Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note or Tokyo Ghoul, I mean, I sure don't speak, write or read Japanese. Also I can't draw that well even if I was at gunpoint. So it's pretty obvious I don't.
To that Guest Reviewer, you are literally now my favorite person ever! I never would have thought anyone would have reviewed on this! Thank you, thank you, and thank you! Enough rambling, please enjoy the next installment. Also I realized a mistake from the last chapter, when Sensei was talking to Kyoko about not knowing who Light's Shinigami was, that basically gave away Light as Kira, but Kyoko and her friends aren't technically supposed to know Light's Kira just yet, so do me a huge favor and pretend they still don't know that Light is Kira for just a little longer. Thanks!
Kyoko yawned, up late that night working on some delayed work she procrastinated on. Yeah, not one of her finer moments. I keep telling her not to procrastinate, but does she listen? NO. To be fair, she only really procrastinates on schoolwork. Peering closer over her shoulder, I saw she was working on contacting one of the top elite information dealers in the Tokyo Underground: The Black Raven. Apparently she's contacting the Black Raven, who also by the way, is technically part of Hell's Circus but mostly freelances, on what some of the other underground criminals were saying about Kira. Dear me, I sincerely hope she's using the untraceable computer Waratah, Hideki and Yuudai made for all the Executives and Officers. Oh good, she is.
Ringleader Kitsune: They're laying low? All of them?
Black Raven: Yeah, most of them are, last I heard. Kira's really striking fear. A lot of the low level Yakuzas are already terrified of Hell's Circus and Aogiri, with the addition of Kira, they're really freaking out.
Ringleader Kitsune: You want me to get the Tasmanian Devil to change your, the Hummingbird's, the White Dove's and the Bartender's identities while she's at it? Just in case Kira decides your line of work isn't "righteous". I really do hate Kira.
Black Raven: Preferably, for insurance. Anything else?
Ringleader Kitsune: What do you know about the detectives L and V?
Black Raven: Of all the questions to ask…
Ringleader Kitsune: Just answer the question.
Black Raven: Yes boss, right on it. L's a guy, I know that for sure. And he's a lot younger than most believe, early to mid-twenties, he previously worked on the LABB Cases with Misora Naomi, and he's from an orphanage called Wammy's House in England. V is female, around the same age as L, and she has worked on many cases with L, as well as many cases independently. She is the only detective that's equal to L, and she's from the Wammy's House from France. I do not know their real names, and I doubt I could find them. The only way I could find out about their real names if I looked at their faces, but you can do that too so I really shouldn't bother. Heck, it was incredibly difficult to find that little about them too!
Ringleader Kitsune: I appreciate your efforts. Thank for your time.
With that, she logged off and scribbled down some information on a side piece of paper. Sighing, she ran a hand through her messy hair, slumping in her chair.
"What's my next move?" She asked herself, mumbling.
I don't know, does it look like I can read minds? Oh wait, you were talking to yourself, my bad. Carry on dearie. She started to make a house of cards. I instantly recognized it as a stress reliever for her. Tilting my head, I believe she's making the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben. Once I figured she was about halfway done, I flicked my hand, creating a small gust of air that knocked it down. Whirling around, she glared lowly at me.
"Be aware of all your surroundings, don't just focus on one object, see the entire picture," I reminded her, it'll keep her alive.
"I suppose that's correct." She responded despondently. "It's a good thing my uncle is gone even more nowadays, with the Kira case and everything. I have more time to work."
With more resolve under her metaphoric belt, she logged back onto her untraceable computer and hacked onto her Uncle's police files, searching for the Kira files. Grinning wickedly, she clicked onto them and read all that the police had discovered on Kira. So far, all their findings were the same as Sayu's conclusions, with the exception of that Sayu had unearthed the fact of Kira's god complex. Ah, so they were one step in front of the police, L, and V.
"Ne, what's Reagan doing tonight?" Kyoko inquired, turning to spot me shamelessly gobbling up her uncle's special caramel edition bag.
It's not like he would have eaten them anytime soon.
"He's working overtime in Liverpool, and he's most definitely hating every moment of it," I snickered, glad I didn't have a fixed job and time-set.
"Thanks then," she murmured softly, permanently erasing any trace of her in the police files.
Glancing at the clock, Kyoko appeared to be contemplating if she should go hunting tonight.
