First things first, this follows the manga for the most part. It does contain scenes that're in the anime, but the entirety of it will concentrate on :RE. Also, like with my last story, I might wait to update with the next chapters. I want to get more written beforehand. I'm only posting this because I'm excited about finishing this chapter. And I'm gonna add, when I tell you at the end what anime I plan to write a fanfiction on next, don't trust me! I haven't kept my original ideas for a while. I was planning on an Attack on Titan story next, but this obviously isn't Attack on Titan. So, let me introduce you Hanako, my first OC with a Japanese name. To put it plainly, she's insane. I'll let you see what I mean.

So, I'm back! At least for the moment, I am. Enjoy the Scarlet Child.

I'm not exactly sure what my first impression of him was, only that his screams made me quiver with excitement. They aren't any different from the past victims' Yamori has cycled through, but for some reason, I've been enraptured from the beginning. His cries send shivers through me, and his tears cause my knees to shake. What is it? Why is he so unique to me? He seems to be unique to Yamori, as well. He's lasted considerably longer than most, excluding me. It makes me think that perhaps I'll be tossed aside in favor of this new toy. Oh well, I've been growing bored of this torture anyway.

My first conversation with the boy was the last. We haven't spoken since the day he arrived. The conversation is burned into my head, mainly because I've had nothing better to do. Intervals between Yamori's torture can be tedious. Memorizing our words gives me an activity to fill that void.

"I'm Hanako Himura, at your service," I introduced myself. "Who are you?" He looked completely terrified, as he still does, but he still had hope at that point. You can be terrified with or without it, but the difference between someone with hope and someone who's lost it is bigger than you'd think.

"Kaneki K-Ken. H-how long have you been here, Hanako?"

I let my head loll to one side in thought. "I don't know. I'd say three years, but that's just me guessing. I've estimated my birthday to have occurred three times, so that would make me sixteen. My last birthday was two and a half weeks ago, I think. Want to know what I got for a present? Yakumo gouged out both of my eyes for the three hundred, eighty fourth time, and he also went through the trouble of hacking off my left ear. It still hasn't grown all the way back yet. I heal pretty slow, after all."

The look on his face was wonderful as he gagged, trying not to throw up. I grinned, giggling to myself. How innocent, how unsullied he was. I knew it was going to be fun watching as he became stained with blood.

"What type of kagune do you have, Kaneki? I'll give you a prize if you guess mine!" He didn't respond, causing a growl to sprout in my throat. "It's rude to ignore me, you know? You're company!"

"Company?" he choked.

"Yes, company. Someone who comes to someone else's house, stays for a while, and then leaves. Broaden your vocabulary a little."

"S-so that means...I'll get out of here?"

"Of course!" I smiled warmly. "But not before he kills you. Or maybe you'll get lucky and I'll decide to break you out. But that's highly unlikely. If you really want to live, it's kill or be killed. Kill Yakumo and we both have a free ticket out of here."

He shook his head, much to my surprise, refusing without hesitation. "My mother always told me it better to be hurt than to hurt people."

"Is that so? Where is that mother of yours now? Bet she ended with some tragic fate. I would've liked to have met her! No one as stupid as that can live in this world. Her struggling along like a lost child...that would've entertained me to no ends! You know what? You take that advice! Take it and live by it so I can watch you limp along like your mother did until you finally fall to the ground dead." Much more to my calculations than before, he began to sob. Ah, so I was right. His mother must've died. Pity. Two injured animals are better than one.

It was then that Yamori had to interrupt us. I immediately lowered my head, a smile playing at my lips. My hair hid my face so he couldn't see my amused expression as he approached me. I shrunk against my chair in mock fear, crying out when a hand grabbed my hair and yanked my head up. My lips trembled, not with terror, but in desperation not to smile.

"Don't hurt her!" I glanced at Kaneki, who began straining against his restraints. Perfect, just perfect! Struggle more, despair more, and keep my boredom at bay!

"Count, bat."

Voice shaking, I started from where I left off. "132….125…"

My memory ended with my screech and the feeling of fingers digging into my skull and my eyeballs gushing out and down my cheeks.

