Tokyo Ghoul: The Other Story
Chapter 8: Lesson
The next morning the alarm on Hinami's phone went off at half seven, a lot earlier than a usual Wednesday since it's meant to be her day off but today was a special day and she awoke with a excitement and determination. Today she was going to be sitting in on her big brothers lessons and hopefully prove her use in unravelling the mystery behind her brother's new students.
The young ghoul climbed out of bed, took a quick shower before getting dressed and headed down stairs and to her surprise she heard her brother's voice. She reached the bottom step to find Kaneki sitting at the kitchen table with a large coffee mug in his hand and the phone in the other, he seemed to be finishing off a conversation with someone. Hinami stood still by the entrance keeping quiet and watching her brothers back, he was slouching and his hair was messier than usual mornings.
Hinami wondered how long the half-ghoul had been up, she had heard from Hide that he had some sleepless night and that his nightmares were coming back but he refused to talk about them. Hinami felt sadness wash other her like a giant wave, she loved Kaneki like her the brother she never had but she couldn't help but hate it when he wouldn't talk about his own troubles even when he tried so hard to fix everyone else's.
And Hinami couldn't do anything about it.
The younger ghoul was lost in her sea of emotions that she didn't notice Kaneki put the phone down and jumped in surprised when he noticed the girl standing there. The half-ghoul nearly knocked other his coffee it was only then was Hinami snapped out of her thoughts.
"Hinami?" Kaneki explained once he calmed down "How long had you been standing there?" Hinami forced a smile.
"Not long" She explained reassuringly "I had only just come down a second ago, who were talking too?" Hinami couldn't help but asked, Kaneki smiled as he stood up to put the phone back in the holder.
"I was just talking to Tsukiyama-san" He answered "Would you like some coffee?" He asked quickly, Hinami nodded and Kaneki talked while he was making his sisters coffee. "I was asking him about his father and Rosewald and also some more information on Matsumae".
"Well what did he have to say?" Hinami asked as she waited for water to boil.
"Well Tsukiyama didn't know much because he's been in France for past month and hasn't had much contact with his family, but he didn't know anything about the auction and was surprised to hear the three names mentioned". Kaneki explained "But he did give me some information if one of them decides to attack us, so listen carefully".
Hinami nodded determined to learn this new information.
"Matsumae is a Rinkaku type" Kaneki explained then Hinami interrupted,
"So like you?" She said but Kaneki shook her head,
"Not really" He said solemnly "Tsukiyama also said that she has the rare ability to detach her kagune".
"Is that even possible!" Hinami gasped, she watched her brother stir the coffee and hand it to her.
"I've heard rumours about it" Kaneki said taking a sip of his own coffee "But I've never seen it done before and I have no idea how it works, I mean there must be a certain disadvantage to detaching a kagune but until I learn more about it let's try to avoid Matsumae if she's here".
"But what about that Kanae von Rosewald and the father, Mirumo Tsukiyama I think his name was?" Hinami had a hard time grasping onto the fact that Tsukiyama had parents.
"Tsukiyama-san hasn't had much communication with his father after he join me to take down the ghoul restaurants four years ago" Kaneki explained before finishing his coffee in one gulp and he put it back in the sink "But he reassured me that that his father is too 'upper-class' to fight for himself, he would have paid ghouls fighting for him probably Matsumae and maybe von Rosewald".
"Tsukiyama-san also seemed a bit reluctant to talk about Kanae" Kaneki looked a little uneasy "But told me he's strong but he's not as strong as Tsukiyama-san so he shouldn't be too much of a problem, like me he's a Rinkaku type". The half-ghoul winked smiling.
"It seems that we haven't got much to worry about" Hinami said hopefully but she knew that was wrong, there was still the CCG and other Aogiri Tree to worry about and Kaneki also seemed to be having the same thought because he had a look of concern on his face and his eyes seemed to find the kitchen sink very interesting. Suddenly a loud and cheerful voice brock them out their thoughts.
"Well this has started off a happy morning!" Kaneki and Hinami felt themselves jump out of their skin especially for Kaneki since it was his second fright today. They both turned to see Hide leaning against the wall by the stairs with a smug look on his face and eyes closed, he seemed pretty impressed with the two ghouls face expressions.
"Honestly, is everyone in this house set upon giving me a heart attack?" Kaneki shouted in annoyance, could ghouls even get heart attacks?
Hide just laughed at his friend's reaction "honestly I thought you two where ghouls, surly one of you would have heard me coming down the stairs or smelt me close by".
"Of course we can smell you, you live here!" Kaneki said wanting to face-palm himself "You're scent is all over the place!"
