Kuki Urie did not sign up for this– even more so he wasn't really expected this.
The author belonged in a fucking nuthouse– she was beyond crazy and he was left to deal with her.
He wondered how the new (and unimproved) Haise Sasaki handled her. It seemed as though they had been talking for a while.
Were they friends? Had he just run into her by chance? Was that the person he opted to spend his time with (instead of his "children")?
Urie had woken up that morning recalling that cruel statement Investigator Sasaki made.
"All the detriment in this world stems from a lack of individual ability. Shirazu's life wasn't mine to defend in this battle. If you want to curse something, curse your own weakness."
Those words stung, more than Urie would ever admit.
Was he right?
Was he the reason why Shirazu's dead and gone?
Urie got out of bed, brushed his teeth, and changed into his usual attire. It was early, so no one else was up. Besides, Yonebayashi had stayed up late last night playing those ridiculous games. He'd noticed that she was almost... less interested in them. After Shirazu. She seemed to work harder, be more invested in her career as an investigator.
He briskly exited the building.
It was chilly outside, an autumn morning.
The walk from the Chateau and the main building of the CCG wasn't a long one, but the cold air made it considerably uncomfortable.
Urie popped on his headphones, canceling out those intrusive thoughts with loud music. Maybe the music could inspire him; he hadn't been able to paint anything decent since the extermination. Not that something like that really mattered at the moment.
When Urie caught sight of his destination a few minutes later, he pulled his headphones out.
Even then he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings. Just walking, walking, walking.
Until he bumped into a lady who was far too eccentric.
And then behind her was Investigator Sasaki.
That fucking piece of shit. (I hate you).
Sasaki had left, leaving him with the woman. She was chattering nonstop, so Urie held his hand up. "If you'll excuse me, I have to go to work (leave me alone)." He stepped to the side and walked to the entrance of the building that Sasaki had entered moments before.
She pouted. "Ya know, Haise won't take me to work with him. And anyway, he's too far too sad and depressed to entertain me…" she said, feigning disappointment.
He figured what she had said was an attempt to get his attention, and much to his dismay, it worked (she was deceitfully crafty woman…) Urie stopped in his tracks, glancing back.
"You said Investigator Sasaki is.. Sad?"
She nodded. "Though I suppose to you he just seems empty. Cold. Cruel." she softly smiled, looking away to something in the sky.
"Don't get me wrong, he's certainly different from the man you may have known, but, I think he's also hurt. I doubt you are aware of who Haise Sasaki truly is. Therefore you have no way of even grazing the simplest level of understanding when it comes to him. I guess, seeing as I should keep things vague, I can tell you this much: Haise Sasaki "woke up". From the sweetest of dreams. A dream you were apart of."
Urie found himself listening intently to the author. What she was saying… it made sense; but at the same time, it didn't.
This woman though, Sen Takatsuki, knew far too much. That, at least, was clear.
Urie's voice hardened. "Who are you?"
She laughed. "I'm the author, silly! We talked about this!" Sen waved her hand in the air nonchalantly.
Urie, however, was persistent. "How, why, do you know so much? (seriously… who the fuck are you?)"
She shrugged, irritating Urie. He was getting nowhere.
He was tempted to take her in for questioning, but it's not as if she was a ghoul or a ghoul conspirator. He didn't really have the authority to.
But Haise Sasaki was an anomaly. He was a half-ghoul, working for the CCG. For someone, other than the high-up authority, to know a considerable amount of information about him was... concerning.
She wasn't even affiliated with the CCG or anything it did. So how?
Urie turned away from her with a sigh. "Come with me… for a tour, if you will (an interrogation)."
I'm doing this because I can learn something about him from her.
Saiko and Mutsuki. They're taking it hard. Sasaki leaving.
Especially after...
Shirazu.
That idiot.
That fucking self-sacrificial idiot.
Shirazu's body was lost. When they mourned him, the very next day, his tombstone was empty.
The sounds of Yonebayashi despairing sobs filled the silence. Mutsuki said nothing but bent and placed flowers down. Investigator Akira comforted them, as best she could. Urie himself stood a little ways off, looking at the gravestone.
Cemeteries smelled of fresh death, that's for sure.
Shirazu was gone.
Sasaki left soon after, too (Mutsuki and Yonebayashi still held out hope that he would return... but something told Urie that Haise Sasaki was gone for good).
It hadn't been much longer than a week ago.
Their (not including himself, of course) family had been broken apart.
Urie would never lose anyone again. He'd make sure of that.
He would protect Yonebayashi, Mutsuki, and all of the rest.
He was now captain of the Quinx squad. With this position, he'd be damn sure everyone stayed alive next time.
Urie quickly grabbed a stack of papers from the receptionist's desk, left, and returned to the Chateau. All with Sen Takatsuki trailing behind him, humming a tune to a song he was sure didn't exist.
"Ooohh. What's this lovely place?" she asked, taking in the interior. It looked lived in, homely. She caught sight of a young, green-haired boy sitting on a sofa. He was reading a book.
Urie responded. "This is the Chateau. The Quinx squad base of operation."
"He means it's our house." interjected a softer, confused voice. It was the boy on the couch. He closed his book and introduced himself. "I'm Mutsuki… who are you?"
Sen waved, a big grin on her face. "Nice to meet you, Mutsuki. I'm–
"This is Sen Takatsuki. She's an author." Urie finished. He walked over to the kitchen island and placed the papers down on the white surface. "Why don't you take a seat… Ms. Takatsuki?" he motioned to a living room chair adjacent to the sofa Mutsuki sat on.
She obliged, making herself comfortable. '"You know, I don't really like formalities. Sen is just fine~ "
The Author is an invasive girl.
Hey guys. Thanks for the reviews and likes and stuff... I just wanted to say sorry for the wait for chapters, I've been kinda busy...
Also sorry for the slow-pacing. I just wanted to take the idea of a "first day" to set up the story... next chapter the first arc actually begins. So, once that arc begins, things will be more fun, I swear I have it alll planned out :)
Side note: The formatting is a bit wonky, it almost changes every chapter (sorry about that if you've noticed)... After this introduction day one is over, I might decide to place all these chapters into one chapter and call it the prologue... just because I want to start making longer chapters and such.
