Tokyo Ghoul and all its affiliated characters are property of Sui Ishida.

This Fan Fic is of my sole ownership and imagination.

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Chapter 1

Art Ink and Bar Drinks

The clamp pressed hardly on the skin and the sensation lingered throughout my body as I watched him release the object and moved to his little table beside him while on his wheeled stool. A sharp eye I gave to my best friend who held my hand grinning like crazy.

"It won't hurt I swear." Itori said smiling that angelic smile of hers.

Which also meant something will happen but 'I will be here for you'.

"That's not the issue here, I was wondering if-"

"The needle is sterilized-no STDs, viruses or whatever, you will be safe trust me."

I gave her the 'Are-You-Sure?' look as my lips wobbled. I gave this a few more internal second-thoughts. I was scared. I was worried. I was wondering if this was at this point….the right choice.

I jolted nearly jumping out my own skin when I felt his skin on my tummy, his finger pressing inward on my navel as he held the needle in his hand and looked at the area from different angles.

He looked up at me and gave a warm smile. "Relax, trust me, I've been doing this for eight years I can practically get the job done with my eyes closed."

"I rather you not close your eyes then if I can beg to differ."

He blinked and then laughed as he looked up at my best friend.

"Where the hell you got her from?" He asked as he pressed the needle on the skin. I was looking at it but trust me I could not feel a single thing. Fact was he numbed the area about 10 minutes ago but I could only imagine the feeling of that sharp object pressed against the unbroken- well- soon to be broken skin.

"I found her in a corner under the sheets talking to her teddy bear that I will say, goes with her everywhere up to this day."

He paused, "Huh."

"I-It was in junior high, it was gym practice; I didn't want to take part so I hid in the faculty room and that teddy bear is my only friend it's not like it goes everywhere." I defended, my tone full of attitude yet still that was where she found me.

"Really…" She said turning away looking at my black and gold handbag resting on the table next to the door. The zipper open and my teddy bear's arm sticking out.

Guilty.

Okay…..so maybe I still carry it everywhere even though I'm twenty, but come on it's an attachment. I sighed and inhaled deeply only for the air to come out faster than I even expected.

"Ah!" I yelped as I felt the needle go straight through my skin.

He stabbed me; he flipping stabbed me with the needle!

"How did you feel that, I completely numbed the skin?" He said with a puzzled expression. "You weren't supposed to feel that."

"I wasn't supposed to feel that!"

"Yeah she weren't supposed to have felt that, ugghh, blood." Itori pointed out as a little bit of blood trickled from the wound and the gun looking instrument he used made another clicking sound as he pulled the needle from the bottom and placed the navel ring in the lock and released it. He moved the gun away for me to see the ring nicely placed in its area, gosh what a device that was, surely saved me the trouble of feeling him pushing the ring through the newly pierced hole.

"There you go- your navel piercing." He said to me. I'm sure I remember his name Gavon…Gary…Gavandor?

"Looks great~" Itori complimented resting her hand on her hip looking at the ring as I blinked a couple times…it does look kind of…cool. "Like it?" Itori asked as I sat up while the guy dealt with much smaller issues such as wiping off the clamper, throwing the needle in a bag, clearing the desk for the next customer- just doing his regular professional stuff.

"I guess," I answered her not really one to be over descriptive in situations where I have been hurt. Thank god for numbers.

I stood up pulling my shirt down and went for my bag. This is my 2nd piercing since month and before this month counting so far since the year, this was my fifth.

"Hey- don't forget to come back to me when you want to get that tongue piercing done." The guy said to me grinning from ear to ear as his dimple piercings surely added to his smile. As overly tattooed and pierced as he was, he was really nice and easy going, I can see why Itori referred him to me. You certainly shouldn't judge people by their appearance.

"Once this one is completely healed and I get a week or two of lay-way period." I said smiling to him.

