Crossover Together ~クロスオーバ 一緒に~

Back at Central, things still were getting a little bit tense one way or another. Team Harmony had been given their own rooms for stay at Central after some consideration from Bradley, and in one of these rooms, the whole team was basically trying to sort things out with this Homunculus situation. In one room, all of Team Harmony were present as Pinkie, Karma, and Aladdin did their own thing elsewhere. Envy Homunculus was still on their mind in this mess, especially after their little escapade during Bradley and Victoria's meeting, the bandaged up hand of Nagisa notwithstanding. With the exception of Karma and Ciel, the rest were sitting down on the bed, Aladdin sitting on Blair's lap (one could guess why).

"Not a thing. It's been days, and not a sign of Envy anywhere. Anyone else thinking that this is a lost cause?" asked Blair, who was getting tired from all this searching, and tired period.

"Either that, or Envy is still hiding. May I remind you that this Homunculus is a shapeshifter, and just as well, a murderer. This shouldn't be something we should leave to absolute chance," reminded Ciel, trying to think.

"Let's be real, we barely have anything aside from that picture. ... Hey, Aladdin, you -" Karma paused for a moment when the attention was brought to Aladdin, the perverted Magi having a little bit of bouncy fun with Blair's big milk jugs, making them bounce with a goofy smile on his face. Nagisa wasn't as amused though, and got Aladdin to pay attention by tugging on his ponytail again.

"Huh? Wha? What's up?" Aladdin asked.

"Thank you for joining us, hope you had fun in booby world," Pinkie joked, as both Blai and Aladdin turned to Ciel and Karma.

"You two are entities, do any of you know any clues to figure out this Homunculus?" Karma questioned. Unfortunately, after some short time, both shook their heads at the same time. So much for a straight answer out of them.

"What do you mean 'no'?"

"Homunculus aren't exactly angel or demon, they're artificial and made up of Philosopher Stones. There's no exact holy or unholy thing about that," Aladdin explained.

"Well, you can try to find their Oroboros symbol, but Envy can apparently disguise his, so that doesn't work for him. At least I didn't see one on him," added Blair. Karma sighed. He thought he had something there, but apparently it wasn't going to work this time. All they got was a reminder of what Undertaker told them, and that was it.

"Well, damnit. Maybe we can lure him out."

"Lure him out how? He's not an idiot, and he fooled us about three times now."

"OH, OH OH!" suddenly Pinkie was up and psyched, hand up and wanting to share. Ciel though wasn't going to give her the chance here, despite the fact no one else had anything to go off of, or any sort of plan.

"No, Pinkie."

"Come on, hear me out!" Pinkie insisted.

"NO. I'm sure your plan would involve some cupcake and a cardboard box, that's not going to work."

"IT IS NOT! ... that's my backup plan."

A notable slap was heard when Ciel's hand met his own forehead, but still Karma decided to let her go on with her little plan, his hand signaling her to go on. Of course, with Pinkie's active mind and admittedly nutty behavior, who really knew what plan she would come up with?

"Envy's obviously here on a spy mission by this Sombra guy, right? He's obviously wanting to take out the little competition, and he apparently has the hates for Karma, so he can go out alone and be used as a worm in our plan's fishing hook. Soon as Envy pops up to eat him, BAM! Fished Homunculus with a bag of chips!" Pinkie finished her plan with a clap of her hands, and pointing her fingers fake-gun style, big smile on her face for approval. At first, the group was a bit quiet as they took the options into some thought. ...

"... That's ... not a crazy idea, Pinkie."

"YOU can say that?!" thought Ciel and Nagisa, looking at Karma like he was crazy. The plan was risky as hell, but Karma supporting the idea of being bait for a killer Homunculus wasn't fixing that at all. All the same, he still was down for it, and Pinkie was too.

"You know, that did work with Twilight and Hellgar, so it can work here," agreed Blair, enthusiastic about the idea.

"Yeah! Just get him alone and we'll all jump him! ONWARD!" Pinkie said, already rushing to the door. They didn't had much time to even get a word in before Pinkie was already at the door. Pinkie swung it open, and she practically bolted at full speed. She would've been a good twenty feet ahead if something huge and metallic didn't bump her back into the room straight away. It took less time to see who it was that was standing there at the door, the fullbody armor of Alphonse Elric easily recognized.

"Oops. Sorry," Alphonse said, Pinkie in a slight daze. Looking again, it wasn't just Alphonse there, but Edward as well. A bit fazed by Pinkie's charge out, but they were alright overall.

"Oh, if it isn't the Elric bros. How's it going since we last chat?" Blair asked, smiling.

"We're doing alright, thank you. And you guys? Are you doing good, Nagisa?" Alphonse asked, referring to his hand. Nagisa had to get that bandaged up since his little test run with the blade, and Nagisa wasn't doing all that bad with it.

"Yeah, I'm okay. It's just a small cut," Nagisa said bashfully.

"Ok good. Hey, Aladdin, is it? I've been looking for you," Edward said, looking over to Aladdin. The little magi got to his feet from Blair's lap, looking over to Ed. With that response, Aladdin's reaction started to turn hopeful, which was something only Ciel knew the reason for.

"Hey, Al and I have been talking about that little thing you said sometime ago, and ... Yeah, I'll take you up on that offer," Ed decided. Aladdin got very excited on hearing that, smile nice and wide with his eyes sparkling.

"YES!!! Best day ever!" Aladdin beamed.

"YAY! THIS IS AWESOME! ... What is it?" Pinkie asked, excited as well.

"Your little friend there asked me to be an alchemy teacher for one of you. Said one of you was getting into this sort of things and asked me to give some pointers. By the way, who is it anyway?" Ed wondered, looking around at the group. After the group got what was going on, one way or another, Twilight eventually raised her hand to get Ed's attention.

"That would be me," Twilight said. As proof, she showed Ed the alchemy book she had in hand. A bit of a different book from what he would see, but it was proof enough for him.

"Oh, cool, so you're already practicing a bit. That makes it easier for both of us," Ed said, the last part a little tactful on his end.

"Eh, right. I'm not sure about this," Ciel said.

"What, why? He's perfect!"

"Isn't he a little young to be a teacher?" Ciel question, his attention more focused on Aladdin than on Ed, who found that slightly insulting.

"Say's the queen's guard Chihuahua," Ed spat back.

"... Valid point," Ciel groaned. He didn't enjoy his 'compliment' either.

"Now now, let's not get into a tiff so early on. You've only just got acquainted you know," said Sebastian. ... Wait what?

"AH! When'd you get here?" Ed asked, jumping back away from Sebastian. The demon butler wasn't really as startled about it as Ed and Al were, the demon butler up behind both brothers.

"Where have you been?" Ciel asked.

"Just investigating into our little matter as all. And while you've been recovering, I've managed to find out our little Homunculus," Sebastian revealed. Well, that was especially convenient of him, and once more Sebastian had managed to get a little picture too.

"You tell us that now?"

"I didn't want to be a bad butler by interrupting your discussion, you understand," Sebastian stated, trying to play innocent. Really, that was just a half-truth, and Ciel knew it. Anyway, he presented the picture to Edward first. The picture was a bit of a vague shot, but it indeed showed a figure walking down a hall, peering just behind his shoulder. The angle of the shot was just passed a wall, so some of the image was blocked out, but one thing that wasn't blocked out was a peek just under the worker's coat, just enough to show a sort of mark on the hip, but that was hardly any.

"Yeah, that's him!" Pinkie said, once she saw it.

