Tokyo Ghoul:reBIRTH

Tooru did not know how to feel at the moment.

She didn't know how long it had been since they started fighting, but it was clear that neither side was able to get a good grasp on the other. Whenever Hirako tried to strike him, Sasaki would defend with his Kakuja, and the counter with his Kagune, forcing him back to the defensive. Whenever Sasaki tried to impale or tear him apart, Hirako would find gaps in his attacks and use them before trying to cut him down, only for Sasaki to leap out of the way and bounce of the walls before slamming back down, ready for another skirmish.

'I-is this...' Tooru thought, unable to tear her eyes away from the battle. No, it wasn't quite that she was unable to look away... it was more like she couldn't afford to. 'Sasaki-senpai's... real nature?'

"Hehehehehehehe!" Sasaki laughed as he blocked another of Hirako's attacks before rearing his arm back, thrusting it forward. Fist met Quinque, the power behind the punch to cause several cracks to spread through the blade, and the force powerful enough to send Hirako flying, his feet skidding across the ground. "S-seven m-minus thousand...!"

Hirako's expression did not change as he prepared himself for another attack, Sasaki's Kagune beginning to quiver and shake violently, as if it were begging to skewer him. "No wonder they made him an SS-Rated Ghoul..." she heard him mutter before placing his hand against the communicator in his ear. "Oi, Mado."

Sasaki didn't make a move yet, his grin diluted with madness, and his eye blank, as if all consciousness within him was gone, replaced by insanity. Tooru, like many others in the academy, had learned about Ghouls that committed acts of cannibalism, and what it had entailed. The name Kakuja was a reference both to the Ghoul, and to the Kagune they possessed. By devouring other Ghouls, a Ghoul can develop an abnormal amount of Rc cells in their body, and develop a mutated Kagune, eventually forming into armor of some sort, far more powerful.

However, in later records in the last two years, Kakuja that were incomplete, or mutated Kagune that were not fully developed, would undergo a drastic change. Their sole focus was to destroy everything in front of them, and devour it with great pleasure... In other words, a mindless berserker.

Sasaki's personality was akin to the reports, yet Tooru could see something different. There was a fleeting sense from his stance, a hidden meaning behind his attacks, a message that he could not convey in his current state of mind. What that was, she was unable to decipher, so she could do the only thing she could: watch.

"Man, I didn't know Sas-san could be so vicious..." Ginshi grimaced, barely able to keep up with the fight at all. "And what the hell is that whole math thing about?"

"Half-Kakuja's don't exactly have a good mental state, Third Class Investigator Shirazu." Urie stated in his usual cold tone, yet even they could see he was interested in the battle. "And as for the thousand minus seven mathematics problem... it's a torture method used by the subject in order to maintain their sanity."

Tooru paled, her hand clutching at her sleeve tightly. If Sasaki had undergone some kind of torture in the past that resulted in him muttering a problem that could keep his sanity... She stopped her line of thinking there. She didn't want to imagine what sort of hell her teacher had to go through in the past.

In the end, she watched as Sasaki and Hirako battled each other, one trying to kill the other. 'Sasaki-senpai...' Tooru thought, her lips forming into a thin line, and her teeth clenched together. 'Please...!'

Hirako leaped back from another strike, managing to avoid getting his head ripped off by Haise Sasaki, the Kagune destroying the wall he was in front of completely, debris flying everywhere, and shrapnel slicing his skin. "Hirako, we're almost there." Akira informed him over the communicator as he sidestepped, evading a backwards kick that would have torn off his head. "Keep him busy!"

"Tell me something I can actually do." Hirako grumbled under his breath, twirling his Quinque around in his hand before he slammed it against two tendrils, destroying them before he dashed in, seeing an opportunity. With a quick strike, he lifted the blade upwards, slicing into Haise's shoulder. The Ghoul growled in pain using his other two Kagune to try and kill him. Hirako slipped back, stepping left and right to avoid being impaled. 'At this rate, it won't be long before he reaches Risk Level 3...' Hirako grimaced again, managing to place some distance between him and Haise.

"Sasaki." Hirako tried to snap the Investigator out of it, hoping he would be able to at least buy some time for Akira to get out here. If anyone had any luck of getting this kid back into the right state of mind, it was her. "You seriously want to go on like this? If you keep this up... I think you know what happens."

