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WARNING: MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH
Chapter 4: Ghoul and Succubus
"Kaneki-san, what kind of monster are you?" Tsukune asked one morning.
"Not a vampire." Tsukune made a face.
"I know that much," the human grumbled, "I'm sure Moka-san would have noticed."
"Why are you asking?" Kaneki said, placing things into his bag. It was early morning, and the two students were getting ready to leave. Kaneki grabbed one of his library books, The Biology of Vampires, and placed it in as well. He'd read that during break.
"It's not fair," Tsukune said, putting on his tie. "You know I'm a human, and now you know Moka-san is a vampire, but we don't know what you are. I don't even know what kind of food you like since I've never seen you eat! I even checked your mini-fridge...!"
"Don't touch my fridge."
"...but there was only coffee," Tsukune said, looking puzzled before alarm overcame him. "Are you starving yourself?!"
"I'm not," the half-ghoul reassured, glad that he had finished the meal the Chairman had given him right away. He now knew for certain that Tsukune was practically clueless about ghouls. If Hide had seen the same evidence, his secret wouldn't last two seconds. His best friend has always been very perceptive, and it was one of the reasons why Kaneki stayed away despite missing Hide greatly.
"But I've never seen you bring any food when we have our lunch breaks," Tsukune pointed out, "and I know you didn't eat earlier or go to the cafeteria."
"I'm not starving myself," he insisted. "I have a different diet schedule than most. I don't have to eat every day." Tsukune was surprised.
"You don't?"
Kaneki nodded, and said nothing more. If the human was smart, he'd find out what he was based on all the observations he learned just now. All he had to do was go online, look up monsters that drink coffee and have irregular eating schedules, and Ghoul would show up first on the list. Kaneki didn't care if Tsukune or Moka found out he was a ghoul, but he did care if they started probing further and found out the details concerning his half-ghoul status. If he wanted to avoid that, then it was better not to say anything at all.
"Have you finished reading the pages I assigned you?" Kaneki said off-handedly. He had more or less coerced the human to start reading chapters of the self-defense book he checked out for him. To make sure Tsukune didn't slack off, Kaneki also quizzed him the next day, and he punished him with strenuous exercises if the human got any answer wrong.
Tsukune nodded, grumbling and rubbing his aching shoulders. "You're giving me too much to read at once. I have other homework to do too!"
"I know, I'm in the same class," Kaneki deadpanned. "You need to learn how to protect yourself. You can't depend on me or Moka-san always being there to bail you out. Reading the material is only the first step. I'll teach you the applications once you finish it, and I can ask Moka-san to help if she agrees."
Tsukune seemed to perk up at the idea of Moka teaching him defense. "R-really? You'll ask Moka-san to teach me how to defend myself?"
"She'll have to agree to it first," Kaneki said. Honestly, after learning about her Rosario, Kaneki was skeptical if Moka would be of any practical use. At least she'd be a good motivator for Tsukune. "And that's only after you finish reading that book and pass my standards."
Tsukune's face fell. "Your standards are too high!"
"They wouldn't be if you value your life," he said back. After training with Yomo and Touka, he was able to master new fighting styles much faster after reading and practicing them before his rematch against Shachi. Right now, Kaneki was pushing Tsukune to understand the terms so he wouldn't get confused by the terms he'd tell him to practice later on.
The half-ghoul and human went out and later met up with Moka at the school gates, who had been chatting with some of her admirers while waving at some of the other boys. Kaneki knew that Moka didn't really want to spend time with her fans when she could be with them. When Kaneki noticed this, he had pulled her aside to tell her that if she was seen showing favoritism to him and Tsukune, her fans would get jealous and try to hurt them, wasting his stunt's real intentions. Moka was quick to understand what he was getting at, and that was why she was taking the time to smile and greet every student with seemingly equal fairness.
"Good morning, Tsukune-san! Good morning, Kaneki-san!" Moka exclaimed, turning to each of them. "Are you both free for the weekend? We could do something fun together!"
Tsukune nodded immediately, excited. "I'd love to, Moka-san-!"
"We have a mid-term coming up," Kaneki interrupted. He could care less about the mid-term, but Tsukune wasn't repeating high school like he was. "Your recent test scores were mediocre." The human flinched at the reminder, and looked down in shame.
