Hunting for Mr. White-Hair!

"Waaaaaaah~" The girl giggled to herself, spinning around as she looked at all of the things in the city that she could see. She had found herself in South City, given a new order by Rai-stu-lin to find Shu-ra and get the information that he wanted in a 'casual' manner. Well, boo-hoo to him! He could go and get the information himself, or she'd get it on her way back. No, Akiha had a more interesting idea in mind. She remembered that meeting that she'd had in Central City (the one that she hadn't told Rai-stu-lin about), and she remembered that strange, white-haired one who had given her back the money that had been stolen off of her. What was his name... To..ssu... Tossu, right? That was right. The silver-headed girl nodded, and giggled to herself. He was, well... Akiha didn't know what he was. They had called him Greed, and yet he didn't seem like someone who would be called Greed to her. If he was Greed, then he would've stolen her money off of her, yup yup! Therefore, his name as a "Homunculus" may have been Greed, but she would rather call him Tossu! Chuckling, Akiha slowly walked through the large groups of people, bouncing a little on the balls of her feet, itching to just spring off into a run. Instead, she remained calm and collected (mostly), retaining some form of composure in order to continue looking for someone to talk to. There had to be someone here who knew something about Tossu... Anyone?

No, nobody she recognized. That was funny, wasn't it? Here she was, in a strange country, with nobody that she knew... Not even Rai-stu-lin (who was uptight) or Shu-ra (who was actually really nice) to talk to. Yuuko-dono wasn't anywhere to be seen (not that she expected her to be seen)... and not even Miss Tsukino (whom she didn't really like) was around. None of the Homunculi seemed to be within range of her senses (which were horrible in the first place), and that meant that Akiha was, quite frankly, alone (which made her sad). The silver hair bounced up and down, and her black dress caused her to stand out from a lot of the people that walked around her, especially considering that the clothing was a lot closer to maid garb than anything else. She had frowned somewhat at some of the attention that she got, especially from those Amestrians who were Aerugophiles. The ones that surrounded her with shouts of 'Kawai-desu~' and the lot. How the HELL could they tell that she was Aerugese in the first place? It took all that she could yell in a broken mixture of Amestrian and Aerugese in order to get them the hell away! Grumbling to herself a little more, Akiha chanced upon a small stand of Aerugese food... across the road from a bakery that sold... cake... She jingled the money in the pocket at the front of her dress, making sure that she had enough for something. Yes, she had to remember that she needed to last a while out here; she had stored some money in what was called a 'bank account', and had an 'EFTPOS' card for when she needed it, whatever those things were.

Anyways, back to the decision. Standing in the middle of the road, the girl now began to tap her chin. At one side, to her left, there was the small sushi shop. It had been some time since she'd eaten Aerugese food, and she was in fact beginning to miss it, along with her homeland and all of it's niceties. On the right, however, there was a bakery-cafe thing. And cake. Hmmm, cake. Well, case closed. Turning to the right, Akiha made her way to the bakery/cafe for CAKE. Opening the door with a jingle, AA stepped into the room and looked around, specifically searching for the cake. At least this time she understood Amestrian a little better. Approaching the counter, this silver-haired girl in a black dress smiled sweetly, and asked quietly; "May I have a piece of chocolate cake?" Surprised at the sweetness of the girl's tone, the baker blinked and stared for a second, before recoiling and walking over to the cakes in the window. He pointed at one, and AA nodded. That was the one! A rich looking chocolate mudcake! Chuckling, he cut off a slice and brought it out and around to her, placing it onto a plate with a small fork. Now, to pay. Looking at the price, AA noted that it would cost her 200 cenz. Reaching down, she counted out 200 and placed them into the man's hand, taking the cake and bowing slightly. "Arigatou~" Giggling, Akiha turned away and started towards a table, taking a seat and placing her fork on the top of the cake, sliding it down and cutting a piece off, placing it into her mouth and chewing it; making soft 'mm' noises as she went on. "Waaah... good cake..."

Shula was a stable female in his eyes, perhaps a potential asset for the future. Naive, if not too earnest. Sincere in her regards towards her efforts in improving the lot of the many people that reside down South. Not a politician but a commoner in trade and conduct. She lacks anything elitist about her, as the Colonel concluded.