"How do you know?" Twilight asked.

"Take a closer look to the hip, right there," Sebastian said, pointing to the spot in question. It took a little peering into, but eventually something did start to make itself out, showing a very faint glimpse of a head and tail. ...

"Yeah, the Oroboros symbol, that's him! Come on, let's get the plan going!" Pinkie beamed.

"Already thought up of one, my dear," Sebastian said, hand raised. This made Pinkie pout a bit, but Sebastian went on to speak anyway under Ciel's approval.

"And what would that be?"

"Well, there's no need for everyone to remain involved on the matter. Just a selected few, if you don't mind. ..."

~~

"UGH, come on Sombra, how much longer do I need to keep spying on this human?"

Envy was still continuing his own roundabouts, still in his human Amestris guard disguise. The days that went by for Envy were, for the most part, nothing but a bore. He wasn't allowed to kill anybody for one thing, Lust and Gluttony were nowhere to be found at all, Team Harmony and Victoria got the Amestris guards on high alert, and as far as Envy was concern, progress was getting nowhere. Keeping his eye on Salim and Bradley turned to less like a mission and more like a chore. A long, and agenizing one. Envy kept his watch as instructed, following king Bradley in his walk the best he could do. Even the king of Amestris had his rounds, and Envy had to be sure that he wouldn't be spotted by Bradley during his own patrol, otherwise he might suspect something.

"Sure, he's the king of Amestris, but he's still just some worm of a human. Since when did Sombra wanted him for a potential ally?" Envy thought. ...

"Hey."

Freaked out, Envy quickly spun around and stood at attention like a guard would, just to keep his own disguise convincing. However, the figure there wasn't exactly a high guard, but the figure actually turned out to be king Bradley himself! Off guard, of course.

"Evening, sir," Envy said, humbled but a bit confused. Wasn't he just ahead of him pass the corner? Bradley stayed quiet at first until he took a good look to him.

"I've been meaning to have a word with you. To my office, now," Bradley instructed, already starting to go off down the hall. Envy, being the disguised guard to command, went off to follow him regardless of his own thoughts on the matter. If he tried to defy him now, he might end up getting himself caught, and in front of the king himself he had to play his cards right no matter what.
The walk back to Bradley's office was a quiet one, and one that left Envy in some anticipation until they went on to walk through those doors in question. Well, what was going to happen now? Envy stood over by the door just in case, as Bradley went around to his desk.

"Now. As you're aware, there has been a rumor around of a creature amongst these walls. A Homunculus, far as I get."

"Yes, I've heard about that, sir. What about it?"

"Actually, I was going to ask you that," Bradley replied, making Envy a little bit suspicious.

"Excuse me?"

"You've been on night patrols primarily as of late. Any reports as of late about it?" Bradley questioned. Envy, luckily, had a basic answer at the ready.

"Not at all, sir. Sorry." A rather straightforward answer, but so long as he wasn't giving off any main response to Bradley, he should be just fine. Bradley stayed a bit quiet on the matter though, just staring at Envy with a judgmental gaze of his single eye. Envy kept his own gaze down, to make sure Bradley wouldn't read his eyes. After what felt like forever, Bradley cleared his throat.

"Right. ... Now, care to explain why you've been following me tonight?" Bradley questioned. NOW Envy was unsure.

"W-Well, I wanted to make sure you're alright, sir. Who knows what this Homunculus can even do?" Envy said, trying to keep his composure. How long did he know that?! King Bradley stayed quiet for a minute or two again, before he got up to his feet. Envy stayed quiet and awaited for what Bradley have to say, the man turning away from him. His hand moved over to his own face. ...

"Then who'll be sure you're alright?"

"... I'll be fine. Needn't you worry about me."

"In that case ..."

Suddenly, something was torn away and tossed right at Envy's face. At first Envy thought it was his eyepatch, but when he had a look, he found that it was actually skin! King Bradley had torn his own face off!! It all came off in a patch of skin, not a ounce of blood being shown on it anywhere as Envy threw it on the ground. When Envy had another look, the true identity of this man was revealed to him. The pale skin, the red eyes, the fairer and younger appearance matched the look of one particular demon all too well. ...

"Screw you!" Sure enough, Envy quickly made his attack. His arm stretched into a blade and tried to hit the demon, but missed him by inches. The distraction was all Envy needed to get himself running, hand turning back to normal and Envy making a run for it. The demon was right behind him, and homing in on him fast. Envy tried to cut corners and get out of sight, but the demon was just too fast to give him any time to do so.

"Keep running, my friend. We'll make it ahead of schedule at this rate," the demon thought, continuing his chase. Now and then, Envy tried to cut him short with an attack, but the demon was too agile to get a direct hit, leaving Envy with a little more trouble.

"Damnit! I gotta get out of here. If I get caught, Sombra will kill me!" Envy thought, and NO WAY will he have that. In his run around, Envy tried to look for some sort of short cut, or escape route to take, but it easier said than done, especially with a demon hot on his heels. The halls weren't doing him any favors. The more ruckus he made, the more of a risk the guards will be onto him! The demon was getting especially close, Envy feeling him right behind him, Envy not stopping for any moment. Eventually, down another corner through the seemingly endless amount of halls, a singular window presented his only option. No other option.
With one more look behind him, Envy dove right out the window with no break in speed, shattering the window as he did so. He had no time to really judge what was what, and soon he found this window about three floors up! Three floors high, and out to the front yard no less. This Homunculus didn't find that too much trouble though, and spun himself around mid air and landing on his feet, though the impact actually cracked the ground under him. Here was when he took a breather and looked back up to the window where he jumped out. It was only now that this demon figure apparently stopped chasing him, but he was not out of the woods yet: the window smashed after all, and smashing windows makes a hell of a noise to wake people up. Envy got himself moving off fast, looking back to the window once more to be sure the demon wasn't following him. ...

"GOTCHA!"

A crack of the ground under his feet, and next thing he knew, Envy was launched off into the air by a fullmetal blast from the ground up, sending him flying head over heels!

"AAHHH! WHAT THE HELL?!" Envy yelled, flung straight off the ground and landing hard. Looking back, he followed the cracked ground back to the source, finding Ed there with both hands on the ground, blue sparks still flying. Envy got up to his feet, dazed but alright overall as his cuts were getting healed up with his own red sparks. So much for a easy and disguised getaway.

"Come on already! How can you see through me?!"

"You make it too easy!" called another voice. Envy turned, and suddenly, someone else was running right towards him: Twilight and Nagisa. Nagisa, with the halo blade drawn and at the ready, running right towards him. Envy found them far easier targets, and rather than running away, charged right at them instead, a bit more confident that he will end up escaping this place. Twilight and Nagisa, while a bit frazzled by Envy charging at them, kept their run straight towards him. Envy drew out his own weapon, and thrust it forward, but both kids suddenly fell to the ground in a slide, and Nagisa actually got a cut off of Envy's foot, throwing the Homunculus off balance and making him tumble. Nagisa and Twilight turned back, Twilight giving a whistle towards Ed and he got another alchemist attack send, and Envy found him under a steel barricade, pinning him down to the ground with no hope of getting out. Caught, exposed, and embarrassed yet again. Envy tried to break out, but it was really no use, and the commotion got more than just the other demon out to see him, the demon butler applauding by the way.

"Excellent work, everyone. Not a single detail missed."

"That went better than I thought," Nagisa thought, actually impressed with it. Then came out some other Amestris guards (much to Envy's dismay), and it was quick when they all saw what had happened there. Yoroi, being amongst the crowd, was the first to show up.

