CHAPTER 4: Rabbit's fist
With a yelp, Kaneki opened his eyes. Just a few minutes ago, he was rudely awakened by Shio. The boy jumped at him and Kaneki yelped in pain. He eyed the boy for a second and he reach out to pat his head. From now on, this kid along with the other zero squad will be under his care.
"Good Morning Kaneki!" Shio cheered happily. Every day since the day they escaped CCG, the boy will always wake the king.
"I told you don't shout too loud Shio" Rikai scolded the younger hybrid.
"Hey Kaneki are you awake? The coffee manager is waiting" Hairu yawned, she is still wearing her 0 squad uniform
"Touka?" Oh right, he went downstairs with them. A familiar aroma hit his sense of smell. Ah how he missed this kind of atmosphere.
Kaneki along with the zero squad went down to greet Touka and to have their breakfast together. Till now he cannot believe that he defeated the CCG's death God and what makes more it unbelievable is the amount of secrets that his mentor had spilled. The zero squad from the garden and all the investigators who were raised in the Sunlit garden are natural born half ghoul and half human hybrid, it is just that their human side had prevail over their ghoul genes. He observed the children from the garden quietly; all of them are looking around as if this is the first time they ever went outside. He is curious on what kind of atmosphere did they grew up with. Whatever is it, it might not be as good as what everyone expects it to be. Someday I will show you how beautiful the outside world is. Kaneki promised.
"Kaneki? Hey! Are you listening?" Touka waved her hands in front of his face "You are daydreaming in the middle of the day"
"Ah Touka. I—" He felt a strong hand at the back of his head and before he can move, his head hit the table and the next thing he knows is that he heard a sickening crack that comes from his skull.
"I feel much better now" Touka smiled, she smiled softly as if she did not just smashed the one-eyed king's head into the coffee counter of her shop.
"…" The zero squad along with Yomo Renji paled upon witnessing the brute force that the beautiful coffee manager showed off.
"Hey, Ken" Touka called out his name "Welcome home"
"I am home" The new one-eyed king smiled back. A huge part of him is rather worried that CCG might come after them and Touka along with the others might end up dead because of him but a small part of him had promised himself that he will protect everyone that is dear to him.
"Those kids"
"Is there something wrong? If you are uncomfortable about their presence I will find a place for us to use"
"No… No… I was just thinking they lost someone important to them too right?"
"Ah and I want to protect them too"
"You must introduce them to us later okay?"
"I will"
"By the way Tsukiyama phoned us awhile ago, he said to meet him in a certain place; he wants to talk to us"
"Hmmm" Kaneki's attention darted into his hot coffee. Tsukiyama Shuu, the ghoul whose family was exterminated because of him. He must apologize to him later.
Kaneki went out of the shop to help Touka until he saw the two familiar faces he knows too well. He looked at them for a minute. He was later on greeted by the female ghoul and then was followed by the male ghoul.
"Koma-san… Irimi-san"
"What's up with that bland greeting?"
"As if you have seen a gho—" Koma bit his tongue accidentally thanks to the sudden impact that came from Irimi's smack.
"It is just like Anteiku"
"This four-eye is also included?" Nishiki barged, he stood behind Touka.
"Nishiki-senpai"
"Geez Kaneki"
"Shittyama is calling for us. Bring your new friends too"
"Who is Shittyama?" Shio asked curiously, he along with the rest of the zero squad appeared behind the Anteiku crew.
"You'll never like him. He talks a lot" Nishiki answered.
"Oh cool. I like talking too" Shio smiled politely.
"Kaneki, are you planning to build an orphanage?"
Once they entered the small studio-like place that belongs to the Tsukiyama family, they were immediately greeted by the sight of the remnants of the Aogiri Executives and members that were gathered here by Tsukiyama Shuu after they help their escape from CCG's raid in Rue Island.
"Tatara"
"King" The taller ghoul lowered himself upon Kaneki mentioning his name.
"You know—?" He beckons for the older ghoul to stand which he gladly did
"Yes. The former king and Eto has been planning for your ascension a long time ago"
"Speaking of Eto, She is still unconscious but her wounds were all healed which is good. I asked Banjo to take good care of her and another friend of mine so you do not have to worry. We still don't know what happened to Eto but the last time we talked she said a faint smiling CLOWN outdone her"
"You have my thanks. I see. It must be Kanou's clown"
"Kanou's clown?"
"…" Tatara shut his mouth as if unwilling to impart details about it out loud. At least not yet.
"You may visit her later"
"I will."
"Tsukiyama" Kaneki turned his attention to the multilingual ghoul "I—"
"I glad to see you again, Kaneki-kun"
"I—"
"What has transpired in the past be water under the bridge" The man stretched out his hand to the younger ghoul.
"Ah" Awkwardly, Kaneki shook it till Naki suddenly attacked Kaneki. Tatara quickly stopped the man from rampaging. Somehow, Kaneki was grateful about it
"Naki" Tatara coldly stared at the petulant child.
"…" Naki hissed but never tried to do anything reckless especially not when Tatara looked like as if he will shred him into tiny pieces.
"So what is the point of this gathering?" Kurona, an artificial ghoul that was made from Rize's Kakhou inquired. "The Aogiri stragglers and the café workers are here to have a cup of coffee or sort of like that? All I care about is if we are going to kill Kanou or not. I will lend you a hand if you want him dead"
"Ken Kaneki" A small female called out. She does not look familiar to Kaneki though but by the looks of it, she is also a remnant of Aogiri.
"Oi grandma" Naki hissed.
"I am Miza, The leader of the three blades and a former executive of Aogiri tree. One of your friends saved me and my friends from the Rue Island raid that is why I am curious about your agenda and what you are trying to seek. I want to hear your thoughts before I make my decision."
"I will carry on the wish of my predecessor. I will create a world where humans and ghouls can understand each other. The reason why the dispute between humans and ghouls was never settled is because none have even bothered to lend their ear. That is why I will carry out the will of the former king, Kishou Arima. I will create a place where ghouls and humans can live together without fearing for extinction but first we need to speak to those who are sitting on top of CCG, The Washuu family." Kaneki eyed each one of them "We will name our organization GOAT"