"You should, while your uncle is gone and it's dark," I said, filing my nails, gosh they were disgusting! "If he decides to get back before 11 pm, I'll stall him."
"Thanks," Kyoko repeated as she stood up and changed into her sweet black leather attire with a flaming and quite clashing crimson tie.
For her finishing touches, she carefully placed her full face scarlet fox face mask onto her face, secured it then locked the house. Faking a note, she made sure it said that she was going out to pick up some things she forgot to buy earlier at the store. Make sure to be back in at least two hours sweetie, it's already 8 pm, your uncle will be back in 2 and a half hours. Locking the door, Kyoko sped off into the black night, heading towards the city area. Because I'm such a worrywart, I silently followed her, my long black dress blending with the sky.
The 15th Ward (Suginami) is a Ward usually not too terribly full of bloodshed and terror. It was solely ruled by Hell's Circus, and nobody else ever even challenged Hell's Circus, any opposing ghouls knew it's better to stay out of Hell's Circus's way than to oppose them. This was because any opposing ghouls all died very quickly. Other wards, such as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wards are too CCG infested to be dealt with. And then there were the Wards of nightmares, where bloodshed, fear, and death reigned. Like the 13th, only the small fry hangout in the 13th Ward, bigshot ghouls and criminals know that the 13th Ward isn't worth their time. Kyoko only advised her Hell's Circus ghouls and humans to go there for easy meals.
The CCG were closing in the 13th Ward, she also advised her criminals except for the ones she deployed to subdue Aogiri to stay wary in the 11th Ward, Aogiri's ghouls were getting fierce. Kyoko couldn't count how many of her soldiers had been killed by Aogiri. Then again, she couldn't count how many of her ghouls and humans have killed Aogiri's ghouls and CCG investigators already. Perhaps it's time she went to inspect the three way war between Aogiri, Hell's Circus and the CCG for herself in the 11th Ward, she wasn't about to lose to Aogiri or the CCG anytime soon. She wasn't going to the 13th Ward tonight though, much too far. Instead, she chose the rundown, back alley section of the 15th Ward, where she lived.
Which reminded her, she needed to check with Yuudai about getting more Quinque Steel for their inventory, last time she checked they were running out.
Once she reached her destination, she perched onto one of the rundown buildings of the back-alleys, waiting for a victim. She's so lucky she's a half natural half ghoul, she can eat human foods, but needs human flesh at least every month and a half. Finally, a scream. With a wide grin, Kyoko released her kagune, nine vermillion Rinkaku tentacles, and wordlessly waited, ready to pounce. It was a teenage girl, maybe about 17 or 18, and she was running from three young male low ranked C ghouls. She could tell they weren't part of Hell's Circus for they weren't wearing their Acrobat Armbands or wearing masks, she'd taught her ghouls better than that. Kyoko let out a quiet laugh of triumph, readying for a quick meal. She'd kill the lowly ghouls but not eat them, she wasn't about to become a Kakuja, and then she'd kill the girl for food. Maybe she'd cut the rest of the girl up to save for later, in the secret refrigerator she hid in a drawer of her desk.
Watching the ghouls circle the petrified human girl, Kyoko licked her lips. She forgot to go feeding after the Executive meeting from a few days ago, so now she was really hungry.
"No, no! Someone help me!" The girl shrieked in absolute fear.
Kyoko would have felt a little bit sorry for her except for the fact that she usually didn't feel sorry for idiot prey that ran around at night by themselves.
"No one around to help now, you're about to be our dinner," one of the ghouls cackled, his Bikaku kagune emerging from his back.
A Bikaku, a Rinkaku, and a Koukaku. Not too much work. If it had been a skilled Ukaku then things might have gone slightly difficult, but none of the three ghouls present were even close to attempting to beat her in a fight. The girl let out another shrill scream, covering her face in desperation.
"Who wants to take the first bite?" The Koukaku ghoul hissed, eyeing the girl with greed.
It was at this moment Kyoko decided to make her grand entrance. "Certainly none of you will."
Her unknown voice made them all jump and tense in apprehension and slight fear.
"Who's there?" The Rinkaku ghoul shouted, just a bit of uneasiness creeping into his voice.
