Stories of the Darkness

If there was something that was to be told,

It would be...

Among all the prey gathered up in this forsaken place, there was one who would never back down despite being human. She was not only strong physically and practically fought back any time she could, her words were sharp and stabbed at pride of several ghouls who lacked the education to retort. It earned her several wounds, but still she never stopped. And at night, she would make her way to look at the night sky no matter the punishment the next day, watching it hopefully, praying. Her beautiful skin was torn and her face was scratched. Despite that, her eyes had a fire that would never disappear.

Tatsuge loved to watch her during his free time. The human that he brought here achieved her goal unknowingly- to entertain him. Luckily for the man, the higher-ups had no interest in her. Rather, her behaviour was shunned and a certain fiery teenager hated her to no end. Tonight, too, he'd find himself eyeing her as she stealthily climbed through the vents. This time, she was headed to the rooftop; beating her previous records of reaching the windows on the higher floors. Call him a stalker or what- he'd just want to watch her do her thing.

With her clothes torn and dirty, she looked like a war prisoner-in a way she was one. As the wind hit her face, she couldn't help but to smile. The night sky always made her feel free and light. But it was a bitter-sweet thing. Her time at the shrine and the CCG could never compare to anything. She couldn't bring herself to die. Her duty had not been fulfilled.

"Oh, this is where you went to, Luna-san?"

With a horrified face, she whipped her head around to find Tatsuge smiling at her in most smug manner. The cause of her misery. Luna could only cringe, ready to fight back as he approached her slowly.

"...What?" She stepped back a little as he sat on the ground beside her.

"Hmm? Are you going to sit down or would you rather be eaten?"

Sceptically, she sat down beside him. The last time she'd actually spoke to him was the night she broke a few bones with the force of his kagune.

"I'm not going to be your plaything." She spat spitefully. "I hate you for keeping me here."

"Don't you hate ghouls in general, Miss CCG shrine maiden?" Tatsuge joked. "Unless you have some other reason to kill us?"

"You could say something like that." Tatsuge raised a brow at her comment. "I thought climbing up the ranks of being a researcher, I could learn the reason why ghouls are that way. But I became a weapon manufacturer instead."

"...you're not lying, are you." An unexpectedly bitter voice escaped from his lips. Slowly, he brought his hands over her neck.

"Tatsuge-san, you really hate humans don't you."

His naturally red eyes widened, before smiling again.

"I don't regret keeping you here."

There were loud noises being made in the very same room again. Ayato was still pondering over his encounter with his sister. Her attitude, so different from before. Why did she want peace? Wishing for something that would never come true...just like Arata. It pissed him off to no end.

"Fuck this shit!"

"What shit?"

The last person he'd ever want to see arrived at the room giggled as she made her way towards him. She had something unexpected on her today- her beautiful sword that had a menacing shine to it. Ayato knew who that sword was- no, who that sword is. Basically, he'd rather be careful around the girl right now.

"You know it, bitch. Don't come annoying me with questions you the answer to."

"You mean the fact you've been hiding the truth of your purpose in Aogiri? I know that, sure I do. That's why I don't need to ask, right?"

"What do you know?!" He snapped at her insensitive remark, Miharu smiling in amusement.

"Your sister, who wants to live her own life...giving up yours for hers. How devoted!"

"...you don't know anything." His voice rumbled. His eyes slowly turned red, body trembling. "You don't know anything."

At that moment, the door creaked open, familiar light footsteps and humming getting closer. The two halted their actions and faced the bandaged girl- no other named as Eto.

"Nico told me both of you were getting frustrated, so we figured you guys would fight each other again~"

"Her, frustrated? Sounds like bullshit."

"Well." Miharu swiped a snack out of her pocket. Not a pocky this time. A small chunk of meat was there- tender and savoury. Ayato eyed it as she drew her sword. "You caught me. Cocoa, eat."

In a short moment, her sword transformed into something like a snake, swallowing the chunk whole before going back into its sheath. Eto giggled as she saw how quick it went back.

"Miha, you ought to go check out the humans now, okay? And also..."

Eto stopped her from leaving for a short moment.

"Don't forget that you're a ghoul now."

Miharu closed her eyes, clearly impressed about the girl's perceptive skills. She gave the room one last glance; Ayato cringing at the words that the one-eyed ghoul was telling him. Indeed, they were similar.

The old man stood there frowning. He was rather perplexed by a ghoul's way of thinking- some of them were simply closed-minded and some were a bit to curious for their own good. But he knew there were more ghouls that were open to experience and knowledge than humans- in which had a one-sided view about ghouls.

It was pathetic, he thought. A priest such as him, although devoted to a god, still believes that ghouls have their own minds and hearts. Why ostracise them? Humans kill animals, several of them to survive. It is by right the ghouls have the right to live as well. Or rather, shouldn't humans be helping ghouls by finding out why they can only digest human meat? Everyone would be fighting like idiots if no one stops to think about this.

At the cost of one disciple. No, she is strong. It may even be considered an infiltration of the building and finding out what was inside. Perhaps, she might even change someone's heart. A strong, righteous woman. No one was better fit for the job. He was waiting for this opportunity, the opportunity to come to a compromise with a ghoul. There she was, a purple-haired ghoul in a blindfold, reaching out her hand to him.

"I have an offer to give you."

Taking her hand may lead to several consequences. But, he didn't mind. Being an old man meant your life is short already- it'll best to see the results.

"...State your offer."

"Well." She coughed, before putting up a smile again.

"It's simple. Just be a neutral observer. State whatever action you know the humans are taking, or plans they have up their sleeve. It's obvious what your objective is- I like it. So, are you willing to accept?"

"Very interesting. I shall accept."

"Great!" She swung back to her team-mates, a blue-haired one cringing with contempt. "I look forward to your co-operation."

Orion was sitting about, alone at his desk. Tatsuge had went off to flirt with Luna again. Well, he saw that coming anyway. But it was rather irritating that he'd been left to the paperwork. Miharu was on patrol, so she couldn't help him anyway. Their leader, despite her playful behaviour, actually did her job- quickly, even. Yano was out for drinks, much to Orion's upset, being a health junkie and all. Kokonoe... wait. Where was he? And again, the 16 year-old grumbled and cursed under his breathe.

"Damn you all, running away from all the paperwork... Kokonoe, where the fuck are you at?"

As if a miracle, the door was barged open. A giddy figure with purple hair was carrying two bottles of alcoholic blood in her right hand and a knocked out brown-haired boy in her left arm. Behind was a slightly drunk Yano, whose face was now uncovered by the gas mask and a whining Tatsuge.

"Aww Orion, being a grump again. Poor Kokonoe got put off real quick, y'know?" Tatsuge laughed loudly, much to the other's annoyance.

"Shut up Turd-head. This is your stack."

"...CCG is back on their feet and heading to Anteiku." Tatsuge read from the papers. "Hey, that's where the peace-lovin' ghouls are at right? Did they do something or what?"

"Ohhhhh. Very interesting." Yano's blue eyes perked up as he heard Tatsuge read the rest of the news. "This is from the priest? Useful."

"This is going to be a war~ A massive one~" Miharu sung. "Yoshimura, Touka, Eyepatch... all in one? I'm excited!"

Turmoil and conflicting rules, emotions and morals are interesting. Its the awesome chaos that's there, much more fun and exciting than anything else. Miharu knew all their back stories and their motives.

It just made things better for her.

Authors Notes: Sorry for the late update! My computer crashed on me several time while I was writing- and ended up losing my original file eventually. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

R&R greatly appreciated!