May 3rd, 8:52pm.

Emily Ishihara was walking alone down the quiet well lit street on her way home from the book store where she worked. There was a book signing event that had lasted longer than they had anticipated resulting in the store being open later than normal. She sighed and re-adjusted her satchel on her shoulder. A lone car passed her, it's head lights momentarily blinding her as she walked but she knew the driver would be giving her a strange look. After all, it was rare for humans to be out at night by themselves. It made them easy prey for Ghouls - the carnivorous monsters than roamed the streets. Ghouls looked like humans, dressed like humans and spoke like them - they were so good at hiding themselves that your co-worker or best friend could be a Ghoul and you'd never know. However there were three things aside from their diets that set them apart; they had unbelievable regeneration abilities, they had strange powers called Kagune and their Kakugan - their eyes will change from normal to a bright red pupil and black sclera. But the fear of being attacked and eaten by a Ghoul didn't scare Emily, she'd walked this route for years and had not once seen a Ghoul hunting.

...Until now. She stopped and frowned at the several small red splotches on the ground leading from the dark alley way. Peering down cautiously, she strained her eyes to see anything but it was useless. Suddenly another car drove past and illuminated the alley. There, slouched amongst overturned bins and rubbish bags was what looked to be a person who'd just been attacked. Compassion outweighed caution and Emily was soon half jogging down the narrow gap between building to the being. A lone street light flickered on and off nearby giving her some form of light every now and then. As she neared the person she discovered it was a boy not much older than her, his clothes were ripped, his blue hair was messy and matted with blood, blood that seemed to be everywhere else on him too. Emily knelt before him and put her hands on his shoulders, pushing him back against the wall,

"Hey, are you okay?" she asked him. The boy moaned once and then his eyes fluttered open. It happened fast, a flash of red as he lunged for her. Emily fell back under the force and landed on her butt, her heart racing from the action. She had expected to feel some kind of pain in her shoulder or arm - anywhere, but there was none. Instead the boy who had tried to attack her had collapsed, his head resting on her chest. She could feel him breathing so he was still alive. Quickly she glanced around, she had to make sure no one saw this or else this boy's life would really end. Gently, she pushed him back once again and, using all her strength, slung his arm around her shoulders and held him securely around the waist. She dragged the unconscious Ghoul the rest of the three blocks to her apartment.

Unlocking the door was difficult when carrying someone's entire weight, but Emily managed to do it. Kicking the door open with her foot, she dragged the boy over to her couch before dropping him onto it and taking his shoes off. After placing both his and hers by the door she went to her linen cupboard, took out a spare pillow and blanket then went back to the couch where she lifted his long legs up off the ground, placed the pillow under his head and the blanket over him. Once she'd made sure he was comfortable, she dialed the one phone number her parents had made her memorize.

"Hello?" the raspy voice on the other end asked cheerily after the third ring.

"It's Blue Lotus." she said in a low, serious tone, "I need a shipment."

"How many?" the voice replied also becoming serious.

"Just one, but I need it now." she answered. She could hear the voice giving muffled orders before replying to her, "We'll be ready for you." Without saying goodbye she hung up, slid on her shoes and made her way back into the deadly night.

The impossibly tall, long coat wearing man was waiting for her outside the back entrance to the cafe. He nodded a greeting to her before leading her to the secret entrance that led to the basement where the old man was waiting for her.

"Ah, Emily-chan, it's nice to see you again." he greeted her warmly. Emily smiled at the elderly Ghoul,

"Yoshimura-san." she said taking his offered hand and shaking it, "I only wish it was under better circumstances."

"So do I, child. You weren't hurt in the process were you?" he asked giving her a quick once over with his eyes. Emily shook her head, her deep burgundy hair falling into her eyes,

"No, this all belongs to him."

"Yes, I can smell it." Yoshimura said cryptically, "Be careful with this one, Emily."

"Do you know him?" she asked curiously, Yoshimura shook his head

"It's just a feeling. Here," he handed her a small cooler bag, "come back if you need more. You remember how to store it?"

"I do, and I will. Thank you." she said with a small bow.