Mental notes prescribed to the deeper recesses of his mind, where he should draw on them when he needs to. Thoughts that flow in a myriad yet perfectly orderly when he needs them be. Leaving him rather pleased with his savvy intelligence gathering, it was all just so splendidly played out to the Colonel. Musing thoroughly in his mind of every event as he made his way, step by step towards whatever means of fast transportation back to Central.

His shoulder had a jacket draped over it, particularly so unsuitable for the temperate climate of the South. Shula hinted at that so much earlier. But nonetheless, he made his way through the sea of people, whom seemed wary of his presence. Steering clear of the black uniform of the security officer, not exactly people to cross due to their otherwise questionable reputation.

But hark! All these crowds of kine and maggots did not interest him, they were only transparent, see-through. Crystal clear as pebbles from the side of the road. No. What dawned to him was some myriad of so many souls looming from somewhere so concentrated, so condensed within one body. Snapping his eyes towards the general direction of the tempest of souls his eyes perceived so clearly, so richly and colorfully.

Taking large strides as he integrated into the crowd...

A certain black figure would later re-appear at the bakery/café, and unto the counter he happens by. His presence did not invite the same reception the Aerugese 'maid' kindled with her sweet demeanor. Nay. A sort of caution was met by the baker. "I'll have garlic bread, keep the change, boy." Nikolaus slaps the counter with a wad of Cenz, taking along his crisped meal along as he seated himself opposite of the Aerugese Homunculus uninvited. The man of black and gold uniform greets her with a wolfish grin. That one rich presence he followed like a bloodhound unto a trail, it was her.

"Enjoying your meal, Homunculus?" His harsh Amestrian tongue sounds to the silver haired she-witch with a certain tone of enthusiasm to it, "Oho, what am I saying? Chocolate bread is to die for, but not my first choice exactly. I am personally a garlic bread type of person."

That he was, taking a munch of his ordered meal in a process many human people know as "chewing", where he uses his teeth to grind the garlic loafy goodness, swallowing it down for another process known as digestion after proper ripping and grinding.

"Enjoying your meal, Homunculus?" A sudden twitch, and Akiha turned sharply to face the new source of a voice. Standing over her was a man with blonde hair in an Amestrian uniform. She blinked a couple of times, studying him carefully. Strange, how he had known her to be a Homunculus. Was he one too?! No-no, she was certain that she'd met all of her brothers and sisters (not that she truly considered them that) at that cafe when she had, so this man must've been different. Yes, then what? Was he but a simple human? No, that wouldn't work. If he was a normal human, then he wouldn't have known that she was a Homunculus simply by sight. Alchemists couldn't tell the difference; did he know Alkahestry? Rai-stu-lin had, in one of his many lessons after finding out she was Sloth, told her that Alkahestrists would know what she was without much thought. That on it's own bothered her, however she wasn't sure if this man was as such. He didn't seem to have that sort of smell to him, and simply smelled of blood and death. Hm. She didn't appreciate that sort of scent on a human, for it denoted a true killer. She was an Assassin, yes, however she was also one who refused to don the blood of her targets. Therefore, she could not agree with this man's existence before her.

"Oho, what am I saying? Chocolate bread is to die for, but not my first choice exactly. I am personally a garlic bread type of person." She turned away from him, placing her fork onto the cake and slicing a piece off, taking another bite with a frustrated look in her eyes. She chewed delicately for a second, before swallowing and making a slightly annoyed expression. "No idea what you're talking about." She took another piece, placing it into her mouth; this one was chewed slowly as opposed to quickly. Akiha was taking her time, trying to guess the intentions of this man. If he was out for blood or for a fight, then she would have to react quickly. The knives that she carried basically all over her person would denote such things; and the twin tanto would do the same. However, she felt that it wouldn't be an easy fight, should it come to that. Instead, she would remain calm, and feign ignorance. Her mind immediately snapped into 'work' mode, and she bit her lip carefully, finishing her next mouthful of cake and looking at him sharply. "I don't know what this 'Homunculus' is, and this is cake, not bread." She growled softly, and continued to eat her cake with little-to-no difference in speed. Yes, she was being rude. However, he just outright accused her of being a Homuculus! Yes, she was one. However, to be called as such without being formally introduced was outright mean. So, until he did so in a kinder matter, she wouldn't give him the time of day.

