Reminisce
Chapter 1: Setting Foundations
Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Ghoul or any characters involved except for Guardian D. Death
A dark, rainy night in Tokyo Japan. The sky was pitch black except for the occasional strike of lightning. Down one side street was a warm light glowing brightly off a street sign advertising a small coffee shop. A cloaked figure passed the sign and entered the downward staircase into the establishment. As he approached the door, he shook himself off of all the rainwater and opened the entryway. Stepping inside he was met with the bright light of the shop's interior.
He descended the stairs and once he was at the bottom found himself in the middle of an empty café, save for a few individuals who were dressed as servers.
"Hello," one told him, a young man with short black hair and a bandage over his left eye.
The figure didn't reply as he looked over the establishment. With a growl he cleared his throat.
"Are you ok sir? Didn't get sick from the rain did you?"
"Where's your boss?" The man asked, his voice had a slight metallic echo when he spoke.
"Uh… he's unavailable at the moment sir, but I assure you we can assist you in whatever you need,"
"How about helping me find the ghouls of Anteiku?"
The whole group immediately tensed.
"I'm not sure I-"
"Enough beating around the bush… Kaneki Ken, the One-Eyed Ghoul," The man looked up from the ground and his hood fell back revealing a black mask of intricate goldwork covering his face. White hair was seen on the top his head.
The whole café immediately became tense, no one said anything until Kaneki swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Who are you?"
The man chuckled before his fit broke into full on laughter. "I'm the one know as Guardian D. Death. I have come seek a particular soul for collection,"
The group began to move toward him slowly but he held up a hand.
"I am not here for any of you, the one I seek is a boy by many standards. He goes by the name Hollow,"
"I was wondering when you were going to come after him," Yoshimura said as he entered the café.
"Sir?" Kaneki asked.
"I know this man, we go back a long way. You seem… different."
"Yoshimura," Death said with a bow, "I do admit that my resurrection was… difficult, and that my personality wasn't wholly restored. I've been told that lately I seem to not understand social ques,"
"Yes, your laughter was a little much,"
"My apologies, I'll do what I can to avoid such conduct in the future,"
Yoshimura nodded before he stepped behind the counter, he produced the materials to make a few cups of coffee.
"Care to join me?"
"Of course," Death said as he sat down.
The tension in the room seemed to drain completely, and everyone let out a sigh of relief.
"Sir, how do you know this man?" Tohka asked.
"Like I said, we go back many years. To give a simple explanation: He turns up from time-to-time and helps out, or when he needs help with something… how did the war go by the way?"
Death remained silent as Yoshimura's question.
"I see, a bit of a sore spot eh? Glad to see you made it out,"
"Not all of us made it out, as I mentioned earlier, my resurrection has left me fractured and incomplete,"
"What do you mean resurrection?" Kaneki asked as he approached the counter.
Death sighed before turning toward Kaneki, "Death is one of the aspects of the world, nothing lives forever, save for a few individuals. Guardians are no exception, and since Death is inescapable, my role as Death is inescapable. I understood the terms when I took on the mantle of the reaper, that I would be locked into it for eternity,"
"So, you died during the war?" Yoshimura asked as he finished pouring a cup of coffee before sliding it toward Death.
"Yes," Death took the mug and lifted it toward his mouth, he reached up and lifted the mask just enough to allow the mug to touch his lips and pour the liquid into his mouth.
"I'm sorry, I can't imagine what kind of pain you must've gone through,"
Death lowered the mug back onto the counter and set his mask back into place.
"It's irrelevant, as you said earlier, I only show up when I wish to help and need some myself. I explained my reason for being here: Hollow is running amok, and the council has finally decided to rein him in and have him pay for his crimes,"
"Why do you need our help?" Yoshimura asked.
"Ghouls are far more powerful than the human population of this world, and… if I approached the government in my condition, I fear they may not listen to me,"
"Oh? And why's that?" Yoshimura asked.
Death sighed before he reached up toward his mask, grabbing the bottom of it he lifted the face up and revealed his face, his hair immediately darkened to a jet black color, but his eyes were what had everyone's full attention: They were black like a ghoul's, with white iris and red pupils.
"What… what's wrong with your eyes?"
"The curse of becoming the reaper," He said as he lowered his mask back into place, his hair returned to its original snow-white color.
"Well, if I remember correctly, there are a number of unpaid debts that I owe you," Yoshimura told him.
"I was hoping you'd remember a few," Death joked back.
"What's the word boss?" Enji asked.
"You and Kaya are to stay here with me, Kaneki, Tohka, I'd ask you both to accompany Death on his mission,"
"Of course," Toka replied.
"Uh-yeah," Kaneki didn't seem as confident.
"Are you sure he's ready to fight someone like Hollow?" Death asked Yoshimura as he nodded toward Kaneki.
"If he doesn't face stronger opponents, he'll never grow stronger himself,"
"But if you toss a kitten to the wolves, it'll be torn to shreds," Death replied.
"I suppose, but I think Kaneki is far more competent than a kitten," Yoshimura smiled at his old friend.