"How long have you been standing their?" Hinami asked, now knowing how Kaneki felt a few minutes before.
"Probably since Kaneki told you that he was talking to Tsukiyama-san" Hide walked further into the room "I wouldn't worry about the Tsukiyama family at the moment, we don't even know for 100% that they coming so let's just worry about the CCG for now".
"You're right" Kaneki said nodding then he turned to Hinami "Are you sure you want to come to my class today?" He asked the female ghoul "it could be dangerous if Urie-kun is working for the CCG".
"I'll be careful I promise" Hinami said hand on heart with fire in her eyes, she was going to prove her powers can be useful, she knew Kaneki and Hide knew this but she had to prove to herself that she was capable and can be a part of the team as much as everyone else.
After getting washed, dressed and organised the trio set off to their assigned occupations, all three hoping that today was the day that they make a break-though.
Xxx
By half past eight Urie, Shirazu, Mutsuki and even Saiko where hanging about in the collage café waiting until it was time to go to class. The group was sitting around a small table in the corner, Saiko was playing on her old Gameboy, Shirazu was picking at his shark like teeth, Mutsuki was catching up on the homework he missed the other day and Urie was the only one thinking about the investigation. But his thoughts were interrupted when Mutsuki tapped him on the shoulder and pointed.
"Hey, I think Sasaki-sensei coming this way?" Urie, Shirazu and Saiko looked towards the direction where Sasaki was coming towards them, he looked a little tired but he greeted them with a happy smile on his face.
"Mutsuki-kun, Shirazu-kun" The teacher explained with a look of surprise on his face "I didn't expect you two back so soon!" He took note of Mutsuki's clutches and Shirazu's bandaged hand, of course Sasaki didn't know about Shirazu's incident from yesterday so he just assumed that he got it from the taxi accident.
"Oh yeah" Shirazu grinned showing his bandaged hand to Sasaki "It's just a cut is all and I'm ambidextrous so I can still write".
"And it's only my foot that hurts" Mutsuki reassured "Besides I still have a month's work to catch up on!"
Sasaki nodded understandingly "Well if you two start feeling ill or are in too much pain you're welcome to have the day off".
"Thank you sensei!" Shirazu and Mutsuki thanked then Sasaki turned towards Saiko.
"And you Yonebayashi-kun, how are you feeling Urie told me you were ill yesterday?" Saiko started at the sensei and blinked before saying with a slight smile.
"It was just a stomach bug, I feel better now" Sasaki smiled and patted the young woman on the shoulder affectingly which surprised her, then he bide them goodbye and that he would see them in lesson.
"How long do we have him today?" Mutsuki asked once the teacher was a good distance away from the café.
"All morning" Shirazu answered a little grumpy then he turned towards Urie "Have you discovered anything unusual about him yet?"
"No" Urie lied, he hadn't told his group or the CCG that Sasaki had a sister and cursed himself for nearly telling Suzuya. No, if the credit was going too shared he might as well have a little something to back him up and Hinami Sasaki was his key.
"Oh that's good" Shirazu said "Give it couple more weeks then we can go back to Tokyo!"
"And it would be a shame if he was a ghoul particularly if he was Ken Kaneki" Mutsuki said with glee.
"You mean Centipede?" Shirazu corrected
"Or Eyepatch" Saiko said quietly, the others missing the grim look on her face.
Xxx
Kaneki was walking up to class, he decided to take the stairs so he had more time for his thoughts to sink in.
He wasn't sure if she would feel glad or worried that all four of his new students were here today when he had Hinami sitting in his class. The negative or maybe the 'conscientious' part of Kaneki was saying that if those four were CCG investigators then the more danger he and Hinami were in, what if bringing Hinami into his class was exposing to the investigators that she see could also be a ghoul? They would be watching Hinami like a bird watches its prey! What if she slipped something up that might suggest her to be a ghoul? Or they noticed something 'unhuman' about her.
He shook those thoughts from his head and tried to listen to the reasonable or more optimistic side of this brain that said the Hinami wasn't stupid, she had been posing as a normal human since they came to this town and had been doing a very good job of it as she was able to eat in front of friends and was doing very well in her lessons. And besides even if the CCG did work out she was a ghoul she could easily handle them herself with both her rinkaku and koukaku kagune and her privet lessons with Kaneki were giving her the skill and the knowledge to fight and not just in strength.
Also there was a good chance that the more possible CCG investigators there are the more Hinami could learn and there was also the chance that they might discuss between each other what they had learnt. But as soon as Kaneki reached out to push the door to enter the third floor his thoughts were interrupted by a fellow staff member calling his name.
