The auction is actually a really suitable place for her. The idea itself doesn't appeal to her, but in a different circumstance she herself would probably raise havoc. If it entertains her, she doesn't consider it a waste of energy. I've been writing some of the chapters farther down, and I've got to say my heart goes out to Hanako. It's amazing to watch characters develop as you write them. I started off with the simple idea that it'd be fun to write about a ghoul that's lost her mind, but now she's transformed into something so much more. I really am impatient to reveal her past. But I keep scolding myself. Good things come with time, right? It's not good to rush.
I do not own Tokyo Ghoul or the characters from it. And now, on with the show.
There's no need to find out whether or not the doves will be here. There's no way they'd miss it. A human auction that some unknown hinted them to is something they could never refuse. I might as well have dangled a chunk of bloody meat in front of a savage wolf's muzzle.
From what I've gathered, not only is their target the Big Madame here, but also a ghoul they've nicknamed the Nutcracker. I won't go into the reasons. Violence may not be anything to me, but I prefer to stay away from disturbing sexual...things. Honestly, it's all so gross.
I hope I run into Uta tonight. His scent was hanging around earlier, so I'm sure he's here. I didn't peg him for someone to watch a performance like this, but to each his own. I've yet to express my gratitude for the mask on my face.
The bids aren't really my thing. I usually avoid events like this, and even now I'm only here for the result of this gathering. This auction is bound to be more entertaining than those preluding it. I would be lying, however, if I said that was the only thing I came for. If the doves are coming, so might Kaneki.
I chuckle to myself, the sound drowned out by the rest of the audience. How ironic. He becomes a dove, a bird known for its pure white coloration, once his lovely white hair has been tainted with black. How strange, that his hair changed like that. When he was at first in a state that most consider to be innocent, his hair was black, the color of shadows and evil. And when he became what most consider dirtied, defective, his hair turned into the cleanest and clearest color there is. Oh, he is absolutely perfect in every way, isn't he?
The show begins and the clowns appear on stage. My mouth drops, before I close it and giggle uncontrollably. Uta's a clown! Now that does fit him. If the show itself isn't interesting, he sure as hell is. I think I like Uta. He's such a funny ghoul, and he also has connections to my Kaneki. Apparently, he made that half ghoul's mask. When I pressed him to tell me what it looks like, he told me I'd have to wait and see. That's perfectly fine. I'll see it eventually, one way or another.
They bring humans out one by one, none of them very attractive. Uta announces their different sellings points, such as tenderness or age, before giving a starting price to bid on. All of them smell the same. I yawn, lowering my head and beginning to nod off when a newly familiar smell hits my nose.
"This one smells unique," Uta comments. Sitting on the floor frozen beside him is the female quinx. In my surveillance, I've discovered her to be timid and indecisive. This was the last thing I was expecting. Even if they were going to inject an inspector into the merchandise, she would've been my last guess as to who they'd use. I wonder why they chose her.
Her eyepatch is ripped off to reveal a ghoul eye, earning a collective gasp from the crowd. "A half ghoul," he muses onstage. "Please understand, this will raise her price quite a bit. Let's begin." He has a sharp nose, but not nearly as good as mine. I wouldn't call her a half ghoul, because she's not. She leans more to being human, unlike a real half blood. Still, that eye of hers is nostalgic.
I raise my hand and place the first bid. We'll see just how far this goes. For her, I'll offer money, but I won't pay it. I can't afford anything so expensive. Money might not be a problem for me, but I'm not made of it. I'm only pushing her value up because such a rarity is worth it. Plus, it's laughable to watch rich ghouls waste so much money.
I drop out when it rises above 1.5 million, leaving the big Madame and another to wage war for the prize. Both are persistent, but I believe the big Madame wins. Not that that's a surprise. I can't fathom how much cash that walking fat has stashed away for buying people.
Once that's settled, she's taken from the stage. What are they planning? What can such a unstable inspector do? When the next person is brought out, I understand. They wouldn't send her alone.
