Chapter Nine
In the Lion's Den
Inside Re, sirens had drowned out every sensation but dread. Kaneki couldn't even feel confused at the blasting colors. All he could do was hear their panicked screams.
"We're trapped." Ayato pounded his fists. Hinami could not be caught again. If he had to die for her, he would. He absolutely would.
"Are we the only ones in here?" Kaneki asked, stumbling towards the door. His hands fumbled for the light switch, plunging them into darkness.
The hazy outside cleared. They were surrounded, and across the street, he spied the Oggai's short figures bouncing up and down.
Children.
"Us and Roma. She's upstairs." Touka crossed her arms.
"Can we leave her as a distraction and run for it?" demanded Ayato.
"She'll die!" gasped Hinami.
"Roma has made herself our enemy," Touka said uncertainly.
"Then leave her," said Aura.
"If Aura says to do it, we should do the opposite." Urie scowled from his position next to Mutsuki's unconscious body.
"Why?" cried Aura. "Do you want to be a fugitive like Mado? Or executed?"
"Do you want to shut up?" countered Urie, eyes flashing.
"Urie, we shouldn't fight now," said Saiko, chewing on her lower lip.
"I agree with the Quinx," called Hinami. Her smile unsettled Saiko's stomach – she was so cute and innocent.
How did you see so much and not want ro dive away under a mountain of blankets and sweets? Saiko wondered. Well, sweets probably weren't an option.
"He knew. He knew Mutsuki was losing his mind, and he did nothing because he wanted vengeance," spat Urie. "Aura, you're dead to me."
"I'll accept anyone's death to anyone so long as no one actually dies," Hsaio said dryly.
"Hey, I mean, he helped betray his own squad. Why don't we leave him too?" suggested Ayato. He had no use for this tall, disloyal whiner.
"Shut up, teenager," snapped Saiko, throwing her hands in the air. "All of us shut up! Let's figure a way out of this."
"I'll get Roma." Hinami spun around to head upstairs.
"Higemaru, accompany her." Saiko ignored Urie's glare. He was in no shape to lead.
"Uh – uh –" Higemaru hesitated. He didn't want to displease Urie.
"Do it," Urie said tiredly.
"Okay!" He bounded upstairs.
"I'm coming, too," insisted Ayato.
Hinami forced herself to giggle. "Hi." She waved at Higemaru. "This is Ayato. He's so anxious, isn't he, Higemaru?"
"Are we sure about this?" whispered Amon.
He remembered waiting around a coffee shop four years ago, back when he still had a certain morality to cling to, as they prepared to take down their great enemy.
He touched his eye. And now he's a part of me.
"Yes," said Hirako, staring up at the black building blocking their view. "We can't not be. We know CCG best."
After that building lay Re, lay CCG and Furuta and Oggai and their friends.
It's weird, isn't it? I'm happy to be on Eyepatch's team. Amon squirmed.
"It'll be like old times," said Seidou with a grin, elbowing Akira. "Right, Mado?"
Akira rolled her eyes. "Are you competing with me again?"
Seidou's shoulders slumped. "I can't anymore."
Shit. She felt like Maris Stella's litter box.
"Oh, I see. You're competing against Amon now, Owl." Akira poked him. She didn't know what else to say.
Something in her smile struck Seidou to smile back. "You got me."
"Kids," muttered Hirako.
"Shut it, human." Seidou snapped his fingers.
"Hold on." Amon pressed his phone to his ear. "Chie?" He nodded, and hung up with a cringe. "They're in the sewers."
"Damn, she's good," Seidou said. "CCG could have used her. If – you know – "
"That means it's on us." Akira motioned to the remnants of Arima's squad. "We'll clear the way. You two get ready to pull out your kakuja or whatever it is you do."
"That's so imprecise for you," said Seidou, head askance.
Akira delivered a withering look. "I'm learning we're all allowed mistakes."
"Does Suzuya tell you much about the CCG?" Yoriko clutched a cup of coffee and leaned towards Nami.
"Some," Nami answered evasively. Decaf coffee felt like an abomination, but this girl ad been sweet enough to brew some, so she would drink it.
"It's so mysterious." Yoriko grinned, but her eyes faded. "Takeomi can't tell me much, but I worry for him."
"They have strength in numbers," Nami said, unsure how to comfort her. What did Yoriko want to hear? "I'm sure he will be okay."