"No, child, thank you." With that Yomo, the tall coat wearing man who had led her in, led her out and back to the surface. Waving once to him, she quickly made her way back to her apartment and the unconscious boy there.

May 4th, 7:36am

Emily woke before her alarm for the sixth time that week but it wasn't because she had to work. There was a person on her couch who needed help and she needed to be ready for when he woke up. Quickly slipping on shorts and socks, she quietly made her way into the big open room that served as both her lounge room, dining room and kitchen. Sure enough the boy hadn't moved from where she'd put him and the food package she'd placed on the table for him was unwrapped. Leaning on the back of the couch she peered over to have a better look at him. His facial wounds were healing slowly as a result of not eating, but where they had been open wounds before they were now only scratches and she could see what he looked like. He was handsome with fine features hidden behind his messy hair, a piercing in his ear and looked similar to someone she knew. He moaned again and rolled onto his back, his eyes fluttering open again. Time seemed to freeze as both of them just stared at each other, blinking and not moving. His nose twitched as he caught the scent of food and he shot up from the couch, snatching the package on the table and ripping it open. Emily took a step back from the couch, knowing better to get between a Ghoul and his meal, then with one more look at him, retreated into the kitchen to make some coffee for both him and herself. She'd only just started boiling the kettle and had turned around to get the coffee from her pantry when he cornered her against the bench, arms either side of her blocking any chance of escape.

"Who are you?" he demanded, red eyes glaring down at her. He wasn't strong enough to produce his Kagune but his physical advantage over her was really all he needed.

"Ishihara Emily." she said calmly, she had expected this kind of thing, "You're in my apartment, it's safe. The CCG doesn't come around here. You don't have to tell me your name." The boy leaned down and sneered at her menacingly,

"You're a human," he growled "How the hell do you know about Anteiku?!" Emily sighed and ducked under his arm, surprisingly he didn't stop her. Yoshimura had lied to her; he did know this boy. But she wasn't mad, she figured he had his reasons. Opening the pantry, she took out the coffee and set about making two mugs.

"I've known them since I was little. My father used to work there from time to time." she replied.

"Yoshimura doesn't let humans work there." the boy said matter-of-factly. Emily chuckled quietly as she poured the hot water into the mugs and stirred,

"My father wasn't human. He was a Ghoul, like you. He and my mother, a human, fell in love."

The boy frowned trying to understand what she'd just told him, "Then...Then shouldn't you be half Ghoul or something?" Emily shook her head and smiled,

"I'm adopted. Humans and Ghouls can't reproduce." she said. The boy went to take a step but he wasn't strong enough and his legs buckled. He grabbed the side of the bench to stop from falling onto the ground. Emily was immediately by his side trying to help him up but he swatted her away.

"Don't touch me!" he growled. Reluctantly she stepped back; he was one of those types. The Ghouls who hated humans. So this is what Yoshimura meant when he'd told her to be careful. Ghouls who hated humans were dangerous, more so than normal Ghouls. Since humans were part of the Ghoul diet, most would just eat them. But no, not the ones who hated humankind. They would kill for fun as well. Despite knowing that, Emily didn't fear or despise this boy. In fact she sympathized with him. Not all humans were like her mother and not all humans grew up having a Ghoul as a parent. She didn't fear them, she didn't hate them. They ate humans, yes, but they had to to survive. But Ghouls were also hunted brutally by the CCG - the Commission of Counter Ghoul. Each species fought for the own survival, but that didn't make either of them right.

"You need to rest more." she told him as he pulled himself up.

"Don't tell me what to do!" he spat but nonetheless made his way back to the couch and flopped down, grunting with effort and pain. With another sigh, she opened her freezer and pulled out another brown package and put it in the microwave just long enough for it to defrost, set it on a plate and took it along with the coffee with the special sugar cube to the boy.

