Wayward Roses
Chapter 4
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Stepping inside the restaurant felt like a step into high society with high ceilings dotted with grand chandeliers, decorative wallpapers and pictures in gilded frames. Kaneki felt terribly out of place as he followed behind Tsukiyama. Looking to the other ghoul, his presence placed him at ease but another unsettling feeling grew in the pit of his stomach. The feeling of that fact of what he was in charge of. The fact that Tsukiyama was trusting of him, too trusting even, made the hole grow that he only abused his trust and good nature just to kidnap them for his crew's own goals. Kaneki breathed out a heavy sigh, catching Tsukiyama's attention. "Is everything ok Kaneki-kun? Frightened? No need to worry, I'm here with you and no one will touch you without my permission and even then I will not let it slack easily." he spoke, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
'You are my prey after all...'
Kanae watched the exchange with a glare, making Chie giggle as she caught his gaze. "Getting jealous you're not the center of Tsukiyama's attention?" she questioned and he snarled. "Not even that...excuse me..." he muttered as he slipped away to see to one of the ghouls in charge of security. Chie hummed before she caught Tsukiyama's attention and told him she was going to see about something of her own. With the two gone, Tsukiyama hummed.
"We're alone now...how about we get some drinks and mingle." he said, placing a hand on Kaneki's shoulder and began to walk toward the hors d'oeuvres. Outside in the shadows of the building, Touka stood with the others, rabbit mask over her face. Nishiki wasn't far behind, serpent mask upon his face along with Koma in his devil ape mask and Irimi in her black dog mask. Jiro was below, walking towards the entrance and was immediately stopped. "Entry denied." The ghoul spoke with a condescending air. "Please, I don't wish to enter but to ask...when the main show begins. My mother is in there but she didn't wish for me to come and I miss her." Jiro played.
The ghoul snuffed at her before taking out a pocket watch. "In 45 minutes the main show will begin. Is that all?" Jiro nodded and with a wave of his hand, she left, disappearing around the bend before making her way to the roof. "45 minutes." Touka nodded. "Then in 45 minutes, we rush in and cause the commotion to give Kaneki the time to knock out the prince and get him out. Nishiki, Yomo, you take care of the guards if they spot Kaneki on the way." They nodded before Touka stood. "This is our stand guys. Make sure this goes without a hitch."
They all nodded before hunkering down in their spots.
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With a glass of water, Kaneki stood by Tsukiyama as he once again began chatting with the richer ghouls about menial things. Once again he began to feel out of place til someone came close to him and he near jumped out of his skin at the unfamiliar presence. A guy...or perhaps a girl...stood before him. Bandages rounded their form from head to toe while dressed in a hooded dress. Their head was tilted in mild curiosity as they looked Kaneki over. "You're not from around here, are you?" They spoke, a gently feminine lilt hanging in their distorted voice from behind the mask. 'Girl then...' he thought before shaking his head. "No but I had come to visit the Tsukiyama castle as guest." he replied.
"Oh! It must be wonderful to get inside! I've been there a few times but hardly stay long!" she spoke happily. "But to allow a commoner in? Must be his work." she added as she looked to Tsukiyama who was taking slow sips of the blood wine he had in his hand. "Don't think for a second that you get special privileges..." she murmured before skipping off and Kaneki gulped before turning as Tsukiyama called him over. 'Not like I had special privileges in the first place...' he thought to himself as he walked over. As Eto walked off, she was flanked by a larger body.
"The result of Dr. Kanou?"
"His smell is different from other ghouls...I am highly interested by this and I won't be the only one if Tsukiyama is one to stick to his gourmet habits. Watch him and learn what he does, Tatara. Report back to me after the show." he nodded before the two parted ways. Kaneki made small talk the best he could as he was introduced to people by Tsukiyama. Eventually, the announcement was made for everyone to get to their seats for the dinner show to begin. "Ready then, Kaneki-kun?" Tsukiyama asked as he looked down to the other. "Ah yes..." Kaneki replied before he was led up a set of curving stairs, taking them to a higher level apart from the rest who were going in from below. "You'll get the best seat in the house, Kaneki-kun. You'll be able to see everything where we're going." he said as the doors were opened by two handlers and they headed in through the short corridor and out to a box seat especially for the Tsukiyama royals.
