Beta: SilversunnyD (You should check out Silver's stories! They're great!)

Thanks so much for looking over this and giving suggestions!

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"How is everything going?" Akira Mado remained vigilant by the CCG's infirmary ward. A pristine room set aside for emergency patients and the severely disabled, the infirmary ward held hope for families and friends of the CCG investigators. However, Akira held no such idealistic ideas. Something—she had no clue exactly what that something was—rampaged through the buildings with more force than any ghoul could ever carry out. Then, the CCG investigators found an executive Aogiri ghoul's corpse right beside a shivering Amon.

The gore and blood in the clearing initially disgusted Akira. But, after gathering her wits, Akira's second, prioritized emotion centered on the man strapped to the bed in the tiny white room. Amon's psyche shattered on that day under some unseen force unknown by the rest of the CCG. Perhaps, in his current state of mind, they would never know. For such a threat to reduce a strong willed man to a trembling disaster…she hoped she would never encounter it.

The threat disappeared as soon as it arrived so Akira needed to focus on recovery efforts. CCG's counter defense against Aogiri's onslaught needed to be restored, new recruits trained, and a new way to fight the ghouls developed. The raid against Anteiku and Aogiri had shown them how weak humans truly were. They lost the majority of their forces to take down a single, hole in the wall ghoul coffee shop. Her eyes wandered over to the form fighting to escape the doctor's grasp while they attempted to give him a sedative shot. The price for the victory was too steep.

"Ms. Mado." If it was another low ranking officer here to celebrate their victory over Aogiri, she was going to have to ask him to shut up. She couldn't deal with any more of the "congratulations" and the "we did it guys!" going around the office when there were still people in critical condition in the infirmary ward. Akira did not doubt for a second that her superiors felt the same way.

The blonde threw a sharp glare over her shoulder. "What?"

"It's First Class Investigator Amon." Akira tensed and heart thumped uncomfortably in her chest.

"What about him?"

"Amon lost an arm to Centipede. We managed to staunch the bleeding but…he will be placed in the asylum ward for monitoring and rehabilitation on his psychological condition." Akira's blood ran cold. They were going to lock up Amon? She clenched her fists.

"Locked up? We're a team! What am I supposed to do for a partner?"

"Please, Ms. Mado!" The assistant held up shaking hands in surrender. His face was pallid and covered in a cold sweat. Oh, Akira noted, anyone would feel that way if they were lifted straight off the ground. The man stumbled the moment Akira released his shirt collar.

"Fix it." She couldn't lose another important person. CCG's mortality rates were high and no one was invincible no matter the reputation attributed to them. Akira learned that lesson from her father's death. She steeled her mind and body for the inevitable. Why was she refusing it now?

"I can't!"

"Why not?!"

"This type of procedure takes years to produce results! A person's mind is very delicate. Even without the damage to his mind, Amon will never be a field investigator again! His entire arm was chopped off to the shoulder!"

Akira's rage drained from her form, the finality his statement settling in her mind. Amon would never be an investigator again. "Yes. Of course." Akira backed off to give both her and the man space after their respective outbursts. Her demeanor had been shameful. "Am I allowed to see him now?"

"Yes. We're busy so the doctors limited visitation to ten minutes." The man held the clipboard against his waist in a firm grasp. The slight movement drew Mado's eyes downward. "It's not easy for me either, Ms. Mado. Amon is my friend too." Was your friend, she wanted to bite out. Amon's mind was gone. All that is left is a raging lunatic in asylum ward.

"I need to go visit him." She bowed in customary gratitude. "If you'll excuse me." Heels clicking on the tile, Akira turned toward the white-washed room and opened the glass door separating her from the wails of the injured, dying, and mentally compromised. The fluorescent lighting cast a sickly pallor on everything it touched. Telling herself to be strong, the female investigator approached Amon with a face set in trained disinterest.

"Akira…?" The blonde nodded and kneelt beside Amon's bed. "Do you see them, Akira?"

"What are you talking about sir?" Amon had PTSD, enough to warrant mental isolation and white padded rooms. It was one of the worst cases she had seen in her time with the CCG. Her stare roamed down the neatly bandaged shoulder covered in fresh blood seeping out of the sutured wound. Don't think about his arm, she scolded herself.

"You don't see them?"

"Who?"

