Chapter 7
Vehicles, weapons, and IRF units surrounded the area; Skirmishes between Regulators and the intruders litter the ground while others called to the scene create a barrier.
The focal point lies atop a building; members of Aogiri swarm the being that mirrors an armored dragon.
Ivory scales create a thick armor that ebbs and flows with the blows, deflecting them; black sclera contrast wild crimson irises. The four clawed feet bear the familiar membranes of a rinkaku while the ice sickle like protrusions of Suisei send lightening bolts arching across the darkened sky.
A female ghoul blazes violently at his side, avoiding the devastating attacks the kakuja delivers and avoids the wispy tendrils, shoving the defeated bodies into its mouth. Her hair is disheveled, her kakugan glittering with a fierce protective gaze; she helps Kaneki in his bestial form, removing the enemies attacking from blind spots.
Her rinkaku is tinged blue as it whirls and stabs 360 degrees...Ghouls fly in pieces to the sky.
A silver motorcycle raced through the streets of Luna; one destination in mind.
Riding into the scene in high speed, orders are called from the rider. "Do not engage the kakuja! Do not engage!" Abe Saito commanded, as he slowed his entrance into the fray. "I hope you're right about this, Hideyoshi-kun." Abe said as they sped to the building.
"I can't promise you anything Abe-san..."
"...but I will do everything I can to bring Kaneki back...So please hold the IRF units until then."
The two head straight through the building's entrance on the bike, ascending the stairs leading to the roof.
Coming into the heart of the battle; Hide called "Launch me!"
"I'm sorry?"
"Give me some air! He won't be expecting an aerial!" Hide yelled over the roar of battle.
Abe Saito nodded, turning the bike 360 as he flung oncoming attackers in the air. "I'll do better than that."
Barreling through the ever growing pool of enemies, he launched the bike into the air, using the roof of the small shed atop the building. Now, high above the lightening and flash of attacks, Hide leaped.
"Go-! " Abe yelled turning his attention to a legion of combatants.
Falling quickly towards the raging being that was his friend, he took notice of the fierce female ghoul battling at its side.
"Kamishiro!" He yelled, drawing a barely coherent look.
Rize inhaled; What the hell was he doing here? she thought angrily, in between a heated exchange of fists. This was so unlike her. She was sweating, she was growing tired...and all for the sake of some jerk.
She had smelled his scent from a far; she had heard his grief stricken wails.
When she found him, he was surrounded by members of Aogiri that had found a way into the P.O.L.M Luna. He was crazed and angry; she didn't know what they'd done to make him like that.
Still, when they made their intention to deliver him to the doctor known as Akihiro Kanou, her blood boiled, her rage kindled and she vowed to fight tooth and nail to protect him.
He would not be used as she was used; He was her other half, he belonged to her; He understood, the burden of her abilities, the pain of being stepped on and the rage needed to get even.
And so she stood beside him as he consumed countless ghouls, fought when he could not cover all sides and lent him her strength. "Kaneki is mine." The words riled something fierce within her...like protecting your young?
Well, it was partly true.
She looked on in shock as Hide came falling from the sky, flip flops blown to the wind. She reached out to grab him but he was already on top of Kaneki, sliding down the scaled head and holding for dear life as he thrashed.
The kakuja opened its mouth wide, roaring in frustration; it could have easily snapped him in two, but it didn't.
Seeing the opening he needed, he swung his fist back..."Hide's one punch special!" With the call, he shoved his arm into the kakuja's mouth, crying out in pain as jaws clamped tightly around it. "Th-thats it Kaneki, just like before..." He coaxed, the kakuja sucking intently on the flesh.
Blood dripped from his arm and pooled in the mouth of the ghoul.
It shrieked, jerking violently and sending Hide crashing to the ground. The smell of human blood sent the remaining attackers, the only ones strong enough to still be living, into a frenzy. Rize met them head on, determined to protect them both...Yes, she definitely wasn't herself today.
The kakuja wailed; it was frantic.
The large form whirled its massive form only to fall to the ground as the shield of scales receded into its body.
Kaneki lie on the ground, mouth red with the blood of his friend, gasping for words that made no sounds.
To Kaneki it was as if he awoke from a hazy dream.
He remembered what he had done; the sounds of humans, ghouls, machinery, and attacks was more than his ears could bear. The sweetness in his mouth was familiar and tears streamed as he staggered towards the body a few feet from him.
Hide lie there pale and shaking, blood leaking profusely from a gaping hole in the side... where his left arm should have been.
Kaneki cried then, bashing his head into the cement ground until bruises lined his forehead and blood gushed. "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry! I'm sorry!...I'M SORRY!" He shrieked "I won't hurt you anymore...-I'll...
"Shut up." Hide managed to snap; eyes very aware and clear.
"If you're sorry, take responsibility, don't run...from the pain, from what's happened, from me..."