Tsukiyama took his seat before patting the one next to him for Kaneki. He looked to the smiling face beneath the mask and settled down in the chair. People continued to file in, filling up the perimeter of the ring below, said ring already prepared with a flat top grill preheated and ready. Kanae entered in as the last person filed into the room before the doors were closed, giving one last glare to Kaneki as he stood at Tsukiyama's side. The speakers crackled to life before a voice spoke out to the audience.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Tsukiyama royal family ghoul restaurant! Today we shall provide quite the feast for you all as the royal family purveyor brings to us three fighters from a sunk ship attacked by one of the infamous pirate bands that surf the seas!" The announcer spoke before the single door opened, three humans pushed in.
Blinded by the lighting, they were left disoriented and unable to process exactly where they were as the door shut and locked. It was two men and a woman, a brunet and two blonds. The woman was the first to look up and seeing the collection of eyes, she gasped before turning back to the door that was obviously their entryway but could find no knob or lock to open with. "W-what's going on here?!" she cried before turning to the others who shrugged.
There were murmurs as the announcer began once more. "First we have this lovely burly specimen of male! Middle aged, the scars and muscle shows he is of the meaty and tough variety but with age comes fighting experience and will more than likely tenderize himself at the hands of our scrapper!" The brunet look up in shock before realizing that they were held in a fighting ring. "I heard stories about this...this is the ghoul restaurant of the 7th Ward. We're going to be made into a show before we're eaten!"
"Next is a rather young fellow, lithe and definitely made for sprinting. Surely that will leave his flesh with quite a bouncy texture but if he lives to his wills, he will be rich in flavor after running!"
The second male swallowed thickly before looking to the first male. "We have to get out of here..." he whispered. "Have any ideas?" The first shook his head as the woman began to panic. "I can handle a few wimpy ghouls but nothing like this! I don't want to die here!"
"And last this the lovely blond woman. Curvy and soft, she will definitely be at the peak of her flavor and surely be roasted well upon the grill!" Her eyes widened and she stepped back. "Now for the scrapper! Provided by Madam A! Come out Taro!" The large gate at the other end of the ring began to slowly open, leaving the two males to prepare themselves for what was to come.
Outside, Touka heard the announcements being made and looked to the others. "We start now." she said before taking the lead as she leapt off the roof, Koma's bikaku providing itself as a rope as she swung in through the window, shattering the glass and alerting the security. They rushed in and she glared at them before her single wing flared out, hardening before sending sharp, dagger-like shards that embedded into the skulls of the ghouls that weren't prepared to defend themselves. With their cries were more alerted and rushed to the scene only for Yomo to step in. With no need to use his own kagune, he made easy work of the oncoming security before Nishiki and Irimi appeared. "Koma said he'll stand guard outside with Jiro til we get out. Let's go." Yomo spoke before they headed down the hall to the main room. Back in the ring, the huge, misshapen creature that could barely be called human lumbered out from his prison, beady eyes under a red mask glancing down to his prey. Tsukiyama was next to stand and grinned down at the field.
"Fight to your best...but don't expect to leave with your lives! Taro, I expect a fine slice of flesh for my precious guest to join me here today!" he said gallantly before taking his seat as Taro gave a garbled response as he raised the jagged saw that was his weapon of choice and swung down at the group of three. The men dodging while the other blond made sure to take hold of the woman as she was still too shell-shocked of the situation. The main hall was decorated with strewn bodies of the security as Touka looked between the floors. "Well there's no guess where the prince would be. Nishiki, you're with me." she said.
Nishiki grumbled something, adjusting his mask as kakugan strained with the flex of his bikaku before the two headed in through the lower entrance to where the audience were. Back inside, the three continued to dodge perilously against Taro, using his lumbering form as a means to escape more of his swings that is until the brunet missed a step and suffered for it. A scream ripped through the room to the delight of the patrons as an arm landed, sliced cleanly and hot blood dripping across the floor. Taro took the arm and raised it, arousing the crowd before he tossed it up and a few grabbed it before easily gobbling down the flesh like a pack of ravenous dogs. Tsukiyama clapped as Kaneki shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Touka skirted around the feasting ghouls before looking down to the field as the woman screamed, trying to get the brunet away but that single second of neglect to her own safety became her downfall, another spray of blood coating the floor as her head was seen flying in the air from the force of Taro's swing before landing. The last male looked on in horror before a glare took over his face.