"I've got a choice for you, Kaneki." My head snaps up. Huh? When did Yamori come back? And this time, he isn't the only one who came. He's brought the two who bring us food, pushing them to the ground if front of Kaneki. "Choose one."

The boy stares at the two struggling in front of him, frozen. "What?"

"Choose one to save. I'll kill the other."

I have to bite my cheek until it bleeds to keep from laughing. If you can't break a person through physical torment, break them through the mind. It doesn't matter what result Kaneki's choice results in. He won't be the same after this. It should put a stop to my fascination with him, but he'll be going out with a bang. He won't disappoint me.

The wimp doesn't choose either, instead choosing to watch Yamori kill them both while he begs for them to be spared. I hold back a squeal of delight when I see the horror plastered across his face, the tears that spill over in streams.

However, I then notice the smirk on Yamori's face and I stop trying to contain myself. My unwavering grin transforms into a scowl as I watch him. He's like a rooster, or a peacock strutting. It doesn't take much to see the pride and power he's exerting. Disgusting, if disgusting could describe the sickness swelling up within me. What did he ever do deserve this much power? What right does he have to hold such authority over me? Although, I guess he's not wielding it over me right this minute.

I seethe in my chair, pressing against the chains that hold me to calm myself. They rip into the skin around my ankles and wrists until they're cut raw. I concentrate on the searing pain to keep myself from breaking free and pouncing. Not yet. Have patience, Hanako. Wait until the time is right.

Then, Yamori turns his attention to me and I drop my head again, concealing my chuckles. "Have your eyes grown back? Is it time again?"

"No," I whimper, biting my lip. He's stomping over when-

He stops. And turns back to Kaneki

I raise my head in astonishment. I think this is the first time he's left me with my eyesight intact. My gaze travels to Kaneki, who's gone still. I wonder what must be going through his mind. He's probably replaying the images of the ghouls' deaths over and over again, agonizing over his weakness. That's what I did when I was first exposed to the ugly reality of death. Now it's become simply an everyday occurrence.

I stare at him, waiting for signs of his internal war. As I do, my eyes begin to drift shut until I black out.

It's weird, but I've been able to sleep unusually sound since Kaneki came. Maybe it's because he doesn't whine and break down into hysterics when Yamori isn't here, or that he doesn't insist on talking twentyfour seven. Whatever it is, I'm sure I've lost the bags under my eyes that've been there ever since I could remember. It'll be strange to look in a mirror after I escape and find them missing. But I don't know when my insomnia will return, so any chance to rest is welcome. Yamori will think I've passed out from fear.

I start when a loud slam reverberates throughout the room. I'm about to begin my act when other noises reach my ears. Crashing...the sounds of kagune colliding. It's time.

This time I don't have to hide my persistent grin. I meet Yamori's eyes head on. Whatever I look like, it leaves a hint of puzzlement and confusion in his expression, but he dismisses me and gives his attention to Kaneki.

Aogiri seems to be being attacked by the doves. I'm sure there are opposing ghouls as well, judging by what I'm hearing, but that doesn't concern me. It just means more chaos to cloak my escape.

That's when I notice a variation of the norm. Kaneki is no longer stuck in his seat, and his dark hair has turned stark white. I tip my head to the side, trying to comprehending what I'm seeing. Did I miss something while I slept? But what could've turned his hair white like that? Surely it wasn't dyed, right?

I jump when Kaneki leaps at Yamori. My eyes latch on the boy, processing the red around his mouth before he wipes it off.

Blood! That was blood! He took a bite out of Yamori! Unable to contain myself, I cackle. This is too FUNNY!

Of course, Yamori doesn't let him off like that. Kaneki ends up with at least one more chunk of Yamori meat that I see. He's quite agile, isn't he? I'm impressed, him being only a half ghoul and all. I think it's lovely when his one eye is activated. The contrast between his left and right eye is beautiful.

And I finally get to see his Kagune. I've always envied the Rinkaku types. It would be so useful to have so many fluid moving whips like that, and their healing ability is beyond compare! It suits him, the tentacles his kagune create.

