Ok, so it took me a few day's just to write the first chapter, and when I saw how well it did after being up for less than a day, I thought to myself: I need to get the second chapter up, and fast!

I will be honest though, when I started writing this story, it was with the intent that I wasn't going to make it long and drawn out. I had planned to skip over the parts that I didn't think would be a highlight on how Kaneki's and Rize's relationship is building, but I know that would probably make a few of the action seekers to turn away from the story.

In resolution, I'm going to try something really weird and not very traditional in the writer's community: fast-forwarding… Through the boring parts that even the people reading the manga/watching the show watched to skip... I'm taking out the useless exposition... Also I'm following the show rather than the manga because I know that a lot of 'fans' probably haven't had the time to read/can't afford the entire Tokyo Ghoul Manga.

Ugh, my brain…

Buuuut, if I finish writing my story based on the TV series before season 3 comes out, then I'm going to revert back and use the manga's as reference.

Uuuugh, my BRAIIIIIN!

Anyway: WARNING! Blood, gore, romance, adult themes, adult humor, sex, a crazy writer… - the last one will only be present in the AU's, but a warning none the less.

On with the show!


Chapter 2

A Lost Cause Who Needs No Savior

Rize had managed to calm Kaneki down rather quickly after his melt down. Now all she had to do was convince him to come to the 20th Wards' ghoul nest so that he could make up for years of not being trained – at all or properly. She had explained to him the fundamentals and rules of the small ghoul nest that is Anteiku, telling him how they didn't kill humans, etc.

This all came as a relief to Kaneki. He didn't know how he would feel if he would have had to kill humans. Knowing this made it a little easier to eat the meat Yoshimura – Rize had told him the name of the few ghouls who lived there – had given him.

After Rize had made sure the black hair man had finished all of his food she got him presentable and they started to make their way over to Anteiku. The purple hair ghoul sighed. Ever since Yoshimura had used her organs to transplant the ones in Kaneki, she felt closer to him somehow. It was almost like she had to protect him. Not because she liked him, not like that at all. No, it was more along the lines of the fact that she could smell her sent on him. She was so confused. The only thing she wasn't confused about was her diet. That would never change.

When they arrived at the now closed coffee shop, Yoshimura let them in and explained everything he had done to the new half ghoul. He apologized for not asking his consent, but that it needed to be done to save his life. Kaneki didn't really have an opinion on the situation; however, in his mind he was screaming for more answers. There weren't more answers though, at least, not ones that anyone could answer at the moment.

Yoshimura asked the new member whether he wanted to pick up food from Anteiku the way most of the ghouls here did, or if he would rather hunt. Kaneki, naturally, picked the former. That didn't come as a surprise to anyone in the room, as they had figured his carefree and harmless spirit would carry onto his new persona. With this, Yoshimura offered Kaneki a job in his shop, offering protection. Kaneki agreed.

Touka, who was there at the shop when Rize and Kaneki arrived, had been more than a little shocked at the news. She had protested, saying that they "didn't need to take him on!"

"Touka!" Yoshimura said sternly. "I will help him just as I would any other ghoul in need." Touka looked down and crossed her arms.

She was just going to have to get used to it.

Kaneki had soon returned to school, reuniting with Hide. The black haired man had been avoiding him until now. Not that he meant to. Hide had been the same old, same old. Said blond man invited his friend to pick up material from another college student – a second year named Nishio.

Turns out the student was a ghoul and had tried to attack Hide and Kaneki. Kaneki's kagune came out in his rage towards Nishio attacking his friend and attacked the ghoul. Rize had been following Kaneki the entire day, so she had been witness to the whole thing. She kept her hunger in check and swooped in last minute to take both ghouls and Hide back to Anteiku, where Yoshimura nursed all of them back to health; though, Nishio refused any of the meat Yoshimura offered.

This had caused Nishio to attack his girlfriend, Kimi. Kimi, being the human she was, let Nishio attack her, and accepted him for being a ghoul – she hadn't known before. Nishio didn't kill her, on the contrary, he took comfort in her. He never meant to attack her, but after losing so much energy, he had lost control.

Back at Anteiku they had found out that Hide had been awake while Kaneki was talking with Yoshimura. They had warned him about the dangers of knowing about ghouls, while Touka threatened to kill him more than once.