"You hulking bastard!" he snarled as he dashed forward, leaping up to try and roundhouse the scrapper but Taro easily caught him, grip tightening as he held the male upside down to scream as he felt the strain on his bones. "Come on, Touka! Or must I do everything..." Nishiki snapped and she jerked her head back before stepping back and let her wing flare out once more. Eto's head moved slightly before turning her gaze to where Touka stood, seeing the glare of her kagune as it hardened once more. "Go!" she called as she let a few shards shoot out to take out some of the ghouls. When the first body hit the floor, the crowd was thrown into a panic as they tried to leave the floor. Taro, who had the brunet's head in a vicious vice grip, look up in wonderment as he heard screams instead of cheers. Nishiki was next, cleaving through the chest cavity of another ghoul.
Tsukiyama was the first to stand as Kanae leapt into action. "Get away from him, Shuu-sama! This was his plan all along as I've tried to warn you!" he cried, kagune emerging and tried to attack Kaneki. The other flinched before he leapt from his seat as the chair splintered into pieces. "Kaneki-kun...? What's going on?" Tsukiyama questioned. "This...is a kidnapping. We of the S.S. Antieku are taking you for ransom." he said as he looked up to the prince.
"Ransom?"
"I won't allow this!" Kanae snapped as he went to attack Kaneki again only to be met with the hard tentacles of Kaneki's own rinkaku. He sighed as he glanced to the two. "I'm sorry...but this is for our own good..." he murmured as he swung out, slamming Kanae into the wall before charging for Tsukiyama.
'To be this crafty...even to rival my own secretive tendencies...how dolce...' Tsukiyama thought before grinning. 'I suppose I could indulge him a bit. This is plenty more than what I wished for in excitement...I can't wait to see where this leads...' Kaneki's eyes widened as a red haze emerged from Tsukiyama as he smirked. "You wound me, Kaneki-kun...I couldn't imagine this is why you'd got so close to me..." he spoke but his tone hardly made it sound as if he was truly hurt by it. In fact...it sounded like he was excited. His tentacles coiled at the user's hesitation. "But in actuality...this has me quite excited...such a delight to be able to exert myself in ways I haven't in so long...!" he continued as the coiling koukaku emerged from its kakuhou, covering the entirety of his right arm. "You are precious, Kaneki-kun...Now fight for me!" Tsukiyama said brazenly, kakugan out in a mad desire, as he shot his arm forward and with it, catapulted the spiraling kagune right for Kaneki. He gasped and tried to urge his own to guard but he was pierced deep, blood blossoming on the borrowed suit as he was tossed over the railing and down into the cacophony of the panicked crowd.
His kagune took most of the blow but the person he landed on could've been in better shape. A groan left his lips before looking up as he heard movement from above, seeing Tsukiyama leaping down, koukaku aimed for him. He rolled out the way, the kagune causing a crater impact on the marble floor. Ghouls scattered but seeing that Tsukiyama was actually in the fight with the possible cause of the interruption, their panic began to dim. "I am terribly sorry for this, fair guests...but I will take responsibility for this but I do desire all of your safety so please, file out in a calm and orderly manner as I deal with this one and any cohorts he has." he said, lifting his arm as people began to urge each other to head for the doors. Kaneki swallowed as his kagune coiled around him. His fighting skills were mediocre at best. Training in the few brief moments he could with Yomo showed light of it. Now here he was with a possible seasoned fighter and hardly had decent control of his own kagune compared to Tsukiyama.
"Come now, Kaneki-kun. Don't get cold feet on me. To see you work up a sweat...ah, it makes my mouth water..." Tsukiyama whispered as he shifted the tip of his koukaku into a very lethal looking blade. Running a finger down its razor sharp edge, he glanced back to him. "You know, you may have lied to me of your purpose...but I'm not quite that innocent either. Your scent...it entices me...so therefore...I want to eat you." he spoke calmly as if he were talking about the weather and licked his lips. "So how about it...Kaneki-kun!" he gasped excitedly as he shot forward again and Kaneki was left to be on the run as he tried to avoid his swinging blade. Tsukiyama cackled merrily as he continued to swing at him. Touka heard the laugh and turned to where they fought. 'You got to be kidding me...' she thought before she began to make her way to Kaneki.