"Govenor, say when is the earliest period I can get that thing?" Itori said making small talk as I gathered my stuff going through my bag. I had class in the next 45 minutes which meant I had a good period of gazing and probably squeezing in a ten minute sleep. On second thought, no ten minute sleep.

Once I gathered everything I turned to check out the two who were talking stuff I never really paid much attention to. As far as I knew Itori was a friendly and easy going person. She knew any and every one and was well acquainted with anything and everything around her, so her talking with people nearly everywhere we went was a norm for me. Plus, because of her connections I benefitted as well.

"Kaichi~ Time to go, I'm starving~"

"Of course you are. That was sarcasm right?" I asked as she hugged me from behind.

We left Pins and Needles saying bye to Govenor who stood waving us off at the store door before closing it and flipping the open sign.

"We're his last customers?"

"Huh- Oh- He has something to take care of so he shall be closing up early."

"Oh okay, so tonight, are we still gonna go to the club, please say no…"

She paused and looked at me, "No."

"Why do we have- wait, did you say no-"

"Yes, unfortunately some old group is having a get together at my bar so my hands will be tied." She said with a loud sigh.

Itori had a bar it was really classic and nice I loved the décor and all but I wasn't frequently welcomed. She commented on dangerous men being her customers so for my safety I shouldn't visit as often but even then, there she was working, owning and serving at the bar as a bartender. Now…who is in real danger?

"Why your place?" I questioned. Her bar wasn't the famous type but it went as good as being well known. For a university student even I have heard some of my colleagues mention it stating it as a high-class and exquisite bar of high taste. Yet, no one really went there for group gathering.

"They are distant friends of mine."

"Hmph, of course they are." I said making a puffy face.

"Awww Kaichi don't tell me you're jealous? You are my favorite of them all~" She said smothering me with that heavy affection in her voice lacing her fingers in mines hugging my hand tightly.

"Nuu…" I said fanning her away, "I'm not jealous. Let me help out."

"Huh?" She halted in her steps her red hair blowing in the wind as she leaned over to me so close I could see deep into her eyes. "Are you crazy!" She exclaimed poking me in the forehead. I lost my balance and crash landed into the café sign that was put up in front the café with the menu and special written all over.

"Why would I be crazy?" I said from below looking up at her a few people staring but at the moment I was more fixed on her instead of being embarrassed.

"You know you can't come there I tell you it's a danger-"

"But you work there." I pointed out.

She paused and looked at me. She smiled softly and stooped down giving me a hand pulling me up with the strength I still couldn't understand how she had and pulled me into a tight hug.

"If anything happened to my little kaichi I would dieeeeeee~"

"And then you would come back to life and kill the person who killed me." I said in a monotone voice. Over exaggerating isn't she?

"Ahhhhhhh! Don't talk about someone killing you, just to see your limp body lying on the ground blood all over you soaking on the floor with you smothered with blood all over your clothes and face!"

"Gahhh okay okay people are staring stop stop!"

She released me and I fixed my clothes looking up at her, she was a little taller than me especially days like this when she was in heels.

Curse you Itori-curse you and the fact that you can wear heels and not fall, have a perfect body figure, swoon any guy over that you want and at the same time be sexy and dangerous. But I was still in training. I won't lose hope in my potential.

"Fine," I said telling her what she wanted to hear, "I have class soon, let's get something to eat."

She smiled and we went into the café.

"Itori and Kaisa chan please be careful not to break the sign" Kaneki said to me smiling as I blushed embarrassed.

"Of course not I-"

"Kaisa san doesn't have such a heart" Yoshimaru said coming from behind the counter he was brewing some coffee. I swear I have been coming to Anekui for 2 years straight and this old man doesn't look like he even aged a second. "It's a pleasure to have you as usual, shall it be your favorite or your special?"

I smiled. "My favorite please." I replied to him since I was a regular here and he knew me better than I even knew myself- food relating…ly.

"And Miss Itori?" He asked looking over at her- she was digging through her handbag before finding an envelope.

"AHA!" she exclaimed pulling the envelope out and handed it to him.