"Yugure, what happened?! We heard screaming."

"Nothing's wrong now. And look what we caught," Twilight revealed, presenting the Homunculus to them. Not making the situation any better for Envy.

"Whoa. Is that?"

"LET ME OUT, YOU WORMS!" Envy yelled, but obvious they weren't doing that. The commotion also brought out another figure to the scene, as the guards were aiming their weapons at Envy to be sure he wasn't going to attack or escape: King Bradley. For real, this time.

"Oh. What do we have here?"

"Your Homunculus, sir. And this time no mistakes," Sebastian made clear. It was then that Envy wanted some answers, staring right at Sebastian.

"Wait a minute. How did you disguise yourself like that?"

"You believe you're the only one who can play the disguise game?" Sebastian replied. Envy didn't care for the details of it, and just felt simply mocked. Too bad Bradley actually found him now, his look of disapproval spearing through his heart. Then he turned to the group and smiled.

"I'll put him in custody right away. Good job, everyone, you found our culprit," Bradley congratulated, as he pulled out Envy from his trap by the head, gripping his neck in a way so he wouldn't bust out. Envy gagged and choked a little bit, he was holding so hard, but Envy wasn't getting killed by it. Envy took a look over to Nagisa as he was being dragged off, Nagisa feeling accomplished about what just happened, though a little indifferent to the rather rough drag off. All the same, at least Envy was finally handled for now.

"Well then. That's that. ..."

~~

"ACK! Damnit!"

Another day on the job, and Tataoka was still just as ruthless as ever. Training gave the students no time to even be in a school, nevermind study or learn anything. Tataoka marched around his group, observing each student doing their pushups, which were just as brutal as the first time. They were still sore from last time, and Tataoka couldn't give less of a crap about any of it. Terasaka, which one would think would be given a break, was stuck with an even harsher sentence on the matter, and doing one-armed pushups. His broken arm wasn't doing him any favors, and made the task all the more difficult. During the whole training, Nakamura couldn't help but glance at Terasaka. Sure, they all were beaten up some way or another, but he was probably suffering the worst of it with this training in particular. Not that Tataoka cared anyway.

"Terasaka, you're falling behind. Go on, pick up!"

"Sorry, it's kind of hard with one arm broken," Terasaka growled through gritted teeth. The response just got Tataoka to step on his back, the added weight making Terasaka fall onto his broken arm, pain shooting through him like a bullet.

"And I'll be happy to break the other if you argue with your father," warned Tataoka.

"Tataoka, enough."

Tataoka turned over to his predecessor instructor Karasuma, as he moved over to them.

"Karasuma, hey! Look at the progress I'm doing here. Pretty impressive is it?"

"Impressive doesn't come close. At this rate, you'll train them to death," Karasuma retorted. This angered Tataoka, but he tried to lock it up, but all that came out was a huff.

"They're improving faster than how you did it. They nearly got my neck four times yesterday during our fun practice, isn't that right kids?" Tataoka said, turning to the students. All they could do was nod to him as they continued their pushups.

"I wonder why?" Karasuma thought sarcastically. Who wouldn't try to take down their instructor if he was this ruthless? Anyway, he turned his gaze to Terasaka, who had the foot removed but was taking a slight breather. Terasaka was more physical than the other students were, but he was still panting like a exhausted dog, staring at Tataoka with a sort of killer look.

"At least give Terasaka a break. You did break his arm," Karasuma pointed out, but all that did was make Tataoka laugh.

"Just a one-arm pushup. He should be thanking me for upending the odds for him," Tataoka joked. Talk about a narcissistic joke. Who the hell would thank him for breaking their arm?! Karasuma turned his back to Tataoka, and walked away, giving him nothing but a cold shoulder. Tataoka acted like it didn't bother him, but inside he was fuming.

"You, who were the best of the best in the unit ... never paid attention to my strength, did you. That person of you has robbed of any chance at a promotion," Tataoka thought. His gaze turned to his 'children', who continued their pushups as they were instructed. He could only imagine what'll be of them when he was done with them, and his more sinister smile crept up on his face.

"It doesn't matter if this destroys the majority of them. If I form those that remain into an elite corps, and they kill that octopus. As a hero who raised such heroes ... I'll be able to order you around!!" Tataoka thought. Oh, he could just imagine the results: those that survived being the ultimate killing machines, and the ones who stopped that Korosensei once and for all. It might be a bit over the top for him, but killing a demon king was no easy feat, and if his students could do that, then what would that make him? Far above Karasuma, that was for sure. ...

"You gotta be kidding me!"

"See what I mean?"

Silently observing the trouble from very far away, hidden in the foliage and one observing with some binoculars, Niji and Nabiku managed to get themselves in position to observe the horrid training sessions going on. Niji had the binoculars, and couldn't believe what she was seeing being done by this man to these kids. They told her, but this was worse than she thought. Nabiku stayed behind her and worried sick over the students. Nabiku managed to get one sick day from Gakuho - she never said why - and this gave her time to help Niji in getting the information on it. Lucky for them, Tataoka did not notice, nor even cared, for Nabiku's absence, though that was probably because she barely did much effort in his training anyway. Niji was more than furious over this observation.

"And you went through a day of this?" Niji asked, turning to Nabiku. Nabiku only nodded to her as they both could hear the practice from where they were. ...

"I know, right?! That Tataoka got me in a loophole," said a sudden, new voice of Korosensei as he wept from his failed attempt to save the students. Niji and Nabiku, as any person would, jumped on seeing Korosensei suddenly pop up. Nabiku mentioned him to Niji, but this was her first true sighting of the octopus. Korosensei was in a different getup, but this one was all black, a mourning Victorian dress accompanied with a black flail over his face that was attached to a black sunhat. Obviously his hopes were not up on the situation at all, and with the promise he made to the government keeping him back, there wasn't much he can do.

"What the?!" Niji gasped, rather loudly. Quickly, Nabiku got her hand over Niji's mouth, quickly looking back to the group. Tataoka did pause for a moment or two, but he didn't go over to their location at all, and remained put in his position observing the rest. Thank the lord for that one. After Niji calmed down, they both turned to Korosensei, who was tearing up waterfalls at this point.

"You said he got you in a loophole?" Niji questioned.

"Yes he did: I promise your Government to not hurt anyone or force a soul at Orora High, and damn Tataoka's got himself a job certificate with Gakuho. I can't touch him," Korosensei wept, his tentacles wiping away his tears like windshield wipers. The idea that Tataoka was actually hired by anyone at all for this type of task was horrible to Niji. She looked to the practicing, and suffering students, her eyes narrowing to an angered expression.

"How could he get away with this? That brute will kill them all at this rate," Niji noted, freaking out Nabiku a bit more than she liked. With what Tataoka was doing, that wasn't too far of a possibility.

"P-Please don't say that," Nabiku quietly said. However, Niji was trying to figure something out, too much to really hear Nabiku. Soon, the obvious answer came to mind, her fingers snapping.

"Hey you, octopus. Try and get to that main building, maybe whoever's in charge can do something about it," Niji suggested, though the blunt 'octopus' nickname wasn't too appreciated. However, Korosensei wasn't looking too happy with the idea.

"I can't do it," he replied meekly, slumping.

"Why not?"