"The ghosts. The spirits. I saw Centipede. He was crying." Great, now the insane investigator was seeing the spirits of dead ghouls. The blonde decided to humor Amon.

"Alright. What did these spirits do, sir?"

Amon's eyes widened in terror. "They were everywhere. Centipede was one of them. They destroyed everything. It wasn't natural . Those things weren't natural . Not a ghoul, not a human. The woman said it was evil. Can't be saved. I was suffocating. Breaking. Cracking. They died but centipede is still out there. Waiting. He's waiting for someone to save him." Scratched, bruised hands snatched Akira's hands. "Death gods. They're real. Said something was wrong with the energy."

"Sir, please stop." The weary investigator wrenched her hands away and pushed Amon back down into the bed. "None of that happened. I need you to be calm."

"No. She said the monsters are coming."

Akira massaged her temple in an attempt to halt an incoming headache. "Okay," continuing to go along with his fantasies she said, "what are the monsters called?"

"Hollows. Ghouls are hollows and hollows are ghouls but they aren't the same thing. She said so." Akira nodded and gave Amon's hand a reassuring pat. The investigator had no clue what he was talking about but it had to mean something. Things would eventually become clearer when the psychologists gave him therapy to unscramble his memories.

"Sir, why don't you get some rest. We'll try to find out whoever she is."

"Right." Amon nodded and Akira felt the old investigator came back if only for a moment. "I should probably rest." Amon reclined with a sigh as the sedatives began their work. The man was asleep in under a minute. The blonde stood and briskly exited the infirmary. The stress was catching up to her. The sound of rustling clothing caught her attention. The assistant from before was staring at her with wide eyes.

"I heard the conversation."

"Isn't there anything…?"

"No," the man shook his head solemnly, "but, if it helps, the higher-ups told me to pass on a message. The Screaming Banshee is having a severe case of murders reported after customers have been seen leaving the building."

"A typical club case?"

"Yes except one of the reports lead some of the first-class investigators to believe it is the work of a member of Aogiri Tree."

Akira clenched her fists. "Aogiri?!"

"Yes," the man held out a file of papers, "here is a list of possible subjects. Are you going to take the case?"

The second class investigator swiped the manila folder from the assistant's hands and leafed through the pictures of known members. Her eyes flicked up from the papers. What was such a low-ranking member doing with these documents? Normally, her superiors would come see her instead of sending an underling. "Why did they send you instead of coming to me themselves?"

The man gave a polite bow of apology, "they were busy with the consequences of the Anteiku raid, sir."

"Very well. Tell them I'll hit up a few other club cases while I'm at it." This case was good for a small drink. Ghouls were easy enough to lure out with faked weakness. She would have revenge.

The assistant watched her leave. "That went as well as I expected…"

Looking back, it had been a bad idea to go charging head first into the nest of ghouls. Kanou's lab should have thoroughly beaten the idea out of her head (after all, Aogiri still lurked around every corner) so Akira could only blame herself for this predicament. The ghoul had been too easy to pick out of the crowd with that hungry gaze; the bait had been all too tempting. She should have ignored the obvious trap. Teens picked up nasty habits from their peers—such as faking —in order to fit in or feel the adrenaline rush of rebellion. Naturally, Akira had gone to the club to find a predator of a different nature.

The drink warmed her body, the pleasant tingle spreading through her hands, and alleviated the stress brought on by the unfortunate news earlier that day. In her hand was a simple beer; it was cheap and did the job. The masses of wriggling bodies hid more than the unruly teenagers—it hid predators of the non-human variety as well. The tinkled in the glass as she pulled it up to take another sip, a ruse to hide her tracking gaze from ghoul. She followed its path around the room, going from woman to woman, searching for its favorite human delicacy.

This was bad. The ghoul was maneuvering through the crowd with determination, his eyes locked on her position. Tsuzuki Yamamoto, a lower-ranked member of Aogiri and one she was capable of handling on her own, had been on her hit list since the large-scale assault on Aogiri's base. The knot in her throat constricted, her mind had flashed back to the infirmary ward, and the rage swelled in her chest. No, this was the perfect chance to eliminate the pest running around. If she got rid of him, there is one less ghoul who could create the same incident.