Yoriko traced the top of the cup with her fingers. "It's not that. It's – the CCG's direction. The mass slaughters are shocking, to me and to him. And welcoming that Dr. Frankenstein back – it's frightening."
"Doctor?" Nami asked, her heart palpitating. "Do you mean Kanou?"
"Has Suzuya told you about him, too? His ethical history is disturbing, don't you agree? I mean, I'm only a baker, I know, but …" Yoriko trailed off.
Nami's mind whirred. Kanou worked for CCG now? He – he was the one she was chasing. Wherever Rize had vanished, she would find answers with him.
I went to Hisen and submitted myself to capture and escape, and he was before me the entire time.
He was one person – Juuzou – removed from her.
"I know, Nami." Yoriko stared at the brown liquid in her mug. "I should hate ghouls. They probably killed my best friend a few years ago. But I – I can't hate someone I don't know, you know?"
"Yes, I do know." Nami leant forward and grabbed Yoriko's wrist.
The other woman looked up with a start to see – a kagunan shining from the other woman's eyes.
"Oh." Yoriko blinked.
"You see?" Nami shook her head.
Suzuya was fighting GOAT now. People were dying all around them, and soon would be her turn.
All she had was an answer dangling before her, and it was all she really wanted before leaving. "Kanou took my friend. Once. I've been looking for her since. And now she's before me."
"How can I help?" Yoriko set down her coffee. "I won't tell, by the way."
"You could, if you wanted. I wouldn't blame you." Nami squeezed her eyes shut. "I need to sneak into CCG. It will be dangerous – but if you could help disguise me so Suzuya doesn't come under suspicion of course –"
"Disguises will be easy." Yoriko stood. "I'm coming."
"It will be dangerous." Anxiety tickled Nami's stomach.
"Look. Clearly the world is much more complex than I know." Yoriko bent down to smile at Nami. "But if it helps Takeomi, I'd do anything."
The sewers smelt of decay and excrement and slime, and Suzuya thought that fitting. He felt as disgusting as their surroundings. He wanted Haise – Kaneki to be okay. He felt lost.
Miyuki's yelp was the first indication anything was wrong.
Juuzou spun around as Keijin slammed into the slick sewer wall. One kick sent Mizorou tripping over him, and then it was just him and Hanbee left.
"Sorry," said Hirako Take, emerging from around the corner. "But you should probably put down your quinques."
Akira Mado stepped out from behind him. "Suzuya."
"Mado?"
"I know you won't believe me, but I'm doing the right thing." Akira nodded to her side. Who was there? Ghouls, no doubt. "I can knock you out if it's easier. It would have been for me."
"Have you gone mad?" cried Hanbee, stepping closer to his leader. They wouldn't hurt Suzuya. Not on his watch.
"Sane, actually. I'm trying to prevent another two investigators from dying." Akira looked pointedly at them.
Suzuya drew a knife from his pocket. Slowly. He had to, right? "Are you sure?"
Akira tilted her head. It was time for what little information Karren had provided her. "You're the one who's friends with the little breeder, right?"
"Don't call her that!"
Akira spoke as fast as she could. They didn't have much time before the rest of his squad awoke. "If you want to help her, your best odds are to lay down your weapons and listen to us. Believe it or not, Kaneki also wants to help her. You've never been stupid; you have to know GOAT is her best chance."
Suzuya frowned. "She knows Kaneki?"
He'd always known, hadn't he? He just hadn't wanted to believe her.
"Now." Hirako cleared his throat as Shio Ihei, Yusa Arima, and Rikai Souza dove on Hanbee.
"Ah!" cried Hanbee as the young investigators giggled. "Don't fight."
Suzuya's Jason sas torn from his hand, and he felt himself falling, as two kakuja ghouls shot past Suzuya.
When he leapt to follow them, he felt Mado's arms around his neck. "Don't fight me. You're just going to get very sleepy."
Ahead of him, the two ghouls hammered the slick stones, decimating the sewer wall.
CCG loomed ahead, the dark metropolis from which ghouls, Quinxes, and humans were held prisoner. Some within cells, some without, Nami thought.
Yoriko hesitated. "Nami, it's probably none of my business, but I'm glad you told me…about who you are."
Nami adjusted the itchy, straight black wig on her head. How did people like Yoriko stand bangs? "I'm grateful you don't hate me."
