For a while, I worried that perhaps the Colonel had really died.

Once I had finished tying down the man, my eyes had begun to droop and before I knew it, I'd climbed up a tree just within his sights and fell into a deep sleep. For hours. Apparently my adrenaline fueled talents had taken a large toll on my body, internally. It was almost amazing how I found myself able to stay awake that long.

Even so, the world darkened around me in no time when I first laid my back against that trunk. When I had woken up, fragmented pieces of my dreams crumbled away into unobtainable dust, smelling of something burning. With an uncaring shrug, I noticed my arm felt a bit out of place. Taking a quick gander at my surroundings, instead of being snug and safe in the arms of a tree, I had tumbled off in the midst of some nightmarish fit and landed squarely on top of my arm, bending it a way an arm should never be bent.

Currently, I am spewing several unfriendly words at the sky, snapping bones back into place.

It really could be a pain, being immortal.

With pleasant thoughts in mind and a great morning wake up call, I pull my way back up to a slumped position, jumping at the sight of a man unconscious and slightly drooling against the stump just opposite of me. For a second I'm confused, but then I remember yesterday's weirdness and I'm sighing with disappointment. So all of this nonsense had happened.

Wait. I was so positive that I'd passed out for an entire day. If that was the case, then…

I stumble my way over to the, yes, still breathing Colonel. Why I would be relieved this despicably, perverted bastard was alive, I had no idea. The toll dealt upon myself was just as terrible as the damage I'd inflicted on him. I think.

Man, not good. With a gentle poke at his neck and a slight lolling of his head, I knew I had really caused some serious wounds. Just to verify my fears, I tug down his matted hair, peer at his scalp, and see a gruesome, swollen bump as well as a noticeable tear. Whoops.

Restored by a decent night slumber, I willingly sacrifice some of my renewed energy into his open head, and seal it. The man had better offer some kind words for this.

Speaking of when he woke up, if ever…Did I intend to be here when he did? I'd fallen so hard, literally, into the process of regeneration that I never really did think this through. If it was in fact the next day, then would this mean his recruits were going to start asking questions of his lack of presence?

I look at his knocked out face. Frown at the wet line of saliva. Gross. With a repulsive gesture, I take the corner of his uniform and wipe it roughly away.

There was no way this guy's crew would care for his disappearance. Hell, I was doing them all the favor, having him stuck in this forest.

God, I sound just as creepy as the Colonel.

Oh, I had almost forgotten about the ID. The Colonel had a name. So when he woke up, should I call him by Roy? Or perhaps Must- Mustard? What was the other…?

I reach back into his pocket, taking a second take. Mustang. What a weird name.

Ah! But I had yet to decide whether to leave or not! This guy, though he clearly had the wrong person, did find me. And he knows I'm from Aerugo. He notes me as a survivor. That didn't necessarily mean he accused me of being the culprit of the massacre. But I really did prefer no one knowing that I even existed.

Argh! I glare at him, fuming. Who knew a single person could cause so much trouble.

Well, I still wanted very much to learn more about these murders. Yawning, I stretch my numbing arm, thanking the skies that he hadn't been awake to witness my embarrassing plummet to the ground. Geez.

"Mmm…"

Eh? Now? He was waking up now?!

Groggily, one eye flutters open, falling immediately on my stony expression. Inside I was screaming frantically, wondering as to what in the world I could possibly say. What, greet as a lame: "So you're finally awake…" God no. Maybe a threatening: "Don't get any ideas. Your attempts will be futile." God that sounds like I'm a rapist. No! How about… Man, what was I doing? How hard had I fallen from that branch? This was like a serious hangover times twenty. So I think. I wasn't really of…drinking age. Ok, Ok. So maybe a more polite way? Like: "Sorry about the head split, Roy!" Dear god… What was I even-?

"I have to take a piss," Roy mutters, now watching me with both eyes in a state of boredom. Flushing, I try to maintain a cool, unfazed appearance. I had to show who was boss.

"Too bad," I say, crossing my arms. Yes! What a way to show this is all business! "I have some que-"

"Do you expect me to go right here? Are you cruel enough to have a Colonel downgrade himself into some poor bloke relieving of himself right here?" he says with an apparent tiredness. "Give me some dignity here."

Reddening, I glance away. What sort of nonsense was he spewing? Dignity? He was really lecturing me on his dignity? And why on earth would these words be the first thing to pop out of his mouth when he had clearly woken up tied up and defenseless? Had I really gone that hard on him?

…And what part of those questions didn't sound like I was trying to take advantage of him?

"Y-You'll just have to deal with it," I shakily reply a while later, shoving away any signs of being flustered. Roy sighs, looking pained.

"I guess there's no helping it…" he practically whispers, closing his eyes…

"Wait! Ok! Ok!" I protest, raising up a hand to plead for his behavior to stop. God. I couldn't bear the idea of interrogating a grown man sitting in his own filth. Fighting away groans of frustration, I carefully approach the Colonel, looking several years older. "Just… Just don't get any ideas…"

With a look of irritation, he nods, annoyingly adding: "No point anyways, miss 'I can do alchemy apparently without transmutation circles.'"

