SO, before I start I have to say thank you for everyone who has supported my story so far. I have been reading fanfiction for over a year now, and I had the idea for this piece not long after I started. However, I've only now decided to finally put pen to paper and start. As this is my first fanfiction I'm sure there will be some things wrong, so I would greatly appreciate anyone leaving a review, good or bad. I'm not sure how fast Uploads will be, but it mainly depends on the reception I receive for this chapter. Thank you once again, and enjoy!

-Ghoulslayer-

Kaneki ken was having fun. He'd never been out of the village before, and the sight of trees and birds made his heart ache in happiness. However, this was not the only reason for Kaneki's happiness. Kaneki was always a clever child, and quickly understood that there was something different about him compared to all the other people in his village. The constant names and abuse made sure of that fact, and he knew from some books he managed to steal from the library that a human could not survive without food for a week. Kaneki had stayed in an abandoned shed, tied up to the wall for almost 3 months at one time, yet he only ate once, and that was just the meat that the masked man gave him.

The masked man was a funny one. He never spoke, but he always made Kaneki feel happy and safe, warm and comforted. It was a strange feeling to a boy who was so used to being alone. The masked man would never stay long, but he would always bring the delicious meat of some strange animal with him. It was only after Kaneki's sense of smell started to develop that he noticed the meat smelled exactly the same as all the people in the town. Each scent was unique, but they all had the same underlying sweetness that the meat had.

Most would be horrified at the revelation that their only food source was human flesh, but to Kaneki it was actually a delight. Humans ate meat like beef and pork because the animals that they came from were not as powerful as humans. So, to a child's mind, it only seemed logical that whatever Kaneki was, he was better and stronger than humans. He was a predator, and Kaneki revelled in it. To be above those who had made his life hell was exhilarating, and oddly relaxing at the same time. Whatever happened, humans would always be prey.

"We're here"

Kaneki was broken from his musings by Yamori's voice, and looked up only to stare in wonder at the structure before him. A spiralling mess of black and red, and endless sea of tortured screams and gut-wrenching sounds, it felt just right to Kaneki. The tower was a mismatched piece of work, seemingly created by a hundred different architects, each with a different style. Gothic black brick and gargoyles gave way to an almost modern section with straight white walls and large windows, before succumbing to a part near the top that seemed to be almost alive, red and pulsing. Kaneki couldn't wait

Yamori sighed as he watched the boy run around the tower in amazement. It just further enforced the fact that the boy was not normal in any way, shape or form. Yamori planned to get the boy to do some of the slave work with the other kids for a few years before teaching him magic so that he could build up some muscles and strength. As it stood, the boy was scraggly and malnourished, so he decided to ask the boy about food.

"Hey kid!" shouted Yamori, catching the attention of the black haired boy, "you want anything to eat?"

Now, normally Yamori was not this compassionate, but something about the boy drew Yamori to him, and he was pained to say that after the few weeks he had spent with the boy he had come to develop a sort of grudging respect for him.

He was half-certain that the boy would complain on the way here, but he didn't say a word in dissent. Even after the boy had not eaten for what seemed to be a few weeks, he never pestered Yamori and wasn't seen eating either. This was just further proof to Yamori that the boy was some type of monster, but as the kid didn't bother him he kept his mouth sealed.

The boy in question looked up at Yamori and, with wide, unblinking eyes, told Yamori something that sent shivers down his spine.

"I can only eat human meat Mr Yamori! So don't worry about making me anything, if you have any bodies that you need to dispose of just give them to me."

Yamori nodded, not daring himself to speak after hearing the boys confession. What kind of kid casually admitted that he was a cannibal?

"Thanks Mr Yamori! I knew you'd understand."

The boy laughed and skipped away, leaving Yamori to his thoughts and mad ramblings.

"looks like I was right to keep this one".

- 1 year later -

Erza was cold and tired. Her arms ached, her feet were sore, and her voice was hoarse from screaming and crying. She was 13 now, the same age as most of the other children from her town, and had once again failed to escape the tower of heaven.(A.N. I know erza was like 5 or 6 in canon, but I just don't see a kid that young being able to actually handle any manual labour, so I upped the ages of most of the characters)

After first arriving here, she had wailed and cried for her family for days. However, after one of the guards decided to teach her proper manners, she had grudgingly come to accept her fate. That didn't mean that Erza had given up hope of escape, far from it, but she knew that crying would get her nowhere.

Erza had made a few friends with the kids that she shared the cell with, including Milliana, Macbeth(emo guy that slept on a rug during oracion seis arc), and Jellal. Each of them had manifested their magic on their 13th birthday, as is usually the case for those gifted with magic, but they had no real training with their respective powers. Erza could only summon a small knife, Macbeth could barely cut a stolen rag with his distorted air, and so far all that Milliana had received were slightly-better-than-average reflexes and harder nails. Jellal had been the worst of the group, barely able to manifest a spark of power.

