DISCLAIMER
The following is a fan-based
FICTION
Tokyo Ghoul, Tokyo Ghoul Root A and Tokyo Ghoul:re and other products related to the TG Series are all owned by Sui Ishida, Shin Towada and Shueisha.
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Chapter 3: Loyalty
The next day was quiet, surprisingly enough I was spared the embarrassing aftermath of the previous night as Itori had decided to leave the warehouse for a 'business' walk.
While I was sure that the girl knew the basics to set up a proper network of people, I was hardly compelled by the belief that the Ghoulette would hard-work herself into it. Maybe it was the fact my current understanding of her mindframe was deceitfully limited, or maybe I knew already that she did this out of love for the job.
By the end of the day this activities were merely for the sake of surviving in the harsh reality that was the-
Underworld? Ghoulworld? The gray area of Tokyo that was hidden only to humans, at least humans that were too dangerous to have around.
Dropping the small note left by the orange-haired girl back on the bed, I decided to plan out my current situation. Since I have been around Itori, I had been given close to no time to actually prepare something to deal with… everything.
Nine years before the beginning of the 'story' was a shaky period, one where a pseudo-cold war was ongoing between Ghouls and CCG. Aogiri Tree was still the silly dream of a newly-introduced writer with little connection to the outward zone of the city, V was still busy getting its stuff collected after Kuzen had gone berserk on their butts and… the Washuu family.
The family was dangerous, the Sunlit Garden project something that had finished to fully develop the monster that will be the CCG's finest reaper.
Arima was young, somewhat inexperienced but still a dangerous player in the chessboard that is the city. What he couldn't make up with his current skills was compensated by the presence of strong minders around him.
It was interesting how the CCG had not caught notice of his interaction with Eto, maybe they knew- or maybe they are just dumb.
The second option wasn't totally far-fetched from a realistic point of view, since the mere fact that they had the entirety of their organization presented so foolishly on an easily-accessible website.
True, Ghouls hardly owned Computers because of their inherent inability to understand the potential of the grand device, but it was also correct to say that it was dumb to paint an ever-present target on the naive fools that worked for them.
The only thing that I could at least commend was the rigorous lack of details about Quinques, the information about the Kagune-made weapons hidden carefully behind few strings of outward description.
Speaking of weapons and armed organizations, the previous day's search brought up some differences from the 'real world' I had barely noticed.
Differences like Article 9 having been revised in the last few decades to allow the CCG to exist without restrictions in the Japanese homeland.
Other questions sprung out from this development, but I had decided to keep quiet about my curiosity about the 'lore' of the world for the sake of appearances. It wouldn't bode well for me if Itori started to suspect I was more than 'weird'.
I sighed, finishing to write down the last thought inside my head down on the small, unused notebook I had found around the building. Hopefully the Ghoulette wasn't the owner as God knows how she would react to that situation.
My little musing died the moment I felt someone tap softly on my shoulders, urging me to look around and spot the aforementioned girl. She was smiling a little, an attempt to hide… disappointment?
"Something's wrong?" The question was enough to make her show her true mood, a small pout forming out of her lips as she crouched down and sat by my side.
She held up her own notebook, a page in particular being presented to my eyes as I proceeded to read the content written on it.
4thWard, New Visitors (3)?
I frowned at the page, tilting my head a little to show my confusion and Itori sighed.
"Uta-san denied my request for some extra hands... but he said he would reconsider if 'I' went to check who had decided to settle in quite recently." She paused just a moment and sighed. "It is a small family."
Now that was… interesting? "A small family?"
"Father, mother and child. Not much is known other than the fact the man is trying to… make some business." Her words strung a weird chord within my brain, the details oddly reminding me of a particular group but-
"I suppose we will go and see what is going on." My agreement was met with a nod as we both stood up and walked out of the hideout.
The walk was brief, the address being part of the limited information available to Uta, and we paused just a moment to stare at the seemingly abandoned warehouse.
It wasn't that much of a surprise, I would have been shocked if Ghouls rejected the idea of using this kind of places to hide from the world.