At first, he wondered if Haise would even be able to hear a word he said. He just stared at him, drool and blood dripping from his mouth, and his severed Kagune already beginning to repair itself, despite it's already degrading form. "M-memories...!" Haise responded, his fingers twitching madly, and cracking the index appendage. "U-used... Made me... F-forget... Ev-everyone...!"

Hirako's eyes widened slightly recognition forming. 'Ah, hell...' he groaned, touching his communicator. "Mado... He remembers."

At first, there was silence. She was likely trying to figure out the meaning behind his words. There were only a few people that knew Haise Sasaki's true identity, of who he was in reality. Besides him and Mado, there was Associate Special Class Investigator Suzuya Juuzou, who learned of it simply from past meetings, Special Class Investigator Kishou Arima, who brought him in the first place, and of course, the Chairman and Director. Many Investigators held contempt at Sasaki, mostly either because of his skills or of his nature, but there were a few that treated him as a human being, among them being Special Class Investigator Iwao's son.

"...I see." Akira finally responded after a long pause of silence.

"I'll see if I can at least hold him down until we find a way to calm him." Hirako told her, steadying himself once again for yet another skirmish. "Who else is with you?"

"Investigators Shiba and Tsumetaku."

Hirako smiled inwardly. They were both Second Class Investigators, but their teamwork and skill were on par with that of even Top Class Investigators. 'Well, that's reassuring at least...' he thought before he blocked a strike from a Kakuja tentacle, moving back from another lashing strike from the tendrils. Haise finally got tired of waiting, and attacked, leaping into the air and slamming his Kakuja down up him.

Hirako scowled, and threw himself to the ground, using his shoulder to lessen the impact and roll himself forward, moving away from the destruction that occurred behind him. Haise landed harshly on the ground, spider web patterned cracks forming from underneath his feet, and the Kagune embedded into the ground.

Seeing another opportunity presenting itself, Hirako charged forward, his Quinque trailing behind him. Haise was already on the offensive, shooting his Kakuja forward. The centipedes tore the ground apart as they tried to impede him, however, his speed was enough for him to evade them, using his Quinque to deflect any that decided to get too close for comfort.

By now, he was half-way towards the Ghoul. He launched his Kagune, all four tendrils shooting straight for him. Taking a deep breath, Hirako steadied himself. This was a technique that he had developed, partially thanks to Arima back when they were working together. It was used against Ghouls that used Rikaku, but was primarily set in one-on-one battles, mainly such as this. Both conditions were in place, this it would be useful.

Stopping for only a brief second, Hirako slammed his foot forward, reared his blade back, and swung it at a diagonal angle. The four tendrils slammed up against it, the impact strong enough to create a shockwave that blew dust and debris away from them. With a swift sidestep, Hirako pushed forward, slipping the Quinque into his other hand, and put more force into it. Rikaku's were rather brittle, as if they were cable wires bound together loosely. No matter how good the regeneration, they were still easy to break.

The bloody tentacles broke apart, and Hirako continued. Haise was momentarily surprised by the action, but quickly recovered. Unfortunately, it was that moment of hesitance that allowed Hirako to get the strike he needed. Before the Ghoul could react, Hirako was already upon him, swinging his Quinque with all of his might. The cut was deep, slicing his chest open, and blood spraying out. Haise howled in pain, bringing his Kakuja up for defense. Hirako slipped the Quinque back in his dominant hand as he brushed up against one of the demonic centipedes, and lowered his body fluidly under the other, using the momentum to get another hit in, this time at the leg.

A deep gash was made across his thigh, forcing him down on one knee. Hirako wasted no time in dealing out more damage, and grabbed the Ghoul by the hair, slamming his knee into his face. He inwardly scowled in annoyance, dully noting how painfully hard that mask is. Haise was reeling back hard, leaning back as Hirako swung his Quinque down into his shoulder, tearing open flesh and reaching down to the bone.

"G-GRAAAGH!"

"Tch." Hirako let go of his Quinque, and twirled his body around, slamming his heel directly into Haise's jaw, pouring his strength into the kick. The power behind it was enough to send him flying, his body soaring through the air before it came tumbling back down to the ground a few seconds later, rolling on the floor before his body slid to a halt, the Quinque still embedded into his shoulder.

"S-Sasaki-senpai!" he heard Tooru Mutsuki shout in worry. Before he made any move, Hirako raised his hand.

