Ghoul Wonderland
The sight before the CCG investigators was gruesome to say the least. Blood covered the concrete walls of the alley way, pieces of the victims inards scattered around the crime scene, strands of flesh hung from laundry lines far above, the bodies had been skinned what remained shredded into disgusting strinks of muscle. No piece of the victims were left whole, except for ruined kagune, which, due to the damage done, would prove useless as quinque.
Juuzou stood along side Shinohara who could only sigh at the sight before him, Juuzou scanned the area curiously, noting the strange scent of blood and rose-mary in the air, he had seen many a aftermath of ghoul attacks, but never had he seen one with all ghoul victims.
"Looks like she's back..." Shinohara muttered as he watched a group of people begin to wash the scene away.
"Who's back?" Juuzou crained his neck in order to look up at the larger male.
"The Cheshire Cat," Shinohara noticed the curious look on his subordinates face and decided it would be best if he explained the situation in a private area.
A small folder, with little more than a singular piece of paper inside, was tossed infront of Juuzou who then sat at his partners desk located in CCG headquarters. He studied the paper lazily before looking to the older male.
"That... Is all the information we've got on the Cheshire Cat."
"Waaa! It's not much! Practically nothing!" Juuzou cried.
"Yes I know, but it is useful." The older crossed his arms, "her physical description is unique, obviously. Witnesses have described a terrifying cat-creature in a skin tight black suit with some sort of tribal markings on it. Here's the strange part, she doesn't actually wear a mask only heavy costume make-up fashioned to resemble a twisted version of the Cheshire Cat. The fact that she doesn't wear a mask means she thinks little of us, and is in fact mocking us."
"So what? Who cares about what she looks like!" Juuzou exclaimed, "the fact that she killed twelve high-ranking ghoul's last night alone, and didn't even eat one of them is interesting enough!" He grinned, "I can't wait to work this case, it seems like so much fun!" Shinorhara sighed.
"I wish you wouldn't say things like that... "
"Huh? Why?"
"Nevermind it's not important. We believe the Chesire Cat has a chimera RC type kagune, that being said, we're only going by the way the bodies have been discovered, we don't have an actual description of her kagune. However, we do have a small lead on the case, it's a long shot but we'd better invesitagte the suspect."
"Oh-ho! A mystery Kagune!" Juuzou's grin took up most of his face which caused the boys partner to wonder what he'd gotten himself into.
A yawn escaped the young girls lips as she sat in the Antieku coffee shop, her head resting on the small table she inhabited nearest the entrance. A cup of coffee was placed infront of her catching the girls attention, she raised her tired eyes only to be met with a waitress.
"Another late night, Akuma-chan?"
"Touka-saaaan, if you're gonna call me by my first name then shorten it to something cute like: Aku-chan-"
"Sounds like a sneeze, ya know? Like: achoo!"
"How 'bout Kuma-chan?"
"Now you're just trying to rename yourself." Touka chuckled at her friend.
"Well, what am I supposed to do?! My names awful!" She cried.
"I think it suits you." Touka exclaimed.
"Have you forgotten that my name means devil?!" Akuma glared up to the waitress, who turned her back to her.
"Not at all, it's extremely accurate." She went to another customers aid, leaving Akuma in an angry pout.
Akuma sat up straight in her chair, took a few sips of her steaming coffee before getting to the buissness she had come there for. Placing her bag in her lap, she pulled a large sketch pad from inside, plucked the pencile from her raven locks and began to draw the scene before her. She was an art major, her current assignment: draw something from her daily life.
As she sketched the quaint shop before her she thought on how she had struggled on what to do with her life after highschool, initially she had thought of joining CCG for kicks, having a ghoul running around their headquarters while causing trouble in the streets, all the while secretly teasing her co-workers sounded like good fun, however, she discovered that she would get bored of it quickly and so she abandoned the idea. Instead she decided to go with something she was good at, art. She didn't particularlly enjoy creating things, or breathing life into a blank canvas, infact she didn't really care at all, all she knew was this: it was something she was good at and something others wanted more of.
