DISCLAIMER

The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Tokyo Ghoul, Tokyo Ghoul Root A and Tokyo Ghoul:re and other products related to the TG Series are all owned by Sui Ishida, Shin Towada and Shueisha.

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Chapter 2: New Responsibilities


I was seriously regretting not having smoothed up my new bed.

Dreamless at they might be, to reach my happy place I needed a comfy bed to sleep upon.

Sadly other things had taken priority the night before and I completely forgot to get my room prepared for my long, needed, deserved sleep.

It all started in that office in Shoeisha where the editor, taking both the documents compiled by the young girl and me, took me away to speak in private-

*Knock*

I twitched in my slumber, ignoring the annoying noise.

As I was saying, the owner of the editorial organisation showed me a particular part that the young girl, Sen, had left unmarked in her contract.

"She doesn't have a guardian and she doesn't have an home. Mr. Langley, I know it might seems wrong to ask after the previous accident, but can you please do something about this?"

I frowned in confusion. "And what should I do exactly? If I take her to my flat, for the laws it would be considered a kidnap-" "I know, I know.." The man deflated but his grim look didn't cease.

"Sir, I know it is illegal and if a law enforcer caught on this but... she is just fifteen years old!"

My mouth, reduced to a thin line, kept shut as I studied the request.

On one hand that would warrant years to spend in jail if I got detained by the cops and that would ruin my chances of surviving in this new, scary world.

But if I didn't intervene, then God knows how that teen would suffer, especially with those Ghouls wandering around.

A sigh left my until now silent self, as I looked conflicted.

"If she refuses, I will not push her to accept the deal." The man nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Langley. Can you wait a moment?"

The editor didn't wait for my reply as he walked back inside the office and returned followed by the young girl.

Clearly shorter than me, Sen Takatsuki has short, green hair and eyes of the same color. She looked weary and...

I stared mutedly at the glint appearing in her every once in a while eyes that were glancing at him.

She had the same look a survivor has after a terrible situation. A walking tragedy.

"So, Miss Takatsuki, we have reached a compromise about this problem with Mr. Langley." The man spoke while pointing at the blank spot regarding her home address.

"A-And what is it?" She looked utterly scared and I already knew why.

Two men take a little girl to speak about a regularly illegal procedure and speak of a 'compromise'... what a misleading summary!

"It's nothing of what you are thinking, Miss Takatsuki." I finally addressed her and the girl was now fully staring at me. "Mr.-" "Seichi." "Mr. Seichi has just requested if I could help you regarding the fact you are homeless. I have a big flat in the 20th Ward and I can offer you your own room with a set of keys. But.. I will not force you into taking this decision, Mis-" "I accept!"

Sen averted her eyes, red spreading lightly in her cheeks as the two men stared in surprise at her loud reply.

*Thump*

My hands moved to my face and started to massage my temple, several whispered curses leaving my mouth without restriction.

And.. Dang, I forgot what happened few moments later!

Well,since I can remember that part completely, I will make a small forward skip.

"Uh.. Mr. Langley?" I glanced behind as Sen followed me in the busy streets.

"Yes, Miss Takatsuki?" I asked distractly as I was more focused on avoiding crashing on someone while walking.

"If it's not too private, why did you accept the editor's request, Mr. Langley?"

My leg stopped, the girl halting herself in surprise.

"Well" I turned around and looked at her. "Why shouldn't I?"

Sen's mouth opened.. and closed, shock painted in her visage at the weird reply.

*THUMP*

This time I jumped in the air as the strong noise finally woke me up panicking.

Huffing, I walked, dressed with a sleveless shirt and short pants to the door of the room.

I blinked in surprise as a sleepy-looking Sen, covering her nightwear with the covers of her bed, started to softly headbutt on my chest.

"Breakfastttt.." I snorted in amusement as the girl had seemingly reliquished her shy shell in her room and with a sigh, I led her to the living room.

The kitchen was mere steps away from the living room and, after having settled the girl on the sofa, I started to prepare something to eat.

"What do you want for breakfast, Sen?"

A soft groan left the tired girl's mouth but thankfully she answered. "A cup of coffee."

I blinked in surprise at the reply, having never met a young teen appreciating the beverage of the Gods so early on in their lives. What an wondrous discovery!

Few minutes later, as I was finishing preparing the two cup of coffees, I saw Sen walking slowly in the kitchen and sit on one of the many seats of the small table of the room.

Her head fell and a scowl continued to smear her youthful visage.

Coffee was ready moments later and we shared a moment of silence, sipping in peace at our respective cups.

Then as the girl in front of me yawned and had her arm up, the covers around here started to slid down revealing an embarassing sight.

Mind you, I ain't a pervert and the mortification was more about her 'underwear'. Or lack in this case.

She was using bandages to cover just her growing bust and that caused some concern to flood my mind.

"Sen." The teen opened one of her green eyes to stare at me, attentive at what I called her out for. "We are going for some shopping today."

Her other eye opened and she stared in confusion at me, until she realised that her chest was partly revealed.

Looking on the table, away from my stare she adjusted the blue, warm blanket.

"I-It's not necessary."

"I think it is."

She returned to bore her eyes onto mine, almost emotionlessly if not for a faint unrecognisable glint in her green orbs.

In the end, I spent several hours getting new pajamas, underwear or even simple home clothes for my new charge and I cracked a smile as I noticed the begrudging pout hanging on Sen's face.

But my smile wasn't for her discomfort, but because of her apparent dislike.

That... sounded kind of mind-boggling so here explained better: I didn't like myself going for some shopping and, while my new responsibility was a female teen, she looked quite disgusted by the terribly long errand.

What a magnificent day was today.

Yet that wasn't the last part of that curious experience as, while on our way back at the flat, the green-haired girl decided to ask a particularly unexpected question.

"Why did you went to sleep so late?"

That... did halt my step as I evaluate if I should or not answer said curiousity.

"I was reading your book."

Now it was the teen that looked shocked. "M-My book?" A soft nod confirmed my words and I continued. "Mr. Seichi sent me the first copy of 'Dear Kafka' and, I have to admit, it was a morbidly curious tragedy to experience."

"Experience?" Ah. I forgot my dear, loveable charge was not someone prepared with particular words.

"Sometimes, when you read a writer's work and you enjoy it, you might feel so much enraptured by the story that you 'feel' what it's written. You become part of it."

Her eyes widened in surprise as I crouched to look at her level.

"You have immense potential, Sen Takatsuki, and may I be forever damned if I don't turn you into the best writer this word ever know."

Maybe I could truly save the hopeless girl known as Sen Takatsuki.

And with those words, few but powerful, I felt that our path had completely interwined but I had yet to understand how much it would have held in front of the future years.
In that moment, I , Eto Yoshimura, recognised a human worth more than mere nourishment for my hunger..


AN

Third chapter and MAN, I LIKE ETO'S CHARACTER IN CANON!

Many might disagree about her complexities, branding her off as a sociopath, yet I do enjoy her 'not-so-easy-to-understand' attitude but, when you finish :re, you get a glimpse of everything!

TG is truly an exquisite masterwork!

Review Q&A!

Blake Tourdner: Thank you!