Kaneki started work, learning how to make coffee, serving customers. Hide even stopped by to see how he was doing. Later during his first day two other ghouls came to visit: Ryouko and her daughter, Hinami. They were apparently close with the other ghouls of Anteiku. The mother and daughter had come in seek of a safe haven while Ryouko's husband, Asaki, dealt with 'business'.

Then there were also the Doves. The Doves worked with a facility called the CCG, – Commission of Counter Ghoul – a company that was "known" for hunting and killing ghouls. Doves were part of the Special Class in the ranks of the CCG. They carried weapons call quinque's that were meant to kill ghouls. Quinque's are made out of a ghoul's kagune after they have been removed from the ghoul's body.

After they had heard of this Rize took it upon herself to train Kaneki to use his kagune as well as some hand to hand fighting; though, Yomo took care of most of the combat fighting. Turns out that Kaneki is a natural dodger, which worked well with the rinkaku kagune the he possessed.

Along with his training, Kaneki also had a mask made for himself. They had done this so that he could where it out at night when the Doves were most likely to be around. His mask was a half mask that had an incorporated eye patch to cover his human eye when he wore it. The design was a black material with a zipped up smile.

After days of waiting the mask finally arrived and was ready for him to wear. Apart from that he also got stronger as a result of his training. He was almost as good as Rize now, which wasn't a surprise, because it was her teaching him. As for one on ones, his punches were still sloppy, but they would work none the less. His combat strength was his kicking ability, much to Yomo's surprise.

Everyone at Anteiku were really relieved that Kaneki had done really well in training as it wasn't much later that Gourmet decided to show his interest…


Kaneki's POV

The creep, Gourmet, really gets on my nerves. Rize warned me about him, told me to never trust him, and trust me, I won't. You wouldn't either if you were smart. He's a total perv and suck up. I can't help but get the feeling that he's trying to get in my pants…

I'm not gay, not that I don't have anything against gays, but geez. This guy doesn't know how to stop and I'm this close to losing my cool.

Today I am meeting up with him, if only to get him to get off my case. If anything happens, you can count on it that someone will get hurt.

What am I saying? I was never this violent before I turned into a ghoul… It's like I'm slowly changing. Whatever. Welp, here we are. I'll chat with you all later, but right now the perv thinks I need a shower.

Well? What are you waiting for? Get! Away with you!


Normal POV

As Kaneki sat at the table one of the servants had brought him to, he drank his coffee and waited. Kaneki had a funny feeling in his stomach that was making him uneasy. No one had been around since the girl had taken him here, and he was about to go searching for her again. However, as soon as he got up the table and floor began to lower.

"What the hell?!" Kaneki exclaimed as the floor finally stopped descending.

There was a sudden uproar of applause as a light shined on a man wearing a blank mast.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! Thank you for waiting on TONIGHTS main dish!" More cheering. "Prepare your pallets for a unique cut of meat, as you feast on ghoul."

Everyone suddenly got quiet as neighbors looked to each other in shock and confusion. Many were talking about the taboo they call cannibalism, as most weren't comfortable with this.

"Tonight's dinner is in courtesy of Mr. MM!" The announcer moved his hand to one of the box seats, where Gourmet appeared, wearing a mask that covered all except for a small portion on the right side of his face. He was escorted by two lady's, whom were wearing masks as well.

People began to cheer for him before he quieted them with smooth words, "Good day, my esteemed ladies and gentlemen. Normally the flesh of a ghoul offers a course flavor, not worthy of eating; I'm sure some of you with more discerning tastes would know." He took a bow and smirked.

"Hey!" Kaneki shouted. "What is this?" His expression grew to one of anger, "I knew you were a sick perv, but I would rather you seduce me than eat me for dinner, you animal!" This drew some breaths from the audience. No one ever spoke to Mr. MM like that.

Gourmet ignored him and continued speaking, slowly straitening from his bow, "What drew me to this rare cut was the equally rare sent!" He paused to take out his handkerchief and inhaled a breath. Kaneki recognized the handkerchief as the same one Gourmet had offered him when he accidentally cut his hand on a piece of glass. "For while this morsel is a ghoul," he continued, "the sweat scents of human is inescapable." He threw his handkerchief down into the crowd and let the whiff the small fabric.

Voices roared in awe and want as they stared hungrily at the one eyed ghoul in the middle of the room.

