My stomach growled as I ran along the edge of this stout building. It's the end of the month, shouldn't ghouls be out?

A couple blocks down, I heard a sound. It was as if a young woman was getting robbed. Or worse…

I decided to check it out. Running as silently as I could, I followed the sound. A new smell past my nose and I stopped in front of the scene. A human in dark clothing had decided it was a good idea to try and rob the poor woman he held.

She struggled against him, holding onto her purse as though her life depended on it. He took his hand out of his hoodie and held a gun to her chest. Shit. I really hope she didn't die during this. She was young, maybe in college. I didn't know what kind of person she was, but still.

He yelled at her to stop, spittle flying from his mouth. How disturbing. Hoisting myself over the fire escape's railing, I fell down the 2 story jump and landed next to the man. The woman noticed me first and widened her eyes, recognizing who I was.

"A… a mask…"

After hearing her, the man turned and looked down at me. He must have been drunk or something, because his movements were sluggish, but he held onto her and positioned the gun to her temple.

"I will shoot, so leave! You have no part in this!" His words were slurred and his actions were slow, but this situation was dangerous.

"You idiot!" She struggled against him, "we'll both die if you keep us here like this! Let go!"

I held up my hands, "Hey, calm down. Just let the girl go, and we can figure something out."

"No!" He screamed like a little child. "This is my catch, you can't take it!"

"I don't want to. Listen, let her go, and she'll give you the money."

"What? I couldn't do that! I just earned this today, it's all I have! Now let go!"

Shit, I thought, at this rate he will shoot.

"Listen, would you rather loose your life or your money? Come on-"

"Stop talking!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Wow, calm down. You just need-"

"If you really want to help, just use your powers already!" It seemed as though the girl was going into hysteria.

"Powers…"

"Come on! Help if you so want to! I don't want to die, I don't want-"

"Shut up!"

The sharp noise rang through the empty alleys. My eyes widened at the sight of the girl's fearful eyes go empty. Her blood went everywhere.

I made it quick and stabbed the man straight through his heart. The stench of blood over powered me, and I knew at this point that my eyes had changed.

I dropped to my knees in front of their bodies and felt a hot tear run down my cheek. I couldn't save one person. Just one person.

I've failed as someone who wanted to do good, who wanted to be good.

In the silence, I heard the sound of a foot shifting in its place. I turned my head and called out, "who's out there."

I could tell she was a human from her scent. But that other familiar smell… I couldn't put my finger on it.

My eyes popped and I jumped away from the bodies.

"Show yourself."

She stepped out, her heels clicking with every step. I recognized her immediately.

Toshiko

...

I watched her position her thumb over the button of her suitcase

I held up my hands in defense, "if you were here long enough, you would know that I am not responsible for these occurrences."

She continued to silently study me, her eyebrows knit over her pale eyes. She touched her thumb to the button but didn't press it, instead opening her mouth to speak.

"I know your from out of town, Cat. What brings you here?"

She sounded so much different from the Toshiko that I had dinner with the other day. This must have been her work look, stern and scary. I couldn't believe how mature she looked.

"I just needed to get away, from, well Doves. There were too many."

"That's no excuse. If ghouls keep leaving, more people are put in danger. There aren't any more with you, are there?"

I scowled, "that's how you think of us? If you haven't noticed, I had no intention of killing either of them, even if it left me hungry."

"Your ignoring my question. And I have noticed, for your information. You happen to be quite popular down in ward eleven," She smirked, "To be honest, I've been wanting to meet you for a while, ever since you saved me from that ghoul last week or so. Do you mind telling me why?"

Wow, that was a lot. I didn't know what to say.

"Well, you were helpless and defenseless, and I could see that he had an opening toward your back. Since it was dark, he had the upper hand. You see, I can see in the dark, and he had a good nose."

"That doesn't make sense."

"Listen, you don't have to worry about me. I'm trying not to cause any more trouble than what's been going on..."

"What in the world does that mean?"

I sighed, "You'd better leave. With this stench, more ghouls will be crawling in. And they won't be as nice as me."

As I tried to turn and pick up my meal, I heard a click behind me and watched as two swords sprang out of her case. One was already in her hand as she caught the other with her left.

"Step away."

"Woah, ok listen. I was going to leave the girl and a note for the cops. That's what I usually do. Not that they ever believe me."

She continued to point her sword at me. I took a deep breath and sighed.

"If not, you could just tell the cops what happened, I mean you were-"

I sniffed the air. Someone, human, had been slowly making his way closer to us using the fire escapes. I shot a long red tentacle in the smell's direction. I tall figure jumped away from its hiding spot and landed next to Toshiko, holding his right arm.

"Friend? Oh, then sorry for the attack. I don't like taking chances."

I could have been my eyes, or my sarcasm, but both of the doves looked at me uneasy. In the other Doves right hand was a tightly gripped suitcase, luckily unopened.

"We've been curious. How are you able to get into the CCG at such a young age?"

"We've? Who are-"

Toshiko stepped in front of her injured partner, "Having exceptional skills and a longer life span at the CCG. Newbies have been getting younger for a while now."

"Toshiko..."

The man was clearly questioning Toshiko's decisions, but decided against debating the topic.

"A longer life span, you say. Well, sticking around here longer would definitely lessen that time extent."

As if on cue, I shot a sharp tentacle at their direction. Both dodged the feeble attack, but they weren't the targets.

They stared in astonishment at the hunger-driven ghoul, hanging on my kagune by the shoulder. I dropped him in the dusty ground.

"I'm telling you, don't worry about me."

They turned to respond to me, only to find me and a dead body missing.

…

"There is absolutely no way I'm allowing you to share this with us. Renji found enough for us now, and look how small you've become. You really need to make sure your taking care of yourself."

"But Kaya..." I knew there was no way of changing her mind. I was too noticeably underweight, and my pains had been getting worse.

"No more arguing. Now go, get your energy. Your working tomorrow."

"Why-" I decided against asking, knowing that you are expected to work if your living here.

She pointed up the stairs, "go eat. You'll feel better."

Sulking up the steps, I responded "oh, I know."