Yet the reason we paused wasn't simply for a glance, but because of the two thugs guarding the entrance. Now that was curious…
Basic Thugs LVL.4 x 2
470/470HP
Itori took the lead in the following discussion and I decided to keep quiet as she tried to work the situation as… I wasn't ready for a proper direct confrontation yet.
"What is going on here?" The men exchanged a glance before smiling at the girl, their stare enough to make me understand that there wasn't going to be a diplomatic solution in the near future.
"Do you want to know, sweetie~?"
It was such a dumb reply that I felt relieved when the Ghoulette didn't spare a moment to doubt her Kagune, the Bikaku piercing through the chest of the unaware grunt, the other stunned by the scene and unable to move was quickly disposed by a double Powerpunch on its face.
-250HP!
-270HP!
Exp: 85/240 + 200
*Ding*
Congratulations, you have LVLd Up !
[Status]
Name: Kenshin Ogura
Title: The Gamer
Level 8 - Exp: 45/270
Age: 15
Health Points (HP) : 220/220 +20
Money = 800 Yen
Attributes
Attack: 115 +5
Physical Defense: 210 +10
Special Defense: 0 +0
"Do you know who they worked for?" At her negative glance, I hummed as we both entered the building and-
[Unforgettable Past]
Someone is trying to kill the current owner of the warehouse. Find out the culprits and beat them up!
Reward:
(7000 Yen)
(New Building: The Clinic)
(Relationship with Itori grows!)
(?)
(?)
Shit, now I know why it all felt familiar. So we were going to 'save' the Fueguchi family so soon?
Weren't they supposed to be out of Tokyo in this period of the story? Actually no, now that I think about it there wasn't a clear pattern about their presence in the city.
Sure, they had been absent at least 4 months prior to the Canon Start because of… issues with the city.
Just as I realized that we were going to encounter heavy resistance, Itori and I turned the corner to find the doctor's office. Or how ruined it was now.
A metallic desk had been toppled, papers scattered on the floor and there were some glass pieces on the floor, the remains of medical vials.
The married couple had their back on the opposite wall. Asaki had his slender, bone-like Rinkaku deployed as he tried to make space between his family and the major threat. Their stare directed towards our direction- towards the bulky man between us and them.
Jambu
LVL.30
6000/6000HP
...Oh hell nope!
The more I stared at the insane amount of HP the Ghoulish blob had, the more I realized that the worst case scenario has just manifested before me.
One of the major rules in Games is that… you don't challenge the high-level boss without a plan. Especially not someone stronger than Itori.
I paled further as the blob paused, glancing around as his Kakugan sparked in a furious stare. "Who the fuck are you two?"
The crude language passed over my mind and I took a step back, bringing even more attention over me. I heard him sniff, his eyes widening a little and his mouth watered-
OH HELL NO!
I didn't bother waiting for him to fully turn around to know that I had to run away from the hungry bastard. Thunderous footsteps were giving chase and my legs were already burning through the distance on the opposite side of the hallway.
"You are going to die, little human."
Like hell! But my brain didn't voice my refusal, too busy pumping blood through my body as I was sprinting through the building. I could hear Itori trying to call out for me, trying to yell some plans but I was kind of in a pickle.
The Fat Ghoul didn't seem deterred after two full minutes of chase and I was starting to feel the strain of the quick, unexpected run.
I didn't look back, my attention fixed on every possible turns I could take to delay the behemoth behind me.
"You are slowing down! YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN!"
I KNOW AND I HATE YOU!
Finally I reached the other end of the building, a long staircase there that led to the upper floors of the warehouse.
I started to quickly rise through the steps, ignoring the fact the threat was mere moments to catch up and-
"TOO SLOW!"
While I have tried to slowly accept that the physics of this world were far different from the 'real one', I was quite shocked to see someone as fat and massive as the hungry Ghoul pull such a jump.
Mouth open and eager to take a bite out of me, I was swift in moving away from the trajectory of the ball of doom. The man slammed on the staircase, making it shake terribly as he fell face-first on the ground.
-500HP!
"I-I am going to get you!"
I ignored the incessant ramble as I tried to pick some plan out of the current pause God just allowed me to have.
Ghouls were resilient to most of the materials available in nature… but they could still feel the blunt power behind a strong hit from anything.