Yoriko pushed the glass doors and hesitated. "I had a friend who hid everything once. She eventually disappeared. I don't know what her secrets were, but I think she kept them because she was afraid. I wish people wouldn't act just because they're afraid."
"Me too," Nami said, swallowing hard.
"My cousin and I are going to wait in Takeomi's office!" Yoriko waltzed into CCG and waved at a purple-haired secretary. She hugged Nami and waving her engagement ring around for all to see.
"Of course, it's on the third floor, left," said the woman as the two women breezed past the RC scanners.
Roma was a surprisingly pretty ghoul whose glare probably could have killed every officer outside. She hissed at the Quinx squad. "Going to feed me to the wolves?"
"The opposite, actually," Kaneki said. "We're going to escape with you."
Roma threw back her head and laughed. "I see. Oh, right. You and what army?"
"His family is his army," Touka said, offering Saiko a slight smile.
"I don't like her," Aura said, returning Roma's glare.
"Good, maybe she can kill you," Urie said.
"Urie!" Saiko cried.
"Urie." Kaneki knelt next to him. I'm so sorry. "You'll be okay. So will Mustuki. I promise."
"Why should we believe you?"
"Because Kaneki has never stopped fighting for you guys," Hinami said. "Or you, Roma."
Roma snorted, but Touka jumped in, pressing her hand over her heart. "He wants to die to make the world better for us and you, for humans and ghouls. I know he loves you all."
"Maman – you –"
"You're suicidal?" Urie started.
"I – I – no," Kaneki lied lamely. Saiko's face pouted, and he knew if she saw through his lies, everyone did.
He deserved to die by his own hand, not Mutsuki.
The floor erupted, sending Urie tumbling over Mutsuki's body. When he looked up, he saw his former leader shielding him, and, in turn, his blue-haired lady ghoul shielding Kaneki.
What – do you really – care?
"Seidou!" cried Ayato. "And Amon!"
"Floppy?" Saiko's eyes looked about to fall out.
"You." From their closed quinque cases, Amon could only assume these Quinxes had sided with GOAT. Only Eyepatch. Wasn't he always behind every strange happenstance?
"You're rescuing us?"
Hsaio squeezed Saiko's hand. Finally, Saiko could find her answers.
"Well, duh." Seidou scoffed.
"Tsukiyama suggested only former CCG officials come, but we're all waiting for you in the hideout." Akira Mado lifted herself into Re, only to stop a the sight of Mutsuki's pallid figure. "What happened?"
"Long story," Urie said. "But for now, we're on your side."
"Pretty impressive, men." Akira placed her hands on her hips and beamed at the two kakujas.
"You didn't hate me?" Amon gazed down his kagune. "I'm one of them now, Akira. It's okay."
"No." Akira grabbed his kakuja and pressed her lips against his.
In front of everyone. Amon's flesh burned.
"Oh my god yes," giggled that annoying male rabbit.
"Move now, kiss later?" suggested Hirako, waving Kaneki towards him the floor. "We don't have long. Besides, we have ten more minutes to give a clear signal or Yomo's leading round two, and I'd really rather him not."
Kaneki slid into the swearers and stopped at Suzuya's body. "Um."
"He'll wake up soon," Akira assured him. "I but him in a sleep hold."
"Thank you, Mado," Kaneki said quietly.
Akira eyed him. He didn't even want Suzuya to die? How had he killed Arima, then?
"The lab must be in the basement. I think. It's where all hidden things are, right?" Nami tried to laugh as she pressed the button to close the elevator.
"Well, if they want a controlled environment, I would think so." Yoriko brushed her hair out of her eyes. A thrill ran through her.
"I know Director Fur – Director Washuu. He'd insist on the basement for a meta-joke, if nothing else." Nami crossed her arms. CCG had many labs, but Souta would want Kanou as close as possible.
She hoped she was right. But at least she wasn't wasting this chance to find more answers.
"Is he part of the reason why you're disguised?"
Would Yoriko panic if she knew Nami had already been caught before? Probably not, but Nami decided that should wait until later.
The elevator dinged merrily as its doors swished open. Nami paled. "He's not the only one I know."
"What are we looking for, exactly?" whispered Yoriko, following Nami on her tiptoes.
The hall was dim and desolate. A light flickered around the corner.
"If I know the director…there's a lab we're looking inside the one we're not. Kanou needs to seem legitimate." Nami still couldn't believe she was breaking into CCG. Now. Of all times.