Kaneki took a deep breath...and remembered his promise. "Okay."
He looked around him; the battle had been won, at least for now.
Wrapping Hide's wound tightly, he lifted him up, walking towards Kamishiro Rize as she lie out of breath and ragged against the ground. His hollowed eyes met her sparkling ones; he bent down, inhaling her scent.
She hadn't suffered any major injuries but she would need rest; it also appeared that she had been functioning on an empty stomach. A weak smile graced her features, Kaneki ran a hand lightly over her face. "You owe me, Ken..." She said, before her eyes fluttered closed. Kaneki sat beside her with Hide...
The world faded to black as he collapsed.
A dull throb woke Hideyoshi Nagachika from a deep sleep.
His eyes opened slowly, wincing at the light of the sun, peaking through the blinds; His mouth felt chalky and his throat was dry. Sitting up slowly, he closed his eyes against the light and thought...Something had happened. His eyes widened..."I didn't really..."
And then he looked to his left arm, at least, where it once had been. He touched the bandaged area, it didn't really hurt. His right hand clenched the covers tightly, he squeezed his eyes shut against the reality right beside him. "I did it for Kaneki, I did it for my best friend."He whispered, quieting the shock and something else that made him shake.
With some difficulty, he stood upright, overcoming the unevenness of missing one side. He smelled something cooking and headed for the kitchen.
Beaming in a frilled apron, Kamishiro Rize stood at the stove, tending to a frying pan.
"Today, you get a special service." She chirped, showing him the contents; it was human food.
"You can thank Kaneki for this, he wanted to do it and I wanted him to rest, so we switched places."
"Thanks...for this." Hide said "And for the other night."
Before long a steaming plate sat before him; the contents looked edible. "You do know this is still Japan, right?" He joked
Rize smiled "American food is less boring to make." she replied
The two sat quietly, watching the footage that had been recorded about the events of yesterday on the news; battles, glimpses of the full kakuja and attacks were shown.
"The citizens are concerned..." The reporter said; he was speaking to a PR official of the IRF who reassured him that everything was fine.
"This event was orchestrated by our own as an exercise in disaster preparedness and damage control; The full kakuja seen is actually one of our own agents in training, who offered to be apart of the exercise. As the leader in ghoul/human coexistence we are ever vigilant to attacks that subvert this balance and remain your ever watchful servants."
"Whoo, they're really laying it on thick." Hide said, waving a fork in the air. "I guess it's better to avoid the truth, people will panic otherwise."
"It could also create distrust between the races." Rize added, sipping coffee. "I still don't understand what this P.O.L.M intends on achieving with places like these...but it is a lot less unpleasant to be here."
The two turned their attention to the living room as they heard the croaks of life issuing forth.
"Kaneki." Hide said, rising from his seat.
Awareness came to the dark hollowed eyes, he inhaled and relaxed; Kaneki's expression was solemn as he sat up."Ah...Hide." The words came out awkwardly and though he didn't have eyes to see, he averted his gaze. "I...um..." He stammered, fiddling with his pale fingers; he was acting weird, he knew...
"Kamishiro."
It was Hide who broke the awkward silence; his voice was level, no hint of amusement. "Give Kaneki and I a moment; I need to talk to him."
The words were not a suggestion.
Kaneki was surprised as Rize shrugged "Boys will be boys." she scoffed, exiting the living room and heading down the hall.
Now alone, Kaneki's heart began to race; he wanted to throw up.
Sitting down in perfect health, as his friend's limb digested in his foul gut, made him sick. They should have just attacked him, put him down for good, why didn't the IRF do anything?!
"Kaneki."
It was all their fault too. They let Hide into the heart of a battle he couldn't win, they were cowards!
"Look at me, Kaneki."
And that Abe Saito, he was sure he had something to do with it; watching Hide, he probably planned on eating him while he was weak!
"I'm gonna get angry if you don't-"
He would make them pay, it wasn't only his fault...and then, when they'd lost a limb or two, he could face Hid-
"LOOK AT ME!"
He felt the blow to his cheek; it didn't hurt, but the tense muscle, the force behind it; it would be enough to shatter a human jaw. Hoisted by the shirt he wore, he felt eyes boring into him; so Hide was angry.
"Stop acting like this!" Hide yelled jerking him around "Yes, I lost my arm! but that was my decision!" He barked
"I'm sorry Hide, if you had never met me-"
"Shut up!" Hide yelled, throwing him to the floor; that was the intention anyway and Kaneki would oblige.
"Don't act like my decision was a mistake! You may not have come out of that state if they had attacked!" He continued
"I don't want pity...!" Hide said, frustration plain in his voice "You should have just thanked me...Thank you Hide, that would be enough!"
"I won't thank you...for letting me nearly devour you." Kaneki said bitterly, he was being difficult, he knew.