This Jambu was a Koukaku and their regeneration was generally subpar- I blinked at the cracked structure of the staircase and… I had my plan.
Readying my fist, I gave a quick prayer before slamming my hand onto the damaged foundation. The ruined material gave in to the strike and soon everything, from the roof to the stairs themselves, started to came down on the panicking Boss.
The loud collapse, so quick and decisive forced me to jump out of the way and towards one of the small openings on the wall.
-10000HP!
While Rize could have survived the impact of several steel beams, someone clearly weaker than her and with a slower regenerative capacity failed to withstand the weight of half the building on him.
The battle was over and I… was incredibly tired.
Exp: 85/240 + 2000
*Ding*
Congratulations, you have LVLd Up x 6!
[Status]
Name: Kenshin Ogura
Title: The Gamer
Level 14 - Exp: 435/450
Age: 15
Health Points (HP) : 240/240 +120
Money = 800 Yen
Attributes
Attack: 120 +30
Physical Defense: 220 +60
Special Defense: 0 +0
*DunDun*
Perks Available:
Shrewd Salesman: Your experience in selling stuff has made you capable of buying things at a cheaper price. -15% discount to any shop's object.
Scaredy Cat: Fear is a strong emotion. When you are facing an opponent with a LVL higher than yours, you receive a 5% speed boost.
Passionate Bookworm: You love a good read. Books now receives a 7% Discount!
As I went to pick Shrewd Salesman as my newest perk, I felt my body forcibly pushed down.
-300HP!
I cursed loudly as one of the chunks of concrete still falling managed to reach my head and slam on it oh so nicely.
Blood exploded from my head but I- eh, the floor is so close no- Thud
"You shouldn't have never returned home, boy!"
"She is not here anymore to protect you!"
"Stay still a-and die!"
I woke up in a bed of sweat, panic surging as I quickly noticed the medical appliances around me and- a soft hand pressed my chest down.
Itori smiled bitterly, she looked like she had cried as her eyes were so puffy and red- Oh.
I almost died there.
…
Now that is… crazy. My heartbeat slowly ceased with its insane beating and I felt logic painting the world once more.
The room, we were back in the hideout but… why the medical equipment? I glanced around once more, this time my eyes picked some new details.
There, in a couch that I have never seen, were the small Fueguchi family. Ryouko was tending over a sleeping Hinami, the girl smaller, younger than her canon self, as her husband stared patiently back at me.
"You are awake." His voice took me out of the strangely quiet bubble I had around me until now and I blinked in surprise.
"I- I am." My throat was hurting, as if I had been screaming for a long time.
A sob from Itori turned my attention back at her, one of her hands was covering her eyes as her head shook ever-so-calmly. "Y-You almost died."
I flinched at the tone, but not because I was scared or terrified by it. It was a tone that I had heard only once in my life and… it was bringing up some unpleasant memories to my mind.
Her hand moved and I felt unknown guilt washing over my face.
There was no smile, nothing that could subvert the somber tone the Ghoulette had taken during the moment.
"I-I'm sorry." I blurted out without thinking and the girl tensed at my words, trembling visibly but… why?
"Y-You are sorry?" Her tone sounded so empty- W-Why?
She gripped at my arm, her hold seemed restrained but it did have some might behind it. I breathed in and out.
What was going on?
Sure, I had been injured and I kind of almost got killed in finishing off the fatso but… why would she react this much from this situation?
I was fine and yet her face continued to show so much sorrow and…
My hand felt sluggish to move but I managed to reach the top of her head.
The girl froze at the contact but I didn't move further. "I-I am fine."
It was quick, it was furious and… it was surprising. My cheek burned, the slap moderately hurting as she wanted to show something.
But what was it?
What would warrant this reaction?
Why?!
The reason continued to avoid logic and I.. kind of felt disheartened about myself.
Did I do something wrong? What did I do wrong? Did I hurt Itori? Did I make some mistakes or-
But the chances were lost the moment I saw her getting up from her seat and… walking away.
My eyes continued to widen as she walked though the hallway, ignoring my distress as Itori went to our common room.
