"Another one was found dead near the riverbank, this time the interales were missing along with fingerprints and hair burned. Also the face was completely cut off with the teeth and jaw removed. Honestly, it's one of the most gruesome scenes out of the ten victims we've found." A CCG officer reported to a table full of superiors, his brown hair was short and unkept, as if sleepless nights were all he had for weeks. "And still no leads as to who the perpetrator is. I'd say it was of course a ghoul, but no ghoul had ever gone to such lengths to cover up a victim's identity before, not when they'd just consume them." The lean man wearing a Dove coat flipped through several pages, "and why just the insides?" He added, mumbling absently.

For the past few months the CCG had been noticing a string of attacks that, due to the brutality, led them to believe a new binger had surfaced; and with the grotesque nature and specific missing organs, the investigators named the unknown killer: Parasite.

Simply because in all the cases it looked as if they'd been eaten from the inside out… like it was birthed within them only to eat their way from the inside-out, leaving a trophy.

To Hiro, the corpse looked like skins left behind, like a cicada.

The massacres were oddly precise and calculated. Which on the whole, was not very ghoul-like but with Aogiri Tree anything was possible; but that too felt weird. The 'ghoul attacks' were almost too personal and articulated, almost to a detailed art.

Usually they went after the CGG, not displaying dead humans. Even to a well seasoned investigator it was disturbing...

Another man sitting across the table, more professionally dressed, piped up. "Are you implying that this is a human homicide rather than a ghoul attack?" He was a superior, the uniform and honors said as much. The incredulous look in his eyes told the reporting underclass that he was being mocked. "Hiro, I really think you're looking way too hard into this, the actions of a monster can rarely be predicted or understood. If a ghoul decided to take what they wanted and leave the victim to suffer, then it will.

"Besides, we've been seeing higher than normal ghoul activity within the 20th ward as it is, what evidence supports your theory that this could be something that unusual? Yes Japan has normal cases of murder just like any other country, but this is rather horrific, and to frame ghoul activity seems a bit absurd. To me, all it screams is a ghoul having a little too much fun with it's food."

Hiro sighed inwardly, it was obvious he wasn't being taken serious, the social ladder he climbed just to be able to stand here today as an investigator still was nothing to them. He was no Amon or like his mentor Mado, but he still thought he deserved more respect than this. "Still sir, I wish to look into this more! I-"

"Investigator Yamasuwa?"

A voice started from behind startled him as he whipped his head around in mid-sentence to find none other than Amon himself. How long had he been there?!

"I thought you were working into a case right now, didn't think I'd see you here." Amon laughed lightheartedly, putting a firm hand on his shoulder.

The tension that was once checked the air in the room was cut instantly by the reassuring smile and relaxing tone, like nothing was ever wrong. He silently wished to be like that. To carry himself so professionally, to have confidence and the natural ability to absolve stagnant energy with only a look-just like Amon…

It was no secret that he looked up to the man, and aspired to the idealistics that Amon had. He wasn't ashamed to say he'd try sculpting his tactics to mirror the man's on the field. It somehow made him feel...less pathetic. As if he could pretend be someone greater than himself, if only hard work was good enough.

Hiro could leave a memory behind, maybe something worthwhile and maybe, someone would remember him. That was what Hiro wanted…

"Mr. Yamasuwa, are you alright?" Amon arched a brow and placed his hand on his shoulder."

"A-ah! Yes, of course! My apologies sir!" Blushing from ear to cheek, Hiro was beyond mortified to have lost himself in thought in front of the very man he admired, how embarrassing! "I was just thinking about this case that had caught my eye for a few days now, I wanted to look closer into it…"

Amon's eyes lit up, being curious as ever, he was glad that an underling would take it upon himself to do more than even he was asked to, for the sake of justice. "Oh? Has something changed then?" Amon asked, intrigued.

"W-well…" he side-eyed the Inspector, "It's just that… I don't know… I feel like this isn't a normal ghoul case."

"No ghoul case is normal, Mr. Yamasuwa." Amon slipped into his instructor voice, "that should always be a fact. Every situation, every ghoul, has pattern that is different and unique."

Hiro felt like he was being berated, like he was a rookie again. He swallowed his embarrassment and gathered his nerves to speak up. "I-I know sir… but I don't think this is a ghoul… sir." He squeaked.