"You kidding me?! These students are getting torn apart day in and day out, I have to be at the ready to patch them up at all times. Then there's having to fly back and forth between here and who-knows-where to keep up Karma Akabane, and trying to teach SOMETHING to these students here all day to make it even worth it, I -" Korosensei's rant was cut short when they all heard a yelp farther away, finding one of the students collapsed on the ground. Freaked out, Korosensei bolted right over, disappearing from sight and helping the kid. It was clear where his priorities were, and he didn't have time for anything extra. Pretty bad, and Niji and Nabiku were left to watch. Any of them to come out now and they're dead meat. Lucky Korosensei wasn't going to have that happen and kept his mouth shut about the two.

"Oh dear," Nabiku simply said, as Niji got up and begun to walk away, bringing Nabiku with her. She wasn't leaving Nabiku alone here.

"Ok, you better head off home before they see you. Catch you later."

"What about you?" Nabiku asked. Niji paused for a moment, but eventually she sighed and looked to the worried Nabiku. Her injuries were still there, and seeing them made Niji more frustrated, but she tried to keep it down.

"I'll be fine, trust me. Look, you just go home, come back tomorrow, and everything will get sorted out."

.......

Nabiku had to rely on that for the rest of the day, and onto tomorrow. That, and the rest of the 3-E students as well, but with just that to go off of, there was a bit of a problem. what did Niji have in mind exactly? Hopefully nothing too hectic to the situation, though something had to be done before any students would lose more than just their dignity with Tataoka's training methods. With Korosensei not able to do anything, and Karasuma not trying too much to stop him either, Niji was basically their last bet to get this sorted out. Nabiku was especially scared to have to return to 3-E the next morning, scared to face Tataoka again. She barely could face the man over her last couple of days, what could she do here?
The morning then was filled with a strong unease, and this affected practically every student one way or another on some level. They all sat outside, injuries not withstanding any of them, with Nabiku having the horrifying honor of a front row seat to face Tataoka. Korosensei and Karasuma weren't too far away, Korosensei in a doctor's outfit instead with products at the ready for what he was sure to be another time of quick first aid. It was the least he could do, and all he could do. Tataoka was standing in front of them all, seemingly pleased with the 'devotion' of his students. The feeling was mutual. She was right next to Nakamura, who had a few more injuries to her person in bruises.

"So, what's going on? Did Niji figure something out, or what?" Nakamura quietly asked Nabiku, hoping for a good answer.

"I don't know. She said everything will sort out tomorrow. ..." Nabiku quietly replied. Tataoka didn't notice either (thank god), and went over what his personal schedule entailed.

"Ok, kids, this past week was fun as we all know. Time for us to take it up a notch. With this next schedule you'll kill that octopus in no time," Tataoka said, though his enthusiasm wasn't entirely shared. In fact, the others were shocked that Tataoka could make this any worse than it actually was. Then the schedule was presented: extra three hours after school of training! Tension was building.

"This should work just fine. There's no such thing as too much practice. Everyone, line up -"

"Are you insane?!" Terasaka shouted. He finally had enough. With days of getting a broken arm, constantly getting humiliated and beaten down, his fuse finally blew. Terasaka was on his feet, and face staring daggers at Tataoka. Tataoka met his gaze with his sinister smile and killer look.

"You don't say no to me, remember? I'm the one calling the shots here, Terasaka."

"Call this, you prick!" Terasaka snapped. Then the bold move: his free arm whacked the schedule right out of Tataoka's hand. They knew Tataoka was a dangerous character, but Terasaka didn't care anymore. His broken arm proved it. The schedule clipboard landed not too far away, and Terasaka was more than happy to stomp his foot right down on it, cracking the clipboard in two, and crumbling the paper.

"All this nice work your dad does for you, and that's how you thank him?" Tataoka growled. Terasaka couldn't give less about that, nor about Tataoka and his feelings at it.

"SHUT IT! You're not my dad, I'm not doing your schedule, and you can go and rot in hell for all I care!" Terasaka yelled. Tataoka just needed that bit of motivation to suddenly charge Terasaka. He tried to get out of the way, but Terasaka grabbed him by the throat before he could even run a foot away, lifting him up good and high!

"Terasaka!" his gang members gasped, jumping to their feet. As Terasaka was getting choked, the two tried to help him out, but Tataoka just slammed them all aside., knocking them both to the ground with one mighty swing of his free hand.

"Tataoka, put him down!" Karasuma demanded, but Tataoka's rage didn't give Karasuma any chance to get him out.

"I'm the one in charge here now, Karasuma, you have no room to talk! If he doesn't want daddy's teaching so badly, then I'll send him on his way," Tataoka said, gripping Terasaka's throat even tighter. Tataoka wasn't serious, was he?! Karasuma was going to go right in and end things, but Korosensei then brought his tentacle onto his shoulder, keeping him back. Karasuma was going to say something when something suddenly zoomed by them both. ...

And clocked Tataoka in the back of the head!

Tataoka dropped Terasaka to the ground on the sudden impact of said object, Terasaka landing hard on the ground, but not on his broken arm again. Tataoka checked where he was hit, and then to the direction where the shot was made. As for the object, as it turned out, the object was actually a soccer ball borrowed from the 3-E storage shed. The ball rolled over backwards a bit, until a foot stepped onto it to keep it still. Tataoka was especially pissed now, and the newcomer wasn't doing him any favors. He was expecting Karasuma or Korosensei by where it was being launched from, but now someone new was there and ready to go.

"Niji!" The students realized. Indeed, Niji was there, and she kicked up the soccer ball to her hands, just announcing to the class that she did slam Tataoka with it. Nearby, Korosensei was suddenly in a referee outfit, whistle blowing good and loud for her field goal. Tataoka shifted his smile to one of a more innocent look, but Niji was not buying it in the slightest.

"Come out to play. And who're you?"

"Don't give me that innocent game, Tataoka, you're not foolin nobody," Niji made clear, a little nonchalantly as she held her soccer ball. Terasaka got himself up, but Tataoka grabbed him firmly by the shoulder. Still, the rest of the class was more than happy to see her, hopefully she had a plan to put Tataoka in his place, or at least make their lives a bit easier. However, Niji was pretty much alone here, and not looking happy with Tataoka at all.

"You're from the main building, right? I know you love to see 3-E under you from what I heard, so you want to help me in putting this kid in his place?" Tataoka offered, as if it was some sick game. Niji threw the soccer ball behind her, Karasuma catching it, as Niji gave a few stretches. ...

"Tataoka. I hereby challenge you!" Niji announced.

"WHAT?!" The class gasped. THAT was her plan?! To try and clobber Tataoka?! None of them could even make a proper scratch on him, what chance did Niji had against him? Niji was pretty up for getting the challenge going, but Tataoka was not taking her seriously. At least not as much as he should be.

"Are you mad, Niji? You can't fight him with 3-E!" Nakamura said.

"I'm not, it's one-on one. Me and you, Tataoka, come on!"

"THAT'S EVEN WORSE!"

While most of 3-E was a bit troubled, Tataoka just laughed at Niji.

"One-on-one with me? Confident, but I'm just about to start my class up. You go off and play your soccer game -" BAM. Niji went right up to him, and her foot met right up to his face in a almost perfect air sidekick! The hit stung him a bit, and Niji landed right back on the ground. That proved she meant business, and Tataoka wasn't as cheerful anymore. To not only get hit by a soccer ball but also kicked square in the face! To Niji, she was glad Tataoka was taking her seriously.

