But its not equivalent." Edward frowned, his fists clenched in annoyance. "The police paid my hospital bills and now you're giving me a place to stay. I haven't done anything for you, so why are you helping me like this? You don't even know me! Any other person would have just dumped me in an orphanage and left me there."

Leaving a crippled kid with amnesia in an orphanage without proper support is just asking for trouble. Conan frowned. The police are right, he wouldn't get the support he needs, and no one would ever adopt him. His only option is to find his family and friends so they can raise him. Conan stubbornly refused to think about the possibility of Edward having no one.

"Is it really so hard to believe that we are looking after you because we want too?" Ran scandalised, her mouth open in shock.

Edward met her eyes challengingly, "The world doesn't work like that."

The brat might not be as irritating as Conan after all. Mouri thought to himself in surprise before chuckling. "How about we make a deal, brat?"

A grin spread over Edward's face, "What have you got for me, old man?"

"Try to remember as much as you can, so you find your relatives and get out of my house faster. Tell us everything you suddenly remember so we can help you do this. Help out around the house and stay out of my way while you're here. Oh, you and your family can also pay me back for letting you stay here."

Edward froze, his mind turning over the first two requirements in horror, knowing that no matter what, he would never be able to meet them. In this world, he simply didn't exist. If I am reminded of events in my life while I am here, I will tell them what I can remember. Edward thought sadly. However, I won't go into too much detail or talk about people and places that don't exist here. This is the best I can do, Mouri. Equivalent exchange. Edward plastered a smile on his face and reached for his bowl. "Got it!"

"Father!" Ran complained, "You can't make deals like that with a child!"

"Not a child," Edward deadpanned while manhandling the noodles into his mouth with the chopsticks. I haven't been one for five years.

Conan woke up to a loud scream. Bolting upright, he noticed that the room was still dark, so it was still late evening or early morning. A sharp whimper sounded from the small nest of bedding beside him.

"Edward-?" Conan crawled out of bed and hurried to the younger boy's side.

Edward's face was flushed, sweaty, and twisted into an expression of agony. Tears streamed from his eyes and his sheets were twisted around his leg in a furious tangle. "N-no!" The small child groaned, clutching at his automail port on his right shoulder. "S-Stop!"

Is he remembering the day he lost his limbs? Conan's eyes widened in shock as he took in Edward's appearance. He looked so vulnerable. So young and small. Though he'd probably kill me if he heard that, Conan thought. It was massive contrast to the loud, strong, boisterous kid from earlier, the difference was large enough that they could almost be different people. Highly concerned, Conan gently shook the other boy. "Wake up! It's just a dream!"

Edward's eyes stayed stubbornly closed, and continued to toss his head from side to side, whimpering in a babbled mix of Japanese and another language, which sounded similar to German.

"This is one horrible nightmare." Mouri sighed, sliding out of his bed and crouching beside Edward's head. "I'm surprised Ran hasn't woken up yet."

"Alphonse!?" Edward went limp, his voice filled with confusion and fear.

Conan frowned. Who on earth is Alphonse? A friend?

Edward then whipped his head from side to side, and thrashed more violently while lettin out a sobbing cry, "NOO! ALPHONSE!"

"Help me hold him down, Ran." Mouri nodded to the figure frozen in the doorway, watching the scene in horror. "Before he hurts himself". Mouri latched onto Edward's arm and pushed down on his chest, while Ran went for Edward's legs.

"What have I done?!" Edward gasped, as he struggled weakly. "It's all my fault. This.. This wasn't supposed to happen! ALPHONSE!"

"Hold his hand, Conan." Mouri whispered, stroking Edward's head gently. "It will help."

"Take my arm!"

Conan flinched, his eyes widening at the hidden implications. Did he actually let someone cut off his limbs?

"Take my leg! Take anything!" Edward bit his lip harshly, causing blood to run down his chin in a red, sticky mess, mixing with his sweat and tears. "Just give him back! He's my little brother… HE'S ALL I'VE GOT LEFT!"

Conan sat up blearily and rubbed his eyes, yawning as the clock on the bedside table struck 7:00. A muffled thud shook the room as Edward fell to the ground, cursing after another failed attempt of climbing into his wheelchair. To Conan's surprise, Mouri scooped Edward off the ground and placed him into the chair with exaggerated care. I thought he would be more angry after being kept up half the night by Edward's night terror.

"Need help?" Conan teased, his eyes alive with mirth.

"Shut up!" Edward's face turned crimson as he gave Conan a furious glare. "I would have gotten there in the end. I didn't need help!"

"So you don't want me to help you out of your borrowed pyjamas and into suitable clothes, or were you planning to go to school like that?" Conan smiled innocently as Edward fumed.

"Damn you, Edogawa." Edward cursed through his gritted teeth. "I'm not useless!"

"Breakfast is ready!" Ran called from the dining room area, as Edward and Conan finished changing into their clothes for the day. "Come and get it!"

"On our way!" Edward called, pulling a red hoodie over his new black t-shirt with Conan's help, leaving the right sleeve empty. "Do you wear that everyday?" Edward raised an eyebrow, staring at Conan's red bowtie.