Taro, still curious of the action from above, had long left his prey behind and found a use for the saw to get him over the wall of the pit and began his lumber towards the fighting ghouls. The hunger was beginning to set in and Kaneki knew this was bad. He couldn't keep fighting like this even though he was on guard more than actually putting up a fight. His gaze lifted and gasped as he caught Taro coming right for them. Bare feet padded heavily against the marble as Taro slowly began a run towards them. 'I can't do this...I'm going to get killed...' Kaneki thought as Taro reached them and raised his saw up high. Tsukiyama tched in annoyance before leaping back as the saw came swinging, knowing well he couldn't and wouldn't hurt him but at the same time, he didn't feel like giving the monster credit where it wasn't due for interrupting his fight. Kaneki moved just as quick, the jagged blade just barely nicking the side of his face but it did catch onto the eyepatch, tearing it away and revealed his single kakugan.
Tsukiyama stopped and gazed at Kaneki and his kakugan. "A one-eyed ghoul...no wonder he has the bitterness of a ghoul but the subtle sweetness of a human..." Many things began to swirl inside of him, the forefront to take the first succulent bite of the male before him, this rare treasure that had come to him with the audacity to kidnap him...
And he couldn't very well do that if he was to be locked up for attempted kidnapping.
Taro made a muffled sound as he raised the saw and he growled. While the flimsy weapon meant nothing to Kaneki and his ghoul body, he was still aiming to hurt him...and he didn't like that one bit. "Sorry Madam...but you'll have to lose your beloved pet..." he murmured as he shot his arm out, his kagune flying and Taro cried out in unfathomable pain as he looked down, beady eyes glazing over as he look at the sharp blade of the koukaku going through his chest. "He is mine...do understand..." he murmured as he flung him away before turning his attention back to Kaneki. The other slowly climbed to his feet as he looked to Tsukiyama.
"You done already? Such a shame. The fight was lovely but now...I'll take what I want." he spoke as he started for him and Kaneki grunted as he was ready to swing only for someone to do it for him. Touka leapt from behind him, swinging her ukaku and with it a flurry of shards that was easily blocked by Tsukiyama. "Ah, is this a friend? Hmm...This bodes a problem as I wish for no interruptions!" he snarled as he went for Touka who came at him in kind, starting up another fight.
"You really are a spoiled little brat!" Touka sneered as she blocked and swung at him. Tsukiyama smirked behind the mask as he continued to guard and swing at Touka. 'Ugh…this guy is strong...for what he embodies, he doesn't slack on power...' she thought as she jumped back. "It's all fun and games til someone gets hurt...and I see that being prominent in your future!" Tsukiyama shouted as he went to swing at Touka once more before a solid hit landed on the back of his neck. He choked, falling to his knees and tried to glance back before another solid hit made him black out. Yomo stood over the fallen body, looking to the two. "Time to go. We wasted enough time here." he spoke. Touka breathed and nodded as she looked to Kaneki while Yomo collected the prince. "Be happy I saw what was going on..." she murmured. Kaneki hardly spoke but nodded. He wasn't expecting the hand being held out to him and looked up to Touka. "Let's get back to the ship and out of here. Someone is going to make this known and without the prince around, people will be looking." Kaneki nodded again as he took her hand.
"Yeah..."
As the three, eventually accompanied by Nishiki, gathered themselves, they were gone out the building and fetched the rest of the crew before advancing out the 7th Ward. Their exit wasn't unseen. Eto giggled as she watched from the rooftop. "Running away with the prince...how exciting. Tatara?" Said male glanced to her. "I recognize a few of them...they are from the ship Ayato has a fondness for raising hell to." Tatara spoke. "I see...and the half-ghoul?"
"An amateur to his own abilities. He can fight but not well."
Eto nodded before turning. "We're heading back. Send Ayato for their ship in three days. Make sure Yamori and Nico are aboard. I'm sure one of them will find something entertaining to the trip." she said and Tatara nodded.
"As you wish."