Lt-Voss

 Fruit Knives are Sharp – Pimentel Hostage – “Well. That certainly is some pretty heavy security.” Alexander lowered the binoculars and handed them off to Wernher. “Scheiße.” There were no fewer than two checkpoints set up by none other than the JSDF inspecting any and all traffic, including foot traffic, going anywhere remotely near the Irisu building. Vehicles were lined up as far as the eye could see; Alexander was unsure he'd be able to see the end even if he climbed up to the top of the building. If Irisu Kiyoka could afford not only to pimp out the JSDF to be her own personal attack dogs,

 Fruit Knives are Sharp – The Heart's Vengeance – “Huh?” Alexander walked up to the receptionist's desk in the center of the grand marble-tiled lobby. The receptionist behind the desk looked up at him, and her eyes softened behind her bottle-thick glasses. “Is Sonoda-san not in today, Iida-san?” Iida shook her head. “I'm sorry, Scharf-sama, but you just missed her. When she learned you would be coming, she hurried home to gather some food for you. Since your visit earlier this year she has been eager to see you again, after all.” Alexander chuckled. “That woman needs to cool he

 Fruit Knives are Sharp – Manhunt – “You may wish to remain seated for this, Scharf-kun.” Kazami spoke with such a grim tone Alexander felt himself react instinctively. “Apparently Makina was supposed to be dead.” Alexander felt the blood drain from his face. Before he or Amane could interject, Kazami continued. “That, or in a coma. However, Makina's been noticed as she walks around town, likely from her job at the bakery.” “What are you getting at, Kazami-kun?” Alexander cautiously asked. “What am I hearing?” “News of not only her survival but her... li

 Fruit Knives are Sharp – The (not so) Great Escape – A knock came at his door. Alexander, still lying on the hospital bed, called out, “Come in!” The door opened, revealing Leclerc. “Oh, you're here. Thanks for coming in.” “Not a problem, sir.” Leclerc looked around the room. “Doc's keeping you locked up tight, I guess?” Alexander smiled. “Something like that.” He gestured to the seat by the bed. “Take a chair, Leclerc.” As Leclerc sat down, Alexander sighed. “Unlike before, I can now see why things are being done this way.” “S

 Fruit Knives are Sharp – What Must be Done... – “Answer me, Leclerc! Now! What happened?!” “Someone... a girl... called out to us... just outside the crafts store... when I turned to see who it was someone snatched her up... and sped off in a car... I...” his voice was trembling, and not because he was tired. “It was only for a moment...” “Did you see who took her? The car used? The girl who called out to you? I need answers, Leclerc!” “The girl... looked like... Takahashi... Ayano... she ran off shortly after Amane was taken, so I couldn't get a good look.”

 Fruit Knives are Sharp – That Which We Hold Dear – Alexander slowly opened his eyes. An deep blue tinted light shone faintly from behind his curtains. The sun had not yet risen. He groaned, but swung his legs over the side of the bed regardless. He threw on an undershirt and some gym shorts, but otherwise left his room unadorned. He noticed Kazami was just about to begin his routine morning run. As Alexander passed him by, he looked up at him and said, “Have a safe run. Watch out for cars.” Kazami said nothing in response, but Alexander could see his eyes widen for a fraction of second before he left. Alexande

 Fruit Knives are Sharp – Back-foot – Kitamura stood slowly, rubbing at his now dislocated jaw. With an audible crunching sound, he popped it back into place without so much as a grunt of pain, which unnerved Alexander. To hide it, he blustered, “Don't you touch Amane, or there'll be hell to pay next time. You get me, Kitamura-san?” “Hah,” Kitamura snickered. “You're every bit as violent as your profile says you are, Scharf-san. Is that what you do? You use violence when you can't get out of something by talking?” “Kitamura-san,” Alexander grunted. “You're trying to

"I'm home." The phrase I'd said for most my life upon returning to my house. "Welcome home." Several different people of all kinds have given me that answer, some good, some bad. Some saintly, some shady. All genuine. First it was my family. But they were gone now. Then it was some friends from school. But they too were no longer around. I'd engraved the idea of a welcoming home that I'd taken in people just to fill out my house. Just to get that response. Living with others for a couple decades can do that. So I've had smugglers, drug dealers, thieves, prostitutes, gang members, and random strangers here to say it to me. But this was the

 Fruit Knives are Sharp – Arrested Development – “It's been a while since we've done this, hasn't it?” Reimund nodded. “Is the taste alright?” Another nod. Alexander sighed. He had no hope of fooling Reimund as to why he sighed, but he wasn't about to go blurting the reason aloud and making it certain. Reimund could not speak. Make noises, yes. Grunt, moan, groan, whine, yes. With everything that's been going on, and the introspection being forced upon him by everyone around him, it was surprising the thought hadn't popped into Alexander's head sooner. Wouldn't it be nice if I could have an actual c