Noticing this, Moka suggested, "then how about I come visit your room so we can all study together?"
"Yes! Yes, thank you Moka-san!" Tsukune accepted happily. "You're so nice!"
Too nice, Kaneki thought, but he wasn't against it. Moka was also very intelligent, as her test scores have proven, and she could be the kind of tutor Tsukune was better accustomed to. The only problem was the human getting distracted by his hormones.
To ensure this wouldn't happen, Kaneki decided to give an incentive. "Tsukune-kun, if you make it in the top 50 for your mid-terms, I'll grant you an entire day to do what you want. If that includes spending time with Moka-san, then that's also fine." He turned to Moka. "Are you okay with that?" The vampire nodded, giving a sweet smile.
"L-like a date?" he said eagerly. Kaneki nodded as Moka blushed, her face pinker than her hair.
"Top 50, Tsukune-kun," he stressed. "Anything below that, the deal is off."
Predictably, Tsukune quickly jumped on it. "You got it!" He smiled at Moka. "Please wait for me, Moka-san! I will do my best on the exams! I will reach top 50!"
Moka giggled, "Okay, Tsukune."
He's too easy to manipulate, Kaneki thought, wary. He hoped the other students didn't realize that too.
-o-
"...yes, I got the money you sent me, mom," Tsukune said, using one of the phones located on the ground floor lobby of the school. Kaneki and Moka remained in the cafeteria after Tsukune requested privacy. "Thanks."
"How's your first week at school, Tsukune?" His mother, Aono Kasumi, said. She sounded worried.
"I'm doing well over here!" he exclaimed, and Tsukune meant it. He thought he'd regret staying at a school meant for monsters, but his first week has been nothing short of amazing. He now had two smart and kind people as his friends, and one of them was the Academy's most beautiful girl! His life couldn't get any better.
"Are you really alright?" Kasumi said dubiously. "How about your father and I come visit you during our next holiday-!"
"NO!" Tsukune said immediately, giving off cold sweat. "You cannot come visit!"
"T-Tsukune?!"
"Oh, no, look you and dad are both busy and stuff," Tsukune said, trying to appease her. "A-anyway, just don't come! I'm really doing fine!"
He heard his mother sigh. "If you're really okay, then I suppose it's alright not to see you. Have you made any new friends?"
"I did!" he said, smiling. "They're really great, mom. I'm really happy to have them as my friends. One of them, Kaneki-san- he's also my roommate. I met him at the bus stop, and he's been helping me a lot with school. There's also Moka-san—she's really nice, considerate, and very beautiful."
"They sound like great people, Tsukune," Kasumi said, and Tsukune could imagine her beaming with pride. "Perhaps you should invite them over some time! Your father and I would like to meet them-especially that girl, Moka? Do you like her, Tsukune? Do I need to give you the talk?"
Tsukune blushed. "W-we're just friends, mom!" But I will like us to be more...
His mother laughed softly on the phone. "We're very happy that you're enjoying yourself, Tsukune. Don't get into too much fun and forget to call me, okay?"
"I won't, mom," he promised. "I'll keep in touch. Say hello to dad for me."
After a few more parting words, Tsukune hanged up. He walked out of the phone booth area, expecting to head down the hall and join his two friends waiting for him at their lunch table, when a familiar blue-haired girl stepped out and blocked his way.
"Hello, Aono Tsukune," she said, a predatory smile gracing her features. "Why are you all alone? Where are your friends?"
Tsukune looked confused, before he recognized the pretty girl. "Oh! You're Kurumu-san, the girl Kaneki-san injured, and the one we took to the nurse's office?" The human didn't notice how Kurumu twitched at his blunt description. "I'm happy to see you all better now! I was about to join Kaneki-san and Moka-san for lunch. Would you like to join us?"
"No," Kurumu hissed, quickly walking up and leaning so close that Tsukune could feel her chest pressed against his. "I think I'll settle for you."
Her mesmerizing eyes pierced his, and Tsukune blanked out.