He received that twitch and took it in moreso than the usual person, but it flew past him after a single thought of it, a stray one at that. His thoughts of her were more peculiar, just one thing at a time that is... until he received a statement from her. It made him stop chewing his bread, swallowing what little food bits that lingered, and setting it over on top of a conveniently placed handkerchief.

"No idea what you're talking about."

Ah, so what was it about this Homunculus playing coy and the reverse wolf herald? It piqued to him some myriad of possibilities he half-assed in thinking about, discarding them as he couldn't tolerate a moment of Kira-esque thought processes, usually those would end up in him eating a potato chip dramatically or writing like a madman on a seizure.

"I don't know what this 'Homunculus' is, and this is cake, not bread."

Ah, how graced he was. For lo and behold, he eased himself up in these moments of tensions, draping an arm over the chair's upper edge he sat upon, slouching as his face relaxed to a mockery of the human expression of merriment -- a smile. Eyes squinting over at a leisure of unfounded nature, as his gaze never set aside. A tempest before him of souls flowed, that like a sun, minus the getting blind over gazing at it. He could not help but stare with the occasional lapses of blinks.

Was she THAT much in denial of her own heritage that transcends humanity? Or was she lying to him? He could not make up his mind, for his eyes don't deceive, and he has a certainty without a shadow of doubt set upon something. Capital indeed! A certainly interesting one, this silver she-witch is, so hostile, so negatively inclined. A mystery to decipher, a true enigma from whence she is, a shadow. Whatever she was, he tapped against the pommel of his saber subtly under the table.

"The cake is a lie, my dear little Homunculus." He rolls his Amestrian in some mockery or perhaps jovial amusement of his own, "And did you know, people die if they are killed?" He extends his smile to Cheshire cat-like proportions, "But not a Homunculus, they have several lives. They relive through each moments of death, with all the pain and suffering that comes being killed, but I am sure you already know that~"

[BUMP]

Her breathing started to get heavier; she was not scared of this man, however he worried her. All of her sounds were being drowned out by this breathing, and the loud beats of the heart that blasted within her ears. Her eyes were slightly wider in their openings, and the girl shifted in her seat. This man, there was something wrong with this man! The girl almost felt her entire body shake from his voice, sultry tones that shouldn't exist in a human's body, nor be leaving their mouth at such speeds. Something tapped upon the underside of the table--she didn't bother to check for the source. "The cake is a lie, my dear little Homunculus." Tch. Her top lip curled up into a snarl, and the pale blue eyes sharpened, staring at this blonde man with what was slowly turning into hostility. Why wouldn't he just leave her be? She couldn't be bothered dealing with him, it was simply enough for him to just give up. Guttural growls escaped from the youthful Homunculus' throat, and she stared at him with a look that was quite simply telling him to leave. That will not work, Miss Akiha. Can you be bothered making him leave? Just ignore him. That's the easiest way. That damnable voice again. The woman clenched an unseen fist. "And did you know, people die if they are killed?" So what? That was obvious. It was as if he was mocking her...

"But not a Homunculus, they have several lives. They relive through each moments of death, with all the pain and suffering that comes being killed, but I am sure you already know that~" Bang. The table clattered onto the ground, Akiha standing up with a rage flowing through her that she had not anticipated. "I do NOT know what you're talking about!" A few people made shocked noises, but she ignored them, stepping backwards and glaring into his eyes. "Sir, I would advise that you leave now." Her foot clattered down onto the ground, and a small crater was made with her leg strength. She was not joking, nor was she being childish. This was her most serious, and staring at him through angered eyes, the silver-haired Homunculus could only feel that right now. Nothing else was coming to her.


