Disclaimer: I don't own Toukyou Kushu/Tokyo Ghoul

A/N: A Jester's Past Arc takes place after the prologue. This will last for five to ten chapters.

Sumi opened her eyes to her bleary surroundings. The first thing she saw was an unfamiliar ceiling and as she allowed her eyes to adjust more she found herself on a large sofa. There were no lights on, she realized as she looked around without getting up. There was a table before her with an empty mug of coffee, a television in the corner, and a small kitchen, if there was anything else, she didn't know; she couldn't see. Was this some kind of lounge? She looked above her again, but this time as she stared at the ceiling trying to recall what had happened, the lights flickered on. Their bright glare attempting to blind her.

Her hand immediately shot out to cover her eyes as she groaned.

"…You're awake," she heard an unfamiliar voice and Sumi's immediate reaction was to get up. Unsure if the distinctly male voice was a threat or not. A moment later, she got the answer to that question as he tried to help her lie back down when her side all too suddenly erupted in pain. "…You're hungry, right? Your wounds haven't completely healed, how long has it been since you had a proper meal?"

Sumi looked at the man trying to get her to lie back down. Silver hair, dark eyes and plain clothes. What surprised her though were the human eyes that stared back at her. He was definitely a ghoul, she could smell it on him. So, why was he donning those fake eyes? He was glaring at her and looked as if he would sock her in the stomach and then eat her if she had the bright idea of retaliating.

"A few weeks," she finally answered. If he meant proper as in human then that was another story.

She didn't bother asking where she was or what she was doing here and he didn't tell her anything. He stayed quiet as he sat on the couch across from where she lay. His eyes starting at her form, but they weren't really seeing her. It was as if they were looking at some spot well past her. Instead of filling the air with useless prattle, Sumi tried to recall what had happened. She remembered meeting the mediator of the fourth ward. An aloof blond with swept back hair. Where was he? She was surprised that he hadn't killed her. He was powerful, that much she could easily admit. Sumi recalled talking with him, fighting him and then…

Sumi looked down at her chest where the strong leader had dug a hole right through her flesh with his bare hands, not deeming her worthy enough to show off his Kagune. There was no hole, in fact, her regeneration had healed it quite nicely. But since she had gone so long without a proper meal, the lack of sustenance was starting to take its toll on her abilities. She needed to eat. Preferably sooner rather than later. Sumi recalled how she had smashed Uta's face with her Kagune face multiple times. His blood gushing out of him and painting the floor a terrible crimson. His face was a bloody mess, the holes she had torn through his skin looked like the kinds of things adults would hurl at and a place maggots would love to crawl their way into as they made their way toward his insides. Her happiness at landing a hit lasted only a second because a moment later he instantly healed as if she hadn't just inflicted a fatal wound, before he tore her arm clean off her shoulder.

She had passed out right after.

Sumi had to wonder just how well he was fed and what kind of Kagune he had for him to have such impressive healing abilities. She looked at the silver haired man who was still observing her with a disinterested gaze. Sumi mentally debated asking him a few questions or keeping the silence between them. It wasn't an uncomfortable one, but she needed answers.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to speak, the door opened and in strolled in the very man she had been wondering about. Hair slicked back, kakugan out for the world to see and his clothes fashionable. He looked industrial. So very different from the stoic man seated across from her. The ward's leader spared the silver haired man a glance, acknowledging his presence. He had on an aloof look as he gnawed on a finger, before eating the thing in one go. In his other hand, he held a familiar arm and Sumi's eyes narrowed when she realized that it used to be hers. The man had torn it right off and now he was eating it?

That was beyond disturbing.

"Did Raven-kun speak to you?" He asked. "He's a quiet one, so don't be bothered if he didn't," she didn't bother responding. But, he continued because unlike his supposedly quiet friend, it seemed that he had no problem with speaking. "I'm Uta," he introduced, politely. He was staring at her with eyes she was much more comfortable with. The same eyes as her. Kakugan were so much more beautiful. "You are?"