"Don't." Hirako ordered, or rather advised them, depending on how you looked at it. He briefly glanced over, seeing him and Ginshi Shirazu about to run over to their fallen teacher, while Kuki Urie hung back, observing the fight in silence. He had been watching it closely, analyzing their battle performance and tactics carefully, as if trying to piece out puzzle pieces that had been laid out in front of him. "He's still dangerous. Wait until he's calmed down."

'Or terminated...' Hirako added mentally before looking back at Haise. His body was shaking all over, legs trembling as he stood up, his face still diluted with madness and insanity as a shaky arm reached for the Quinque, grabbing it by the hilt. Red, spider-like appendages appear where the cuts were made, already working on the damage. Flesh was sewn back together, torn muscles reknit, and bones mended. "C-can't... Lose t-them..." Haise muttered, hissing in pain as he pulled Hirako's Quinque out from his shoulder. "D-don't want... F-forget them... N-not again...!"

At this, Hirako sighed again. He had been doing that a lot lately. 'It must be painful for him... having lived a false life up until now...' he thought, pitying the poor kid. For the last two years, he had been living in ignorance, living a normal life, and then suddenly recalling everything. The lie was gone, the illusion shattered. He must have been filled with rage.

"Hirako!"

Looking over his shoulder, he saw Akira accompanied by the two Investigators she had mentioned. Both looked shocked and slightly intimidated by Haise Sasaki's Kakuja form, his Kakuja and Kagune lashing around menacingly, and the mask with the insanity-filled Kakugan was not really helping matters either.

"That's..." Shiba said, taking the moment to look at fully see Haise Sasaki. "...Investigator S-Sasaki?"

"Heh, crazy looking bastard." Tsumetaku smiled nervously. "Doesn't look so tough with a Quinque in his shoulder."

"Don't let your guard down." Akira advised them. Hirako was probably the only one that did not miss the hostile tone hidden beneath her words. It was obvious she took what the man said about Sasaki personally, further proof of how she came to be attached to the boy. "Sasaki is an SS-Rated Ghoul, and he's an Incomplete Kakuja. His movements will be unpredictable."

"Hai!" Shiba nodded, unlocking his case and taking out his Quinque. It took on the form of a double-sided spear with bloody red tips, a metal shaft acting as a grip for him. The blades themselves were black with jagged edges, a small pair of holes near the base. Tsumetaku grinned, taking out a pair of dual blades nodachi lacking a hilt or guard, the blades black like the double-sided spear, and bloody red edges running along the flat of the swords.

"Investigator Mado." Kuki Urie called out, walking forward. Hirako was about to berate him until he saw the look in his eye, and sighed. Great, just what he needed, a glory-hound kid wanting to get rid of what he believed to be an obstacle. He absolutely hated kids like that, too much trouble. "Let me fight."

"Second Class Urie..." Akira slightly glared at him as she unveiled her own Kagune, a chimera-type being a Rikaku whip with a Koukaku dagger at the hilt. In a way, Hirako couldn't help but admire the weapon, and Akira for being able to wield it. After all, chimera-types weren't exactly the easiest to wield, especially Type-A Quinque's. Then again, she had learned to control Fueguchi to its fullest extent.

It was to be expected of Top Class Investigator Kureo Mado's daughter.

"I know what the risks are." Kuku Urie said, his Kakugan already forming. His sclera darkened, and his iris became red. The Koukaku blade, much sharper and more refined that a Kagune, consuming his arm and forming into it's deadly sharp body. "Besides... I can't very well sit back."

Seeing the look in his eyes, Akira sighed before she adopted a cold look befitting an Investigator. "Do as you are told, and don't interfere."

"Hai."

"Won't go..." Haise growled, tearing Hirako's Quinque out of his shoulder and tossing it away, his lone Kakugan glaring at them in madness-induced fury. "Won't go back! Won't lose them!"

"Mado..." Hirako called out to Akira, looking at her while making sure to keep an eye on Haise. "Can you really harm him?"

If one hadn't missed the looks of regret and sadness that appeared in her eyes, one could have known she had hesitated in her answer, despite delivering it quickly. "...Do I even have a choice in the matter?"