Ah, he's scared. Perfect. Kyoko leaped down from her spot above, landing is a tense crouch. Her face was downwards so they couldn't see her mask and her kagune hanging limply in order for them not to recognize it.
The Bikaku visibly relaxed and laughed mockingly. "It's just a kid. Beat it, this is our meal."
Standing up, Kyoko raised her head, revealing her mask and lifting her Kagune so that all nine red Rinkaku tentacles showed. A wild smirk was hidden by her mask. "Not anymore."
If you lived in Tokyo and didn't recognize her mask and Kagune, you were screwed. And if you lived in the 15th Ward and didn't recognize her mask and kagune, you were dead and in some deep, deep, deep shit. Human or Ghoul, literally everyone knew her iconic mask and kagune. All the Exectuives of Hell's Circus and a few of the Officers were known by all the Wards. And it was usually foolish to think you could take them on alone.
"I-i-it's the Kitsune!" The Rinkaku ghoul screeched in pure terror, the tables reversed.
Kyoko had reversed the cards.
"Well then fight her!" The Koukaku ghoul shouted, with great uncertainty and trembling in his voice.
I snorted in heavy amusement, resting on a building rooftop above while watching and eating caramel candies. They're the biggest idiots I've ever seen if they think that C ranked ghouls like them can ever defeat the Kitsune, SSS ranked in a fight. It didn't last long. Kyoko darted forward and sliced the Bikaku ghoul in half with lighting fast speed, whipped around and punched a hole through the Rinkaku ghoul's throat. Finally, she skidded to the side and lopped the Koukaku ghoul's head right off his shoulders, decapitated. It was over in less than 15 seconds.
Blood pooled on the ground, Kyoko straightened up and turned to the girl, who was still cowering in the corner.
"Y-y-you're going to eat me, even though you saved me?" She stuttered with massive fright.
Kyoko nodded once. She needed to. "I'll make it quick."
And she did. Before the girl could blink or scream, Kyoko pierced the girl's chest, striking the heart and killing her instantly. It earned her an easy meal. Kyoko ate what she needed, then she pulled out her slicing knife. It might have seemed barbaric, but you'd do whatever you could to survive, wouldn't you? Plus this was a ghoul's way of living. After Kyoko had cut and stored most of the girl's remains into a refrigerator bag, she glanced at the bleeding corpse. The face was still intact, but many of the bones were visible. Most people would be able to tell that this was a Ghoul attack.
"Boss? Whatca doing this far out? You're almost at the 13th Ward boundaries, isn't this a little far from your house?" It was a male voice.
Kyoko whipped around, ready for a fight. Once she saw the speaker, she relaxed. It was a teenage male, several inches taller than her, with snow white hair. His Chimera Kagune was popped out, a green-blue Ukaku that resembled a peacock's feathers, and a blue Bikaku that resembled a dragon's tail. His mask, which was ruby red and seemed to have stitches all over it, covered the lower half of his face and the lower sides of the mask was pierced with black rings, was also iconic. He was perched above her, in the same spot that she was in earlier.
"Peacock," Kyoko acknowledged him, he was one of her older Executives, and his Acrobat armband was shining in the light, as was hers.
"Ringleader," he replied, eyes dancing happily. "You feeding tonight?"
"Yeah, just finished. Want some?" Kyoko held up her bag.
He waved his hand off. "Nah, I'm good. Ate earlier."
Kyoko shrugged, more for herself. "How's things in the 11th Ward?"
He sighed deeply, leaping down to stand on the same ground as her. "Meh, could be worse, could be better. The Human Ring of Fire Officers want Justice to come aid them, the Crows of the Ring of Fire aren't doing so great."
Kyoko was afraid of that. "I'll let her know that. Although she might not get there as fast as they will like, cause of the Kira Case and everything. You know who her dad is."
He nodded in affirmation. "Sure do. Yeah, Kira's messing up a bunch of business too. I had to listen to Illusionist complain for a good hour about how Kira was making all the underground dealers go into hiding, and how our Corporation might decline."
Kyoko spat angrily onto the ground. "Damn that Kira."
The Peacock snorted. "Damn right. I have to go back to the 11th, I'll be back later to fetch Justice." With those parting words, he disappeared into the night.
Kyoko merely hauled her bag over her shoulder and began the journey home.
"You'd better make you way home fast, it's drawing near to checkmate," I said, knowing her uncle was going to go home sooner than expected. "I can stall for maybe 20 minutes."