"Sumi," she said, after a moment. Eyes watching him as he fiddled with the remains of her arm. The thing bleeding all over the pristine floor. Her fingers twitched in anxiety, but she willed her body to keep still. Fighting him wasn't a good idea. "You eating me is not a sight I can get used to."

He gave her a grin that had the corners of his mouth tilting upward. It made him look somewhat… cute. It was an innocent grin. Something she didn't expect to come from him. But, cute or not, it didn't change the fact that he was eating her –or what used to be- arm.

"Do you want it back?" He asked.

Sumi shot him a glare that would have had lesser men trembling. But Uta just stared at her impassively, so with a reluctant shrug she moved onto more important matters. That arm of hers was useless now and it's not like she needed it. Besides, he didn't look like he was going to give it back any time soon.

"Did someone interfere?" She asked, pointing at her chest that should have had a gaping hole. The attack that had made her pass out. She was so sure that she died, perhaps that would have been better than living a life in such a derelict ward. "Or did you let me live?"

"That was me," he said, breaking off another one of her used to be fingers with a sickening crunch. Despite his actions and overall appearance, he spoke politely and formally. His expression already back to neutral. "Why? Did you want me to kill you and gobble you up? Oh... But I'm doing that now, aren't I?"

Was he… teasing her?

Sumi couldn't quite tell and he must've sensed her confusion when she didn't answer because he continued, moving onto more important matters. "You had a subordinate with you," he said, matter of factly. "Are there more?"

She looked at him carefully, before answering. Contemplating if she should lie or not. If she lied maybe he'd let her out of this place and force her to show them where they were, then she could make a run for it. Or maybe he'd just lock her up here, there was also the chance he'd use her as a hostage. Sumi fought the sigh that threatened to leave her parted lips. Even if she did lie and tell him there were more, he was strong. Stronger than most – than many she'd ever met. He'd probably get rid of them in a heartbeat. What a… troublesome man fate decided to throw her way.

"No," she said, finally.

He tilted his head at her. "Why was he following you?"

"I once shared feeding grounds with him and about half a dozen others back in Ward three," Sumi answered, truthfully. Lying to him would get her nowhere. Besides, he looked like the type that could tell if she were telling the truth or not and Sumi sure as hell didn't like the way the silver haired man glared at her with suspicious eyes every time she opened her mouth. She'd rather not give him a reason to doubt her. Getting on the bad side of two powerful looking ghouls wasn't something she wanted to do.

"Where are the others then?" The silver haired ghoul asked.

"Dead probably," she muttered. "Does it matter? They aren't here."

Uta bent, so that he could look at her eyes properly. "Why was he following you?" He asked again.

"He," Sumi opened her mouth, then closed it again as if not sure whether to open up to him or not. But when he continued to stare at her with those unnerving orbs, -clearly not going anywhere anytime soon- she forced herself to speak. "It was just coincidence that I was the strongest in the grounds the mediator of the ward assigned me in. When I complained and decided to leave for better opportunities, he followed."

'That fool,' she thought.

"Mmm…" Uta hummed, leaning back into a slouch. No longer interested in the topic and more focused on chewing. She could hear the sounds as he gnawed. Crunching, slushing and flesh being sliced through with sharp incisors. She never thought she'd ever hate her superior ghoul hearing.

There was a long stretch of silence, before he said something that had her eyes widening. "Are you hungry? It took a while for you to heal," he held out her arm to her. "Want some?"

"No," she bit out, wanting so badly to shoot a threat at him. But no matter her strength in the previous ward, this man could best her easily. Power was everything when it came to ghouls and right now, she was all bark and no bite. So, she bit her tongue and swallowed her words whole. Vile and bitter. Absolutely sickening. She needed to leave this place. Get as far away as possible from him because that rancid taste was one she had no intention of getting used to.