She grit her teeth and stepped backwards, making muffled grunts as she held her head in her hands. "Shut... up..." A roar, and she suddenly blasted forwards through the cafe... but not towards the man. Instead, her attention was aimed at the counter itself, and Akiha's foot was planted through the glass, cuts streaming up her right leg as she kicked it. A menial amount of blood was revealed and going down her leg, but that was dissipated within seconds, leaving only a cut up stocking. Slowly turning back towards Nikolaus, she could hear the screams of the people as they started to run out of the building; obviously terrified of this crazy and feral young woman. "Give me strength..." There was never any need to involve innocent humans within her own quarrels--much less ones that were unable to do anything to protect themselves from such an onslaught. "You call me a 'Homunculus'? You speak rot." She grinned at him, shaking her head. He knew nothing of this, NOTHING. He may have appeared to be strong, but he would be shown the error of his ways. He would stop this FOOLISH errand, lest she beat it out of him...

An eyebrow rose filled and mired with amusement at her antics if not curiosity at such a sudden prompt, followed by a rather subtle push of his soles against the hard ground. Backing away from the table if not by instincts of a coming storm. It didn't help the table was banged against loudly enough to rouse everyone's attention, complete with cracks against the finer material. His fingers hovering over the grip of his sword, brandishing such a weapon as to unsheathe it, yet under a better judgement, he played a waiter in this game of whom strikes first, meticulously more than ever observing the maid's moves with his hawkish eyes.

"I do NOT know what you're talking about!" She backed away from Nikolaus, but he could tell from this distance, that such a gap is not considered even a proper retreat for either of them, it's not far enough. "Sir, I would advise that you leave now."

His face shrunk into an indifference, yet his eyes betrayed his fascination still lingering so, so widely open to take in all the exquisite details! The lovely... lovely chaos brewing. Will she let loose? Will she give out and go berserk? More fun to be had yet questions lay unanswered. Just where was she from? She spoke Amestrian with an accent he could tell, and she seemed Xingese, or perhaps she was Aerugese? The mystery of where she came from was the more important matter.

"Not happening, I am rather fond of this store's garlic bread," He made it clear that his intentions weren't to leave, "And we still have a dinner date to do, Fraulein, back at wonderland."

He was met with the sound of her feet clashing against the ground, causing a crater. She really lacks subtlety, betraying herself as a Homunculus without a shadow of doubt. The Colonel stood up, this time, without reservations, stepping aside from the table until there was a clearer gap in between the two.

"Call security, citizens. Tell them to send armed teams here PRONTO." He barked out to the civilians around, never letting his gaze aside for but a moment. The civilians took such an order to heart and dispersed, leaving this area underpopulated.

"URU... SAI..." A loud rare came from her mouth... he knew this wasn't Xingese. This was Aerugese, confirming his suspicions of her ethnicity and language in questioning. She must be from Aerugo, and so far, Amestris was still at war with Aerugo. They never forged a formal peace declaration. So how did she become a Homunculus? Well, the way she ran was jarringly fast. The maid smashed against the counter as he followed her steps with his own vision. The regeneration could be seen clear as day.

Aligning his body to face her to see she has already cut herself in a boisterous display of power. Like a rhino showing off its junk to kids in a territorial display of aggression. Now there was a bigger distance more than ever, one within and one without the store. Having made his way out after timing quite well from the door flapping from the panicking crowd having a step out and a step to the side a good few feet away. That the two would be separated by a barrier of illusive safety called a window of glass.

"You call me a 'Homunculus'? You speak rot."

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

"Bravo! Bravo! You have just proven how retarded you are in betraying your allegiance, Aerugese harlot." He claps, curling his lips to a smooth Mona Lisa-esque smile, finally drawing out his saber with his left, staring her down from across the stack of tables that separate him from her, and unto his right he drew his pistol simultaneously when he spoke. Pulling the trigger with the iron cross itself aimed right at the dead of her temple from outside the store as the window wouldn't be considered as nothing but a pushover. Keeping a steely demeanor against an opponent so clearly inhuman, a monster in all essences, that only distance measures up as a means towards defense.

BANG.

CRACKSH.

(For references to what gun he pulled out, think of the Five-SeveN pistol.)

Bang.