She only hesitated for a moment, before going into a full sprint, using her kagune to get home even faster. As a Shinigami, I raced ahead of her, and watched her uncle's car drive by, moving along. Well, it didn't look like he was in a big hurry. Yet time is precious, so I wrote a random guy's name down, knowing it would get Mikan Mihiko's attention since it was the guy driving in front of him.
Tachibana Masaru
Will be driving along until at 10:21 pm, he will hallucinate and swerve, thinking there was a child in the middle of the road. He will swerve to the right, hit a lamppost and die at 10:22 pm.
I like to think I'm creative with my work. At 10:21 pm exactly, the driver in front of Mikan-san swerved suddenly, looking like a drunk. Finally, he hit a lamppost on the right and crashed. Naturally, being a police officer, Mikan-san immediately pulled over and ran over to the man's car. As Kyoko's uncle investigated and tried to help Tachibana-san in any way, I returned to the Mikan household, where Kyoko was hurriedly hiding her bag and washing off all the blood on her clothes and skin.
"What did you do this time?" She asked, scrubbing her boots with a sponge and soap.
"Caused a car crash to the guy in front of your uncle, give or take, he'll be a while." I giggled, proud of my work.
Yeah, I don't have really any of sympathy to those I kill, I really only care about my girls and the other Executives. It's not in my Shinigami nature. Kyoko crawled into bed, switching off her light and readied herself for sleep. Within a few minutes, she was dead asleep. Must have been super exhausted. Smiling, I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
"Good night, sweet dove."
The next morning, Kyoko got ready for school as usual, but this time, when she came downstairs, her uncle was sitting contently at the table, eating a small breakfast. She froze for only a moment, before settling with a small but sweet (and totally fake) smile.
"Good morning Uncle," Kyoko said politely, heading for the fridge.
"Good morning Kyoko, did you have a good night?" Her uncle asked in return.
"Yes I did."
Mikan Mihiko was a simple, average man. He had light brown eyes and thin dark brown hair, neatly framing his face and parted in the middle, and of average height, 175 cm (5'9). Additionally, he was in his early forties, starting to leave his prime. While he held a high position at Police Headquarters, home was a simple matter. He preferred his home simple, barely any decoration was visible. His routine was the same. He never expressed any desire to marry, considering his job his spouse. He expected Kyoko to care for the house and wanted her grades to be the best. He didn't mind when she had the occasional lower grade than normal (although that was merely for Kyoko's appearance, to show she had "flaws" in school), but he had high expectations. Additionally, he had stated several times that he believed a career in law or law enforcement would be the best for Kyoko. She never told him she never wanted to go into law enforcement at all, but kept her thoughts to herself. Her uncle lived by the old rule "Children must be seen and not heard" and "Adults know the best, don't argue."
It wasn't to say her uncle wasn't nice, he was nice. Just nice. But he barely knew her. He knew her birthday, her favorite subject in school (psychology), her favorite food (sushi), and few other things. He just wasn't involved in her life a lot. In other words, selfish. But better than her first two pairs of parents.
Breakfast was a silent affair, both of them eating with saying a word. It wasn't until Mihiko finished and cleared his throat did any words pass between the two.
"I'm sure you're aware of the new mass murderer Kira." Her uncle said plainly.
She was very aware, Kira was messing up everything. Business, social circles, feeding grounds, and territory boundaries. But she appeared that she knew only a little bit about Kira. "I've heard of Kira yes. Kira is despicable." Just added that to make her uncle happy.
He smiled faintly. "I'm glad to know you aren't a Kira supporter. Anyway, I'm part of the team working to bring down Kira, which is why I've been so busy lately."
Kyoko figured as much, even without hacking into her uncle's police files. "I'm proud of you Uncle."
He sighed in return. "Yes, but it's also very dangerous. I may lose my life."
Kyoko knew. She knew all the odds. It was very little that he was going to die, but if he did, Yuudai-Ojii and Kirirei-Oba had already agreed to take her in.
"You know we don't have any other relatives."
Yes she knew that, stop being so obvious.
"So Chief Yagami and his wife have agreed to take you in if I die."