-o-
Meanwhile, Kaneki and Moka were sitting by themselves at an isolated table. Moka was drinking one of the blood packs she brought, while Kaneki studiously turned a page of his book, his grey eye not wandering from its written contents. Tsukune's lunch tray sat between them, only half finished. Without Tsukune around, the two of them didn't talk much. Moka didn't know how to instigate a conversation with the half-ghoul without appearing awkward, while Kaneki was too absorbed by his book to start any.
None of the students around them tried to approach their table, and this was because the male and female students were too busy gossiping about how the two heartthrobs of the school could be going out. The guys were secretly vowing to dismember the one-eyed albino, while the girls were watching Moka with baleful eyes filled with jealousy. None of them took into account the unfinished lunch tray and currently absent third member of their group.
Unaware of these mistaken insinuations, Kaneki finally reached the end of another chapter of The Biology of Vampires, and flicked his eye at Tsukune's unfinished lunch, frowning. "He's been gone for too long."
"I'm sure Tsukune-san's alright," Moka said, finishing her lunch. "Maybe he's got a lot to say to his mother."
Kaneki only narrowed his eyes. "It's already been forty minutes. I doubt any high schooler would coddle with his mother for that long. I'm going to go look for him."
"Wait," Moka said, getting up with Kaneki. She had placed a tentative hand on his arm to stop him. "Let's not panic. Tsukune-san could have went to the restroom, or maybe he got lost on the way."
"The lobby is right down the hall," Kaneki pointed out. "He'd be even more of an idiot if he manages to get lost from that." Despite what he said, Moka did strike a good point, and Kaneki has stopped trying to estimate Tsukune's level of stupidity. The half-ghoul didn't need a massive headache. "I'll give him five minutes. If he doesn't show up when break ends, I'm looking for him."
Moka only giggled at his worry. "You really care a lot about Tsukune, Kaneki-san."
"I don't care about him," he muttered, "I just can't stand by and let fools like him think he's saving the world when he's really jumping down a cliff. He's weak, naïve, and doesn't know his left from his right." He finally sat back down, and Moka did too. "If anything, I pity the idiot." And I'm not about to let this fool make me fail my job.
"Even so, I think Tsukune-san is grateful to have you look after him," Moka replied. "Whatever your reasons, you are still lending a helping hand, and Tsukune-san knows that. He treats us as his friends, Kaneki-san, and he trusts us. That's how much we mean to him."
"If he knows that, then he shouldn't worry us needlessly," he said darkly, crossing his arms. "Five minutes, and no more." If it really turns out that I'm overreacting, I'll double his next work load!
Moka nodded, accepting it. "I'll come with you. I also promised to protect Tsukune-san."
When five minutes have gone by, and Tsukune still didn't show, Kaneki promptly trashed Tsukune's remaining lunch and stormed out of the cafeteria, with Moka keeping in step behind him. The retreating students made sure to stay out of the half-ghoul's way after seeing how pissed off he was. It was like a dark cloud had come over him, waiting to break out.
They checked the lobby first, finding it empty. Then, Kaneki checked the nearby restrooms, while Moka asked around if anyone saw Tsukune, but gained no insight on his whereabouts. Alarm started to settle in when the two of them returned to their homeroom class and didn't see the human there. When Nekonome-sensei noticed how agitated both of her students were, she asked what was wrong.
"We're looking for Tsukune-san, Nekonome-sensei," Moka explained frantically. At this point, Kaneki was seething in rage, angry at his carelessness and at whoever had took the human from them. He started to crack his fingers one at a time, his hidden eye starting to turn black and red. "We think he's gone missing! Do you know where he could be?"
"Tsukune-san," their sensei repeated, trying to place a face to his name. "Oh! I think I saw him when I was getting out of the staff office-!"
Kaneki instantly snapped into focus, and demanded, "Where did you see him last?"
"He was accompanying that really cute girl from Ririko-sensei's homeroom," Nekonome said. "She even stopped and greeted me politely when she saw me, and when I asked what they were doing in the halls, she informed me that they were going to do some fun activities at the cemetery behind the school." Their sensei gave a whimsical sigh. "Young love."
"Do you know who she is?" Kaneki asked, while Moka looked crestfallen at the news.
"Why, I believe her name is Kurono Kurumu."
Hearing this, Kaneki turned away and quietly stalked down the hallway. Moka thanked Nekonome-sensei and told her they would return to class with Tsukune soon, before catching up to the half-ghoul. The vampire looked nervous, and she was fidgeting over what had occurred.