He only continued to stare, chewing away. She couldn't help but notice how cleanly he ate. Blood spilled onto the floor, but by some miracle, he got none of it on him. He took small bites, but ate fast. What good manners for a ghoul eating his kin. She bet that she must've tasted horrible. Ghoul meat was anything but appetizing.

"You can stay here under me if you want," he said, around a mouthful of… well, her. "My rules are simple. No excessive cannibalism, wear a mask and follow me when your strength is needed."

Her eyes widened. Those really were simple rules. Mediators in other wards thought of themselves as kings. Taking the best feeding grounds, imposing orders whenever they so pleased. They were lax with killing and when it came to ghouls blending into society, but other than that their overbearing personalities and confidence were a pain in the ass.

"Why?" She asked, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "I'm just another mouth to feed."

"Because I saw something interesting," came the simple response as he pointed at her arm in his hand. There was a tattoo on the forearm and Sumi immediately looked down at her regenerated limb. She noticed that her tattoo was gone. The only thing left was pale, white skin. Baby skin.

Sumi let out a disappointed sigh. "I went through so much trouble to get that," she looked down at her arm again with a small frown. "I guess I'll just have to do it again."

"You know how to do this?"

"...Yes," she answered, unsurely.

"Sumi-san," he called. The honorific sounded strange to her ears. He was looking at her with careful eyes. Eyes that looked as if they could peer right through her. "Could you show me how to do this to a ghoul?"

Her eyebrows shot up in an attempt to reach her hairline as she tilted her head, confusedly. Her brain not fully registering the question.

"Eh?"

So, here Sumi was, sitting face to face with a man that had torn her arm clean from her shoulder and had pierced a hole through her chest with his bare hands. Powerful didn't even begin to describe the ghoul before her. He was in a completely different league. Nothing like the ghouls she had encountered in the third ward. He deserved his status as mediator. She and Uta were now alone in the lounge where she had awoken, the blond ghoul had served her coffee and offered her a few human eyes that he kept in a jar under the table. He sat, staring intently at her as she explained how she had gotten the needle to pierce through her skin, taking him through the steps.

"So you starved yourself first," he mumbled. Leaning back into his seat and looking as if he were thinking it over in his mind. "...I don't like being hungry."

"What ghoul does? Hunger is worse than death," Sumi shrugged, watching him warily. She didn't want to die now that she had told him the secret of getting ink on a ghoul. "How about eating human food then? That might work. Though I think starving yourself for a while might be kinder."

"Ah," he shot those aloof eyes at her once more. "Who did those tattoos?"

"A human in the third ward. He was old, but," her eyes darted to his pierced ears for a moment, examining them. Before she said, vaguely, "He was good."

"Artist or meal?"

The corner of Sumi's mouth twitched as she fought to suppress a smile. "Both."

"Hmmm…" He hummed, leaning close to her to get a better look at her face. At least, that was what she thought, before he inhaled deeply, taking in her scent. Sumi immediately backed up, fingers twitching with the urge to release her Kagune and lash out at the man. "You smell like a ghoul."

Her eyes narrowed dangerously at him. Was that an insult? Ghouls weren't appealing meals, after all. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted when a man yelled, barging into he lounge.

"Boss!" He was breathing hard, his eyes panicked and his dark hair a wild mess that fell onto his shoulders.

Despite his subordinate's panicked frenzy, Uta took his time with backing away from Sumi's neck. The blond looked passively at the man's state. "What's the matter?"

"That silver haired bastard was here, wasn't he?" The man looked around furiously. "Everyone can smell him!"

"Ah, Raven stopped by," he said. "He'll be back again later."

"Boss!" The man yelled, "You can't just have a guy like that wandering around!"

"He's my friend," came the simple response and the man immediately shut up. "Didn't I already tell everyone that?"

The man looked as if he wanted to say more, but held his tongue. Instead, his eyes flashed to Sumi for a brief second, before, "What about her then?"