Kaneki could hear it, Hide was at the breaking point.
"Hit me, Hide, then I'll feel better." The words fell from his mouth before he could stop them; beat him, with only one arm?
Before he could retract his request, he was surprised by the sudden strength that sent him back to the ground. And then he felt the force of each blow.
He was yelling now and tears fell on Kaneki's face as he lie beneath the barrage of blows. Yes, he was inconsiderate, yes, he was a jerk and stupid and cruel...everything Hide screamed he was.
Though they would heal in only moments, he relished in the feeling. He knew that no one would be satisfied if they had lost an important part of themselves, even if it was to save a friend.
He knew that it would build up and create a rift between the two; He couldn't bear that and so he had to do it; to bring out the anger that would hide until it poisoned his friend, let him release the frustration that would tear them apart as it lurked in the shadows. "I did this for you!" He heard Hide yell
Yes, just like that, Kaneki thought, until you've rung yourself dry.
When all was quiet, the boy lie panting and out of breath next to the object of his tantrum.
He was spent, from yelling and pummeling his friend into the floor; he didn't expect to lose it like that, it wasn't like him to lose control. He turned to look at the face lying next to him and his eyes widened.
For some odd reason, Kaneki was... smiling...
"What-"
Kaneki sat up, light pink spots the only remnants of the ordeal. He helped Hide up who still hadn't mastered the new balance.
"...Thank you, Hide." Kaneki said; the smile was genuine, Hide could tell..."Kaneki, do you know what a masochist is?" He said slowly
Kaneki looked sheepish "That's not what this is."
"Then..."
As he waits for a response his lids grow heavy, he sways lightly, his body failing beneath him..."Kaneki..."
Kaneki sat outside, controlling his breathing, clearing his mind.
Hide had fallen asleep in exhaustion; he'd make something nice for him when he woke. Right now, he had a different focus.
Kaneki opened his eyes in the expanse of his mind; he wasn't sure how it worked but now he could control the transition to his subconscious. Just as he expected, he was there, sitting and waiting for him on a chair of shadow.
"It appears you're not here for another lesson." The Centipede said
"No, I'm not." Kaneki replied firmly
The Centipede stood from his place and was soon before his younger self. "I'm at your service none the less."
"Where were you...when all of that happened." Kaneki demanded "I thought you were supposed to help me keep things under control."
The Centipede looked thoughtful "That was out of my control, Kaneki. I can only consolidate the aberrations caused by the consumption of ghouls. Grief is something I have no power over...your emotions are your own." he said solemnly
"You could have told me she wasn't dead." Kaneki returned evenly
"How could I? In that moment, everything fit as your mind wanted it to. The ghoul you killed that decieved you, she used mind games, and our human psyche fell for it." The Centipede said
Kaneki frowned "All you go on about is how my human self is the pro-
"It is." The Centipede said, interrupting. "Yesterday it cost us a part of Hide...What will it cost us tomorrow?"
Kaneki remained silent "I don't understand what you want me to do. I've been training...and yet."
The Centipede made his way to Kaneki's side; He rested a hand on his head. "Don't over think it...your transformation yesterday and the fact that you remember it is a big accomplishment."
Kaneki sighed; there was no staying angry at himself. He sat down in the quiet of his mind, the Centipede joined him.
"You say you are the complete ghoul brain...but you also call yourself, 'me'...the older me." Kaneki began
The Centipede looked curiously "Yes, Is it weird to do that?"
Kaneki shook his head "I was just wondering, if you are the older me...then that means you would be from the future."
The Centipede's eyes widened a bit "That would make sense." He said; the tone was light, neither acknowledging nor ignoring the statement. "What do you think, Kaneki?"
Kaneki sat quiet, thinking. "I think if you're a consciousness tied to my future self, then you know things, things that will happen..."
The Centipede remained silent.
"But if that's the case, you should be living out your time in a body...10 years in the future maybe." He continued "It wouldn't be possible to-
"Explore with only my consciousness?" The Centipede answered.
Kaneki nodded
The Centipede looked at him, eyes seeming to search for something; after a moment, he smiled. "Well then, that's the end of that conversation." he said with laughter
"Whats so funny?" Kaneki asked, he wasn't sure what the joke was.
The Centipede smiled "I thought this conversation would take us somewhere interesting, but I am bound until you say so..."
"Bound to what?" Kaneki asked
A dark wind whirls suddenly in the space of his mind, the Centipede rises with it. "Wait!" Kaneki called amidst the roar "Bound to what!" He called
The Centipede smiled, looking apologetic as he faded from his mind. "I'm sorry, I've tripped the breaker, we'll continue later..." He replied cryptically
When Kaneki came to awareness, the sun had lowered noticeably.
He also smelled something...unannounced guests.
