Kaneki's POV...
Time passes per minute, as our fights had took turns and twists as we both pour enough attacks to one another, giving each other slight wounds and heavy injuries. This investigator. The Dove that I remembered, fought him at the bridge, continued our rivalry attempts. Embracing the pain and spilled blood, we continued on, till we felt wasted and had been draining a lot of our energy. Harboring the so called sweat weighting us on pause, that we have to distance ourselves to take on fresh breaths.
From a far distance, with only the two of us left remaining in the final scene, we exchanged glance to one another. He played out a smirk and I closed my eyes in reply. The surging adrenaline made our fight more thrilling however, I was still racing against time.
Not an inch. None of us let our guards down, but out of our haggard breaths and relaxing features, we took little replies. I begged for him to let me go as I spoke with honesty, that I don't wish to fight with him, but in some thought, he abruptly replied, "I'm afraid that's unavoidable.."
Grey mist, a mystifying cold shivers. Puffy snows falling down on us, the season of winter was about to come. Coming down to this fading world of ours. A crash of a nearby building, just in the middle of us, had made our environment more foggier magically turning our environment into something more private. In the midst, we didn't act at the impact, instead, I dropped down my mask, revealing my true face to him. One grey and one kakugan. The description of a half Ghoul. I asked for his name, as an exchange for revealing, and with that, he answered in return.
"Amon.." he lowly spoke, but enough to hear, "Amon Kotarou."
I closed my eyes, a small smile plastered in my face. I'll remember that name. At most that the human part me wished for his survival, the chance of killing him, which that I must avoid but on my Ghoul side, I need to defeat him nevertheless. And we both knew, that this fight won't end till their comes a winner among us.
Misty chills was around our visions, as our pumping heart beats and haggard roared breaths, aired through at our incoming last attack. My kagune upfront and his quinque, will now reveal who will become victorious in the end of this fight. Among our battle cries, and awaiting impacts, just then, a figure stood in the middle of us. Through instincts, I retracted my kagune and abruptly stopped mid way, facing the said figure, who had interrupted our fight. His blonde tip brown hair stood in view, as my eyes were wide open from its familiar description. He was wearing a CCG military suit, and a gun quinque strapped in his waist, but he didn't bother to use the gun. Not one single intent.
"Nagachika..?" Amon, who had put down his quinque, looked at the said person, with a questioning and demanding tone, "What's the meaning of this?" He asked for the irresponsible blonde about his suicidal attempts awhile ago.
He turned to face Amon, "Haha.." he chuckled, knowing the current situation he had entered, "Funny thing actually.." scratching his nape, he replied, "I stumbled my way in here and just got the urge to stop your fight.."
The sight of his back, had given me images of how calm and sociable he was on the streets. His yellow jacket, green shorts and his favorite red head phones, all laid in on his neck. Always bringing up music to bright up his day.
"Yo, Kaneki.." I only froze. Staring blankly into space, finding thoughts that this nightmare has had to be a dream. Hide, Hide was here.
"Woah~" he braced out his two fingers, under his chin, looking at my every being, "You styling up now Kaneki?" He asked, the usual teasing tone he always had, "And just when I thought for a hopeless Bookworm such as yourself wouldn't have the courage to.." I didn't utter a word, but he continued on as the second silence was heard.
"You've change.." he looked at me, then filtered up a small smirk. The playful smile he always had, but his brown irises holds out a sad emotion, "a lot.."
"...Hide..." I spoke, it's been so long since I called out his name. How long has it been? Since the day I became what I am, we rarely spoke nor see each other. I thought, hiding my Ghoul side to Hide would be a good thing and if all those tragedies isn't enough, I even need to resort to do things on my own. Leaving him behind, thinking about his safety like I did with Anteiku. But then, Anteiku is already being raided, and has been hunted by the doves.
Amon seem to want to question us, probably finding this scene a little too confusing, and I can tell he wants answers from this, about Hide's connection with me and I to him, however I quietly walked away, holding my injured shoulder with my mind weighting burden thoughts. But it wasn't enough, I had to get away. Away from here. In my backing attempts, unknowable of the origin, I fell back down. My pathetic self all revealed in front of my friend. I sat there cowering and cover what little thing I could get, refusing to let my kagune upfront and only thrusting my hands to cover my face, just for my well being and the sake of my friends life at stake. Shivering from the outmost fears I've loathe as I cough out, my words, all broken and stuttered in place, "g-get away from m-me..it's..it's not safe.."
