Chapter I
Dead or Alive

Still alive, huh?
My eyes flicker open, and I take in a deep breath. The stretch of muscles and ligaments hurt me at first, I sit up and groan. A sheet falls off me, revealing a dark room, around me, in a grid pattern, are other white sheets, laid over bodies. Or what remains of them. I stand up, and walk between the bodies, approaching the window on the far side of the room. Just as I'm sliding out, a shout echoes, "Hey! Stop!"
I slip out, and fall to through the air, landing painfully on my knees, before stumbling into a run, and vanishing.

1 month later, 15th Ward, Tokyo

God, I need a haircut.
I grimace at my reflection in the window, before lowering my head and diverting off the street. Wandering for a while, I find a fire escape and climb up to the roof. Twenty stories above ground, focusing on my hearing and sight, I search for a place to recuperate. After ten minutes, I sigh and stand up. Giving up on the idea completely.
"Guess I'll have to do something else then."

"And today is the one month anniversary of the Mori High School massacre in the 7th ward. A total of 50 students between the ages of 15-19 were killed, in the attack carried out by what was believed to be a ghoul organization." a news reporter says over the bus radio.
I bite the inside of my cheek, and tighten my grip on the standing handle, the reporter continues, "The CCG is still carrying out an investigation on the Ghouls behind the attack, and offer their condolences to the families of the victims, assuring they're doing all they can to serve out justice. In other news.."
I watch the scene passing outside my window to kill time, until I finally arrive at the 4th Ward. Keeping my head down, I maneuver through the streets, until I find the door, leading into the HySy ArtMask Studio. I open the door to be temporarily thrown by the dark interior, filled with stands displaying dozens of masks, each different in their own way. A head of a man appears from behind a stand, "Hello?"I pull down my hood, "Hi, I came to pick up my mask."
"Oh, I'm just adding the last details now, but I will be another while so it can dry."
"It's fine, may I borrow a pair of scissors?"
He frowns, I hold up a section of my hair, "Need to cut it."
"Ah, okay," he nods, before pointing towards his desk, "Go sit in the chair over there, I'll be over in a minute to do it for you."
I nod once, taking off my worn jacket, and sitting down. The man, comes over after a while, and starts combing out the knots in my hair.
"How would you like it?"
I clamp my mouth shut, resisting the urge to shout out, as it feels like I'm being scalped, "Just past my jaw."
After some painful tugging, and muttering from him, I hear the snap of scissors, and feel a cold breeze on the back of my neck.
"Is there a particular reason why a girl as young as yourself is needing a mask?"
I stare at the small mirror, watching the movements of the man, "Like every Ghoul, I need some protection when I hunt."
"Young aren't you?" he raises an eyebrow
"Aren't we all?" I glare at him through the mirror.
By the time he finishes cutting my hair, it's short, not even brushing my shoulders, and my bangs are shorter, not covering as much as my face as before. I start fishing money out of my pocket, and hand it too him, "Will this cover the mask and haircut?"
He counts it silently to himself, and nods, "That will do."
"Thanks." I take the mask and walk out. After I reach the bus stop, I look at the mask in my hand, "Kitsune huh?"

A few months later, ? ? Ward, Tokyo
"There it is!"
"Regroup now!"
I land on my knees on the rooftop, and secure my mask, "Bring it."
I launch into the group of CCG operatives, attacking and moving between them, breaking up their group. I receive multiple hits on my arms, but dodge any lethal attacks. Shouts, and cries of pain, erupt from the group of six. I hit and attack my opponents until all of them are on the ground, injured, but still breathing. In these past months, I've only personally killed to feed, whether their injuries kill them or not is their fault.
I climb up to the roof, feeling my few injuries heal, and my body repairing itself steadily.
My strongest assets is healing, and hand to hand combat. I still have no control over my kagune.
As I'm leaving, a prickling feeling runs down my spine, and the hairs on the back of my neck rise up.

I'm being watched.

I turn around to see a dark, hooded figure on the rooftop a few blocks away. We stare at each other for a moment, before I turn and sprint. Losing myself into the streets of Tokyo. Whoever was watching me, doesn't follow. After half an hour of moving around Tokyo, I stop, and take deep breaths, before going into the underground tunnels. I follow the straight, narrows paths until I find the small alcove, and the loose brick. I pull out the brick and push inwards into the wall, until it budges, and opens up into a dimly lighted room. Two people sitting on a couch look up, "Ame-san! What took you so long?!"
"Doves." I kick off my boots, and slip out of my coat. The two, Naoki and Tsbasa, look annoyed, "Man, will those guys ever just leave?!"
I grab a can of coffee and sit down, before shrugging, "Meals on wheels if you're strong enough.""Wow Ame-san," Tsubasa says, "You're really tough."
I take a swig of the coffee, "The Doves aren't out only problem though, someone was watching me fight them."
The two look spooked, I continue, "I lost them, don't worry. I'm sure if we just lay low for a while, it won't be a problem."
"Ya," Naoki nods, "I'm sure they'll lose interest soon."
"We're lucky to have you as our leader Ame-san!"
"Long live the Lost!"
I mime a cheers motion, but don't take part in the excitement. If someone is watching me, and made an effort not to be seen. I doubt they'll lose interest so easily.
I need to investigate.