That certainly rose a brow, Amon folded his arms now in complete confusion and interested finally in what the man had to say, "Is that so? Why do you think that, Investigator Yamasuwa? As I recall on the case, multiple murders had been scattered throughout Area 20 and with organs missing and in one case a head. Many investigators believe this to be something of a collector. Its It's only logical that ghouls would be suspected, wouldn't you agree?"

Amon's eyes didn't seem judgmental to Hiro, not like the others, and for that the relief wash over him like cold water. It felt like he was on equal ground now with the one man that mattered most to him and Amon was genuinely interested in his theories!

"Yes, sir, but you see all of it feels...too convenient." He fought for words, "like they're framed to look like ghoul attacks. To pose the deaths as brutal as possible- to leave no question as to what could have done them. Wouldn't a human do such a thing?"

Amon's eyes were wide. If that had ever been the case, the concept would be so completely new that he, and anyone else, would scoff at the idea. For in all outcomes, in all the perpurpatrators, they'd always been ghouls.

"Perhaps, but why?" he asked, trying to think of any possible motive for someone to go that far out of their way to kill like a ghoul. "Is there proof to support this theory? Not even blackmarket dealers would go to this extent even for harvesting organs, and even then, in those cases they would be willing donors for money or the bodies would be disposed of instead of on display. Also, why take parts of the victim, it'd be enough to elaborate a scene just by leaving the corpse just as it was. There still seems to be too many variables missing to make such a farfetched accusation...

"Of course nothing is impossible, and perhaps no human have ever thought of committing such a wide-spread murder constructed in a manner to lead Doves on a wild goose chase, so it isn't improbable. And if by chance you were correct, that would leave this case with the normal police force, not the CCG to handle a homicide." Amon explained.

"But if the police were led to believe this was a ghoul's doings, they wouldn't touch it either,right?" Hiro said, coming to a sudden realization. "The it's literally a standstill and would be perfect if the killer was looking to create confusion in the first place." He pressed on, excitedly. He had been trying to think of a motive for weeks, and was like the dam had finally been broken!

"That is why I would like to look deeper into the situation, to uncover the truth. I understand until I have proof this should be treated like as ghoul case, but I would like to prove my theory could be right. Up until you appeared, that was what I was doing you see. I was asking for an extension..."

"I do." Amon turned to the men in question, all seemed thoughtful, but sitting with an irritated brow was Itsuki Marude; rested his hand under his chin. "I think it would be a beneficial endeavor, on his behalf I would ask that you humor Mr. Yamasuwa, respectively."

Another man, with refined slicked back hair and pressed gray suit, he held his chin nodding. Hiro knew him as Investigator Houji, he was well known for being the on the Gourmet case and spending his life's work hunting the ghoul down. During the brainstorm between Amon and Hiro, he sat quietly observing while Investigator Itsuki Marude scowled, knowing he was out-ruled.

"I believe you should agree to this as well, Mr. Marude." Houji spoke up, "after all, your division is the 21st ward. As it stands, these incidents are spread all over the 20th. Which as you know, is mine, and I believe you've been overruled." He said, in a plain, factual manner.

Marude growled at the blunt disrespect. In spite of knowing what Houji said was true, it was true, he didn't have the power veto a decision made by the others without a number of nays to compete with the ayes. "Ugh, fine! But I'm telling you, it's wasting precious manpower and time trying to find something that isn't there!"

Houji nodded, keeping charastically calm and reasonable. "That is also true. Which is why I feel that a sufficient amount of time will be allotted to you, Mr. Yamasuwa. Three weeks I should say, if nothing is found to catch whom ever to be the cause of these murders you claim them to be, you will be reassigned and the case will be placed in another's hands. Agreed?"

With so much information that was scattered throughout the city of Tokyo, Hiro knew that three weeks was a very short window and with barely a lead this wasn't going to be easy. But thought of losing this chance wasn't something he wanted to dwell on. He would do it.

He'd find them and bring them in and with any luck it would shoot him up for promotion and even then it wasn't that that drove it home; it was the recognition! The respect and honors made Hiro heart race at what he hoped awaited at the end should he close this case. Not only that though, he'd be able to both trace patterns that perhaps could pathe the way to new constructive thinking, a whole new method of conduct to training for new upcoming investigators, and his name would leave a mark in CCG forever as a pioneer!

Hiro bowed deeply thanking the men before him and boldly swore he'd not fail!