Kyoko's blood froze, and her face froze as well. Living with the Yagamis, that's an absolute no. She loved Sayu of course, but living with Light and his meddlesome dad would be the worst! No, she had to find some way to change the legal papers that gave guardianship to the Yagamis in the event of her Uncle's possible death. Her uncle took her look of slight horror and silence that she was worried for him. The complete opposite was really happening.
"I'll be fine, Kira will have a hard time killing me," he smiled, then left the house.
Unacceptable. Kyoko wouldn't accept this arrangement. She'd change it, she would.
Finally, school ended and Kyoko ran to the train, already telling Iwalani, Sayu and Waratah she wasn't going to be at their study group that afternoon. Instead, she was heading for the 20th Ward. One, she needed to talk to Yoshimura, and maybe Uta, and two, she just really wanted a good cup of warm coffee, and three, Yoshimura needed her. Reaching the quaint little café, she entered in, and instead of seeing Touka-chan like normal, there was a black haired young man, with a white medical eyepatch? Ooh and he had this lovely scent on him, a scent Kyoko recognized very well.
"Welcome! Please have a seat!" He smiled amiably, straightening from wiping a table clean.
She merely smiled softly in return and took a seat. She already knew what she wanted, her usual cream coffee with a strawberry parfait. Yet as a dutiful waiter, he came over to take her order. Briefly, she caught the name of the young man who smelled positively delicious. Was he a natural hybrid? No, couldn't be, she would have known about him earlier. But he didn't smell completely like a ghoul or human, but a mix. Artificial…? Was that even possible?
Kaneki Ken.
Was he the same college student from the steel beam incident? He did look awfully similar to the blurry picture Iwalani managed to snag from hospital records. He had to be.
"I'll have a cream coffee and strawberry parfait please," Kyoko politely requested, smiling.
All about her mask, metaphorically and physically.
"Ok, it'll be ready soon!"
There was no mistake. He had to be a ghoul of some type, only ghouls worked here. Yet what was that lingering smell he had of human?
"Excuse me?" Kyoko whispered, grabbing his attention.
Turning around still with his smile, he replied, "Is there anything else I can get for you?"
She shook her head no. "But I couldn't help wondering, why do you have such a lovely human smell mixed with ghoul?"
Without a doubt, he froze, his smile disappearing immediately and gave her a terrified look. "W-w-what?"
She chucked lowly. "Oh, you know exactly what I mean? You're an artificial half ghoul, the college student from the steel beam accident involving Rize the Binge Eater."
I have to admit, the terrified look Kaneki was giving Kyoko was absolutely hilarious and priceless! From the unhidden emotions on his face, I knew for certain he was a newbie in this new ghoul underground world he was thrusted into. He'll get eaten alive, literally.
"How do you know all this?" Kaneki whispered in a hushed, freaked out fright.
Kyoko smirked triumphantly. "Information spreads. You're a valuable new player in this game of death all of the major ghouls are playing in. If you weren't associated with Anteiku, I would have probably killed you by now. Consider yourself lucky."
"Huh?"
Sweet Kyoko, I think it's time you stop confusing the poor dear. Lucky for me, I didn't have to save this poor thing named Kaneki because someone else did.
"Oi Kyoko-chan, stop terrorizing my new worker," Touka demanded bluntly, returning from the back.
Kyoko snickered in great sinister amusement. "Where's the fun in that?"
Sighing, Touka lightly whacked the top of Kyoko's head. "Idiot. You can do after workhours, but I need my employee to work right now!"
Pouting just slightly, Kyoko sighed. "Fine. I'll wait."
"Um, I'd prefer you not terrorize me anytime," Kaneki attempted to insert his own opinion, and failed miserably.
Turning their heads in unison, Touka and Kyoko literally said again in unison, "You have no choice, so deal with it."
That settles it nicely I think. The store hours progressed, with Kyoko sitting behind the counter with Koma and Irimi while working on some Hell's Circus something or another on her computer. I wasn't really paying attention. Eventually, the store closed, and the waiters and waitresses began to clean up. Kyoko glanced up, pondering over whether she should help or not, but her laziness won the battle and she stayed where she was. Kyoko loved having awesome connections with Anteiku, she could hang out behind the counter when she pleased. Even if she wasn't always entirely truthful with them (but no one had to know that except her).