"Let us explore this magnificent flavor. Together!" Gourmet smiled evilly down at Kaneki and leaned in slightly. Kaneki, on the other hand, was seething. He would have never acted like this before, but with Rize's warnings he couldn't help but be mad at how stupid he had been. "Tonight's chef is hosted by none other than our lovely Madam A!"

A door on the side of the arena shaped room opened slowly as a huge, meaty man stepped through. The… Whatever it was, burped loudly and bowed to Kaneki, "Pleasa' ta meet ya, deman'" He then started to wobble closer to where the half ghoul was standing.

Kaneki was having none of this. The hunk, Taro, delivered his first blow and Kaneki jumped out of the way. He did this a few more times before there was a load crash near the top of the building.

A shrill laugh sounded and Kaneki recognized this as Rize. "Come on, Kaneki! Stop playing around, already. I want to leave, this place reeks."

Kaneki sighed and instead of jumping out of the way of the 'chefs' next blow he launched himself forward and kicked the back of the things neck. The audience stared as the head of Taro went rolling across the floor. Rize then swooped down and grabbed a hold of Kaneki before launching herself and her luggage out of the building. As they were leaving they heard the screams of Madam A, but they weren't anguished.

"Oh, Taro! My Taro, you good for nothing! How dare you embarrass mama like that?!"

Kaneki had another encounter with Gourmet not that long after. This time, though, he captured Nishio's girlfriend in retaliation. Nishio had come to ask the members of Anteiku for help, but only Touka and Kaneki were willing to go. They had gotten Kimi back and Gourmet was left for dead. Touka, of course, left with one of her snarky remarks: "If you want to live then you're going to have to eat yourself."

Nishio was offered a job at Anteiku after that and Kimi was added as the second human in their nest. Hide was glad that some of the weight was lifted off his shoulders and he was able to talk to someone else about everything. It was a good thing the two got along. Nishio and Hide did have a little spat before Hide realized that Kimi was his girlfriend. Hide had thought that Nishio just took the job offer at Anteiku to get closer to Touka. Speaking of Touka, Hide had asked her out and she agree. To anyone who didn't know her, you might have thought she just agreed to get him out of her hair, but Kaneki knew better. She liked him.

Relationship were building in Anteiku. Everyone was getting use to one another, and becoming livelier. Rize and Kaneki even started to get closer. At first it was a heroism that Rize felt towards the man, then it became a mentor-like relationship, and now they were close friends. Not as close as Hide and Kaneki were, but close. Yoshimura thought it had something to do with part of her being in him all the time, but he started to understand that it was deeper than that. Rize had a crush. Kaneki, well he was oblivious. "Maybe… Just maybe, I'll let her live," the One Eyed Owl would not step in now.

It was a couple weeks after the incident and it was also a perfect day for an outing. Most everyone from Anteiku had decided to use their spare time to go out and enjoy the light rain. Ryouko and Hinami went out shopping for some mother/daughter time. Kaneki had a shift at the coffee shop, but had plans to go and walk around with Hide later. Touka had the day off and spent it having girl time with her best friend, Yoriko, and even included Kimi. Rize took this time to stake out her next victims.

Later, after Kaneki got off work. "Hey, Kaneki!" The chime that came from the door of the coffee shop rung through the small space as Hide walked in and over to Kaneki, who was gabbing his hoody from the coat rack.

"Just a second. I just need to put on my coat." After the black haired man was zipped up he grabbed his umbrella before he and his blond haired friend left the shop.

Hide stretched and put his arms behind his head, "So where do you want to go?"

Kaneki hmmed and opened his umbrella. Hide was quick to scoot under it. Kaneki rolled his eyes playfully and smiled at his longtime friend. "We could go meet up with Ryouko and Hinami?"

There was an agreed hum and the two friends walked. Kaneki had heard Ryouko mention going to the bookstore after lunch and lunch was almost over, giving the two friends plenty of time to stroll at a calming pace.

The two friends laughed at talked about Hide's classes and when he plans to get a job.

"Eh, I don't know, Kaneki. I don't really think I'd be able to even hold a job." Kaneki chuckled at his friend. "Besides," Hide continued, "you already know where I had planned on applying…"

Kaneki's one good eye widened slightly and he sighed. "How could I have forgotten?"

"I'm sorry, Hi-"

"Don't sweat it! Besides, who'd want to work with a bunch of singled minded killers?"