"Alright, tough shot, I'll make it simple: you win, you can stay and do what you want with 3-E. If I win, you pack your things, and get out of here. Or are you too scared?" Niji mocked, her deal making it clear in his ears. So the main plan was a duel, and whoever wins has to go away for good. Seemed straightforward enough, but the odds seemed stacked against Niji. A tomboy verses a experienced military instructor.

"You want a fight, bitch? I'll give you a war."

The signal for the fight to begin. Korosensei, not wanting any bystanders hurt more than how they are, quickly rushed around and got them all moved away from the arena Niji and Tataoka ended up being in. Niji on one side, Tataoka on the other, and both sides ready to fight. The new audience was placed off at a much safer distance, just as the two begin to head towards eachother.
The first strike was made by Tataoka, charging in at Niji like a living freight train, fists ready to slam Niji to the dirt. However, Niji made a quick dodge, and her foot slipped under him and hooked his leg, making Tataoka tumble forward. He recovered, but Niji was already on him and bounced off of him with both feet. Both feet hit the center of Tataoka's back, and Niji landed with pure accuracy on the ground as light as a feather. It stung him, but Tataoka took his chance and rushed her again. Unlike before, Niji got grabbed by her leg, and Tataoka went to town on her: swinging her like a ragdoll and throwing her to the ground. Despite that, Niji jumped to her feet easily.

"How'd she recover so fast? No one would even be standing after that," thought Nabiku, watching the fight unfold. Niji continued to impress, because not only did she recover, but as Tataoka readied to kick her, she actually dodged and high-kicked him in the jaw!

"Sloppy, very sloppy," mocked Niji, infuriating Tataoka even more. It seemed that Niji was the opposite opponent to Tataoka. Tataoka may be able to smash limbs with a few strikes, but Niji and her agility won't even give him a chance most of the time. As the fight continued, the students began to get more excited and cheered Niji on.
Tataoka got Niji moving off towards the building, limiting her movements he figured. Niji confronted Tataoka on the high ground, and blocked another power punch from Tataoka. Having her back to the building though left her with little room so she was stuck in a close combat range with Tataoka.

"Come here!" Tataoka growled, swinging his fists away. Niji moved out away from most of the punches, leaving cracks in the wooden wall. The times they did strike Niji weren't as strong, but left some scratches still. The more he missed the more frustrated he got, and it escalated even further when Niji made Tataoka tumble again with a swing at his knees, Tataoka's face slamming into the wall.

"Kick his ass!" shouted Terasaka.

"Go Niji, you got it!" added Nakamura.

"Shut the hell up," growled Tataoka. Nothing worse than your own students wishing you to lose. As the fight continued, Korosensei and Karasuma observed out away from the battle going on, Korosensei also cheering Niji on.

"Go Niji go! Send him packing!" Korosensei cheered, waving a pair of pompon around as well. Karasuma, surprised still that Niji was doing as well as she was, didn't truly see the point in the fight. The actual deal the fight agreed to, that is.

"You too?"

"Come on, I don't want that jerk here either. You're just as good instructor, no, WAY better instructor!"

"I don't think any of you get it. He's my replacement," Karasuma cleared up.

"Yeah, and when he's gone you'll get your job back!" Korosensei said in glee.

"No. I'm being transferred. This time tomorrow, he'll be all you got."

"WHA?!"

"I got the email from Seitenshi just before Tataoka showed up. He's cruel, but he's still the one who volunteered to take my place. The government can't leave you alone, so even if Niji wins, it won't make a difference." Unfortunately it was the main truth of the matter, one only Karasuma and now Korosensei truly understand.
Niji and Tataoka were at eachother's throats at this point. Both bruised up but still having plenty of fighting spirit in between them both. Tataoka grew more and more frustrated with this new coming show off, and it didn't help that he was being made a fool of. Tataoka went in for a full charge, but Niji clocked him right in the stomach, stunning him a bit, before making him fall to the ground. It seemed like it was going to be the final strike to Tataoka, and everyone around Niji was hoping for such. Just one knockout blow will send Tataoka packing for sure. Tataoka though was not even close to giving up, pushing up from the ground. His breath was strained, his teeth grinded, and his fury at its breaking point.

"Damn you. .... Damn you! ..."

"Ready to give up, Tataoka?" Niji called. Tataoka wasn't taking that, not now, not ever. Tataoka took a look to Niji. She was beaten up, but she treated her injuries like it was nothing.

"You bitch. You think you can beat me? COME ON THEN!"

Niji needed no more motivation and rushed at him, fast as she could. However, one person in the audience finally had enough in this fight, and got in between them both.

"That's enough you two!" yelled Karasuma.

"What're you doing, move it!"

"This is getting nowhere. Tataoka, this has gone on long enough -"

"SHUT IT! I'm in charge, I'm leader, and I'LL SILENCE ANYONE WHO GETS IN MY WAY! NOW DIE YOU BASTARD!!"

It all escalated so fast, and not a person could intervene any further. Tataoka rushed forward, but his hand ended up reaching for something in his pocket, drawing it out fast and ready to strike. When they saw this, they knew Tataoka was ready to kill to secure himself.

An assassin knife!

"MOVE!" Niji shouted, Karasuma suddenly being shoved out of the way.

Then it happened. As Karasuma picked himself up off the ground, Tataoka made the move that shocked everyone. The blade met its mark alright, right in Niji's head! It all played in slow motion: A gasp from Niji as the blade stabbed right through her skull, her blood flying in the air and scattering around on the ground. Tataoka forcing the blade in as hard as he could and driving Niji into the dirt with a powerful smash, strong enough to shake the ground! There was no doubt in anyone's mind when they saw this, that Niji's life was now cut short. An eerie silence hung in the air for a little while, until Tataoka broke the silence with a victorious laugh, lifting Niji's lifeless body like a trophy for the whole world to see.

"Take a good long look. Daddy doesn't like when his children disobey him. Otherwise daddy will hurt them. Just like her," Tataoka made clear, before tossing her aside, Niji landing hard on the ground in a thud. If none of his methods worked before, they did now. This was murder he just did, and Tataoka made it clear he will not be trifled with the most bluntest way possible.

"N-Niji?" Nabiku said. Niji didn't move.

........

*clap*...*clap*...*clap*

In the silence of the air, slow claps echoed in everyone's ears. But from who? None of the students were clapping, neither were the 3-E instructors. It took a bit to look, but eventually someone else decided to join this little sharada, and his slow clapping didn't make his introduction anything friendly. Tataoka, who was just moments ago smiling and gloating, paused for a moment and turned to the next quarry. Not a good idea to have more visitors when he just killed someone. And who was the one stepping out?

"Gakuho, sir! Thank god you're here!"

"Understood, Korosensei. ... Tataoka, what is the meaning of this?" Gakuho demanded, staring into Tataoka's soul. In his moment of insane glory, Tataoka took it in stride, and even walked over to Niji.

"Test in loyalty. These end students were getting out of line," Tataoka simply said. Gakuho looked down to Niji as Tataoka laughed, seeing the knife still lodged through her head. Normally, a injury to an E student would be overlook, but Gakuho saw the extent on how far Tataoka had gone. And that wasn't the only thing he had remembered. ....

"Gakuho, there's someone here to see you."

"Send him in."

In his office, Gakuho kept up his usual paperwork for his Orora High school. Being principal made work at the school anything but easy, and getting a visitor coming to his office on surprise like this didn't make his position any easier. It took only a few moments before he cleared off his desk, and a few more moments before the door to his office opened up, revealing that it was Niji entering. Gakuho paused for a moment on this girl entering unprovoked, but didn't stop her from doing so.