"E-e-excuse me." Someone chirped, she averted her eyes from her work to find an extremely average looking waiter, holding a tray with an ice-cream sunday on it's surface, "are you... Akuma Sato-chan?" He questioned, she noted the only unique thing about him was the eye-patch which covered his left eye.
"Yes I am, what do you want?" Her tone was far from welcoming, she hated new people.
"U-um well... Those gentlemen over there wanted me to give you this." He sat the dessert before Akuma as he pointed to three guys, seated toward the back of the resteruant, whom always hounded her at school.
"Take it back. I don't want it." She continued her work.
"Wha-are you sure?" The boy questioned, just as Akuma was about to snap at him a perky voice chimmed in.
"If the lady won't eat it, I will!" A young boy hopped beside of the waiter, Akuma kept her hardend glare as her golden orbs traveled to the newcomer, she only nodded in response. "Yay!" He plopped down in the seat next to her causing her to huff in frustration. The waiter bowed respectfully before leaving the two.
"My name's Juuzou Suzuya." The boy introduced.
"Cool story." Akuma said quickly as she continued to gaze at her project.
"Oh-ho! You're really good at drawing!" He exclaimed as he began to scarf down the ice-cream.
"I know." Juuzou giggled at her blatant response, and watched as she began to draw the people sitting amongst the shop. His crimson eyes traveled from the paper, to the pencile, to her hand, and eventually her face. Her hair was in long messy curls which probably hadn't seen a comb in days, her clothes and jewelry were edgy, leaning more toward a punk style. The girl before him was interesting, and she smelt of blood and rose-mary.
"Stop it." The unkempt beauty turned to him, brows knitted together, "stop staring at me. Go away." She ordered.
"Whaaaat? Why? I'm only enjoying my ice-cream." He exclaimed innocently, Akuma closed her sketch book with a huff, laid money on the table, packed up her things and left the coffee shop swiftly. Shinohara approached from a table near by, and stood beside his young partner.
"I think you came on a little too strong." Juuzou just stared at the entrance, spoon hanging out of his mouth.
"You think so?"
Akuma was hungry, near starvation in fact. But that was just how she liked it, she would fast for as long as she could before going on a hunt. She only ate what she needed and her prey was usually someone nobody would miss, often times her victimes disappearance would never even be investigated. Although, there were some nights that she would treat herself to some fine-dinning, like that night, she wanted ghoul meat. A grin engulfed her face at the very thought of taking down one of her own, suddenly a strange scent crossed her path. She turned only to see someone ducking behind a corner.
"Come out. I know you're there." She ordered, a giggle came before the person revealed themselves. Akuma rolled her eyes. "Not you again, don't tell me you're a stalker." Juuzou approached her carelessly.
"Not at all Akuma Sato-chan, I was just wanting to talk to you." He exclaimed happily. When had she told him her name? Could he have overheard it in the coffee shop?
"Talk about what?" She eye'd him suspiciously.
"Art of course!" She turned her back to him and continued on her way.
"Go away." He pursued her.
"You see I like to draw things too! We should get together and draw sometime!"
"I don't like to draw."
"Wha? But Akuma-chan does it so well!"
"Don't call me that!"
"Huh? Then what should I call you?"
"Anything but that."
"How about Cheshire Cat?" The question made her eye twitch, but she never changed her pace.
"Why in the hell would you call me that?" She growled.
"Because that's what we know you as at CCG." That annoying kid was an investigator? Shit. She turned on her heele to face the white haired male whom had stopped in his tracks.
"What're you implying?"
"I'm not implying anything. I'm confronting you for being the double S-ranked ghoul Cheshire Cat." Akuma feigned offense.
"Ghoul? What in the hell are yo-" She was cut off by the boys swift removal of his quinque, the scythe's blade was quickly swung behind her, trapping her between the blade and the investigator.