Kaneki stormed into the house just as two individuals were standing up from their seats in the living room. Kaneki frowned. "Get out." He demanded
The guests were two ghouls he was not thrilled to see.
"And a good evening to you as well, Kaneki-kun." Abe Saito returned evenly
"We aren't here to see you, nut job." Kurosawa snapped
Hide looked in surprise at everyone's sour reaction"Its okay Kaneki, they called earlier, they wanted to see me."
Kaneki's senses were on high alert "Why did you let them in, Rize-san?" He questioned to the woman reclining on a love seat, fashion magazine in hand.
"Hm? I thought you were all buddy buddy with the IRF." She replied simply
He walked towards them, his gaze level "What do you want to talk to Hide about? "
Abe Saito cleared his throat, handing a manilla folder to Hide's outstretched hand. "We have already spoken to him; the rest is for him to decide."
At the response, Kaneki looked at Hide; He wasn't meeting his gaze.
Seeing the two out, Kaneki went into the living room to find Hide staring at the folder, deep in thought.
"If there was a way for me to get my arm back...would you support me in it?" He heard Hide ask; his heart was racing, he was nervous, afraid.
To Kaneki it was a strange thing; Hide never exhibited any signs of distress at his presence. He didn't want that to become a habit and so he walked over to the couch and sat close to him; filling the space between their bodies.
"Kaneki?" Hide said, trying to wiggle away from the warm skin. "Our faces are touching, your body's hot." He whined, trying to pry his cheek from the ghoul's.
Kaneki remained resolute "Not until you tell me what you mean by that question."
Hide frowned, then huffed and finally spoke; Good, hes' fine now, Kaneki thought, moving easily from the close exchange.
Hide stood up abruptly and turned, pointing directly at him.
"Its rude to point, Hide." Kaneki chided
"Don't sweat the small stuff!" Hide barked lightly "Listen up, Kaneki...I'm not a science whizz but I'll try to explain what they were telling me." He began
"Its common for ghoul organizations to leak and or 'borrow' information and secrets from each other, as long as their adapted and reengineered, its okay. The IRF's 'Rc skin' was borrowed by the CCG and they adapted it into what are known as the quinque's of today. Then the IRF borrowed information about quinques to develop something called the 'Skein'." He finished
Kaneki nodded "And they want to try this 'skein' out on you?" He said, unthrilled.
Hide paused, he wanted his approval; Kaneki knew that but he was not going to give it. Hide didn't know what he was getting himself into by trying something so risky.
"Anyway...this small box has the same time release feature as the quinque; the difference is that these Rc cells have had a parasitic strain introduced; when they insert this small box where my arm used to be, my blood will initiate the release and as the organic material mixes with mine, the parasitic nature will cause it to mimic the tissues and repair them...thus giving me back my arm."
Kaneki sighed "Its not that simple, Hide, the introduction of those Rc cells, concentrated in that way, could turn you into a ghoul."
Hide shook his head "Thats why they introduced the parasite; as long as its host is healthy and I keep supplying nutrients, which would be my blood, it won't mutate; it will reproduce but since its mimicking the tissues, it will end up making my arm really strong."
Kaneki was unsure of how to feel about the new information; Hide was sounding hopeful and since it was his fault, he had no right to tell him not to do it or that he couldn't. He heard Hide begin to fidget and spoke:
"I could stop you...if only to protect you." He started, feeling the rise in his friend's heart beat "...but that would be selfish and its not like I have an arm to give you." He finished, feeling the same heart beat slow.
"So..." Hide started
Kaneki gave a small smile "I don't like it...but I support your decision Hide."
The explosion of glee that followed, warmed Kaneki's chest; Hide beamed, pulling him into a strong embrace. "Thanks!" He said, causing the blood to rush to the ghoul's cheeks.
Kaneki waved him away, lest how happy it made him be obvious. "Their using Rc cells in this organic box right? Whose are they? Some ghoul had to contribute them."
Hide looked sheepish "S-someone...special."
"Who?" Kaneki questioned
"You."
Note: As Tokyo Ghoul: RE progresses I fully intend on tying its reveals and events with this story...somehow. lol Just have to see more chapters from Ishida-san :)
Sometimes I update in a week's time, sometime it could be months; the chapters write themselves and I'm kind of just watching it all like a movie and writing everything down as I see it.
I love creating worlds for characters to grow in; I like seeing them do things they've always wanted to; I like them to heal a little; laugh a little; before I throw them into turmoil.
People never stay 'in character' their whole lives; your 'in character' changes with events that happen so I can imagine a character doing a complete 360 and becoming anyone; I let them run wild.
I'm also a big supporter of giving side characters some growth time.
The time on the P.O.L.M Luna is not a plot device to bad-assery...When they come back there WILL be a lot going on so this 'Arc', if you will, kind of sets up how they will react to events in the future.
HK44