But why wait? What had waiting ever brought her?
"What if he's here? Now's the perfect chance to do something illicit, when most investigators are hyperventilating over GOAT." Yoriko twiddled her thumbs.
"I can't entertain that possibility right now." Nami rounded the corner and pointed to a glass door that quite literally said Research Laboratory across it.
"We're looking for a tour." Yoriko forced a smile and rapped on the door.
"Can you believe it, Mutsuki?" Urie stroked his friend's hair. "We're at Mirumo Tsukiyama's. Of all people."
Mutsuki didn't respond. Urie wasn't sure he was conscious yet, though "Doctor" Banjou had assured them full recovery. Right now a soft bed and a friend are all he needs.
"It's funny. I feel safe here, but I'm scared. Because I've never felt anything like this before." Urie smiled. "I've lost everything, too, Mutsuki. But I have my family, and you're a dear part to me. You know what I thought when you hurt yourself? That I would die without you. And when – you were on Rushima –" his voice cracked, "– all I wanted was to go through your torture for you. I love you, Tooru, and don't you forget it."
There – was that Tooru's eyelid flickering? Urie's heart soared, and he knelt besides Mutsuki's bed, clasping his friend's hands. "At the auction, you saw me at my worst and cared for me. I will do the same for you, and more. I love you, Tooru."
Mutsuki opened his eyes, and Urie stiffened. He'd – he'd wanted this – but now that he'd heard –
"You know we're all rooting for you? No matter what you do." Urie gave him a watery smile. "We're here to hear. To help."
"Urie, are you crying?"
"No." A tear slid down his cheek. "Damn you, now I am."
Mutsuki's eyes pooled. "You can't love me."
Urie pinched a lock of green hair. "Your hair is fine and shiny." His hands traveled to his face, rubbing the leather patch. "Your eye-patch is cute."
He tugged the corners of Mutsuki's mouth. "Your smile melts my heart."
He blushed and rubbed Mutsuki's shoulder. He hoped he didn't seem grabby. "You have nice clothing."
Mutsuki's cheeks were pink. He almost – did he – did he mean this?
"There's no man who cares more than you. Even when I might not have deserved it." Urie smiled ironically. "You know, all everyone wants for you – myself, the squad, Sensei and even his pretty friend – is happiness. We all see the same thing: someone whose real fault is caring too much." He shrugged. "So your care got warped because of how others hurt you. So you let it warp you. I let my ambition warp me. Shouldn't mean we can't move forward and love ourselves."
"And each other?" Mutsuki whispered.
"If you'll have me."
"I am – so weak – and broken." Mutsuki struggled to sit up. He gripped Urie's chin. "But I'm trying again, with you."
Urie smiled then, and Mutsuki – who'd awoken wishing for death – found himself feeling a tremor of delight.
"You should rest."
"Don't leave me? I might – hurt myself." Mutsuki wrung his hands. "Urie, I can lose my sanity like that." He snapped his fingers.
"I'm not afraid of you, or what you've done." Urie smiled then, a small but serene smile. "I'll sleep on the floor so you're comfortable."
Mutsuki stretched out on the edge of the bed and dropped his hand down to entwine his fingers with Urie. The purple-haired man lay on the floor, and Mutsuki didn't want to lose sight of him.
"Just so you know – Saiko, Hsaio, and Higemaru are going to accost you with love tomorrow," murmured Urie. "But I delayed them tonight."
Mutsuki's eyes stung. He didn't know who or what he was – but he had a family he couldn't kill.
"Suzuya!"
"Huh?" Juuzou awoke with a pounding headache and two Takeomi's peering down at him. "Ah!"
"They went through the sewers, did they," murmured Ui Koori, grimacing at the kagune fluids on the decimated wall.
"But they didn't kill us." Takeomi frowned. The only ghoul they knew who didn't kill was Suzuya's Nami. Could she be involved?
"Akira Mado was with them." Suzuya struggled to his feet, gripping his prosthetic leg as his phantom pain returned. It's been almost a year since he'd felt that.
"Akira," Koori hissed. How? How could she change? If anyone should have been devoted, shouldn't she?
Unease tugged at him. He'd capitulated to Furuta for Hairu. What if…they weren't so different after all?
"You move slow, Kaneki. I asked you to come here fifteen minutes ago."
