Take and Eat

The explosion of sparks ceased and when it did Nori hung there in mid-air pinning the now dead human to the pavement. His face was outright shocked but there was not life in his eyes. She lowered, kagune disappearing, right hand grasping the corpse around the collar.

"You guys get out of here," Yato turned to the youths that had been set up as prostitutes. All of them rushed away at a single glance of his black and red eyes. It was unnerving to have them run away but the fact they were finding safety made it somewhat okay.' There goes my only real chance of food since Nori really needs this guy,' he frowned stomach growling.

Nori walked towards him dragging her fresh kill within her left hand. Her blue hair was sticking out from the sides of the mask but aside from that she was still concealed, everyone on the street at the time knew that she was Ghoul but they could not stop her. With a quick leap she was in the nearest alley. prey body dampened by the water that had ran within it.

Yato walked in stomach growling. He found that she had already began to eat, the sound of flesh tearing proving that the man was being feasted upon. Nori's hands were tearing away at his body shredding cloth and revealing flesh that had been struck multiple times in the process. She seemingly did not notice his presence as she bit down upon the human's hand.

Bones began to splinter and blood began to run as iron's scent filled the air. Nori continued to chomp away the only way she could live was to eat people and she was just so lucky that she knew the right one's to pick.

"You don't have to look down on me like that," Nori remarked as Yato turned away from the rather gruesome scene. She heard it, Yato's stomach was growling but he could not find it within himself to actually engage in the vicious bounty placed before him.' Trying to keep his head on straight in honorable but still he can't be mister nice guy forever,' she thought licking blood from around her lips.

"Look I'm sorry," Yato kept his eyes gazing away all the while his friend was chewing away at a person, a bad person, but a human. She did respond to this shunning instead she continued to eat while he pondered.' Eat! Kill! Humans! Food! Gorge!' dark words sickening to even think rang within his mind and that was when it truly dawned upon him what the weirdness was.

'I'm the weird one not her. She's doing what any self-respecting Ghoul would do. Eating. But me?' Yato's eyes closed as Nori continued to feast upon the drug dealer, the blood spattering along the walls.' I'm too afraid to even look a human as food let alone to actually eat one,' every second that passed the smell of the meat got more and more sweet and the hunger within got worst.

'One bite won't hurt me. I'm a Ghoul not a human,' Yato decided prepping himself to turn around. When he turned it was already too late there was nothing left aside from some splattered blood.

Nori was overlooking a closed dumpster probably where the things she could not eat were stored. Both dark eyes were closed tightly and she had hands crossed in front of her, almost a prayer or tribute to her victim. Without a word the blue haired teenager turned and looked at Yato the blood on her face being wiped off against the mesh along her right forearm.

"You could have had some. You still think you're a human don't you? Its sad when a Ghoul won't let themselves eat something," Nori complained, after which she stared at him before taking a few steps towards the mouth of the alley. The Ghoul she had been talking to was staring at the bloody ground, eyes closed face twisted and cross with emotion.

"So what if I do? There has to be a morgue or something around here that'd be willing to hand out some food," he tried to defend his weakness but it came across rather whiny. She stopped looked at the star-lit night and scoffed before continuing onto the sidewalk composed, and full, as a normal person should be.

A sigh left her mouth as she began to turn away proving that there was something." There is Coffee Shop called Anteiku in the Twentieth Ward if you're up for passing Dove Central to get there," Nori remarked stretching out against the neon light that were streaming over the street. Chaos a few blocks away her cause.

"Dove Central?" Yato raised a brow. He had never heard anyone refer to such a place throughout the entire city, let alone between the Twentieth and Eighteenth Wards.' If I can get through there maybe I can get something to eat that won't turn my stomach,' he assured himself.

"The Fourth Ward has an underground path leading directly to the Twentieth the only issue is the CCG presence there is so great only a few Ghouls can even stay there for more than a night. Going through there though is probably better than catching a train or walking straight to the Twentieth," she seemed to know from experience. Her left hand clutched at the mask now soiled slightly with blood.

"For a Ghoul like me what are the chances?" he questioned blonde hair dampening with the sweat from the rather humid night. Nori smirked and laughed slightly, the fact it even came up humorous.