The world was deafened by that single noise. "Bravo! Bravo! You have just proven how retarded you are in betraying your allegiance, Aerugese harlot." Those words rang out in her head, resounding throughout with the sound of the bullet crashing through the window. Time died down to an utter crawl, and Akiha felt a tear slowly drop down her cheek. She was shot at, and the bullet hit. A small sting in the side of her head, and blood splattered out onto the wall beside her. She hadn't had time to speak even a single syllable, instead only being able to utter a soft "Ah.." That pain which stung her head died down within a second, and she watched her body crumple towards the ground. It took twenty seconds in her mind, though only a single one in real life. The ground looked so comfortable... closing her eyes, Akiha let herself collapse with a bampf. She lay there, eyes closed, bleeding out onto the ground. He shot me... Why did that bother her so much? She had gotten hostile to this man; she deserved the death that was to befall her. Unknowing of her own ability to regenerate, Akiha lay there, waiting for the tendrils of death to overcome her, bleeding onto the ground, mixing with tears that dripped down her cheeks. "I..." Was what she would've said, unfortunately... her vocal cords had begun to deteriorate already, from the pure stress of being shot.

Foolish Girl. Shall I make this all better? Or can I even be bothered? Kuehuehuehuehue... A soft noise met her ear; the sound of flesh reconstructing itself, bone rebuilding. A bullet popped out of the side of her head, clattering softly onto the ground. Quietly groaning, Akiha slowly sat up and whimpered, shaking her head. "Itai..." That hurt... She was certain that she had been killed; why was her body not laying flat and dead upon this earth? Was it because of that being that she knew only as Sloth? Questioning this property in her mind, Akiha slowly clambered up from her position, groaning from the movements and sighing softly. "I just wanted cake..." She whimpered, before making an actual sob and whining. "Waaah..." Tears dripped down her face further, and she rubbed her eyes in order to stop these mysterious tears from drowning her. "Why'd you have to be so mean... I just wanted you to stop questioning me..." Bottom lip quivering, Akiha shook her head and whined again. She really was child-like when she was like this; a strange trait that she took upon herself. "So what if I'm one of these 'Homunculi'. I'm still me. I'm still Akiha... Aren't I?" She'd always been Akiha; so why would that change....? Looking up at him again, she shook her head.

"Tossu isn't here. I'm going to leave, and you're not going to follow me." Walking towards the door with the man, she stopped suddenly and slowly started to walk backwards, quivering at the appearance of this mysterious blonde Amestrian. "P-please, I mean you no harm..." Backing out of the back door, Akiha suddenly turned away and broke into a sprint, crashing out the back into an alleyway, scampering up the walls and climbing out of sight of those on the street. South City was too hot. She needed to go somewhere else... why not North City? Apparently, it was nice and cold all year round! She was sure to find someone as cool as Tossu there! She could almost guarantee it!!!

So. He's out and about, just making sure there's no trouble. Considering he was an unknown entity to South ... and to plenty Amestrians, it was a good start to establishing who he was and his responsibilities. That, and he had no inspiration to finish making/inking out the circles . . . and the wretched 'gift' he had gotten from Santa Claus was humiliating. He had to break down his damn door to finally get out, and succeeded in ripping the hinges out with the stupid thing.

So, he was in a ... tolerable mood. I guess you could say that. Pissed, but not at anyone (living) in particular and therefore not snappy to them. That might explain why he didn't have his knifes on him ... or his guns ... or what transmutation equipment he already had finished before. Yeah, talk about under-prepared: But still, he was a pretty decent physical combatant . . . I guess, and South wasn't filled with as much trouble as ... say ... West, or East.

And that gunshot was still as jarring as ever, given the relative peace around here. Citizens were apparently trying to raise some sort of alarm, and since the military was also responsible for security in this city (his department, what a coincidence).

'First week on the job, and a large disturbance like this goes on . . . man, my luck is just screwed, these days.'

-Five minutes after shooting-

So, local defense forces finally got here on time. Well, considering he was completely unprepared for this whole situation, he was certainly glad friendly forces were here! And, lo, they busted down the front door to that wonderful little shop, with the South troopers rushing in guns at the ready . . .

To discover an Amestrian Colonel, arms drawn, looking towards the now-open backdoor.