They were quiet for a bit as they continued to walk. Suddenly Kaneki heard a scream.

"KANEKI!?" Hinami came crashing into him, tears rushing down her face. "Mommy, MOMMY!"

Hide and Kaneki both knelt down and calmed the girl enough to ask her what happened.

"Hinami, what happened? Where's Ryouko?"

The girl hiccupped and her breath became heavy, "Th-The D-Doves t-t-"

Kaneki cut in, standing up in the process, "It's okay, Hinami. Go with Hide." He then looked to his friend, "Take her to Anteiku, I'll be right back!"

"Got it!" Hide then picked up Hinami and Kaneki's discarded umbrella as he turned and started to hastily make his way back to Anteiku.

Kaneki, on the other hand, ducked into an alley way, taking his mask – he now carried his mask everywhere as a safety precaution – out of his pocket and putting it on. He then discarded his jacket behind a dumpster and took off. He used the walls of the two buildings the alley was placed between and made his way to the roofs.

As he ran across the tops of the city he looked in every nook and cranny between buildings in the direction he assumed Hinami had come from. Then he found them. Jumping down, he grabbed Ryouko and tumbled them to the side, away from the ready to strike quinque.

"Oh look! Another ghoul!" Kaneki looked up and spotted a crazy looking white haired guy.

Kaneki looked and Ryouko, "Go!" Said girl got up and ran, tears in her eyes, her kagune fading back into their sacks.

The now masked ghoul was a little more that surprised when they didn't try to follow her as she ran.

"Awe," the white haired Dove said, "I was in the middle of ripping a family apart. Why did you have to ruin my fun?" The last statement was said rather harshly.

In Kaneki's mind he was ready to rip apart this human, but his outward composure was calm and aware. "Why were you going to hurt her? What has she done wrong for you to attack her?"

The Dove laughed, his goons shifting uncomfortably, "Wrong? Well, she didn't nothing wrong! She's a ghoul and deserves to die, plus…" He smiled cruelly, "I killed her husband, I was only trying to reunite them."

Kaneki growled and held in his kagune, which were itching to come out. "She is innocent and has done nothing wrong to bother society!" His made himself taller and his one seeable eye grew wide. His voice quietened, but he kept himself steady and stern, "If you think that making her a ghoul justifies what you almost did to her, then you are no more a savage than you make us out to be."

The Dove glared and shouted as he went to strike with his quinque, "I AM NOT A SAVAGE!"

Kaneki jumped out of the way and let his kagune spring to life as they helped him push of the ground and sent him soaring into the air. He then took off on the roof tops, ignoring the angered screams coming from the alley he fled from. He jump back down into the original passage, bringing his rinkaku back into his body. He sighed, removing his mask and grabbing his jacket from behind the dumpster, putting it back on.

Putting up his hood and shoving his hands in his pockets, mask tucked firmly in the left one, he walked. He walk all the way back to Anteiku, ignoring the Doves as they swiftly moved through the crowd. One of them, a brown haired man carrying a quinque case as well, bumped into him. The younger Dove turned to apologize and Kaneki was a little too angry to hide his glare, his none ghoul eye staring into the man's eyes. The man paused for a moment and Kaneki shook his head and sighed.

The man didn't do anything though, he just turned and continued with his team. Kaneki watched with a wide eye, but took the chance to disappear into the crowd.

Bzz! Bzz! Kaneki looked down at his phone. He'd gotten a text message from Hide.

From: Hide

To: Kaneki

Mg: Dude, Ryouko told us what happened before you got there. Asaki's dead, but I guess you already know… I'm going to assume you're okay, just for the sake of keeping Hinami calm. She's worried, bro. I'm worried. Text me back if you're alive

P.S. Yoshimura has everyone in the break room. We will start explaining to everyone once we hear back from you.

Kaneki sighed and texted that he'd be there soon. He rubbed his eyes and started to lightly jog back. Upon returning to Anteiku, Kaneki walked in and immediately went to the break room, running into Touka, as she too had just entered. He looked at her and moved back a little to give her room to enter.

He entered shortly after and immediately walked over to Hinami. He knelt down in from of the crying child and put his hand on her shoulder, "Hey. It's okay now."

The girl violently shook her head, tears falling from her eyes, "No! No, it's not. My daddy's dead. Daddy!" She let out a few more snotty tears and launched herself at him, hugging his neck tightly and burying her face in his hair. He wrapped his arms around her small frame and rubbed her back.