Click

"Honestly Hori, what are you doing?" Tsukiyama tsked, looked over his shoulder as he looped his silver tie. Turning to the side to inspect himself, his profile looking slim and handsome as usual. He had to admit, he knew how show off. Voila! The bright tie was a perfect offset, the ghoul thought pridefully.

"Taking pictures of you primping for your human date, what else?" She said, taking another shot. "You gonna eat her?"

He chuckled darkly, "How rude, Chie. A meal like this should be savored, you can't just dig in before saying grace! No, tonight is the formality, the bow before the meal, if you will." He groomed his hair just the way he liked it. "You have to draw her in~, keep her interested bit by bit till she's wholly yours. Then, then that's when you sink your teeth in."

Hori hummed, as if it really mattered to her. It didn't, she wasn't a ghoul, how would she understand? All she cared about was filling her memory card with all the best shots, and living a full life.

Besides, it was entertaining when he was like this, "so then tonight is just playing?" Missing the subtle hint his raised brow.

"And by play, you mean…" Tsukiyama trailed off.

"You gonna screw her on the first date!?" She said a bit too loud.

Tsukiyama choked on air and looked aghast as she swung her legs back and forth on his four-poster bed. "Excuse me, but I don't believe that is subject that I would like to discuss with you! Such a mouth, little mouse…"

It shouldn't surprise him though really, despite her stature of a small teenager, she was anything but. At the same age as he, Tsukiyama wondered if she was ever intimate with another person; he very much doubted it though, looking at how she reacted to the outside world. She prefered observing life, rather than including herself in it.

He'd known 'Little Mouse' since his high school years, ever since she found out his secret as a ghoul and stuck around that is. Even after threatening her life he couldn't shake the strange girl. Oddly enough, that was enough to become a substantial cornerstone in forming a close relationship… a friend. Well, he's only true friend, Shuu mused. "I'd appreciate if you kept your lewd thoughts to yourself, thank you."

Hori giggled and took another picture, "why? It's written all over your face." She looked back at the viewfinder on her DSLR grinning.

Would he though? He thought, it'd be lovely if he could... if she invited him in for coffee, perhaps– yes, magnifique! The thought thrilled him as he turned around silently to face the mirror again, but still saw the squeaking mouse behind him grinning like a cheshire; it didn't matter. Even if he knew plans like those were too soon to bare fruit, he could wait. He'd seduce her sweetly, have his fun, claim his prize slowly, and the reward would be all the better for it. A woman like that was a treasure and he'd be the dragon if it meant he could horde her, snarling at all who threatened to take what was his.

"No, tonight will be all about her." Yes, his. He thought. All his to either revel in, or to gorge upon; but it would be his choice to make, no other, he'd not allow it.

Tsukiyama paid no more attention to the photocentric girl on his bed, and continued to straighten his tie, he knew what she was thinking but nothing had changed. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but he dreamed of the night he'd pleasure her, she pleasuring him. Eating her was also a dream, but perhaps the strongest out of the two. They fought him in his slept and sometimes they both coincided with one another. It was a never ending cycle that was beginning to drive him mad; two wishes that promised to be bittersweet regardless. One ended all too soon with rapturous delight and other… the other one rather terrified him.

Lovers.

The word shot shivers down his spine. What would that be like, he wondered. The last few weeks seemed unnaturally long and to finally have an evening of just them energized his mind to countless scenarios, some sensible, some not. They were darker, and devious. Just as Hori accused him of; but they were there and he wasn't able to himself of them! Shuu knew it was just the overzealousness overcoming him, and that he needed to reign himself back.

It was nothing emotional, not love. It's never been that.

Yes, the thrill and rush of hunting and eating the prey was always enjoyable, but the giddiness he felt embarrassingly made him feel as if this was his first time. Tsukiyama remembered those times well; being young and so enraptured, obsessively fixated on his target but as a matured ghoul now, he recognized the signs of erophea running through the veins and excitement that flooded the mind. That was what this was. It had been a long time since he'd visited those particular highs.

Kaneki, at one point, used to do that for him… but not anymore.

It was all but a surprise when he ran across his lily in the alleyway, and he had never intended to change his directive from devoting his waking thoughts and dreams from the half-ghoul to a strikingly beautiful, human. That had been when he'd stopped near starving himself for the sake of the infuriating boy waiting for the ultimate meal. Instead three months later, he found himself fine dining every day at the Surien and the routine of it, the normality of it, was something he realized he grew quite enamoured with.