Akira's eyes followed the ghoul's movement from her peripheral vision as he slid into the seat beside her. The smile adorning his face appeared friendly enough but she knew better. Picking out a ghoul's fake expressions (though they tended to be amazing actors) was easy enough. "Hey there! I couldn't help but notice your stares from across the room."

"I wasn't looking at you."

"Right and your eyes were following the invisible ghost right behind me. I'm not stupid. Hey!" The man waved the bartender over with a grin. Resting his face in his hand, elbow leaning on the countertop, he silently watched Akira slowly drank her beer.

"What would you like?" The bartender, who was previously ignored, interrupted the ghoul.

"Hm," The ghoul rubbed his chin in thought. Ghouls had an unnaturally high metabolism—alcohol had little effect on them. "I'll just get what she's having."

"Asshole. Do you plan on stalking me all night?"

"Somebody's getting drunk already it seems."

Akira punched the man (rather hard, she would gleefully admit later) on the shoulder. "Shut up!" The ghoul scooted over as much as he could, and Akira smirked as the bartender sat the glass down in front of the tense ghoul. "Things aren't going to go your way, bastard."

"You…can't hold alcohol well can you?" Akira ignored the question, instead focused on figuring out the song lyrics—dirty song lyrics.

"What if I can't? Doesn' matter to you."

"It matters because you already look like you can't stand up! What percentage is that? How many have you had?"

Akira held the glass to her puzzled face, swirling the liquid gently, "No clue." She tugged sharply at the ghoul's arm sleeve. "It's your fault I drank more than I wanted too so you are going to help me home."

"What?! How is that my fault?"

Akira slammed an open palm against the counter top, "I just told you!" Akira crossed her arms and leaned on the bar with a grimace. "So?"

"Ugh, fine. I'm assuming you want something else from the way you were watching me earlier but this is alright too I guess." Akira smirked and slid out of her seat on slightly wobbly legs.

The ghoul reached out—"Don't touch me!"—and promptly retracted his hand. Sporting a similar grimace to Akira, the ghoul followed behind the woman hesitantly. Yamamoto had no idea where the troublesome woman was taking him, but the entire charade better be worth it. Being a rude, distrustful bitch to suddenly asking him to walk her back? There was something up with this woman. His instincts were screaming at him to attack, to devour, the woman.

Had he finally netted a dove? That would mean the plan was free to move forward. If not…well, he got an easy meal from her stupidity. There was a flash and his kagune collided with steel.

"I knew it," Tsuzuki declared, "you were a dove. Something was off about you. Following me around the room and then spurning my advances before suddenly asking me to walk you back? You're a terrible actor. I bet you aren't even drunk."

"Tipsy, perhaps, but not drunk. It was just enough to throw off your suspicion, Aogiri son of a bitch."

"Foul mouthed too." Tsuzuki smirked and slid a hand to his back pocket.

"No you don't!" The quinque blade lashed out but Tsuzuki was faster. He whipped out a pistol—no, Akira realized, a flare gun! Shit, it was a trap! The gun went off, shooting a trail of grey smoke high into the air.

"The signal? Finally! We were wondering when you were going to catch a dove." A band of ghouls, two male and one female, rushed out the alleyway with their kagunes readied.

The only female spoke up, "Put down the weapon and maybe we'll let you live a little longer. We need you for something you see, Akira Mado."

Akira eyes narrowed, "…you know me?"

"Why wouldn't I? Your father," she sneered, "killed mine. Unfortunately, Rabbit killed him so I'm left with the second best option—his daughter." Akira, disinterest plain on her face, lashed out with her bikaku whip, Amatsu. "Whoa!" The ghoul casually blocked the bikaku whip with a rinkaku. The appendages snaking out from her lower back quickly switched to offense, lunging at her with enough speed to crack the pavement.

"Rinkaku…this could be a problem." There was a swish of air. Twisting her body, she barely managed to block the heavy attack from the original ghoul, Tsuzuki. Blood red eyes, complimented by black sclera, filled with blood lust eyed the dove. The lance-like kokaku kagune collided with the dagger side of Amatsu.

A spiked tail shot out and Akira froze, unable to move or be impaled by Tsuzuki and the woman, as the appendage lacerated and pinned her arms to her body. She had let her guard down! Falling to the floor, Akira attempted to twist out of the steel muscle keeping her bound. The bikaku male leered over her, "now now, no need for that. Go to sleep for a bit."