"Oh?"

"I forgot to hand it to you the last time, remember, you requested it last week Friday"

He looked at it questionable for a while before his expression relaxed, "Ah of course, but Miss Itori this should be dropped off tomorrow morning"

She smiled at him as she had a little sign of embarrassment on her face, "Ah yes but, tonight will be a full night at the bar and I don't want it to be late or left out of schedule."

"Ah, very good witted and thoughtful as always Miss Itori I shall get ahead of my schedule as well. As for your regular order it will be on the house."

"Thank you~"

I watched him move to take another order before going back to behind the counter.

"Today seems a bit empty where is everyone?" I asked to Itori who was humming softly to herself.

"Oh, don't you know every end of month they have to personally go pick up the imported coffee beans."

"Oh, well I don't mind, the coffee here tastes like heaven, so however far or high I won't argue- it must be retrieved." I said smiling.

After having coffee Itori and I went to the train station and both boarded different trains. Coming off at my stop I went to the University.

I was a Fine Art student pursuing my career in being an artist. It was something I enjoyed, something I loved, something I was very passionate about. Few of my artwork I sold to Itori to put in her bar and most to my customers in the market who are interested in my forte.

Other than my artwork, my other source of income was well…it wasn't something you would bravely say but I take…elicit photos. A girl has to work for her doe. (Something Itori taught me)

But likewise Itori and I were in the same business but for a picture half naked the money does pay well. Itori invests it in her bar while I invest it in the fact that I live alone, I have artistic needs and my basic living. I lived alone at an apartment building and sometimes Itori would stop by especially when we were younger. Itori and I go way back to kindergarten and if she never reached out for me, I can say without shame that I would be living under a rock right now. But honestly I loved the company of myself especially as an orphan where I grew up having only me, myself and I.

Itori basically exist as one of the only humans who knew me through and through. Since this year my resolution was being fulfilled by her in pulling me out of my shell by doing things I admire. Most people would see it as dangerous but I had dark sides of me. I loved tattoos, piercings, nearly all the forms of music and drinking.

Speaking of piercings. The minute I sat before my canvas I felt the stinging sensation in my tummy meaning the numbing cream wore off and my body was physically accepting the fact that it has been once more, since this year, penetrated, piercing-ly- if there is such a word in piercings context. No other penetration going on here!

I smiled to myself; at least I was getting to do the things I loved. Couple hours passed and I made much progress on my unfinished piece that I was submitting as my finale.

It was the visual of a man pulling his chest sewn up by a very large needle that was pierced through his heart. On his head was a bag with two dark holes and in the background the sight of a road littered with the disfigured bodies of humans moving around. It was done using acrylic paint by a 120X80cm sized canvas, I was thinking of calling it The Changing or maybe to bring out the significance of the needle and thread, The Tailor's Virus. The choices were numerous.*

I covered my work cleaning the area it was minutes after 8. Once again I got carried away with my work of art. I went to the women bathroom a few University girls coming out one stall. I caught a glance of a lighter in her hand and the faint scent of cigarettes in the air. I sighed and moved to the face basin washing off my hands. I paused staring in the mirror. I was in long fitted black denim jeans, my purple checkered jacket wrapped around my waist and a black crop top saying 'I kissed your mother last night' in blue running ink on the front. I lifted the shirt and looked at the piercing. It looked better than I imagined it to; as a matter of fact it looked quite hot.

I quickly washed my hands, ran my fingers through my messy bun with a few leave-outs at the back and sides and left the bathroom. I made my way back to the art room I moved so briskly I swore I was gonna bolt down the hallway if something startled me.

I feel nervous.

I pushed the university doors outwards moving down the staircase and off the campus grounds. I grabbed my phone from out my bag. Yes I was slightly paranoid and yes I am scared shitless right now. To be honest, I had a feeling someone was stalking me. This is the second time.

