"Events that happen in this world, are a continuous series of trifling things, and within those myriad pieces of puzzles, there is always a fragment that leads to the truth."
"Are you still having nightmares, Haise?"
The young investigator looks up to his mentor's unnerved visage. " Yes." A brief reply that causes a wrinkle to occur in the face of Arima.
To his satisfaction the answer did not alarm Arima, but showed that he had some sense of empathy no matter how small it may have been.
"Does the voice still call out for you?" Arima questions again, searching for something to resonate in his charge.
" He calls... For people that I have never heard of every night. Screaming inside my head, pounding against his bondage like a caged animal. Every night! It hurts! I want it to stop. Make it stop..!" Begging for his mentor to end the pain that plagues him every time his eyes close.
"Haise." A soft pat of his head stops his emotional turmoil.
"Ar..ima." The flow of tears relinquish within seconds of its beginnings.
"You are Haise. Those voices are not real. And you are here, not there. Calm down."
Arima's figure is embraced by the crying Haise. The boy holding him as tight as he could possibly achieve. Patting the black and white mop of hair, Arima gains a small, but genuine smile.
"The sooner you improve as an investigator, the sooner you can do more assignments with me. Nonetheless, I have something for you. Revealing a hidden book from his suit. It is all yours Haise."
Teary red eyes glance at the gift, hesitatingly grabbing it. It reminded him of the past, the dark cell in which he lived in. The books that Arima would bring for him and a few novels they would discuss here and there. " Thank you."
"You are welcome. Now prepare for dinner, it is the holidays after all." The final words of Arima, as he disappears into his study.
"Thank you for everything Arima.." Clutching the book tightly as he eases himself from the voices.
"Eto. Kanou has provided us a numerous amount of failures from the Owl. He only has exceptional one to show for all the effort. What do we do with him?" Tatara questions the shorter women about the doctor.
"Give him a few more weeks, then he will release my father into my care or he will die. Simple."
"Understood. I will have one of the lackeys inform Kanou of this notion, immediately." Tatara calmly informs while maintaining his own thoughts of her orders.
"Good. I have business to attend to, so if you need me. You know how to contact me." Eto ends the conversation as she leaves the throne room.
Ever since her sacrifice with Kaneki, life has been a tragedy. A miscarriage ruining her only piece of Kaneki, the CCG creating the Quinx to fight against ghouls namely Aogiri, and a failure in creating a new Kaneki. Life has been shaky, but if her and Arima's plan works out then it was a necessary sacrifice.
"I miss you... Kankei. Although, I could not save you from this plan. Your idiotic goal of saving my father will be realized, at least. But, for now you will have to bear the burden of life just a little more. Be safe, Kankei."
The glassy sky shatters to reveal sunlight from its constrains. A sign that even in the worst of times that there can still be hope.
"Project Quinx will be the starting foundation for future investigators. Therefore, we must find suitable candidates that meet the criteria and standards. Groom them for their weapon and see the results. Can you do that doctor?"
"It will be my pleasure, Director."
"Good. I have a few that managed to catch my eye."
Kuki Urie, Saiko Yonebayashi, Ginshi Shirazu, and Tooru Mutsuki. Each have characteristics that I believe will be suitable for the first generation Quinx. They will be offered a chance to undergo this operation and join the CCG. If they decline, then we will find you more."
"And, if they can not undergo the surgery Director. Then what? If you do not mind me asking, as the implications of this surgery will not be simple."
"They will be replaced with other candidates. Now, get to work and begin the preparations for the Quinx."
Touka and Yomo serve the final customers of the evening, tired from the onslaught of New Year's coffee drinkers. :Re sign goes from open to closed, as they relax for the evening. The fundamental staff of Antikeu all but remnants of the new cafe.
"Another long year, Yomo. Do you think we will be able to get the others back. Hinami, Kaya, Enji, Nishiki, and Kankei..."
"Only time can tell Touka. You go rest and I will take care of the cleaning down here." Yomo removes his apron and begins to wash the many dishes that have cumulated.
"I do not need nor want to rest." Touka offhandedly says not giving any mind to what Yomo is saying.
"You should go out then. It is almost New Years and have not spoken to any of your friends in a while. Why not go see the fireworks or visit them?"
"I might. Now, can we clean the cafe?"
A/n: A short introduction into A Fate Unkept. This is a direct sequel to The Beginning and will continue the same pairing.
A/N: Happy New Years! ( 11: 10pm for me)