In a quick flick, his bounds were cut, and he eagerly rose to his feet, yawning sleepily. I couldn't help but feel a bit proud of him admitting he was no match for me at the moment. Already I ransacked through his belongings, so there was no real issue of surprise stunts. Still… best to remain on high alert with this guy.

He went a few steps away from where I stood, standing by a shaded area. Blushing, I remember just what he needed to do and turn away, closing my eyes. If he tried so much as to make a break for it, I'd know right away. Which… sadly also meant that I had superb hearing… so I could actually hear him…

I cough, cheering myself onward. It's ok. It's just a guy. Just a guy. Just some idiotic guy taking a piss in the woods…

"Done," he says tiredly, making his way back to his spot. When he notices my back still facing him, he impatiently retorts, "Coming to re-restrain me, little girl?"

I spin around, looking anywhere but at him. Trying to appear composed, I reapply the string to his wrists, amazed by his compliancy. No struggle. Just quiet and obedient.

"Hmm, this is a new experience for me. Being the one tied up," he says with a hint of…tease?

Suddenly I realize what he means, and I yank myself away, standing in front of him with clear repulsion. Roy replies with a devilish smirk.

"Of course, maybe this could still prove exciting…"

Ugh. Disgusting.

Sitting at his level, I grew cold, flaring a warning. "As I remember, yesterday you were thrown twenty feet at such a mild, slow rate and yet you managed to bust open your head which I, as a caring individual, healed for your well-being."

I pause to tilt my head and toss a wintry smile.

"So, if I were you, I'd stop with the dirty remarks, which I'm sure is quite difficult for one of such small self-control, and just try to answer some easy questions, kay?"

The look of surprise on his face was totally worth it. With a questioning grunt, his eyes flicker for a short moment. It had been so quick, I would have thought I imagined it until he suddenly put on an appraising look? Startled, I blink curiously at him, wondering if he had brain damage. Had I broken his capability to distinguish the correct reactions?

"Yesterday?" he echoes, scrunching his forehead in thought. Then to my complete surprise, he broke into a wave of laughter, occasionally stopping to cringe at the friction he cause with his restraints.

I definitely broke his brain.

"Amazing!" he eventually says, shaking his head. "It's one thing to knock me out for a couple of minutes, but a day?" He whistles. "And you claim you held back."

"I did hold back," I hiss, wondering just what could be so damn funny about being knocked out. Roy shakes his head again.

"You're pretty powerful. I shouldn't have expected anything less out of a killer," he remarks, gazing up at me, noting the cloak I had put on. "So that really belongs to you, hmm?"

I ignore his last comment, forming a fist. This again. He still believed me to be that particular killer.

"Listen," I start, sitting. This would no doubt be a long conversation. "Sorry to ruin your expectations, but I'm not your so called killer. Really."

Roy passes a look of subtle disbelief, but listens without a remark. I blew out a gust of air, unintentionally compelling a larger gust of wind to sweep back the Colonel's hair. "Sorry," I automatically say then silently curse myself for apologizing to the guy I was meant to intimidate. Guess I still had some kinks to work out with my recently acclaimed alchemy abilities.

"In fact," I continue, rotating my previously bent arm in small circles to ease the tension, "The reason I decided to stick around here was to ask you about these incidents."

Roy snorts, emitting, from me, an annoyed: "What? What's so funny about that?"

He shrugs. "Well. I mean. It's usually an expected tactic. Feigning concern for the 'crime you didn't commit'."

"And I didn't commit it," I snap.

"Right, right," he says half-heartedly. "Well, being the culprit or not, I can't offer you classified info."

No surprise there. I never really expected this to be a walk in the park.

"That's…understandable," I reply.

"Well," the Colonel stretches out, planning up some scheme. I grimace, knowing for fact I wouldn't enjoy his coming offer. "We could always make an exchange."

"What kind of exchange?" I ask wearily.

"Information for information?"

I didn't really like the sound of that. My lips form a thin, hard line. Plenty of secrets I could do without sharing. Finding a killer just wasn't really worth the risk. But I play along anyways.

"Alright, so what sort of information would you be wanting from me?"

Roy appears to puzzle over this, but it's clear he's known from the start what he intended to ask. Holding my breath, I wait. Finally he says gravely, "Details of the Aerugo massacre."

There was a terrible sinking feeling in my legs despite the fact I knew I was rooted to the spot. The land gave the impression of wanting to swallow me. I gulp a wave of nausea. I should have known he would give in to his curiosity. I should have guessed right away.

"No," I whisper reflexively. "Absolutely not."

Roy shrugs, frowning lopsidedly. "Then I'll only assume you're the killer and leave you to your own knowledge of your murders."

Realization hits me. I turn to gaze astonishingly at his calm, non-aggressive face.

"You believe me," I say, stunned. Roy looks neither angry nor surprised, confirming the suspicion. I lean forward, searching for something key to this man's personality. Who was he?