"Kaneki-san," she called out, and Kaneki turned his head slightly to let her know he was listening. He didn't stop his pace. "W-what if Tsukune-san is fine? What if he went with Kurumu willingly and we'd end up intruding on them?" She looked down, doubts starting to spring into mind. "What if he's in love with that girl and got tired of us hanging around him all the time?"
Kaneki stopped abruptly, causing Moka to look up at him. "Moka-san, I thought you were a lot smarter than this."
"K-Kaneki-san?" she said, too confused to get angry at his jab.
"Do you really believe that?" Kaneki muttered. "Do you really think that Tsukune-kun would willingly go with some girl when he's got you?" He shook his head. "He may be an idiot, but he's an idiot who is completely head over heels for you, Moka-san. Don't ever doubt it."
"How could you know that?" Moka argued. "Kurumu-san is also a very pretty girl, and maybe she's got a better personality that's more compatible-!"
"Do you know how many nights I've had to stay up listening to Tsukune's undying devotion of love to you?" Kaneki interrupted. "It was always Moka-san this and Moka-san that. It made me sick to the stomach."
"R-really?" Moka said, blushing. "H-he really said those things to you?"
Kaneki nodded. "Didn't you say so yourself? He 'trusts' us. He knows we are monsters, and he still stayed with us despite our differences. No matter how stupid of a move that was, it meant something on his part. Tsukune-kun isn't going to throw that away for some girl that's not even interested in him."
Moka blinked, "S-she's not interested in him? Then why..."
Kaneki didn't answer as he opened the swinging doors, cold air rushing in as the two of them finally got outside and entered the cemetery. They were quickly greeted by the sight of Tsukune tied up with rope, hanging precariously from the top of a very large tree. Kurumu was with him, fully transformed, and her wings kept her aloft as she hovered around the unconscious human, apparently unharmed.
Kurumu noticed them. "Kaneki-san!" she said in a sing-song voice, before her cheery mood deflated after noticing Moka, "and you even got my rival with you. No matter," she dismissed, giving a disdainful look at the vampire. "I suppose you both came to get him back?" She lifted Tsukune's chin with her fingers, leaning her face close.
"Let him go, Kurumu-san!" Moka cried, "Tsukune-san could die if he falls from that height!"
"I know," Kurumu said, "which is why I tied him up here in the first place."
"Why?!" Moka demanded. "Tsukune-san has done nothing against you!"
"It's not about Tsukune, Moka-san," Kaneki said, looking up at Kurumu with hatred. "She's only using him as bait. Her real target is me." Moka looked at him in confusion.
"What?!"
"I'm glad you understand me so well!" Kurumu said, flying down a couple feet, but still safely out of reach. Kaneki needed to lure the revealed succubus down a bit further. If he decided to attack now, then he'd risk Tsukune ending up like a bug smashed against a windshield. "If you agree to become mine, Kaneki Ken, then I'll release your friend."
Moka finally understood the situation, and she turned on the succubus angrily, "You used Tsukune-san to force Kaneki-san to love you?! How could you commit such a despicable thing?!"
"Oh, get off your damn high horse, Akashiya Moka!" Kurumu retorted. "This is the way of a true succubus! I was supposed to be Yokai Academy's number one beauty! I was supposed to be the one all the guys worshiped and treated like a goddess! Not some nobody like you!" She turned to Kaneki, her eyes narrowing to slits. "No one is allowed to reject me like you did! You only have yourself to blame for forcing my hand, Kaneki Ken!"
This bitch...
"So if I agree to become 'yours'," Kaneki started, cracking a finger, "then you promise you will let Tsukune go unharmed?"
Moka protested, "Kaneki-san, you don't have to do this-!"
"I promise," Kurumu said, smiling. Her plan was going perfectly! She could care less what happened to Tsukune as long as she has Kaneki in her possession. She'd become the envy of all her female classmates if she tamed the reputed ice prince! She'd even consider letting Kaneki love her seriously, and maybe she'd return his affections in time. The succubus blushed hard just thinking about it!
After her little daydream, Kurumu snapped her fingers, waking Tsukune up from her hypnosis.