Kaneki leant against the door to Mirumo's garden. "Shouldn't you be tucking in the children, Nishiki?"
"Koma's got it for now."
"Does he know that?" Kaneki gave Nishiki his best Touka glare.
Nishiki shoved him back. "You need to work on your intimidation, dude."
"Do I?"
"No. You're best when you're your kind, peaceful self. You know it, too." Nishiki eyed him. "So, about me."
"You?"
"I'm off to coordinate with the Great Wheel Arc."
Kaneki narrowed his eyes. "Oh?"
"To see if anyone remembers Kimi, where she might have gone…" Nishiki laughed bitterly. "I'm selfish, Kaneki, but I want to see her one more time…to thank her."
Kaneki stared at him.
"You almost died tonight; doesn't that bother you?" Nishiki ran a hand through his hair. "Because it bothers me. If I had died without seeing Kimi again. I keep saying I'd be fine, but I wouldn't be."
He leant close. His eyeglasses pressed into Kaneki's eyelids. "Just like you wouldn't be fine if you died without kissing Touka."
Kaneki lurched backwards. What was with everyone assuming he wanted to give Touka physical affection?
Nishiki smirked. "Don't keep pretending, asshole. We'll say 'declare your love' if a kiss is too much. Come on, now." He draped his arm around Kaneki's shoulder. "You're gonna tell her, or I'll kick the shit out of you like I did in college."
"Nishiki, I almost killed you."
"Show that level of determination again. See, dissociate if you have to. It's part of you. Just tell her, dude. It's torture watching you two. You're worse than Karren and Tsukiyama." Nishiki's eyes glowed. "Don't make me ever say that again."
Kaneki had to chuckle, but a blow from Nishiki's foot send him sprawling.
"Uh – just like old times, Nishiki?"
"You told me that weasel at CCG said he wants to get the most out of his life, right?" Nishiki advanced, bending down to glower at Kaneki. "And you think you deserve less? Or do you think you're a hero for becoming exactly what your mother was? I see those Quinxes; you want to leave your squad like your mother left you?!"
Kaneki gaped at him.
Nishiki straightened. "There. I've said all I need. Because I am living my life."
He opened the door. "Goodbye, Kaneki."
Kaneki could say nothing as the door clicked closed.
"No one's here." Yoriko squinted in the dim lighting. The workbenches were desolate, as if no one had worked here for ages, though there was no .
"Not in this lab." Nami felt her wig slip, but if there were cameras – perhaps paying no attention to it would be best. "There's something hidden around here. I believe it."
Souta…Souta…what would you like best?
"Let's knock on the walls. Listen if something sounds hollow." Nami sniffed the air, and Yoriko felt a shiver down her spine.
She wished she didn't instinctively fear ghouls.
"Do you smell that?" Nami pushed past the bottles of isopropanol and formaldehyde to the door at the far end of the rectangular lab. She peered through the window. "The morgue."
"Uh –"
Nami pushed her way in. Bodies of ghouls and investigators, carefully preserved. Nothing suspicious.
Yoriko gagged behind her.
"I'm sorry." Nami whirled around. "I just –"
"There's a chemical cabinet here." Desperate to avoid the smell of death, Yoriko opened the strongly scented cabinet –
to see another room.
"Or not."
Nami approached slowly.
"Children," squeaked Yoriko, looking at the bodies of future Oggai. "They're breathing!"
"Future Oggai." Nami's hand returned to her stomach. You're hurting children, Souta.
"And adults." Yoriko pointed forward.
Hairu's head and body floated in a glass jar, lying peacefully on the furthest table.
Nami gagged. Hairu!
I'm Hairu. You seem so sad since Rize left. We should be friends. The pink-haired half-human held out her hand with a wide smile.
And an orange-haired boy about her age, and a mummified ghoul – and multiple others, all in glass cases.
The dead.
Nami bent over. "He's raising the dead."
"What?!" Yoriko's mouth dropped. "That doesn't even – it's not possible."
"No, you don't understand – the garden." Nami keeled over, her hands on her splitting forehead.
But a tank glowed in the corner of the room, and she knew she had to approach it, to witness every level of secrecy.
A naked, violet-haired woman floated in it, her face obscured.
But Nami knew. She always had. "Rize."
With one hand outstretched, the other fumbled for the tank buttons.
"What are you doing?" Yoriko's voice rose.
"Yes, what are you doing?" A voice rang out from the other end of the lab.