However, master rob had promised them that he would teach them how to utilise their powers, and Erza knew that with his help they would be able to break out once and for all, and she would finally be able to see her parents.

"Erza, you okay?"

Erza looked around to see Jellal looking at her with concern in his eyes, his vibrant blue hair and distinct tattoo drawing her attention.

"Yeah, you don't have to worry. It was nothing out of the ordinary."

Erza forced a smile on her face, causing Jellal to look away with a frown.

She had to look strong for the younger ones, and Jellal knew that. If she put up a brave front, the smaller kids would retain their bravery, as to them Erza was an idol. It was all the more reason for Erza to escape.

After a few months of training with master Rob, Erza found her and her friends had drastically improved their magical power. Erza could now summon quite a few swords at a time, and had learnt to use them to the best of her ability. Macbeth was now able to slash through blood and bone, and he had even started creating minor illusions. Milliana was now able to summon tubes of magical energy that could be shot out of her hands, but they left her drained quite quickly. Jellal, suprisingly, had progressed the most out of all of them. He could manifest fire out of his hands with relative ease, and the more he trained the bluer the fire would become, which she supposed showed the intensity of the flames.

"Erza nya, what are you thinking about?"

Erza looked over to find Milliana and Macbeth looking at her with unplacable expressions

"I'm just thinking about how much we've progressed with our magic. A few more months and we'll be able to break out! most of the guards don't know how to use magic at all, and we outnumber them 10 to 1."

Macbeth looked at her with a troubled expression.

"What about Yamori. We've rarely seen him, but apparently if you really anger the guards you get taken to him as a present, and no-one has come back since. I've seen him do magic before though, the purple energy that wisps around him when he walks past the cells can't be a trick of the light."

Milliana butted in, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

"Well, I've heard a rumour that he's dead."

"Dead!" exclaimed Erza, her face one of shock rather than horror. With Yamori out of the way the breakout could happen much sooner, but she knew that the rumour was most likely made up.

"Yeah nya, and he was killed by someone our age too! I saw it happen!"

If possible, both Erza's and Macbeth's eyes widened even more.

"I had to deliver something to that weird flesh room upstairs, And as I was walking up there this white-haired boy ran past me with blood all over his clothes. I was about to ask him if he was alright before I heard a strange dripping sound from Yamori's room. I opened the door a bit, and all I could see was blood and his mangled body. It was really gross!"

The kids had been desensitised to blood and gore over their stay in the tower of heaven, so they were not shocked by the rather unemotional description of the dead body.

"So," started Macbeth, looking thoughtful, "You think that white haired kid did it?"

"Without a doubt, nya."

Erza was about to speak when the door of their cell was pushed open and Jellal and another boy were pushed inside. Jellal looked no worse for wear than usual, but the other boy that was with him caught her eye. His eyes were like pieces of jet on a blank canvas, with messy black hair that looked like silk. His face had a soft but regal look to it, and even in the dirt and grime of the prison, she could still discern the beauty in his features. His clothes were cut and torn, but he didn't seem to have a single blemish on his skin.

A fallen angel

She blushed and looked away quickly, pushing the feeling in her heart down, before looking back at him. He was smiling, a smile that seemed so full of life and happiness that she couldn't resist the tugging of her lips, and neither could her companions.

"Hi! my names Kaneki Ken! pleased to meet you!"

The sheer exuberance of the boy brought giggles forward from both Erza and Milliana.

They all introduced themselves, save Jellal who was looking at the boy with a look of awe.

After a few moments of silence, Erza decided to take the initiative.

"So Kaneki, how old are you."

Kaneki beamed at the question, and replied quickly

"13, but i'm nearly 14 now! the same age as you guys! I hope I get along with you all, I haven't met anyone my age since I arrived here."

Erza frowned inwardly. There was no shortage of children in the tower of heaven, and the fact that he had never interacted with any of them seemed a little off.

Seemingly sensing the question, Kaneki spoke.

"I got put into an isolation cell since I accidentally used some magic on one of the guards. It was around when I arrived, and I've been there until now."

Macbeth strode forward and asked the question all the others had been wanting to ask.

"So, If you can use magic, can you give us a demonstration? all of us here can do magic aswell, and we can teach you if you want."

As if to prove his point, Macbeth pointed to one of the stone walls on our cell and carved Kaneki's name in it with his distortion blades.

"WOW! That was so cool! I wish I could do magic like that! But every time I try, I accidentally blow something up!"

Kaneki's jovial admission lead to bouts of laughter and snickering from the gathered kids, and in their mirth they failed to notice the slight maniacal gleam in the boys eyes as he laughed, or the way his black hair seemed to turn almost white under the pale moon.

Master Rob did though.