Tsukune opened his weary eyes, and the moment his mind registered where he was, he started screaming; he had a fear of heights! The rope threatened to snap while Tsukune swayed his panicking body before Kurumu stilled it with one hand. Tsukune finally noticed her, taking in her winged form, surprised.
"K-Kurumu-san?" he said, shaky. "W-what are you doing? Why am I tied up?"
"Shut up, worm," the succubus snarled at him, her attention focused below. Tsukune followed her gaze and finally saw his friends, who looked up at him in anger or worry. "You're going to be my bargaining chip for Kaneki Ken. Make sure you behave or I'll dice you to pieces before you reach the ground!" The human paled at her threat.
"Release him, Kurumu-san. If you want me to agree to your terms, then you need to lower him down. You don't have to untie him," Kaneki compromised.
Kurumu thought about it, it's not like Tsukune would be completely free. She wouldn't need to worry about their friend attacking her either. "I can do that, but I want you to do something for me first."
"What?"
"Take off your eyepatch."
This time, Kaneki looked hesitant, not expecting this development. Moka and Tsukune also looked startled by the request, for they never asked what laid behind his eyepatch, and were no doubt very curious about it. "How do you know I'm not deformed? You should spare yourself from looking at my ugliness."
"I don't care how ugly it is," Kurumu insisted, hastily wiping away some drool dripping out of her mouth. "I want to see your whole face, Ken." She purposely said his first name informally, thinking she's got a claim on him already. That infuriated the half-ghoul even further. "If you're worried about your friends seeing it, you could always ask them to look away."
While Kaneki silently debated his choices, Moka spoke up quietly, "Kaneki-san, as I've told you before, you don't need to listen to Kurumu. If you don't want to take it off, then don't do it. There must be another way to rescue Tsukune-san than this!"
"It's fine, Moka-san," he reassured her, reaching up to slip off his appendage. He knew this would happen eventually, but he didn't expect it to happen this soon. Kaneki was going to enjoy crushing Kurumu after this. He closed his revealed eye for a moment, and after making sure his other eye had turned back, he opened it, baffling the three witnesses.*
"It...It looks normal," Moka said, perplexed. "Why did you hide it in the first place?"
Kaneki shrugged, and directed both of his grey eyes at the succubus, who now had a...nosebleed?
Pervert, Kaneki thought in disgust, reminded of a certain Gourmet. Why do I always attract these kinds of sickos?
"I did what you said," Kaneki replied darkly. "Release him."
"Okay!"
That was the moment Kurumu sealed her fate. Once Tsukune was hovering at a safe distance from the ground, the half-ghoul attacked. His body arched back, his sclera turned black, and his rinkaku sprung out. A sadistic smile emerged on his normally expressionless face, and saliva coated his gums. Instantly, one of his kagune strands aimed towards Kurumu, who widened her eyes in fear as she narrowly dodged the brunt of his attack, but not without sporting a long bloody slash across her stomach. The succubus screeched in pain and dropped the stunned human. Kaneki quickly caught Tsukune by wrapping another of his kagune strands around his waist securely and lowered him to the ground.
Moka seemed transfixed by his transformation, her face horrified before Kaneki snapped her out of it. "Go to him, Moka-san. I'll deal with the succubus."
"Y-you're a ghoul," Moka stammered. Her slow reaction annoyed him.
"Now, Moka!" Kaneki hissed, before he began his one sided slaughter.
No matter where the succubus went, the enraged half-ghoul managed to follow her. He used his kagune to launch himself into the air, slashing and cutting the succubus, leaving not a piece of her flesh unmarred. Kurumu screamed, fear quickly flushing out her earlier infatuation as she cut down trees with her elongated nails to deter his onslaught, but it was pointless. The trees inflicted no damage and Kaneki either used his kagune to shield himself or grab the severed trees as an anchor before throwing them at her.
Kurumu was running out of options until she noticed Tsukune, who was being untied by Moka. Desperate, she flew down, swiping the human by the collar and cutting Moka as she flew past. Moka gasped as she fell back, her uniform now ripped, before she collected herself and chased after the succubus with renewed anger, but stopped when she noticed Kurumu hold her fingers over Tsukune's vulnerable neck.