"There's no use in acting innocent. I know for a fact you're the Cheshire Cat." Akuma mentally scoffed at the boy, how stupid he looked wielding such an unimpresive toy, outwardly she acted as any human would in such a situation. She paniced, she even bit the inside of her cheek to make her eyes water.
"W-wait please, I-i'm not a ghoul! Honest! Pl-please don't hurt me!"
"You're keeping the act up a lot longer than most other ghouls would, big mistake." Juuzou moved his scythe in what seemed like average speed to Akuma, but anyone else would've called it lightening fast. He used the scythe for leverage as he landed a solid kick to Akuma's stomach, she allowed herself to be thrown back a couple feet, and land on her back. She clutched her barely stinging belly as she groaned in fake pain. Juuzou approached, with the intent to kill as he raised his scythe and began to bring it down, for a moment Akuma thought she may have to abandon her act, that is until Juuzou's superior interfered.
"Juuzou! Stop!" The boy froze, scythe just inches front slicing Akuma in two. "I told you! You can't just go around accusing someone of being a ghoul just because 'their scent is that of a ghoul' you're a human being, you can't actually descern scent like they can. Now put your quinque away!"
"Yes, Shinohara-san..." Juuzou mummbled as he did as told. Shinohara approached Akuma who still lay on the ground clutching her stomach.
"I'm so sorry for my partners reckless behavior, are you alright miss?" The older man offered his hand to her, she slapped it away.
"No! Of course i'm not alright! You're monster of a partner just tried to split me in half!" She cried as she rose to her feet, "if you should suspect anyone of being a ghoul it's that little menace!" She exclaimed as she stormed away.
Her dinner plans would have to change, best not to make any big moves after such an incident, what a shame.
A couple of days had passed since her encounter with CCG, she had been able to find nourishment but only after she had taken heavy precautions. Ever since meeting Juuzou she believed her role in the universe had been flipped, she had become the prey, Juuzou her predator. Akuma had glimpsed the eccentric male in her daily outtings several times, he was following her.
I shouldn't do anything, she thought, while strolling down the street, just go about a regular human life, throw them off my trail. She caught a white figure out of the corner of her eye, she stopped. No... Thats no good! I'll only seem more suspicious to them if the masacres stop directly after meeting me. I've gotta find a way past them... How? The scent of coffee caught her attention, she turned to see that she stood before Anteiku. I've got it!
She entered the shop, all of the workers greeted her, she immediatly requested to meet with the manager privately. Within minutess she was sitting in a cozy room with a kindly-looking elderly man.
"What can I do for you, Sato-chan?" He questioned with a smile.
"I need... Anteiku's help..." The idea of asking anyone for assistance made her sick to her stomach.
"Are you in some sort of trouble?"
"...No, not at all. I'm just," she sighed as embarassment settled in, "I've not been able to find a job... The way things are going... I'll have to decide between paying either the rent or the electric bill..." He was silent for a long while.
"I see... And what of the dove who attacked you the other evening?" Akuma flinched.
"What of him? Are you asking if he's still alive or-"
"He's been following you hasn't he?"
"Wha?Uh... No..." The old man opened his eye's revealing a peircing red glint which made a chill travel up Akuma's spine.
"Do not lie to me young lady."
"Yes. He's been following me..." Another silence.
"It would be dangerous for me to allow someone under investigation to work in such a place... Then again, I've taken in many-a ghoul in such a situation, and Anteiku is here to assist our own kind. Very well, you'll start work tomorrow." Akuma beamed with genuine happiness.
"Oh thank you Sir! You won't regret it!" She exclaimed as the two approached the door, which the manager stopped short of.
"Oh, and, Sato-chan..." He looked over his shoulder, giving her a deadly glare, "whatever you've got planned, I suggest you leave Anteiku out of it."
"Y-yes Sir..." She couldn't get anything past that old geezer.