"Here." she said ignoring the heated glare, "I have to go out soon and I'm not sure when I'll be back. If you get hungry there's more food in the freezer for you, the coffee and the sugar are in the pantry. There's a second bathroom down the hall and to the left if you feel like showering or whatever. You can wear some of my Dad's old clothes, they're in the cupboard in the hallway." Without waiting for a reply, Emily left the Ghoul boy alone with his coffee and food and went to have a shower and get ready. He was in the bathroom when she left her room, the door slightly ajar. Feeling curiosity clawing relentlessly at her, Emily risked a quick peek. The boy was shirtless in front of the mirror, checking out his wounds that were still healing. She decided to leave before he noticed her.

12:43pm

"Why are you looking at guy's stuff?"

Emily held up the white long sleeved shirt, although it was summer the fabric the shirt was made out of was light and airy. She didn't think white was his colour though. Perhaps they had a dark blue or black...

"Emily?" her friend called waving her hand in front of her face.

"Sorry, what?" Emily asked looking away from the clothes rack and at her friend.

"I asked why you're looking at guy's stuff. We're supposed to be shopping for us." Chloe was the daughter of an American CCG investigator stationed in Tokyo. She and Emily had met several years ago at school and since they were both the only two foreigners, they'd quickly formed a close friendship. But Chloe had never known the truth about Emily's father, if she did it wouldn't just be the end of their friendship.

"Oh, sorry. My cousin's birthday is coming up soon and I'm looking for something to get him." she lied. Chloe frowned and crossed her arms,

"You never mentioned anything about a cousin before." she said arching a blonde eyebrow. Pulling out a dark navy blue shirt similar to the white one she'd found, Emily replied,

"You never asked."

Chloe pursed her lips but eventually forgot her suspicions when she saw a summer dress that took he fancy. Emily let out a breath of relief and continued shopping for her temporary house guest. Once the girls were finished shopping and had paid for their things, they decided to get some ice cream.

"So, how're you and Toshio?" Chloe asked with a wink as she dug her spoon into her caramel ice cream. Hamada Toshio was Emily's boyfriend of two years. Like Chloe's father, Toshio's family were all in the CCG and he would be joining the Academy once he was old enough. But his outlook on Ghouls differed from his family's. He neither hated nor liked Ghouls, to him they just simply were. But he had to follow the family tradition whether he believed in the same ideals as them or not; Toshio did, however, possess a strong sense of justice which would either flourish or be destroyed in that line of work.

"We're fine. We have a date tomorrow evening actually, his father received a promotion so they're having a big celebratory feast." Emily replied.

"Oh, Mr. Hamada is doing so well these days. My dad talks about him and his sons all the time, but aren't they posted in the 23rd Ward?" Chloe asked curiously. Emily nodded,

"They got time off especially for this."

"Aw that's so lucky! Dad couldn't even get time off for my birthday last week." Chloe complained. Emily smiled sympathetically,

"He is posted in the 11th Ward, it's pretty hectic there at the moment." she said patting her friend's hand. Because she had ties within both the CCG and the Ghoul world, Emily was generally always up to date at what was happening in all the different Wards other than the 20th.

"I know." Chloe said resuming her cheerful constitution once again, "I'm just being a spoilt brat."

3:15pm

The boy was asleep on her couch again when Emily came home but he woke up as soon as the door closed. Yawning and rubbing his eyes, he sat up and glared at her.

"I bought you some clothes." she said sliding her boots off and holding up the bag with his stuff in it, "I figured Dad's would be too big on you." The boy stood and went to the kitchen, sure enough the t-shirt he was wearing was too long and the pants hung loosely off his hips. Her father was like Yomo-san at Anteiku, tall and very muscular. This boy, although tall, was like a stick compared to her dad. She left the bag on the couch and went to her bedroom to figure out her outfit for dinner with Toshio's family. She had narrowed it down to three choices; a dark brown and red checkered dress with bows the colour of her hair on the straps and matching belt, a soft light blue sleeveless that fanned out at the waist and maroon v-necked dress with shoulder sleeves and carnelian trim.

"Pick the blue one."

Emily jumped at the voice and spun to see the boy leaning against her door frame, arms cross over his chest and wearing the clothes she'd bought him. "It matches your eyes and makes your hair stand out."

She blushed slightly and looked down at the floor, "Oh...um thanks..."

