"I am fine. But I believe it is time for me to call in that favour you owe me..."

"Ce qui? Whatever do you mean, Kaneki-Kun"

"Anteiku is gone, and the CCG have seen my face."

"Oh. Désolé. I really am, Ken-Kun."

"The past is in the past. It was not your fault, Tsukiyama-sama."

"But it will remain a tragedy. Jetzt! What do you need, Kaneki-Kun?"

"Am I correct in the fact you are of one of the wealthiest families in Japan?"

"Oui."

"Is it enough money to get me out of this damned country?"

"Habile... Yes, it is. I can send you to any country you desire, Kaneki-Kun! But do you really intend on leaving?"

"I have no choice."

"Very well. But you will keep me informed, oui, Kaneki-Kun?"

"Of course."

"Then meet me at the 13th ward airport."

Kaneki awoke to the blaring call of the intercom. Inwardly cursing his limited knowledge of English, he couldn't help but wonder what in the hell possessed him to choose America. It was nothing like Japan! There were cities bigger than any of the wards, for Christ's sake! Not only that, but as far as he knew, no-one in America was likely to speak Japanese. He would have difficulty finding a job, seeing as he could only just hold a conversation. Tsukiyama had arranged for him to take English classes, which he tried to deny, but the odd ghoul had ended up forcing Kaneki to go anyway. If you don't take the class, I'll send the CCG after you. Oh, Kaneki would show him...

But for now, the half-ghoul was stuck in a tiny private jet, flying straight to America.

Now, food was going to be a pain in the ass. He'd scavenged a few 'sugar cubes,' but he knew he'd have to hunt eventually. As such, he'd come to the conclusion to head to New York, as it was known for the high-crime rates. The ghoul had also decided to take up the chance of a new leaf, and was going to take a vigilante point of view. It was outlawed, Kaneki didn't know why. After all, even if you did murder the bad guy, you were just stopping him from murdering anyone else. Kaneki would go to the sketchy parts of the city once a month, and seek out a meal. A meal which deserved to die.

Another new sensation he was getting used to was air sickness. It felt so weird! His stomach felt like it was lifted out of its place, then dropped back down. He HATED it! If air sickness was this bad, he was dreading jet lag. The half ghoul was certain that he was turning green. The infamous Eyepatch, defeated, by air sickness. Just as he was mulling over his thoughts, a flight attendant came in and told him to fasten his seatbelt. At least Tsukiyama had the decency to hire a Japanese attendant. If only the same could be said for the pilot. He didn't understand a word that crackled over the speakers. For all he knew, it could be Russian or German. Considering what the Gourmet was like, he wouldn't put it past him.

The woman smiled and sat down in a seat opposite him, before smiling and telling him to look out of his window. Kaneki hadn't even opened the blinds, in fear he would accidently open a window. He'd never been on a plane before. But, taking the attendant's advice, he scrolled down the blinds.

The view was breath-taking.

It looked as though he were flying over a bigger version of Tokyo! It was night, and he could see millions upon billions of lights flooding the busy city, as people rushed to their destinations. It was so crowded! There were queues for most of the shops, and Kaneki briefly wondered if an event of some kind was coming up. Cars were honking their horns at people who rushed across the road, and the people called back profanities to the drivers. The whole city seemed slightly more aggressive than Tokyo, but he couldn't make assumptions. After all, from what he knew, America had no ghouls.

Kaneki watched the people flooding the shops, trying to figure out what had everyone so worked up. There couldn't possibly be this many birthdays. And it wasn't anywhere near Christmas or Halloween, it was spring. So those three were ruled out. Maybe it was a religious thing? Oh right, Easter was coming up. But the half ghoul couldn't bring himself to believe that was it. There were so many people! It could be Easter though. America had many more people than Japan. Maybe this was normal? Nah, no way that was it!

The plane began its descent, and Kaneki shakily stood to grab his hand luggage. The woman laughed when he fell over due to turbulence, and Kaneki couldn't keep himself from laughing too. After a few jokes and a minute of teasing, Kaneki was able to leave the plane, though he was happy to receive the number of the attendant. They promised to stay in touch, and Kaneki grinned as he waved goodbye. He hadn't laughed like that for a while. It was just like the good old times.

Though he still despised flying.

His case came rolling along the suitcase turnstile, and he grasped it before stepping onto fresh American soil. All in all, it had gone well, if you forgot the bemused police officer he'd had to knock out. (The damn retard had the audacity to look in Kaneki's case).

He was certainly oddly dressed, or he was in the Americans' eyes. His formal Japanese attire and white hair weren't helping any, but he managed to avoid questions aimed at him by using the excuse of cosplay. Which, to his amazement, worked.

Before the half ghoul could take in the surrounding area, (Hell, before he could blink) a large man barged past him. He was wearing expensive-looking leather, and had a large camera in his hands. He and several other reporter-like people rushed towards another man. The attention-attracter was wearing a suit tie suit, had dark brown hair- Well, it was closer to black. And a goatee shaved in an... original way. As the reporters flocked him like flies to a carcass, Kaneki heard some of their conversation.

"Mr. Stark! What are your plans on the new alternate energy you have talked about?"

"Mr. Stark! What are the future plans on the-"

"Mr. Stark! Mr. Stark!"

"Mr-"

Kaneki glanced back at the somewhat amusing scene. It was not something you saw often in Tokyo, however the apparent celebrity's bodyguards had started shooing people away, startled; Kaneki fled the scene, for fear of being spotted. He approached a small vehicle. It was black and rusted, Kaneki could smell the scent of smoke coming from the driver's seat and the engine of the car. It was a four-seater, old, rickety, and clearly no-one else dared use it, as they each went to different cars. The windows were blacked out, and one was missing entirely, a wall of duct tape stood where the glass had once been. There was dents all over the vehicle, as well as a large one portraying a car crash. Painted on the sides of the vehicle were the words TAKI SERVICE. Before Kaneki could will himself away, whe blackened window opened.

"Need a lift?"

The driver was actually pretty average looking. Tan skin, unruly hair, tatty clothing. He actually reminded Kaneki of Hide. In fact, the driver looked like a poorer, darker version of the blonde. Kaneki smiled, now he'd seen the similarities, he knew there was no way he could or would refuse. There was no way a smile like that could be faked. No way that jokey-intelligent shimmer could portray evil.

"Yes please."

With one final glance back to the celebrity, who was still being mobbed, Kaneki entered the car. A shiver ran down his spine and he spun around in his seat, only to realise 'Mr. Stark' was staring after him. Kaneki just rolled up his window.

I have a dreadful feeling that this won't be the last time I see him...

Along the journey, Kaneki found out the boy's name was Hari. And he was about a year younger than the half-ghoul. Kaneki also learnt that Hari liked to talk. He just sat in his ripped-up passenger seat, and listened as Hari blabbered on and on and on. Kaneki didn't mind one bit, he liked it. Hari really was a clone of Hide.

Arriving at the hotel Tsukiyama had booked him, Hari even gave Kaneki his number. The tanned boy had a cracked old pebble phone, it was barely functioning, and had no games, which Hari complained about. But it served it's purpose.