"Whaat?" in a confuse tone, he spoke, with the mixed of disappointment in them. My hands gave a cracking hole for me to look at him. Hide was giving me the looks of a playful act but he's smiles never faded ever so slightly, and because of that I froze in place, thinking, "And waste my sacrifice to finally meet you?" I was silent. Why..why is he smiling for me? Can't he see my true form? "You don't know what if feels like to be in the middle of your fight.." this..this isn't right..I've predicted all thoughts if Hide found out about me. All scenarios and all problems calculated to a bitter end.
"..I know Kaneki.." he quietly admitted, "I knew you were a Ghoul this whole time.." In a shot, I immediately looked up at him, my mouth was left agape, as the words he commented only made me say, "H-How..?" and "W-When??"
"That day when Nishiki sempai kicked me. I'd thought of faking my unconscious that he would leave me anytime soon but man, he's kick was painful.." the cold breeze around us only felt colder than usual, as my eyes gave images of the time were Nishiki-sempai wound him and the aftermath were I chose to distance myself from him. It was that day, that I haven't been talking since with Hide. Till now-
"And then I saw you.." he said, a tone of gratefulness and a bidding 'thanks' between those hidden words and eyes that could bright up anyone's day, "You sacrificed yourself to save me that time.."
"N-No.." I negatively said, "Your wrong.. I-I almost ate you..eating you alive wasn't in my thought but my Ghoul side took in. I could've done it if it weren't for [her].." Every words, soaked with indescribable pain. Recalling of certain memories. The memory of how helpless and weak I was and the time that I was in my hazy trance to have almost ate him.
"Geez, some tough Ghoul you are.." he put down one knee, as he kneeled down to face me, "Your crying.." My tears fell down on my cheeks. How long had I've cried and long forgetting how to cry? Before I can make any thought, my tears continued to fell, dropping some at the cold cemented ground.
"Hide..I.." I tried coughing out however, a response action cuts me off. I was met by his hug. The warmth felt cozy and safe but I didn't embrace a hug in return. I thought a ghoul like me isn't allowed to have one, however, it felt like he's been wanting to hug me. Long to, like we used to, the days where were best friends. Hugging things out and joking about. All was too precious to remember.
"Hey, Kaneki..?" he spoke again, in a calming tone, releasing the hugging action and was facing at me. My emotional grey and his chocolate brown, it held warmth and happiness in them. My kakugan was still intact though, he never cared to give off any animosity but lift the most brightest smile. A smile of hope, shinning down upon me.
"Let's go home.."
The words he spoke. It must be the one I've been looking for and that simple yet three words was an enough response to end my misery. I wanna go home. Back to my ordinary life, back to all this hell have ever started.
And when I realized..
Right on our whole view, I saw a glimpse of a gigantic door behind Hide. I thought I was hallucinating once again, but it seems I wasn't the only one who had noticed this appealing entrance. Amon can see it and as for Hide, who noticed our surprised and shocked stares, turned around and face at the same door. It was nightmarishly big, covered in stone like exterior but a smooth surface in a ancient like appearance, its like its alive and can swallow you whole, plus those hieroglyphic like carvings. Something tells me its a bad omen to get near it.
So I wasn't hallucinating then..But whats with this door anyway?
Cautiously, we watched it. Trying not to get too close with it, however my curiosity took the better of me and walked near to it. Hide tries to suppress me away, yet, just then, as I was about to reply or utter a word, the door itself opens up. Gust of ferocious winds was out. Insanely strong, the wind was sucking air from our area.
It was vacuuming us in!
"Hide!" I called out, raising my hands to his through my calls, as clusters of winds were flowing us both in. Amon was in a safe distance, which should lessen the burden however, our situation is in a critical course, I had to give enough strength to pull us out of the gigantic opening from the door even if my injuries gets ripped or turns even worse than a mild injury. But even so, I have to get us away from the door. I had confidence of my Ghoul strength and it gave me enough hope and strength to survive this phenomenon. Materializing my kagune, as strongly as I could to hold on something, but in a strange sensation, the winds had, for some reason, greatly increased. I loss balanced.
"Ahhhhh!"
"Nagachika!" Amon shouted, participating to help but a little too late.
The door that we were sucked in, had heavily closed itself and then, there was darkness. Nothing but an isolated pitch of black. Silence nothing but dead silent.
Kei's POV...
Sleeping wasn't an ease. And the night is just so quiet. So eerily quiet. I don't know why I have this bad feeling. A feeling of sorts, danger or something. On a silent night like this,
I just had my urge to wake up my friend. Kaito, Kai is what I'd like to call him.
I shook him, back and forth and with little effort he woke up immediately. All awake yet on a mixed tired, he look at me wearily. Eyes trying to focus it's sight. Just when I was about to say something to him, a struck of beaming light was signaled. Flash of light, right atop our window. It was like the light came from outside, near the cabin were sheltering from.