"Not good. You don't have speed or a kagune. If you did you'd be too hungry to use either," Nori's voice while never very uplifting was cold as she turned and began to leave. Yato stood there, body rigid and frozen, the words chilled his blood.

"So you're saying I'd die?" his voice raised slightly as tears began to dribble down his face.' Eat! Kill! Destroy!' thoughts more violent than before began to surface as she took a glance back at him.

"Most definitely Yattori. It would be suicide," Nori's last words before disappearing into the horde of nearby delinquents. Yato went to find her but when the horde broke away at his presence she had already been gone.

"I'll show you! I'm going," Yato's voice raised and he rushed off in the opposite direction, towards home.

'Dear those it may concern,

I'm going away for a few days to unwind. Hopefully I'll be back by the end of the week and if not well things went south. Don't be too worried though I don't have much to live for anyway.

Yattori Suzuki'

That was the note he pinned on the door. It had been stained with ink and tears and yet it was completely legible, Yato took one glance at it before turning back to the streets. In the distance, the warm glow of the sun lit the sky to a purple-pink hue.

With a pack slung over his back he headed westward towards the subway that would lead one to the Fourth Ward. Food that did not carry as much guilt would be on the other side, that was if Nori had been true in her tales.

'Come on body hold out. I need you to for just a few hours,' he pleaded to himself which was quickly growling back with hunger. The increased metabolism of growing a kagune was killer on him.

Smells struck him the entire way, his now blue eyes locking onto everyone that passed by. They all smelled so fit and healthy; perfect food for a Ghoul but he would not attack them not when they were innocent people heading to work.

The train ride was no easier. Not only was it filled to the brim with people, but the thoughts of hunger and food were getting worst. Each time someone would push by to get to an open seat Yato's eyes would change and his mouth would salivate. A swallow made it all disappear, Yato however still felt the cravings that had been so easily present.

Fourth District...

When the crowd began to push out he followed ending up on a darkened platform. There was not even the faintest whiff of another Ghoul, the smell of a fellow predator for any direction.

'Food!' his mind barked as a lone CCG agent walked across the platform to the train. He was tired from a long night of nothing but the fact there was a CCG agent proved more than enough that it was not a friendly area.

'The Fourth District really is empty,' he wandered through the streets. In the Eighteenth there would be a few eyes leering from the shadows but here nothing, a ghost town with no signs of ever recouping from the loss of the Ghoul population.

He walked aimlessly, not knowing of where to head out from. It would seem that being a headstrong teenager was not something that came in handy in situations such as these unfortunately he had only purchased a one way ticket and would have to wait even longer for another train back anyway.

The darkness of the early morning was fading away and each step seemed to bring him closer to nothing more than oblivion. Every corner had a CCG agent poised ready to pounce on anything suspicious.' Hungry! Kill! Human!' thoughts more hunger filled than anything else grew more and more uncontrollable as more people passed him by.

'I need to get to that link to the Eighteenth fast,' Yato knew that at this rate, he would either snap with hunger or pass out. It was becoming clear that the former was more likely as his eyes shifted to the red everyone associated with a Ghoul and his mouth watered.

Weakness racked across his entire frame. The hunger seemed even worst now than it did the day prior, the human buffet before him did not help the need for food. Hands clenched, teeth grit he kept pressing on through the streets just looking for anything that looked like a connection to the Twentieth Ward.

No one ever seemed to turn up. Ghoul Investigators marched around like there was nothing better to do and that was the truth as very few ghouls called the Fourth Ward a home.

Yato unfortunately turned into the wrong crowd as two gray sport jackets crinkled when he accidentally ran into the them." I'm so sorry," he bowed noticing their brown dress shoes and gray slacks.' Shoot. I was told this was Dove Central may just have to pay the piper,' his eyes were shut that was until one of the investigator's looked down at him.

"Don't be. We get bumped into a lot," the first investigator smiled, he was lying but he had a genuine face. Black rimmed glasses hung just under either eye and black hair that had begun to turn whitish-silver was neatly combed back.

"Really? I still think it'd be wrong to not apologize," Yato blushed slightly, he was nervous. Luckily awkwardness was his friend her and the fact he was lying made things even better.' They want to kill or capture Ghouls like me and yet I'm here in front of them and they aren't doing any of that.'