Yamori on the other hand...I don't like how his looks at all. He has a kakuja, which is interesting, but it's big and clunky. There's absolutely no appeal to it. Kakujas should be sleek and elegant. His attacks also lack grace, which irks me.

I shriek when Kaneki pins down our tormentor and begins to devour him. My heart beats audible in my ear, my entire body shaking from the thrill. This...this coward...Kaneki is amazing! Just a few hours ago, I never imagined he could kill a mouse. I knew he'd please me, but this exceeds everything! How unbearably wonderful he's turned out to be! I don't know how much longer I can simply spectate.

Before Yamori is dead, however, he stops. The brute of a man is left on the ground without his kakuja, or any signs of his kagune. I look to Kaneki, baffled.

"I'm not entirely sure I should release you, actually," he admits. "It might be better if the ghoul investigators find you."

I giggle. "Not to worry, then! You don't have to make that choice." I yank my arms from behind me, the chains snapping like a twig. "I have a high resistance to RC suppressants."

He turns to leave, but I call out. "Hey wait! Tell me why you aren't killing him! With that sort of strength, you certainly have the power to."

He doesn't stop walking. "Do what you want with him," he tells me. And that's it. The miracle of a boy disappears around the corner and I'm left alone, except for the beaten, bruised, and dying form on the floor.

I snap the chains around my legs and walk over to Yamori. The puncture wounds from Kaneki's kagune seep slowly, creeping onto the floor around him in puddles. What a terrifyingly delicious sight.

I unleash my bikaku, squatting down to see the face of the man I've let rip me apart for so long. The tears flowing from his face arouse nothing in me. I feel not interest, happiness, or compassion. He's in this condition because he was weak, and yet he played like a king. He blinded himself to anything greater than himself. This is what happens to those like him.

"Tell me, Yakumo," I address him directly. I wonder if he realizes how long I've remembered his name. He only told me once, before he took me here. Does he realize how significant the fact that I held onto his name is? "I've been curious for a while, now. Why did you pick me up in the first place? And why did you keep me for so long? I expected you to try to get rid of me long ago."

He gasps from the pain, the noise he makes guttural and inhuman. Still, I'm able to decipher his words. "...B…'ause….re...mind….your eyes are….the...same...as my mo...ther's…"

"Thank you," I smile. "That's all I need to know. But I have to say two things. First, I'm a ghoul, not a bat. I have better eyesight than most things and that won't change no matter how many times you poke your fingers in my head. And second. Your torture did nothing to me. I haven't changed in the slightest since we first met, and that whole time you thought you had me under your thumb, I was laughing at you. You have no idea how hard it was for me not to laugh in your face as you tore out my eyes. Good-bye, Yakumo. You've grown boring."

And with that, I use the heel of by boot to pierce one of his eyes staring up at me. I decide to leave him alive, as well. I'm not entirely sure of Kaneki's reason for doing so, but I'm well aware that continuous pain is far worse than death. I'll leave him for those vulture-like doves to come scavage.

I don't really have any particular destination in mind. I'll probably go back to wandering and searching for entertainment. Maybe I'll settle down for a little while first, though. I could find a nice park, or cafe, and house myself near it. Perhaps I'll try school again….or not.

Kaneki floats around in the back of my mind, nudging me so that I don't forget. No, I won't forget someone like him. It is my and only prayer to god, if such a being exists, that I meet him again. May our fates intertwine so that I never grow tired of life again. There's no doubt in me that I'll see him in the future, and when I do, I won't let him escape. I'll sew ourselves together surgically if that's what it takes. The moment we cross paths, he's mine.

And nothing is strong enough to keep that from happening.

She's obsessed. I should mention that as I usually do, direct character descriptions will be avoided to allow to the reader to visualize her in any way they wish. or put themselves in her place. Although, this is a character you may not to be. I'll include how I envision her in the last chapter. I realize I left the description out in my last story, so here it is now: The character Esther Bryant has long, brown hair that she normally keeps in a braid. Her skin isn't particularly pale, but it isn't dark by any means. Her eyes are hazel. If anyone has questions about that, please ask, but not in the comments for this story. I'll get back to writing the rest of this one, but be warned. It may vary from the manga because it isn't actually finished yet. I'm taking a chance here.

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!