What's that light just now?
Me and Kai looked at each other, finding an expression of curiosity in them and him to me as well. I wasnt the type to just head over there alone, so with anticipated look, I'd signaled Kai to come as well. In order for the likely-ness of increasing the capability in this sudden unknown event.
Covering our best presence, we slowly head out, both of us, hiding near the bushes as stealthy as we could, which we had this slight idea where it's light had shown. He holds out a bat and I, a flashlight. There, when up our ambush, nobody was there, saved for only two unconscious men on the ground. It was nighttime and I had to shut off my flashlight in order to avoid any more attention. Kai, releasing down his bat, decreasing his defense and walked up to the unconscious dudes.
"It's just two guys.." he said, inspecting if they were faking this, but not a response was heard nor any slight movement. Pressing my two fingers in each of there necks, awaiting for a pulse, they're indeed out cold. No deaths included which is a relief.
Firm silence. I took a thought, finding a fitful solution. We could help but in any other circumstances, if we leave these two be. Then maybe, in a close event, we might avoid it. The sudden thought, I gave a self nod on that.
Yeah, let's go with that. I have a lot of stuffs added to my plate and it isn't pretty to add in another weight..
"It's best we leave them be-Oi!" I noticed Kai was about to bring up a carrying action. He looked down at me, and gave out his usual answer to most of the problems so far.
"But the other one is heavily injured.."
"You can't be serious right Kai..?" can't he see were in a big situation as well?!
"I thought you wanted to become a doctor Kei.." he calmly stated
"Well yeah, but that isn't the-"
"Please Kei.." he begged, a cold yet warm stare, looking at me. Choosing the option to help and began carrying one on his shoulders. So close to freedom and yet more dangers awaits. Well, more problems actually.
"Argh this is unpleasant.." I look away, trying to find the right and suitable choice. Personally, I don't like this idea however, saving these guys would surely give us something in return. I just hope its something useful, "Fine.." I ended up sighing in defeat.
For some quite time, after my fussy agreement, he carried the two on his shoulders. I gave out a surprised gaze at his at attempts of helping. I can't believe it. But Im surprised that he had that enough strength to carry two people. Following him back to the cottage, erasing any evidence that could track us, we left the two on the beds. Snoring quietly, I sat cross legged on the ground, looking down at the unconscious boys. Kai stood up as if realizing something.
"I remember bringing a first aid kit somewhere." he reminded, "I'll be right back.."
"Get some cotton and some disinfectant!" I said, attempting to let him get the important aids I need to cure the two boys.
"Gotcha.." he quoted and left, probably trying to find where the first aid kit he hid somewhere around this shed. Knowing about our lethal current situation and unpleasant memories, "Seriously.." I huffed under my breath and looked back at the two males.
Who are these guys anyway? And for one, I've never seen such a dual haired before, it's description of tip rooted brown and blonde hair and especially the other one, the white haired. I've never seen this kind of hair anywhere else in my life. Aside from the patients at hospitals. So white and pale, almost like the fluffy snow.
As for they're clothes, are they cosplaying or something? But in the middle of the forest all wounded? I don't think so. The blonde was wearing some kind of military outfit along with some type of gun? And it's white. All carved out like a alien like thing. Weird. The white haired is wearing a black material like suit, with cuts outs. A bigger portion cut at the back waist area, it seemed to be of design, but that is just increasing the fact that they are cosplaying or something in between.
As for their injuries, the blonde one doesn't need much to heal. Just some mild injuries here and there. But what I'm more curious about is the intense wound on the white haired. A gash of something sharp, almost like a knife had done it but bigger. If we somehow left him be, he could die from blood loss. Just who could've done this?
This guy...
I looked at the ivory haired, my hands tracing around the bloody origin.
his wounds.. He's in a chaotically, severe situation to such, I've never seen such an intense injury before.
Blood was oozing out of his stomach, lower abdomen and the front portion on his shoulder and because of that, I couldn't help but wonder. Were they in fight? And this kinds of wounds, someone was trying to kill him and since the other one had mild injuries, my guess is that, this guy sacrificed himself to save the blonde.
But man, he had a risky wound here. What if I injure some parts without any proper treatment? Argh, this is frustrating but hey, at least the wound will heal itself up but I doubt it would reach about a month or so, to fully get himself recovered.
Around his head and wounded arm. I first did the easy first aid on the blonde, using the slight elements to cover him up with some gauze, while cleaning up his wounds as well. Wiping a sweat, after a good well done, I then looked back at the severe white haired. However, looking at the intense wound, which I inspect the blood to continue falling down on him, but the second time, observing his open wound had surprised me.