Akira's eyes widened as warmth flooded her system. His kagune could produce narcotics! "What…?" She attempted to keep her eyes open. The edges of her vision darkened. The ghouls converged on her. Unable to fight, Akira's head slumped onto the concrete and she passed out.

Akira unsuccessfully tried to get her hands out the ropes holding her hostage. It seemed they were keeping her in an old warehouse. Boxes, covered in dust and spider webs, were stacked haphazardly around her to make a temporary prison cell. There were two other chairs—two other potential prisoners—sitting beside her own. Her current situation would change once they got where they were going. Once the ghouls reached whatever served as their current headquarters, she would be thrown into a cold, steel cell for torture and interrogation. It was a terrifying prospect.

"Do you think she knows anything important?"

"Why wouldn't she? She's a dove that worked with Amon. Ya know, the guy who killed Tatara. She's got to be somewhat important. Besides, did you forget who her father is?" The female ghoul lifted her face and examined the woman closely.

"I don't see what's so great about her."

"It doesn't matter if she is great or not," the male who knocked Akira out said. "All that matters is that we bring her to the executives."

"Tch." The female wrenched Akira's head to the side as she stepped away. "Why can't we ju-"

CLANG!

"What was that?"

The bikaku male spoke up, "an intruder."The Aogiri members nodded at each other and jumped over the crate prison to intercept whoever was on the other side. Akira tensed, preparing to tear her skin up to escape, when screams broke the silence. The screams lasted a moment before dying as quickly as they had begun. A wet squelching noise and the soft tap of shoes were all she could hear. Whoever took down the ghouls so effortlessly was slowly moving toward her position.

The boxes tumbled to the ground, revealing a handsome brunette with glasses perched on his face. His demeanor appeared friendly but the blood spattered on his face suggested otherwise. The damned smile on his face was obviously his default expression as he calmly approached her.

"Akira Mado, I presume?"

Akira tensed as the fingers tugged at the knots holding her captive. "Yes. Who are you?"

"Me?" The ropes fell to the ground, "I am benefactor of CCG."

Akira rubbed her sore wrists, "Benefactor?"

"I fund the research on ghouls. They are an intriguing specimen of evolution."

"Ho?" Akira turned to her rescuer. "No one else knew I had been kidnapped which means you were keeping tabs on me. What do you want from me, Mr. Benefactor?"

"Straight to the point I see. It's simple. I want you to oversee a pet project of mine: Sasaki Haise."

Who's that?" Akira said, "I've never heard of anyone by that name."

Aizen smirked and held out Amatsu. "You'll see. All you have to do is accept." Akira snatched the weapon from his palm, distrust shining in her eyes.

"You'll kill me otherwise…am I right?"

"Smart girl. Do you accept?"

Akira held out her hand, "I don't have a choice."

Aizen shook her hand, his friendly expression not reaching his eyes. "Excellent. I will inform Arima and the chairman."

On the other side of the city, dark shadows were beginning to stir. A young girl shrieked as she stumbled across the dusty alley way to escape the creature following her. This wasn't real…! It couldn't! Weren't things supposed to be a paradise when you passed on? The giant skull-faced monstrosity crept out of its corner hiding spot.

"Come here little plus!"

"NO!" The child pushed off the ground with shaky legs. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" She only got a few steps, however, when her legs collapsed beneath her. The hand's talons inched toward the child. She held up her hands in a vain attempt to stop the hand.

A squelching noise interrupted the girl's frantic thoughts and she peeked up at empty space. "This is bad," the voice, male, sighed in annoyance, "instant hollowfication is making everything a pain to deal with!" The figure turned but the light shrouded him in shadow and kept her from seeing the face of her savior.

The girl yelped as the hilt gently tapped her on the forehead. Surprise quickly turned to peace. In a flash of white light, a black butterfly replaced her tiny frame. The man watched the butterfly vanish along with the girl. "Where the heck are all these hollows coming from?" The shinigami sighed and sheathed his sword. "Captain Kurotsuchi is going to have a field day with this."

…

A/N: Revisions took longer than I thought they would. I hope you guys enjoyed this (delayed) chapter! If you guys spot anything weird, let me know. I dissected the original version with cut and paste so there may be something wacky missed during revision.