"Eh . . .?" the confused Greene simply sputters out, as he pokes his head in through the door, just as the others are starting to relax a bit (whatever trouble there was here ... it seemed to have passed, now)

She died. That bitch was dead. Deader than dead. One to cheer, one to applaud, yet... that wasn't important. Her ultimate death, why did he need that? Because he did not. It wasn't to be considered whatsoever, never to be put in and not to consider into place. She was a lot more important in the future alive, for it may alert whatever presences are around... yes... let the prey have a semblance of hope and escape. But there was more sinister brewing in South than he realized. Coming upon a theory of his that if she really didn't know what a Homunculus like Salarazar was, there must've been a source. A Philosopher Stone ingested not under the supervision of Ilios. A most heinous crime if not troubling air that bode from this revelation.

He kept watching the girl from outside the broken window in silence, his smile waned and died. She was no longer stimulating to his blood. Prey like these don't get the heart pumping, apologetic rabble. But for all the worthlessness she has, even if she was the weakest of Homunculi, she still had several lives. Nikolaus only had one.

"I just wanted cake..." Says the sitting up silver witch, only met with a hiss from the Colonel's throat, disagreeable of her presence, but his indifferent face turned into the nastiest scowl in the face of the most PATHETIC things from a creature that should be obviously superior. The fact she cried put her into the same shitlist that one red head he saw running away in tears has done... the lowest of shit not worth the dirt of his feet. Inferior profligates wearing such cowls of the superior. Pretenders! Posers! Fakers.

"Waah.... Why'd you have to be so mean... I just wanted you to stop questioning me..."

What a FUCKING disappointment. Mean? MEAN?! It dawned to him, this was no immortal, this was but a naive little mewling child only dabbled into the realms of eternity. Perhaps in her prime, too young, lacking in arrogance and grandeur her Homunculi siblings should be rich in. Sheathing his saber in what he heard, yet still holding his pistol drawn.

"So what if I'm one of these 'Homunculi'. I'm still me. I'm still Akiha... Aren't I?"

His lips repeated that phrase, "A-ki-ha... eh?" So that was her name? CA-CHING, looks like his search narrowed down. It has an Aerugese touch to it. It was without a doubt that she is from Aerugo. Such a sloppy spy that little brat she was.

"Tossu isn't here. I'm going to leave, and you're not going to follow me." She was right, he wasn't gonna follow her. But who exactly was this Tossu? Perhaps male or female? Or maybe an accomplice? That name also bore some Aerugese twinge about it. AHA! Her Aerugese spymaster must be Tossu, a master whom was meant to sit in Nikolaus's place, yet Niko's presence should have scared that handler away... by goodness, South is infiltrated by these spies. For them to do it that easily must mean there is a leak in the military somewhere, and Aerugo is monitoring them one way or another.

"P-please, I mean you no harm..." And so with that, she left. Nikolaus could have followed her rather easily, that diminished presence of hers, though lacking a subtle oomph she had previously from the souls, was not worth it. Not yet no, seeing her off followed by the insertion of his pistol into his holster. Only stepping towards the backdoor at the time to see her off past the window's frame, before turning around with the dismissal of her appearance.

Inspecting the blood with merely a glance. He mustn't touch the bullet, and neither the not-yet-coagulated red liquid -- blood. There were two sites of the blood, one was from the bullet where some decent amount lingered, and the other was from the broken counter where a more significant amount is present. It would be valuable, if such a thing was collected over time, but it would take a few weeks to decipher the DNA and discover more characteristics of this Homunculus. Not looking at the horde of soldiers that were meant to be reinforcements, now a liability, burst into the deserted café.

"Eh . . .?"

He raises his head to see a Captain hovering over him. Standing up as he was lucky the man didn't step on the blood or the bullet. Lacking a glimpse of the ranks due to the white coat obscuring it on his shoulders. But he assumed himself the superior by lottery, given he is a Colonel. Looking at the sunglassed exterior of Greene's.

"Back off a bit, you might step on valuable samples." He ordered calmly with indifference, "You missed the show here, an Aerugese Homunculus bitch is loose in the city... among many other Aerugese spies." Information of her heritage was freely given out, she wasn't a Homunculus he knew, but a foreign one. A reason for concern, and the fact news is best served public with this specific info.

"What is your name and rank, soldier?" He asks of the Captain.

So, the Amestrian Colonel was a strange one. That was a given but alas, with him being a Colonel, Greene had to listen.

"Back off a bit, you might step on valuable samples.

You missed the show here, an Aerugese Homunculus bitch is loose in the city... among many other Aerugese spies."