"Well, well, you must have some proud parents kid. I can't wait to see you get out of this dump and do something with your life," the first Ghoul Investigator smiled. He seemed very friendly even for being someone willing to kill a Ghoul if the time was called for.

Yato looked at the ground zoned out.' I did before two of you goons decided to kill them both!' he kept control but it was harder than he initially thought.

"Yeah, both parents must be pretty happy to have a son like you. But you should really be heading to school though," the second patted him on the back. This one was bigger than the first, stronger too just from the single touch, he had a crew cut of black hair and a beard that had just began to fill in.

'Eat,' hunger racked his body again but he kept from lurching as it would give him away. His hands though tucked at his sides were ready to clench to keep the thoughts from turning into something worst." Thanks that's where I was heading," a lie it slipped so smoothly though no one should have paid it any mind.

"You seem like a good kid so we won't hold you up any longer," the first man laughed turning away with his partner.

"See ya sometime later kid," the second waved goodbye, if only all Ghoul Investigators were so nice. Of course to people they were but the two silverplated cased in their hands proved that their intentions for Ghouls were as devilish as their quinque.

Yato took a few steps back and watched the gray clad individuals round the corner. A sigh of relief left him as his pained body doubled over and he backed against a light post.' Too close for comfort. I could barely keep myself in check. I need to go to the Twentieth fast, should have just taken the train there. Why'd I trust Nori?' he frowned frame weakening.

Eighteenth Ward...

"The hell did I tell you Hasuke?" Agent Wantabe growled kicked the door hand gripping the note tightly. The other agent sighed arms crossed staring at the note on the door." He's a damn flight risk! We should have detained him," the Suzuki family door was kicked at again a splinter of wood shaving away with the brown leather shoe.

"Wantabe? Where do you think he could go? His parents raised him to be human I wouldn't be surprised if we find him asleep on the next train in," Agent Hasuke laughed patting the note back against the door. In his eyes the home was beautiful and those that owned it had been decent Ghouls up until a few months ago." He hasn't eaten anyone yet so trust me he'll be crashing where ever he gets the chance," knowledgeable about Ghouls and their habits Hasuke once more stared at the door.

"Bullshit! He could be in the Tenth Ward by now munching away like that binge eater from the Twentieth!" the first more pudgy agent sighed reaching for a cigarette box in his jacket pocket.

"That is a possibility but he would have to be famished to even get close to that Ghouls body count," the second Investigator slouched against the wall as a cigarette lit inside his partners mouth." You should not be smoking Aikuro," his right hand snapped out pushing the flames at the end of the cigarette out.

"We need to get this Ghoul. I need to get some sort of relaxation we couldn't find Jason! We barely got away against his parents this kid will be looking for revenge!" Wantabe growled turning away from the door relighting his cigarette.

"He obviously is not going to harm anyone. You saw how fast he ran away from us in that alley," Hasuke relaxed arms across his chest. Wantabe turned puffing smoke before turning back to the tag-teaming agent.

"He was scared then. Now that he has had time to plan we could be in danger," Wantabe began to walk away hands clutching tightly against the handle of his quinque case.

"Guess so but if he is out for revenge he'll come back. Let's just put some surveillance around and call it a day. That Aogiri group is rallying in nearby Wards," Agent Hasuke remarked turning away and heading back to their vehicle.

"Fine by me," Aikuro Wantabe sneered flicking ash into the wind. He too turned and readied to get back to the car.

Yattori unknowing of what had occurred in his home Ward was struggling to get through the Fourth Ward.' Blindly running in where did I think that was a smart idea? Why did I trust Nori's advice? And why am I too afraid to eat a person?' Yato continued to curse at himself as he strolled down the street.

He turned down an alley where an old beggar was sitting. The man had white hair and pale gray eyes, his face was wrinkled and his clothes tattered. Had Ghouls not existed this man would surely be the scum of the Earth. His sign read: " Alone. Need money. Help." in faded black lettering and he looked at Yato with devilish eyes.