Sumi's body tensed, her mouth pressed into a thin line as she stared at Uta. Waiting for his answer, words that would decide her fate. If he wanted her dead then she'd do the best she could to run out of here, she couldn't hope to fight him. Uta's blank gaze drifted to her for a moment, before back to his subordinate.

He opened his mouth, saying words she was all too happy to hear. Words she never thought she'd hear from a ghoul. "She's my friend too."

His subordinate looked at her skeptically, before nodding and walking stiffly back out the door. Sumi couldn't hold in the sigh of relief that escaped her lips once the ghoul left. Her entire form slumping down as the tension escaped her body. Uta's eyes turned back to her, quietly observing her in an unnerving sort of way. In a way that she was beginning to associate more and more with him. His stare was so piercing as if he were peering into every part of her, unraveling her life and secrets.

"What now, friend?" Sumi asked, meeting that intense gaze.

He shrugged, looking up at the ceiling and leaning back into his chair. "I gave you feeding grounds, didn't I?"

Despite the fact that he gave her a portion of his already small land, Sumi didn't expect to stay in the fourth ward long. It was a godforsaken place with little to no food, after all. A hard place to live. But after three months came and went, she was proven wrong. It was… enjoyable. Being under Uta, that is. The ward was a desolate place and other ghouls always came around picking fights, but when Uta was called to mediate, it was amusing to see him flip them off and stick his tongue out mockingly. For all his aloofness, he had quite a ruthless streak. That was something she had learned the very first day she was here.

He never fought with his Kagune and was always the first one to get his hands bloody. When he'd lose total self-control he'd carelessly throw his headband away and let his clothes and entire self bathe in the blood of those he killed. His victims weren't given a quick death. The many under his command obeyed him without a word of complaint. He had told her that he had no intention of becoming the ward leader, he was just the strongest, that was all. She wondered what it was like to have his strength. Perhaps he was so strong because he was always well fed. That was a very likely possibility. He was always munching on something. She wouldn't be surprised if he had one of those extremely rare Kakuja that she had heard about from passing whispers.

So, here she was.

Sitting in the small lounge where she had first woken up. Raven, or Yomo Renji as she had learned, had been with them for a month or two. Uta had supposedly approached him, wanting to become friends. They weren't on the best of terms, but they seemed to get along well enough. The silver haired ghoul was sitting across from her, both of them drinking coffee. Uta was in a corner, meticulously working on a mask, while some of his subordinates lounged around the room.

"Don't you ever get tired of this, U-chan?" Itori asked, sipping on a glass filled with blood. She was another one of Uta's friends. A bubbly woman with red hair and an upbeat personality, though she always looked to be hiding a secret. Her smile was knowing, her gaze confident and her choice of clothing exposed much.

"Hmm…?" Uta looked up from his drawing. His art. "No, it's enjoyable."

Itori pursed her lips. "Enjoyable?"

"He's skillful," Renji said, before going back to his usual silence and downing the rest of his coffee.

"Maybe I'll open a shop," Uta said, carelessly.

Itori's eyes darted to Renji for a moment, before she looked down at the many drawings and materials that littered Uta's table. "Whose mask are you designing now?"

Uta shrugged, looking back down at his unfinished design. "It's not a mask."

Itori bent down to get a closer look, seeing crossed out sketches and black scrawls. "What is it?"

"A tattoo," Uta said, simply.

"Are you gonna have ink done, U-chan? Or is that for someone else?" Itori asked, examining the designs.

"I'm going to have it done," he pointed down at one of the drawings. "This one is mine and this," he pointed a finger at Sumi. "Is Sumi-san's."

"Heeeeh?" Itori let out, her eyes shining with curiosity.

"He has to replace the one he tore off of me a few months ago," Sumi spoke up with a frown as she looked at her bare arm. "I hope you don't mess up."

Uta opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Itori. "Wait, wait, wait," she said, making grand gestures with her arms. "You two are going to tattoo each other?"