"Hey there. Are you in charge of Orora High?" Niji started.

"I am. Though I don't recall allowing you into my school."

"I know, I let myself in. Now listen, I wanna talk to ya," Niji stated. Gakuho just nodded and let this person continue. Though she couldn't have anything too important far as he was concern, not being a student of his school in the first place.

"It's the students over at 3-E. I'm just going to say it: what're you trying to do to them?! That new instructor Tataoka is tearing them up!" Niji said, cutting right to the quick. More time spent put more students at risk. Gakuho stayed calm in spite of the outbursts from this character.

"What would it matter to you? You're not even enrolled in my classes. And anyway, he's just doing his job I gave him."

"You don't get it. In just a week he broke one kid's arm, he made several kids faint from exhaustion, one isn't even GOING to school anymore because of him! You can't have that monster teaching those kids!" Niji yelled, leaning into the desk and getting into Gakuho's face about it. At that point Gakuho stood up and stared Niji down.

"That has no concern to you. Like I said -"

"And I say you can't allow that kind of cruelty! So what I'm not enrolled here, it's called common sympathy!"

Now it was Gakuho's turn to lean in, making the angry Niji back up a step.

"Pay attention. You can make your statements, but my system requires 3-E to remain where it has always been, at the bottom. I put Tataoka there to make sure of that."

"WHAT?! You're letting this happen?! Those students hadn't done anything and they're getting -"

"It's because they hadn't done anything is that they're set as an example to the others. Tataoka knows that, he wouldn't go too far with it I'm sure."

"But ... But you ARE going to do something?!"

Gakuho sat down. Rather than a straightforward answer, all he did was gesture to the door. Niji was completely furious: those kids were getting killed and Gakuho won't do a thing about it.

"FINE! If you won't do anything about it, I WILL!" Niji exclaimed. With that outburst, and stormed out the door, slamming the door behind her and leaving Gakuho alone. Gakuho sighed from the stress gained in that conversation and was going to get back to his papers, but just before he could, something on the floor caught his eye. It was where Niji was just standing, and something Gakuho knew wasn't there before.

A stray feather.

Tataoka did go too far. Seeing Niji laying there proved Gakuho's mistake most of all.

"By killing, Tataoka?"

"Hey, you hired me to keep them in line, that's what I'm doing. You don't give a shit about them anyway, what's it matter to you?" Tataoka snapped. A stab of irony at his own soul. Gakuho quietly moved passed Karasuma and Korosensei, confronting Tataoka right in front. Tataoka didn't know what Gakuho was up to, but he wasn't going to let himself get trifled again.

"True as that may be, there is a line between discipline and murder. A brute has no line between such things, something as we clearly see you hadn't found. ... I don't take brutes," Gakuho clearly stated. Tataoka didn't seem to be taking him seriously though, unfortunately for him.

"Come on, you want that octopus dead, and so do I. You want them to remain at the bottom too, what better way than breaking them down day by day til only the strong remain?" Tataoka retorted.
As this confrontation continued, some of the students were seeing a situation a bit more worriedly. Nabiku in particular saw this going on, and when Nakamura checked her shy friend, Nabiku had a look of disbelief, and utter shock with wide eyes. She almost looked pale white, she was so shocked. Sure, they were a bit spooked by Niji's death, but Nabiku took it a bit far herself.

"Nabiku, what's up?" Nakamura quietly asked. All Nabiku did was turn Nakamura's head to the object in question, Nakamura getting basically the same reaction. ...

"You're right, I do want stronger students. And yet, you just killed a strong-willed, and physically powerful student that could've proved useful. Quite hypocritical."

"You can talk: protecting the students you could care less for! The government sent me here, they are getting impatient with that hellish teacher over there, and they want him dead! You got a long way to go before you can tell me what to -"

"Are you two done wining yet? Seriously, you take forever!"

The source of the voice made everyone freeze up. They knew the voice, but it couldn't be possible after what just happened. Sure enough, the sight of her standing there proved everything wrong.
Niji! And not just that, but up on her feet alive and well. Sure, it would be a surprise just to see that, but Niji still had that blade jutting out of her head, Niji not even paying attention to it at all. In fact, she looked more impatient and bugged than anything, their fight taking a sudden halt thanks to Karasuma and Gakuho interrupting. Even the calm Karasuma and Gakuho were left a bit speechless by seeing this supposedly dead girl just standing there, impatiently tapping her foot and arms crossed.

"W-WHAAAAA?! How're you still alive?!" Tataoka yelled.

"You're crazy!" commented Korosensei. Niji took a moment to see the stunned crowd nearby, though not exactly getting why yet.

"You all okay? Look ready to faint."

"We're the ones that should be asking you that! You got a damn knife through your head, Niji!" Terasaka stated, pointing to the knife in question.

"Eh?" Niji stopped and looked up to the blade jutting out of her head. Niji didn't appear to be making any big deal about this though, seeing that she was treating it as nothing more than a splinter or something. Tataoka, snapping back to the situation, wasn't going to take this lying down.

"DAMN YOU!" Tataoka shouted, running at her again. Niji was not only alive, but pretty much just as active as before, doing a backflip right over Tataoka, and a foot whacking him right behind the head. Tataoka toppled over again, nearly landing on the students nearby, as Niji landed on her feet over by the instructors. They came back around, but they couldn't believe what they were actually seeing. No matter the experience, surviving a knife to the head like this just was impossible, nevermind getting up and dodging as easily as before.

"How the hell? Even with a knife through her head, she still toppled him over. ... She's not human," though Karasuma, and indeed the idea was there. Tataoka turned himself around, but before Niji could go in, Gakuho placed a hand on her shoulder, and walking ahead. Tataoka didn't get up yet, but Gakuho had a little something extra for him. A piece of paper to reassign him from his school, which Gakuho more than happily shoved into Tataoka's mouth.

"Any brute who loses to a force weaker than himself has lost all hope of persuasive power," Gakuho stated, his devilish expression piercing Tataoka's mind and soul. Tataoka gagged a little bit before spitting out the paper, reading what it said. Basically, Tataoka was fired, and with what just happened, he was not going to be accepted here, even if Karasuma was being transferred anyway as he said. With Niji basically beating him, the students hating him, and Gakuho firing him, all those combine factors finally broke him.

"Shit ... SHIT ... DAMN YOU ALL!" Tataoka finally took off, running past Gakuho, past the other instructors, past the 3-E building and running off out of sight. Tataoka was not staying around any longer, especially with an apparently unkillable girl standing right there too.

"YES! Ok, you all should be good now," Niji promised.

"Niji, is it? ... Firstly, mind removing that blade now?" suggested Gakuho, his finger on the blade.

"Oh yeah, forgot. Hold on," Niji said. With a simple tug and pull, the blade popped out of her head with ease, and she tossed it aside with no problem. Korosensei caught it before it could end up caught by someone else, and the teacher started to chew it as a midday snack. One of many odd habits of Korosensei, surely, but that wasn't the main focus here. It was then that Gakuho presented that same feather he found in his office earlier. Niji looked to the feather he was holding, not sure where he was going with this.

"What's the point of this thing?"

"It was exactly where you were standing back in my office. That, and after seeing that display, well ... better tell us exactly what you are, Niji," Gakuho insisted. Niji stayed quiet, arms crossed again and thinking it over. When they looked though, it seemed that Niji felt a bit in a corner about the situation. Everyone around waited for her to talk, but in the end she just looked over to the others.