First was when I was at the grocery store on Sunday and I went in the freezer section to get some frozen fish fillet and now it happened again. My fingers tapped friskily on the screen trying to get Itori to see if she would pick up.

I stopped at the bus stop and waited a good while hoping to hear the ringing come to a stop. Instead it went straight to voicemail. Damn it. Okay I needed to calm down there was no reason to get riled up over this. I need to relax.

The door opened and Itori blinked at me a couple times.

"W-Why are you here?"

"To help you." I said looking up at her. We were at the backdoor of the bar in the empty alley way and I had knocked on the door for around a good 3 minutes till she finally responded.

"Only you would knock my door like that, you're lucky I have a good sense of hearing, now get in here its dark out there"

"R-Right."

She closed the door behind us and turned to me rubbing her forehead. "You shouldn't be here."

"I know, but, can I help you?"

"What happened to going straight home-"

"Can I?" I asked cutting her off. I was scared; right now she was the only person I wanted to be around.

She grabbed my hand and pulled me to the locker area. She started ruffling through a locker in the employee area and I took off my bag and jacket.

"Put on this." She said as she handed me a thigh length dress that had a ruby red corset top with black sheer sleeves and collar with the waist down-black ruffles with red embroideries. I removed everything quickly and put it on.

She undid the bun as I felt my hair fall on my shoulders making me feel instantly shy. "Don't worry, I just want to ensure you look nothing like you do out on the streets" She said as she pulled the sides to the back clipping it with pin. "The schedule is tight don't talk to anyone out there but at the same time be friendly" She said smiling as she combed through my hair putting a few strands over my shoulder. I turned to her and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror inside the locker. "Wear this" She said giving me a half face masquerade mask. I tied the strings and applied the red lipstick and smiled brightly.

"Who are you?" She question smiling

I laughed and looked in the mirror.

We both stepped out entering the bar from behind the counter. She was right. Tonight was a full night.

"New bartender?" A man questioned looking at me smirking. He had light blonde hair and wore a business like suit. His charisma however was loud and straightforward.

"She's new." Itori said resting a mug of red wine on the table and I swore the counter shook under her actions as I saw an awkward moment before me.

"I see." was all he said taking the mug drinking.

She talked to a few people as she pulled out some glasses, shook around the mixer and made a quick few glances around the shop. I did the same except no people-talking. I looked around the shop there were a few men glancing at me, some were talking, some never noticed me, either way I felt a bit awkward. I liked drinking yes, but my drinking was wine and I never loved being around so many…men.

A bar surely was hectic the air was thick. I felt rushed but maybe it was because I was the one behind the counter for them I'm sure it was an easy going occasion feeling relaxed and all.

"Kaichi, 4 cups with ice, 2 with none and 3 with lemon slices"

"…..huh"

"…Kaichi…"

"C-C-Coming right up!" I said as her glare was enough to keep the request burnt down in my head and knowing instantly what that meant. I got the nine glasses out and began getting to work. Bartending wasn't easy, especially when you're the assistant. I do the glass getting, ice filling, side sharing and cleaning up of the counter. But from what I saw Itori had it harder getting the stylish shakings and pouring.

"If everyone orders red wine shouldn't you call it Helter Skelter Red Wine Bar and not just a bar?" I whispered to her as I passed her filling the ice container with a new bag of ice.

She grinned, "It's just something most people have when they come here."

"I guess I should try it too." I said, "When I have the time but not now when I can't even feel the tip of my fingers…" I joked as she laughed and helped me with the bag.

"This is 50 pounds so be careful" She said taking it from me and I smiled nodded, "No problem Itori of the strength of a thousand men." I teased bringing up her notorious high school name.

She smiled at me and I got the handy towel wiped off the glass counter chiseled by the water of cold drinks. I paused when a glass rested on the surface and I looked up at the customer.

"Oh- Would you like…..another…" I blinked a couple times as I looked at the man before me.