"Youngster, do you have anything that you could spare?" the beggar wheezed reaching for the satchel around the teenager's torso. Yato stopped, his nose crinkling at the old man. The smell was that of the ground after a heavy rainfall but this geezer probably tasted way better as shown by his somewhat defined physique underneath.

"Sorry sir. I really don't," Yato tried to explain but the old man's right hand gripped his bag and tore into it, change clanged out from the pocket. A few loose yen, nothing special but the beggar grabbed it up. Greed brushed across the man's face as he grabbed at the bag again trying to get more money from the teen that was just passing through.

"Hey! Stop!" Yato tried to pull away but the needy man had both hands dug deep into the pockets of the satchel. The fine fabric was quickly being reduced to tatters in each greedy whip of the hand.

"You do! I can see more bills in this pocket! Give me!" the man was disillusioned the only thing in the pocket were a few loose coupons for some store in the Eighteen Ward. Yato pulled away blonde messy hair waving with the motion; it proved pointless as the entire section of the bag tore away.

Yato felt a fire ignite within himself. Not because he was being mugged by an old beggar that could be come to expected but the fact the bag being destroyed belonged to his father. His right hand dug into the man's arm and tore it free from the bag the violent red vehemence in his eyes brimming like a freshly fueled flame.

"I said stop!" a rustling raged within the blonde's shoulder blades his shirt displacing enough for two wings of red to spur free. It was an Ukaku kagune, like Nori had said previously. The man backed away and behind a trashcan which was quickly kicked away." You aren't running! Do you know whose bag this is?" the beggar was dumbfounded.

"Y-Your a Ghoul!" a right foot pinned the man against the wall the bricks beginning to crumble away under the rage-filled pressure.

"It was my father's you sick bastard! He left this for me when he died!" Yato growled through grit teeth which dripped with fresh saliva. Just above his kidneys another stirring and another kagune pushed out it was red as well but also tail-like, a Rinkaku. Hunger burned in the teen's eyes and for some reason his conscience was not there to stop it.

The wall shattered as the tail brushed over the pavement the man barely moving in time. For an old homeless person he was elusive as neither tail nor wings could get anywhere near him. Yato thrust both wings forward and pinned the human against the wall with the wings now shaped like spines, the tail rising like that of a scorpion like all good games of cat and mouse it came to an abrupt end.

The man's eyes were cold and heartless yet he was trying to plea for what menial existence he had as life." H-here man have the money back!" the coins were tossed back at the Ghoul but Yato was too busy snarling to realize it.

The tail lashed through the man's abdomen leaving him pinned against the wall in a bloody smear. Red ran down from the kagune and dribbled to the cracked alley pavement air exiting the thief's mouth wetly.' Kill! Crush! Devour!' rage bubbled up through his thoughts as the man dropped dead over the flexible muscle, skin and bones smashed cleanly against the brick.

"I said you couldn't have anything and you insisted on it! My father's bag was torn because of you, his last real piece to me was severed. And now you paid with both your soul and your body!" teeth buried into the fading man's left shoulder, bones crunching like dry sticks.

Yato's eyes fluttered open and surprisingly he was no longer in the alley staring down the man that had torn into his father's satchel. His surroundings were far more pleasant if one could say that. The room was lit with red lights and the floor was checkered black and white. People were in the shadows analyzing him silently sizing him up as if he was the newest prey item.

He reached up to his face wiping away the red stain that had been stuck there, he failed to notice it had long since congealed into a red-brown gel. To his right someone emerged from the shadows, he was taller than any of the other shapes and had a more defined look on his face.

"Where am I?" he asked getting no response from the mystery figure. The man, or Ghoul, he could not tell, was wearing a mask and hiding any sort of unique feature aside from the two glowing eyes that occupied the eye spaces on the mask." Hey tell me where I am?"

"You're out of the Fourth Ward. What were you even doing there?" the voice was like that of an older brother, but even more cocky.

"I asked you first!" Yato grunt releasing his reddened eyes, and the strings of a kagune.

"Don't Yattori you're among friends. Well your father's friends," the voice, now more toned to that of twenty-something rang out." Plus if you did try and attack me I assure you that you'd fail. I'll give you answers after all your father did for me."

By chance things unfold and by chance they fold again. What awaits Yato in the Fourth Ward and who is this mystery man?

~Herodan3