This new girl is beautiful, entirely human, but she is a he. He's disguised. The hair is fake, but his eyes and skin is truly lovely. Of course, Uta points out all three of these aspects as pricey factors, but he's interrupted by the 'girl'.
"There's no need to bid," he says, sliding up the skirt of his dress. In a flash he's taken out knives and thrown a number of them into Uta's mask. The mask maker falls back as if dead, but I feel that he's still alive. He's just playing it safe so he can get away later. What else is a clown better for than acting, than putting on a show?
And the chaos begins. I stand, slower than those around me, and adjust my mask to be sure it'll stay on while I'm running. I calmly weave my way to the edge, every now and again whacking others out of my way with my tail. Others release their full kagunes and don't retract them in desperation, which I scoff at. That'll only add to their size and make it harder for them to move about, lessening their chances to escape before the doves swoop in.
Unlike the rest, I don't stampede to the exit doors. No doubt there are doves lying in wait at both the front and back exits. There are smaller, less known ways around this building. Apparently I was the only one clever enough to come and scope out the building beforehand. People are such idiots, whether ghoul or human. I slip deeper into the building for easy access to the side doors, as well as a quieter atmosphere. I breathe in deeply through my nose. Here, there aren't so many things to distract my nose, and it's so much easier to discern scents. It definitely makes me feel more at ease.
In the background, the muffled sounds of screaming can be heard. Most of the human merchandise has probably been evacuated, which is a bit opposite of what it should be. Considering this operation in run by ghouls and for ghouls, I think it would make more sense to get that species to safety first. But no, money is power to all of us, and power comes first in every situation.
Now, where do I find Kaneki? I lift my head, thankful my mask does nothing to hamper my precious sense of smell. Faintly, very faintly, I can identify the presence of multiple ghoulified humans and a single half ghoul. One in particular is separate from the others by a margin, so I assume that is the girl. What was her name again? I'm pretty sure there's another girl on their team whom I've yet to see, but I always get their names mixed up. Was this one Saiko, or Tooru? I think it's Tooru, but I'll have to check again later. I might be wrong.
Perhaps I should pay her a visit. She's all alone, except for a ghoul guard to make sure she doesn't escape. She's a treasure, after all, worth 2 million. I could finish what I started, rip open the wound I gave her a while back and dig into it with my hand and listen to her screeching. I could get rid of her for good, and pick off the others so no one stands in my way of Kaneki. Although, I would still have to deal with Arima and Akira.
At the thought of Arima, my nails draw beads of blood from my palms. Why does he have to be so involved with Kankei? I should have searched for his files while I had the chance. Strolling into that building was a one time thing. I'd have to be an idiot to do it again. Why can't Arima just leave me alone? Why do I keep running into him like this? I swear...I swear when I'm strong enough, I'll rip his heart from his chest while he's still alive and make him watch as I eat it. And then I'll string his veins across his body like christmas lights and cut off his tongue so he chokes on it, and leave him like that for his comrades to find.
Later, I chide myself. I will do all of that later, when I can defeat him. For now, focus on finding the halfling. I let my nose guide me. It seems...His scent is outside the building. First things first, I have to get outside.
I run through a map of the place in my mind, searching through it to find the nearest exit. There should be one in another two left turns, if my memory serves me right.
But then my feet come to a stop, my grin growing on my face. Blood, I smell blood. It isn't just any blood, either. No, there's plenty of that irony smell drifting throughout this building. This is the fragrance of a half ghoul's fresh blood. I break into a run, and when I get to the door, I don't bother to open. I barrel through it, breaking it off of its hinges and sending it flying. Right, Kaneki is to the right.
As I'm running, a group of familiar faces passes me at a distance going in the other direction. I skid, comprehending where I know them. Some of them are from Kaneki's squad, the quinx group. Kaneki isn't with them, so I pick up the pace again. Does that mean he's alone right now? Do I get him all to myself? Oh, this is a wonderful night!