Hirako chuckled, and looked back at Haise Sasaki. The Ghoul placed himself on all fours, his Rikaku reconstructing themselves back together, and the Kakuja shaking as they placed themselves in a similar position, poised and ready, the tips aimed at them. The Kakugan was dashing around wildly, as if trying to determine which one he wanted to go for.

'Man, he just had to toss it all the way over there, didn't he?' Hirako grumbled mentally, seeing his Quinque tossed quite a ways away from Haise. 'Tch, remind me again why I decided to take this job?'

Sometimes, Hirako felt as if he someone had screwed him over, but he pushed the thoughts out of his mind as Shiba and Tsumetaku charged in first. Haise immediately dashed after them, leaping up to the ceiling, using his Kakuja as a booster, and then bouncing down upon them, and slamming his Kagune down on their frail human forms. Tsumetaku used his twin blades to defend Shiba from the tendrils, leaving Shiba the opportunity he needed and severed a few of the tendrils.

Akira moved in, using her whip to deflect the incoming Kakuja as Haise slammed down in front of the Second Class Investigators, using his superior speed and strength as he ducked underneath a stab and swing, thrusting his hand forward and grabbing Tsumetaku by the face, his fingers digging into his skull, causing him immense pain. "Tsume!" Shiba shouted in concern, when it should have been placed for himself as his partner was thrown at him, causing the two to be tossed back.

Haise's demented grin as he looked at Akira, charging straight at him. His two Kagune lashed at her, but were deflected by her whip. Getting in close, Akira swung her arm, the blade meant to slash his body. However, Haise leaned back from the swipe. Akira was not done, continuously trying to slash and hack away at him before jumping back when his Kakuja came down upon her, defending him against her counterattack of whips. "Urie!"

"Hai!" the Second Class Quinx nodded, charging forward with his Koukaku creating sparks behind him as it dragged across the ground. Akira provided cover, knocking back his Kagune while Urie managed to evade the ones Akira couldn't get to. He reached the centipedes, and with a scowl, used the momentum he had built up and swung his body around. The Kakuja was severed, leaving an open path. "Die, Sasaki." Urie told him coldly as he used his leftover strength from the swing to rear the blade back and thrust forward.

He hadn't expected Haise's Kagune to block it effortlessly, nor the Ghoul to grin from ear to ear, blood dripping from his teeth. "Shiny shiny..." he giggled before he parried the strike, and jumped up, pulling his legs in before slamming them into Urie's exposed chest. "BOOM!"

"A-ack!" Urie did a spit-take as he was thrown back, his body tumbling before he regained his senses, his feet steadying themselves and his blade slowly him down. "Damn..."

'To be able to use both his Kagune and Kakuja with such ease...' Urie noted, narrowing his eyes into a glare as he watched Haise and Akira once again battle, the woman trying to get a hit while the Kakuja, which had begun to repair itself, blocked each strike. Haise was bouncing all over the place, making him a hard target to hit. 'First Class Investigator Sasaki is far stronger than Serpent... So, this is the power of an SS-Rated Ghoul. Still, if I can kill him...' Slowly, a dark grin formed on his face. 'My promotion is all but assured.'

Torso, or Saeki, could not believe what he was seeing. Normally, after watching Serpent getting the shit kicked out of him by that Investigator/Ghoul, he would have left, especially when those Investigators showed up. However, while watching the boy writhe around in pain, clutching his head in agony, he couldn't help but feel captivated.

He soon learned why only a few short minutes later when he saw the boy go berserk, seemingly embracing his Ghoul nature, accompanied by two oddly-shaped Kagune that resembled centipedes. It only took him a few minutes to realize that what he was looking at was not Kagune, but rather, a fucking Kakuja!

'D-dear God...' Saeki paled at the thought of having to face this guy, should the situation ever come. All of a sudden, he'd take those brats from earlier over this guy! 'He's fighting against his comrades like they're nothing to him... But...'

His gaze fell over to the girl that had been pretending to be a boy. A tomboy, he supposed, but something about her made him feel as if his body was floating, a sort of longing that couldn't be satiated unless he held her in his arms, or just by gazing into her lovely eyes. The girl's name... they said it was Tooru, right? 'Tooru...' he thought, a warm feeling embracing his body. Oh, how he wanted to go down there and hold her... His arms wrapping around her small, frail body...!

He wanted her... Saeki wanted Tooru.

He would make her his, consequences be damned.

-Chapter END (2) Centipede-