"Well, after seeing that, I don't think lying's possible, so I'll just say it," Niji decided. So, the rest quietly waited for her to speak, Gakuho nodding for her to make her statement. ...

"I am experiment unit 701-6G. Codename "Niji". I have been sent down by president Seitenshi herself to see the true status of Orora High and its current situation." Niji paused and looked to Korosensei before continuing on saying "I kept this identity secret since my arrival, but its apparent I have no choice but to reveal after that display of mine. Problematic I'm sure, but as it may, I request you all to keep this true identity of mine a secret from here on out. And Gakuho, before you ask, yes I didn't tell you anything about this, that was just me trying to keep it secretive. My actions earlier today were to have Tataoka replaced with another, as his actions deemed too harsh and torturous as you can plainly see. Now that is disposed of, I can continue my observations from here."

Quite a reveal, and one they needed a minute to take in. Still, it was at least something, and 3-E wasn't foreign to government activity here, so the feeling was a bit less shocking than anticipated. Gakuho kept quiet and looked closer to Niji for a moment or two, Niji staying as quiet as she could be with a firm and serious stare.

"A experiment? ... Is that what you are, Niji?" Nabiku thought, surprised as everyone else on this revelation. Nothing on her really said anything like that, but after her display and survival it seemed more likely. Made more sense, at least.

"So I see. ..." Gakuho simply said.

"Good. Now, if you excuse me, I have a report to make," Niji said, walking past them all. However, Karasuma kept an especially closer eye on Niji as she left. The students got it, Korosensei got it, even Gakuho got it. But Karasuma. ...

"Strange. Seitenshi never mentioned any experiment units. ..."

~~

Around the world, team a Harmony was still getting themselves all settled in, and now at pretty good terms with Central and their presence. Being in central for a good week or so, and much of the group had basically grown used to being around the military base. With Envy's main capture, this gave them all a bit more ease for the first time since hearing about the possibility, the combined efforts of Edward Elric, Sebastian, Nagisa, Blair and Twilight finally getting Envy locked up and putting the worry at ease. So long as Envy stayed locked up at central, they're all pretty much safe here. Ciel would normally call it done and head home if his task had been just that, but the group decided to stay just a little while longer, just to be sure. Those involved got their credit of course, and things were put back to normal as things went. Still, some extra time to be sure if anyone extra was hidden away couldn't hurt.
It was late at night, many guards at much calmer patrol over before, now knowing that the main Homunculus was now in custody. For Team Harmony, they were in their room and already fast asleep. In the boys room, while most of the boys were fast asleep at this point, Aladdin was not only still awake, but as Nagisa was trying to stay asleep, Aladdin was actually crouched right by him, and started poking him.

"Psst. Nagisa? Nagisa," Aladdin quietly said, as he continued to poke him. However, all Nagisa did was just groan slightly, not wanting to wake up. The little magi decided to change his target, and turned over to Ciel next. As he did with Nagisa, he began to poke at Ciel in the face, as before not wanting to wake up.

"Ugh ... Sebastian," Ciel groaned sleepily, as he tried to ignore Aladdin. This was started to get annoying, and Aladdin pouted on his attempts. It only needed a little bit of thinking before he tried something else: brushing his ponytail in Ciel's face. He kept the end of it right at Ciel's face until the tickling irritation finally brought Ciel around. Not his typical response, but hey it works. As Ciel tried to wake up to see what was going on Aladdin did the same thing over to Nagisa, same results as well.

"Aladdin? Do you know what time it is?" Nagisa asked, annoyed as he rubbed his eye to look at his friend. Ciel wasn't as enthused either, if not even more annoyed.

"This is far too early for me. This better be good," Ciel said, looking over to Aladdin with one eye open. Still, Aladdin seemed pretty grateful that both of them were up and about. Or at least up at all.

"You two want to see something beautiful?" asked Aladdin quietly.

"Whatever it is, can't it wait until the morning?" groaned Ciel.

"Nope. Come on, you'll both like it, and tonight's perfect," Aladdin said. Nagisa and Ciel both were starting to get a little curious, and more so when Aladdin brought out his turban and made his flying carpet out of it, just outside the window. It remained floating in place, and Aladdin presented it like a taxi driver of sorts. Whatever Aladdin had in mind, it wasn't going to be right here as Ciel and Nagisa had hoped it would be.

Regardless, and it took a extra while to get dressed casually but they did eventually agree to follow him. Keeping their eyes closed (something Aladdin told them to do), all three of them took a ride on the flying carpet and Aladdin brought them along quietly skyward. They only knew they were moving due to the wind pushing on them, but that wasn't the point. The point was more on where they were going, knowing they've stopped once they felt the ground of one of Central's rooftops. Aladdin hopped off and turned to Nagisa and Ciel.

"Okay, open your eyes and look up," Aladdin instructed, talking more casually this time.
So Nagisa and Ciel did as told, and looked up. It was then they saw what Aladdin wanted them to see. Up high in the sky around them were plenty of stars, all shining high and bright and twinkling away, full moon showcasing its stars to the world below. Not often do you see a night sky like this, and with them up on a rooftop and with no clouds in the way they got a front row seat. It was too bad that Ciel would rather be sleeping.

"Oh wow. ... Look at that," Nagisa said. Honestly it was all he could really say about the situation. Soon Aladdin was right in between them and fell onto his back, eyes to the sky and now casually laying down and stargazing.

"I know, I didn't want to miss the chance. Lay down, let's see what we can make out in the stars," Aladdin offered.

"Such a childish game. You can do what you wish," Ciel said as he started to walk away.

"Ciel, Aladdin brought us up here. We might as well hang around for a little bit," Nagisa suggested.

"No! I'm bloody tired, get it?" Ciel snapped. Honestly Nagisa couldn't blame him for acting like that. Still, when Ciel saw Aladdin's face, Aladdin looked sadly disappointed in him. A reminder of what Aladdin told him to do earlier when they arrived here. ...

"... Well ... on second thought ... maybe it couldn't hurt for just a few minutes."

That surely made the mood better, and soon all three of them were laying down and checking out the stars. It was a pretty night sky, and not one often people would see in a place like this. As time went on, they took turns in making out constellations in the night sky, a similar manor to making out pictures in the clouds. Most of the time it was Aladdin's imagination that was making out constellations in the night sky for the first five minutes. Aside from that, the only main sounds to be heard was ... well, nothing. The wind was silent, guards were quiet, and the others didn't know they were up there so they had a relaxing moment up there. At one point, Aladdin was pointing out another picture up in the night sky.

"Look there. Isn't that Ursa Major?" Aladdin asked.

"No, that's Ursa Minor. Ursa Major's right next to it," Nagisa said, pointing to the right constellation.

"I always mix that up, how do you do it? What's the trick?" Aladdin asked, curious. Nagisa sat up and pointed over to the North Star.

"You see the North Star? That is the end of the Ursa Major. Follow the constellation to that star, and it's right there," Nagisa explained, his finger following the motions as he said so. Aladdin followed his example, and sure enough, Ursa Minor was right there as he said it would.

"Oh, cool. I have to remember that," Aladdin said, Nagisa smiling to him as Aladdin looked at them both. A nice moment for sure, but both of them then turned over to Ciel next, who hadn't said anything since he got here.

"Ciel, what can you see? Come on," insisted Aladdin. Ciel just sighed.