The red-haired Captain was a bit distraught to hear all this, after all: Aerugese were the bane of peace in South. If there was a Homunculus of Aerugese origin along with spies, well then . . . they had to be eradicated. Purged. Wiped out. No trace of their filth could remain here in South, or else chaos would follow in the wake.

Dachen Greene noted that the fireteam leader was already calling in for a forensics team: Great. Though, it took the not-from-South Colonel to let them know here was evidence they almost trampled upon, a bit of an embarrassment for all of them

"What is your name and rank, soldier?" That question was directed at him, no doubt about it. So, Greene answered without hesitation and with some degree of confidence.

"Dachen Greene, Captain and Head of Defense for South City, sir. How may I be of assistance?"

Nikolaus backed away from Green, letting the forensic analyst do his job of collecting a sample of the bullet and carefully seeping the blood into a counter for later DNA break down. Which may take a long time. The other competently took the blood left on the broken counter as well as inspect the damage caused by a mighty kick made by the Aerugese maid. Akiha. That monstrous woman really was one to find out more about, and if Aerugo had this technology, Nikolaus has to find out WHO exactly has it. He had his own reasons of trying to decipher such a thing that is.

"Dachen Greene, Captain and Head of Defense for South City, sir. How may I be of assistance?"

Oh yeah, that guy spoke. Nikolaus had to give him the benefit of the acknowledge his presence as he looked at him squarely at his eyesockets, or where they should roughly be on his rather ill defined ginger face, given he has no soul. It is a wonder how Dachen can maintain his life given otherwise... strange circumstances of his unlife.

"Oh good, a Captain. Obviously lower ranked than me." He mutters under his breath, "So, Captain... Green, I'll need you to write a description down of this culprit. Instill it into the Security database."

He pauses, allowing Green the opportunity to pull out a notepad, or whomever is gonna write it down that said opportunity to write things down, "She had silver hair, bobbed if anything, piercing blue eyes that stare into your soul, or probably your pants, as well as pale skin, squinty eyes like an Aerugese, plus her name is Akiha. She was wearing a... typical cosplay maid's outfit, and had A-cup boobs, maybe B-cup if I am extending it a bit."

The Colonel looked at him . . . and god-damn it, he knew that the Colonel was thinking what EVERYONE thought when they saw his read hair and light skin. It irritated him, but at least he seemed polite enough not to say it aloud.

"So, Captain... Green, I'll need you to write a description down of this culprit. Instill it into the Security database."

Ah, reasonable enough. After all, if there was an Aerugese monster and spies loose, they needed to be on the lookout for them to purge them out of South. The pause the Colonel took was noted, as Greene, deciding not to borrow another soldier's gun to shoot the Colonel in the face for thinking about that one word, instead extracted a writing utensil (Pen) from the breast pocket of his coat and got a notepad from a member of local security force.

"Of course, sir. Wouldn't want this vermin and their taint to go unnoticed in this city." he speaks, politely and briskly during his retrieval of the pen and pad. Shortly after preparing to write this down, the Colonel began.

"She had silver hair, bobbed if anything, piercing blue eyes that stare into your soul, or probably your pants, as well as pale skin, squinty eyes like an Aerugese, plus her name is Akiha. She was wearing a... typical cosplay maid's outfit, and had A-cup boobs, maybe B-cup if I am extending it a bit."

Greene, due to merit of being able to write quickly (albeit sloppily), recorded down Nikolaus's description rather well, even commenting near the end, ". . . Cosplay maid's outfit . . . ? Great, the wretched vermin are letting their disgusting habits seep over here too, even when trying to blend in."

The Captain then replaced the pen, ripped out the sheet with the descriptions and returned the pad. He could write faster than he could text, but, well now he had drawn out the wondrous little device known as a phone, one of the newer and fancier ones too, and was sending the description through his work e-mail. Ahhhh, technology. So convenient. Soon all the fellows back in Security would know that there was this Aerugese vermin infesting South.

"Is there a surveillance system in this place? We might be able to extract an image of her to help aid this investigation and hunt for the rat." Greene called out to the other members of the forensics team and security officers, getting them to go check just to make sure. There SEEMED to be cameras, but they'd need to check on the now-cowering employees to see if they could access whatever records those things were keeping.