"She said she'd do it," Uta replied as he continued to draw.

Itori raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Have you ever even done a tattoo U-chan?"

"If I mess up, I can always tear off her lim—"

"Can we please not speak of amateur amputation?" Sumi interrupted. "It hurts and I'd rather not have to go through it again."

"But you tasted pretty good," came the calm response and Sumi was tempted to hurl her coffee at him. He was teasing again. Despite his polite tone, he played one too many games. "I'd like to eat you again."

"Those are some suggestive words," one of Uta's subordinates in the room spoke up and Itori nodded, furiously bobbing her head up and down.

Sumi grimaced. "They aren't when said by a ghoul."

Uta turned to look at her, squishing an eyeball between his fingers. He had an entire jar full by his side. He was always munching, how lucky for him that he liked to move around while fighting. Never getting fat. Killer metabolisms were both a blessing and a curse, since he was always hungry. "Will you let me taste you again?"

Sumi's eyes narrowed into slits, meeting his gaze head on. "Shut up."

Uta blinked blankly up at her, face collected and innocent. Itori let out a happy laugh and Renji as if uncaring for the things happening around him, stood to pour himself some more coffee. Now that she knew he wouldn't suddenly kill her, she had gotten bolder with her words in the months they were together. But never bold enough to directly insult him. There were boundaries, after all. Insulting the peacekeeper of the ward she lived in was high up in the 'never do for fear of pain on death' list. Uta only stared at her for a moment longer, before turning around on his stool and getting back to work.

"If I quit this leader business and open a mask shop," Uta said, still absorbed in his work. "You should work with me, Sumi-san."

Sumi shrugged, absentmindedly considering his suggestion. "I'd much rather design clothes. Masks are your thing."

"You can design mine then," he muttered, standing and walking over to her in three quick strides. He dangled the paper he had been drawing on in front of her. "In exchange, let me design your mask and tattoos."

Sumi grabbed the paper and stared down at the black and white design. She had to admit, he was good. "You want me to be your test dummy? I don't like having limbs torn off."

"…Mmm," Uta sat on the table in front of her. "These two won't agree to it though. Raven-kun isn't the type and Itori-san likes to seduce men, she won't bother with ink since it deters some," he gave her a pointed stare. "Besides, you heal anyway."

"The fact that I can regenerate isn't the problem here," Sumi muttered.

"What is then?" He tilted his head. "My designs are the best. Don't worry about something strange on you."

Sumi sighed. Did he just not get it or… No. Of course he did. He was right though. His designs were downright amazing and it's not like she minded working with him. She eyed him up and down, staring at his lithe figure and raking her eyes across his face. A perfect mannequin. He was sylphlike, his face small and feminine. But there was something in his expression - in his aura that was raw and virile. Never letting her forget that he was indeed, a man. She bet that he could probably pull off the most outlandish designs.

"Then…" she trailed off, giving his form another once over. "Can I change your hairstyle?"

He immediately ran his hand through his swept back locks. Pale strands falling between even paler digits. "What's wrong with my hairstyle?"

"I don't like it," was her simple response. She'd never tell him that the reason she didn't like it wasn't because it didn't suit him, no. In fact, that cut of his seemed to suit him far too well. The only reason she was against such a style was because when he wore his mask he looked absolutely terrifying. As if he came straight from a nightmare. Like a serial killer or a fighter out of the ring, ready to pound someone's face into gory confetti.

He touched his hair once more, before giving her a small nod. "…Okay."

Her eyes widened.

Shit.

She didn't think he'd actually agree.

A/N: I wasn't sure how ghoul regeneration worked with tattoos, piercings, etc. If it was said that they still get to keep it somewhere in (manga) canon, then my bad. But this is how I made it in my story. Interested in previews? Check out my LIVEJOURNAL! You can find the link on my profile. Please also read my important note on this fic.

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