"Who are you?"

I dismiss the memory, intrigued by Roy's changed mind. Where had he come to the conclusion I was innocent of those specific murders?

Was he ever suspicious of me?

Then why did he attack me? Why raise his hands in a gesture of attack?

"You know," he pulls me from my thoughts, looking even more exhausted, "You didn't exactly give me a chance to motion for you to come speak to me."

What did he mean? I flash a look of confusion. He sighs.

"I never intended to fight you."

"Then what was with you raising your hand? Covered in a symbol of alchemy?" I demand, wondering how daft he thought I was.

"I was trying to wave you over. Old fashion, wagging the finger in my direction, sort of thing," he says with a spark of irritation. I scowl, pulling out a loose bit of string I'd pocketed from yesterday, waving it in his face. "Well you were being pretty damn hostile to me," he fumes, genuinely pissed. "Couldn't have a single word exchanged with you throwing knives at me and all."

"You asked what a survivor was doing here and then proceeded to throw my own weapon against me," I yell, amazed by this guy's determination to put his name in the clear. "What'd you expect me to do? Roll over and wait for you to calm down your tantrum just to have a word with me?"

"Tantrum?!" he barks, gritting his teeth in a peeved smile, "Oh, you thought that was me throwing a fit?"

"Well it certainly wasn't a friendly greeting!"

"Oh, ho," he growls, smile going tighter and tighter, "So perhaps I momentarily thought 'let's fight fire with fire'. But hey, you were acting pretty defensive there. So what choice did I have? Why would you want to spark a fight between us? Something to hide?"

I swallow the urge to give this guy one hell of an electric shock. Just, maybe clear up his delusional brain.

"No, just trying to protect myself, ok? You could have been one of those damn sex offenders for all I care!"

Roy laughs, flashing a murderous gleam. "Sorry your mind seems so set on the idea that everyone that follows you is after your body. Is that what you're running from, sweetie? Got some men that you owe rent?"

Oh. That does it. I'm going to kill this bastard. I'm going to skewer the hell out of him. He'll be crying for mercy. God damn it!

"Way to act so high and mighty with your little 'check out'!"

For a moment Roy looks confused, then recalls what I referred to with an unpleasant scowl.

"Oh my g- Hey. I was checking your attire to see how close you matched the description I was lent!"

I cackle, rubbing at my sudden headache. "Oh, yes. Mr. 'it's not like you have anything anyways'."

"Yes!" he yells, pulling forward only to flinch at his useless hands, "No other weapons."

"You could at least clarify it!"

"And you could at least stop making such ridiculous assumptions!"

"Your stupid flirty remarks didn't help!"

"I was trying to be friendly, dammit!"

"A little too friendly there, Colonel."

Roy and I bickered for quite a while. I didn't care to listen to what I was saying. All I knew was this moron was getting more and more on my nerves. One of the first few people I have a face to face conversation with, and I'd never been so homicidal in my life. Insult after insult was fired and man, was I pumped! I couldn't remember the last time I'd said so much. His ticked off expressions never ceased to force a thrill down my stomach. Words kept spilling out of my mouth, and I loved how they tasted. Sharp. Feisty. Mine. I was quarreling with the Colonel… and I liked it. I loved this passionate rage going on. I never felt so…alive!

Alive. This was feeling alive?

I had almost forgotten.

"How'd a person like you become a Colonel anyways?!" I exclaim, holding my urge to strangle him.

Roy was clearly trying to do the same, his cheek twitching. "These things called intelligence, loyalty, and experience. I suggest you go look into all three!"

"I suggest you look in a mirror and see beyond that big head of yours! It's almost unbearably painful to look at!"

"Oh, you'd like that wouldn't you?"

"The hell does that even mean?!"

We were bickering and yelling and getting nowhere near to those questions we had for one another, yet certain other questions I've never bothered to pull out were beginning to nag at the back of my mind. Answers I never thought to be important were coming to light.

Was I alive?

Yes, very much so. I was practically alight.

Would I ever find my words? Would I remember how to talk to another human? Would I even have a chance to experience a conversation?

Yes. Yes. And a debate involved at least two voices going against one another, so also a yes.

It was… It was…

"What's wrong with you? Why are you smiling?"

It was wonderful.

I stop in the middle of a sentence, perplexed by his sudden change in direction. Smiling? I put a hand to my lips, blinking with surprise. Sure enough, I had a sliver of a grin appearing. In the midst of an argument. It seemed so unbelievably psychotic of me!

"I-I'm not sm-!"

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

I leapt to my feet at the sound of a female screaming, my heart slamming at full speed in my chest. Roy had tried the same reaction, only to yelp at his forgotten binds. I look at him, unsure of what to make of what we'd both heard.

"Did you hear?"

"Yeah."

And just like that, he and I were on the same page. There was a girl dealing with a dilemma. And there was no way I'd just sit here and have another yelling match with the Colonel.

"Untie-"

"No," I say robotically, glancing at him. "You're staying here."

Then without another word, I took off, fighting against the winds desperately pushing me back.