Once the tables and cups were all nicely shiny and squeaky clean, Kyoko yawned leisurely, closing her untraceable computer. She would deal with those complaints from the Cat Ring of Fire Officers later. Yoshimura appeared from the back, and smiled warmly seeing the white haired girl perched on her chair.
"Kyo-kun," Yoshimura greeted kindly.
"Ojiichan," Kyoko smirked, hopping off her chair. "I see you got a new toy."
I did feel kind of sorry for Kaneki, not knowing who Kyoko was or her connection with Anteiku. Or maybe he didn't particularly like being referred as a toy.
Yoshimura cracked a few small laughs. "He's not a toy. He's an artificial half ghoul, which is why he wears that eyepatch. He hasn't learned to control his kakugan yet."
Kyoko casted a frown at Kaneki. "Needs to learn soon or he'll be remembered by the CCG cause of that eyepatch and they'll hunt him down in two seconds."
Touka snorted, almost dropping a cup to hide her laugh. "Yomo has been trying to teach him to fight, and he sucks at it."
Kyoko didn't even bother to hide her own laugh. "I bet!"
"Um, I don't mean to be rude, but will someone please fill me in?" Kaneki butted in, though much more politely than I could ever.
Kyoko turned to the poor newbie of the world of death. "Ever heard of Hell's Circus?"
Kaneki nodded, a bit of fear and recognition reaching his eyes. "Of course, who hasn't? All of Tokyo has, probably all of Japan. The Ringleader Kitsune leads it, and the Kitsune has six Executives that lead the six Rings. That's all I really know about it."
Kyoko gave him a wry smirk. "Well that's more that most know about it. The Kistune is rated SSS, like the other Executives. You're looking at her."
Needless to say, the college student turned pale white and has to sit down. The shock really never goes away.
"You're the Ringleader of Hell's Circus?"
Kyoko beamed comically and giggled. "Yup! Which is also why I'm associated with Anteiku, consider it an alliance. Hell Circus protects both the 15th and 20th Wards in a sense, while Anteiku supplies information."
Even though she never tells them she also has spies in every ward, so technically she doesn't need Anteiku. The only real reason I know why she keeps them is her respect for Yoshimura-san, her figurative grandfather. I bet they don't even know Uta and Itori are part of the Clowns. I do wonder why Kyoko keeps in contact with them, when she doesn't need them at all.
"Kaneki-kun, do know that ghoul pregnancies are rare?" Kyoko murmured, looking directly at the black haired boy. "The ghoul mother's body thinks the fetus's body is food, so the body kills the fetus and feeds off the RC cells."
Cue Kaneki's disgusted and horrified look. Koma and Irimi simply left the café, their work finished for the day. Touka went upstairs to do some homework, while Yoshimura patted Kyoko's shoulder.
"I leave him in your care."
Kyoko smiled a bit deviously, returning her attention to Kaneki.
"Ne, do you know what happens when a ghoul and a human fall in love and consummate their love?" Kyoko bluntly asks, pulling out a deck of cards from her bag and starts to build with them.
Kaneki blushes just a bit, his cheeks tinted strawberry (so innocent and naïve.) "They have kids?"
Kyoko shook her head to the side. "Wrong. The child dies."
"DIES?"
Kyoko rolled her eyes dismissively. "Oh don't look so surprised, we are different species in a sense."
Kaneki's eyes are miles wide by this point, and I think he might be coming close to fainting. "B-b-but why do they die?"
Kyoko sighs, stacking another card on her already large tower. "If the mother is a ghoul, like I said earlier, her body believes the fetus is nutrients and consumes the baby in the womb. If the mother is a human, then the baby dies because the RC cells it needs from human flesh isn't provided for it, of course, this type of love between ghoul and human is very rare."
Kaneki blanches for a moment, before trying to recompose himself. Poor thing, this is so much information for him to deal with.
"There is a way for the child to survive, but it's dangerous for both the child and mother." Kyoko added, making a sixth tower. "If the mother is ghoul, she can eat human foods to make her body weaker, and then the body won't consume the RC cells of the baby because the body is so weak. However, this makes the ghoul mother weak and vulnerable to the CCG or other ghouls, so usually it doesn't work out. If the mother is human, she can eat human flesh in order to give the child the RC nutrients it needs. But this makes the human mother a target for the CCG, and the mother already is pathetically weak, so why bother?"