"Haise-kun!" he turned in surprise towards the elderly female teacher behind him, honestly what was it with people making him jump today? He smiled pleasantly at the woman, she was small in size barely reaching Kaneki's upper body, he guessed she was probably around fifty years old with her neat grey hair tied in a bun on top of her head and he face look more winkled due to smiling to much or being out in the harsh weather too long more than age.
Kaneki had a respect for this woman, when he first started working at this college she had taken him under her wing and took the time to make sure he was settling in ok and always had some helpful tips and advice to give. They had a strong friendship.
She also taught his form students Asian History.
"Honda-san!" the young half-ghoul smiled giving a small respectful bow "You surprised me then, is there something you need?"
The older shook her head "You don't need to be so respectful with me Haise-kun" She said kindly "We are good friends are we not?"
"Well of course we are" the male smiled broadly as he straightened himself up "Is something wrong?"
"In face Haise-kun there is" The woman said with a sudden sadness in her voice "I'm afraid this no casual friendship meeting, I understand Yonebayashi, Shirazu and Mutsuki were off collage yesterday due to unfortunate circumstances but I thought that Urie-kun would still be attending his lessons as normal?"
"Of course he is" Sasaki nodded "He came to my lesson as normal yesterday morning and was in the afternoon, did he not attend you're lesson yesterday?"
"No, he didn't" Honda shook her head worryingly "That's why I came to ask you about it"
"Well I have him this morning" Kaneki said "I will have a word with him, do you want me to send him up to your class room at break time?"
"Oh no" The old woman smiled reassuringly "There is no good forcing those who don't want to learn all we do is try to point them to the right path which I know you yourself are capable of". Kaneki couldn't but swell with pride at her words, having being complemented by this woman always made him want to work harder. The main reason that Kaneki liked this woman was because she always remained him of a certain old Manger that used to work at Anteiku…
"Alright then" Kaneki nodded taking her words into account "I'm sorry but I have a class to go to" and like that the two parted ways, Honda-san going back down stairs to the second floor while Kaneki pushed open the door to the third floor who was suddenly in a better mood.
Xxx
Hinami was sat on one the benches outside the staff room when she noticed her onii-chan walking towards her with a slight smile on his face that Hinami hadn't seen for nearly two days. But it wasn't a fake smile it was genuine hopeful smile it not a little devious. Did her brother have a plan?
"You look happy" Hinami said as Kaneki came closer,
"Of course I am" Kaneki said "I've just spoken to someone who has giving me a flash of inspiration" He paused as he leaned in closer to Hinami so he could whisper "I learnt something strange from Honda-san, she told me that Urie skipped her class yesterday". This perked Hinami's interest.
"But you said yesterday that he was in your lessons both in the morning and in the afternoon?"
"Yes he was" Kaneki nodded in agreement "So he either doesn't like History or he had to leave at some point in that time and also what was the point of him coming back to my class in the afternoon?"
"It is a little strange…" Hinami said putting her hand on her chin in thought "Are you going to mention it to him?"
"As his form tutor I will have to" Kaneki shrugged "He might even talk about it to his three friends".
"But I thought Mutsuki and Shirazu were meant to be staying at home, they had just come out of hospital!" Hinami gasped but Kaneki just shook his head.
"Well I've never seen such diligent students…" He said with a sigh but his face suddenly turned solemn as he met Hinami's eyes "Remember, all four of them are here so the stakes are higher but it also means we grain more information. If you plan to go through with this you have to be extra careful".
Hinami nodded in understanding "I will be careful, I won't even have to talk to them". Kaneki nodded satisfied then he had to go to staff room to collect his notes for today's class and Hinami waited outside.
Xxx
At nine o'clock Urie, Shirazu, Mutsuki and Saiko where sitting on the middle row of the lecture room with the rest of the students. Many of their peers have come up to Shirazu and Mutsuki asking if they were ok and how they got their accidents, of course the two didn't say anything.
The group was almost relived when Sasaki came into the class room and shouted to everyone to get back in their seats. The students suddenly scurried back to their places and Sasaki walked further into his class room and to everyone's surprise a young woman was at his heals.
"Who the hell is that?" Shirazu whispered to Urie but the purple haired investigator didn't answer he was too busy staring at the brown haired girl before him as he suddenly felt that extra credit slip from his gasp. Now the rest of his squad was going to know about Hinami Sasaki and credit was going to be spilt further,
"This is Hinami Sasaki!" The sensei announced putting arm out towards the girl "She is my sister and does Art here at this collage but today on her day off she has decided to observe this class, so please everyone be nice to her and be on your best behaviour".
"I can't remember the report saying that Sasaki-sensei had a sister" Mutsuki whispered, even Saiko was on full alert so none of them noticed the hatred boring in Urie's eyes as he stared at the two 'ghouls'.