He was pale skinned, wore a side cut hair style with a medium length side bang. His hair was a silky black, but wasn't as black as his eyes with small red irises surrounded by red veins that melted into the abyss blackness of his sclera. He had an eyebrow and lip piercing and from his arms I could see various designs of tattoos across his skin. I swallowed.

I stared at him and he looked back before looking down at the glass."Pardon?"

"R-Right a refill." I said embarrassed as hell. He ordered the red wine I swallowed deeply.

"Ice…no ice?" I asked. My arms were shaking and even though he couldn't see my lower half I was wiping my hand on my dress nervously. "I-I mean, yes of course ice who wants a warm drink?" I said with a nervous smile as I moved to the ice container picking up the scooper and the glass I stepped back and he was still looking at me very intently as well. Then, he suddenly smirked.

The glass slipped out my hand and crashed onto the floor breaking.

The bar went silent.

Holy….shit

The classic music in the background even stopped as the sound of the record changing filled the bar and everyone was looking at me.

"I-Its okay" I said aloud, "Glasses break all the time, No need to stare because the glass fell" I said with a reassuring smile I could hear Itori hissing under her breath as she ruffled through a draw.

"Isn't it because you got hurt" The guy suddenly said and I looked at him and everyone around me kept staring. For some reason I felt they were staring for the same purpose. I felt the stinging feel on my ankle, one of the splinters pricking me.

"Be more careful kai-chan" Itori said stooping downwards as she began pulling it out. I held a straight face but lost it the minute I felt the splinter completely out she put a band aid over it.

"That's what you were looking for…in the draw?"

"Yes, now, get moving; it's a bar not an auction-not because she's the prettiest thing here doesn't mean we should stare!" She said smiling. A couple of the men grinned as I smiled shyly to myself. Itori surely knows how to lighten the mood.

"Here you go." I said handing him the glass of wine.

"…Thank you."

"Your welcome, I'm sorry about that incident…" I said trying to at least start a conversation. I couldn't keep my eyes off him.

"U-chan- wear your god damn shades you have them for a reason!"

He frowned, "But I don't want to wear them when I'm in the bar."

"No but because of you, Uta, look what you caused-" She said cleaning a glass. The speed in the bar calmed down a bit and a few people began leaving.

He looked at me and for a good while.

"It's okay, I like his eyes." I said looking at Itori and then back at him, I didn't want to stare too hard.

"You're complimenting his eyes?" Itori said questioning me.

"Yes, he got the sclera tattooed, or its contact right?"

She looked at me smiling, "Right."

"Yes, it's really artistic, reminds me of Souvilan Decartis of 1743 who soaked his tongue in paint to make it black and carved the initials of his name and birth on his tongue."

"Ugggh, art talk, stop."

"No…continue." Uta said looking at me.

I turned to him and swallowed deeply. He just told me to continue. Okay.

"Oh, well most people don't really know of him, but he ahh, he believed that Judgemen.t Day already took place, heaven had passed and the place we were living, earth, was hell, and he was demonifing himself expressing his true nature to emancipate his true form. Umm…I never knew there were people who knew about him, do you like art"

"He does it." Itori said walking pass me with a crate of empty wine bottles. "Now, this bar won't serve itself, so get to work"

I nodded. Itori scolded me for chit-chatting with a customer nuuuuuuu.

I continued working and every time he finished a glass he would rest it on the counter and I would refill it: three ice cubes, warm red wine, ¼ inch from the surface. As soon as I rested it there his hand reached for it almost in perfect timing and every chance I got, I stole a look at him. I would turn away and refill other glasses but through them I could see the reflection of him; his body leaning against the counter, his elbows resting on the surface, his mind in the clouds but his head turned in my direction. How could I say this, I felt like he was intently watching me, but don't call me scared, I never said I didn't like it.

Hope the readers enjoy this as much as I did writing it. I have a lot of ideas and creativity to exhibit throughout this story so please stick around to be entertained and please, do not forget to review. It is your concerns and ideas and of course words of that motivates me.

*: this was actually on of my art piece!

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