"Fine. If you insist," Ciel said. Then his focus went up to the stars above as he tried to make something out. At first, it was a little difficult since, apparently, he can't make anything in particular out with so many stars. Aladdin and Nagisa waited for a minute, watching Ciel work out the stars best he could. It took Ciel about five minutes of connecting dots before he managed to work something out.

"I see ... a Swanna," Ciel concluded. Honestly he felt a little silly in this sort of game, but Aladdin and Nagisa looked to where Ciel had pointed. It took a bit to work it out in their own heads, but they eventually saw Ciel's Swanna.

"Oh yeah, I see it now. There it is, wings spread," Nagisa said.

"Yeah, good job, Ciel -"

That was when Aladdin suddenly paused himself. Nagisa found that odd, and turned to his magi friend, and then followed his eyes over towards Ciel. Aladdin's eyes were starry again, this time his hands covering his mouth in amazement over something. As for this something, the object of interest was right there on Ciel's face. Something that Aladdin was especially hoping to see. ...

A smile. It was small and soft, but still a smile. Ciel Phantomhive's smile.

"Huh? ... What?" asked Ciel, once he noticed them looking at him. His smile disappeared after that but both still had the affect on them, Aladdin especially. Eventually Aladdin moved his hands away, showing a smile of his own.

"Ciel ... this is the first time I've seen you smile," Aladdin revealed. Ciel turned away, trying to brush it off as nothing special. Technically speaking though Aladdin was right. This was really the first time they had ever seen Ciel actually smile, even if it was rather small for a smile. In the end though, Ciel just looked back up to the stars.

"I suppose. ... What do you see in the stars?" asked Ciel. Aladdin was more than happy to start his little point out, showing Ciel his constellations up in the sky. Nagisa simply say there and observed.

"So Ciel finally smiled. That only means that he's getting more used to being around us. ... You sure bring out the good Aladdin," Nagisa thought, remembering what Aladdin had done before this point, mainly how nice and cheery he was with him and his friends. Nagisa felt glad to have a friend like him around. ...

"Is he still in his cell?"

The voice was faint, but Nagisa just managed to catch earshot of it, along with Aladdin and Ciel. Far as they were concerned, they were the only ones who were outside, so hearing this was a bit of interest. The odd thing that made it interesting was that the voice sounded far too young to be an actual guard on duty. Even Edward sounded older than that, and he was the youngest in the Amestris army last they checked. It didn't sound no further than the edge of the building, and it sounded rather serious as well. Pretty peculiar if one were to ask.
With a silent agreeing, the trio quietly moved over to the edge of the building, making sure not to make too much noise in their little approach just in case the person were to hear them. Curiosity surely got the best of them here, and their curiosity revealed them a pair of figures walking down on the ground level. It was actually who it was that made the situation more intriguing and curious.

"Wait. Is that -"

"King Bradley. He must be checking on Envy," Ciel concluded, and indeed it was. Bradley was up and about that night too, and as Ciel had hypothesized, he was moving along his walk to see the Homunculus in question. He hadn't checked in on Envy in a while, not since he himself locked him away. What made the situation strange was that Bradley was not alone. His young son, Salim, was also with him and he looked far more serious than normal. That, and seeing how Bradley just nodded his head, it appeared it was Salim who asked the question.

........

Within the makeshift cell created, Bradley and Salim opened up the only true door evident to said room, and being the main source of light aside from the small opening up on the metal wall. The small opening was the only one consistent link to the outside world, and with Salim and Bradley going on in, they got view of the only main prisoner in here, being Envy. After his capture, Envy was chained up and restricted in a straight jacket, cuffs in his feet as well along with being seated in a interrogation chair. An interrogation would be rather fitting to get some answers out of this spy.

"What do you want?" Envy hissed, clearly not pleased in seeing either of them.

"It seems you're still defiant, even after your defeat by those other humans. Now, you should started talking if you know what is good for you."

"Why? You'll just kill me regardless of what I say. What's the point?" Envy spat, turning away from both figures. Why wouldn't the king of Amestris kill him off anyway? Bradley and Salim looked to eachother before Salim started talking.

"I don't think you have anything to worry about. Envy Homunculus," said Salim. Envy felt a little surprised but didn't show it in front of them.

"So you know who I am."

"Naturally. Then again we had known you were here ever since you stepped foot into Central. We only left you alone to see how well you actually do."

"You pathetic human scum. Why didn't you say anything then?"

"Being the king of Amestris, if I were to find you out straight away, suspicions would abound amongst the troops. This method allows me to talk to you more freely," explained Bradley.

"Why the hell would you care, you pathetic worm?! I refuse to play putty to any human bastards like you," Envy hissed. Seemed he didn't want to talk no matter what the case may be. Strangely, it was Salim who gave the order for Bradley to step on aside, allowing Salim to confront Envy. A rather odd choice, but Salim seemed oddly confident, a sense of deception in his eyes as he looked to Envy.

"Humans are such a troubling creature, I have to agree on that. Though you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. You of all Homunculus should know that fact better than anything else," Salim explained. This rather ominous talk Envy easily could catch, and what is more, it almost seemed that Salim's shadow was starting to grow and extend around from under his feet, and towards his chair. Envy was left stunned as these same shadows branched off of the floor, crawling up the chair and up his body.

"What the hell? What kind of magic is this? ... Who are you?" Envy wondered, looking back at Salim. Salim smiled to him in his usual fashion, not showing a sign of malicious intent, though the shadows say otherwise.

"The humans refer to me as Salim: son of the King Bradley. But that's just merely a surname to my true identity. ..."

All of a sudden, the shadows all stopped, and all at once, dos end of eyes opened up around the walls and floor, all looking directly at Envy.

"My real name is Pride. The first created Homunculus."

Envy froze. Homunculus. This young child, this seemingly weak and admittedly humble child is a Homunculus? And not just any Homunculus, but the very first Homunculus?! It was a long time for him to even see any Homunculus, and here was the very first. Envy wasn't sure what to really say, but as it stands, Pride was pretty content with the reveal towards another. Envy took a glance over to Bradley, the apparent father of Salim.

"So I guess he's your creator then?"

"No not really. In fact, I consider myself in charge of him. He wouldn't trouble a Homunculus like me, won't you Bradley?" Pride said, looking to him. Bradley stayed quiet and just turned his gaze away.

"Wouldn't think anything of it," Bradley simply said. Here was when Envy began to feel his own restrictions loosen on his body, and sure enough Pride's shadows were tearing off the jacket, shredding it up with sharp miniature claws. It just took no short of a minute to complete before Envy found himself free of the jacket, the only thing remaining being shredded fabric. Pride's shadows started to retreat soon after that and soon Pride appeared back to being a pretty innocent Salim again. A pretty convincing disguise he had to say, even for Envy Homunculus. Still, it felt good to be out of that jacket after everything.

"Envy. As you can imagine, this is something that shouldn't be pass word on. We both would appreciate it if you kept yourself quiet," Bradley warned. Envy nodded, but this was admittedly perfect! So this was why Envy was put to this in the end. With that finished up, Envy did what practically anyone freed would do, and started to slip away. Envy shapeshifter into a small bird, and beelined it right out the only opening there was. Even if he promised to be quiet about it, this was something he HAD to get in on. He wasn't going to stick around any longer, especially after the embarrassing capture and alert of the guards.

"So what're you going to tell them, Bradley?" Pride asked, though he sounded like he knew the answer to it anyway.

"I executed Envy Homunculus during the night, and the threat has been disposed of."

"Very good. Let's go."

Without another word, they soon left themselves, and left the room quiet and with no being left inside.