Author's Note: I re-ordered the chapters a little bit, and also changed the name of the story. Apologies for all the changes guys; I have a better idea of the story's direction now it won't happen again, I promise xD. See the prologue for an interesting note on the title.

Also, I highly recommend reading the Character & Faction Data data page (the previous "chapter," or whatever you want to call it), or you might be a tad bit confused. Believe me when I say that it will definitely help in understanding the story!

Cover Art: Daily reminder to check out ghoul_edits (the guy who made the cover pic for this story) on instagram for amazing art!

Mandatory Disclaimer: I do not own any of the series depicting in this story, nor any of the characters, etc. In fact, I own nothing xD.

Time Break: ... ... ... ... ... ...
Bold text: GHOUL VOICE
Italics: INNER THOUGHTS, or when a character is speaking to themselves; also used occasionally for EMPHASIS when characters are speaking

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Chapter 5: The Doctor and The King

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"HE DID WHAT?!" exclaimed Yang.

She and Ruby openly gaped at Weiss, who averted her eyes, slightly disconcerted, but somewhat flattered at her teammates' reactions to her appointment as a Rank 3 Investigator.

Yang jumped of her bed and put an arm around the heiress, grinning from ear to ear. "Ya did good kid," she said.

Ruby also came down from her bed to congratulate her teammate. Truth be told, she was somewhat envious that Shinohara hadn't offered her the opportunity as well, but at the same time she was quite young, and also wasn't sure about the prospect of leaving her sister.

Nonetheless, the point is Ruby was ecstatic about the opportunity her teammate had been given. Unlike a certain someone else …

"Blake, get down here," Yang said. "What did I tell you about participating in group hugs?"

The three girls laughed, but Blake just responded with a, "Yeah, whatever."

Yang's eyes narrowed.

"That's it!" Weiss said, on the verge of yelling. "Blake Belladonna, you come down here right this instant! You've been acting terribly … disrespectful as of late, and as your teammate I cannot abide it!"

Yang rolled her eyes at Weiss' remark. Sure, her teammate was right in what she was saying, but the way she said it sounded like she was Blake's mom, or something.

Blake shut her book, quietly but firmly. "I find it ironic that you're lecturing me about being disrespectful, when you're about to begin working for an organization that kills living creatures as a profession," she said coldly. "If I'm disrespectful, then I shudder to think what kind of monster you would be."

Weiss' eyes widened. "Blake, that's enough," Yang said. "Look, I know Ice Queen can be a bit stuck up sometimes, but you've been acting really strange ever since we got back to Beacon. What's wrong?" Yang glared at Blake expectantly, awaiting her answer.

Blake averted her eyes. "It's … not something I can talk about," she said.

Yang rolled her eyes. Sometimes, she felt as though she barely knew anything about her teammate. Or rather, she knew nothing about her teammate outside of Beacon. She knew about Blake's part time job, but outside of the fact that she worked at a coffee shop, they know nothing else. Not once had Blake mentioned her parents, her friends, or, hell, anything about her past in general. She intended, however, to change that very soon.

"And why not?" Yang asked. "We're your TEAMMATES Blake, you can tell us anything!" As if to emphasize this, she pulled Ruby and Weiss into a tight hug.

An awkward silence enveloped the room as she pondered Yang's remark. As much as she hated to admit it, the blonde's statement did have some merit to it.

She's … she's right, Blake thought to herself. I haven't been myself ever since … HE went and left.

"Don't tell me the manager at that coffee shop fired you, or something?" Yang asked.

"No! That's not what happened," she said.

"Then what did happen? Did your boyfriend break up with you?"

"I … NO!" she said, blushing profusely. "We're NOT dating or anything Yang!"

"AHA! So there is a boy! I KNEW IT!"

Blake facepalmed, as Ruby fell to the ground in laughter. Even Weiss couldn't help but grin, and soon Blake too had a smile on her face.

She sighed, and then said, "Guys … I'm sorry. I've been really … preoccupied with things lately, and I've been taking my frustration out on you guys. Is there any way you could forgive me?"

"Done and done!" exclaimed Yang, while Ruby nodded in agreement.

"BUT," continued Yang, capturing Blake's attention, "There is one small … condition that I have."

Blake raised an eyebrow. What could she possibly want?

"You have to take all of us to that coffee shop you work at before Weiss leaves!"

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An orange-haired man with a black bowler hat stood in a dark alleyway, grumbling to himself. "Where the hell is that old geyser anyways? You think he'd show some respect and be on time when someone offers to help him out."