These weeks have given Tsukiyama a gift he'd rather cherished it would seem and Yuri had done that. Even if it came down to the moment to when he killed her, he felt that the least he could do was give her something back as well. Pamper her, give her a token of his gratitude, treat her to the finer things... in the very least, he knew she deserved it.

Spare her though? Who would he be if he did, surely not the gourmet! No, despite the admiration he had for her, he doubted he'd make that much of a sacrifice. Life was rarely fair, though more so for her than he, Shuu still wished she'd been born a ghoul. Alas it was just the cards they was dealt.

Sorry, mon amour, but life is rarely fair to us, even for me.

"Well, you going or not?"

"Little Mouse, you have the worse tact. How do you do it?" Tsukiyama huffed while checking himself again for safe measure, and his watch. He felt so fidgety with the photo-fanatic sitting on his bed, watching him, judging him he was sure.

Shuu turned suddenly, "don't let her see you, Hori. I don't want to have to explain why I have my own paparazzi following me about." Pointing right at her sharply to issue his warning, "or I'll be very displeased" he deadpanned.

Hori jumped off the bed and mockingly saluted him, "yes sir!"

Tsukiyama rolled his eyes, he knew that she had no plans to allow him his one night of peaceful seclusion with Yuri, and regardless of what he said or did, he couldn't stop her. It was the one irritating quality of hers: she always had her bases covered. That alone made her impervious to blackmail or threats. The girl did exactly what she wanted, when she wanted...

Although his friend, he couldn't lie, the annoyance he got from her blissful ignorance was without bounds.

Tsukiyama could already see it, she'd be shadowing his every move peaking every corner snapping away on that useless thing if it pleases her, and it would too. 'What does she do with all those photos anyways?'

"I mean it, Chie" Tsukiyama said, firm and final as he turned to face her, this was going to go smoothly, he swore it. Despite the cold and hard front the woman put up, he saw something in her, and he realized quickly after their last encounter that she'd fight him at every turn if she thought for one minute she was being baited and lured. It wasn't that he didn't like a good challenge, he did, but it was far too soon to let Yuri sense his clutches closing in on her.

The fact that she saw straight through him first time so fast frankly scared the sh out of him. Tsukiyama thought that that was the end for him, and he'd blown the chance at the chase before it had even began. Which led him to wonder: how many lies did she string along? Did she adopt fronts just as he did to lure her prey? Did she hunt, just like him?

It marveled him to ponder how she lived her life, and how was it she could escape the eyes of both the law and the CCG whilst operating under their very noses. When it came to his restaurant and the Surien, more and more the spectrum tipped in her favor, and he wasn't exactly sure if it was such a terrible thing, or if he should be ashamed. Whatever the case, Tsukiyama often realized he'd parked at the entrance, and every time he couldn't bring himself to be upset.

"But seriously though, is she all that interesting? I mean, she's different than the last sort you were hunting." Hori stated nonchalantly, "that blonde one you were after only took a week or so before you finished her. She was easy enough." She said like an afterthought, while adjusting more settings on her camera.

"Of course she is!" She's perfect… "I aim for new flavors, new experiences all the time. What kind of gourmet would I be if it was always same breed?" Tsukiyama flung his suit jacket over his shoulder, "this one's special because she's a thoroughbred… a stallion."

Hori had seen many of Shuu's smiles before: evil, joyful, manipulative, calculating, hungry… but this one was different than any of the others.

She pressed the shutter button once more, capturing this new face of Tsukiyama Shuu, the electronic sound of her camera sounding louder in the silence. Though he didn't see it, something was different in him that Hori rather liked. She liked this new smile on her dear friend.

Hey everyone! I really have been enjoying everyones questions an reviews and it literally helps the writer know that they are pleasing the audience. :) I get really happy when I read I've fulfilled the Tsukiyama Criteria of crazy and creepy! X3

Also more and more as I watch the new Re: season and seeing ghoul characters, I literally question a lot of continuity of what can kill and also peirce ghoul skin?! Like Uta are his piercings made out of quinque!? No spoiling for latest episodes but I'm confused about how a method used could kill a ghoul without th use of their suitcases? Like really? It's like the argument, "a stake to the heart will kill a vampire!" Well yea, who wouldn't that kill?! XD

Thanzintay.2000: Haha that would be funny, seeing Yuri side-eye Shuu. XD But who knows! Lol