This guy, is it me or are his wounds becoming smaller? Unlike that's even possible. I must be tired is all...
"Hey Kei!" Out of my observations and inquired thoughts, I glance at my friend with a curious hum.
"Hmm?"
"Catch.." Before I can realize a thing he meant, something was throw above. I acted and caught it in my palms. So small and breakable. It was the disinfectant I asked for him. However if I hadn't catch it in time..
"Oi oi! Don't throw such an fragile start!" I claimed, careful not to break the bottled glass.
"Oh. Sorry.." You serious? That tone of yours isn't considerate enough. Among my thoughts, I sighed.
The night was a cold place, and we're doing the best we can to help the two. Some wasn't in my jurisdiction of thought, but it'll make do. Patching one last bandage around the white haired's shoulders and intense leaking blood on his abdomen area, Kai, after another good well done, asked me. Standing and looking about at our two unconscious visitors.
"Who are they?"
"Your asking me.."
"Well, I doubt they could wake up anytime soon.." he took down a set of futon. I'm still wondering how he gets this stuffs prepared, out of the blue, "Let's get some rest now.."
"And let this strangers be, I'm sorry Kai but I'll go with a no.."
"What's the harm, Kei?" He quizzed, "It's not like they'll kill us in our sleep?"
"That's the point Kai!" I answered back, quietly shouting, "Be practical for once please?"
"Ah.." that's the face of an idiot who finally realizes the obvious dangers.
"Don't tell me you just realize it just now?" I noted, with a displeasing tone.
"...maybe..." he jeered with uncertainty and turned his head, avoiding eye contact.
"Don't look away Kai.."
"Okay, look.." he admitted, quickly looking at me, eyes, ready to find reason, "that is a possibility but think about their personality.."
"We have no clue of their personality Kai.."
"That's true but my guts are telling me that this guys are good.."
My friend is hopeless isn't he?, "..fine.." adapting to my certain routine, I sat on the far corners, "Do whatever you want, but I won't be sleeping soon.."
"Glad to hear that.." he puts up a relief reply, "Now let's get some rest.."
"Haven't you heard what I said that I don't want to.."
"Kei.." he said, bidding a concerned look, "Sometimes, you'll soon learn the value of trust.."
"I wonder if I can.." I quietly uttered out, looking above the moon in a clearing dark sky. Upon those minutes of silence, Kai and the two boys, their snores, synchronized in harmony and haggard yet calm breaths. Hearing them snoring, I took my mind somewhere else.
Recalling the mistreated alienation, I looked down at my soles, as those running climax we had done, trying to get away from bounty hunters, who only sees me as gold. Making money out of me, due to the reward that the government had given for my capture. I grit my teeth. The world I know off and the people who I've been with, all only looked at my exterior as nothing but an Ajin to them. Even I want to neglect this new part of me.
After many twist and turns, thats been going around my survival, my mind, in its drained stagnation, ended up embracing sleep. Man, so much for causing a ruckus not to sleep, but hey, a little nap will do.
Next Chapter: Ajin?
"Where..are we..?"
"Glad you two woke up.."
"Ajin..?"
"Wait..You guys seriously don't know about Ajins..?"
Bonus Chapter~️
Hide: woah~I'd get to be in the Bonus Chapter! This is great~!
:3 Glad to have you here Hide~
Hide: You bet I am! Hey hey Shimi-chan which part am I supposed to do?
Just stand there~
Hide: ...that's it..?
Yep~ (- w -)/
Hide: (looks around) Um..by the way, where's Kaneki- (in a white blur, he got hit by Kaneki, who fell down out of nowhere)
Hide: (somehow conscious, with a unconscious Kaneki on his lap) Is this the scene you imagined?
Hai~ that's the scene I wanted to happen.
Hide: Oh. Good...(unconscious)
(= w =)/ Hah~ the power of writing~
I love it~️
Bonus Chapter #2
(Once the two protagonists was sucked inside a giant door, Amon was left there in utter shock and confusion)
Amon: wha..wha..what??
(The door vanished, glowing specks of dust as it slowly disappears.)
Amon: Don't tell me this is the end of my act? But that isn't the problem, how the hell am I supposed to convince them about their disappearance?!
Bonus Chapter #3
(Why does Kei has troubles with sleeping?) [Cut Scene]
Kei: zzzzzz
Kai: zzzzzz
Kei: zzzzzz
Kai: zzZzz (out of his dreams, he unknowingly moved his feet on Kei's stomach. A thudding sound was signaled followed by Kei's awoken coughs)
Kei: bwahhh (now awake)
Kai: ZzzzZz
Kei: Damn Kai...I'll get you for this...