"Now now Roman, there's no need to get so worked up."

Roman rolled his eyes. He could recognize that sleazy old fake kindness from a mile away. "Kanou. What the hell do you want? I've got better things to be doing than sitting here talking to you."

Kanou raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm sure! You must be incredibly busy as a high ranking executive of Aogiri Tree, no?" he mocked.

Roman fumed, slamming his fist into the wall behind him. "You just shut up doctor. I'm an A rank ghoul, which is better than you can say of either of those half-breeds of yours."

"Well, at least they can release their Kagunes," he said, smiling.

Roman narrowed his eyes. You know, I really don't understand this guy. He comes to me asking for a favor, and then mocks me while he asks? Most people would be polite when doing this, but of course this old geyser just can't be normal.

Roman brushed off the Doctor's insult. "Alright, let's just get to the point. What do you need me to do, so I can get you out of my hair and move on with my life?"

Kanou was silent for a second, as if pondering what to say. Clearly the doctor was deep in thought about something or other.

Roman gulped. If Kanou wasn't sure how to proceed, then …

"I need you to take me to the One Eyed King," he said.

Roman's jaw instantly hit the proverbial floor. "You want me to WHAT?! Do you have ANY idea how much trouble I'd get in for doing something like that? I mean forget the King, if I bothered any of the top executives of Aogiri, they'd slaughter me!"

Kanou narrowed his eyes. "So you can't do it then?"

Torchwick sighed, loudly. Well … I probably could, if I really wanted to. I mean, I definitely wouldn't be able to take him to the King, since even I don't know who it is. I doubt that anyone outside of Tatara, Noro, and possibly Eto know, so I'd have to bring Kanou to one of them. Most likely Tatara, since Noro creeps me out, and Eto's ... well, a kid. But even then, I could be punished for "wasting Tatara's time."

Torchwick shuddered at what had happened the last time he had wasted that man's time. He wasn't about to do it again.

"Tell you what," he said. "I definitely can't take you to the One Eyed King, but I can take you to the second in command, Tatara. From there, he can probably take you to the King. The thing is, this had better be good, because the top executives of Aogiri don't mess around. If they aren't amused with your proposal you'll probably be eaten, as will I."

Torchwick narrowed his eyes. "Say, what exactly DO you want from Aogiri?"

Kanou chuckled. "Why, I just want a better laboratory and more test subjects," he said.

Roman raised an eyebrow. "And in return? They aren't just going to give you that for free. What do you plan to give them in return?"

Kanou smiled sociopathically. "What to I plan to give them? Well, the answer to that is quite simple, actually. I intend to provide Aogiri with an army ...

OF ONE EYED GHOUL SOLDIERS."

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"Do you guys see it? Because I don't see any coffee shops nearby. I see tons of other stores, but no coffee shop," Yang said.

"Yeah, I don't see anything either," Weiss said. "Are you sure we went the right way, Blake?"

Blake rolled her eyes. Of course Weiss would ask something like that.

"Guys, no offense, but I've been working at this coffee shop for years now, so I'd like to think I know how to find it," Blake said.

"Oh, oh! Is it that one? Is it that one?" Ruby asked, jumping up and down, pointing to a coffee shop down the street.

Weiss huffed. "Don't be silly Ruby, that hole in the wall can't even be called a shop."

Blake gave Weiss a deadpan stare. "Actually, that's it. That's the place I work at."

Weiss blushed in embarassment. "Um … I, uh … what I mean to say, is that … it looks so good that it's even more than a shop?"

Ruby, Blake, and Yang simultaneously facepalmed. That had to be the worst recovery I've heard in my life, Blake thought to herself.

Yang put an arm around her teammate. "Leave the sly comments to me, hun," she said.

The four of them stopped at the front door. "Well, what are we waiting for?" Yang exclaimed.

Blake sighed. She trusted her friends … but she still wasn't sure if this was the best idea.

She shook her head. No, it'll be fine. I need to stop worrying so much … she said to herself.

Bursting through the door, Blake and her friends walked in. "Manager?!" she called.

A tall, thin old man with swept back white hair entered the room. He smiled warmly. "So you're Blake's friends," he said.

"Welcome to Anteiku."

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Torchwick tapped the railing behind him impatiently. He still wasn't sure how to feel about Kanou's plan. I mean, yeah it sounded cool if it worked out, but … Tatara would have his head if it didn't work out. Or rather, Tatara would have if head if he was lucky. If he was unlucky, and Tatara was in a bad mood, things could get much worse.