Conan plucked the sleeve of his blue jacket as they walked down the hallway, "pretty much", he shrugged.

"Where did you get the clothes from, brat?" Mouri glared at Edward in suspicion from his seat at the head of the table.

And he goes back to being his arrogant, obnoxious self… Conan's eyebrow twitched.

"There's a fund set up for kids acting as witnesses under the protection of the police." Edward took his seat and swung his legs smugly. "Despite neither having any memories to speak of, nor technically living with any police supervision… I qualify".

"Ha! Less money for me to worry about!" Mouri cheered, "I won't even have to worry about you brats annoying me today at all, cause you'll be at school!"

"That's rude, Dad!" Ran glared at her father before turning towards Conan and Edward. "You will have to walk to school with me to meet with the principal and your home room teacher, instead of walking with your friends".

"It's to arrange special classes to teach him basic maths and writing, isn't it?" Conan smiled, "So he can keep up in class?"

Keep up in class?! Edward gritted his teeth with his fists clenched, I'll show him exactlyhow I keep up in class. I'm qualified enough to teach the High-level Mathematics course andthe Advanced Theoretical Alchemy course in the Amestrian University, dammit!

As Ran nodded, Conan grinned to himself as he examined the angry scowl on his friend's face who was furiously attacking his breakfast. Yup… He's pissed.

"Good morning everyone!" Kobayashi-sensei faced the classroom with a hand resting on Edward's chair. "We have a new transfer student who's come all the way from Germany; Elric, Edward!"

The group of small children stared openly at Edward's hair and eye colour, gasping as their eyes lingered over Edward's wheelchair and missing limbs. Grumbling under his breath, Edward shook his head. I haven't gone to school since I was 9 for a goddamn reason, being a prodigy and having a goal to reach. If kids my own age are considered a bunch of whiny, naïve, idiotic pricks by my standards, then having to learn and deal with kids younger than half my age was going to be just lovely."

Call me Ed," Edward nodded at the class. "Only people who want to kill me called Edward. Usually after an irritating and dramatic monologue."

Conan snorted in amusement, severely worried about his new friend's mental health as the rest of the class laughed nervously, taking the comment as a joke.

"Sensei!" The adult nodded at a large boy (for his age of course), wearing a green sweater. "Why does he only have one leg and one arm?"

"Genta-kun!" A small girl with brown, short hair and a yellow hairband glared at the boy. "That's rude!"

"Oh.. Umm." Genta chuckled nervously. "I'm sorry…"

"It's fine." Edward interrupted, deciding to go with the cover story he was given into order to hide his 'supposed' amnesia. Fortunately, the police were willing to give him one in order to help him 'fit in' better at school. I may as well get this over with. "I was involved in a nasty train accident outside my hometown. I got a nasty blow to the head though, so I can't remember much." There, that should stop most questions about it. Edward then made himself look thoughtful. "The doctors say they were amputated medically, though".

"Amputated…?"

"Cut off, Ayumi-chan." A thin boy with freckles, explained.

The class looked shocked, "You mean you can't remember what happened? Anything at all?" A few students clamoured, with their faces slightly green.

Edward smiled sadly, images of the Gate's sickly grin, Alphonse being ripped apart, and the twisted monster crouching in the centre of the transmutation circle flashing behind his eyes. "Not a thing. However, I have a feeling I got hurt during the accident because of a stupid mistake I made and I deserved everything I got."

Conan breathed in sharply as he noticed a large degree of bitterness in Edward's eyes. Does he remember something? And does he really believe losing his limbs is his fault?

Edward shifted uncomfortably at the pity reflected in the children's eyes. Don't look like that, dammit! So he rapped sharply on the wheelchair with his left hand, "I'll be fine! My prosthetic limbs will be finished soon, and in just a few weeks I'll be up and running just like everybody else!" Edward plastered on the fake smile that fooled Alphonse every time and rolled his chair next to the only empty seat, in between Conan, and Ayumi, the girl with the hairband. However, as he reached his place between the two kids, something became glaringly obvious.

"Ha! He's really short! I bet that even if he stands up, he'll be even shorter than Ayumi-chan!"

The response was instantaneous, "WHO ARE YOU CALLING AN ANT SO SMALL, HE'LL BE CRUSHED BY AN ATOM!" Edward glared furiously at the unfortunate boy, and tried to launch himself out of his seat to reach him.

Conan, remembering Edward's arguments with Hattori, quickly restrained him. "Calm down Edward-kun, I'm sure he didn't mean it like that!"

"Yes he did! I'm not deaf!" Edward struggled against Conan, "Let me at him brother !"

He froze, hanging limply in Conan's grasp as he realised which Amestrian word had accidently slipped out. Alphonse… I'm sorry. I left you alone.

Brother ? Conan narrowed his eyes and released Edward, sliding back into his seat. Leaning into his fist, he puzzled out the confusing word, which sounded German, but it wasn't any German word Conan had ever heard before. In fact, the word seemed to contain some elements of Japanese. Could the word be a name? Or a title? Who is this brother ?