I blinked, feeling something burn almost painfully inside my chest. Move, it exclaimed with so much fervor, follow her!
Finally I made the decision. Asaki stared at me as I slowly wobbled myself out of the medical table, giving me just a warning as his wife tugged his sleeve, stopping him from intervening directly.
"Don't strain yourself."
I gave a single, slow nod as I started to make small steps through the path the Ghoulette had taken.
The building grew quiet so suddenly, my breathing being the only thing reaching my ears as I ventured inside the bedroom.
Itori was there, silently lying on the bed. Her head was buried in two pillows as her Kagune waggled incoherently near the ceiling. Was this a nervous reaction? I didn't waste too much time about the detail and proceeded to do the only thing viable in this situation.
Her body tensed as I let myself crash on the bed, just few moments from her, and she glanced right at me.
Her stare initially looked empty, but I could see a peculiar glimpse within her orange orbs. A need.
I blinked back at her and turned around, my back on the soft texture of the mattress. An invitation, one that she recognized and moved to accept.
Slowly but surely, the girl snuggled her head on my chest, eyes closed. Her single tendril cautiously wrapping us up, protectively.
My hand was once more on her head, this time caressing her scalp as we both closed our eyes. Today was crazy, that was without a doubt.
But what we truly learned from this all? The world is not as bleak as we both knew of and… Itori was a snuggler.
AN
Do you all remember how I had mentioned some backstory for our protagonist? Well… it is about to be told quite soon.
Before I give way for other shenanigans, I want to remind you all that this story has a unique detail that makes Kenshin stand well above and below some of my other protagonists: His background is far from nice and it is possibly the worst one among the others.
Lastly, the reason why he is so weak by the end of the chapter will be given next one. There is a Game detail I have yet to introduce so...
Comments are appreciated and… Cheers!
P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin
WoG – Chapter 3: A Scary, New World.
With the discovery of America in the 1492 expeditions, Humanity was reminded once more of the grand communities of Ghouls. While the ones in the Old Continent had managed to adapt with the new times, the same wasn't for those that had been fighting the natives. The Church approached several Conquistadores in the effort of delete any trace of new Ghoul Communities within the new lands. Surprisingly enough, illnesses were what mostly killed half of the known communities, just like it had happened with the human native tribes of the period.
REVIEW Q&A!
Guest (Chapter 1-2-3): I know that I will have to make him overpowered at a certain point, but I cannot make him rush to Godhood. He will level up but within a good pace as… we don't want to see him Thanos the world by chapter 10? xD
ALSO UPDATED STATUS!:
[Status]
Name: Kenshin Ogura
Title: The Gamer
Level 14 - Exp: 435/450
Age: 15
Health Points (HP) : 360/360
Money = 7800 Yen
Attributes
Attack: 150
Physical Defense: 280
Special Defense: 0
Passive Skills:
Gamer Body (LVL Max.) - Congratulations, your body had been turned into one influenced by the rules of the Game Module. This Skill is present in all Users from the very beginning.
Gamer Mind (LVL Max.) - As a Gamer, you are blessed to have a mind devoid of possessions and manipulations. The emotional impact to your actions has been reduced of the 50%.
Race Trait: Human - Your current growth is the same pace as humans. Current growth rate is: 100%
Active Skills:
Power Punch (LVL 1/10) - The power of a mighty punch! Your fist is coated in energy that let you deal a single punch with a damage ten times it's normal. (Recharge Time: 10s)
Traits:
Educated Intellectual - A fine man of knowledge, you crave to learn more about yourself and everything around you. +10% experience from learning books and Intellectual-Type Skills.
Inner Fighter (1) - Your world was harsh and the only way to survive is to fight back. You have a novice to battle styles but you can handle yourself in non-dangerous situations. Receive +2% EXP from fights.
Perks:
One Last Time: Your mind refuses to surrender to a sure defeat. Receive back 50% of your HP back if your HP reaches below 10%.
Golden Touch: Enemies drops 10% more money than before.
Shrewd Salesman: Your experience in selling stuff has made you capable of buying things at a cheaper price. -15% discount to any shop's object.
Inventory:
[Basic Health Potion] x10