"Let me go or he dies!" Kurumu threatened, grabbing Tsukune's hair to yank him upright. One of her talon-like fingers started to push in deeper, a trail of blood seeping out of his neck.
"Don't hurt him!" Moka yelled.
Unfortunately for Kurumu, Kaneki was done being submissive. During a hostage situation, it was said that a captor would first be hesitant to do anything during the first couple seconds of grabbing their first hostage. Utilizing that information, the half-ghoul ignored Kurumu's weak threat, and used his kagune to pierce one of Kurumu's outstretched wings before using all of his strands to immobilize the bitch and slammed her against the ground, keeping her far away from Tsukune. The succubus was sent tumbling into a bunch of tombstones, before coming to a complete halt. Blood soaked her tattered uniform, and Kurumu couldn't move. She also lost her ability to fly and she trembled violently as the revealed half-ghoul approached her. One of his eyes was grey, while the other was a murderous red.
Kurumu was sobbing, and pleaded for her life. "P-please, don't kill me! I-I won't do anything to you anymore! I-I won't get involved! I-I'll do whatever you want! Just don't kill me! P-please!" As Kaneki drew nearer, she recoiled back in anguish. "S-s-stay away from me!"
"I thought you want to look at my whole face," the half-ghoul said, tilting his head to look down on his latest victim. He smiled cruelly, and his mad laughter sounded so menacing, that everyone who heard it had shivers go down their spines. "Couldn't handle the ugly, sweetheart?"
Kurumu screamed, and Kaneki might have recalled hearing someone protest in the background, but he ignored it. He stabbed the succubus through the chest, ripping her heart to shreds before he lunged down and started devouring her remains. He swallowed large amounts at a time, blood staining his uniform, white hair, and hands as the half-ghoul gorged down on his new treat, which had a surprisingly unique taste. Like foreign food. He was completely unaware of a terrified Tsukune pleading Moka to stop him, or how the human managed to snap the Rosario off its chains...
"That's enough!"
Suddenly, Kaneki felt the wind knocked out of him when a silver long-haired girl landed a harsh kick to his side, sending the half-ghoul flying in the air before that same girl came from behind him and slammed yet another kick to his back. Kaneki gasped, shock overtaking his senses, as he staggered back up, the ground beneath him had cracked upon impact. He was still confused over what just happened until he saw the 'new' girl more clearly.
Kaneki took in the silver long hair, the slit red pupils, and the missing Rosario that was now in Tsukune's trembling hands. When he realized who it was, the half-ghoul relaxed slightly. "Moka-san, is this your true form?"
"It is," the new Moka said. "I would have said I was pleased to make your acquaintance under different circumstances, Kaneki Ken. My outer self has always held you in high regard after you saved her from Saizou, but seeing you like this," the vampire wrinkled her nose in disgust, "I never imagined seeing you act so barbaric. Not only did you kill another student who has already surrendered, but you proceeded to defile her body! I cannot overlook such grievances."
Kaneki glowered at the vampire. "She harmed Tsukune, Moka-san. If I didn't put her down permanently, she may yet try again or get her other friends to help her. I warned you what would happen if any of the students harmed the human, and I am authorized to do what I believe necessary."
"It wasn't necessary to kill her!" Tsukune finally cried out. "You didn't need to kill her like that, Kaneki-san! What you did was beyond cruel, and much worse than anything Kurumu had done to me!"
"I agree with Tsukune," the other Moka replied coldly. "The punishment you inflicted on the succubus was unjust and did not fit the crime. Kurono Kurumu did not deserve such a brutal death by your hands, ghoul."
"I can care less about what you think, vampire," Kaneki snapped back, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. "Brats like you have no idea how ugly the world is out there and in this damn Academy. Kurumu deserved every punishment I inflict! News of her mutilated body and death will soon circulate around the entire school, and there could be witnesses lurking around as we speak."
"So you made an example out of her," the other Moka figured. "You wanted to discourage other monsters from harming Tsukune by instigating a fear of retaliation." When Kaneki didn't refute her statement, Inner Moka looked thoughtful. "I can't say your method isn't an effective one."
"Moka-san!" Tsukune said, aghast. "Y-you can't be agreeing to what he's saying?!"