Greene then spoke once more to the Colonel, "My apologies, Colonel, sir. But, may I ask who you are and where you're from?" He knew this man was Colonel, but ... nothing else beyond that. Kill a guy for being curious.

So here is what he got down in his head. A) There was a Homunculus loose named Akiha, whom was not Wrath, Envy, or Gluttony. But is DEFINITELY not Lust, she never flirted with Nikolaus, or seemed bloodthirsty. B) Neither is she Prideful, having sunk her head in defeat many times than standing her ground with a regal bearing. So, that leaves Greed and Sloth. Didn't seem like she was Greed though. Either one of them work as Sins. Having deduced this really intelligently given his intimate knowledge of the Homunculi kind. All these thought process took place in a brief moment culminated by the fruits of previous thought. This was but a conclusion he came upon. The worst part that dawned to him was Aerugo's capacity to imitate Father's capability in creating a Homunculus. Well, maybe she wasn't a Homunculus, and maybe she was just an ordinary Human Philosopher Stone... but that doesn't explain the fact she didn't use alchemy whatsoever. She relied on physical prowess instead.

". . . Cosplay maid's outfit . . . ? Great, the wretched vermin are letting their disgusting habits seep over here too, even when trying to blend in."

Wait, he was still there? Oh right, he was writing something. Ah well, he figures he'll give him something to do for the duration. Maybe, at least he is a subordinate-type, whom probably had NO idea who the Colonel is. That's good. If he plays his cards right, he wouldn't have to learn the Colonel's identity.

"Is there a surveillance system in this place? We might be able to extract an image of her to help aid this investigation and hunt for the rat."

He shrugs at the question, South wasn't really his familiar grounds, "Probably not, I never saw the camera, eye witness accounts are our best options. We already have her name, and I don't think any Aerugese have white hair, never seen one besides her. She is an odd little bitch after all."

"My apologies, Colonel, sir. But, may I ask who you are and where you're from?"

Nikolaus tensed, before suddenly grabbing Green, smashing his face at the counter. Pulling out his sword, and slicing him into a thousand pieces with one swipe. Letting his gory remains rain across all the room. The forensic team in the vicinity opened fire, but the Colonel pulled out his own pistol and fired at each of their faces with lightning accuracy. Blowing their brains at the lot as they all succumbed to death. ALL OF THE--

Oh wait, that didn't happen, only in his head it was imagined. What REALLY happened after Green's question was only Nikolaus scratching his chin. Crap, he didn't want to disclose his identity this early, it would seem that South is under suspicion of corruption. But he has to admire this young detective's tenacity for the truth. Shit, this was one question he couldn't avoid, it was too direct. He'll have to play it with an equally direct answer.

"Colonel Nikolaus Stuka, of Central Security. Chief of Security, come here to grace you all with experience and maybe some tequila. Rounds on me tonight, are you up for a drink?" He proclaims, giving a quick eyeful at the now harvested blood, tears at the ground, and any samples they can get their hands on. There was only tears and blood though, which may hinder the investigation, "We can discuss our theories over at an Esparian taco joint, this work left me starving."

"Colonel Nikolaus Stuka, of Central Security. Chief of Security, come here to grace you all with experience and maybe some tequila. Rounds on me tonight, are you up for a drink?"

Well to be quite honest, he knew that this man was going to be 1) Higher ranked than him and 2) In a position o power in another city. But, to expect that the Chief of Security from Central? That was a bit much. That, and he was paying? No, not in South, not from a higher-ranked officer.

"Certainly, Colonel, but since it seems you're on a visit in South, let me handle the bill." he offers politely, in the silence as the Colonel looks back upon the forensics team about finished extracting whatever they could. Which ... wasn't all that much.

"We can discuss our theories over at an Esparian taco joint, this work left me starving." comes the immediate follow-up. Indeed, the Esparian food chain was quite popular nowadays, what was it called? Burrito Chimes or something?

"Of course, sir" Greene states respectfully and plainly, bit with the hint of smile. What was he smiling about? Well, I guess we'll never know, as the Colonel and Captain made their way from the crime scene and off to the Taco Joint off in the distance.

And a new day was dawning in South