CHAPTER 3: December Rush
Kishou was fighting his last just like what he planned; he wants Kaneki to take his mantle and to be the hope of the future generation. Kishou won't live long, he almost used up all his remaining lifespan or at least he believed so but there are those from the garden who haven't reached one fourth of the human lifespan that is intended for the demi-humans like him. He wants Kaneki to find a way for the others to understand that ghouls and humans are not that much different from one another. He fought his protégé up to his last and he was glad that the child grew so strong just in a short time. He smiled and he asked him if Kaneki will not going to kill him. When he heard his answer, Kishou slit his throat; blood splatters the green grass of the garden where they fought. Kaneki appeared beside his mentor and father figure. He was devastated at what the white reaper did but what surprised him is the fact that Kishou Arima and all the children from the garden were natural born half human and half ghoul without a kakuhou.
"Listen Kaneki Ken, I have no time left and I merely sped up the process" Kishou is catching his breath for a moment "Me, Hairu, Furuta and all the children that were raised in the garden—" He paused. "W-we are not humans. We are—" He is hoping that this will help the younger garden graduates in the future and with this revelation they'll be more welcoming and open to others. "We are failures with mixed blood in other words, demi humans and—" He is gasping for air and he hoped that he can tell everything to this child. "Each one of us has a ghoul parent and we, who are from the garden, die more quickly than an average human. Our only special attributes are that we have enhanced physical capabilities and we also have shorter lifespan" He muttered more of the secret that he is trying to keep for a long time. Once he is sure that Kaneki heard everything, Kishou felt no regret leaving those children in the hands of this man and hoping that child won't trouble Kaneki Ken in the future. Somehow, Kishou is happy to leave now knowing he left something fruitful at last.
"…" Seeing another person in his life leaving him once more, Kaneki felt the sting of losing someone precious. Kishou Arima is his mentor and father figure. He heard the rustling of the grass and he turned around to see the blank face of Hirako with the remaining members of the zero squad. Ken warned Hirako if he wants to fight he will not think twice. However; the man made it clear that their purpose is to make sure that Ken Kaneki will be able to leave cochlea. The children asked their superior if they can bid their farewell to Kishou and there Kaneki realized how important the white reaper is to the children of the garden. He watched how Hairu, Shio, Yusa, Rikai and the rest of the zero squad from the garden cried their hearts out. Come to think of it, Furuta was one of these children. Kaneki gulp for a moment. Wait— Hinami and I left him to die but it might be possible that someone saw him and help him or maybe we can see him on our way out and I can bring him to Banjo then we'll take him with us but that'll be dangerous. He'll become a fugitive. I need to save Takatsuki-san too. Kaneki was startled when Hirako squeezes his shoulder.
"We must leave before they can find us" Hirako beckons the children from the garden to move too. They all turned their back from the cold body of the white reaper and with one last glance; they bid their farewell and thanked the man that was once their hope. It did not take them much of an effort to reach the place where investigators will surely gather and trap the escaping ghouls, on their way to where their escape route would be; they found the one-eyed owl. She is bleeding and trying to catch her breath. Kaneki and the rest can see how the woman is not in good condition.
"Takatsuki-san" Kaneki knelt beside Eto's whimpering body and his nose twitches, she smells something familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time.
"Oho? If it isn't the young man" She is gasping for air to catch her breath. Her lower extremity is still sore from her unfortunate encounter with that man.
"Can you walk? If not, we can carry you"
"No need— damn that bastard did not—"
"Yoshimura-san wants you to live" Kaneki stubbornly argued. He and Hirako helped Eto. They take her with them. All Kaneki needs to do is to bring her to Banjo.
"Tch who cares about what that person wants"
"Hirako-san, please lend Takatsuki-san a hand. I will search for the others"
Exactly twelve hours after their escape, Kaneki and his crew hid themselves in café: Re while Akira and Eto are being taken care of by Banjo, The man volunteered to help them. The latter's wounds are almost healed unlike the former's wounds. Eto's wounds healed fast, thanks to her being a half ghoul. However, the wound below her clavicle failed to totally heal. It left a scar as if someone purposely bit her and left a mark. Kaneki ordered Banjo to call him once Takatsuki opened her eyes.
"Hey! Kaneki!" Shio shouted happily. He caught a butterfly and he showed it to the one-eyed king. Somehow it reminds Kaneki of a child.
"Free it Shio!" Rikai shouted at the younger demi-human.
"I just want to show it to Kaneki!" The younger boy frowned.
"Leave it be Shio. You are not a child" Yusa scolded the younger boy.
"What's happening here?" Hairu frowned at how loud the youngest of the zero squad members nevertheless she ruffled her distant relative's hair.
"Shio leave that butterfly alone" Hirako ordered. For him, he is in-charge with the children's well-being. Kishou Arima left them to him thus; he needs to do everything he can do to help them especially how two of the children died on the day they were about to escape, Hirako felt responsible.
"Okay" Shio agreed and he runs outside to free the multi-coloured butterfly.