"He does have a point, Tsukune-san," Inner Moka said, turning to him. "Kurumu intended to kill you, and Kaneki-san responded in kind, albeit too aggressively, but from what I'm seeing, he's trying to discourage other monsters from getting you into danger. By discouraging them, Kaneki-san is also minimizing bloodshed and keeping you out of trouble all at once. Am I right, Kaneki-san?"
"Basically," the half-ghoul admitted, but he also had a selfish reason for wanting to kill Kurumu. The bitch had reminded him too much of Rize, and he used Kurumu to channel out the bitter resentment he has towards the Binge Eater. He smirked playfully at Moka. "I knew you were smarter than you look."
"Don't patronize me, half-breed," the vampire said without malice, and turned to take back her Rosario from Tsukune.
Tsukune was puzzled. "Half-breed? Why did you call Kaneki-san that?"
"Only one of his eyes is turned, Tsukune-san," Inner Moka pointed out. "That is the real reason why you wear an eyepatch, isn't it?" Kaneki nodded. "He is, at most, only half ghoul. That is why I call him a half-breed."
"Oh," Tsukune said, before realizing something. "Wait—aren't ghouls not supposed to be in this Academy?! How did you get in?"
Kaneki shrugged, scratching his chin. "I was invited, so I decided to check it out." He wasn't lying, not really. He turned to Moka, and warned, "Don't call me that around others, Moka-san. I have no intentions of letting my true form become public knowledge."
"I'm aware of the negative stereotypes surrounding half-breeds, Kaneki-san," Inner Moka informed, still eyeing him suspiciously. "We may have our differences, but even I wouldn't do such a thing to you. Consider this kept secret as my debt to you repaid."
Sensing no more malice from the vampire, Kaneki allowed his kagune to dissolve and his left eye slowly returned to normal. He took out the black eyepatch he had tucked in his pocket and put it back on. Inner Moka bid the two of them good-bye before securing the Rosario. Pink replaced silver, and Akashiya Moka returned to her bubbly and emotional self.
Tsukune still remained wary of the half-ghoul, and stayed away whenever possible. Even after Kaneki went back to the dorms to change out of his dirtied uniform, the human remained uncharacteristically quiet, and Kaneki could sense how much Tsukune disliked him for doing what he did to the succubus.
He eventually confronted Tsukune about it in their dorm room, where it was impossible for the human to stay away.
"What do you hate most about me," Kaneki began quietly, "do you hate how I killed Kurumu? For hiding my true form from you? The way I killed her without listening to your pleas? Or does my very presence make you sick?"
"No," Tsukune said quietly, surprising him. "It's not any of that."
"Then what...?"
"I hate that I understand you," Tsukune admitted, looking conflicted. "After hearing what Moka said, I completely get your intentions. I hate that! Everything you did to Kurumu-san is wrong! It's supposed to be! Yet why does it seem so right?! Why did I feel so relieved when I realized Kurumu would never have the chance to hurt me again? Am I a bad person for thinking like that?!"
For once, the human left the half-ghoul stunned by something other than his idiocy. "Tsukune-kun..."
"I hate you!" he yelled. "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! I hate seeing how amazing you are, Kaneki-san! I hate knowing that you are strong! I hate feeling so weak and inferior when I stand next to you or Moka-san! I hate that despite what you've done, what you turned out to be, that you still have my admiration, Kaneki! I hate that...that I'm still happy to have you as my friend."
Kaneki didn't know what to say about that. He'd expected the human to rant about his flaws and monstrosity, but the human had taken him by surprise. He really didn't expect the Tsukune he met a week ago to have such a large change in perspective, becoming the Tsukune he was seeing now.
"So you do have a working brain in your head," Kaneki muttered. Tsukune immediately scowled before he added, "I'm relieved to hear you tell me this, Tsukune-kun."
Tsukune looked confused. "Why? I thought you were going to call me an idiot again."
"You are an idiot," the half-ghoul tacked on, "but you're an idiot that's starting to understand what this school is really like. You are not one of us, Tsukune. The rules that govern human society do not apply here, where acts of violence are punishable by law. It is kill or be killed, and only the strong can survive."