What I see when I arrive is the last thing I wanted to see. There's another half ghoul in a cloak, strangling Kaneki. I start to move forward to attack, but Kaneki twists and escapes from the halfling's grasp. He lands and pauses to catch his breath, which the other allows as he rambles on about being second. I almost laugh and give away my presence. Is he really taking the time to talk about his feelings? His insecurities? But that is soon replaced with the half ghoul's kagune piercing Kaneki. Now this, this is what I came to see. Strangulation would just kill him, but if Kaneki is driven far enough into a corner, he'll be forced to use his full strength to survive. Let me see it, Haise Sasaki, the monster that you truly are! Show me the power you as Kaneki Ken possess!
He's grabbed by his assailant and dragged as the partial ghoul dashes with enough speed to scale the building. Taking action myself, I follow. Instead of taking the risk of running vertically, though, I choose to climb a nearby tree and jump onto the roof. They've broken through it, and both have gone through the gaping hole and are on the stage. Everyone has of course cleared out. Who would be there, after all? The ghouls were scared away by the arrival of the doves, and the doves follow after the ghouls like a bird hunting a moth.
Kaneki is tossed about like a ragdoll as the half ghoul mocks him, repeating the word 'weak' over and over. He's laughing at his weakness, but I don't. Kaneki isn't weak. I had thought the same at first, and found out just how terribly wrong I was when he took out Yakumo. Yes, he was pathetic when we met, but no more. His potential is lying in wait. He's just waiting to be released from the prison called Haise. And I eagerly await his freedom.
"Why are you holding back Sasaki?" the halfling inquires hysterically. "No, Kaneki Ken?"
At the sound of his name, Kaneki tenses. He recognizes it, I know he does. Tasting blood in my mouth, I discover I've bitten my lip from excitement. Will today be the day his cell is unlocked?
Then the screaming begins and I flinch. I can't tell if it's the result of Kaneki resisting his return to reality, or if it's of the pain being inflicted upon him, but it strikes a chord within me with agonizing accuracy.
Kiyoko
Panic rising in me, I prepare to step in when Kaneki is wrenched away from the half ghoul by a full blooded ghoul.
"Why are you interfering, Hina?" the half blood growls. She converses with him, reasoning with the unreasonable halfling. Of course, such a lost soul doesn't listen. He only gets angry. I giggle a little, despite the terror inside that hasn't quite died down yet. Many people have called me insane, but this partial ghoul is the true epitome of insanity. At least I still retain my ability to think logically.
It doesn't take long for this Hina ghoul to throw the half ghoul to the floor, but he regenerates. To my delight, once he's healed, the mask of a kakuja appears on his face. Another kakuja! I must be the luckiest ghoul alive! Such a privilege it is to meet so many insatiable ghouls hungering for that which is most prevalent in this world.
The tables are turned as soon as this fact is exposed, and Hina is soon panting on the ground in shambles. Her face is so dejected I can't help but chuckle. She might be strong, but she doesn't eat her own kind. She lacks the drive to go as far as to cannibalize for power, which is too bad. It's not like she can progress much farther without doing that.
And then, Kaneki stands before her, between her and the kakuja.
"I'm not the person you knew before," he tells her. "I'm Haise Sasaki. I'm sure Kaneki was a wonderful person to be remembered this way. So, it's okay if I disappear." What he says next is more to himself, and leaves my practically jumping up and down with glee. "So please, give me the power to protect."
Kiyoko. There's an interesting topic I'm not going into right now. You'll figure it out later. Here's a question I'm curious about. Does anyone watch Scorpion? It's a TV show about a group of geniuses. I don't think it gets nearly enough recognition. If it interests you, I highly recommend you check it out. I'm actually watching it right now. It makes it hard to type this, so I'm gonna stop. I'll update again in a few days.
Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!