Hinami walked up the stairs and to the surprise of the four CCG investigators she sat right next to Saiko at the end of the seat.
"Ok…" Sasaki started begin his class but Urie wasn't listening for the blood was pumping in his ears out of anger and hatred for the teacher in front of him, had Sasaki done this on purpose? To take away his credit? Obviously Urie wasn't thinking straight at this point and didn't notice how uncomfortable the other three looked.
Mutsuki and Shirazu were basically thinking the same thing for none of them could remember any family info on Haise Sasaki on the report or hearing about it from any of their fellow investigators. In fact Ken Kaneki wasn't said to have any siblings either. Mutsuki risked a glance at Hinami then at Sasaki, none of them had any close family features expect for their last name but names could be changed, what if they weren't siblings at all? Mutsuki didn't know why that would be important but what troubled him more was the fact why did Hinami have Haise's last name? Where they adopted sibling? Where these two hiding something? He hoped not.
However all Saiko was thinking was why is this girl sitting next to me? And where did she come from?
The four rank three investigators were so mixed up in their thoughts and feelings that they didn't realised that their mysterious teacher had asked them a question.
"Mutsuki-kun, Shirazu-kun, Yonebayashi-kun, Urie-kun are you four even listening to me?!" Sasaki snapped jumping the students out of their thoughts. The four stared blankly at their teacher not knowing what to say or what the lesson was even about. Kaneki took note of their blank faces and sighed in annoyance,
"I will ask it again" He said, he asked the question again (Note: I don't know what kind of literature stuff they would teach college students in Japan but I'm guessing it's not Shakespeare so please bear with me).But evenwhen the question was asked the four still didn't understand.
"Oh come on guys" Sasaki sighed "we discussed this topic ten minutes ago, who else can help out their fellow students?" Just then to everyone surprise Hinami stood up and answered the question almost perfectly, the others stared at her in amazement despite being in the class for less than half an hour she had answered a question better than all the class put together. Never the less Sasaki was impressed, this was little 'sister' after all.
"Very well done Hinami-chan!" Sasaki praised the girl who was beaming madly "If only you had chosen the path of literature instead of Art…." The teacher sighed mockingly and went back to the lesson, the others making sure to listen this time.
Xxx
Once the lesson had ended for break everyone moved out the room desperate for a well needed toilet break. The four investigators were about to leave until the teacher called out.
"Urie-kun!" Sasaki called out "Can you wait here for a moment?" Urie breathed a sigh of frustration, if he had to be honest Sasaki was the very last person he wanted to see at this moment. The other three shared a look with him clearly worried, then Urie turned his back on them accidently brushing shoulders with Hinami who was going the opposite way towards the door including his three squad members.
"Anything you needed Sensei?" Urie asked so soon as the door closed behind them, the investigator kept his voice pleasant enough but he hoped that the glare in his eyes and the face expression was enough to back the teacher off. But if Sasaki noticed Urie's mood he didn't reacted to it.
"Well I just spoke to your History teacher this morning" Sasaki started seating himself at his desk making himself look important "She said you skipped class yesterday" He said slowly awaiting Urie's reaction but the student in front of him kept his face neutral and calm though he didn't like the angry look in his eyes. "Can you explain why you didn't go to class?"
"I went to visit Mutsuki at the hospital" Urie lied.
"That's fine but couldn't you have visited after college?" The teacher asked "You can't avoid to skip class Urie-kun, you are already a month behind everyone else".
"I understand Sensei" Urie said, he didn't want to argue he wanted to leave before he found himself stabbing this teacher with the quinque in his bag. Luckily this simple talk seemed to work with Sasaki because he didn't know what else to say, he was sure the teacher was expecting an argument and this put the teacher off guard.
"Ok" Sasaki nodded with a hint of frustration in his voice "Next time you need go early come to see me about it first". Urie didn't say anything after that, he just turned his back on the teacher and marched out the room slamming the door shut with a bang.
Oche! Urie's a bit pissed off now lol
Seriously guys, only one review for the last chapter? I'm happy on the amount of followers I get but I like knowing what my readers think and it gives me drive to update faster and write longer chapters, when there is no reviews I feel like I'm doing something wrong in my story.
I plan to get this first part of the series done before the end of July so I can start the second part in August, that's how long this story is going to take to write and we haven't got long until the auction raid but there is some things that need to be addressed before that can happen such as character development and relationships Kan(cough) kie(cought) and Tou(cough) ka.
This was more of a set up for the next chapter, which I can't wait to start writing.
I hope you stick with me
Becky4ever1996