Rize, who hadn't been informed, mainly for her lack of sympathetic emotions, walked in. "Whoa, jeez, what's with all the doom and gloom?"

Yoshimura sighed and stepped her out into the hall. Kaneki ignored her rood intrusion and hugged Hinami a little tighter. He soon passed her back to her mother and too stepped out into the hall.

"- but I don't know why it's such a big deal?" Rize turned her head to look at Kaneki closing the door of the room behind him. "Kaneki," she crossed her arms, "don't you agree that we all just need to suck it up? It's not like we knew the guy! I mean, yeah the kid can ball, but why do we have to act like we care?"

Kaneki gave her a hard stare and asked to speak with her alone. Yoshimura agreed and headed back in with the others. Kaneki waited till the door was closed before speaking: "I know that you're cold towards others, and that you don't have a companionate bone for anyone in your body, but yourself. Still, you at least have a brain. Use it!" He snapped the last line.

"She is a little girl, yes, but Asaki was Ryouko's husband, as well as a friend to many in that room. I may not have known him, but his death personally isn't what I'm sad about!" He paused. "I'm sad that a mother and a child lost a very important link in their family. A wife lost a husband and a daughter lost a father." He took a few breaths. He had been trying to keep his voice just above a whisper, so not to disturb any of the occupants behind the thin walls.

"Well I don't CARE! So why should I have to ACT like I do?" Rize raised her voice to intimidate him. She wouldn't hurt him, and he wouldn't hurt her. That's the reason he had stepped out to take Yoshimura's place.

He hadn't told anyone, not even Rize, that he could feel her in him. He could feel her emotions when she got too emotional. Just like she was getting with the manager only moments again. They would have, no doubt, fought if he hadn't stepped in. She had been getting more territorial as of late. That's also why he was changing. When he felt her emotions at their strongest, well, he tended to meld with them. If she were angry he would suddenly become aggravated with everyone and everything.

Which is what was happening now, only it was the first time this had happened with her… "We're not asking you to 'act'. I'M not asking you to act." He took a few steps toward her and pointed a finger at her, practically touching it to her shoulder, "I'm TELLING you to keep your mouth SHUT and let others greave over a loved one they just LOST!"

The occupants of the break room were all looking at the door in shock. They had never heard Kaneki raise his voice, ever. Even Hide looked shock, which means it obviously is very rare, or maybe it had never even happened before. He sounded scary though. Hinami had curled into her mother after hearing his shouts.

Yoshimura debated on whether or not to intervene, but thought it wise to let the two figure thing out on their own.

Rize wasn't one to back down, but seeing the nice and gentle Kaneki get angry at her, HER, of all people. She never expected it. Not only that, but she didn't know that he would get so mad about something she found trivial. Maybe she had been too heartless towards the others. But, if she was heartless, then why did it hurt so bad to have Kaneki yelling at her. It was like her heart was stabbed by a needle.

She wasn't going to let him know that though. Growling in anger she punched the wall, creating a slight dent, and stormed out of the building.

"RIZE!" Kaneki wasn't finished talking to her. He didn't expect much out of her, he didn't even expect her to apologize to the all people in the room. He did, however, expect her to apologize to Ryouko and Hinami.

Chasing after her out of the shop he stopped when he got to the street. She wasn't in his sight anymore. How had she gone so fast? Kaneki just huffed and turned back into Anteiku. He would talk to her tomorrow about this.

Walking back into the small coffee shop, the black hair ghoul knocked on the door to the break room. Yoshimura was the one to answer.

"Kaneki-"

"I'd like to take a weeks' vacation." His head was still bowed, avoiding meeting anyone's eye.

The manager sighed and placed a hand on Kaneki's shoulder, "That's fine. Come and find me if you want to talk?"

Kaneki knew it was more of a request than a question, but he didn't say anything. "I'll pay for the hole in the wall." With that he shrugged of Yoshimura's hand and walked out.

The old man's eyes squinted just a tad bit more and he peered out into the hall further. Indeed there was a dent, but no hole. He sighed. No, this was definitely not coming out of Kaneki's paycheck. "Rize, why is it you always cause more bad than good? I hoped you wouldn't screw this one opportunity up… Maybe I was wrong. Love doesn't change a heart."


End Chapter 2

The Lost Cause Needs a Savior