"Whatever." he replied airily and looked at nothing at the end of the hallway but Emily had the feeling it was his thank you for buying him clothes. After a few more seconds of silence while Emily put her clothes, aside from the blue dress, away, the boy spoke again, "Are you going out tonight?"

"Tomorrow night, but it'll only be for an hour or so." she replied, "Why, do you need more food?"

"No, I'm fine." he said quickly. Emily glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. This morning he didn't want to be anywhere near her, now he seemed as though he wanted to talk to her but didn't know what to say. It was quickly becoming awkward between them as the silence stretched on, so she decided to take the initiative.

"Your wounds look better." she stated as she sat on the edge of her bed.

"Huh? Oh...yeah...my face does anyway. The rest is taking longer to heal." he replied absently still staring at nothing in the hallway and making no attempt to move from her doorway.

"Can...Can I ask what happened?" she asked timidly. This wasn't the first time she'd taken in wounded Ghouls, some of them liked to talk and others didn't. Her apartment was known amongst some Ghouls as a safe house from when her father used to take in Ghouls on the run, injured or those having a hard time hunting. The code name Blue Lotus belonged to her father who's Kagune looked like an electric blue lotus flower, it had been passed onto her after his death.

The boy looked at her in surprise but it was quickly replaced by distrust; "Why? So you can report back to that old fool Yoshimura?"

"I don't report to Yoshimura. He supplies food when I need it but that's it. This place is a safe house for any Ghoul whether they're with Anteiku or not." she told him, "But if you don't want to tell me that's fine. You don't have to."

The boy laughed coldly, "You're one fucked up human. Freely offering shelter to a species that eat your kind. What would you do if one of them attacked you, huh?"

Emily smiled sadly at the floor, "I suppose I am pretty fucked up." was all she said before getting up and stepping around the boy into the hall. She sat on the balcony watching the people below go about their lives completely oblivious to the Ghoul safe house above them and thinking about her past. What would you do if one of them attacked you, huh? She leant forward on her knees and sighed, wondering what had happened in his life for him to hold so much hate towards her kind. Perhaps the CCG happened? Most Ghouls who hated humans felt that way because of the CCG's brutality. Despite telling him he didn't have to share any of his information with her, she was curious about him.

Her phone rang waking her from her day dreaming. The caller I.D was Toshio.

"Hello?" she said.

"Emily, hey, it's Toshi. You're still coming to dinner tomorrow right?" he asked sounding frantic. Emily couldn't help but smile, Toshio hated it when his family were all together. All they would do was talk about all their achievements and pressure him into being as good as they are. Emily's presence kept him sane.

"Of course I am." she told him and giggled lightly when he sighed dramatically.

"Thank god. I know how much you hate things like that so I was scared you were going to back out at the last minute and leave me stranded."

"I'd never do that." she laughed, "I even bought a new dress especially for it and a gift for your father."

"Oh crap! I knew I forgot to do something today..." Toshio said becoming frantic again.

"Calm down, we can say it's from both of us." she told him shaking her head.

"This is why I need you, you're always thinking of the stuff I don't." she could hear his grin in his voice but then he became serious, "Hey, are you okay? Chloe said you didn't seem like yourself today."

"I'm fine. I just had a long night last night." she said truthfully, "The book signing went longer than we thought."

"So you're doing okay then?" he asked her again.

"I'm fine, Toshio." she told him, "Really."

"Shit, I have to go." he said suddenly, "Em, you know you can talk to me about anything right? It's okay to lean on someone once in a while."

"I know. Go before your mother throws something at you."

"Don't give her any ideas. I'll pick you up tomorrow at seven." Toshio said followed by the click of the call being disconnected. Emily stretched and fell back against her chair, she appreciated Toshio's concern but it really wasn't needed and it was misdirected.