Kaneki appeared as if he might go rescue all the unborn children in the world and adopt them as his kids. Sorry buddy, not going to happen.
"You seem like you know a lot about this than most would," Kaneki cautiously said.
OMG, he's such an adorable, pure cinnamon roll! I want to keep him.
Kyoko was halfway through building an eight tower on the flower, how does she make them so fast? A sly grin slipped onto her face and she lifted her head to meet Kaneki's eyes, her right eye turning into the black and red kakugan and her nine Rinkaku tails popping out of her back.
"I'm a natural half ghoul, Kaneki-kun."
And this time, Kaneki actually fell out of his chair, but two of Kyoko's tails caught him and set him gently on the ground.
"Ojiichan asked me to help you figure out how to live in both worlds, since you're a hybrid like me," Kyoko explained, retracting her kagune and her right eye returning to normal. "I'll tell you straight out that it won't be easy, that you'll get confused on where you belong. The truth is, you are you. You're unique. Be strong in this new cruel ghoulish world you've been thrown into, stay hidden to threats. Fight so you won't die."
Kyoko stood up now, knocking over her towers. "If you don't hide at least one of your true layers, humans and ghouls will exploit it and kill you." With a sickly sweet grin, she concluded her lesson. "In other words, as long as you know who you want to be and can fight, you actually might survive!"
Kaneki really didn't say anything after that. It is a lot to process, and I'm not entirely sure Kyoko worded it in the best way. Yoshimura emerged from the back room, I think he was sorting some new deliveries the café had received.
"It seems like you haven't broken Kaneki too much, thank you for your insight." Yoshimura warmly said, handing Kyoko another strawberry parfait, her favorite.
Kaneki broke out of his daze and stood, bowing in respect. "Ah yes, thank you very much."
Munching on her parfait, Kyoko nodded. "If you're wondering why I can this parfait normally, it's because natural half ghouls can eat human foods fine, we just need human flesh once every while or so."
Unfortunate for Kaneki, who's an artificial. Depression morphed onto his face for just a moment before it disappeared, as if it was never there. Kyoko didn't miss it.
"Ojiichan, I have something to tell you before I leave," Kyoko said, having enough manners to swallow before talking. "Stay under Kira's radar, he won't be able to kill you of course, but the police might catch word of you, then they'll alert the CCG, and I don't know how many of my warriors I can sacrifice to save you."
This was all said with love, but words are tricky. One can interpret them in very different ways than you originally meant. Yet I could tell Yoshimura knew what she was saying, even if Kaneki did not. Kyoko slid off the chair she was sitting on, bowing in customary manners. "Thank you for my intrusion, and for the parfait."
"Quite welcome dear. Come again soon."
"Good bye miss."
Kyoko opened the door to leave before she paused, turning back to Yoshimura. "Does he have a mask yet?"
Shaking his head no, Yoshimura sighed. "Not yet. I'm going to have Touka take him to Uta soon, once he's better at combat."
A slightly disdainful look shimmered in Kyoko's eyes, but she hid it well. "Uta's a good mask maker."
Kyoko sighed, the sun was turning that lovely golden-orange, a good hour before twilight. She had time to spare, should she go to the 11th ward? Yeah maybe she should. After buying a ticket and boarding, she found a secluded section of the train, before pulling out her phone, pretending to talk to someone.
"Hey Okaasama, could you possibly my mask and costume from home, I forgot to bring it for the dress rehearsal at school this evening," Kyoko said "into" the phone.
"Ah sure thing, you should have planned it better though," I lightly scolded, phasing out of the train and popping out my large black feathery wings, flying away. Lucky for her I understood what she was saying.
"Thanks Kaasama," Kyoko said before shutting her phone and putting it back inside her bag.
I always do like it when she calls me "mom" and Reagan "dad." Maybe it's because we've always been there for her since the day she was born and the only set of parents who have actually loved her like parents should. Entering her home, I quickly grabbed her mask, battle attire and shove it into a bag. Once I touched it, I immediately turned it invisible so no one would find a bag floating in the air creepy. Flying fast, I really wasn't paying attention and crashed into someone. What other being was stupid enough to fly in front of me?
"EH? Alice? You should really watch where you're going." A young male voice greeted my ears.
