Disclaimer: I do not own "Tokyo Ghoul". "Tokyo Ghoul" was created and copyrighted by Sui Ishida.
"Second Chances"
CHAPTER 1
That dark alley. That was where it began. Ken Kaneki was walking the girl of his dreams, Rize Kamishiro, home after their first date. He went willingly, of course. She said she was afraid to walk there alone after those ghoul attacks, and he wanted to make sure she got home safe and sound.
Then, it happened.
She buried her head on his shoulder, and spoke to him in a sweet, loving manner.
"Kaneki...I've noticed the way ...you've been looking at me...and the truth is...I've been...watching you too."
Kaneki smiled, but then...
What seemed to be a moment of pure joy suddenly turned into a nightmare.
Kaneki felt pain in his shoulder when he suddenly realized Rize bit him and tore off a piece of his flesh. He fell backward and was suddenly paralyzed with fear. He looked at her as her facial expression turned into a manical grin, blood dripping down her mouth, and saw her beautiful eyes turn red and black.
It can't be, he told himself.
Rize gave an evil laugh.
"Your expression's beautiful. I understand. How could you have known? You could never have guessed THAT I WAS A GHOUL!"
Rize started to laugh again. Kaneki managed to stand and began to run as fast as he could.
He didn't get far.
When he started to run, he didn't notice her kagune coming out of her back. She used it to grab him and drag him back.
He managed to break free and started to run again.
As he ran, he couldn't believe his luck.
I'm such an idiot! He thought to himself. Thinking back now...her bumping into me...asking me out on a date...IT WAS ALL CALCULATED!
As he still ran, he remembered a line from a poem he read that fitted this situation perfectly:
"Will you walk into my parlour?" Said the Spider to the Fly.
Once more, Rize's kagune grab Kaneki and fling him into a wall.
As Rize moved in for the kill, Kaneki looked at her with sadness. He thought she was the one. The one he was destined for. instead of having his admiration and beginning love for her being reciprocated, he was going to end up being a meal that was quickly eaten and forgotten about.
But fate had other plans.
Above them was some steel beams being used in a construction project. Beams that weren't tied down properly. The steel rope that held them in place snapped and they fell. As they fell they cast a shadow over Rize. Rize looks up, as does Kaneki, and then with a sudden burst of strength, Kaneki stands up and shoves her out of the way.
If you asked him why he did it, he would say he didn't know, but at that moment, for some strange reason, it was the right thing to do.
Rize stood there in shock. She couldn't believe what just happened. He saved her. After what she just did to him, he saved her. Why would he do that? She asked herself.
Rize then heard people coming. Her kagune retracted and her eyes went back to normal before they can reach her.
Kaneki was still alive under the rubble. As he went in and out of consciousness, he could make out some of what was being said:
"Are you okay, miss?"
"He saved me."
"Someone's buried under that?!"
"Quick, call an ambulence!"
"He's still alive!"
"Few broken bones..."
"No organs ruptured..."
"Massive blood loss..."
"Needs a transfusion..."
"Same blood type?"
"Beginning transfusion..."
Everything went dark, and then Kaneki awakens and finds himself in a bed in a hospital room.
As he came to, he saw a doctor and nurse standing over him. They gave a smile to him.
"Where...where am I?" Kaneki asked.
"In the hospital. You've been in a coma for a few weeks. That was a very brave thing you did." The doctor replied.
"Brave?"
Just then, the door to the room flings open and Kaneki's best friend, Hide, rushes in.
"Kaneki! You're finally awake!" He says.
A security guard rushes in.
"Sorry, sir! I tried to tell him visiting hours hadn't started yet, and he just rushed in." He told the doctor.
"It's quite alright. No harm done. Besides, having visitors helps with the healing process. Let them see each other. Kaneki, I'll check in later and see how you are doing." The doctor says as he, the nurse, and the guard leave.
Hide takes a chair and sits next to Kaneki.
"So, how are you doing?" Kaneki asks him.
"What'd ya think? Been worried sick about you, old buddy! If you're going to play the hero again, try not to get hurt, okay?"
"Hero?"
Poor guy! Can't seem to remember! Hide thinks to himself.
"That's right! See for yourself!" Hide says as he pulls out a newspaper and shows it to him. Kaneki takes it. The article read:
YOUNG MAN 'S HEROIC ACT SAVES GIRLFRIEND
Kaneki began reading the article, and it told everything, except about Rize being a ghoul and attacking him first. Turns out Rize was the one interviewed for the article. Figures, he thinks to himself. Also, the article mentioned he needed a blood transfusion afterwards, and she donated some of hers since they both had the same blood type.
Well, I didn't expect that. He thought to himself.
Then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Kaneki said.
The door opens, and a nurse comes in.
"Kaneki, you have another visitor." She says.
"I do?"
The nurse nods and steps aside, and Rize enters.
Kaneki is shocked at seeing her.
"Hi, Rize!" Hide says, not noticing the look on Kaneki's face.
Kaneki manages to compose himself.
"Hi, Hide." Rize replied as she got a chair and sat next to them.
"I...I didn't expect to see you here." Kaneki says.
"Well, you should, old buddy! She's been coming here everyday to check on you! You definitely got yourself a keeper!" Hide says in a joyful manner.
She has? Kaneki asks himself.
Hide then stands up.
"Not leaving already, are you?" Kaneki asks.
"Yeah. Got to work on my term paper. Besides, three's a crowd, and I'm sure you two lovebirds would like some time alone together. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Alright, then."
Hide gives Kaneki a hug and walks to the door.
"Take care, buddy. You too, Rize."
"Take care, Hide." Rize replied.
Hide leaves, and then an awkward silence fills the room.