Juuzou and Shinohara had been tailing that girl for a week and the only sign that she was indeed the Cheshire Cat was the fact that no other killings had occured since they began investigating her. Shinohara had scolded Juuzou for attacking the girl too early, and giving their objective away, tipping off a potential ghoul to their plans was definately not good. The pair sat in their car just in front of the targets work place, that night they planned to take her into custody in order to interrogate her, they had long since learned her work hours they knew she would be leaving at any moment.
"Shinohara-san! Come in! It's Marude!" A voice called over the cars radio, Shinohara was quick to respond.
"What happened?"
"It's that damn Cheshire Cat!" Juuzou immediatly pealed his face from the glass of the passenger window at the mention of the ghouls code name. "She's struck again, this time right in front of headquarters! She killed two ghouls, and five of our own, she just ran off! I've got men after her now, you and Juuzou need to check out that damn coffee shop to see if she left any evidence behind!"
They had her! Akuma Sato was the Ceshire Cat! She had snuck away from work to do her terrible deed, of which would get her either killed or incarcerated. Shinohara activated his ear-piece radio before inserting the device as he and Juuzou exited the vehicle. Juuzou hurried before Shinohara just as the boy pulled the door to the cafe open, their target came stumbling out, her hand gripping the door-knob, her face collided with Juuzou's chest before she could regain her footing.
Akuma raised her eyes only to be met with the sight of Juuzou, she was quick to distance herself from the strange boy.
"What do you want from me this time?!" Akuma growled. She inwardly praised herself for being so clever, sending her sister as a body double to get the Doves off her scent would prove her innocence, and the investigators dumb-founded expressions could be counted as a special bonus.
What was happening? There was no way anyone, not even a ghoul, could make it from headquarters to Anteiku in less than a couple hours let alone seconds! Were they really wrong? Was she not the Cheshire Cat? Shinohara's ear-piece buzzed with static before Marude's voice came on.
"Shinohara, the Cheshire Cat was last seen crossing into the thirteenth ward, we've lost her, as well as four more men." Shinohara let out a sigh of defeat before placing a hand on his partner's shoulder.
"Juuzou... It would seem-"
"Ah~ Akuma-chan, didn't our office get in touch with you?" The boy questioned gleefully, "you see, since all of these gruesome attacks have been happening in your hometown, I've been stationed as your body gaurd!"
"What?!" Akuma cried, "Why?!"
"Think of it as an apology for treating you so terribly, and wrongfully suspecting you! As of tonight, I'll be staying with you for twenty-four hour protection until the Cheshire Cat is taken care of! It's an order for the both of us, so there's no use in arguing!" He grinned down to the raven haired girl who scowled in return.
"I'll argue until my tongue falls off! If I must have a body-gaurd then I want to request a different one!"
"Afraid you can't do that either, all the other investigators have better things to worry about you know! Now why don't you go on home, I already know the way." He gestured to the door.
"Creepy stalker..." She mummbled as she passed, once the girl was out of sight Shinohara closed the cafe's door and moved down the stares with his subordinate.
"Juuzou, what are you thinking?! You've got no such orders!"
"Ah~ but Shinohara-san, this way I can investigate her more closely!"
"There's nothing to investigate! There's no way she could be in two places at once!" The older growled.
"Trust me on this. I know just how to make a ghoul squirm under pressure!"
Akuma was definately squirmming. She growled lowly as she toted two full bags of groceries, her fridge was empty, she couldn't have that, not with a human guest coming to live with her until further notice. Once inside her small apartment, she began to quickly put the groceries away.
That damn brat! Her mind screamed, cornering me like this! Making me look a fool! How dare he! How dare he! How fucking dare he! I'll kill him! I'll rip him to pieces! I want his head on a plate! And his heart in my hands! I'll make sure there's nothing left behind! Her fist found her kitchen wall, as she struggled to hold in a fit of rage which had all but exploded inside her.
"...I'll kill him!" She growled through gritted teeth. An idea suddenly hit her, thats it! She thought, Thats exactly it! If I can seduce that little terror, or win his affection even in the slightest, I'll be able to find an opening and thats when I'll slaughter him! She grinned madly at the idea. "Oh I'll have his heart in my hands all right."