A few months ago Yoshimura had asked her if she could take in a weak Ghoul for a few days until the CCG finished their sweep of his hunting grounds. Naturally she had agreed. At first he was soft spoken and very kind, humble even. He cleaned up after himself and never ate in her presence, however she soon started getting an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach that something wasn't right with him. One night, she'd woken suddenly from her sleep to find him standing over her watching her sleep. He'd claimed she was having a nightmare and he went to see if she was okay, but after certain other incidences it soon became apparent to her that he was obsessed and she feared that he would try to eat her. Once the CCG had finished their sweep, he went back to his own home and she thought she would never have to see him again. But when she was walking home with one of her co-workers, he'd approached her. Her co-worker, having sensed something wasn't right tried to get him to back off but ended up being tossed into a wall. She could still remember his psychotic grin as he stared at her. Yoshimura and Renji had moved the Ghoul to another Ward and Emily had since gotten over it, but Toshio and Chloe were still sure she was suffering from the traumatic event, even if they thought it was just a human stalker.

A loud crash from inside caught her attention and Emily quickly ran back inside to see what had happened. The boy was on the bathroom floor, clutching his abdomen as blood pooled on the white tiles. Without thinking, Emily was on her knees rolling him over into her lap. His handsome face was contorted in agony as he clutched his stomach and the wound that had reopened there.

"Get..." he rasped, opening his eyes and revealing his Kakugan, "...away." Emily ignored him and, grabbing the face towel from the basin above them, pressed it onto his wound, using pressure to stop the bleeding. The boy groaned in pain as he tried to swat her away unsuccessfully.

"Shut up and stop moving so much." she told him sternly as she dodged a weak punch aimed for her face. Suddenly he sat up, his teeth snapping right next to her ear. Emily didn't flinch, she wasn't sure whether he was just trying to scare her so she'd leave him alone or whether he was actually trying to eat her out of pain. Either way he needed to eat to be able to heal properly and if she didn't get him back to the lounge soon, she was going to be the meal. So she did the only thing she could, a trick she had learned from watching her mother interact with hurt Ghouls, and flicked his nose as hard as she could. The boy sneezed automatically and blinked at her completely bewildered.

"Stop being so damn stubborn and let me help you." she chastised. To her surprise, the boy complied reluctantly with her and she managed to help him to his feet and back to the couch. Once he was sitting, she made him a cup of coffee while hid food defrosted. He swallowed the coffee in two mouthfuls but it seemed to sate him until the microwave dinged. She put the plate containing two brown packages in front of him and left him to eat in private while she cleaned up the blood in the bathroom. This boy was quickly becoming troublesome, his mood swings were giving whiplash and it was only the second day he'd been there. Judging from the severity of his injuries, it was going to take him at least a week to heal enough to leave. A week with him seemed like an eternity but she had to do it. If not for him then for her parents who made this place their dream. Perhaps if she could change his attitude towards humans, maybe she could be one step closer to achieving what her parents could not.

The towel she'd been using to soak up the blood was drenched and dark red, the tiles were still streaked and she had blood on her hands, pants and under her nails. It still wasn't clean properly but it would have to do for now, the boy should have finished eating and she had to make sure he was okay. Bundling the soiled towels in her arms she headed back into the lounge room, glancing at him as she made her way to the washing machine at the far end of the room. He was lying on his back, the plate empty with only the brown wrapping scrunched in a ball on it. Well at least he'd eaten. Dumping the towels in the washing basket, she went over to check on him.

"Feel better?" she asked, keeping her distance from the boy. He shook his head, his eyes still closed as he held the cloth to his stomach, "Not really."

"I'm sorry..." Emily said softly, "I'm not very good at sewing. You'd probably end up looking like Frankenstein if I tried stitching you up..." Several seconds of silence passed before the boy started making a strange chocking noise. Emily looked up to see if he was okay only to find him making an expression like he was smiling and grimacing at the same time.

"Don't..." he coughed, "Don't make me laugh...it hurts..."

"I didn't know you could laugh." she replied replied not thinking. Quickly, she snatched the plate off the table and went to the kitchen. She shouldn't have said that, he was hurt and she was being mean.

"So, you do have a tough side." she heard him say as she rinsed the plate before putting it in the dishwasher. Emily didn't reply as she walked back to her room but she heard him say when she passed him, "My name's Ayato."