"You are not a bad person for thinking those things," Kaneki reassured him. "What you said to me is very rational-you were afraid of Kurumu, and there's nothing wrong in wanting to protect yourself. Moka-san and I know you're a good person, Tsukune-kun, but that kind of thinking will only do you harm. Don't you wish to stay alive?"
"Of course I do," Tsukune said, still troubled, "but I don't think I can ever do what you're asking of me—I won't kill people, or monsters, not when I have a choice!"
"Even if the monster will end up killing you?"
"I won't kill them," the human said stubbornly. "I'll try to defend or run away, but I won't kill them."
"Then what if the monster was about to harm Moka-san?" Kaneki said. He noticed how Tsukune stiffened, his face paler at the implication. "You're the only one that can take off her Rosario, Tsukune-kun. That also makes you partially responsible for her safety."
Which one do you want to save?
I...can't choose.
If you don't decide I'll KILL THEM BOTH!
"I won't kill them," Tsukune said again, looking down at his lap. He didn't notice the dark look that crossed Kaneki's face. "I...I'll let the other Moka-san decide what to do. She's strong." Suddenly, the half-ghoul snapped.
"I'm asking YOU what you'll do!" he yelled, startling the human out of his wits. "It's either one or the other! Everything can't always turn out the way you want it to! Moka-san's already handicapped enough by her Rosario to have to worry about you too! She doesn't have any obligation to look after you and hold your hand! Start thinking for yourself and man up!"
"You think I don't know that?!" Tsukune retorted loudly. "Do you think I like burdening you or Moka-san?! I don't! I hate having to rely on either of you just to survive! But I have no power, Kaneki-san! I'm just a human, and like you said, I'm not one of you. There's nothing I can do!"
Kaneki shook his head, his anger slowly died down. He remained still, and when he was calmer he spoke, "Tsukune-kun, being human does not make you weak. Have you heard of the CCG?"
"You mean that organization that hunts down ghouls?" he clarified. Kaneki nodded.
"I've encountered them many times," he said. "They are humans just like you, Tsukune-kun, yet they fought on par with ghouls, and we're definitely not weak by monster standards. What they lacked in power, they made up for in resourcefulness and intellect. With enough training, you can be just like one of them."
Tsukune was contemplative, but his eyes lit up at the possible potential. "Should you be telling me that, Kaneki-san? I don't think a ghoul like you should be persuading me to join your enemy."
"It's an analogy," Kaneki said. "I'd eat you first before you sign up." He didn't mean it of course, since the half-ghoul would never eat humans, but Tsukune didn't know that, and gulped. "You hate being weak? Then change! Only the strong get to decide who lives and dies. Learn how to defend yourself. Be inconspicuous, and avoid danger when you can. Obtain as many resources you can get your hands on, and use them."
Kaneki walked over to his desk, and grabbed one of the monster encyclopedias and dropped it on Tsukune's bed. Tsukune looked at the offered book questionably. "Read through this, Tsukune-kun. I know it's a lot, and you have other homework to do..."
"I get it," Tsukune said quietly, taking the offered book and opening it to the first page. "You want me to know what I'm up against, and help me better defend myself with that knowledge." Kaneki didn't say anything, and when Tsukune looked up at him at last, it was filled with gratitude. "Thank you for helping me, Kaneki-san."
"As long as you know," he murmured. You might have a chance to keep your life intact.
Tsukune was lucky that the Chairman cared enough about his subject to hire the half-ghoul to look after him. If only Kaneki had someone to beat in the things he knew now, things would have turned out very differently.
By the time the half-ghoul was about to shut the lights, Tsukune was still reading through the encyclopedia he offered, and his light remained on even as Kaneki drifted into sleep.
Tomorrow's the weekend, he thought. It's about time I pay that bastard another visit.
-o-
*By this time, I believe Kaneki has greater control over his kakugan (red eye) than he did in the past. That is why he is able to tell when his eye is turned or not without checking.
A/N: As you can probably tell from this chapter, Tsukune will not be the same character as he is in the canon. Since this story is leaning towards seinen, the Tsukune in this story will act more realistically in terms of how he deals with the situation. With Kaneki's influence, he will become less like the stereotypical harem protagonist, but I'll try to maintain some of his defining traits.
Please leave your thoughts, opinions, and predictions in your review please! Thanks for reading!