Ah yes, I'd forgotten he was coming back from Liverpool tonight. He had golden brown hair with emerald green eyes, and stood about 175 cm (5'9). Although I was only 5'6 myself. He was wearing a black suit with an emerald green tie that matched his eyes and black dress shoes. In other words, dresses for a fancy party. Did I also forget to mention he was floating in midair with me, though without wings, and laughing at my flowing black dress. It was a cold shoulder dress, I've learned to like those better than my previous style, gothic Lolita.
"Oh shush, stop laughing at my fashion," I swatted the top of his head.
Smirking, he ducked away from my hand and grabbed my wrist, holding it very precariously.
"If we weren't married, Reagan, I'd kill you right here and now," I hissed, my eyes dancing with amusement and darkness.
He barked out a harsh laugh before releasing my wrist. "Yes, yes, I've heard all the threats. Where's Kyoko dear, I seriously doubt she's floating high in the sky invisible like we are."
I rolled my eyes at him. Sometimes I can't believe I've been married to him for over 1000 years now. How have I ever managed it? "No, she's in the 11th Ward. I'm bringing her stuff to her."
As we flew towards Ota, he groaned as I informed him of the events happening recently.
"Yeah, I was here a few days ago in Edogawa to help some of the Tokyo Grim Reapers Retrieval Division on overtime because of the Kira killings." He let out a loud and annoyed sigh. "Kira's making me go overtime big time! Heck, some of the other countries have sent out some of their Reapers to help with the cleanup. This is worse than the time when I had to help clean up Grell's and Ronald's mess after they failed their job with the Campania." (Black Butler Book of the Atlantic Arc)
I remembered that, Reagan worked overtime on so many levels, and even though it was more than 100 years ago, I was still pissed at Grell and Ronald. I scanned the ground, hoping to spot Kyoko. After a minute, I locked my eyes on a figure on the ground that looked very similar to Kyoko.
"I see she's already made it to the section where Hell's Circus is holding down," Reagan mumbled, starting to swoop down.
Following him, I could only hope that she knew what she was doing.
I looked in interest at the files in front of me. While Lawliet preferred using his computers (I wonder how he isn't having vision problems yet since he sits there all day staring at the computer screens), I liked using my eyes for scanning files and papers. Maybe it made me feel fancier? Anyway, I was beginning to suspect the patterns of Kira were of a student.
"Lawliet, you think Kira could be a student?" I asked him, my eyes flitting through papers.
"I've come to that conclusion myself. I've already alerted the police," came his short, clipped response.
I sighed softly, of course he would do something like that without telling me. Still, I didn't let it hinder my work. Writing a note on the side, I pondered on who Kira could possibly be. It was likely a student with a twisted sense of justice, and had a god complex. I haven't tolf Lawliet that yet though, he probably wouldn't believe me. We should be probably get someone to tail on our suspects. So far, I only have a few.
Also, I'm suspecting it might be someone with connections to the police. If so, it could be Yagami Sayu, Yagami Light, Kitamura Reiko, Eichhorst Waratah, or Mikan Kyoko. Out of all of those, looking at grades, Yagami Light was the only one who was consider a genius. It would be publicly bad if Kira turned out to be a member of a police family. I sighed, a little more loudly this time. Man sometimes my job sucked, I'm only 24 and I'm thinking this.
"Watari, could you get me a strawberry parfait?" I asked, setting down Sayu-san's school file copy.
"Of course."
"Thanks." Unlike a certain black haired isonomic panda I know, I actually had the manners to thank Watari, who does so much for us. I think he doesn't get paid enough for his job.
Once I consumed the sugar of the parfait, I returned to work. Boring, boring, boring work. I need to go take a nap soon or else I might die soon. But as I read through Mikan-san's legal documents and files, I couldn't help but think that this girl's life was a tragedy. And that there was something under that surface.
"Mikan Kyoko," I murmured faintly, tapping my lips with a finger. "Seems like a fun mystery to solve."
"What?" Lawliet asked from my left.
I'm serious, we were literally sitting right next to each other.
"Nothing, carry on."
As I casted one last glance at Mikan-san's picture on her legal documents, for some reason a wicked smirk settled onto my face.
Two can play this card game.
Thanks for reading! I literally wrote my fingers off on this one, and I can't say how much I appreciate all those who have read this! I really hope I got everyone's character well. Sometimes it's really hard to write canon characters.