"Torchwick," came a calm, but firm voice from around the corner. The man had short, white hair; cold, red eyes; and are a red iron mask over his mouth. Torchwick gulped. There was nobody in Aogiri Tree quite as scary as Tatara when you came right down to it … although Noro could be pretty creepy as well at times.

"Make it quick. I have tasks to complete for the King."

Tatara eyed him expectantly. "Well, actually … it's not me who wants to talk to you, but him," Torchwick signaled to Kanou and his assistants to come out of the darkness.

Tatara raised an eyebrow. "Two one eyed ghouls and a human? Normally Aogiri has strict rules against allowing foreigners, specifically humans, into its headquarters. But I'll make an exception this once, since you've caught my attention."

Tatara cracked his neck. "Just be sure not to lose it," he said in controlled anger.

Torchwick shuddered. The worst thing about Tatara was his unflappable demeanor. No matter how mad he got, he never really raised his voice, or showed any emotion.

Kanou, of course, had no reaction to Tatara's threat. He was sure the Ghoul before him was strong, but he wasn't interested in a pure blood. No, he was far more interested in the One Eyed King, and the experiments to come, should Aogiri choose to employ his services.

"My proposition is quite simple," Kanou replied. "I am a nothing more than a mere doctor. I only wish to be provided with adequate facilities to conduct my research, and healthy test subjects upon which to conduct my experiments. You understand, no?"

Tatara nodded, indicating for him to go on. Kanou smiled. "So, my proposition is as such. You will provide me with the tools necessary for me to conduct my experiments, and I will provide you with an army of one-eyed ghouls, possessing the strongest regeneration abilities and Kagune versatility ever seen before. Aogiri Tree could become the most powerful organization in all of Vale, and surpass even the CCG in power with my assistance."

Tatara was silent for a minute. Then, he replied, "Do not be so full of yourself in thinking we need worthless trash like you to complete our objective," he said. "However … The King would certainly be interested in hearing out the details of your plan, so I will take you to … him."

Kanou smirked victoriously. Everything was going according to plan.

Tatara began walking back from the direction he came, and signaled Kanou to follow him. Kuro and Shiro moved to come as well, but Tatara held up a hand, stopping them

"Only the Doctor may come to meet the King. Nobody else,"he said.

Normally, Kuro and Shiro would have objected, and insisted that they accompany Kanou, but there was something distinctly terrifying about the Aogiri second-in-command that made them keep their silence.

"Oh, and one more thing," Tatara said. The Ghoul's eyes turned black and red as his Kakugan activated.

"None of what we discussed leaves this room."

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Kanou walked with Tatara for what seemed like 10 minutes down a long passageway. This is where the King lives? he thought to himself. It seemed so isolated from the rest of the buildings in the base.

Then again, he said, The King probably purposefully keeps himself isolated from the rest of the organization, so as to hide his true identity. A ruler in the shadows instills far more fear than a ruler that can be clearly seen and identified.

That would explain why Tatara hadn't allowed Kuro and Shiro to come with them to meet the King.

The two of them stopped momentarily before a large hall.

"This is it," Tatara said bluntly, signaling to enter the massive chamber. Kanou couldn't help but admire the size and architecture of the building they were now inside.

"Eto," Tatara said. A petite girl with green hair, who was wrapped in bandages moved her head ever so slightly in acknowledgement.

"Yes?" she answered, hair obscuring her eyes.

"I've brought you a rather … interesting visitor," he said.

Eto sniffed the air in front of her. "Oh, a human? How … amusing," she said.

Kanou looked around the room in confusion. "I don't understand," he said. "Where is the One Eyed King of Aogiri?"

The girl chuckled ever so softly in response to Kanou's remark. Slowly, the chuckle soon grew louder and louder, until it became an average laugh, and from there grew even larger, soon it echoed throughout the hall, unnaturally loud.

The girl looked up, revealing a single, lone Kakugan in her right eye.

"YOU'RE LOOKIN' AT HER."

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Author's Note:

Lots of things happening this chapter! Blake working at a coffee shop, introduction to Torchwick, the One Eyed King's Identity revealed (although I'm sure you guys already knew that xD), and Kanou potentially working with Aogiri Tree! What does it all mean?! Hmmm ... I wonder ... Oh and also, a note on Kanou btw, I realize that Kanou didn't join Aogiri Tree until later on in the Manga, but I'm changing things up here. You'll see why later on.